14 community projects have been awarded funding grants as part of the University of Reading's Community Engagement Fund initiative.

The fund, now in its fourth year, provides £30,000 annually to support community projects across the Thames Valley region.

The projects must benefit community groups or individuals in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, and Oxfordshire, and further at least one of the university’s charitable objectives of advancing education, learning, and research.

For the 2024/25 academic year, some of the projects receiving funding include the RACE project, which raises awareness about the criminal exploitation of children and young people in Reading, and the Conversational Kitchen project, which helps sanctuary seekers combat isolation and improve language skills.

Other projects also include the University of Reading community primary schools food bank, Reading Mencap 'Walk a Mile in our Shoes,' and others.

Professor Robert Van de Noort, vice-chancellor of the University of Reading, said: "It is always inspiring to learn about the wealth of community projects that our university staff members are involved in – to help make things a little better for people.

"We are a university that truly wants to make a difference in our local area, and so we are proud to support these projects that will have wide-reaching benefits for people and communities in our region."

The Community Engagement Fund provides both one-off, small awards, and larger awards, up to a maximum of £10,000 per year, on a one-off or multi-year basis.

The scheme forms part of the university's commitment to working with and supporting the community and being 'a university for Reading.'