by [email protected] | Jun 6, 2024 | History, Intergenerational, Oral history, Our history, Slough, Social Action, Youth Work
Today we commemorate the 80th anniversary of D-Day. Also known as Operation Overlord, D-Day took place on 6 June, 1944 during the Second World War. Allied forces landed in Normandy, France to begin the liberation of Europe. This huge attack helped free mainland Europe from Nazi control. Thousands of people worked together to start the fight that eventually led to the end of the war.
Together As One (Aik Saath) has undertaken two oral history projects focused on remembering the contributions of communities whose efforts in both world wars have often been under-represented – the United Indian Ex-servicemen of Slough (Remembering Forgotten Heroes, 2005) and the contribution of Polish aircrew (17,000 Reasons to Remember, 2017).
Remembering D-Day
Young people recording the story of Stanislaw Nawarski as part of 17,000 Reasons to Remember, listened as he shared the story of his involvement in D-Day operations as part of 302 Squadron.
Young people interview Stanislaw Nawarski DFC at Bentley Priory Museum.
He was told on the evening of the 5 June that they were being transferred to Tangmere – it was not until take-off that they were told they would be taking part in the D-Day operations. The role of the fighter pilots was to patrol the French coast and protect the Allied soldiers who were landing on the beaches of Normandy by making sure enemy aircraft could not get close enough to attack.
Download the Exhibitions
by [email protected] | May 13, 2024 | CEO's blog, Racism, Safeguarding, Youth Work
Meeting Jay Blades
The realisation that Jay Blades from BBC’s The Repair Shop was the same person I had met on Slough High Street in the early noughties came to me gradually. During that time he was collaborating on a project called Street Dreams with his partner at the time, Jade. Though I can’t recall the exact reason for our initial meeting, I remember it being an energetic conversation – we had a lot of common ground, both being involved in the running of similar organisations. I believe our meeting occurred because various community safety departments and Thames Valley Police shared the view that both Together As One (formerly Aik Saath) in Berkshire and Street Dreams in Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire were engaged in innovative work at ‘the grassroots.’
Making It
Reflecting on how Jay and I, both youth workers then, had divergent career paths over the following decade, I stumbled upon Jay’s biography by chance in a bookstore recently. As I leafed through its pages, memories of our meeting flooded back, highlighting the closeness of our worlds at one point. Intriguingly, while learning about Jay’s evolution from a youth worker to a TV personality was captivating, it was his account of enduring racism and violence that truly astonished me. His book vividly portrays how racism significantly altered the trajectory of his life.
In “Making It: How Love, Kindness and Community Helped Me Repair My Life,” Jay recounts how his primary school provided a nurturing environment amidst challenges, while his secondary school was marred by relentless racial violence. Jay’s response to this aggression, juxtaposed with his dyslexia and the education system’s lack of support, paints a poignant picture of his struggles. While Jay met force with force, his friend Iqbal was victimised again and again. Jay turned away from formal learning and towards fighting – “you love what you’re good at,” he observes. His secondary education, fraught with racism, not only altered his life but also exposed him to long-term physical and mental risks.
With over 25 years of experience in confronting racism as an organisation, we recognise that Jay’s experiences are sadly not unique. Rather, they serve as a compelling case study of how hatred can derail the lives of young people.
A Fresh Perspective on Contextual Safeguarding
My immersion in Jay’s biography coincided with the release of “Protecting Young Black Lives, Celebrating Black Professionals,” a research report from Cumberland Lodge, Power the Fight, and the Contextual Safeguarding Research Programme at Durham University. This report sheds light on issues compromising the safety of young Black individuals and acknowledges the contributions of Black professionals dedicated to their protection. Crucially, it emphasises the necessity of recognising racism as a safeguarding issue and its impact on the welfare of Black youth and professionals supporting them.
Contextual safeguarding acknowledges the influence of various environments on young people outside their family, including school, community, peer groups, and online platforms. While training typically focuses on identifying challenges like criminal exploitation and knife crime, racism is often overlooked as a factor. The report underscores the importance of considering racism within the framework of contextual safeguarding, particularly given its pervasive impact on young Black lives.
The report reveals the myriad ways in which the safety of young Black individuals is compromised, directly and indirectly, by societal institutions meant to protect them. Reflecting on Jay’s biography and the obstacles he overcame, it is evident that racism must be central to discussions surrounding contextual safeguarding. Jay’s harrowing experiences during his secondary education underscore the urgency of addressing racism as a critical safeguarding issue in our efforts to protect young lives.
by [email protected] | May 1, 2024 | Cohesion, Creativity, Diversity, Slough
Anyone driving down the A4 Bath Road would struggle not to notice the rejuvenated frontage of Dukes House, part of the Queensmere Shopping Centre. For a long time it has had the appearance of an abandoned building. Not a good advert for Slough at all!
In its place,
Slough Hub have supported local photographer and smart phone photography advocate,
Mike Swift, to create something sensational and we are proud to have contributed to it.
Dukes House now proudly displays 44 portrait images captured by 10 smartphone photographers. Furthermore, each portrait represents a different language or dialect spoken in Slough, with the word “WELCOME” displayed underneath in the corresponding language.
Mike shared his vision with young people at Together As One and our young volunteers were inspired to share their welcome in languages as diverse as Tamil, Malayalam and Ga.
Together As One volunteers say ‘welcome.’
Once Mike had explained what he was striving to achieve we asked “so who speaks a different language and would be willing to be in the exhibition?” Ayra asked, “does sign language count?” Yes it does, Ayra! We are very proud to have a group of young people that is both diverse and inclusive.
Ayra and the signs for welcome
We would like to congratulate Mike and the team at Slough Hub for creating such a beautiful welcome to our town and to thank our young volunteers for being so enthusiastic about the project. In a world where division is all too common, visible signs of our togetherness have rarely been so welcome.
by [email protected] | Apr 25, 2024 | Beekeeping, Cohesion, Diversity, Intergenerational, Volunteering, Youth Work
2024 has been an exhilarating year for Together As One, with our beekeeping project standing out as a highlight. If you’ve been following our updates, you might remember our announcement in January about this exciting venture. In essence, after a series of enlightening environmental workshops, the young individuals we serve expressed their desire to engage in beekeeping. Their motivations were clear: they sought to aid pollinators, deepen their connection with nature, and produce honey, especially for those facing financial difficulties.
As previously mentioned, the Chalfonts Beekeepers’ Society showed exceptional interest in assisting us in expanding our knowledge. Fast forward three months, and we’ve completed the theoretical aspect of our training.
Young volunteers taking part in the beekeeping course.
Our Journey
Every Wednesday evening, our young beekeepers eagerly boarded a minibus in Slough and journeyed to Ley Hill Cricket Club in the Buckinghamshire countryside. Here, the team from the Chalfonts Beekeepers’ Society has provided us with invaluable insights into beekeeping, gradually building our expertise week by week, as detailed in Sarah Peterson’s course overview (see table below).
The Beekeeping Curriculum
Demography
We’re proud to say that our young beekeepers reflect the wonderfully diverse community of Slough. On average, 13 participants attended each session, with an average age of 16. Among them, we have a balanced mix of genders and a wide range of abilities, backgrounds and challenges. These have included individuals with learning disabilities, physical disabilities, poor mental health, depression/anxiety, and autism. The 16 participants come from 9 different ethnic backgrounds with mixed White British and Caribbean the most prevalent.
Young participants make beeswax candles
What happens in the brood box, stays in the brood box!
The training we received has helped place our beekeeping efforts within a historical context, enlightening us that our endeavours are part of a long-standing tradition refined over millennia. For instance, during one session, we delved into the concept of ‘bee space,’ pioneered by American clergyman Lorenzo Lorraine Langstroth. This concept defines the minimum distance bees require to move around and prevent sealing (typically between 4.5 mm and 9 mm).
Owen and Aarez put a hive together.
The contributions of figures like Pastor Langstroth have influenced the development of hive designs with varying levels of complexity and durability. With Chalfonts Beekeepers’ Society, we’ve learned about ‘the National.’ In this design, the brood box serves as the hub of activity, where nectar is transformed into honey, and eggs develop into larvae before maturing into bees. Additionally, a Queen excluder serves its purpose by preventing the Queen from accessing the upper portion of the hive, where a super holds frames for storing honey.
Game of Drones
Bee reproduction has fascinated us. We were educated early on that there are three key types of bee: the queen, workers and drones – the former two are females and the latter are males. Drones are there for one thing only – reproduction. Because of their very limited role, they are not sustained through winter. Come Autumn, they leave the hive for the final time – apparently some leave of their own volition while others are bundled out by helpful workers!
Young volunteers examine some bees.
Realising that drones are only there for one thing and the queen lays them, some of us started to shift uneasily in our seats. However, we found out the drones exist to fertilise queens from other hives. How do they locate them? They gather in Drone Congregation Areas (DCAs). What factors contribute to a successful DCA? This remains largely unknown. There are still aspects of these remarkable insects that elude our understanding.
Modelling Disagreement
One of the things about beekeeping which came across very clearly is how differences of opinion are both accepted and embraced. We were informed that if you take five beekeepers and ask them a question about beekeeping, you’ll probably get five different answers. One of the things we saw on a weekly basis is beekeepers disagreeing yet still being accepting and respectful of each other.
Next Steps
In a way, Together As One and Chalfont Beekeepers’ Society have come together to establish our own hive at Ley Hill Cricket Club – everyone has been working in unison and with a clarity of purpose which characterises how hives work. Every member of our youth group acknowledges that beekeeping is a remarkable endeavour, and we’ve been greatly inspired by our tutors, who have been so dedicated to educating us. The kindness we’ve been shown, and the evident passion and dedication of the society have left a lasting impression on us all. As we prepare to begin the practical aspect of our course, we want to express our heartfelt gratitude to everyone at the society for their generous commitment to beekeeping and their kindness toward our young volunteers.
by [email protected] | Apr 23, 2024 | Cohesion, In praise of..., Intergenerational, Slough
On Thursday, we had the privilege of joining the members of Slough 50plus Forum as they celebrated their 25th anniversary at Trinity Church. Led by Chair Marcia Wright, the event highlighted the group’s resilience over the years. Over the course of a quarter century, the group has been a consistent voice for Slough’s older residents.
We have been fortunate to have had the opportunity to collaborate with the Slough 50plus Forum, fostering connections between different generations within the community. Our involvement has included a range of activities such as team-building exercises, artistic endeavours, sharing memories, and playing board games. We’re eagerly anticipating hosting a summer tea party for forum members.
At the anniversary celebration, we were honoured to share our thoughts. Intern Owen Domoney expressed how much he personally gained from engaging with forum members, particularly noting the unique connection it offers to those lacking access to grandparents due to distance or loss. Our CEO, Rob Deeks, praised the forum’s role in enhancing Slough’s social fabric by combating loneliness and providing a platform for outreach to older residents. He also commended Marcia and her committee for their unwavering dedication to sustaining the forum despite the numerous challenges faced by all community groups.
The event also featured speeches from Council Leader Dexter Smith, Slough Mayor Councillor Amjad Abbasi, and a captivating spoken word poetry performance by forum member Dolly Baskaran.
We look forward to continuing our journey of collaboration with the remarkable people constituting Slough’s 50plus Forum, and extend our heartfelt wishes for many more successful years ahead.
