Carols by Candlelight
We are thrilled that this year’s Carols by Candlelight will take place on Tuesday 1 December at a new venue, the beautiful Great Hall at the University of Reading. We’ve invited the joyful Reading Community Gospel Choir and fabulous youth choir, Universal Voices to perform a selection of Christmas favourites for you. You will also […]
Launchpad joins World Homeless Day event in Reading
This October, during the month of World Homeless Day, we joined other local organisations in Reading town centre to highlight the wide range of support available to people experiencing homelessness or housing difficulties. Our team spoke with shoppers on Broad Street about the work Launchpad does across Reading to help people who are homeless or […]
Providing accommodation and support for young people
We are delighted to announce that we have been awarded a contract by Reading Borough Council to provide accommodation and support for young people aged 18 to 24 who are experiencing homelessness. The service will begin in October 2026 and provide accommodation alongside tailored housing-related support for young adults who may be facing complex challenges, […]
New graffiti wall art unveiled
Click here to watch a short film about the process Have you seen our fantastic new graffiti art mural on the brick wall outside our offices in Merchants Place? It has been designed by some of our clients and overseen by local artist Kev Waite, who’s also the art tutor at our Work and Life […]
Reading estate agent to run London Marathon for Launchpad
Charlie Hill, branch manager at Davis Tate in Reading, will take on the London Marathon next April to raise money for Launchpad – and his training is already under way. A keen runner, Charlie has completed the Reading Half Marathon a few times, but London will be his first full marathon – and what a […]
So much on offer at our WLSC
It has been a busy time at our Work and Life Skills Centre, which is continuing to thrive, delivering a diverse range of client-led activities and engagement opportunities. These sessions and community partnerships support skills development, enhance wellbeing and strengthen social inclusion. In response to the interests and aspirations of attendees, new photography sessions were […]
Celebrating client success
This month, we wanted to share some uplifting news from across Launchpad. Every day, our team works alongside people facing homelessness, helping to prevent housing crises before they happen and supporting clients to build the skills, confidence and stability they need to live independently. Over recent months, we’ve seen some fantastic outcomes that we’d love […]
What we learned from our supporter survey
Earlier this year, we invited our supporters to tell us more about their experience of supporting Launchpad, what inspires them to stay involved, and how we can do even better. A huge thank you to everyone who took the time to complete our survey. Your feedback has been incredibly valuable and will help shape how […]
Supporting rough sleepers through extreme weather in Reading
As temperatures rise and heat-health alerts come into effect, Reading Borough Council is taking proactive steps to support some of the community’s most vulnerable residents. The council’s Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP), typically associated with freezing conditions, has been activated in response to the current heatwave highlighting that severe weather risks are not limited to […]
Summer celebration fun at our work and life skills centre
We were delighted to host a fantastic summer celebration at our Work and Life Skills Centre on June 16. It was a wonderful open event, giving all Launchpad service users a great opportunity to explore everything we have to offer. At the centre, we’re proud to offer a wide range of engaging and supportive activities, […]