Student stories: Work experience to kickstart careers

At Family Fund, we are proud to be an inclusive employer. Our student internships are one of the ways we support young people to gain new skills and work experience, to help kick start their careers. 

Originally from Uganda and about to enter the final year of his LLB, Zacc joined Family Fund’s communications and marketing team looking for a way to make a difference. 

While law remains his focus, his internship has given him insight into a different side of the charity sector, from community outreach and campaign planning to website content and communications analysis. 

“I knew I wanted to join Family Fund in whatever capacity I could,” says Zacc. “When the marketing internship came up (which was different to what I’d originally planned but with the same impact) I knew I had to go for it.” 

Finding the right opportunity 

Zacc initially applied for Family Fund’s sustainability internship. Although he wasn’t successful, he was encouraged to apply for a marketing internship instead. 

After learning more about Family Fund’s work and its mission to support families raising disabled or seriously ill children, he was determined to get involved. 

Working within a charity was also something he’d been keen to experience. 

“Before starting, I was already interested in seeing how charities operate, so actually working within one has been a great surprise, particularly how efficient the staff and organisation are while balancing the needs of everyone involved.” 

A bit of everything 

One of the things Zacc has enjoyed most about the internship is the variety of work he’s been involved in. 

During his placement, Zacc has worked on a mix of projects, from helping to develop a community outreach programme to supporting influencer activity, analysing newsletter performance and writing website content. 

He also researched and wrote an article on the NHS’s new plan to improve health services for children and young people, which he describes as his proudest achievement. 

“It’s been a real mix of everything,” he explains. “It has let me contribute and get the most out of this opportunity across the board.” 

Alongside the work itself, Zacc says getting to know the communications team has been one of the highlights of his experience. 

“I was nervous coming in, but the team has been so hands-on that it’s helped me settle in well and contribute my best.” 

What I’ve learned 

Through his internship, Zacc has gained a greater understanding of how in-house communications teams operate and the breadth of work they manage every day. 

“Seeing the structure, the work ethic, and how they handle issues or problems as they arise has taught me a lot,” he says. 

Looking forward 

As he gets ready for his final year of study and starts thinking about what comes next, Zacc says his time at Family Fund has given him experience he can take forward. 

“Working within a charity, and especially within communications, has helped and will continue to help while opening more doors to more opportunities.” 

For anyone considering a similar internship, his advice is: 

“Commit to it fully, enjoy it, and immerse yourself in the experience. It’ll hopefully pay off.” 

Zacc is also keen to thank the people who helped make the experience so rewarding. 

“Thank you to Family Fund for this opportunity, especially the marketing team who have been so supportive throughout. And a big thank you to my supervisor, James King, for his support and guidance.” 

James said, “Zacc has been absolutely invaluable this summer – he has worked incredibly hard to get his tasks done quickly and to an excellent standard. He’s become a real part of the team, and we’ve all appreciated his ideas and willingness to get involved. Thank you, Zacc!”