Over the summer, LEAH’s Summer Wellbeing Programme brought together volunteers, learners and children to explore our local community, build new friendships and discover simple ways to support wellbeing.
From our introductory session on 7 July, when everyone met and learned more about the programme, to our wonderful celebration finale on 8 September, participants embraced every opportunity to connect with one another through creativity, movement, nature and shared experiences.
Together, we discovered beautiful local places, tried new activities and created lasting memories.
Summer Wellbeing Programme – week by week
Week 1: Welcome & introduction – a welcoming session bringing everyone together for the start of the programme.
Week 2: Kew Gardens – exploring the beauty of Kew Gardens and enjoying nature together.
“I am so happy I am here. I always on my own at home, just with my baby. It’s not good. And now I’m here with you and I am so so happy.”
Week 3: Creative art workshop – a creative workshop encouraging self-expression, conversation and connection.
“I want to express my heartfelt thanks for your kindness, compassion, and all the hard work you do to improve our lives. Your care, patience, and support truly mean a great deal to me, and I deeply appreciate everything you do.”
Week 4: Dose of Nature – a calming Dose of Nature session in the great outdoors – read more here.
“Thanks for the invite to the garden. It made me very happy, and I felt honoured to be there. I hope we will have the opportunity to meet again. I found the experience very enjoyable, especially the warm and welcoming hospitality of the hosts in the garden. It was truly lovely.”
Week 5: Yoga & relaxation – a gentle yoga session promoting relaxation and wellbeing.
Week 6: Ham House – discovering the history and gardens of Ham House – read more here.
Week 7: Poetry workshop – finding inspiration and confidence through a poetry workshop – read more here.
Week 8: Riverside walk & Orleans Gallery – a walk along the River Thames, past Marble Hill House, followed by a visit to Orleans Gallery – read more here
Finale: Celebration & photography competition – celebrating friendships and achievements, with a photography competition on the theme “My Happy Place”.
We ended the programme with a joyful celebration, bringing everyone together to look back on the experiences we had shared over the previous nine weeks. We were delighted to be joined by the Mayor of Richmond, Councillor Nancy Baldwin, and Councillor Fiona Sacks, Councillor for Barnes and Borough of Sanctuary Champion.
It was a lovely, informal gathering, with a quiz, a circle of gratitude, and lots of cake, conversation and laughter.
The feedback from participants was especially heartwarming. They spoke about the friendships they had formed, the support they had received and how much they had appreciated being able to include their children in the activities. They also talked about the many new places in and around Richmond that they had discovered through the programme.
“The sessions I attended with your programme made my summer very enjoyable. I am very thankful to you all for everything.”
Our volunteers shared their experiences too, with one volunteer saying that she always felt “thoroughly uplifted” after taking part in one of the activities.
The Mayor also judged our photography competition, choosing Shahla’s picture of her reading table by a window as the winning photograph. But we all agreed that all our learners are winners!
Click on the image to see all the entries!
By the end of the summer, friendships had blossomed, conversations flowed more naturally, and many participants commented on how much they looked forward to seeing each other each week.
Our Summer Wellbeing Programme has demonstrated that learning English is about so much more than language. By bringing people together in welcoming spaces, encouraging creativity, exploring our local area and promoting positive wellbeing, the programme has helped learners feel more welcome and connected to their community, as well as more confident in themselves.
A huge thank you goes to all our learners, volunteers, session facilitators and staff who made the programme such a success.
We are also incredibly grateful to our funders for making these enriching experiences possible. We look forward to building on this success with future wellbeing programmes.
Keep an eye on our news page for further updates.
