My Media Placement with Communities Inc: Learning, Creating, and Making an Impact in Nottingham

As a media student at Nottingham Trent University, I was looking for a placement that would challenge me and give me practical experience outside the classroom. Working with Communities Inc in Nottingham turned out to be one of the most eye-opening experiences of my student journey.

From the start, the team welcomed me and showed me how much thought and care go into community campaigns. One of my main projects was creating media assets for the Worker Protection Act (WPA). I researched content, drafted graphics, and developed materials that were later used in the Stand By Her training, designed to help staff and organisations recognise and respond to unsafe workplace behaviour. Seeing the assets I had helped create being used in real training sessions was incredibly rewarding—it made me feel like my work was contributing to real change.

Beyond that, I helped support community outreach events like the Nottingham Pride, Outreach stalls and Freshers’ Fair, where I created social media content, documented the events, and helped communicate important messages to attendees. I also contributed to writing blog posts and social posts on sensitive topics like misogyny, hate crime, and community safety, learning how to approach these subjects ethically and responsibly.

What I appreciated most was how hands-on the experience was. I wasn’t just observing or taking notes—I was actively involved in campaigns from start to finish. I learned how to manage deadlines, adapt content for different audiences, and work collaboratively with a small but passionate team. I also gained insights into how community organisations in Nottingham plan, execute, and evaluate campaigns, including the legal and ethical considerations that are so important when working on sensitive topics.

This placement taught me skills I couldn’t have gained in a classroom: researching and producing professional media assets, supporting outreach events, and understanding the real-world impact of ethical media in community safety and inclusion. For any media student in Nottingham or at NTU looking for placements, I can’t recommend Communities Inc enough. It’s the perfect opportunity to gain experience in campaign content creation, community engagement, and social impact media, all while making a real difference in your city.