Finding Their Voice – The Education Issue
We’re delighted to share a recent article by Media and Communications undergraduate Lara Sayess, exploring the experiences of young migrants navigating education, language and life in a new community.
The article features the experiences of LEAH learner, Saber, alongside another young migrant, Fabiola, who is supported by the Indoamerican Refugee and Migrant Organisation (IRMO).
Saber talks about how learning English has helped him build confidence, navigate everyday life and look towards his dream of becoming a doctor.
Through these personal stories, the article highlights how language support, mentoring and a sense of belonging can help young migrants overcome barriers, build connections and create opportunities for their futures.
We’re very grateful to Lara for shining a light on these experiences and highlighting the importance of continued support for young migrants, as well as giving people the opportunity to hear Saber’s story.
Read the full article here: Finding Their Voice – The Education Issue
LEAH attends the Richmond Mayor’s Civic Service
On Sunday 4 October, our Trustee Jenny Zhong-Rees represented LEAH at the Civic Service of the Mayor of Richmond upon Thames, Cllr Nancy Baldwin, held at St Mary’s Church in Twickenham.
The Civic Service brought together members of the local community to mark the start of the Mayor’s year of service and celebrate the work of organisations and individuals across Richmond upon Thames.
The service was followed by a reception at York House, where attendees had the opportunity to meet with others involved in the borough’s community and voluntary sector.
Reflecting on the occasion, Jenny said:
“It was a privilege to represent LEAH at the Civic Service of the Mayor of Richmond upon Thames, Cllr Nancy Baldwin, at St Mary’s Church in Twickenham. I was particularly moved by the Mayor’s reflection that, as human beings, we all seek sanctuary - and that communities and charities have the power to create it for others. Her message of kindness, acceptance and love resonated deeply with me and with LEAH’s work: creating a place where people feel welcomed, supported and that they truly belong.”
The Mayor has already shown her support for LEAH, including joining us at the joyful celebration that brought our summer wellbeing programme event in Richmond to a close.
We would like to thank the Mayor of Richmond upon Thames, Cllr Nancy Baldwin, for her kind invitation and for recognising the important role that community organisations and charities play in creating welcoming and supportive communities.
Shaping Spaces at Chiswick Park & Gardens
In April, our Heston learners participated in a creative programme at Chiswick Park and Gardens called Shaping Spaces, creating ceramic flowers.
Read about their visit here: LEAH (Learn English at Home) – April visit to Chiswick house and gardens trust
These flowers have now been incorporated into some beautiful raised flowerbeds in their new Learning Centre Yard!
On 17 September, LEAH’s Fundraising Manager Bryony attended the opening ceremony where she met staff, trustees and artist & programme leader Aysha Weekes, and enjoyed a guided tour of new facilities.
You can learn more about the Learning Hub & Yard here.
We look forward to further collaborations at this beautiful community venue.
Saber’s story: rebuilding a future
When freelance journalist and City, University of London Master’s student Hanah Shokeir approached LEAH to learn more about the experiences of refugees rebuilding their lives in the UK, we were pleased to connect her with one of our learners, Saber.
Saber arrived in the UK from Sudan in summer 2025 after fleeing conflict. Now living in Hounslow, he is building a new life, learning English, developing his digital skills and preparing for future employment and further education.
Watch Saber speaking about LEAH here:
You can read more about Saber's story here: Saber's story – LEAH (Learn English at Home)
Saber’s story is a powerful reminder of how language, education and the right support can help people begin to rebuild their lives, and how learners themselves can go on to support others in their communities.
Celebrating Our Summer Wellbeing Programme
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.
Our heartfelt thanks to the Kingston Mayor
On 2 September, our Chair, Sharon, and Trustee, Jenny, were delighted to attend the retiring dinner celebrating the successful mayoral year of former Mayor Cllr Noel Hadjimichael and former Deputy Mayor Cllr Sue Ansari.
As one of the former Mayor’s chosen charities, we were extremely grateful to benefit from their fundraising efforts and the generosity of everyone who supported their year of fundraising.
An incredible £38,314.52 was raised for the Mayor’s two chosen charities, LEAH and FANY (First Aid Nursing Yeomanry), with an impressive £19,157.26 donated to each charity.
This generous support will help us continue our mission of supporting adults in the local community to improve their English, build confidence and feel more connected to the communities in which they live.
We would like to extend our sincere thanks to former Mayor Cllr Noel Hadjimichael, former Deputy Mayor Cllr Sue Ansari, and everyone who contributed to the fundraising and supported their mayoral year. We wish them every success and happiness for the future.
Could you help LEAH win £1,000?
We’re delighted to be taking part in the Movement for Good Awards, which gives over £1 million to charities and good causes each year.
We’re asking our wonderful supporters to take a moment to nominate LEAH for the chance to win £1,000. It’s quick and easy to do, and the more nominations we receive, the more chance we have of being selected.
What could £1,000 make possible?
If LEAH is selected, your nominations could help us to:
- Keep our weekly community classes running by contributing towards the monthly costs of delivering sessions across our boroughs.
- Support volunteer development by providing a six-week bespoke ESOL training course, plus ongoing support, for 2 - 3 volunteers.
- Create opportunities for cultural integration by enabling us to take up to 60 learners and their families on a cultural and educational visit, such as to Hampton Court Palace.
- Remove barriers to learning by funding a year of crèche sessions, helping parents participate in learning and community activities while their children are cared for.
These are practical, meaningful ways that £1,000 could directly support our learners, volunteers, families and wider community.
Every nomination really does count. Please take a moment to 💙 nominate LEAH today 💙 and encourage your friends, family and colleagues to do the same.
The draws will take place during the week of 7–11 September.
Thank you for supporting LEAH, believing in our work and helping us continue to make a difference in our community.
A Sunny Walk Along the Riverside
On Tuesday, August 25th, a happy group of 12 adults, six children and one very cute dog enjoyed a wonderful morning walk along Richmond riverside, the penultimate session in our summer wellbeing programme.
We were expertly led by one of our volunteers, Sharon, who is incredibly knowledgeable about local history and used to work as a tour guide. She was the perfect person to lead the group!
We met outside Richmond Old Town Hall before crossing the bridge and making our way along the riverside. Our route took us past the beautiful Marble Hill House, where we paused to learn about the fascinating story of Henrietta Howard and the history of the house.
From there, we continued our walk towards the playground, where we stopped for refreshments and gave the children some time to play before visiting Orleans House Gallery and exploring its exhibitions together.
It was a lovely way to combine wellbeing, culture and conversation in a relaxed setting. The walk was a great opportunity to spend time together, discover more about the local area and enjoy the benefits of being outdoors.
Thank you to everyone who joined us and helped make the session such a lively fun experience.
Thank you to our funders. 
Finding the Magic in Poetry
Week 7 of our Summer wellbeing programme brought us together again at the Town Hall for a creative and inspiring poetry session, led by our wonderful volunteers Cynthia and Robyn, with support from Sharon, Anne-Marie and Leo.
Cynthia began the session by reading ‘To Find a Poem’ by Robert Fisher, introducing the magical and playful nature of poetry. The poem encouraged everyone to see poetry as something accessible and, most importantly, something we could all have fun with.
Robyn followed with ‘Hand on the Bridge’ by Michael Rosen. With its easy rhythm and accompanying actions, the poem was a great way to get everyone involved. Participants read the poem aloud together, talked about the words and lines they enjoyed, and shared the parts they found less clear. Everyone had plenty of encouragement and opportunities to contribute.
The second poem, ‘Stream of Life’ by Rabindranath Tagore, offered a quieter moment for reflection. Cynthia read it slowly, giving everyone time to listen, think and discuss. The poem introduced some new vocabulary, which the group explored together, while also opening up a conversation about how poems can have different meanings for different people. This was a lovely opportunity to explore why poetry can be so meaningful and beautiful.
After a short break, it was time for the participants to become poets themselves!
Cynthia brought along a selection of photographs showing landscapes, animals and people, giving everyone inspiration for their own writing. She also read out ‘The Colours’ by Mary O’Neill, helping the participants think about how choosing a theme can provide a starting point for creating a poem. Participants were then able to work one-to-one with a volunteer to develop their ideas and put their own words onto paper.
To finish the session, everyone was invited to read their poem aloud - a very special and moving moment.
A huge thank you to Cynthia, Robyn, Sharon, Anne-Marie and Leo for creating such a warm, encouraging and imaginative session - and to all the participants who shared their words and showed us just how much magic can be found in poetry. Yousra, Shahla and Alina are happy for us to share their poems with you.
Thank you also to our funders.
Borough of Sanctuary Event
On 12 August 2026, we were delighted to take part in an event organised by Richmond Council as part of their Borough of Sanctuary initiatives. It was a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the strength of Richmond's sanctuary partnerships and the people who bring them to life.
During the visit to Turner’s House, our Volunteer Manager, Anna, had the opportunity to speak with the Deputy Mayor of London for Communities and Social Justice, Dr Debbie Weekes-Bernard, about the support LEAH provides and our summer wellbeing programme in Richmond.
Dr Weekes-Bernard was particularly impressed to hear that our learners are able to access tuition at home, within their own safe and familiar environment, and spoke warmly about what a unique and valuable opportunity this is.
The day as a whole offered genuine insight into the collaborative approach that brings together council teams, sanctuary partners and sanctuary seekers, with partners, volunteers and people with lived experience speaking openly and honestly about their own journeys and the challenges they continue to face. These conversations helped shape a thoughtful and meaningful discussion about how support for people seeking sanctuary can continue to grow and improve.
It was also a fantastic opportunity for us to connect with other organisations working in this space, strengthening the networks and partnerships that allow us to better support those who need it most.
We're also incredibly grateful to Richmond Council for funding our wellbeing project in Richmond through the Borough of Sanctuary Grants scheme. This has allowed us to offer participants such valuable and much-needed support, and is an opportunity for which we're truly thankful.
