Torch is run by volunteers from local churches to provide a helping hand to those who otherwise cannot get help and tend to fall through the gaps of existing support or provision.

We offer a wide range of free personal and practical help as well as signposting to others with specialist expertise or local support groups you can go to.

Request Help

“The client was very grateful and could not believe that people she had never met had offered to help her, especially when her own friends and family had not given her that support.”

Anna, Social Prescriber

Our vision is to be a network of local hubs to provide help and hope to people in need, by churches working together in unity, and in partnership with the charities, public and private sectors.

Torch provides a completely free service to everyone. All volunteers are DBS cleared and, where possible, come from the local community near the client. Self or agency referrals to Torch can be made and will be triaged by a Coordinator who will select the appropriate volunteer.

Torch will also signpost people to appropriate activities and courses that might provide friendship, wellbeing, practical support as well as assistance with making good life choices. The churches provide a wealth of activities and details of many of these can be found on our Community Support Hub page.

Torch facilitates community events in partnership with local agencies, groups and charities to enhance the local neighbourhood whilst bringing people together.

Torch is an affiliation of churches collaborating to deliver our mission. The Leadership Team is comprised of representative leaders from amongst the churches that partner with us to provide volunteers, practical, financial and prayer support whilst working together in unity.

We gratefully acknowledge those churches who are full partners with us along with the long term financial support from Oxford Diocese.

We are also grateful to be supported in other ways by local churches who endorse the work of Torch.

We enjoy a close working relationship with a number of local social action charities who share our ethos and values and with whom we are pleased to share cross referrals.

We aim to support anyone within the greater Reading area who has an unmet need and no means of getting help to resolve the issue. We expect referrers and clients to have exhausted other available means of support and there to be no financial means to pay for the help. We do not seek to take on requests that can be better met by other organisations. Indeed you may find the help you are looking for on our Community Support Hub.

I want to make a Referral

You can make a self-referral (for personal help) or refer someone else

Make a referral

We accept referrals from the general public, agencies, charities, health professionals and local authorities.

I have a Query

If you would like to ask a question before making a referral or wish to make contact for other reasons then please ask.

I have a query

If you would like to speak with us, please call 0118 380 0260. If we are unavailable at the time, please leave a message and we will return your call.

We are typically available in working hours Monday to Thursday and will aim to get back to you as soon as possible within 5 working days.