Services & Projects Oversight Manager: André Silva

Head of Regional Operations: Gianluca Zucchelli

About the service

The Reading Community Outreach Service provides mental health support in the community within Reading to improve the wellbeing of people and help build resilience and independence to help combat issues that directly impact people’s mental wellbeing such as experiences of poverty and inequality.

We look to support people on their journey towards better mental wellbeing but also have a specific aim of providing preventative mental support to reach people from ethnically diverse communities to ensure that they have access to the right support at the right time. Our service specifically looks to work alongside people who are refugees and asylum seekers, those who may have experienced discrimination or injustice, as well and supporting them to feel part of the local community to achieve self-sufficiency.

We provide personalised support delivered by Peer Outreach Workers, who have lived experience of mental distress themselves, who bring a genuine understanding and empathetic approach in supporting people to work towards their own identified goals. The service provides 1-2-1 support of up to 9 weeks whilst meeting people in the community or providing phone and online sessions. There is also a group programme themed around wellbeing, developing coping strategies, self-management and facilitating peer support. People can choose how they  access support – whether that’s in person, online via video chat, or on the phone.

Please note this does not extend to meeting people in their homes. Our staff will meet people in the community in public places such as libraries or coffee shops.  It should also be noted that the meetings our staff conduct will be specifically to provide one to one support.

Part of our support is specifically for people in Reading from the refugee and asylum seeker community. We offer specialist one to one and group support from a Peer Outreach Worker who has first-hand experience of being a refugee.

Upcoming events with Reading Community Outreach Service

• Creative Communication Through Drama Skills in partnership with REP – Reading Rep Theatre starting on 16/11/2023 finish 14/12/2023

Session 1: The Importance of Body Language in Communication
Mime and Mirroring.

Session 2: Effective Communication in a Group
Performing Scenes/Playing Games without speaking/moving/seeing/etc.

Session 3: The Connection Between Music and Emotion
Safe Emotional Recall and Imagery.

Session 4: The Power of Empathy
Embodying different characters, relating them to ourselves.

Session 5: Projection and Perspective
Being the audience, witnessing your story being played out.

*Each session will have fun group activities, games and refreshments

Each session will run on a Thursday between 14:00-15:30

Location: 1A Rupert Square, Reading, RG1 3HE

Referrals can be made via phone or email at: readingcos@together-uk.org

Creative Communication & Drama techniques workshop in partnership with Reading Rep Theatre starting 16/11/23 finish 14^th Dec 2023

Winter Arts & Crafts workshop – special dates on 20^th, 21^st, 27^th, 28^th Dec and finishing on 4^th of Jan 2024

Making a referral to Reading Community Outreach Service

If you are a member of the public looking to access Reading Community support service for support or are a professional looking to refer a person to the service you can contact us directly by email at readingcos@together-uk.org or call us on freephone 0203 962 8201. Alternatively you can fill out the referral form below: