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 newsletter format, part of our ongoing effort to stay clear, sustainable, and community‑focused.
This spring marks one year since receiving our five‑year National Lottery Reaching Communities award, a milestone that has strengthened our foundation and fuelled new growth. From our partnership with the Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre on the Moonraker Project, to developing a dedicated Educafe app, to building our volunteer-led Impact Team, momentum is truly building.
Our recent achievements highlight what makes Educafe special: meaningful connections, stronger pathways for adults and families and a thriving “Partner Village” that brings local services directly to our visitors. We’ve come to see ourselves as “community conservationists,” nurturing a resilient ecosystem of volunteers, partners, and friendships that enriches the wider local economy.
With continued support from the National Lottery, we’re excited to share our community‑building approach beyond West Berkshire. Thank you to our volunteers, funders, partners, Friends and Changemakers, we can’t wait to see what we grow together next.
— Janine Ford & Clare Middleton, Co‑Directors of Educafe
2026 so far...
- – Supported over 620 families through online Parent Village community
- – Welcomed 393 non-native English speakers to Chatty Corner, helping them build confidence in everyday English
- – Since September 2025, we’ve run 7 ESOL and wellbeing courses with 130 students enrolled
- – We have had 10 new volunteer sign-ups since January 2026
- – Since January 2026, an average of 26 volunteers are present during our weekly (Wednesday) in-person session
Educafe Is Growing: Our First Wiltshire Pilot Launches in 2026
We’re excited to share that Educafe’s mission is expanding beyond West Berkshire. After five years of building community, connection and confidence locally, we’re now preparing to launch our first pilot in Wiltshire in April 2026.
Moonrakers’ Educafe, based at the Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre in Chippenham, will bring the Educafe model to a new community — offering a warm, volunteer‑led space for conversation, creativity and connection. The project is part of the National Lottery‑funded Togetherness Project and has been shaped through months of local engagement with residents and partners.
From oral history projects to crafting, games, reading corners and a welcoming café space, Moonrakers’ Educafe will offer a range of activities designed to bring people together.
Introducing Our New Podcast Series & Community Toolkit
We’re excited to share two new resources designed to support anyone working to build stronger, more connected communities. Thanks to funding from The National Lottery, Educafe has launched its first podcast series alongside a brand‑new toolkit for community builders.
The podcast takes you behind the scenes of Educafe, with honest conversations from staff, volunteers, partners and community members about what it really takes to create welcoming, inclusive spaces. Each episode explores themes like belonging, confidence, early‑years support, language learning, wellbeing and the power of volunteer‑led community action.
Alongside this, our new toolkit brings together practical guides, case studies, volunteer insights and recommended reading to help others create similar spaces in their own communities.
These resources are an invitation for organisations, practitioners and community builders to connect, share learning and strengthen the growing movement for social connection and wellbeing.
Parent Village Receives National Lottery Awards for All Funding for 2026
We’re delighted to share some wonderful news with our community. Parent Village has been awarded £20,000 from the National Lottery Awards for All for the year 2026. This support means we can continue running our sessions through to December, giving families a stable, welcoming space for connection, support, and community.
We are incredibly grateful for this lifeline. At the same time, we’re continuing to look for long‑term, sustainable funding to secure Parent Village’s future beyond 2026. Your advocacy, connections, and support make a real difference as we work toward that goal.
More Support for Families Each Week
We’re also pleased to let you know that we now have a regular Home Start volunteer, Sarah joining us weekly, working alongside our wonderful team of Parent Village volunteers. This added support strengthens what we can offer to families who rely on us.
Volunteer Support Funding
A Huge Thank You to Newbury Town Council
We’re incredibly grateful to Newbury Town Council for their generous support of Educafe’s volunteer team. With nearly 60 volunteers giving over 7,000 hours each year, this funding helps us strengthen the core of our community work.
Their contribution will support our new volunteer inset training sessions, covering safeguarding, practical scenarios, resources, troubleshooting and essential updates, ensuring our team feels confident and equipped to support more than 250 people each week. It will also help with vital coordination tasks such as rotas, recruitment, and DBS checks.
Thank you for believing in Educafe and the power of community volunteering. Together, we’re helping local people feel welcome, supported, and connected.
Educafe Education Hub
If you know someone who might benefit from one of our courses, please share our information or encourage them to get in touch.
We’re excited to launch our GCSE prep course this April, and spaces are now open.
For more information, contact us at info@educafeuk.co.uk or visit our website.
Bake-a-difference Partners
A huge thank you to our wonderful Bake a Difference partners. Your generous weekly donations keep our community café bubbling with energy and filled with the delicious treats our visitors love. We’re so grateful for your kindness.
Special promotions from our Friends and local Changemakers
Thatcham Refillable has been run by Jenny and Tom for the last 7 years from their trailer popping up at events and markets in West Berkshire. Last year we refilled over 2000 litres of washing up liquid which is saving around 4000 bottles. We stock:
► washing up liquid ► vinegar ► toilet cleaner ► rinse aid ► liquid hand soap► laundry powder, liquid and washing sheets ► shower gel ► shampoo & conditioner ► Cleaning products such as bicarb, citric acid, green bleach and soda crystals
Refill in person or Tom can deliver like the milkman but not as early in the morning.
Other Friends and Partners
Advertise and support!
Connect with Educafe’s audiences across West Berkshire and beyond while supporting vital programmes for mental wellbeing, community integration, and education.
Your partnership helps sustain services that are a lifeline for many and raises awareness for your business at the same time!
Get involved, reach new audiences and give back to the community
We are back
Educafe is back this week after our short Easter break. Keep an eye on our social media for updates and upcoming events in 2026.
- Summer Term
- Open: 15th of April
- Last day: 8th July
- Summer break: Closed from 15th July – 2nd of September
- Autumn/Winter Term
- Open: 9th September
- Last day: 2nd December
- Christmas Holidays: Closed 9th – 30th of December
- Spring 2027
- Open: 6th January 2027
