9th November 2026 marks the beginning of Trustees’ Week, when we celebrate all the amazing people who give their time to help charities make a difference.
This Trustees’ Week, we’re reminded of how lucky we are to have such a wonderful group of Trustees supporting us at LEAH. They generously give their time, knowledge and experience to help guide and shape our charity – all on a voluntary basis.
This year, we’d like to give a particularly warm welcome and a big thank you to our two newest Trustees, Jenny and Hannah. We’re delighted to have you both on board and are so grateful for everything you bring to LEAH.
Read Jenny and Hannah’s stories below to find out what inspired them to become LEAH Trustees!
Jenny
“Having moved to the UK from China over 20 years ago, I’ve experienced first-hand both the excitement and the challenges of making a new country your home. Even with a good command of English, navigating a different culture and finding your place in society takes time. It has made me appreciate how much harder that journey can be for those facing language barriers.
Throughout my career as a broadcaster and international communication professional, I’ve had the privilege of meeting people from all walks of life, sharing their stories and facilitating conversations across cultures. These experiences have reinforced my belief that communication is not simply about exchanging words. It’s about being heard, understood and empowered to participate fully in society.
This is what drew me to LEAH. I particularly admire its personal, practical approach to helping people overcome language barriers. Whether it’s speaking to a child’s teacher, making a doctor’s appointment or simply chatting with a neighbour, these everyday interactions can be transformative, building confidence, independence and a sense of belonging.
I joined LEAH’s Board earlier this year and am delighted to bring my experience in media and cross-cultural engagement to an organisation whose mission resonates with me personally. For me, being a Trustee is an opportunity to give back to the community and help others find their voice, unlock opportunities and feel truly at home in the UK.”
Hannah
“I started my journey with LEAH around 10 years ago when I first started teaching ESOL. I volunteered both with a group and one-to-one learner to gain more experience. I was really impressed by the impact a small charity could have, both with our learners and their families. There’s so much more to a session than just learning English – it’s also about building confidence and feeling part of a community.
I really enjoyed working in Kingston as an ESOL teacher based in the adult education centre, as well as in children’s centres in the borough. The name LEAH often came up in conversation with learners and other professionals and was held in high regard. I love that LEAH really fills a gap in the local ESOL landscape, with sessions that fit in with our learners’ other commitments, either by having the class at home or in a local space often with crèche provision.
I’m now working in the travel industry but I’m keen to maintain links to my links to teaching. It’s such a rewarding sector to be part of. I came back to LEAH to volunteer with a group but I sadly realised I wasn’t able to commit to weekly sessions, so after a year I saw the notice about the Trustee openings and applied for the position.
I enjoy being a Trustee. There is such an interesting range of things to consider with overseeing a charity. It’s very similar to a previous position I had on my hockey club committee, where we would come to a consensus about matters affecting the club. At the moment there are many challenges facing small charities so I’m pleased to say LEAH has a board of Trustees with a wide range of experience and a passion for supporting the work our amazing staff and volunteers do. I am learning so much and I look forward to working together to get the best for our learners, staff and volunteers.”
Find out about this week’s range of events, and access free guidance and resources, at www.trusteesweek.org