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A Week In The Life Of A Work Experience Student

YBF Staff
Apr 2
3 min read

A Week in the Life: My Work Experience at YBF

Monday: My First Day! Walking into YBF for the first time, I felt a mix of excitement and nerves! I arrived at 10 AM and was warmly greeted at the front door by a staff member, instantly making me feel welcomed. The day started with an insightful office tour, where I was introduced to the team. I loved how inclusive the environment felt—music playing in the background added a great touch!

To begin, I learned about YBF and its mission, which gave me a solid understanding of the charity's work. My first task was to research local businesses and charities for the upcoming Easter campaign. I gathered contact details, including names, emails, and phone numbers, and noted how they could potentially support the initiative. After a one-hour lunch break, I worked on updating the members' turnover in Excel, ensuring their reported income matched the records. By the end of the day, I had already gained valuable skills and knowledge, and I was excited for the rest of the week!

Tuesday: Meetings & Campaign Planning On my second day, I attended a team meeting where everyone shared updates on their projects and any challenges they faced. It was great to see the collaborative nature of the team in action. I also sat in on a BT Membership Development & VIO Team Meeting with Matt, where I took notes to gain a deeper understanding of membership development.

For lunch, I took a short walk to Costa, which was a nice break. The rest of my afternoon was spent working with Maria, the Business, Community, and Events Fundraiser. Together, we brainstormed ideas for the Easter campaign and discussed promotional strategies. I researched local churches and shops that could serve as collection points for donated eggs and books. Additionally, I reached out to businesses to ask if they would display our campaign posters. It was rewarding to contribute to such an impactful project!

Wednesday: Organising Donations & Digital Cataloging Midweek, I focused on finalizing my research on churches in Barnet, ensuring I had all the necessary details before making calls the next day. Later in the morning, Jessica and I headed to the first floor to sort through donated items ready for redistribution. It was a hands-on task that required effort and organization, but I enjoyed seeing the tangible impact of YBF’s work.

After my lunch break, where I took a refreshing walk to Aldi, I helped capture images of the donated items for the charity’s digital catalog. These images were then uploaded to a PowerPoint presentation so members could easily view the available resources. To wrap up the day, I updated organization records on Salesforce, which helped streamline internal operations.

Thursday: Outreach & Community Engagement Thursday was all about outreach! I spent the morning calling churches in Barnet from the contact list I had compiled. Many were receptive and eager to help, though not all answered. For those that didn’t, I followed up with an email detailing how they could get involved.

Later, Maria and I printed out our Easter campaign posters and visited local shops to ask if they would display them. It was rewarding to see businesses supporting the initiative by agreeing to put them up in their windows. At lunchtime, the team went out together, which was a lovely way to bond and reflect on the week. To end the day, I ensured all contact information on the communication list was correctly updated in Salesforce.

Friday: Wrapping Up & Reflections I can’t believe how fast this week has gone—it’s my last day at YBF! Today, I focused on writing this blog and completing some final admin tasks. Reflecting on my time here, I feel incredibly grateful for this opportunity. The experience has been insightful, engaging, and, most importantly, enjoyable.

I’ve learned so much about the charity sector, teamwork, and communication. The YBF team has been incredibly welcoming and supportive, making me feel like a valued part of the organization. Seeing the amazing projects and initiatives they run has been truly inspiring. Although my work experience is coming to an end, I know this won’t be the last time I support YBF. I’m excited to stay connected and continue following their incredible work!

Thank You, YBF!

Olivia from Kingsmead School joined Young Barnet Foundation for five days. We thank Olivia for her work and support during her time with us.