SCAS colleagues Cosmina Fedescu, Paramedic and Lucy Thomas, Emergency Care Assistant recently delivered two community engagement sessions in Slough, working with students at Grove Academy and young people attending Chalvey Community Centre to increase awareness of emergency care and equip them with potentially life-saving skills.
The sessions formed part of SCAS’s ongoing commitment to reducing health inequalities by working alongside communities who may face barriers to accessing healthcare. Through interactive discussions and practical demonstrations, participants explored when to call 999, when to use NHS 111, the importance of early recognition of a medical emergency, CPR and the role of public access defibrillators (AEDs).
At Grove Academy, students quickly grew in confidence as the sessions progressed. Although many were initially reserved, they became increasingly engaged, asking questions and taking an active role in discussions. The practical CPR training proved particularly popular, with students responding positively to coaching on compression depth and rhythm and showing real enthusiasm for developing their skills.
The sessions directly reached 11 students from the target community, including seven students registered as Roma, three Eastern European Romanian speakers and one White Other European Romanian speaker, while also providing essential emergency care education to a further 78 students.
The school praised the sessions, commenting:
“I would like to thank you for organising this. It was really good for our students, and they saw the value of it. A massive thank you to Cosmina and Lucy – they were just fabulous! So enthusiastic, great with the students and a pleasure to have on site working with our children.”
The second session, held at Chalvey Community Centre with a Roma girls’ group, generated lively discussion from the outset. The young people were eager to ask questions about emergency services, healthcare and what happens when someone calls 999, creating valuable opportunities for open conversation and learning.
The session also provided useful insight into language and communication within the community. While some participants preferred to speak Romanian and others spoke Romani, the discussions highlighted the importance of tailoring engagement to the needs of each group and working closely with local partners to encourage confidence in accessing NHS services.
The girls embraced the practical CPR session with enthusiasm, demonstrating strong skills and confidence from the beginning. Their enjoyment of the session was evident, with several asking when Cosmina and Lucy could return for another visit.
Reflecting on the day, Cosmina said:
“It was fantastic to spend time with the young people at Grove Academy and Chalvey Community Centre. We wanted the sessions to be practical, welcoming and give everyone the confidence to know what to do in an emergency. What stood out most was how curious and engaged everyone became. There were so many thoughtful questions, particularly from the Roma girls’ group, and it was wonderful to see the enthusiasm they showed during the CPR training. Building trust within communities is just as important as teaching life-saving skills, and we’re looking forward to continuing these conversations in the future.”
The sessions demonstrate how partnership working and community engagement can help build confidence, break down barriers to healthcare and ensure more people have the knowledge and skills to respond in an emergency. They also form part of SCAS’s wider programme of work to improve health outcomes and reduce health inequalities across the communities it serves.