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 confidence, practical skills, and a deeper understanding of community engagement.
This partnership has enabled students to move beyond classroom learning and actively contribute to a vibrant, multicultural community space.
Creating Opportunities for Young People
Through our partnership with Newbury College, we have supported multiple student placements, including:
- -A short-term internship (6 weeks) providing initial exposure to community work
- -A longer-term placement for T-level student Harrison, who joined Educafe as a Media Intern for 14 months
These placements are designed to give students a 360-degree experience of how a community organisation operates.
Harrison’s Journey at Educafe
Harrison joined Educafe with a focus on media, but over time his role expanded into many areas of the organisation.
A 360-Degree Learning Experience
During his placement, Harrison:
- -Worked on developing social media campaigns and blogs for the website
- -Engaged weekly with Educafe visitors, building strong interpersonal skills
- -Worked alongside volunteers and the project leadership team
- -Supported the operations team to ensure the café ran smoothly each week
- -Learned to adapt to different tasks, people, and environments
In his final months, Harrison stepped into a more community-facing role as a café mingler, spending time:
- -Playing games such as dominoes and cards with visitors
- -Offering conversation and companionship to those attending alone
- -Creating a warm and inclusive atmosphere in the café
Skills Development and Enrichment Opportunities
Beyond his day-to-day responsibilities, Harrison benefited from a wide range of enrichment opportunities, including:
- -Participation in volunteer safeguarding training, gaining essential knowledge in supporting vulnerable individuals
- -Attending volunteer appreciation meet-ups, helping him understand the value of community recognition and teamwork
- -Access to training on developing and launching podcasts, expanding his creative and media skills
Impact on Confidence and Growth
Harrison’s journey demonstrates the transformative impact of hands-on experience in a supportive environment.
"Harrison has grown in confidence throughout his internship at Educafe. Every week he has had to engage with new people, take on new tasks and work out how best to play to his strengths. Having joined the team with a primary focus on media work, he has broadened his sphere of engagement. He has become increasingly willing to take on practical tasks, recently even offering to do things before he’s been asked. He has been willing to offer people 1-1 help with digital skills and language tasks, as well as being a great befriender in the café, willing to engage in games of dominoes or cards -games he normally wins! We wish Harrison all the very best in his next steps."
A Valued Member of the Educafe Community
Harrison quickly became an integral part of the Educafe team
"It has been a pleasure to see how Harrison's confidence and particularly his initiative have grown while he's been with us. He has done so much for Educafe; the staff, the chatters and other visitors. He seemed somewhat quiet at first but now he communicates with ease even with some of the chatters whose English is very weak and he has been very encouraging to many of them. He often takes on tasks without being asked and he does them quietly but effectively. I'm going to miss him when he goes - we all are."
"Over the last 14 months, I’ve had the pleasure of watching Harrison grow in confidence and skill. He first joined Educafe as my media intern, supporting our marketing campaigns and gathering insights during our in‑person sessions. Although he started out shy and hesitant to interact, his transformation has been remarkable. Harrison developed a strong grasp of design and visual communication, always open to feedback and eager to improve — a quality that is invaluable in any workplace. His willingness to learn and adapt quickly became one of his greatest strengths. After 8–9 months working with me, Harrison moved into operations under Ellen, where he continued to shine. He supported the smooth running of our weekly Educafe sessions, engaged confidently with Cafe's volunteer team and visitors, demonstrating real versatility in a busy, community‑focused environment. He has become more involved, more helpful and a valued part of our volunteer team. I am incredibly proud of the progress he has made, both personally and professionally. I wish him the very best for his future."
The Value of the Partnership
Our collaboration with Newbury College demonstrates how partnerships between educational institutions and community organisations can:
- – Build confidence and independence in young people
- – Provide real-world, practical experience
- – Foster empathy and community connection
- – Develop transferable skills for future employment
Looking ahead
Educafe remains committed to continuing and expanding this collaboration, ensuring more young people like Harrison have access to opportunities that support their growth and future aspirations.
We are incredibly grateful to Newbury College for their ongoing partnership and for entrusting us with supporting their students on this journey.
