by [email protected] | Feb 28, 2026 | Britwell, Events, Participation, Social Action, Volunteering, Young people's voices, Youth Activities, Youth Work
Big Up Britwell 2 proved to be an outstanding success, with young people rating the event an impressive 4.56 out of 5. Building on the energy and impact of the first event, this second instalment brought together more than one hundred young participants for a day dedicated to health, empowerment and, most importantly, listening to the voices of young people.
Hosted at the fantastic Britwell Youth and Community Centre, the event was made possible through funding from Get Berkshire Active. Their support enabled a vibrant and inclusive space where young people could get active, learn new skills and share their perspectives on issues that matter to them.
Intrinsic to the success of the day was the way it had been planned in every aspect through genuine co-production with young volunteers. From the activities on offer to the structure and flow of the event itself, everything reflected their ideas, priorities and vision. It is little wonder that the day resonated so strongly and held such fantastic appeal for the young people it was designed to serve. It was, quite simply, theirs.
Sport, Energy and New Experiences
Physical activity was at the heart of the day, with high-energy sessions delivered by inspiring local partners. Participants honed their skills on the court with TXL’s fast-paced basketball, stepped into the ring to learn boxing techniques with Bulldog Boxing, and developed their cricket abilities with Berkshire Cricket.
The energy extended beyond the playing field, too. BYCP’s fantastic music studio was open for a surprise session, proving to be an incredible hit as young people came together to sing and rap. The day then took a high-tech turn thanks to the wonderful team from Salt Hill VR, who transported participants into immersive digital worlds. More than just gaming, these virtual reality experiences offered a unique way to engage with new technology—building curiosity and providing a fun, shared experience that many were discovering for the very first time.
Collaborating in the studio
Food, Fun and Shrove Tuesday Celebrations
With the event taking place on Shrove Tuesday, food played a special role in the day’s activities. Young people rolled up their sleeves and got hands-on in the kitchen, creating their own delicious smash burgers under the guidance of Chef Kevin Muhammad (recipe below). They also prepared healthy pancakes, putting a nutritious twist on a much-loved tradition.
By combining cooking with conversation about healthier choices, the event reinforced the idea that wellbeing is holistic. It is about moving well, eating well and feeling heard.
Listening to Young Voices
A defining feature of Big Up Britwell 2 was its commitment to meaningful youth engagement, ensuring that young people were not only participants but decision-makers. The listening element of the event was delivered by Slough Youth Parliament, providing a platform for young people to express their views, share their experiences and influence the conversations shaping their community.
This was not simply an event for young people. It was an event shaped by them.
A Community Effort
Big Up Britwell 2 demonstrated what can be achieved when organisations, funders and community spaces collaborate with a shared purpose. The turnout of over one hundred young people, coupled with such high satisfaction ratings, speaks volumes about the appetite for spaces that combine activity, creativity and authentic dialogue.
As the momentum continues to grow, Big Up Britwell stands as a powerful reminder that when young people are trusted, empowered and genuinely heard, the results are extraordinary.
Big Up Britwell Smash Burger “Secret” Recipe
Ingredients (per burger)
1 tsp all-purpose seasoning
1 tsp garlic powder
½ tsp ground cumin
½ tsp ground coriander
1 tsp breadcrumbs
1 tsp beaten egg
Pinch of chilli flakes
Pinch of black pepper
Optional: pinch of fresh coriander
Instructions
Mix the ingredients
In a bowl, combine all ingredients until evenly mixed.
Shape into a ball
Form the mixture into a compact ball.
Heat the pan
Place a frying pan over medium-high heat.
Prepare the surface
Place a small piece of greaseproof paper over the ball and press down firmly with a masher (or heavy spatula) to create a thin smash burger patty.
Cook
Fry for about 3 minutes on each side, or until nicely browned and cooked through.
To Serve
Place cheese on top of the patty just before it finishes cooking so it melts.
Add to a burger bun.
Spoon over the pan juices.
Finish with your favourite sauce.
by [email protected] | Jan 26, 2026 | Mental Health, Participation, RBWM, Slough, Social Action, Young people's voices
Since 2018, Together As One has been delivering the Young Health Champions (YHC) programme on behalf of Frimley Integrated Care Board (ICB). The programme supports young people to become confident, informed advocates for positive mental health, while ensuring their lived experiences help shape local health services.
The scheme is underpinned by a nationally recognised qualification accredited by the Royal Society for Public Health. Through this qualification, young people learn about public health and mental health, and are supported to design and deliver their own health improvement messages to peers and wider communities.
Secret Shopping Local Health Services
A key strength of the Young Health Champions programme is its emphasis on meaningful engagement with real services. Young people explore local health provision, building confidence to access and signpost to support, while developing an informed understanding of service delivery and opportunities for improvement from a young person’s perspective.
As part of our delivery in Slough, and with the support of Frimley ICB, Together As One is able to ensure that young people’s feedback is shared not only with commissioners, but also directly with the services themselves. This creates a clear feedback loop, helping services understand young people’s experiences and supporting commissioners to drive improvement across the system.
You Said, We Listened, We Did
This year, 30 students from ten local schools took part in the programme. As part of their qualification, the young people carried out a “secret shopping” exercise across eight local health services, including CAMHS and Number 22. They explored issues such as accessibility, communication, clarity of information, and how welcoming and youth-friendly services felt.
Crucially, their feedback has been heard and acted upon.
As a direct result of the Young Health Champions’ insights, both commissioners and services have made changes to improve how young people experience and access support. This demonstrates the powerful impact young people can have when their voices are listened to, valued, and taken seriously.
Below is a summary of the changes that have been implemented as a direct consequence of their work – a clear example of You said. We listened. We did.
For a comprehensive summary of the feedback and associated service improvements, please click here: YHCs: You said, We listened, We did
| Service |
YHCs said |
We did |
Next steps |
| Youth Stop Vaping |
Hard to find information, unclear access, poor digital communication |
Created a clear youth vaping web hub and explored new referral routes |
Improve responsiveness, tone and digital access |
| Kooth |
Young people felt the referral process was long, confusing and slow to follow up |
Moved from Integrated Digital Pathway (IDP) to core Kooth.com pathway and introduced SMS contact |
Monitor engagement and improve continuity |
| Number 22 |
Clear service and website but unclear crisis support |
Refocused on counselling capacity and clearer signposting |
Grow face-to-face and community work |
| The Garden Clinic |
Website unclear, privacy concerns, limited youth engagement |
Updating website, expanding social media, creation of the Youth Patient Forum |
Engage more young people through Youth Patient Forum |
| CAMHS |
Difficult to find East Berkshire CAMHS site and complete referrals |
Shared feedback to inform wider Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust (BHFT) website redesign |
Improve visibility, form clarity and usability |
| Getting Help Team (CAMHS) |
Referral form confusing, jargon-heavy, form didn’t display well on phones |
The referral form is now accessible directly from the CAMHS Getting Help Team page on the BHFT website |
Reduce jargon and strengthen awareness of service |
by [email protected] | Jan 15, 2026 | Jobs, Participation, Special Educational Needs and Disabilities SEND, Young people's voices
Location: Slough (Hybrid)
Salary: £29,000 per year
Contract: Full-time, 18-month fixed term
Closing Date: 2 February 2026 at 17:00
Together As One is a youth-focused charity committed to empowering young people and strengthening community inclusion across Slough and surrounding areas. We’re currently seeking a passionate SEND Engagement and Participation Officer to join our team and champion the voices of children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).
About the Role
As the SEND Engagement and Participation Officer, you will:
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Develop and embed participation processes for children and young people (CYP) with SEND across Slough.
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Empower young people with SEND to influence service planning, delivery, evaluation and local policy.
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Work collaboratively with education, health, social care, voluntary sector partners, families and carers to promote inclusive engagement.
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Co-produce participation opportunities to ensure SEND CYP have meaningful input into services that affect them.
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Use face-to-face and digital engagement methods to reach diverse young people with SEND.
This is a specialist role requiring experience of working with CYP with SEND, knowledge of reasonable adjustments, safeguarding, service design and co-production, and strong communication skills.
Key Responsibilities
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Build and coordinate networks of participation and co-production across Slough.
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Act as an advocate for the rights of SEND young people in decision-making forums.
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Support diverse communication needs to enable meaningful participation.
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Promote inclusive practices and challenge under-representation and bias.
Person Specification
We’re looking for someone who:
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Has a strong understanding of SEND needs and inclusive participation practice.
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Can build positive, empathetic relationships with young people and their families.
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Is creative and confident in both face-to-face and digital engagement.
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Is committed to equality, diversity and accessibility in service design and delivery.
Together As One is proud to support equality, diversity and inclusion throughout recruitment and welcomes applications from candidates with SEND.
👉 Apply before: 2 February 2026 at 17:00
For more information and to apply, please visit Charity Job.
