In this final episode of Creating Communities: The Educafe Podcast, host Jamie Adam explores what makes Educafe work—and how its place-based, people-centred model is being shaped for long-term sustainability and wider impact.

Jamie is joined by Janine Ford, Co-Director of Educafe, and Chris Bond from the Aster Foundation, alongside volunteer Alison, who shares her experience supporting visitors through welcome, connection, and practical signposting.

Together, they unpack “The Educafe Recipe”: the volunteers, partnerships, planning, and funding that allow Educafe to run a weekly community event for over 150 people while staying human, inclusive, and responsive to need.

In this episode, we explore:

• The vital role of volunteers in creating welcoming, supportive community spaces
• How place-based community work and free access to public spaces enable impact
• Why partnerships with libraries, charities, councils, and funders matter
• What it takes to plan and deliver a large-scale weekly community event
• How the Aster Foundation social incubator helped Educafe think sustainably
• Turning community activities into replicable, fundable models
• The importance of impact measurement, structure, and mindset
• How National Lottery funding created headspace for growth and reflection
• Preventing burnout while protecting warmth, care, and connection
• The vision behind the Togetherness Project and future collaboration

Alison shares how her volunteer role allows her to support people through practical signposting, emotional connection, and local knowledge; often helping individuals access housing, mental health support, and other vital services.

Janine and Chris reflect on the turning point that came from stepping out of day-to-day delivery to work on the organisation; breaking Educafe into sustainable components, understanding its true impact, and exploring how its model could be replicated in other communities.

This episode offers an honest and inspiring look at how community projects can grow without losing their soul, and why care, collaboration, and long-term thinking are essential for lasting social change.

If you are inspired by what you hear you can find out more about Educafe and how you can set one up in your area using our Toolkit or How to Support Us. If you’re feeling generous, you can buy us a coffee.

This is a Research Podcasts production.

Credits:

Presenter: Jamie Adam, Research Podcasts

Guests: Janine Ford, Educafe and Chris Bond, Aster Foundation

Producer: Jamie Adam, Research Podcasts

You can read a transcript of this conversation here.

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