Ep.94 How Reading Rotary Club Uses Business Skills to Support Local Causes: Reading Charities Hub
With Tony Cowling & Peter Webb
Episode Description:
This episode features Peter Webb, Chair of the Webb Kingpin Foundation, and Tony Cowling, President of the Reading Rotary Club and Director of Reading Rotary Community Projects. They discuss how entrepreneurial property initiatives, targeted local grants, and cross-organisation collaboration are transforming support for Reading-based charities.
The conversation explores the practical acquisition and operational vision behind Holybrook House, the new “Reading Charities Hub” co-owned by the Webb Kingpin Foundation and Reading Rotary Community Projects. The episode details how the charity Number 5 will act as the lead tenant, giving them the physical space needed to expand their essential community operations while managing day-to-day facilities. Peter and Tony explain that alongside property support, the organisation provides fast-turnaround, accessible grants ranging from £250 to £1,000 for local causes.
Finally, the discussion covers the broader growth plans for Reading Rotary Community Projects and the vital role of volunteer skill-sharing. Tony reflects on the strong community impact of their micro-grants and concludes by issuing a call for younger, digitally skilled professionals to join the Reading Rotary Club to help modernise its operations.
Reading Rotary Club website: readingrotary.co.uk/
If you are a Reading-based charity that requires a small grant, you can apply for one from the Reading Rotary Club:
Reading Rotary Club Grants Application Process
Listen to the episode
Episode Time Codes
00:00 Welcome to Peter and Tony
00:40 Background to how Reading Rotary Club are helping charities with properties
01:32 How Reading Rotary club can help local charities (with their property issues)
03:37 Reading Rotary Community Projects’ first property purchase
05:46 Peter’s background in property
06:14 The challenges faced by local charities and how Reading property’s portfolio helps them
07:26 About Webb King Pin Foundation
08:24 About the application process when applying for grants
09:52 Welcome to Tony Cowling
10:11 How Tony got involved with Reading Rotary Club and Reading Rotary Community Projects
10:34 Why Reading Rotary Community Projects is unique
11:22 Why it’s taken a while to get Reading Charities Hub off the ground
11:55 How Reading Charities Hub will function
13:28 What else Reading Rotary Community Projects offers (grant applications)
14:50 What happens to the income from the Reading Charities Hub
15:27 Examples of grants awarded to local groups
16:26 The number of good causes across Reading
17:26 Reading Rotary gives away £30k a year to local causes & its local impact
18:42 How Reading Rotary Club is looking to develop and bring in diverse audiences
20:57 Closing thoughts
Videos
How Reading Charities Hub will Operate
Reading Rotary Club Application Process
How Reading Rotary Club Helps Local Causes
How Reading Rotary Club Helps Local Causes
Key takeaways
Sustainable Community Investment: Discover how Reading Rotary Community Projects leverages real estate and business acumen to build self-sustaining funding streams, reinvesting 100% of property yields back into the local area.
Frictionless Funding Access: Learn how local organisations can bypass lengthy, complex grant applications through an accessible 10-minute online form designed to deliver rapid, low-barrier support.
The Power of Corporate Skill-Sharing: See how professionals use their core business skills to solve operational challenges for charities and drive high-impact community growth.
References
Other podcast episodes relevant to this podcast include the following episodes: an interview with Abbie Trussler from No.5 (the charity who will be lead tennant in Reading Charities Hub); an interview with Tony Cowling and Stuart Ward from Inside the Reading Library of Things; an interview with Tony Cowling & Tricia Marcousé from Draughtbusters.
References
Ep.41 It’s Ok To Not Be Ok: No. 5’s Support for Young People
With Abbie Trussler
In this episode, Abbie Trussler, the Communications Officer at No. 5 Young People, discusses this local charity in Reading that provides free counselling and support services to young people. Abbie shares her personal…
References
Ep.59 Inside the Reading Library of Things
With Tony Cowling & Stuart Ward
In this episode, Tony Cowling and Stuart Ward shine a light on the Reading Library of Things. The two founders discuss how the Library of Things adds...
References
Ep.72 How to build an impactful & scalable community model
With Tony Cowling & Tricia Marcousé
This episode features Tony Cowling and Tricia Marcousé of Draughtbusters, a community group dedicated to draught proofing the homes of people in energy poverty. Originating from a…