Natassha DPS Journal

Author: Natassha Dhanda

  • April

    April

    I’ve noticed that, overall, balancing IH work has improved. We don’t spend extensive time discussing plans, which could be as there’s less to do, especially compared to when we first started, but I think we’re all clearer on our roles, actions to take and when to promote. This provides me with more insight on how this sector works and that it’s a learning process for us all

    The founder requested I make other Tokyo videos

    • I created one according to her usual compilation style. I don’t prefer it, but will keep trying it out to improve

    https://www.instagram.com/reel/DXb7DjsiiWp/?igsh=Zm55aXh1azFocDE2

    Playing Outside Festival

    • I planned 2 videos I wanted to make, including another ‘Come with me to..’
    • I wanted it to be from the perspective of me as a host, whereas past videos were more so from an attendee’s perspective. This could bring in a different audience, however, so I asked the founder for her opinion:

    [Suggested it be called] a day in a life hosting

    I really like this idea Natassha…I think people are curious what the BTS are

    • With our workshops being drop-in, attendees came at different times and also directly from the festival. I noticed I spoke more, both personally and to introduce IH, which by the end of the day became really difficult, but was enjoyable
    • These were sold out, paid workshops and not everyone attended, which meant we could accept festival goers to join in
    • We had examples of each craft, which was helpful to explain the process, and see if they’d be interested in joining
    • My cohost introduced the workshop to 2 walk-ins who joined us. We realised they hadn’t bought tickets, so I decided that we can start by asking walk-ins if they bought a ticket, reflecting agility
      • I realised there’s many discussion points to engage potential participants, like showing our examples, so it can be easily missed
    • The overall event was fun and it was motivating to meet so many creatives, so I’m glad we went through with it and hope we do more in future
    • We had parents and children joining in for the first time too, which was great. I did have to be mindful of avoiding getting them in content

    Day in a Life video

    • I took 100+ videos so refining how many videos and the type of videos took the most time within the process to ensure it’s descriptive, but still engaging
      • I went back in to refine this multiple times = reminded me that it’s not always the embellishments that require the most thought
    • Inspired by a style I’ve noticed for a while, e.g. the below, I wanted to try out different sound/video effects

    Inspiration:

    https://www.instagram.com/reel/DXHVxNbjArj/?igsh=bHF3MXdoNmVhOThz

    Effects added
    • Choosing what to use was trickier than I thought because of the variety there is, but I think added a lot to the video

    Video:

    https://www.instagram.com/reel/DXjVxDiMdSs/?igsh=enprdHM4eHI1cW8=

    Deck of Card Decorating event

    • This went smoothly
    • I learnt a lot from CT, who:
      • Made a presentation to demo
      • Would talk with the whole group throughout instead of people individually
      • Finished with a group tidy up and showcase, which saved time and meant we could get great content as both myself and CT plan to use the results for our own videos
      • These are elements we can incorporate in future events
    • I’m glad I confirmed CT’s content beforehand, as she doesn’t usually take footage, and so this meant I’d take the right footage for the both of us
    • A community also posted our event to promote it to their audience, which we typically see as beneficial, especially for the Goal Setting event where someone joined after finding our promotional elsewhere
      • However, they only tagged us while using CT’s artwork in the promotion. They also spelt the venue wrong
      • CT flagged this and said if it was her she’d request the post be removed
      • As mentioned, this isn’t a typical decision we make, but an interesting point
      • The founder decided to stick with it so I just requested they tag CT, which they did
      • I think this was insightful regarding professional communication, but also in thinking about not all promotion as good promotion
    • Additionally, we typically ask for a 7 day notice on refunds, but a regular requested we provide her some materials due to an unexpected personal circumstance
      • I told IH, suggesting we refund her as it’s not possible to give her all the materials, and her payment not only includes materials, but our direction and community
      • They both agreed so I sent an email
      • The circumstance reminded me of the importance of keeping honest and professional when you are part of a brand, and how this can benefit its image more in the long term
  • March

    March

    Certification Course on Adobe Premiere Pro

    • Found this beneficial in understanding, not just the software, but also how to keep video files and the editing process organised efficiently
      • I remembered past issues I’ve had due to disorganisation, and so realised the equal importance of organisation to the editing itself for quick and high quality outputs
    File organisation – bins
    Editing organisation – using markers
    • It was difficult to keep up, especially on the first few days. This reminded me that making time to revise the content, like through resources provided, is the best option to fully process and fill in gaps when doing intense courses like this
      • In using these resources early on, I noticed points that were missed in class = reinforces the importance of revising content, but also not doing this last minute = avoid cramming and stress, while actually understanding the information
    • My Mac not working the day before the exam, and then as I did the exam was a big challenge as my attention can shift quickly and I didn’t want it to throw me off. I asked for help and tried to stay calm = improved my agility in the process, as I was able to restart the exam software in a different space and refocus quickly
    • Learnt a lot of new techniques, from colour grading to setting up a project file that I will potentially utilise for final year and will use beyond this, so I’m glad I spent the time it took to initially understand and then consolidate this
    Setting up project files – using a productive layout
    Setting up project files – using labels to colour code bins
    Setting up project files – creating new sequences

  • March

    March

    Workshop planning for the Playing Outside festival (PO)

    • We were told we could do 3 workshops for 20 people each throughout a festival day
    • Since we’ve done a workshop now, I was less concerned about how it could work, but suggested doing Self-Care Zine workshops since it’s something we’re familiar with = founder said this was a great idea
    • We later scheduled a meeting with the Festival host:
      • She explained the venue and I noticed I was very uninformed (which was a shock as I usually research thoroughly). Initial conversations were between the founder and PO, and so I realised my research wasn’t in the right places. Next time I’ll ask if I’ve missed anything
      • We decided on times that worked for us, and that we needed to send workshop photos and descriptions soon
      • I was surprised at the workshop suggestion, as it was different to what we initially agreed. My cohost and I said we’d get back to confirm this and we made further refinements
    • PO confirmed our refinements but there was no break mentioned, which was not what was discussed
    • I then noticed:
      • Promotion for the workshops were out before our deadline
      • Unconfirmed timings were used
      • The workshop title and description was wrong
      • Prices were different
    • I was surprised and told the team who were too, but after emailing about this, these changes were made
    • Despite being a very chaotic situation, I learnt a lot about communication and the importance of considering the needs of small communities (like when collaborating), to ensure collaborations are fair on both sides = furthered my knowledge about this sector and connectivity skills

    Content

    • With content changes, I asked the founder again if we could make a content calendar to organise our posts. I felt this really improved my workflow to schedule future ideas and know exactly what I’m making
    • She requested I make a Tokyo Reel for their past Galentines event. She was unsure how to compile footage since this event incorporated multiple workshops simultaneously with few videos
      • I looked at the footage, remembering a trend I’d noticed and agreed
      • I wanted to use a Capcut template, but as the content was mainly photos and the template wasn’t flexible, I decided to make it myself
      • I split the video into 3 titled sections of each workshop which was useful

    Feedback:

    Sounds perfect for Galentines, you did it so fast

    Text should move slightly [to fit into reel formats]

    Add another clip of the books [since it was their main collaborator’s shop]

    These were good points and I made these adjustments

    She commented:

    Obsessed with it

    So I’m glad the idea worked

    Galentines video:

    https://www.instagram.com/reel/DVr_SRRChbF/?igsh=MTg4Z2U5bnV0NmNwOQ==

    • The founder also came up with a plan of which dates promotional content, tickets and emails should be out. This is helpful to know when to start preparing and have collaborator information by
    • While balancing IH with an ACP course, I did struggle to keep up with what was happening with IH
      • The founder asked if I’m posting a video on the calendar. However, I understood the calendar to be flexible based on a prior conversation and her earlier missed post = I realised that expectations can easily be unaligned without explicit confirmation
      • I said I could post it on the next available day and didn’t receive a response, but a comment she made elsewhere reminded me that miscommunication can create the wrong impression, so I followed up
      • We came to a resolution and I was able to post in good timing = the importance of proactive communication and also keeping things professional

    Matcha Whisking & Journaling event:

    • This event sold out as our first paid sold out event, which was motivating
    • The event itself was successful, but I did have some concerns:
      • Especially in accordance with our aims, we promoted the event as relaxing. This wasn’t necessarily the case as I think EM may have brought in a different kind of audience
      • I noticed an uncomfortable attendee who said she expected it to be relaxing. Other people, however, said they loved it and had a lot of fun, and while I agree, I think our audiences must have clashed, reminding me of the importance of being aligned. I informed the IH team, but am unsure what exactly we could’ve done to prevent it
      • It showed me that not all collaborations will be completely balanced
    • I also wasn’t able to get all the content I needed since there were a lot of moving parts, understanding that sometimes content doesn’t always go to plan

    CT and PO preparation

    • Since I felt behind, I told my cohost that we could catch up and this was really beneficial
    • With 2 events next month, we discussed materials, schedules and made documents
    • We also thought of making QR code posters for PO and that we needed to buy lots of new supplies = helpful to be stocked up and have more promotional material for future events
    • I made post captions and the ticketing page using my new templates to help, which was useful, especially as there were lots of captions to make. I sent the Eventbrite to CT who confirmed it’s useability
      • I think communication over the group chat has been helpful and professional e.g. we also discussed other reel promotions to make etc., so I will continue to do this for collaborations
  • February

    February

    A few months ago, I suggested post ideas, one of which my cohost would illustrate – a winter wellbeing post:

    • It was in progress but incomplete, and with winter finishing it needed to be up
    • The founder mentioned posting this on stories instead as there are many event posts pending, and this post idea was to keep active when we first joined IH
    • Despite agreeing, I felt stories wasn’t the best location: we wouldn’t reach a new audience, and it has many slides (which would mean many stories)
    • However, she suggested spreading out the posts and keeping it under a highlight to counter these issues, so I agreed = importance of trying to keep posts within deadlines
    Part of the winter wellbeing series
    Part of the winter wellbeing series

    Collaborations

    • We have many potential collaborators /ideas for the next few months that can fall through or work out = we’ve been getting slightly confused. The founder organised this through a Notion table to help keep track, which was beneficial
    • We got in contact with a matcha brand, enlematcha (EM) to host an event. I asked for their event availability to help us understand what days to suggest to other collaborators = beneficial to know who to prioritise. This furthered my connectivity and interpersonal skills to stay efficient
    • With many old collaborative Notion pages, I created a document containing this information. Setting this up early on was beneficial for busier periods = keep organised and informed my future professionality
    • The founder asked us about hosting workshops at a Festival. I was nervous since we haven’t facilitated workshops yet, but I suggested we show our interest and make the craft before hosting it which helped

    2026 goal setting video

    • I added photos to this video to emphasise the feel of the event
    • I realised the footage I took was quite repetitive, reflecting a need to think further about various shots
    • I made this as a compilation, but didn’t love the outcome. I noticed I don’t prefer editing compilations as much as I do other formats
      • However, I struggled to ideate further, with the focus on aesthetics
      • Simultaneously, I saw a different content style from IH Tokyo. I found the ideas interesting and engaging, ideas that I had never thought about for the same reason, so I decided I should catch up with the founder at some point to discuss if perhaps the style is changing

    https://www.instagram.com/reel/DUscTM4CLXP/?igsh=MXdiaW1hb2RmdmI4dg==

    RG meeting

    • As they had contacted us, I hoped they’d have an idea on how we could collaborate, especially as their workshops are higher priced
    • However, we were asked if we had ideas, which surprised me, also considering we provided our pitch deck (has various ideas listed). As a result, we referred her to this again and decided our ideas couldn’t be priced at their bands, concluding with no collaboration
    • It made me reflect on the need to have aligned collaborators, since they seem to be more of a business whereas we are community-first
    • It also reminded me of the importance of researching potential collaborators as this could’ve been concluded this over messages

    Content changes

    • The founder mentioned she wants to find more content creator volunteers, focused only on being consistent with posts, ideally in Tokyo. I was confused by this, since that inferred London too and I post consistently
    • She apologised for not asking me about it before, said it can include weekly posts, editing, memes and trends and that I’m welcome to make more. This confirmed my previous thought and since I still wasn’t 100% sure, I decided to plan content based on what I’ve understood, and plan a meeting
    • She sent me inspiration so I spent time developing ideas, which I will do for each event and found helpful
    • In a sense, I felt relieved as it meant I could look into more styles, but also realised it would take more time during events, so communicated that my focus will shift further onto content
    • With these changes, that I was interested in, but also needed to adapt to, an event upcoming, and other event preparation I was beginning to get overwhelmed so I just listed all my tasks on Notion to break them down and keep organised

    Self-Care Zine-Making event

    • We finally introduced the event which was useful to avoid repeating notices, and everyone was familiar with how the event will run
    • I spoke to attendees, but will speak to them more to build further connections
    • It was successful, all 14 signees attended and I got all content, especially aligning with my updated ideas. These updates made me more excited to edit too
    • We made a tour video inspired by a trend. It’s supposed to be continuous and the main table wasn’t shown, which caused a couple editing difficulties so next time I will show inspiration beforehand
    • I asked the founder who said:

    Repeat it slower [clip of main table] and bring in effects

    This was a useful idea but effects were limited as I edited it on Instagram (thinking it would be a simple edit), so next time I wont do this

    Tour video:

    https://www.instagram.com/reel/DW-6mMdMZbr/?igsh=NmJjaHhkd3MxanY1

    • I also made POV videos, including a POV still (inspired by the below)
      • These performed very well. On TikTok the POV still increased our followers by 400%, so I will make more. I also believe planning this was useful, which I had recently been brushing off since I struggled with ideas

    Inspiration:

    https://www.instagram.com/reel/DT7ysK8DPS9/?igsh=ZzJwMHY1anczeXgx

    Originally I used the same caption from the inspiration, planning to credit them. But, I loved the founder’s feedback which was to:

    Alter it to “introvert friendly” to fit the branding

    POV still:

    https://www.instagram.com/reel/DVFNOHxjG0f/?igsh=ZHdlcXR5ZDFtM3Zw

    EM collaboration

    • In our meeting, we decided to do a matcha making and journaling event
    • We said she’d send over some description points, which I asked for to make the Eventbrite, but these included a different price and title to what we agreed. I thought it best to ask the team their thoughts
    • As we had a deadline, I started making the description while waiting. My cohost said:

    Add more about journaling [and] put the focus on making your own matcha

    These were great points as it was what we offered for the collab and was useful as a selling point

    • The founder eventually said she was worried about the high price and later suggested doing early bird tickets. I loved this idea and we consistently did this for other events
    • Early bird tickets gave me an idea to first exclusively promote them on our Whatsapp and mailing list, especially as we need to be more active on Whatsapp – something we brought to many future events
    • Sending this to the Whatsapp chat/mailing list and posting the promotional post was chaotic as:
      • I ticked off “absorb fees” (adds Eventbrite fees onto original price) accidentally
      • The team didn’t provide me access to the promotional post
      • There were misunderstandings
      • I edited new points onto the Eventbrite
      • I needed to make a caption
      • I was requested to add a survey from a past collaboration to our email but wasn’t given a link
    • Ultimately, I knew something needed to change, so I:
      • Made Eventbrite and caption templates
      • Requested they send over posts as soon as it’s done
      • Now know not to tick off absorb fees
    • I searched how to partially refund those who bought tickets while absorb fees was available and sent out an email, problem-solving and also learning the refund process as I haven’t done it yet
  • February

    February

    Week 19

    Progress

    Creating new posts and redesigning the front of the leaflet, while handling a lack of tasks

    Posts from the Volunteer Coordinator:

    • She forwarded me an email from an organisation, who provided materials to make a collaborative post, but the messaging didn’t align with her reason to post: RFS discounts
    • I asked about this and she decided to get back to me = the importance of understanding an organisation to pick up on misalignments, plus the importance of being proactive in asking about them

    Since I didn’t receive confirmation on my ideas, I had less to get on with:

    • I decided to start early on posts for the end of the week:
      • Taking pictures of items in the warehouse for FOTW
      • Pictures in general
      • The volunteers suggested items, which was motivating = showing me that inconsistencies can be demotivating and the importance of resilience
    • I also moved onto recreating the front page of the leaflet
    • After not hearing back, I sent a final email about the data post. A meeting was set, and he confirmed the data I found (from a partner organisation) could be used, and that I can email the organisation to ask for a reference. I was glad progress was being made

    Carousel

    • I also went to the carousel workshop and a volunteer said I could film what she was doing: stripping paint

    Week 20

    Feedback

    Made my last Reel, asked for leaflet feedback and had some impact report difficulties

    Carousel video editing:

    • From past experiences, I learnt finding inspiration first was better than diving into editing. There were many different styles to take choose from, and I decided to start with a question as a hook and to speed up the clips so it’s short
    • I made multiple versions to compare e.g. music and make the final decision, which gained 3k+ views, the highest views of any videos on RFS’ page
    • I remembered that seemingly small choices have big impacts on engagement

    https://www.instagram.com/reel/DUi-PicDHW2/

    Leaflet:

    • My manager asked me to ask a volunteer for feedback on the leaflet. She asked me to:
      • Replace some copy. They sounded great but were lengthy so I altered them slightly to fit
      • Match the alignment of the text, which was a good point to also keep in mind for the future
    Final leaflet (back cover)
    • For the front page, I was unsure of the best way to position the copy so I made options and sent a few to them
    Current leaflet (front)
    New leaflet (front)
    • We didn’t come to a decision on the best positioning (hence the different copy positioning below) as the focus shifted to the shape of the image. The shape was inspired by the current leaflet, but my manager mentioned:

    The shape can match the back page of the new leaflet

    Which I understood and agreed with, as another piece of feedback to keep in mind for future designing

    New leaflet, different shape (front)

    Impact report issues:

    • Once I heard back about the data references, I was able to create and distribute the post. So, the last thing to think about was the flipbook
    • My manager said he’d like to make a trial website to test embedding the flipbook onto. He then mentioned a volunteer had emailed him report feedback the same day
    • I was frustrated as I was told it was completed back in December and waited for feedback and progress since then, and am now focused on promoting/distributing it
    • Despite this, I kept calm as I didn’t mind editing further, but was concerned about how it would be effectively put up in time, so I mentioned this. He clarified the report can be prioritised over e.g. the leaflet = I understood what was more important and strengthened my resilience
    • We read through the feedback together, which was beneficial to better understand what could be done to apply it feasibly = going through it collaboratively and speaking up I’ll be taking with me to future projects

    This made me reflect on the importance of clear expectations and prompt feedback to deliver projects on time

    Data comparison post

    Week 21

    Feedback

    Looked into the feedback for the report to make edits

    Some report feedback & changes:

    Make the inputs/outputs on the Social Impact page lateral for better understanding

    • I made this change and, in the process, noticed uneven white space around the report that I fixed. Next time I will ensure it’s correct earlier

    [Social Impact page] subheading looked squished

    • I agreed. I previously didn’t know how to correct this, but noticed the information below made it look tight, so altered the line spacing to make the overall page readable = an interesting insight to keep in mind when designing in future

    Self-referred needs more explanation [Making Homes page]

    • After making further changes, I sent this over. My manager said there would be more edits to make and that he would make these edits later
    • This made it clearer why there was less urgency, as I didn’t know this was an option considering we had discussed distribution/promotion. Again, suggesting the importance of clear communication, but also informing me on what the work environment is like
      • During this discussion, he looked at the insights for the recent carousel video that reached 3000+ views and he was impressed = reinforced the overall impact I had on their content, building my confidence in my work

    Some of the report pages with their changes:

    Expanded definitions
    Lateral inputs/outputs & spacing change for subheading

    Week 22

    Last week at RFS

    • Shared files, like the report and leaflet, with the RFS Team on Canva for them to access
      • Regarding the leaflet, I asked which options were preferred, but didn’t receive a response. Similarly to the report, this was frustrating as I felt I had to keep chasing for progress
      • However, I remained resilient and agile throughout the process, and now understand that if they’d like to make changes, they have access
      • Additionally, I was emailed earlier in the week by the volunteer that there was more report feedback to come, but I didn’t receive any, so understood they’d likely apply it
    • Provided photos and videos I took as requested and posted for the week
    • In a final call with my manager, I was thanked and received positive feedback from the volunteer coordinator that I:

    Helped keep things together

    This showed me that my strengths had a positive impact which I was glad about

  • January

    January

    Potential collaboration with ‘RG’ (anonymised)

    • I interacted with communities on Instagram, including supporting a video posted by RG. They then messaged us, looking to collaborate, so I responded with our pitch deck (provides event ideas and explains the values). This was an effective way to start the conversation and we scheduled a meeting
    • However, in researching, RG seem to focus on higher priced events, which we avoid to align with our values of accessibility = I’m interested to see how they would like us to collaborate

    Anomalous Space residency

    • We were accepted to be residents part of Anomalous Spaces’ programme to have 1 event a month for 6 months in the space, starting in January
    • However, the timing of this confirmation meant we had a few weeks to plan an event for our next slot. I was worried about this so I communicated this with the founder, who reassured me as we’re in conversation with collaborators

    Assemblage Collective (AC) collaboration meeting:

    • I noticed a huge improvement in my note-taking as I was able to better follow the discussion, with my focus on when we want to do it and how we can promote it
      • I knew what questions I needed to ask and answers to give, being more familiar with it from past conversations/events
    • We established important considerations, like it being a paid event to cover materials, and decided to ideate over a group chat = helped avoid rush, while being productive
    • They were unable to do a January event to fill our event space slot, but we decided on February. Other collaborations fell through which meant we didn’t have a January collaborator as hoped = the team discussed extending our residency to July and not hosting in the space in early January. The founder looked into other venues to do an end of January event

    Post-meeting messages:

    • We originally discussed doing IH’s Alone Together events: where attendees can bring their own hobbies to do in the presence of others. But I noticed our other ideas didn’t align with this concept and the founder said it doesn’t fit a paid event, which was a great point
      • This created an awareness of what people will pay for, which I considered during future events, and reminded me of the importance of understanding a brand to notice when something doesn’t align
    • We eventually concluded on a Self-Care Zine-Making Workshop, focused on self-love. In planning logistics and ideating, I suggested making a template for everyone to cut out, and then embellish with self-care items, for ease. This was custom-made by my co-hosts
    Screenshot of inspiration found by my cohost while ideating
    First (not final) version of the zine template
    • However, I was worried there were still a lot of things to discuss, so I compiled them in one message to send, which AC responded to = another effective method of remote communication
    • Additionally, since we’ve never hosted a workshop before as part of IH, I wasn’t sure how we’d demo and guide participants. I stayed flexible and wrote it down as something to discuss, reflecting agility

    Common Threads (CT) collaboration meeting:

    • We also had a meeting with CT, who focuses on workshops, and I struggled to keep up fully with our conversation. I found it overwhelming and unproductive as I wanted to have a clear plan and the focus was on CT
    • Nonetheless, I was resilient in concluding we should make a group chat to continue this conversation, bringing in past successful experiences and was a relief. We had many productive conversations to progress our ideas, deciding on a Deck of Cards Decorating Workshop in April, so it was beneficial

    January event – 2026 goal setting:

    • After outreaching to venues, we received a reply so I went straight to creating the Eventbrite page to have as much promotion time possible
    • It’s where you can create hobby bingo sheets and punch cards to reflect on the year
    • I created our first London Whatsapp announcement using our event description, promoting it as our first event of the year, plus the caption for our promotional post. I had to be strategic to ensure it wasn’t too long but still provided enough information
    • In a meeting with my cohost:
      • I brought up making an introduction that covers essential aspects of IH/events, so we formed one to use for all events
      • She mentioned making examples of the final bingo/punch cards
      • I suggested including dimensions of the bingo sheets so attendees can quickly make them, plus use them for promotion
        • These are aspects to bring to future workshops, building my understanding of workshop hosting: finding promotional moments and making things easier for attendees
    Our punch card example
    Our bingo sheet example
    Promotional story
    • We sold out on the event and had a waitlist
    • In planning, we needed to ask the founder for small admin tasks. She was busy so I noted these as future tasks on our Notion for her to know what to complete. As a new community, the tasks page and Notion overall, are beneficial ways to keep organised that I will continue to utilise
    • The event went well, but a lot of people that signed up didn’t join, despite us asking for them to refund to allow others to join. This is likely because it’s a free event = we need to find a way to reduce drop offs
      • Being a smaller group, helping ease me into hosting as my second time since it was less overwhelming. This also meant better connections were formed
    • The lighting was a big issue in the venue for content, but unchangeable, so I knew I’d need to edit it (below)
    • The founder was pleased about our hosting after we updated her
    Original brightness screenshot
    Final video – edited brightness screenshot

  • January

    January

    Week 14

    New Year

    Began recreating the price list poster on the monitor, and planning January posts

    After New Year’s closures, I caught up with my manager about upcoming events and expected posts which I added to my calendar, helping plan ahead and align with RFS aims

    I also started on the price list poster:

    • I was told I could use the unformatted spreadsheet that already includes all items, and format this to avoid inputting information. This was helpful, but would’ve been beneficial to know beforehand, so next time I’ll ask
    • I learnt more about Excel, e.g.:
      • I struggled to fit the spreadsheet in an A4 sheet for printing and was told ‘wrap text’ would adjust lines.
      • ‘Place in cell’ images, which I was unable to do previously
    • To improve the spreadsheet for readability and recognisability, I:
      • Changed fill colour to match the branding
      • Changed alignment and typography style
    • My feedback was that the prices should be right aligned, reminding me of standard price formatting
    Example

    Week 15

    Refinements

    Finishing poster, refining TikTok/Bluesky and ideating

    • In finishing the poster, I researched how to lock formatting, to align with requirements:
      • I ensured cells with information were editable if it needs changing in future
      • Ensured the rows/columns were not editable, to avoid accidental changes

    This reminded me to think about how accessible it is for future users

    • In adding more illustrations, I used basic Google images when the website images were poor quality for customer clarity. I ensured they were generic to be representative and help customer expectations = similarly, had to think in perspective of the customer

    Drafted TikToks from my downloaded Reels:

    • Although a business account, TikTok didn’t allow description links, and had limited music. This restricts video reach and access to the RFS website, so I converted it back to a personal account = reflected on the limitations of platforms, as learnt in first year at university, that have to be worked around
    • Added Linktree, RFS’ aims and charity number into the bio
      • Linktree – To bypass TikTok’s limits, I added this as an easy to search and all rounded link as it includes every website, for viewers to access
      • I’ve been told the importance of the charity number in the past, so embedded this for viewers to know it’s official
    TikTok page + bio

    I also updated the Bluesky bio

    • The word count means CTAs are tricky to include in posts, so I added contact information into the bio instead, alongside the charity number

    Updates

    • When I started, I had various ideas I wanted to explore, some of which I still hadn’t, so I wanted to implement 2 – testimonials and data comparisons

    Week 16

    New ideas

    Considering my new ideas, I began preparing these posts

    Testimonials

    • I asked a volunteer for past testimonials (from interviews/surveys) I could use. In the process she told me I was doing a great job with the social media, which was encouraging and helped build my self-efficacy
    • Originally, they would’ve been feedback testimonials, but after reading the interview/survey testimonials, I changed it to those focused on our aims = asking was useful as it kept it aligned with RFS, to show their benefits and build audience trust

    Starter kits (a pack of kitchen essentials given to those on grants)

    • I was provided pictures of the new kits to post and included an explanation of what the kits are to meet RFS’ aims, as I realised viewers being familiar with what they can access is significant
    • I also used the Annual Report to ensure I used aligned explanations, having learnt about this while forming the Impact Report
    Kits
    Caption

    Proactive liaising

    • I asked a Carousel volunteer if she’d want to film a video in a week to explore another idea I had = highlights the need to also create your own opportunities
    • I noticed a volunteer cleaning the delivery van, so asked if I could film to capture authentic moments. To emphasise this, I edited it with simple copy, aiming to entertain rather than overwhelm the audience with promotion, and reminding me of the slight changes that can shape a piece of content. This was informed by content I learnt in Year 2: the importance of balancing entertainment with promotion

    Video:

    https://www.instagram.com/reel/DTimYRZjG45/?igsh=c20zcWJpdG1qczE3

    Week 17

    Creating opportunities

    Report and post issues to overcome and a new video

    Meetings with my manager

    • I was told I could work on other posters, which we discussed in depth, but most of them required updates I didn’t receive
    • I mentioned this and the publishing of the report again and we listed the steps towards publishing the report e.g. starting with converting it to a flipbook. I reminded him that I tried the flipbook in December but had access issues, which we sorted

    My proactive communication was vital to initiate conversations as it had been a while since we discussed them and since I finalised the report. It also helped me practice speaking up confidently

    • I was provided feedback on the skills I’ve developed over my volunteering: 
      • Working in a team
      • Creating engaging content
      • Working to a brief
      • Meeting objectives
      • All while meeting a business’ context
      • He also mentioned the style I’ve implemented in the feed, referring to the update I made in December that was inspired by Street Storage

    It was great to understand the skills I have demonstrated in a professional context, rather than just in an educational environment, and it made me reflect on how my educational experience has developed these abilities, furthering my self-efficacy

    Report flipbook and data comparison post

    • I attempted flipbook conversion, finding that the flipbook would need to be formed from within the website, which I can’t do. I communicated this, especially as I have one month and, based on our discussion, a lot to do to promote it
    • Regarding the data comparison post, I landed on making “profile card” spotlights of each item
    Profile Card inspiration
    • My research (on the amount of CO2 saved by buying second-hand) was tricky as the data was inconsistent, but I found a couple figures/websites I could use
    • After another meeting, I felt slightly frustrated as it had been a month since I completed the report with no further plan, and I wasn’t provided much confirmation or action for the data post = understood that I value feedback
    • Deciding to come back to it in future, I made another testimonial post to adapt to not creating the data comparison = flexibility is important as long as progress is made
    Testimonial

    Richmond Council partner blog:

    • The Council reached out about creating a partner blog, requiring copy and some images of refurbished and repaired items for Repair Week
    • I created a folder of images I’ve taken of refurbished items and one features in the article below. My content being useful elsewhere was fulfilling:

    https://tinyurl.com/epvhr3na

    Upholstery video:

    • I returned to the Carousel workshop to see what content I could get
    • I started finding out about the steps for chair upholstering = beneficial to know what to expect and something that I’ll continue to do
    • I was asked to film someone who said she was less experienced with upholstery. The process was more complex, so I filmed for longer, let her take her time and kept observing = beneficial to capture each development in the process
    • As I filmed, I thought for it to be a “final fixes” video, so I went straight to editing. The team said it was brilliant, which was great and reinforced the furthering of my enterprise skills in creating opportunities

    https://www.instagram.com/reels/DUQ8psFDOKv

    Week 18

    Leaflet

    New designs for a post and a leaflet

    I was requested to design a new leaflet so I started with the back page:

    • I used the current RFS leaflet to guide all copy, but shortened for readability as the main issue to tackle. I also included relevant images, bringing in knowledge from my studies on engaging audiences
    • I used the same palette and charity number format as the report for consistency, aiming to keep the branding recognisable = reminded me of the details that make up marketing
    • My manager said it was “great” and showed other staff who approved and really liked it

    Change ‘protecting the environment’ image to be more representative of the information, and change the font colour

    Ask another volunteer for feedback on the copy too

    And I made these changes

    Current leaflet (back cover)
    New leaflet (back cover)

    IT system post:

    • I was informed that a new IT system is being used in the warehouse that the trustees set up and was supported by Microsoft
    • This was a great opportunity for a LinkedIn post, and my manager suggested a graphic that showcases the many aspects of the charity it supports
    • I remembered an improvement I gave myself about collaborations, helping me be strategic in writing the caption:
      • Tagged Microsoft to say thank you, but also reach their audience – LinkedIn’s features

    https://tinyurl.com/4a4zjx2c

  • December

    December

    Winter event planning:

    • Despite the short notice, I wanted to ensure our audience had the option to come to another event after Craft & Conversation attendees seemed keen, and the BF collaboration was postponed. Even if we don’t have many sign-ups, my focus was on it showing we’re active and available
    • We thought a winter walk would work considering the risks: it doesn’t require much preparation and we can easily cancel if needed
    • Myself and my co-host scheduled a meeting to prepare e.g. activities and content I could make, which I noted on Notion. This is useful for us to refer back to but also for the founder, who should be informed but wasn’t present
      • I made a section of information specifically for her, when she writes emails or makes posts, helping communicate remotely
    • We had a sign-up goal, which we didn’t meet, but I think the measures and considerations we made meant it wasn’t impactful, so I cancelled the event

    Steep & Stroll Carousel

    • I previously decided to make a ‘Come with me to…’ carousel for TikTok only, considering its common usage on the platform
    • Typically I use our branding, but TikTok’s feature don’t allow for external colours and fonts to be used, reminding me of past lectures on social media limitations
      • This helped me adapt quicker as I experimented with the styles and noticed a trend I’d seen in the past to use
      • It also reinforced the importance of platform knowledge to support decisions
    • I wrote copy and realised that for engagement, I should guide viewers through a journey with a beginning, middle and end – something I hadn’t considered before
    • These strategies were beneficial in gaining our most likes on TikTok so far

    Whatsapp community

    • The team had a 2026 discussion, running through event ideas and projects to explore, to add to our new events pitch deck and action plan (created by the founder). I thought these strategies were great actionable ways to grow
    • I recognised the number of scattered group chats we’ve had to communicate with collaborators, which felt disorganised, so I suggested creating a Whatsapp community to keep everything clear and in one place
    • This conversation extended to creating London and Tokyo group chats for members. The founder suggested this can be exclusive to event attendees to avoid spam, which I thought was an effective method
    • However, I expressed it’s likely these chats may not be used much by members, to clarify expectations and avoid pressure on using them since it wasn’t my original plan, and emphasising the importance of communication
    • I created the community, learning about the system

    Festive card making event Reel:

    • This event took place in Tokyo, and I was asked to create the video
    • I struggled with ideating considering our posts are typically aesthetic. I didn’t want to keep repeating the same format
    • Consequently, I experimented with Capcut tools, finding features inspired by community ‘Stickers & Scribbles’
    • I asked for feedback and made the changes. The founder loved it and had feedback below, but I wasn’t sure if I did so ideas are something to reflect on

    Did you have any other options for music, I think it should be just a little more upbeat [to reflect the event]

    I made this change for uploading

    Inspiration:

    https://www.instagram.com/reel/DQgpIVYjJEC/?igsh=bTRzdmM4bXVoeXJt

    Final video:

    https://www.instagram.com/reel/DTC3E90iC1H/?igsh=Y3lnY2J3enJlN2li

  • December

    December

    Week 10 –

    Updates

    I decided to make some content changes

    Social media:

    • I realised I hadn’t considered typography enough in past posts and later came across content from Street Storage
    • I was inspired by their typography and how their feed looked:
    • Consequently, I started implementing similar ideas with this week’s ‘Favourites of the Week’. Our content is very different, so the style isn’t the same, but it helped me reflect on the feed’s aesthetic for the future, to help content be recognisable
    • I liaised with workshop volunteers, asking for pictures of items they’ve upcycled/repainted/upholstered and about the context of the items, e.g.:
    Cupboard before refurbishing
    Cupboard after
    • This was helpful to schedule content for a few weeks

    Lastly, I was invited to observe and add to a conversation between the manager and a volunteer around surveying customers

    • The need to consider customer responses with feasible response collection, made it a difficult decision. So I found observing this first-hand insightful
    • As an initial conversation to revisit, I was reminded that these decisions take time, they’re hard to make and there are various considerations

    Week 11 –

    Delivery drivers

    I joined the delivery drivers to capture their day doing deliveries and collections and got started on creating posters

    In shadowing the drivers, I:

    • Took videos, but also some pictures
    • Asked them personally about what they do and met customers

    I found this really beneficial, not just in getting content, but understanding their roles on a deeper level while building connections in the team

    • From the content, I had a couple ideas of how to use them so I edited one, a short ‘rain video’:

    www.instagram.com/reel/DSSxseZDNth/

    • I made sure I implemented information about RFS with the new typography

    Additionally, I had a discussion with the manager about various posters I can make, to help volunteers and customers understand e.g. item prices, to promote RFS in other locations etc. This was exciting, to have another project but also make important materials

    Starting with a price grading poster, including explanations of our item grading system:

    • I wrote an explanation, which I then changed to create a clearer, more concise version
    • Realising I was stuck on whether the new method made sense, I decided to come back later
    • I immediately recognised it wasn’t accurate, reverting to the previous method to show the manager = the importance of revisiting:
    Example of the new method (fail)
    Final poster
    In use

    I was also provided feedback:

    Produce a print file with “bleeds”

    • Having sent a PDF in CMYK, I assumed it was ready for print, but this was insightful as I was unfamiliar with ‘bleed’
    • I was able to add it and send the new version over

    Week 12 –

    Holidays

    I designed posts for the holidays and started a new poster.

    With approval of the price grading poster, I moved onto the price list poster:

    • This was challenging, as I was summarising a spreadsheet with every item and every price grade, plus images, into a Canva poster. But, I still enjoyed the process
    • I created a design I felt was clear, only including some items, to show the manager before moving on, in case of changes
    • I was glad I did this as the feedback was to use Excel instead. Considering the prices/items may change in future, they would need to import the information and easily place images (not possible in Canva)

    With holidays approaching, I needed to create an opening hours post:

    • I looked into inspiration and last year’s post as a guide
    • I used a picture I took while shadowing the delivery drivers, as I felt it represented RFS as a whole, and included graphics and the new typography
    • I thought about ways to summarise the information further than last year’s post, so I removed 23rd December and added a range “26th – 29th” as a closing day
    Last Years
    This years

    Lastly, I wanted to make a Christmas version of the Favourites of the Week (FOTW):

    • Decided it should provide present suggestions
    • Liaised with warehouse volunteers for recommendation
    • Since this is a Christmas version with new information that would be difficult to fit into a normal FOTW post, I created a cover
    • Use the same format as the ‘opening hours’ post for the feed’s aesthetic:
    FOTW cover

    Week 13 –

    Posters

    Created a ‘Day in a Life’, resolved Excel issues and scheduled a graphic

    • I worked on the Excel poster, designing it so it doesn’t look like a spreadsheet. Despite my little knowledge of Excel, it wasn’t too difficult, so I formatted the design
    • However, as mentioned, a significant reason for using Excel was to easily place pictures, and although it’s possible, it didn’t work
    • I moved to the app, which allowed other features I needed, but still no ‘place picture’ option. I researched and realised I have an outdated app
    • I’m glad I researched this beforehand, as I was able to thoroughly explain this to the manager. We decided to get back to it in the new year, using a monitor
    • He also suggested keeping the spreadsheet style instead for future updates

    Since signing into TikTok and Bluesky, I’ve been uploading past posts:

    • TikTok – weekly FOTW with ratings & Reels. I’ve adapted the typography here too
    • Bluesky – realised there was much more content I could’ve posted than I originally thought = updated my content calendar and uploading

    Next time, I will better consider all platforms

    From the delivery driver videos, I created a ‘Day in a Life’:

    • I included figures about what they do, and insights from asking questions
    • Contrastingly, for LinkedIn, I used a picture I took and placed this information in the caption to suit the platform

    www.instagram.com/reel/DSp9YrsDLcy/

    I sent it to the manager, receiving the feedback below, and from staff:

    Perfect. Really good. Well done, it’s good to go. You should be very proud and happy with that.

    Finally, I made a Christmas and New Years graphic

    • In the past I had a format for graphics which I tried but felt didn’t work
    • I made many changes and realised I could use the same format as the opening hours post as, luckily, staff previously told me about new Christmas van decorations which I captured. I felt it helped represent RFS while being relevant
    • I decided to continue using this format in future, adding to recognisability
    Before
    New format no picture
    Final format with picture
  • November

    November

    Started with event planning difficulties:

    • I found it overwhelming to keep up with many considerations, so I updated a Notion template (created by the founder to help consider all aspects of planning an event, e.g. promotion, tickets etc.) with any extra questions to organise my thoughts
    • To collaborate with BF we required a venue with a screen but this was tricky considering expenses. I communicated with BF post-meeting through email, reiterating IH’s model (non profit) and lack of budget after having mentioned this prior. I updated the founder and we were mutually confused, but I remained professional, focused on venues
    • Additionally, after event scheduling clashes with BF, our team had multiple conversations on how to move forward:
      • Postponing
      • Cancelling
      • Doing it without BF as a host, just background support

    CC 2nd meeting:

    • My co-host created an event schedule. I asked CC if it was possible for their team to take a look in advance for our next online meeting = save meeting time and focus on other vital considerations
    • Myself and my co-host introduced ourselves to the full CC team, gained schedule feedback & progressed on promotion and tickets:

    We could focus on social batteries

    • Originally we thought the event could be split into those who want to socialise and those who don’t, to cater to our audiences. But a focus on levels of social battery was better
    • However, feedback from the founder was that we needed more information on the promotional post, which I’ll take away for future collaborations, especially as I think this led to later complications with timings

    I used Eventbrite for the first time:

    • In navigating it, I felt dissatisfied and asked the founder to check it over because of my unfamiliarity with it
    • I used past descriptions to guide extra information in the description e.g. “doors open at…” “no experience needed”, to better align with our audience. I reformatted the description to create the Instagram caption, considering past captions’ style:
    Eventbrite
    Caption

    CC ‘Craft & Conversation’ event – first hosting:

    • This event was craft-based, allowing attendees to pick any or all craft options
    • Considering the need to speak to everyone, welcome everyone, take content, participate in our activities, promote IH etc. I was overwhelmed. But, I learnt as I was going e.g. I was too promotional of our loyalty cards at first, realised, stopped and let my co-host continue. Once everyone was settled, I was calm
    • I found it effective speaking with each attendee, viewing their creations and taking content at the end
    • My co-host and I thought to decide if we should cancel/postpone/do the BF event ourselves with their support after hosting this. We concluded the latter
    • I updated the founder about my personal experience and she advised:

    The biggest lesson is flexibility, people join and end up doing something else. You guys are a good team

    Edited Reel for this event:

    • Decided to make another ‘Come with me to…’ video considering the reception of the last
    • Created graphic for the introduction, similar to the promotional post (like Steep & Stroll) for recognisability
    • I asked for feedback as the font looked off: 

    Try capital letters. This is so cute are you able to change the colours of the logos

    • This was to align with the original post and feed and were really useful considerations for future posts too, since this was my 2nd video

    My favourite Reel of ours, you’re so fast as well to make it

    https://www.instagram.com/reel/DR1nJQLiCE9/

    Ended the month with further BF collab issues:

    • After deciding to host with just the support of BF, there was a lack of specificity and care in BF’s responses, despite having agreed. So before locking in the event, our team further discussed, deciding to postpone and replace it with another winter event. However, it’s risky:
      • Our audience will likely be away for the holidays
      • We don’t have a large audience yet
    • We decided to go ahead with planning, to promote as soon as possible, and avoided spending our resources until we knew our numbers
    • Ultimately we wanted to align with our aim of showing we’re active
    • This furthered my enterprise and collaborative skills as it showed the importance of discussing if something seems off

  • November

    November

    Week 6 –

    Woodstore

    Started on a Trustees post, filmed a woodstore volunteer to try shorter form content and continued the report

    Started with admin and came across ‘#TrusteesWeek’ on social media, where charities thank their trustees. I worked on our own by:

    • Researching each trustee for the design & caption
    • Finding design inspiration (after struggling with ideation) and Trustees Week’s bank of graphics, deciding to spotlight them
    • Using Canva to design a video graphic for the first time
    • Asking for description feedback from the manager, to accurately align with their expertise

    I was glad to have utilised Canva’s video editor, learning how it works and applying my editing knowledge. However, I felt the brand colours/fonts were limited, so found it tricky to align with them. So, I chose to change the font, considering the manager didn’t previously find it important. In future, I will research inspiration and graphics before ideating myself to save time

    Before inspiration
    Inspiration found
    (Part of the video) After finding inspiration

    I liaised with workshop volunteers, asking a woodstore volunteer if I could film him upcycling wood to create decorations:

    • Inspired by Petit Miracles who have short videos that garner lots of engagement
    • Showed him my inspiration & reassured him there’s no talking/it’s faceless
    • Captured the process in 15 minutes as the preparation was beneficial

    I was nervous to film, as I wasn’t sure what was going to take place, but I stuck with what I did know: to capture as much as possible. He encountered a problem so the final piece couldn’t be completed and captured, but considering my aim (create a short video of the process), I quickly realised it can be resolved by showing a pre-made piece.

    Lastly, I used my notes and Excel sheets to continue designing the SROI pages

    • Being a complex concept, I asked for clarification multiple times, which helped
    • It also takes lots of space, requiring: referencing, figures, calculations, definitions etc. I decided to change the drafted layout I previously made and discussed best formatting with the manager:
    Original drafted layout with blocked out space and brief ideas

    Week 7 –

    Explore

    Created many posts, captured content at the Explore programme and designed invitations.

    This week I felt slightly overwhelmed as:

    • I was behind in content
    • After making fixes to the Trustees post and report, was informed of further changes
    • Informed by the coordinator about creating a poster for an upcoming AGM, and a collaborative post

    Consequently, I:

    • Communicated my immediate deadlines to the manager 
    • Continued breaking down my tasks for each post
    • Decided to revisit the report/poster later

    Therefore, I could schedule 3 posts, including the collaborative post, ask about the poster details and show the manager the new SROI design, which he liked. So, this was beneficial in getting me on track and less overwhelmed. I will take this experience into the future.

    Additionally, our partner charity Shepherd’s Star, holds an Explore programme described as:

    Offering a welcoming first step on the journey of personal growth…

    This is through e.g. personal development workshops. Some RFS volunteers and the manager are requested to undertake woodworking workshops, so I:

    • Captured content
    • Made connections with the co-founder and those participating
    • Found filming in a smaller group of individuals I’m not familiar with out of my comfort zone, as they may not want to be filmed. However, after my role was introduced to participants and I was informed of who didn’t want to be filmed, my confidence with filming built, helping acquire good content

    Moreover, I edited the decoration video, of which, the edits were deleted. Despite the inconvenience, I decided to quickly re-edit to easily recall the edits previously made, resolving it:

    https://www.instagram.com/reel/DQ9luRejBAl/?igsh=MXNoenBkaHdqajB1Yw==

    Other social media

    • Was messaged the below on Whatsapp, which was great to hear

    Social media is looking good

    • Posted Trustees post – manager sent it to the Trustees to check, and reported back that I was doing well based on responses. I was pleased to hear this

    Trustees Post:

    https://tinyurl.com/2dw4sw8x

    It was also further reposted:

    E.g. Trustee repost

    Week 8 –

    Fully drafted report

    I started drafting posts on new platforms, edited a video and made final edits to the report.

    After having issues with it, I was able to sign into TikTok and Bluesky. This was necessary as I drafted past Instagram posts for TikTok, especially ‘Favourite of the Week’ posts, as my initial idea was to rate items on TikTok to align with trends:

    Rating example

    I checked with the manager before:

    Looks great

    It was great to finally complete my idea and have approval

    Additionally, I was informed about Buy Nothing New Day from the Reuse Network, and decided to post this on Bluesky considering its aim (plus other platforms):

    • I posted a graphic and used an article to inform different captions for audiences on LinkedIn and Instagram, while explaining the benefits of reusing and promoting RFS with call-to-actions. I will use this strategy in future
    • I found Bluesky had a word count, so cut down the caption and decided not to use a graphic but a link to the article, considering Bluesky’s text-based and the call-to-action heavily related to it

    I edited the Explore programme video, figuring out if it should be ‘behind the scenes’ or something different. I decided to include a question prompt with a reveal, inspired by Petit Miracles. This was for entertainment and engagement, while highlighting what the programme is and what RFS is doing to create a short, purposeful video:

    https://www.instagram.com/reel/DRPn7cuDI7T/?igsh=NzZydXV4aTk1ZjYx

    Finally, the manager sent the report to a volunteer and mentioned that the SROI figures weren’t fully grasped. I made changes and moved the sources to the last page, as agreed, learning the importance of explaining and highlighting the figures:

    Before (non-including sources)
    After

    This was the final draft (before the last stage of sending it to the Trustees).

    Week 9 –

    AGM

    I attended the AGM/party to take pictures/videos, which helped plan content for a few weeks and maintain connections with other volunteers.

    I was invited to capture videos/pictures for the Annual General Meeting that took place in the warehouse, including both a meeting and Christmas volunteer party. Considering its location, there was preparation taking place, like moving furniture

    • I decided to create a ‘getting ready’ carousel, thank you post and figures post
    • Consequently, I paid attention to, and asked if there were any developments in setting up
    • I had a catch-up discussion with the manager to clarify anything

    Doing all of this helped me acquire the correct content, adaptable for Instagram, TikTok and LinkedIn, of around 3x content pieces over 3 weeks

    Additionally, a couple screenshots of the report were used in the presentation, and I was shouted out during the Q&A, which was motivating:

    Report in presentation

    Other social media:

    • Decided it was important to include a non-promotional post. I posted about the decorations in the warehouse, with a slightly humorous tone. I should implement this more often, if possible
    • The collaborative post gained many views and likes. This collaboration was between RFS and a Football Club, who wanted rustic-looking planters made out of pallets
      • I was provided pictures and requested to post this so I confirmed messaging with the requester, who wanted an in-depth caption
      • I took notes of our discussion, which was beneficial so I could pay attention in writing to ensure it flowed well
    • This suggested I should also post collaborations more often, if possible, as it reaches multiple audiences

    Collaboration Post:

    https://www.instagram.com/p/DRKe0UwDDE8/?igsh=MWVlM2QzejhwYXB1eg==

  • October

    October

    Myself and the founder organised a walking event, ‘Steep & Stroll,’ in collaboration with another community

    I reached out to them in summer, deciding for an October event:

    • Gave me a foundational understanding of what to expect from collaborations
    • I took content, understanding the need to balance this with engaging with attendees
    • The founder said that I made it happen, it was a success and attendees mentioned they enjoyed it

    The impact was amazing to hear and I was excited that our work paid off

    Post-event, I:

    • Created our new TikTok page which is fully managed by me, so in filming I need to consider both Instagram and TikTok. Consequently, before the event I decided to create a TikTok-specific slideshow (to fit trends), and a Reel. Planning this was beneficial as I took both photos and videos to do this
    • Started reposting our Reels onto TikTok. Our aim with TikTok is only to gain an audience that will see our Linktree/Instagram. So I emphasise in-caption that they’re from past events with CTAs to these other platforms
    • Researched new collaborators and ideated content

    I considered trends, who and what aligned with the brand and the content formats we could utilise, all in our shared Notion for reference. I also built a bank of inspiration = overall maximise our content’s potential to reach new audiences and engage our current audience, while staying true to our aim

    • I updated the team about this research. My considerations were beneficial as they were pleased with the ideas, listing them as future posts, e.g. for stories I started with asking a question that related to our brand

    Looking really good, but brand colours should be implemented

    which I considered. Ultimately, this keeps our audience engaged and shows we’re active:

    Additionally, I edited the Steep & Stroll Reel with CapCut (‘Come with me to…’ video inspired by a brief and video I created in the past)

    • It was a challenge sorting our Google Drive videos into order. They consist of my own and the collaborator’s videos. It took time and strategy to select videos, so I questioned why it should be used to avoid repetition for engagement
    • I aligned with our brand guidelines, and for creativity and recognisability recreated the announcement graphic in the video introduction. I ensured I used our typography, as it was a previously mentioned necessity from the founder, for the Instagram page to come together:
    Instagram page
    • I sent the introductory graphic to the founder. She loved it which was motivating
    • Reread the brief to know what to include in the script = concise explanation that meets aims
    • Included call-to-actions, asking the founder which CTA is best to draw audiences to future events

    It received the most views on Reels so far at 1.8k

    Graphic
    Video introduction

    Inspiration:

    www.instagram.com/reel/DJFXobHuQ1R

    Furthermore, the IH Team scheduled a meeting with two potential collaborators, Conversation Cafe (CC) and ‘BF’ (anonymised*).

    I took notes, summarising ideas and potential dates etc. Although useful, I found my notes chaotic as the:

    • 2nd time attending meetings = challenging to follow the conversation
    • 1st meetings with these communities = discussion of various ideas rather than a structured event plan

    Nonetheless, I found them beneficial to refer back to, so I will improve this.

  • October

    October

    Image Taken from RFS website

    Week 1 –

    The Warehouse

    Training in the warehouse to learn about the system used alongside customer services, before getting into social media/marketing.

    Through research beforehand, I knew what RFS’ aims were, but this week gave me inside experience into exactly how we meet them:

    Making Homes, Protecting the Environment, Building Community

    Not only did it improve my knowledge, but it will inform my content creation in understanding our messaging, audience etc. and gave me content ideas, like a ‘Favourites of the Week’ carousel of warehouse items.

    It reminded me that strategy is important, e.g. everything we sell are donated items, so content should reflect its importance. 

    Additionally, having never worked an official formal role before, especially in customer services, I was anxious about customer interaction. However, on my second day I offered to independently serve someone while the manager was unavailable, learning that I enjoyed it and will take initiative.

    Week 2 –

    Reports

    This week I was directed towards creating an impact report, started designing it, began capturing content and also shadowed the Richmond Council Communications Manager.

    I had a few meetings with the CEO about designing an impact report and its considerations, like branding and call-to-actions etc. I was also provided an example from a partner organisation, to be inspired by (below).

    Shepherd’s Star Impact Report example as inspiration

    Although I was worried as I had never designed an impact report, my notebook note-taking played a huge part in ensuring I knew what to include without feeling overwhelmed, so I was excited to try it out

    In designing, I struggled with the brand colours as they were quite limited. Consequently, I first designed with a specific colour palette, and later created another option to choose from. This was beneficial to make decisions efficiently:

    Original
    New Option

    I was strategic in ensuring it met its objective of showcasing impact, by creating 3 main sections based on their aims. I then analysed data, collected within their Microsoft Power BI dashboard, to summarise as graphics and statistics (instead of sentences)

    The Communications Manager for Richmond Council also visited us to capture content that will be posted on their social media for Circular Economy Week

    • I shadowed her process: finding multiple locations within RFS and taking photos alongside videos for options, to efficiently meet her brief = I gained insight into content creation in a professional context and made a connection

    During the process, I took my first social media photos, plus photos of furniture items I liked for the ‘Favourites of the Week’ idea:

    Set of Chairs recently delivered
    Shelf recently delivered

    Week 3 –

    Favourite items

    Drafted posts for Instagram and LinkedIn, and also TikTok to start planning how to expand content. Presented my impact report, so far, to the Co-Founder of Shepherd’s Star and the RFS CEO for feedback.

    The content I captured last week, I used to draft my ‘Favourite Items of the Week’ idea. For the Instagram post, I highlight my favourite items, so I selected photos accordingly. For TikTok, I also wanted to rate these items to align with trends for engagement, so I selected extras I thought were suitable:

    Instagram AND TikTok Vs
    TikTok ONLY “extras”

    For LinkedIn, I used the photos I took while shadowing for a ‘Behind the Scenes’ post, as it had a professional message that aligns with LinkedIn’s audience:

    • I optimised each post according to platform by varying: post size, copy, tags and hashtags, helping align with each audience
    • I included call-to-actions pre-written by RFS and music on the Instagram post
    • Moreover, I started testing specific posting times to help inform future posts

    Ultimately, for better engagement and to increase visibility, driving viewers to RFS and utilising my educational experiences

    In presenting the report so far, I made a connection with the Shepherd’s Star Co-Founder (who created the example report, above). I also received constructive criticism from the CEO for report refinements

    • I found that I didn’t take it personally but rather took it as an opportunity to improve
    • I was, however, nervous in the process of backing up my decisions where needed, as this required confidence to further decision making, but my note-taking prevented overwhelm

    Week 4 –

    The Fair

    I attended the Full of Life Fair to film a video. With this, social media requests and my own spontaneous capturing of content in mind, I needed to improve my organisation.

    I decided to design a content calendar noting: ideas, target audiences, aims, posting days and platforms. This provided clarity, helping me post on schedule and know what I’m doing day-to-day:

    The Full of Life Fair, hosted by the Richmond Council, aims to supply older residents with information for their wellbeing

    • I was requested to join my managers to capture content, plus create an announcement post of our attendance
    • For the caption, I looked into previous posts to align with the approachable but professional tone and included an emoji for visual engagement. I went back to a previous caption to do the same, and kept it in mind for future captions:

    I planned a behind the scenes video for the fair, researching the fair and looking for inspiration from others in the industry. I thought of its aims:

    • Personable through visuals, contrasting other posts
    • Informative through insights in the caption

    and where it can be posted to maximise engagement (LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok), by researching what performs well on each platform.

    Inspiration:

    https://www.instagram.com/reel/DP4B63EgroZ

    https://www.instagram.com/reel/DPvPT3ZiDvY

    At the fair I:

    • Took footage (with permission from individuals)
    • Shadowed the Digital Communications Officer for Richmond Council, who created video interviews with the Mayors and Councillors in attendance for their opinion on the fair
    • Asked them interview questions and watched the process

    The Mayors/Councillors were understandably preoccupied, so it was disorganised and chaotic to film. However, I adapted to balance my tasks, found it exciting and learnt how filming works practically, which is to attain much footage. 

    As the organisers were unable to ask everyone for permission, I found it tricky to navigate filming, so I avoided showing faces by filming attendees’ from behind.

    Week 5 –

    Editing

    Used the constructive criticism and additions to improve the report and edited the FOLF reel, making decisions about its aims.

    Previously, I was provided areas for improvement alongside the next steps for the report. This included, e.g.:

    • Understanding the data dashboard better
    • Using the Annual Report (2024-25) for data and consistency in phrasing words
    • Defining terms and changing some graphs
    • SROI and social impact value additions

    Using my notes and extra resources provided, I made these and more improvements. I also kept these improvements in mind, by ensuring I included them in new pages I designed.

    Draft Before
    After

    I added SROI sections across 2 pages, understanding its aim to make decisions of what to include to avoid overload. This followed with another meeting where I was told it was very good, with some corrections. I was pleased it’s meeting expectations and felt I had further clarity on how the organisation works.

    Additionally, I looked into insights on each platform I use to better understand what timing works and what content to continue posting, e.g. behind the scenes posts and posting after 4pm on Instagram/Facebook.

    With the FOLF footage, I was pleased I focused on filming behind attendees as I had enough footage. There were a few issues I resolved while editing:

    • The focus was on promoting the fair = I cut it down to focus on what RFS does
    • My plan was to have event insights in the caption, but there weren’t specific insights to discuss = adapted this to include RFS achievements and, in future, will better understand the event to plan accurately

    I also posted the ‘Favourites of the Week’, feeling as though I should finish the series soon as the audience may not want them anymore. However, an upholstering professional with 182k followers (Instagram) commented:

    Great idea to have a favourite of the week post. Love it

    which motivated me.