THE UNIVERSITY of Reading has named its first Charity of the Year following the launch of the scheme in March.
Rainbow Trust Children’s Charity was selected following a vote by university staff and will now be supported by the university in a range of ways throughout the 2024/25 academic year.
The charity provides support to struggling families with practical and emotional help to those facing care of children with life-threatening or terminal illnesses.
Over the summer, the university will begin discussions with the charity about what form its support and collaboration will take, beginning in September.
A total of 46 applications were received from charities in Thames Valley, whittled down to a shortlist of just five, which were put to staff for a vote.
Eligible charities were considered on their alignment to the university’s own charitable objectives, their benefit to public research and learning, and the overall quality of their application.
The university also considered the impact on the charity and its work within communities.
Rainbow Trust Children’s Charity is approaching its fourth decade supporting families and children, having grown to 9 separate care teams since it was established in 1986.
Its work sees it provide support through education on illnesses and diagnoses, help during hospital stays, helping families with transport during health appointments, as well as events, activities, and even bereavement support for families.
Katherine Burgess, Corporate and Community Fundraising Manager at Rainbow Trust, said: “We are absolutely thrilled to have been chosen as the University of Reading’s charity partner and are incredibly excited about the opportunity to raise awareness and funds to support seriously ill children and their families.
“After opening our care team in Reading in 2022, now called the Thames Valley Care Team, we have been keen to forge relationships with the community in which we are serving, and this is a brilliant opportunity to do just that.
“We simply could not continue to support families in Reading and surrounding areas without the support of local organisations, so a huge thank you to the University of Reading for choosing to support us.”
Professor Robert Van de Noort, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Reading, said: “Rainbow Trust is a great organisation and we are proud to be supporting them, and the vital work that they do, through our first ever Charity of the Year Scheme.
“Our staff and students already do a great deal supporting and volunteering in our local communities so this scheme will be a further extension of that. I look forward to getting involved in some fun activities this year, to help raise money and awareness for this important cause.
“I would like to thank all of the charities that submitted applications for our first ever Charity of the Year Scheme. We could only pick one but it was wonderful to see the wealth of organisations that are all making a positive impact in our region and our local communities.”
More information about Rainbow Trust Children’s Charity is available via: rainbowtrust.org.uk
