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 who are discovering what it means to feel closer to the people they serve and to one another.
Our weekly gathering has grown into a living network – a microcosm of our community – where people from every walk of life come together to care, create and connect.
As 2025 draws to a close, we want to celebrate how our network of friends, partners, funders and volunteers has continued to grow, strengthening the web of kindness and collaboration that defines Educafe.
Building stability and capacity
This year, funding from The National Lottery (TNL) Community Fund funding has given Educafe’s Newbury services vital stability and has also unlocked the capacity to reach beyond West Berkshire. The funding has helped us to invest in our people, develop new partnerships and deepen our impact.
Thanks to TNL’s Awards for All, Parent Village continued to support families until July 2025. Since August we have used our limited reserves to deliver Parent Village while exploring sustainable ways forward. This includes inviting local businesses and partners to support us in return for promotion to our audiences through our Friends of Educafe and Changemaker program. We want these local partnerships to expand and provide us with long-term stability with our fundraising and applying for grants.
Strengthening local partnerships
We now collaborate with partners across education, employment, health, housing, migration, business and finance, reflecting the diverse needs of our community. When these partners work well together, the people we serve benefit most.
With the involvement of West Berkshire Council, Newbury College, Homestart, local businesses, donors and champions, we’ve created lasting impact district-wide, extending opportunities for connection, wellbeing and belonging.
Each new collaboration adds another thread to our community network, creating stepping stones towards employment, improved mental health and a renewed sense of purpose for our residents.
Looking ahead, 2026 will see the re-launch of our Partner Village, an opportunity for key partners to engage directly and meaningfully with our audiences. Invites will be shared with our Friends of Educafe members early in the new year.
The Kindness That Keeps Us Going
Our weekly café remains the beating heart of Educafe. We’re deeply thankful to Mary Hare, Gail’s, Honesty, and Fern Bakery for their generous baked gifts, which lift spirits week after week.
We’re always happy to welcome new supporters; individuals or local businesses, who’d like to help us keep the cake and the kindness flowing.
Creativity and Contribution
Our knitters, stitchers and crafters have once again turned creativity into community impact, raising £600 through handmade sales. Donations from our café have reached around £1000 and our seated wellbeing participants donated over £1000 this year, with every pound helping us sustain and grow our work.
People Who Make It Happen
Educafe runs on people power and we’re endlessly grateful for the unswerving dedication of our volunteer team. Every week, they show up with intelligence, skills and compassion, creating a safe and welcoming space for everyone who walks through our doors.
Their care makes a world of difference our most vulnerable visitors, offering not just tea and cake, but language skills, local knowledge and a sense of belonging. Together, they embody Educafe’s values in action: kindness, collaboration and community spirit at its best.
As we celebrate the year’s achievements, we also say a heartfelt farewell to Jules, our much-loved Cafe Host, who has been a constant source of warmth and steadiness that shaped our mornings. We’re now looking for new community Cafe Hosts to join our remarkable team and carry the Educafe spirit forward.
Friends and Partners: Our Local Champions
Our Friends of Educafe business supporters have shown what local collaboration can achieve when we pull together. Your steady backing has helped us stay open, inclusive and responsive to community needs.
We’d love to see more local heroes join this growing network of support. Equally, we encourage everyone to support our Friends in return; shop local, support independents, and invest where your community needs it most.
Together, We Make A lasting Difference
Educafe thrives because of its people, partners and community. Together, we’ve built something rare – a place where everyone is welcome and belongs, and where small acts of listening, helping and sharing make a lasting difference.
Thank you for being part of our story and for helping us strengthen the fabric of our community, one connection at a time. We want this story to continue, so please continue to support us in 2026 and beyond!
Join Our Network
Will you pledge to support Educafe in 2026 and beyond?
Your contribution ensures we can continue to provide a free, inclusive space where our community thrives.
Your organisation and you will also experience what it means to be part of a community that truly cares.
Here’s how you can help:
- – Become a monthly donor – every £10 helps us welcome more people each week.
- – Ask us about sponsoring a session – show your organisation’s commitment to local wellbeing.
- – Volunteer your time or skills – from baking cakes to helping with fundraising or outreach.
- – Partner with us – co-deliver services that make lasting change.
- – Spread the word – tell your friends, neighbours and networks about Educafe’s work.
With warmth and gratitude,
Janine Ford & Clare Middleton
Co-Directors, Educafe CIC
