Project 1 - Community Art Collaborations for Slough's Public Institutions - During the financial year, Visual Art Studio CIC developed and delivered the Community Art Collaborations for Slough's Public Institutions project. This initiative brought together local artists, residents, volunteers and community groups in Slough to co-create inspiring and inclusive wall art displays celebrating the town's unique identity, cultural diversity and community spirit. The project was supported through grant funding of £3,000 (Three thousand pounds only) from Slough Council for Voluntary Services in two separate payments. The programme was designed to engage a wide range of local people, including young people from primary and secondary schools, adults attending wellbeing-focused activities, people with SEND and neurodivergent needs, families, GP referrals, refugees and asylum seekers and members of the wider community. Workshops were organised on a monthly basis at the Visual Art Centre in Slough, with four sessions per month held on different days and times to improve accessibility. Each session lasted approximately 1.5 - 2 hours and was delivered by professional artists and supported by trained volunteers from local secondary schools, colleges and the wider community. Participants worked together to develop ideas, share stories, design and create collaborative artworks including wall displays, textile hangings, mixed-media pieces and art installations. The completed artworks were intended to be donated to Slough-based public institutions, care homes and community spaces, creating a lasting legacy for the town. Key achievements of the project include: - Participant Engagement: Around 80 participants were expected to take part across the project, with workshops designed to encourage confidence, creativity and meaningful involvement. Community Impact: The project strengthened relationships between residents, public institutions, schools, charities, local businesses and community groups, supporting a stronger sense of belonging and pride in Slough. Skill Development: Participants developed practical art skills, teamwork, communication and confidence through collaborative artmaking. Legacy: The project created community-owned artworks for public spaces, helping to celebrate Slough's diversity and improve the cultural character of local institutions. This project contributed directly to Visual Art Studio CIC's mission of promoting inclusion, wellbeing, creativity and community connection through the arts. It also demonstrated how public art can bring people together, amplify community voices and create positive shared spaces. Project 2 - Mount Vernon Cancer Centre Community Conversation - During the financial year, Visual Art Studio CIC facilitated a community conversation as part of the Mount Vernon Cancer Centre consultation. This project was supported through a £750 microgrant (Seven hundred and fifty pounds only) to enable community-led conversations with people who may face barriers to taking part in traditional consultation meetings. The consultation session took place on 24th March 2026 at Suite 3, Gallery Level, Observatory Shopping Centre, Slough. Visual Art Studio CIC facilitated a focus group with 13 participants, and 13 participant consent forms were completed. The session was designed to create a welcoming and accessible environment where participants could openly share their views about access to cancer services, travel barriers, care closer to home and improvements needed for future cancer care provision. The focus group explored several important themes. Participants identified transport as one of the main barriers to accessing the proposed cancer centre, particularly for people who do not drive, elderly patients, vulnerable patients and those who may feel tired or unwell during treatment. Suggestions included reliable transport support, taxi vouchers, organised pick-up services, subsidised travel and affordable or free parking. Participants also highlighted the importance of physical accessibility, including wheelchair access, handrails and facilities suitable for people with mobility challenges. Participants supported the idea of care closer to home, provided it is delivered safely and with appropriate professional support. Key priorities included dignity, privacy, mental health support, strong aftercare, support for carers and families, and clear communication through a range of channels including GP surgeries, hospitals, emergency departments, local newspapers and social media. Key achievements of the project include: - Participant Engagement: 13 local participants contributed their views in a structured and supportive focus group setting. Community Impact: The project enabled voices from the Slough community to be included in the wider Mount Vernon Cancer Centre consultation process. Inclusive Consultation: The session helped reduce barriers to participation by offering a local, familiar and accessible community venue. Service Insight: Feedback highlighted practical recommendations around transport, parking, accessibility, aftercare, mental health support and communication. This project supported Visual Art Studio CIC's wider aim of using community spaces and trusted relationships to bring people together, encourage open discussion and ensure local voices are heard in decisions that affect health, wellbeing and public services.

Our stakeholders included local residents, children and young people, adults attending wellbeing activities, people with SEND and neurodivergent needs, families, refugees and asylum seekers, GP-referred participants, volunteers, schools, public institutions, charities, local businesses, community venues, Mount Vernon Cancer Centre consultation organisers, NHS England East of England through the listening exercise, and the wider Slough community. Stakeholder consultation took place throughout the year through planning discussions, informal conversations, workshop feedback, surveys, reflective activities and focus group discussion. For the Community Art Collaborations project, participants and partner institutions were involved in shaping project ideas, themes and final artworks so that the work reflected the identity and needs of each community group and host organisation. Feedback from participants was used to keep the sessions flexible, inclusive and accessible. For the Mount Vernon Cancer Centre Community Conversation, Visual Art Studio CIC facilitated a structured focus group where participants shared views on travel barriers, access to treatment, care closer to home, mental health support, aftercare, carers' needs and communication methods. The feedback was recorded and submitted to the consultation organisers so that community views could be analysed and included in the wider report. In response to stakeholder feedback, Visual Art Studio CIC continued to use a participant-led and community-centred approach. We adapted activities to different needs, provided a familiar and welcoming venue, encouraged open discussion, and ensured that participants' views were captured and shared with relevant partners. This helped strengthen transparency, inclusion and accountability in our community work.

No remuneration was received

No transfer of assets other than for full consideration