By Julie Davis, Project Lead at WSHC The Moonrakers project demonstrates the power of creating welcoming spaces where people can connect, share experiences and develop a stronger sense of belonging.
By Janine Ford and Clare Middleton, Educafe Co-Directors. One of the strongest reflections arising from the Moonrakers project concerns the pressure placed on community leaders and small voluntary sector organisations.
Director’s message: celebrating 5 years of Educafe As Educafe marks its fifth anniversary, our Directors reflect on how a simple idea grew into a vibrant community space shaped by conversation,
We are delighted to share that funding has been granted to continue Educafe’s English language, employment and resettlement programmes into the new academic year. With enormous thanks to West Berkshire
We would like to begin with a huge thank you for being part of Educafe’s extraordinary journey over the last five years. How it all began Educafe started with a
On 8th July 2026, Educafe celebrated its 5th birthday with a special gathering at Newbury Library. With over 200 attendees, the party was a wonderful reflection of the strength, commitment, and spirit
5th birthday impact report published For the past five years, Educafe has been driven by a simple but powerful belief: when people are connected, supported and equipped with the right
Educafe’s Impact Intern, Daisy Stratton, explains how Parents Village’s impact extends beyond parenting support to build confidence, wellbeing and lasting community connections. Background Educafe’s Parent Village supports parents and
Educafe’s Impact Intern, Daisy Stratton, explains how Chatty Corner does more than just help people improve their English language. Background Educafe’s Chatty Corner supports individuals from a wide range of
Educafe’s impact intern, Daisy Stratton, is 24 years old and from Newbury. Daisy is currently a MSc Public Health (Global Health) student at King’s College London, and also has a BSc
Overview Educafe’s collaboration with Newbury College has created meaningful pathways for young people to gain real-world experience in a welcoming, community-led environment. Through structured placements, students are able to develop
A message from our Directors As Educafe celebrates its 5th birthday, Clare and Janine reflect on how far we’ve come, from a simple idea for a warm, welcoming community space
Overview Educafe has worked closely with local organisations including The Watermill Theatre, The Corn Exchange and the Newbury Spring Festival to help more people enjoy live arts and performances. By offering free
Progress update from new Educafe pilot at Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre The Moonrakers Educafe at the Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre continues to grow as a welcoming and creative
introduction At Educafe, we believe in creating spaces where people feel welcomed, supported, and empowered to grow. Emine’s journey is a powerful example of how community-led support can transform lives,
For the 5 years, Parent Village has become a lifeline for families navigating the early years of their child’s life. It’s a warm, welcoming space where parents can breathe, connect,
As we reach the end of another busy Educafe year, we are also preparing to celebrate a very special milestone: Educafe’s 5th birthday. Five years ago, Educafe began as a simple idea,
As we come to the end of another academic year, we are proud to reflect on the range of language support and resettlement learning Educafe has provided across 2025–2026. For
It’s not surprising the Chatty Corner is so successful since we now have around 35 amazing volunteers giving up their time to help our visitors. What’s more, we have a
At Educafe, everything we do starts with people. Whether it’s a conversation over coffee, an English language class, a wellbeing session, a visit to the parents’ village, or simply a safe place to
Message from the directors We hope you had a restful Easter break and look forward to welcoming you back to Newbury Library on Wednesday, 15th April. You’ll notice our refreshed
We hope you had a wonderful Easter break! We are refreshed and ready to see you all again at Newbury Library on Wednesday, April 15th. As you’ll notice, we’ve
Educafe began sowing the seeds for an idea we hoped would better support our diverse and vibrant local communities back in 2021. Since then, we have been establishing our roots
What is female community leadership? Women-led community leadership is not soft. It is not casual. It is not accidental. – It is strategic – It is skilled – It is operationally complex
These Child Safety Standards apply to all users of the Educafe Community App. Educafe CIC has zero tolerance for child sexual abuse and exploitation (CSAE) in any form. The
How Volunteering Strengthens Communities (and Ourselves) Volunteering is one of the most powerful forces for good in any community. It brings people together, nurtures connection, and builds resilience in ways
All about Chatty Corner – Educafe’s award-winning free, drop-in language support and resettlement service
Lighting the way… Resources for community builders At a time when many people feel disconnected, unheard or unsure where they belong, community spaces matter more than ever. Over the past
Overview Parent Village is a weekly, welcoming space for parents and carers with babies and young children. It brings families together at a time when many feel isolated, overwhelmed or
Subia Azmat, Parent Village Manager In November, we were facing one of the hardest moments since Parent Village began. We’ve had bumps along the way but this was a major crunch point. Funding had run out, we were drawing on
Creating more connection, support and belonging in communities
Since January, an ESOL group of Afghan, Turkish, Bangladeshi, Arabian and Syrian women has been meeting every week at Educafe. Together, they’ve progressed rapidly in their English acquisition and have
A huge salute to our community network Educafe has always been more than a café, for our team, our volunteers and visitors, and now for our growing network of partners
It has been a busy term so far in the Chatty Corner with over 40 chatters coming every week to practise their spoken English. So many different countries are represented
After years of pouring endless cups of tea, serving up delicious cakes, and greeting thousands of visitors with her trademark smile, our wonderful Cafe Manager Jules is finally hanging up
At Educafe, we’ve always believed that language is more than words, it’s connection, confidence and community. Over the past year, our Education Hub has continued to grow from strength to
Community Cafe Host Join our team! Do you love people, tea, and cake? Educafe is looking for a Volunteer Community Cafe Host to help make our weekly Wednesday cafe
Case Study: Ning – Chatter to Volunteer Background When Ning moved from Beijing, China to Newbury with her son, everything felt new and unfamiliar. She faced the challenge of learning
findings from OUR volunteer survey show the power of giving time to your community At Educafe, volunteers are not just part of what we do, they are the very heart
Is your teen heading into Year 10 or 11 this September? Do they need a boost in confidence, clear guidance and focused support to prepare for their GCSE English Literature
There’s something truly special about gathering with like-minded people to share stories, laughter and a love for crafting. At Educafe, our Knit and Natter group does just that, bringing together
At Parent Village, we believe that it takes a village to raise a child. In these precious, exhausting and sometimes isolating early years, every parent deserves to feel supported, connected
Dr Wenjin Dai describes where the idea for her maternity research came from and the power behind peer support at Educafe.
The Problem We’re Solving Every week at Educafe, we meet dozens of individuals from refugee and migrant backgrounds who are ready and eager to work. They bring with them a
At Educafe, we’ve spent the past four years doing something simple but radical: creating a space where people feel welcome, seen, and supported. Week after week, our community café opens
Why the UK Government should look to Educafe for inspiration A recent statement by a senior UK minister in The Guardian describes the civil service as “too remote from people’s
Educafe Spring Term Update 🌼 You can always guarantee you’ll be welcomed to Educafe by a team of smiling faces and this term has been no exception! We’ve seen a
On Wednesday the 19th of March a group of Educafe students paid a visit to the Newbury Museum where they learned about the prehistory of the area and more recently, its
The Chatty Corner continues to thrive. We regularly see over 40 chatters and our lovely volunteers are always there for them. It has been a joy to see so many
Unlock Your Potential with Educafe! Exciting Opportunity: Free English Courses for Beginners! Looking to improve your English and feel more confident in your community? Join our Beginner ESOL courses in
📣 Unlock Your Potential with Educafe! 📣 Join Our Accredited ESOL English Courses Take Your English to the Next Level! Are you looking to sharpen your writing skills and boost
Educafe is thrilled to announce that we have been awarded a five-year grant worth nearly £400,000 by The National Lottery’s Community Fund. The funding brings much-needed security to our
Written by Ms. D, a volunteer with Educafe I volunteer with Educafe, in Newbury, Berkshire, a wonderful organisation and how I wish an organisation like this had been around when
By Janine Ford, Director How is Educafe radically shaping system change and making West Berkshire a better place for underserved groups such as global majority communities, families, and older people?
Volunteering is one of the most rewarding ways to give back to your community and make a difference to the lives of others. At Educafe, we’re not just looking for
Exciting News! As Berkshire School of English (BSE) celebrates 10 years of empowering learners and supporting communities, we are thrilled to share a major milestone: BSE is merging with Educafe
A series of videos to help cope with life, exam stress and improve your sleep.
We’ve just finished the Hong Konger Beginner and Improvers course and I’ve had such a wonderful time teaching them. We have shared so many laughs and stories and have learned
A single act of kindness can spark a chain reaction of positive change, much like the Butterfly Effect. At Educafe, every conversation, every welcome, and every shared experience creates ripples
We were all really sad to say goodbye to our regular chatters from the Regency Park when it closed down in December. Fortunately a few managed to stay local and
Welcome to our 2024 newsletter archive! Throughout the year, we’ve shared inspiring stories, updates, and initiatives that celebrate community, inclusion, and progress. Below you will find links to all of
As 2024 comes to a close, we at Educafe would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who has contributed to the success of our language support and resettlement
Whether you’re here for a new job, a change of scenery, starting your family or simply looking to explore somewhere new, Newbury (Berkshire) has something for everyone. From historic sites to
At Educafe, we are dedicated to fostering an environment where everyone feels welcome, valued, and supported. Social inclusion is at the heart of our mission, recognising that when we create
How funny that I was worried we wouldn’t see many visitors to the Chatty Corner coming in after the long summer break! How wrong can you be? We’ve welcomed about
At Educafe, we believe that no one should have to navigate the challenges of life alone. Our mission is to build a welcoming, supportive community where every individual feels valued,
Carola & Jose’s story reveals how Educafe acts as a lifeline to empower new arrivals to re-settle, feel welcomed and thrive
Looking to spread the word about your services, events or organisation? The Educafe team are experts in supporting our community to find the right services and support, whether that’s a
Newbury College and Educafe are offering a new range of courses from November to provide additional support to non-native speakers within our West Berkshire community.
Why we’re asking our visitors, volunteers and “fans” to get on board with our fundraising efforts…
On June 26th, we marked our third birthday at Educafe with a special celebration that combined our usual operations with a birthday twist! We were thrilled to welcome a range
Amidst the current cost-of-living crisis, the increase in expenses for mortgages, rent, bills, and food, many households are still feeling the strain. At Educafe, we recognise these challenges and are
During the 2023-2024 academic year, Educafe successfully delivered six funded ESOL courses, including ESOL Beginners, Job Support Clubs, English for Driving Theory, and English for Business Communication. We proudly enrolled
The Educafe, Welcome to Hong Kongers project was Commissioned by West Berkshire Council and took place between March and June 2024 This case study outlines: ~ Educafe’s innovative approach to language
Educafe, a local non-profit dedicated to improving the social health of the community has received a National Lottery award for £20,000 by the National Lottery Community Fund to fund their
For community-minded local business who want to connect with our audiences and make a difference to people’s lives.
Welcome to our Spring 2023 Newsletter A huge thank you to our café visitors, programme and course participants, teachers, funders, chatters, volunteers, and partners for supporting us, each other and
PRIVACY STATEMENT This document describes how and why we collect, store, protect, process and share personal information about you. We do this to process your enrolment forms when you apply
Educafe welcomes you to kickstart your 2023 by trying something new Educafe is all about learning new skills, meeting new people and helping each other live happy, healthy lives. Running
Welcome to Berkshire School of English and Educafe Community Learning 2022-2023 New students are invited to come to Educafe Chatty Corner at Newbury Library every Wednesday to register and sign-up
As we celebrate our first birthday, we welcome you to read our Summer Newsletter where we share the evolution of Educafe and the events of 2021-2022. Please click here to
Welcome to Berkshire School of English Community Learning 2022-2023 We are delighted to launch our ESOL, English and Maths courses for 2022-2023. Courses Courses run throughout the year, online and
15th June 6pm – 8pm How to maximise your degree in the current economic climate – Please register here: https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/maximise/
9th June Adult Social Care 11am – 12 noon – hear from employers on what it is really like to work in this sector and the opportunities and progression. Please register here:
Register here: https://form.jotform.com/EDUCAFE/Summer_English_Course_Registration
Please join us in making a Ukrainian Comfort Dolls for BBC Radio Berkshire Appeal Thank you so much for reaching out to us and offering to knit a comfort doll for a
Our National Careers Service teams run free interactive webinars, workshops and job fairs. See our upcoming events below. Webinars Our webinars are hosted online by a professional National Careers Service careers
Educafe’s first Wellbeing Festival is finished for this year. Thank you to those of you who took part. We hope to welcome you back next year! The festival took place
Hello from Educafe and Berkshire School of English Educafe and Berkshire School of English work side-by-side to provide the best English language support to residents in Reading and West Berkshire.
Free training sessions on the Virtual Dementia Tour Bus that DFWB will be hosting in West Berkshire on Monday 16th May 2022 at Shaw House in Newbury to mark Dementia Action Week which is running from the 16th – 22nd May
https://fb.watch/bCVqAphVBJ/ ‘We feel that together we can make it. Together when we’re supporting each other, things are much better’. To celebrate International Women’s Day we caught up with the co-founders
Thank you to Penny Post for their research in to help for Ukraine. You can read this in English on their website here, or use the translate button on this
NEW FROM GRAFT… We are also pleased to announce the return (by popular demand) of our FREE Job Club. Job Clubs will run every Tuesday and Thursday (during term time)
Graft is delighted to announce the launch of our new training programme – Survival Guide-Digital. Survival Guide-Digital is designed to help jobseekers navigate the complexities of job-searching online. It will
Living with Covid in West Berkshire We appreciate everything you, your family and your friends have done over the past two years to protect each other and the West Berkshire
Educafe’s Job Support Club and English for Work Course is for non-native speakers looking to start or return to work in the West Berkshire and Reading area. This course is
New! English and Maths Course for Adults Berkshire School of English is offering a new English and Maths course for fluent English speakers. You can improve your reading and writing
An Educafe English language support course for unemployed pregnant women to understand the language of pregnancy and birth. The course is designed to encourage women to begin to learn or
Hello from Educafe! We’re delighted to invite you to the return of Educafe’s Community Café. We’ve missed you! We are so excited that Educafe’s Community Café is going to return
Hello and welcome to our January 2022 Newsletter. Wow! 2021 was incredible and just the beginning for Educafe. Please scroll through and take a look at what’s been happening and
Keep Safe, Keep Testing. We know how important it is to protect yourself, your friends and family and the wider community by testing with Lateral Flow Tests. The demand for
Plan B Guidance – how to stay safe and help prevent the spread Yesterday, Wednesday 8 December, the Government announced that England would move to Plan B in response to
LINKS TO THRIVE Creative sessions led by professional artists designed to support wellbeing Free taster workshops for adults offering creative activities, support and social connection delivered in venues across West
These free exercise classes take place in and around Newbury until mid-December. Educafe has been awarded funding to run a programme of free exercise classes that aim to offer local
As part of the District’s recovery from Covid-19, West Berkshire Council partnered with Greenham Trust to create the Let’s Get Active Fund (LGAF), creating a £33,660.00 fund to improve access to physical activities in
Important Information from West Berkshire Council Cases of Covid-19 are continuing to rise in West Berkshire, which we know will be of concern to our residents and communities. We continue
Introduction Every year, West Berkshire Council recognises exceptional individuals and groups who havegone above and beyond to make a difference to their community.The Community Champion Awards are our opportunity to
‘Celebrating the outstanding achievements of adult learners’ The West Berkshire Learner Achievement Awards are now open for nominations. These annual awards celebrate the success of adult learning in West Berkshire
We are working in partnership with West Berkshire Council to support Afghanevacuees in local hotels whilst they await the identification of permanentaccommodation for them.We are managing goods donations by receiving
West Berkshire Council sent this bulletin at 06-08-2021 06:14 PM BST Over 18? Don’t miss your vaccine Getting the COVID-19 vaccine means we can return to our ‘old normal’ as
Contact Advice and Assessment Services 01635 503090 Our story The Early Response Hub launched in November 2019 as part of the Contact Advice and Assessment Service. The Hub recognised that
Barnardo’s launched a UK-wide support service which is making a positive difference to the lives of many Black, Asian and minority ethnic children, young people and their families impacted by
See what’s happening in Thatcham during the summer holidays
Your personal invitation to our first Community Cafe! We can’t wait to meet you in person!
Hello from Educafe, we hope you are safe and well and huge welcome to our June Newsletter. A lot has happened over the last few months and progress has been
11th June 2021. We are so happy to share this photo of our incredible first face-to-face teaching for Educafe. Thank you to everyone who helped to make this happen and
To be inclusive of all diverse ethnic communities and to help everyone learn, integrate and celebrate one another and where we come from
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