by [email protected] | Jan 10, 2026 | Events, Langley, Volunteering, Young people's voices, Youth Work
Tuesday marked a proud and meaningful evening as we gathered for Together As One’s Annual Presentation Night.
We celebrated over 100 remarkable young people who, in 2025 alone, have given back so generously to their communities, contributing an incredible 3,979 volunteer hours. Their dedication, compassion, and commitment truly reflect the values at the heart of Together As One.
The evening was brilliantly hosted by young people themselves, with Inaaya and Sameer doing a fantastic job of guiding the event. They kept the energy high, engaged the audience, and ran a lively quiz for the assembled guests reflecting on the year just passed, which was won fairly and squarely by the Mayor!
Our hosts, Inaaya and Sameer, with Mayor Siobhan Dauti
Memorial Awards
In addition to the fun and festivities, the night was deeply meaningful as we presented our two annual memorial awards, held in loving memory of our trustees Christine Boom and Ahmed Bafadhel.
Safa was honoured with the Christine Boom Award, while Melodie and Ramaé received the award in memory of Ahmed Bafadhel. We were especially grateful to Leila, Ahmed’s sister, for joining us to present this special award.
Leila Bafadhel presents Melodie and Ramaé with the Ahmed Bafadhel Award.
Mayor Siobhan Dauti presents Safa with the Christine Boom Memorial Award.
The night was punctuated by brilliant speeches from our young people, who reflected on their volunteering experiences, the impact they have made in their communities, and the personal growth they have achieved through giving back. Their words were inspiring and reminded everyone of the difference that committed, passionate young people can make.
Noor reflects on her volunteer journey in 2025.
The evening was brought to a close by our CEO, Rob Deeks, who celebrated the accomplishments of all the young volunteers and challenged them to aim even higher in the year ahead. His closing remarks reminded us that Together As One is not just about recognition, but about motivating the next generation to continue creating positive change.
Our sincere thanks go to the Mayor and Mayoress of Slough, Cllr Siobhan Dauti and Julie Siddiqi, for attending as our special guests and joining in the celebrations. We also extend heartfelt appreciation to Gurpreet at Langley College for generously hosting the event and helping make the evening so special.
Together As One’s Annual Presentation Night was a powerful celebration of recognition, remembrance, and community spirit – a vivid reminder of what can be achieved when we come together to support, celebrate, and uplift one another.
by [email protected] | Nov 12, 2025 | Langley, Slough, Youth Activities, Youth Work
We’re excited to announce the relaunch of Langley Youth Café – a fun, friendly, and safe space for young people aged 11–18 (or up to 25 with SEND) to hang out, learn new skills, and make new friends!
📍 Where: Kedermister Hall, Kedermister Park, Langley, SL3 7QD
🕠 When: Every Wednesday, 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM
19 November
26 November
3 December
10 December
Each week brings something different, from cooking and life skills to arts & crafts, table tennis, and gaming. Whether you want to chill, chat, or get creative, there’s always something new to try.
How to Join
It’s free to attend, but we ask everyone to complete a short form. This helps us obtain consent from a parent or carer, record important health information and collect emergency contact details. Once the form is complete, you can sign up to specific sessions, such as November’s smash burger making session here.
To find out more please contact Sanna at [email protected] | 07586 592521
Langley Youth Café is a voluntary youth provision, providing a safe and supportive space for young people to relax, socialise, and have fun. While we can’t make anyone stay, we make sure that everyone who joins us is safe, included, and enjoys their time.
by [email protected] | Oct 1, 2025 | In praise of..., Slough
This Friday marks the end of an era as Community and Diversity Officer Kulbir Brar retires from Thames Valley Police (TVP).
For more than 20 years, Kulbir has worked closely with Together As One, acting as the vital link between our organisation and TVP. Through times of great change, he has been the one constant, the trusted conduit for partnership work through a range of endeavours.
Over the years, at least seven Superintendents have passed through Slough. Each one found in Kulbir a guiding hand as they sought to navigate the complexities of a town as diverse as it is dynamic. Slough faces many of the same challenges as London, but without the same level of resources, and often, new leaders have been unprepared for its realities. Kulbir helped them understand the richness and complexity of the community, ensuring the police force became more culturally aware, competent, and responsive.
But Kulbir’s contribution went far beyond his official role. He worked hand in hand with our youth workers to proactively engage young people on issues of cohesion and policing. Always approachable, relatable and authentic, he became a positive face of policing, often in stark contrast to the experiences some young people had previously endured. He never hesitated to meet with seldom-heard communities, even when tensions or mistrust ran high. In schools, he addressed prejudice head-on, helping young people understand how their choices and behaviours could shape their futures.
Hate crime awareness posters displayed in Sri Guru Singh Sabha Gurdwara Slough, designed by young people, inspired by Kulbir (2013).
Kulbir also pioneered events to break down barriers between young people and the police. Among these was the innovative Slough Games, where young people and officers were mixed into competitive teams. This created opportunities to collaborate, compete side by side, and build bonds, helping both groups to see each other in a different light. Activities like these fostered respect, mutual understanding, and opened up possibilities for different relationships.
Young people from TAO participate in the Slough Games, Dorney Lake, 2012.
The trust we built with Kulbir during quieter times allowed us to respond with strength during moments of crisis. In 2011, during the riots, we worked side by side with him, holding daily meetings with young people to ensure dialogue with the police remained open, helping to ease tensions. Later, when the English Defence League came to Slough to sow division, it was Kulbir’s careful orchestration of partnership work that helped ensure the event passed peacefully, with barely an arrest.
Our CEO, Rob, recalls working alongside Kulbir through the Independent Advisory Group. At the start of each meeting, members signed a pledge to uphold the Nolan Principles: selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty, and leadership. Rob reflects that Kulbir embodied these values completely. He not only held himself to those standards, but also encouraged TVP and all of us to do the same.
Fellow IAG member and community activist, Shaida Akbar, also paid tribute: “Kulbir has been an absolute powerhouse of positive strength and infectious vibes for our entire Slough community – he had this extraordinary gift of beaming smiles even in the toughest of times. I wish him a bucketload of joy and warmth as he embarks on his retirement; he’s still got that youthful sparkle, and I’ve known him for a whopping 20 years!” Rev Linda Hillier recalls Kulbir’s capacity to bring groups together to resolve conflict and commented “I feel privileged to know him in his work and thank him for sharing his work with humour, care for all and a dedication to the diverse community of Slough. I hope he enjoys a long, contented and enjoyable retirement.”
Yet professionalism never overshadowed Kulbir’s personality. At one of the many youth events we hosted, young people asked local leaders to describe Slough in three words. Kulbir’s response? “Not that bad.” It was a light-hearted moment, but it captured his grounded, realistic perspective: acknowledging Slough’s challenges while also recognising its strengths and its unfair reputation.
Kulbir deserved a medal, and he received one. Despite his efforts to keep a low profile, he was recognised in the 2018 New Year Honours with the British Empire Medal (BEM) for services to community cohesion.
Kulbir, thank you for being a steadfast friend to Together As One. It has been a privilege to work alongside you, and to share in the journey of building a more cohesive community. We wish you every happiness in your retirement.
by [email protected] | Sep 25, 2025 | Health, Jobs, Mental Health, Slough, Youth Work
Job Title: Boost Worker
Location: Slough (site-based, community settings, and travel across Slough)
Host Organisation: Together As One, working in partnership with Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust’s CAMHS
Hours: Sessional – flexible, agreed based on your availability and young person’s needs
Contract Type: Casual contract with no set weekly hours
Salary: £11–£13 per hour (depending on experience)
Responsible to: Mental Health Youth Work Project Co-ordinator
DBS Requirement: Enhanced
About the Role
This is an exciting opportunity to join Together As One’s Boost project, working with young people in Slough who are under the care of Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust’s Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS).
Boost provides additional emotional and practical support for young people with more complex mental health needs, either waiting for or currently accessing help from CAMHS. Working alongside clinical staff, the project offers a personalised, person-centred approach that combines youth work values with therapeutic input.
As a Boost Worker, you will deliver one-to-one well-being sessions, help young people set and achieve recovery-focused goals, and connect them to positive activities in the community. You will be part of a supportive and creative team where new ideas and evidence-based approaches are encouraged.
Important note: Applicants must be aged 18 or over to apply for this position.
Key Responsibilities
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Provide mental health and well-being support through one-to-one sessions, groups, and outreach.
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Help young people identify needs, set Goal Based Outcomes (GBOs), and develop personal support plans.
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Use youth work values and appropriate methods to support resilience, recovery, and well-being.
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Promote volunteering, peer mentoring, and youth activities to increase young people’s participation.
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Attend multi-agency meetings and advocate for young people where appropriate.
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Keep high-quality, coherent records in line with NHS and Together As One protocols.
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Communicate regularly with CAMHS colleagues to ensure a seamless pathway of support.
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Follow safeguarding, risk management, and data protection policies at all times.
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Manage a caseload, prioritising according to young people’s needs and risks.
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Participate in supervision, training, and reflective practice.
Person Specification
Essential
- Strong communication skills and experience of supporting young people’s emotional wellbeing.
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Knowledge of safeguarding children and adults.
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Ability to work collaboratively within a small team and with NHS colleagues.
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Commitment to using data and outcomes to inform practice.
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Flexibility to work evenings and occasional weekends.
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Strong time management and organisational skills.
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Able to travel locally for the role.
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Commitment to professional development.
Desirable
- Qualification in Mental Health, Youth Work, Child & Youth Work, Social Services, or equivalent (NYA-validated or similar).
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Experience working with safeguarding and risk management.
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Experience of liaising with a wide range of agencies.
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Knowledge of mental health difficulties and wider determinants of health.
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Knowledge of child development, wellbeing, and mental health.
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Awareness of Gillick competence and consent issues.
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Knowledge of mental health legislation.
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Ability to reflect, adapt, and take appropriate action to manage risk.
What We Offer
At Together As One, we believe in looking after our staff as well as the young people we serve. As part of the Boost team, you can expect:
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The opportunity to be part of an innovative partnership between the NHS and the voluntary sector.
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Regular supervision and support from senior staff and clinical colleagues.
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Ongoing training and development to help you build your skills and confidence.
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A flexible role that fits around your other commitments.
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A supportive, creative team culture that values peer support, new ideas, and shared learning.
Our staff consistently tell us that TAO is a great place to work. From our most recent staff survey (2025):
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Connection to purpose: average rating of 4.8 out of 5 for feeling connected to our mission and values.
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Feeling valued: 80% said their work is always recognised and appreciated by managers.
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Inclusive culture: 90% said they always feel respected and included.
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Wellbeing support: rated 4.4 out of 5 by staff.
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Growth and development: 80% felt they had opportunities for professional growth at TAO.
When you join us, you’ll become part of a motivated, collaborative team that is deeply committed to supporting young people — and equally committed to ensuring your wellbeing and development.
Our Commitment to Safeguarding
Together As One is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
The role is subject to a safer recruitment process, including an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and barred list check. Identity checks, reference checks (including from the most recent employer where the role involved working with children, where possible), and employment history checks will also be carried out before appointment.
Safeguarding is a core responsibility of this role.
Our Commitment to Inclusion
Together As One is committed to creating an organisation where everyone feels they belong. We celebrate diversity and actively welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, including those from the global majority, disabled people, LGBTQ+ individuals, and those with lived experience of mental health challenges.
We believe that diversity strengthens our team and enriches the work we do with young people.
How to Apply
To apply, please send a CV and covering letter to [email protected]
If you would like an informal chat about the role before applying, please contact Aida on 07922 422576
Closing date: Friday 10th October
Interviews: Friday 17th October
The Boost Team in 2024
by [email protected] | Sep 16, 2025 | Creativity, Events, Slough, Spoken Word
Slough, 13 September 2025 – Over 50 people braved heavy rain to attend Poetry in the Park in Salt Hill Park on Friday 12 September, proving that a little bad weather can’t dampen the town’s creative spirit.
The event, organised by Together As One, brought together 15 talented artists, including poets, rappers, and singers, who performed original work to an enthusiastic audience. Despite the drizzle, attendees gathered under umbrellas and gazebos to enjoy an evening of spoken word, music, laughter, and inspiration. Thankfully, the skies even rewarded their perseverance with a spectacular double rainbow, adding a magical touch to the evening.
The event was hosted by acclaimed poet Desree Gumbs-Carty, fresh from a Glastonbury appearance and with her latest book, Altar, recently shortlisted for a prestigious award. Desree’s warmth and charisma kept spirits high, even as the rain came down.
“Poetry In The Park was a powerful reminder of how vital community is right now, and what it means to truly listen to one another,” said Desree. “Even through the rain, a wealth of poets, musicians, and wordsmiths shared their incredible storytelling, sheltering us from the weather with their words – perfectly crowned by the double rainbow that seemingly appeared just for us.”
Many of the featured artists are regulars at The Curve Slough’s monthly Open Mic Night, providing another opportunity for the community to enjoy live poetry and performance. Details of upcoming open mic events can be found at:
curvevenue.uk/events/slough-open-mic.
Poetry in the Park was funded by Arts Council England as part of Slough’s Cultural Revival – a programme designed to deliver the town’s wider Cultural Strategy by making culture more inclusive, community-driven, and rooted in Slough’s identity and regeneration plans.
“Seeing so many people come out and support local talent, even in the rain, was incredible,” said Rob Deeks, CEO of Together As One. “Slough is a hotbed of creativity, and the range of performers reflected the rich diversity of our community. It was a night where people of all backgrounds came together to celebrate the power of words and music.”
Poetry in the Park is part of Together As One’s commitment to creating positive cultural experiences for people of all ages. The charity works year-round to bring the community together through arts, youth programmes, and social action initiatives.
For more information about community events or to get involved, visit sloughexplorer.org
