Following its success last year, the Conversation and Coffee project returns for a second year and is looking for new volunteers. The collaborative venture seeks to create an informal space where student volunteers and local community members can come together over free coffee and cake, to practise and improve English speaking, build connections, and foster intercultural awareness.

The Conversation and Coffee Class (CCC) was launched in November 2023 by Professor Jane Bryan of Warwick Law School and Farida Butt, owner of Milk and Mocha Coffee Shop in Kenilworth and Managing Director of Education4All. The project helps newly arrived communities improve their English-speaking skills, connect, and develop intercultural awareness in a relaxed environment while enjoying free coffee and cake. The project has established partnerships with esteemed organisations, including the University of Coventry, the University of Warwick, Soroptimist's Kenilworth and District, Warwick District Council, and Kenilworth Town Council.

The initiative supports 25 members of the community coming from diverse backgrounds, encouraging cultural exchange and promoting a sense of community. Weekly classes include vocabulary-building activities, real-life conversation practice, and cultural discussions.

The class has seen significant success, with participants gaining confidence, making friends, and even securing volunteering and employment opportunities. The CCC meet weekly for meetings from 9.30 – 11.00 am at the Milk and Mocha Coffee Shop in Kenilworth. Trips to the University of Warwick and beyond are also organised every four weeks to enable newly arrived communities to experience other spaces and activities, often associated with wellbeing and employability.

The learners' shared passion for board games has helped them form friendships with members of the host community. Regular clients of the Milk and Mocha coffee shop eagerly join them after class for a fun session of board games, showing their support for the learners' journey in their new home. This integration is crucial for the learners to build meaningful connections with the host community, fostering a sense of belonging and mutual understanding.

The CCC has proven invaluable in fostering linguistic development, cultural understanding, and community engagement.