NHS and voluntary sector delegates gather for Celebrating Diversity event

Delegates from the voluntary sector and NHS gathered for a day of learning and enjoyed a global food experience and cultural performances at a Celebrating Diversity Event.

About 100 attendees came to Windsor Racecourse to enjoy food, entertainment and take part in a host of workshops from 9.45am to 3pm on Tuesday.

Organised by Slough Council for Voluntary Service (CVS), attendees were treated to a global food experience as well as a performance by 100 dancers from the Creative Academy.

On the menu prepared by Windsor Racecourse, was Moroccon cous cous salad, Japanese chicken gyozas, Greek salad and Norweigan mini rosti potato bites.

As part of Black History Month, Slough Lives Matter was remembered through a video showcasing the lives of people in the area who have experienced prejudice, and racism.

The workshops were run by Rosanne Naicker of Slough CVS and Alice Mpofu-Coles from the University of Reading.

They covered Unveiling the Richness of Faith and Culture, Race Inclusion; Refugees and Asylum Seekers: Bridging Differences, Celebrating Similarities; and Breaking Barriers: Embracing Disability Inclusion and Neurodiversity.

Panels, interactive discussions, quizzes and presentations featured as part of the workshops.

During the Breaking Barriers: Embracing Disability & Neurodiversity Inclusion workshop, Tanya Spears from the Autism Group discussed what neurodiversity is, what neurodivergent means, what intersectionality means, and why access to an autism diagnosis and support can be ‘more difficult’ for those from different ethnicities and cultures.

A member of Slough-based charity Together As One also shared his experience of living with autism.

Vicki Atherton, director of operations at Slough CVS, said: “The day was a great opportunity to celebrate the rich diversity across Slough, Windsor, Ascot and Maidenhead, with some powerful conversations about faith, culture, refugees and asylum seekers and disability/neurodiversity.

“Community groups and professionals came together to listen to expert panels and workshop together how we can all be leaders of change, to break down barriers to promote diversity and inclusion for all.”