Case Study: Bringing Words to Life
Discover how our students helped a literacy charity explore new ways to grow its creative writing programme. This case study highlights how research, collaboration and fresh thinking can unlock real strategic value.
About Bringing Words to Life
Bringing Words to Life (BWTL) is a North East-based charity. They deliver creative, communication-focused learning experiences to improve literacy across schools, communities, and adult learning groups. They have a long-standing focus on empowering people through storytelling. Through this, the charity aims to make learning more accessible and engaging beyond the traditional classroom setting.
The organisation had previously worked with Newcastle University to host student interns. They had a positive experience collaborating with Business School staff. When the opportunity to take part in the Management Consultancy Project arose, founder Melanie Cornish-Fleet recognised it as a valuable next step.
The challenge
Bringing Words to Life had developed a creative writing programme, 'Right2Write'. The programme has the potential to support the charity’s long-term sustainability. However, limited time and resources meant the concept remained undeveloped.
The student team had to assess:
- how this innovative programme could reach new audiences
- what delivery models would make it viable
The students approached the problem with fresh perspective and independent research. As such, they were able to provide clarity on a project that had long been on hold.
“I needed to know whether I was barking up the right tree — and that’s exactly what the students helped me figure out,” said Melanie.
The approach
The student team worked closely with the client. They:
- conducted in-depth research
- developed practical recommendations tailored to the charity’s needs
Effective collaboration and regular communication ensured that their findings were relevant, accessible, and rooted in real community impact.
“Each day presented a new learning opportunity. Collaborating with a charity like BWTL helped me bridge the gap between theory and practice in a meaningful way,” said Bethany, one of the student consultants.
The outcome
The consultancy project delivered practical outcomes for the charity, as well as a rewarding learning experience for the student team.
Bringing Words to Life gained valuable strategic insight through the students’ research. Their recommendations are already shaping their funding bids and programme delivery.
The students themselves developed a range of professional skills, from communication to leadership.
Louie is a student who supported the implementation of the recommendations. He said: “balancing assertiveness with empathy allowed me to foster better team dynamics and deliver a more cohesive outcome."
I would highly recommend it to any organisation — but be clear about what you want to achieve. What the students delivered was invaluable.
About Management Consultancy Projects
This project is one of many delivered through our Management Consultancy Project capstone module. This module bridges the gap between academic study and professional practice. Teams of final-year undergraduate students deliver a live consultancy project for a real business client. This allows them to apply their learning in a real-world context. It enhances their employability while addressing a real need within the client organisation.
Collaborating with Business School students offers access to fresh thinking and high-quality analysis. This is ideal for small and growing organisations. Students teams are motivated and ready to tackle real-world challenges. They offer valuable insights, research, and recommendations that can support strategic decision-making.
