Coming Events
Volunteer Recruitment Fair
Saturday 10 January 2026
10am to 2:30pm
The Corn Exchange, Newbury
Each year, Volunteer Centre West Berkshire hosts V365, the county’s largest volunteer recruitment fair – a unique chance for local charities and voluntary groups to meet face-to-face with members of the public who want to give their time, skills, and energy to make a difference.
The demand for volunteers has never been greater. Local charities of every size rely on people stepping forward to keep services running – from trustees and fundraisers to practical helpers and community champions. V365 is designed to connect residents with these opportunities, helping them find the right role to fit their availability, interests, and passions.
The fair has become a highlight in the local calendar, with exhibitor spaces filling quickly each year and over 350 visitors of all ages attending from across West Berkshire (and beyond). Many of the volunteer matches made at previous events have grown into long-lasting, life-enhancing commitments for both the individual and the organisation.
Key information for charities and community groups:
- Date: Saturday 10 January 2026
- Venue: Corn Exchange, Newbury
- Opening times: 10:00am – 2:30pm (public)
- Networking: 9:00am – 9:50am (coffee & pastries provided)
- Set-up from: 8:45am
There are 54 exhibition spaces available and booking is on a first-come, first-served basis. Each organisation will be provided with a small exam desk (50cm square) and an A4 acrylic stand displaying your logo (printed by us). Please bring:
- A tablecloth
- Recruitment materials
- A system to capture volunteer enquiries
- A pop-up banner (optional – displayed around the Corn Exchange, not necessarily next to your table)
Strict Staffing Policy: To ensure a safe, welcoming, and well-managed environment, each organisation is allowed only one representative at their table at any time. No exceptions will be made. Any additional staff present at the table will be asked to leave the hall and may return only at their scheduled rota time. Organisations must plan their staffing accordingly to comply with this rule and ensure a positive experience for all visitors and participants.
Booking details:
- Fee: £35 per table
- Deadline: 15 November 2025, or until all spaces are filled (early booking strongly advised)
- Click here to fill out the form, or simply scan the QR code below to get started.
We’re excited to welcome you back for another successful V365 and look forward to working together to inspire more people to step up, get involved, and help keep our community strong.
Past Events
Meet the Funder Day 2025
Monday 29 September 10am-4pm
Join us at Broadway House on Monday 29 September 2025, for this great opportunity to meet a mix of local and national funders face to face in Newbury. This event is perfect for those responsible for fundraising on behalf of their charity or voluntary organisation.
Book 15 minute 1-2-1 appointments with one or all the funders at the event to
• discuss current and upcoming funding opportunities
• get a better understanding of the eligibility criteria, application process, deadline and amounts you can apply for
• discuss and ask questions about your project’s eligibility for funding
Joining us on the day are:
- Berkshire Community Foundation
- Englefield Charitable Trust (from 12.30 – 4pm) – is now FULLY BOOKED
- Greenham Trust
- Sovereign Network Group
- Tesco Community Grants (managed by Groundworks)
- The Clothworkers Foundation
- The National Lottery Community Fundis
Find out more about each of the funders by clicking on their image :
How to book:
Click here to register your preferred funders, please make sure that you are eligible for funding before making your appointments.
put your funders in order of preference, in case we cannot book all of your chosen ones.
Spaces are limited and must be booked in advance. If you want to see more than one funder, we will do our best to book consecutive appointments, but this might not always be possible and you may have to wait between appointments. If you would like to book more than one funder please select the choice which one you wants to meet first?
If you turn up on the day without an appointment, we cannot guarantee that you will be able to see the funder that you want to, as priority will be given to booked attendees.
Local charities need your help!
There are so many reasons for volunteering:
1. Everyone has something to offer – use your skills, knowledge and experience to benefit others and the local community.
2. Do something different and learn new skills.
3. Get to know new people and make new friends.
4. Many employers look favourably at people with volunteering on their CV.
5. Giving something back can make you feel good and have a positive effect on mental health.
6. It’s fulfilling and rewarding!
On behalf of Volunteer Centre West Berkshire, I am absolutely delighted to welcome you all to our V365 Volunteer Recruitment Fair. Thank you for taking the time to join us today and for your interest in making a difference in our community.
This event is more than just an opportunity to learn about local volunteering opportunities —it’s a chance to discover how your time, skills, and passion can have a meaningful and lasting impact on the causes that matter most. Whether you’re here to connect with a specific charity you’ve heard about or to explore how you can make a difference to one of the many different charities and voluntary groups in the room, we’re excited to help you find your place in this vibrant community.
Around the room, you’ll find representatives from across the VCSE Sector in West Berkshire, eager to share how you can get involved. You’ll learn about the critical work they are doing, hear inspiring stories from current volunteers, and have the opportunity to ask questions to ensure you find a role that’s the perfect fit for you.
We invite you to explore, ask questions, and, most importantly, imagine the difference you can make. Our VCWB team is here to guide and help you if you are not sure where to start, you will find us around the room in our orange shirts.
Enjoy the fair, and we can’t wait to welcome you to the West Berkshire Volunteering Community!
Rachel Peters, CEO
Meet The Funder Day
23 September 2024 , 10.00 – 4.00 p.m
Join us at Broadway House on Monday 23 September 2024, for this great opportunity to meet a mix of local and national funders face to face in Newbury. This event is perfect for those responsible for fundraising on behalf of their charity or voluntary organisation.
Book 15 minute 1-2-1 appointments with one or all the funders at the event to
discuss current and upcoming funding opportunities
get a better understanding of the eligibility criteria, application process, deadline and amounts you can apply for
discuss and ask questions about your project’s eligibility for funding
Spaces are limited to 20 appointments per funder and must be booked in advance.
If you want to see more than one funder, we will do our best to book consecutive appointments, but this might not always be possible, and you may have to wait between appointments in our waiting room.
Meet The Funder Day
30 November 2023
Join us at Broadway House on Thursday 30 November, for this a rare opportunity to meet a mix of local and national funders face to face in Newbury. This event is perfect for those responsible for fundraising on behalf of their charity or voluntary organisation.
Book 20 minute 1-2-1 appointments with one or all the funders at the event to
1- discuss current and upcoming funding opportunities
2- get a better understanding of the eligibility criteria, application process, deadline and amounts you can apply for
3- discuss and ask questions about your project’s eligibility for funding
Joining us on the day are:
· Berkshire Community Foundation
· Greenham Trust
· Sport England
· Tesco Community Grants
· The Wooden Spoon Charity
How to book:
Spaces are limited to 15 appointments per funder and must be booked in advance.
If you want to see more than one funder, we will do our best to book consecutive appointments, but this might not always be possible and you may have to wait between appointments.
If you turn up on the day without an appointment, we cannot guarantee that you will be able to see the funder that you want to, as priority will be given to booked attendees.
Slide show of the Knowledge Event Pitcures
Monday 20 March 2023 – Voluntary Sector Knowledge Event
A showcase of the voluntary and charity sector as nearly 100 organisations fill Shaw House and promote their services to visitors from local government, town and parish councils and frontline services such as the emergency services, healthcare and education.
This is your invitation to visit our Knowledge Event on
Monday 20 March at Shaw House.
Running from 9.30am until 4pm, the event will be a great opportunity to see the variety of voluntary and charitable organisations providing services across West Berkshire and to make connections. Simply come along at any point during the day or register here, stalls will be running all day. Please find below the programme to help you plan your visit.
*Please note: between the times of 9.50am and 11.30am access to the event will be restricted due to the attendance of our Royal Guest, HRH the Duchess of Gloucester. To get the maximum impact from your visit we encourage you to attend before or after these times.
9.30am Doors open to the public
9.45am Introduction to the day by Garry Poulson – Director of VCWB
9.50am Opening address by Chairman of West Berkshire Council, Cllr Rick Jones – The Great Hall
10.30am* Arrival of HRH Duchess of Gloucester
10.40am* Keynote speaker – State of the nation – Sarah Vibert, National Council for Voluntary Organisations – The Great Hall
11am* Royal guided tour (please note during this time access to each room will be limited as HRH is accompanied around the stalls by our Director Garry Poulson)
12 midday Presentation to HRH the Duchess of Gloucester as she departs by Mary Baker the longest serving volunteer (49 years) of Volunteer Centre West Berkshire
1pm Seminar 1 – Media Marketing Arithmetic** – Rob Cao, Dynamiq & Lauren Lunn Farrow, The Expert Agency – The Great Hall
2pm Seminar 2 – Mental Wellbeing in the workplace** – Abigail Hirshman, Charlie Waller Trust – The Great Hall
3pm Workshop 1 – Community Voice sing-along** – Kat Penn, VoxThrive – The Great Hall
4pm Close
**aimed at volunteers and employees of Voluntary Sector Organisations and Charities.
Timings are subject to change.
Saturday 14 January 2023 – V365 (Volunteer Recruitment Event)
