Akash Dahiya
Find out about Akash's internship in fundraising with Tyneside and Northumberland Mind.
Tell us about your role
Whilst undertaking my Masters, I secured a Data and Strategy NCL Internship with Tyneside and Northumberland Mind. Over five months, I standardised their entire data management system, integrating siloed datasets and building a scalable, insight-driven solution that empowered teams to create smarter campaigns, track impact more effectively, and ensure that every pound fundraised was spent effectively. Not a single day was repetitive - ranging from tasks as small as recreating Microsoft Forms to fundamentally changing how data was captured and used to drive better decisions.
Leading a data strategy project at a non-profit organisation brings a different kind of fulfilment. When a data ecosystem helps more people overcome mental health barriers, you're not just analysing numbers, you're helping to change lives. I completed my internship with a very close-knit team of CEOs, Head of Services, Business Development and Finance colleagues with a high capacity to influence decision making. The proximity to decision-making is powerful, and so is the purpose.
What did you gain from the experience?
I was honoured to win Intern of the Year Award 2025 at Newcastle University’s Contribution to the Workplace Awards in recognition of the contribution I made during my internship.
I am delighted to share that I am now beginning a new chapter as Portfolio Manager (Digital Services) in the Chief Executive Department at a London Borough Council. In this role, I will be managing a series of ambitious projects encompassing data analytics and AI, with the ultimate goal of improving lives in the community and beyond.
I cannot stress enough how much Newcastle University invests in student wellbeing, careers support, library resources, and networking opportunities—the list goes on. As an international student, I would choose Newcastle all over again. This internship was a chapter I will always cherish, and the people I collaborated with are ones I will never forget.