Rapid Reads | 2engage | Newsletter Spring 2026

2engage are proud to have received an award from The High Sheriff of Cheshire in recognition of great and valuable services to the community.

The award was presented at a celebration evening marking 27 years of Cheshire Crimebeat – a charity dedicated to helping young people undertake projects in support of their community.

During the evening, we heard from inspiring organisations that place young people at the heart of improving local quality of life.

We also shared how Cheshire Crimebeat’s support for our “Snap Trap” e-safety session is helping us continue to make a real difference by empowering children across Cheshire to stay safe online. Learn more here: https://highsheriffofcheshire.co.uk/blog/2026/03/09/cheshire-crimebeat-celebration-evening/

We would like to thank The High Sheriff and Cheshire Crimebeat for the recognition and for supporting our work with young people across the county.

2engage collaborated with Cheshire Young Carers to deliver a five day tour of “The Mask Inside My Head” in schools across Cheshire.

“The Mask Inside My Head” is a powerful play written by Peter Cox which has been adapted by 2engage into a touring theatre production for schools.

The play is inspired by the real stories and experiences of young carers in Cheshire. It captures the reality of life as a young carer, the hidden pressures, the emotional ‘mask’ and the incredible strength young people show every day.

We are proud to have worked with Cheshire Young Carers on this important project, using theatre to help raise awareness, start conversations and make sure young carers are seen, supported, and understood within education.

In February, 2engage, supported by West Berkshire Council, brought back its impactful safeguarding session, Risking It All to West Berkshire.

This session toured secondary schools, and colleges shedding light on the plight of young individuals exploited by criminal gangs and perpetrators. The tour included an evening performance which was attended by parents and professionals.

Addressing key topics from the PSHE curriculum such as sexual and criminal exploitation, risk-taking behaviour and substance misuse, the session engages Year 9 audiences through theatre and discussion.

The session started crucial conversations and received positive feedback from both students and staff. One teacher commented:

This is the third year that 2engage have delivered Risking It All to our Year 9s. The real-life stories are delivered in an engaging and impactful way with audible gasps from our pupils at points. This was a great message to remind and educate our pupils and to complement our RSHE curriculum. Thank you!

The 2engage team have been delivering their week-long communication training programme to first year student nurses at the University of Chester. The training took place across their three campuses in Chester, Birkenhead, and Warrington.

Through a series of hands-on, arts-based exercises and interactive activities, students developed and strengthened the core communication skills essential for effective nursing practice, all within a safe, supportive learning environment.

Key areas of focus included:

Active listening
Body language
Empathy
Resilience
Confidence
Conflict resolution
Breaking significant news
Recognising unconscious bias

Feedback from student nurses:

“2engage really managed to teach us to communicate through useful exercises ensuring I am able to retain the knowledge.”

“I gained a lot of confidence and was really pushed out of my comfort zone.”

“It’s built my awareness of how tone, body language, and language choices impact interactions, especially under pressure.”

“The activities are truly applicable to nursing and have taught me loads!”

“I feel like I’ve grown as a person and as a student nurse this week.”

2engage has been proud to deliver sessions as part of the Lived Experience Leadership Programme, led by Cheshire West Voluntary Action. This 12-week programme supports people with lived or living experience to develop both personal and professional skills.

The programme has been co-produced alongside people with lived and living experience, ensuring it is shaped by their insights. It is designed to allow people to share stories and to speak openly about their experiences.

Through this programme, participants develop the personal and professional skills that empower them in their lived experience roles and pave the way for future volunteering or paid work.

2engage delivered inclusive icebreaker sessions to help participants build friendships and get to know one another. We also facilitated storytelling sessions, supporting individuals to feel more confident and comfortable sharing their lived or living experience with others.

Grace Tolson (Creative Intern at 2engage) who has been supporting the sessions said:

“I have thoroughly enjoyed these sessions and getting to know each person. It has been so rewarding and interesting to hear people share their stories. Listening to peoples lived and living experiences has been very inspiring.”