Diana, Families and Communities

After finishing my first year in Psychological and Behavioural Sciences at the University of Cambridge, I decided to apply for this internship to gain insight into the workings of local government, build valuable work experience, and meet new people.

I was particularly drawn to contributing to the Families and Communities department because of my passion for working with people and empowering them to achieve their goals. This team plays a vital role in supporting the wellbeing of local communities by offering information, financial support, and fostering meaningful social connections.

One aspect that intrigued me was their bottom-up approach, which contrasts with traditional interventionist models. Their philosophy is to 'work with the grain' of individuals, strengthening families and communities to become more resilient and capable of addressing challenges on their own. I saw this approach in action during a Newmarket Locality meeting, where organizations, charities, and local individuals gathered to discuss community issues, solutions, and the council's role in facilitating their efforts.

My experience in the Families and Communities department has been diverse and rewarding. I assisted in coordinating the Crucial Crew project, where Year 6 students in West Suffolk learned essential life skills such as water and fire safety. I have done some data analysis for my team, identifying key areas of locality budget spending. I also helped refine monitoring tools for the Holiday Activities and Food programme and then conducted monitoring visits to ensure summer camps and activities were running smoothly and met quality standards. Additionally, I had the opportunity to engage with local communities, attending events like the Pony Academy Showcase in Newmarket and the Dementia Market in Ipswich.

A significant part of my internship involved collaborating with other interns on a group project focused on developing strategies to attract more young people to council internships and apprenticeships. We aimed to inspire them to view the council as a potential future employer. It was a privilege to work alongside such an amazing and dedicated team. I have immensely enjoyed my time here and I would recommend everyone to give this internship a go.