The Mayor of Reading

01/10/2026

Join me as I challenge the people of Reading in a virtual challenge to cycle 100km in one day! That’s the same as cycling from Reading to Bournemouth or Brighton!
Test your strength and stamina against me for this fantastic challenge to help raise funds for Sport in Mind - the leading mental health sports charity in England and Wales, transforming mental health through sport. They deliver programmes using physical activity to promote wellbeing, especially for those facing the greatest barriers.

📆 Saturday 10 October, 10am - 4pm
📍 The Oracle, Reading


Come along for some fun and light exercise all whilst raising money for this wonderful charity.

29/09/2026

Fairtrade Fortnight runs from 21 September to 4 October this year, and it was a pleasure to meet David Sutton and representatives from RISC, World Shop, Global Refills & Room Hire last week and learn more about their work. Thank you for showcasing a wonderful display of fairtrade products at the Civic Offices and highlighting the positive impact Fairtrade has on communities around the world.

28/09/2026

Please join me, Caroline and Liz from Walk Works for a very special fundraising walk around the town centre on Wednesday 21 October.

We'll be setting off from the Forbury Bandstand at 12.30pm for a guided walk in and around Reading town centre. It is around 2-3 miles and will be around 45 minutes. It is a perfect opportunity to get away from your desk, get some exercise, meet new people, and get to know our great town of Reading a little better.

All money raised will go to my chosen charities:

ABC to read is a children’s literacy charity supporting primary school children across Berkshire who are struggling to read.
Refugee Support Group is a local charity helping refugees and asylum seekers in Berkshire to rebuild their lives with advice, education and support.
Sport in Mind is the leading mental health sports charity in England and Wales. Their mission is to transform the nation’s mental health through sport.

To book your space, please sign up via the link in the comments. There is a suggested donation of £6 to participate in this walk.

15/09/2026

I had the pleasure of attending the book launch of ‘Statues and Sculptures in Reading Town Centre’ on Saturday 5 September. This fabulous publication combines Caroline Piller's immense knowledge with excellent photographs by the young photographer Nathaniel Hutchinson.

09/09/2026

03/09/2026

On Saturday 22 August, I had the pleasure of attending the Reading Musical Night organised by the local Nepalese community at South Reading Community Hub.
Thank you to everyone involved for such a welcoming and enjoyable evening. Following the devastating floods in Nepal, my thoughts are with all those affected and with members of Reading's Nepalese community who may have family and friends in the impacted areas.

03/09/2026

On Sunday 30 August I had a lovely time at The Jessica Project birthday party. Thank you to the organisers for all the fantastic work they do in our community to raise awareness of violence against women and girls. It is incredible to see how a small survivor community has grown into a nationally focused organisation.

02/09/2026

I had a great time at Reading's first-ever Community Cook Off event held at the South Reading Community Hub last Saturday. It was a fun-filled day of cooking, creativity, and community spirit despite the rainy weather. A huge thank you to PCSO Cath, PC Charlotte Wall from the Met Police, and Lisa from WCDA for bringing this fantastic initiative to Whitley.

01/09/2026

Thank you to the RBC Sustainable Communities Team for having me at the Coley Food Festival on Tuesday 25 August. It was wonderful to celebrate our community’s diversity through food from England, Nepal, Bangladesh, Tanzania, Taiwan, the Caribbean and other cultures. The festival provided a very informal and enjoyable space for people to come together, share food, meet others and celebrate our diversity.