Increasing accessibility through participation and volunteering

Our Participatory Advisory Group (PAG) members and volunteers contribute to the development and evolution of Brook’s services, resources and campaigns, ensuring that everything we do is accessible, inclusive and responsive to diverse needs.  The PAG members are at the heart of our governance structure with representation on the Brook Board. 

In 2024/25, we recruited over 40 people from across England, Wales and Scotland and, over the last 12 months, the groups have: 

• Contributed to the development of Brook’s new Healthy Relationships e-learning course .
• Presented at Brook’s 60th Celebration event. 
• Co-designed Brook’s Heavy Talk campaign on heavy menstrual bleeding 
• Reviewed Brook’s new internal safeguarding training.
• Contributed to Brook’s policy work and consultation response to the draft RSHE guidance. 
• Collaborated with universities on research projects in the UK, Europe and Canada.  
• Created blogs, shared real stories and produced videos.  
• Volunteered at music festivals across the UK. 

It was so refreshing to be a part of something where I knew that when I spoke, I would be listened to. How wonderful it is to see a charity be so eager and proactive about hearing what service users have to say and then actually taking that on board and making those changes. I think that’s quite rare.”

Cassie, Participation Advisory Group Member