Social Prescribing

RVA

Social Prescribing is linking people up with activities or services in the community that they might benefit from. It’s about connecting people to non-medical sources of support. We aim to help people live well and safely, and to maintain healthy lives, through non-medical support offered by Reading’s voluntary and community groups.

Website
www.rva.org.uk/social-prescribing

List of local services and national helplines

For information on local services and national helplines, please see the list below:

In Case of Emergency

  • Immediate Danger:
    Call 999 right away.
  • Non-Life-Threatening Help:
    Visit NHS 111 or call 111

Local Emergency Contacts

  • Reading Borough Council (Out-of-Hours Emergency):

Mental Health Crisis Support

  • Children & Adolescents Mental Health Out-of-Hours Crisis Team:
    Phone: 0300 365 9999

Benefits & Finance Support

Phone: 0118 926 941

CommuniCare Reading

Services: Advice & support

Drop-in Hours: Monday to Thursday, 10:00 AM – 3:15 PM
(Please arrive early)

Outreach Session Details: CommuniCare Website

Debt, Benefits & Financial Support

Christians Against Poverty

  • Service: Free help for anyone in debt
  • Reading South Centre Lines:
    • Monday–Thursday: 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM
    • Friday: 9:30 AM – 3:30 PM
  • Phone: 0800 328 0006
  • Website: Keep the Lifeline

Citizens Advice Reading

  • Service: Advice on benefits, debt, money & utilities
  • Access: Online & via freephone only
  • Phone: 0800 144 8444
  • Website: Citizens Advice Reading

Reading Borough Council

  • Service: Cost of living advice & support
  • Website: Money Advice

Reading Welfare Rights

  • Service: Welfare benefit advice for all
  • Appointments: Arrange via online form or by phone
  • Phone: 0118 955 1070
  • Hours: Monday–Friday, 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
  • Location: WCDA, 252 Northumberland Ave, RG2 7QA
  • Note: No drop-ins

Universal Credit National Helpline

  • Service: ‘Help to Claim’ phone support
  • Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
  • Phone: 0800 328 5644
  • Textphone: 0800 328 1344
  • Website: Universal Credit Contact

Carers Support

Reading Borough Council – Adult Social Care

Reading Carers Partnership

Caring for Someone Aged 50+ in Reading

For All Other Carers in Reading

Clothing, Toiletries, Laundry & Furniture

  • Christian Community Action (CCA)
    • Affordable Clothing & Household Goods:
      79 Northumberland Ave, RG2 7PT
      Hours: Mon–Sat, 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM
      Phone: 0118 975 9459
    • Support Centre (Furniture & Essentials for Income-Based Benefits):
      369 Oxford Rd, RG30 1HA
      Hours: Mon, Tue, Thu & Fri, 10 AM – 1 PM
      Contact: Call 0118 951 2337 or email support@ccam.org.uk to arrange visits
  • Diamond Scissors
    Barber shop offering free haircuts (Mon & Tue) for adults & kids
    531 Oxford Rd, RG30 1HJ
    Phone: 07551 559009
  • New Beginnings
    Clothes & toiletries
    Queens Arms, Gt Knollys St, RG1 7HL
    Phone: 07421 998208
  • Sadaka
    Occasionally provides washing-up liquid, laundry powder & toiletries
    Fairview Centre, Gt Knollys St, RG1 7HL
    Phone: 0118 324 6565
    (Check social media for updates)
  • The Way Ministry
    Clothing support
    553 Oxford Rd, Reading
    Phone: 07410 622399
    Email: thewayministryreading@outlook.com

Dementia Support

  • Alzheimer’s Society – Dementia Support Line
    • Phone: 0333 150 3456
    • Who can call: Anyone affected by dementia, worried about a diagnosis, or caring for someone
    • Opening Hours:
      • Mon–Wed: 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM
      • Thu–Fri: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
      • Sat–Sun: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Domestic Abuse & Victim Support

Berkshire Women’s Aid

Men’s Advice Line

National Domestic Violence Helpline

Reading Borough Council Out-of-Hours Emergency

  • Phone: 01344 351999
  • Purpose: Access refuge weekdays 5:00 PM – 9:00 AM & weekends

Refuge – National Domestic Abuse Helpline

Victim Support

Drug & Alcohol Support

Alcoholics Anonymous

Change Grow Live

  • Services: Drug & alcohol support, health assessments, needle exchange, peer-led activities
  • Address: 127 Oxford Rd, RG1 7UU
  • Opening Hours:
  • Mon & Thu: 9:30 AM – 7:00 PM
  • Tue & Fri: 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM
  • Wed: 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM
  • Phone: 0118 955 7333
    Website: changegrowlive.org

DrugFAM

  • Service: Support for people affected by others’ addictions
  • Helpline: 0300 888 3853 (9:00 AM – 9:00 PM, 7 days/week)
  • Service: Free confidential advice on drugs & drug laws
  • Helpline Hours: Mon–Fri, 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM & 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
  • Phone: 0207 324 2989
  • Website: release.org.uk
  • Additional: Naloxone & needle exchange available

Food Providers

Abbey Renew Wellbeing Café

  • Location: Abbey Baptist Church, Abbey Square, RG1 3BE
  • Hours: Wednesday, 10:00 AM – 12:00 Noon
  • Services: Beverages, quiet shared space & activities
  • Website: abbeybaptistchurch.org.uk

CCA (Christian Community Action)

  • Location: Caversham Baptist Church, South St, RG4 8HY
  • Hours: Wednesday, 12:00 Noon – 2:00 PM
  • Services: Snacks, lunch & drinks
  • Website: ccam.org.uk

CIRDIC

  • Location: St Saviour’s Church Hall, Berkeley Ave, RG1 6JT
  • Hours:
  • Mon, Tue & Fri: 10:00 AM – 1:30 PM Sunday Meal: 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM
  • Services: Clothes, showers (not Sunday), haircuts & support
  • Phone: 0118 950 2536
  • Email: enquiries@cirdic.org.uk
  • Note: Mainly for homeless & most disadvantaged people

Dee Caf

  • Location: Unit 1, Montague House, 12 Spey Rd, Tilehurst RG30 4DG
  • Hours: Wednesday, 2:00 PM – 2:30 PM
  • Services: Community fridge, surplus & cooked meals
  • Email: deecaf.community@gmail.com
  • Phone: 0118 996 0478

Faith Christian Group

  • Location: St Mary Church, Chain St, RG1 2HX
  • Hours:
    • Tue–Fri: 7:30 PM – 8:30 PM
    • Hosier St: Sun 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM (except first Sunday of the month)
  • Services: Food & warm drinks
  • Website: readistreet.org.uk

Foodshare at Wycliffe (Baptist Church)

Food Parcels

  • Location: Corner of Hosier St & St Mary’s Butt, RG1 2HX
  • Hours: Fri 6:15 PM – 6:45 PM
  • Services: Halal, warm food

The Globe Community Mission Project

New Beginnings

  • Location: Queens Arms, Gt Knollys St, RG1 7HL
  • Services & Hours:
    • Hot food, sit-down meal: Tue 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
    • Community fridge, surplus & hot drinks: Wed 12:00 Noon – 1:00 PM
    • Surplus & hot drinks: Thu & Fri 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
  • Phone: 07421 998208

Providence Chapel

  • Location: 103 Oxford Rd, RG1 7UD
  • Hours: Mon 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM & Sat from 6:30 PM
  • Services: Cooked meal & food parcels
  • Phone: 0118 958 0803

Sadaka

  • Location: Fairview Centre, Gt Knollys St, RG1 7HL
  • Hours: Sat
  • Services: Cooked meal, vegetarian option, occasional toiletries
  • StepUp Project: Sat 10:30 AM – 11:30 PM (drawing, skills & English lessons)
  • Phone: 0118 324 6565
  • Updates: Via social media pages

Sikhs Welfare Awareness Team (SWAT)

  • Location: Outside Town Hall
  • Hours: Wed 7:00 PM – 7:50 PM & Sun 6:00 PM – 6:50 PM
  • Services: Hot meal & snacks

The Way Ministry

  • Locations & Hours:
    • 553 Oxford Rd: Fri 12:00 Noon – 1:00 PM (snacks & surplus)
    • All Nations Christian Centre, Berkeley Ave: Sun 4:30 PM – 6:00 PM (hot drinks, surplus food, sit-down meal, fellowship & clothing)
  • Phone: 07410 622399
  • Email: thewayministryreading@outlook.com

Weller Centre

  • Address: 110 Amersham Rd, RG4 5NA
  • Services: Bakery, surplus food, warm café, clothes, community fridge
  • Opening Hours: Monday to Friday, 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM
  • Phone: 0118 947 5828
  • Website: wellercentre.co.uk

Whitley CDA

  • Address: 252–260 Northumberland Ave, Whitley, RG2 7QA
  • Opening Hours:
    • Mon–Fri: 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM (indoor café, long shelf-life food & fresh produce)
    • Wed (Over 50s only): 12:00 Noon – 2:30 PM
      • Free soup, games & unlimited tea & coffee for £1
  • Phone: 0118 374 0052

Homelessness & Housing Support

Mental Health Support

  • At a Loss
    • Service: Bereavement support
    • Feature: Free online access to counsellors via ‘Griefchat’ live chat
    • Availability: Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM
    • Website: ataloss.org/live-chat

Mental Health Support (Continued)

Utilities Support

  • Citizens Advice Reading
    • Service: Help with reducing utility bills, switching suppliers & accessing support
    • Website:
      • Utility Bills Help
      • Contact Us
    • Phone: 0808 278 7819
  • NEA Warm and Safe Homes
  • OFGEM
    • Service: For disputes with utilities providers
    • Website: ofgem.gov.uk
  • Ombudsman

Reading Borough Council – Winter Watch

  • Service: Helps residents avoid cold homes during winter
  • Eligibility: Reading residents on low income who are:
    • Over 60
    • Have very young children
    • Have a disability or health concerns
    • Have never lived independently
    • Struggle financially
  • Apply: All year round
  • Phone: 0118 937 3747
  • Website: reading.gov.uk/housing/benefits-and-assistance/winter-watch

Acknowledgment:
Special thanks to Sadaka, a local volunteer-run charity, for providing most of the content for this list.
Website: sadakagives.org.uk