The Funding Network
Our Trustee Sharon Landa recently nominated us to apply for an opportunity to pitch for funding at The Funding Network Spring Connector event on May 13th in the City of London.
We were thrilled to be one of three charities selected to pitch on the night, and to raise over £10,000!
Trustee Sue Thomas presented for LEAH, and our coordinators Anna, Emma and Alice, and Fundraising Manager Bryony attended to share information about LEAH with prospective donors.
One of our Merton learners, Ramesh, was also able to attend the event and engage with guests.
Thank you to The Funding Network and everyone who supported us on the night!
You can watch our presentation here:
Photos of the event by TFN photographer, Alick Cotterill.
The Big Give 22-29 June
We’re taking part in Big Give, Global’s Make Some Noise and NCVO’s Small Charity Week campaign.
Thanks to the People's Postcode Trust, donations made to us in the Small Charity Week match funding campaign during the week of 22-29 June will be doubled!
Help us raise £1,000 in one week by donating via the Big Give in the week of 22-29 June to support us in providing essential English language support to asylum seekers, refugees and migrants who face barriers to accessing college.
Please complete this form to pledge a donation to LEAH and we will send you a reminder and instructions on how to donate via the Big Give in the week leading up to the campaign. LEAH Big Give Pledge Form
Thank you so much for your support!
Kingston Café Bridge event
Café Bridge has once again supported LEAH by holding a wonderful fundraising event.
Keen bridge players convened in Kingston, at a variety of venues, to enjoy a competitive day of playing. Players made their way through cafés and restaurants around Kingston, enjoying friendly bridge games, a raffle, and refreshments.
During the course of the event, players generously supported LEAH by purchasing raffle tickets for some fantastic prizes, and helped us to raise over £600.
We extend our sincere thanks to the Café Bridge organisers Michael Brown, Victor Lesk, Caroline Bottoms and Kat Freeman for their excellent coordination and support. We are also grateful to our staff members Sohail and Anna, along with volunteer Felicia, for representing us at our stall at Browns. Finally, we warmly thank Glutopia for their generous donation of prizes.
For information about other Café Bridge events please contact michael@cafebridge.org
Chiswick house and gardens trust
We had an exciting and inspiring trip to Chiswick House and Gardens on Tuesday 14th April, where learners spent a wonderful morning and early afternoon exploring, creating, and learning together.
The session ran from 11:00am to 2:30pm, giving learners plenty of time to engage with the gardens, take part in activities, and enjoy the outdoor space.
What we did
Learners arrived at the learning centre and began the day with a short introduction to the site and the programme. They also learned about volunteering opportunities within the gardens, helping them understand more about how the space is cared for and shared with the community.
We then explored the gardens, taking time to closely observe the plants and flowers. Learners used all their senses - touching, smelling, and carefully observing the natural environment, to gather inspiration for their creative work.
After this, the group returned to the workshop space where they were guided by a local artist. Here, they created 3D clay sculptures inspired by the gardens, which will later form part of an exhibition displayed within the grounds.
Many learners were highly engaged and clearly enjoyed the session. One unexpected highlight was the gardens’ photographer’s dachshund, who became a favourite source of inspiration. Some learners even created sculptures of him!
Images by Chiswick House and Gardens volunteer Chris Frost
Lunch in the gardens
All 14 learners enjoyed a relaxed lunch outdoors. Sandwiches, tea, and coffee were kindly provided, allowing everyone to enjoy the sunshine, fresh air, and beautiful surroundings while taking a well-earned break.
With thanks
A big thank you to Chiswick House and Gardens Trust for kindly facilitating this session and supporting our learners. It was a great day full of creativity, inspiration, and enjoyable learning in a truly beautiful setting.
Images by Chiswick House and Gardens volunteer Chris Frost
Further Learning Festival March 2026
During the week of 9 - 13 March 2026, LEAH hosted an exciting online further learning festival, organised by our wonderful ESOL coordinator, Keri.
All LEAH students were invited to attend 20 minute Q&A's with local/online providers. The six Q&As were well attended by all regular online group class students. Many students attended more than one event. We also welcomed students from 1-1 pairings and from our community class in Heston.
Language for learning:
Our pre-entry students were supported with vocabulary to help them navigate the difference between different learning providers.
Open to all students:
We had a visit from Sarah from Learning Unlimited: Online conversation clubs – Learning Unlimited
Students learnt about the importance of putting their learning into practice and contributing to discussion. Students were left keen to join LEAH's conversation club and Learning Unlimited conversation club/telegram channel.
For students hoping to attend college:
LEAH tutors who have also taught at Kingston College and West Thames College helped students understand timetables, exams and support available at local colleges.
For students wanting career support:
We had a visit from Karam from Breaking Barriers, Breaking barriers support adults from forced migrant backgrounds find meaningful employment though tailored mentoring, re-accreditation and support: Helping refugees find meaningful employment - Breaking Barriers
Click here to see the Breaking Barriers presentation
We had a visit from Mariam from the Launchpad Collective. Students were particularly interested to hear about their work ready English programme. The Launchpad Collective
Click here to see the Launchpad Collective presentation
For students who would like to study at university:
The Open Learning Initiative (OLive) was set up to support refugees and asylum seekers with university applications. I was staggered by the number of our students who joined Corinne's Q&A and dream of going to university one day. They were happy to hear how inclusive the university ready programme was of different levels/readiness for university:
OLIve | School for Policy Studies | University of Bristol
Click here to see the OLive presentation
Future plans:
In the second half of each workshop, learners were divided into small groups.
Our regular remote class tutors supported students to complete a form asking for their thoughts and feedback.
Keri says:
"I am so grateful for the tutors' support. So far, I have had some very interesting responses. Students are quite vocal about their motivation for learning and the difficulties that they face. Many students like learning online and the flexibility that it offers for parents/carers. I am now working through the list and signposting to individuals as much as I can."
Wimbledon Foundation Annual Evening Reception
On Wednesday 18 March, our Merton coordinator, Matilda, and Fundraising Manager, Bryony, were delighted to attend the Wimbledon Foundation Annual Evening Reception, at The All England Lawn Tennis Club, where they mingled with other local community groups including the Tooting Community Kitchen and the Rah Rah Theatre Company.
Bryony described the event as
an inspiring evening, and a great opportunity to network with local charity partners and members of the Wimbledon Foundation staff team.
LEAH is delighted to be supported in Merton by the Wimbledon Foundation.
Wimbledon Foundation Guests Ruth Shaw (Wimbledon Foundation Trustee) and Bryony Rowan (LEAH Fundraising Manager) enjoy the Wimbledon Foundation Reception 2026. Held in the Courtside at The All England Lawn Tennis Club, Wimbledon. Wednesday 18/03/2026. Credit: AELTC/Felix Diemer.
The Mayor’s Annual Charity Dinner 2026
The Mayor’s Annual Charity Dinner took place on Friday 13 March 2026, raising valuable funds for the Mayor’s Charitable Trust, supporting both LEAH and FANY.
Held in the elegant and historic surroundings of Glenmore House, the evening brought together both charities alongside many community leaders, and provided a valuable opportunity to make new connections and create new bonds of understanding across the borough.
LEAH was represented by members of staff, volunteers, and Trustees, who came together to promote the charity and talk about our important work in the borough. Throughout the evening, our representatives engaged with guests and shared more about the support LEAH provides to the local community.
It was a wonderful evening and great to meet LEAH staff and volunteers - among many other interesting guests!
I was very proud to be there as a LEAH representative as it gave me the opportunity to meet many of the Trustees and other volunteers who do such wonderful work for the charity.
We are very grateful to the Mayor and all those involved in organising such a meaningful event, and are proud to have been part of an evening that celebrated partnership, community, and shared purpose.
Hounslow Together Speaker Series Wednesday 18 February 2026
Demographic Change: How Do We Respond?
Wednesday, Feb 18 from 4 pm to 6 pm
We are very excited to be taking part in the Hounslow Together Speaker Series on Wednesday 18 February 2026, hosted by the University of West London.
The event will explore one of the most pressing challenges facing our borough, and will bring together experts from Age UK, King’s College London, Oxford University and Sandwich Generation Support.
Our dynamic and passionate coordinator Savannah will be presenting a case study, sharing her experience of supporting adults learning English in Hounslow.
This is a great opportunity to hear different perspectives, connect with local partners, and think collectively about how we respond to change in our communities.
Reserve your place here now!
Easyfundraising
Did you know that whenever you buy anything online – from your weekly shop to your annual holiday – you could be raising free donations for us with easyfundraising?
There are over 8,000 retailers on board ready to make a donation – including eBay, Argos, John Lewis & Partners, ASOS, Booking.com and M&S – and it won’t cost you a penny extra to help us raise funds.
All you need to do is:
1. Go to https://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/leahlearnenglishathome/ and join for free.
2. Every time you shop online, go to easyfundraising first to find the site you want and start shopping.
3. After you’ve checked out, the retailer will make a donation to LEAH at no extra cost to you whatsoever! There are no catches or hidden charges and we will be really grateful for your donations.
4. The Donation Reminder is easyfundraising's browser extension that pops up to let you know a brand will donate as you shop. You can then get your donation in one click.
Thank you for your support!
Big Tech Mop Up!
A 6 week appeal has been launched to encourage people to donate their unwanted mobile devices to raise funds for the Mayor’s Charitable Trust through the recovery, data-wiping and resale of donated technology such as smartphones, laptops , smart watches and tablets.
Drop off your unwanted devices at one of our public drop-off locations – smartphones, tablets and laptops are all welcome. It’s quick, easy and the best option if you’re donating multiple devices.
The scheme will run until 28th February 2026.
Watch a short video here of the Mayor at ReLove Technology's site talking with their CEO about the collection appeal process and how to donate including the type of devices they can accept: