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Hi there

My name is Tom Hudson, and since Dec 8^th 2009 I have been working as the development worker for Reading Faith Forum.

To introduce myself, this is a taster of what I do. The scope of my work is threefold:

1)     Listening and facilitating. It is widely recognised that faith groups contribute on many different levels to the various communities in Reading, both those insiders to the faith community, and wider society. My role is to work with the faith organisations who do this work, and make them more effective as organisations. The scope will depend on the particular circumstances of the group itself, but will involve:

• Governance. This may involve advice on the available legal structures to the group, and the requirements to set these up, the roles and responsibilities within each structure and advice on how to comply with legislation
• Funding and Finance. This may involve help with finding and applying for funding, or advice on daily accounting procedures.
• Strategic Planning. Developing an understanding of where the group stands currently, identifying the changes it wants to make and the steps it is capable of making to move towards that change, prioritising steps.
• Training and Capacity Development. Identifying and addressing through training (in its broadest sense) any skills gaps that prevent the organisation from getting where it is currently, to where it wants to go.
• Project Planning. Breaking down projects into sections, appointing people responsibilities and timescales, and ensuring they have the resources to meet their responsibilities, monitoring progress.
• Premises. Identifying the requirements of new premises and the options that are available, support and advice in the process of altering the current premises or developing a new one
• Managing People. Determining the need for paid staff, ensuring faith groups understand the responsibilities and requirements which come from employing paid staff, how the group can work most effectively with volunteers

2)     Networking and communication. Faith groups across Reading are confronted time and time again by the same issues. Through my relationships across Reading, I aim to help these communities coordinate their responses to social challenges with one another.

3)     Extending Representation. Whilst the existence of Reading Faith Forum, and the voice it gives the faith community in shaping policy, is something the town can be justly proud of, the concerns of a number of groups are not yet being heard. The final focus of my role is to give these communities a voice so that the representations of the Faith Forum more accurately reflect the feelings of the broader faith community in Reading.

I work out of the Stronger Together office, which is based at the back of the RISC cafe, 35-39 London St. I am in the office on Tuesdays and Fridays. However, I do also work outside those hours, so should you ever feel you need to meet with me, do not feel limited to those two days if neither is convenient.

Please feel free to contact me on:

Tel: 0118 9584849

Mob: 07773 251 328

E mail: tom.hudson@rva.org.uk