On Friday, 28 November 2025, over 500 primary school pupils from schools in Bracknell Forest gathered at Garth Hill College for Young Citizens Day – an event to inspire young people to become champions for a greener, sustainable future.
Young Citizens Day was led by Winkfield St. Mary’s Primary School (Headteacher Rachel Tomkins) and hosted at Garth Hill College (Headteacher Keith Grainger). Bracknell MP, Peter Swallow, and Sean Taylor, the High Sheriff of Bracknell, graced the event, joining pupils, educators, and community leaders in celebrating youth engagement and civic learning.
With 500+ Year 6 pupils and staff from Bracknell Forest primary schools attending, this event was the first of a kind in the area. Pupils from the local area benefitted from a day of citizenship learning, attending workshops on a range of themes such as good citizenship and volunteering; well-being and keeping safe; sustainability and climate action; and careers education.
The event aimed to broaden children’s understanding of sustainability, empower responsible choices, and inspire them to become champions for a greener future. It also introduced them to a wide range of career paths and community roles, helping them envision their place in society. Young Citizens Day provided pupils with a vibrant mix of interactive workshops and career stands – it was a dynamic event designed to inspire, educate, and empower the next generation of active, responsible citizens.
This initiative was proudly supported by local schools and community partners, including Berkshire Careers Hub and The Skills and Business Hub, with thanks to Harrisons for their support too – all working together to ensure every child has the opportunity to explore their potential and understand the power of their voice in shaping the future. Some of the participating organisations included: Berkshire Careers Hub, The Skills and Business Hub, Harrisons Catering (sponsoring refreshments), NHS Frimley Healthcare Trust, HealthReach, Royal Berkshire Fire & Rescue Service, Thames Valley Police, Women’s Rugby, horticulture experts, NASA, Network Rail, and RNLI. Students received memorable insights and practical information from a diverse range of workshops. Careers sessions delivered by the Police, NHS, NASA special effects artistry, and RNLI roles provided unique and exciting perspectives.
The event appeared to have had a significant impact on Year 6 students from Bracknell primary schools. Young people attending the Berkshire Careers Hub skills workshops in particular were able to identify their existing skills, understand how these skills can support future career pathways, and gain confidence and inspiration for their next steps in education and employment.
The feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with participants praising the variety of workshops and the hands-on approach to skills development. We were blown away by the enthusiasm and engagement from both students and teachers. Their participation was a credit to the schools involved and demonstrated the value of early careers education.
Allison Giles, Strategic Careers Hub Lead, Berkshire Careers Hub
What’s next?
The aim is to make this an annual event to continue inspiring young people. Berkshire Careers Hub would love to explore opportunities to expand the range of industries represented.
Interested? Get in touch with Berkshire Careers Hub to find out how you can get involved.
Berkshire Careers Hub, in partnership with the Careers and Enterprise Company, is part of The Skills and Business Hub. We are a dynamic independent not-for-profit organisation, driven by purpose and passion to support the skills and business needs of Berkshire and beyond from classroom to boardroom. The Skills and Business Hub empowers businesses, individuals and communities with the skills, resources and networks they need to thrive. As a not-for-profit organisation we collaborate with businesses, educators, partners and key stakeholders to deliver flexible and agile solutions that drive impactful, local growth for our communities.
For all of the latest information about The Skills and Business Hub, explore the rest of our website skillsandbusinesshub.org. To get the latest updates on Berkshire Careers Hub, follow us on LinkedIn.
