By Stan Millar, Marketing & Communications Intern

When I first joined, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect, but I’ve loved every minute of it. From helping make posters for events to lending a hand in the café, it’s been great to see how much creativity and teamwork goes into everything we do.

“I loved helping out making posters in the office for events and helping people with work, getting to know people here and learning new things about running a café,” Is what I put in my reflection journal.

 

My goal during this internship is to learn as much as I can about marketing, communications, and event planning — the behind-the-scenes work that helps tell Lily’s story and the stories of our incredible partners. I’m especially excited to be working alongside Zoe, our CEO, who has such passion for social impact and storytelling.

“I’d like to learn how to run events and plan for them. I think it would be interesting to work behind the scenes and help promote events through posters and other ways,” I said early on — and that’s exactly what we’re doing.

The whole team has been so welcoming, and the timetable fits perfectly for me. Everyone’s been patient, helpful, and kind as I get to grips with everything that goes into marketing and communications at Lily’s.

My First Interview: Talking with Steven Fenning from the Colyer Fergusson Trust

This week, I had the opportunity to carry out my first interview — and it was with Steven Fenning from the Colyer Fergusson Trust (CFT). It was such a great experience and gave me real insight into the people and organisations that help make our work possible.

CFT is one of the long-standing funders in Kent and Medway. Founded by Sir James Colyer-Fergusson in 1969, the Trust has supported charitable causes across the region for over fifty years, with a focus on improving the lives of people facing disadvantage.

The Trust’s mission today includes “making grants to organisations that provide opportunities for young people who are furthest from the jobs market.”

In 2018, the Trustees held a strategic review and reaffirmed their commitment to young people, launching additional programmes to expand their support. They continue to offer grants to charities and social enterprises that share their vision of building stronger, fairer communities.

When I asked Steven about his role, he told me that no two days are the same. His job involves travelling across Kent and Medway to meet organisations like Lily’s and help them access funding that fits their goals.

“My favourite part of the job is being with organisations — seeing what they do and meeting the people they support,” he said.

Steven has been with the Trust for six years, but his journey there started much earlier. While working for a charity that had been funded by Colyer Fergusson, he ran an exhibition in Margate. Representatives from the Trust attended, and later, as his contract came to an end, conversations began that led him to join the team at CFT.

It was inspiring to hear how networking, community, and passion for impact all played a role in his path — just like the connections we’re building here at Lily’s.

 

Looking Ahead: Sharing More Stories Together

This is just the start of my storytelling journey at Lily’s Social Kitchen. Over the next few months, I’ll be working with Zoe to interview more of our partners, funders, and community members, helping to share the stories of the people and organisations that make our mission possible.

If you’re one of our partners and would like to be featured, we’d love to hear from you!
Please get in touch with me (Stan) or Zoe to arrange an interview — and help us celebrate the incredible work being done across our community.