University of Reading charity search
The university is seeking a charity partner for the next academic year
Last updated 8th May 2025
Charities across the Thames Valley are being invited to apply for the University of Reading’s Charity of the Year Scheme, which is now open for applications.
The scheme, which launched in 2024, will see the University select a single charity to work with and support, in a variety of ways, throughout an academic year.
The charity must be active and supporting local people in the Thames Valley (defined as Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire).
The scheme aims to create positive impact for the selected charity, with clear outcomes and benefits for the local community, at the same time as supporting the University’s charitable objectives of advancing education, learning and research for public benefit.
Applications for the Charity of the Year Scheme will close at 11pm on Wednesday 21 May.
Current Charity of the Year
The University’s Charity of the Year for 2024/25 is the Thames Valley branch of Rainbow Trust, which supports families who are caring for a child with a life-threatening or terminal illness. Rainbow Trust’s Family Support Workers provide a lifeline to struggling families, offering practical and emotional support, whenever it is needed for as long as it is needed.
The University will continue to work with Rainbow Trust until the end of June 2025. Examples of activity undertaken so far include:
Staff donated 48 bags of arts and crafts items for seriously ill children and their siblings
Rainbow Trust was one of the beneficiaries of the Santa Run, organised by Reading Rotary Club and hosted on the Whiteknights campus
Staff volunteers helped wrap Christmas presents as part of a fundraising event in Basingstoke Mall
The University organised a clothing and accessories collection to help raise funds for Rainbow Trust, as well as a dedicated JustGiving page
Rainbow Trust attended events to raise awareness of the organisation with staff, students and the local community.
Vital
Professor Robert Van de Noort, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Reading, said: “Rainbow Trust is a fantastic charity doing vital work to support families through the most difficult of times. My colleagues have shown their kindness and generosity in how they have supported all of the different activities as part of our Charity of the Year Scheme.
“I am looking forward to seeing which local charity we will be supporting in the next academic year.”
Further information about the Charity of the Year Scheme, and how to apply, is available online.