Residents, community organisations, health and care professionals and local services came together at Chalvey Community Hub to explore how co-production can create more equitable support across Slough.
Slough’s Co-production Conference 2026 brought together 88 residents, carers, community representatives, service providers, Slough CVS, council and NHS staff, and members of the Co-production Network for a day focused on the theme “Equity in care.”
Held at Chalvey Community Hub on 8th September, the conference showcased how people with lived experience are helping to shape services, influence decision-making and create meaningful change across Slough.
The event was opened by Jane Senior, Director of Commissioning at Slough Borough Council, and Karen Evans, a Co-production Network volunteer and Co-chair of the Learning Disability Steering Group. They set a positive tone for the day by highlighting the importance of equity, lived experience and sharing power when designing and delivering services.
A range of projects demonstrated how co-production is already making a difference locally. Alexis Thomas, Angeline Gore and Jordan Butterfield presented Slough’s co-produced approach to supporting people living in temporary accommodation and people experiencing single homelessness with care needs. Their presentation showed how lived experience has helped shape more holistic and person-centred move-on support.
Kevin Barry reflected on the contribution of Co-production Network volunteers to the council’s Care Quality Commission (CQC) assessment, highlighting the improvements that can be achieved when residents are meaningfully involved in service development. Bernadette Bates also explored the important role of lived-experience representatives in recruiting senior adult social care leaders.
Keynote speakers Isaac Samuels OBE and Debora Mo explored how sharing power, valuing lived experience and tackling cumulative barriers can help create fairer social care. Their sessions reinforced the importance of moving beyond consultation towards genuine partnership with people and communities.
The conference also heard from Vickie Miller and peer mentors from Hope College, who focused on co-producing person-centred mental health systems through peer support and community-led solutions. Shingai Huwa and Sue Benford later demonstrated how Direct Payments can provide people with greater choice, control and independence, bringing together professional expertise and lived experience.
Community-led action was another key theme. James Parker showcased the impact of the #OneSlough Community Fund, while Zoe Deane-Jones explained how Thames Valley Positive Support has used funding from the initiative to support LGBTQ+ communities in Slough.
James Parker, Head of Projects & Resources at Slough CVS, said:
“The conference highlighted how collaboration and co-production can turn ideas into action, creating more equitable support for people across Slough. The conference also reinforced the importance of community-led solutions and the positive impact that can be achieved when residents, organisations and services work together to deliver meaningful change.”
Closing the conference, Jon Price, Executive Director for People – Adults and Housing, outlined how co-produced adult social care strategies and equality in commissioning can improve outcomes for residents.
The conference reaffirmed Slough’s commitment to closing gaps in services and ensuring that support is designed with people and communities, rather than simply for them.
By bringing together residents, professionals, community organisations and local services, the event demonstrated the strength of collaboration and the potential of co-production to turn lived experience into action and create lasting, positive change across Slough.