Uncategorized

If some of your Christmas gifts were wide of the mark, donate them to LEAH where they can be put to good use by raising money for home tuition or community classes. While you’re at it, perhaps you could also reflect on those items languishing at the back of the cupboard or in the loft that are simply begging to be recycled.

Last year our fundraisers made over £500 from the sale of unwanted gifts and raffle tickets at the Ham Parade Market and they aim to do even better at the Surbiton Farmers' Market on Maple Road, on Saturday 18 May between 9am and 1pm.

The items should be unused and in good working order. We’re steering clear of electrical appliances. You can drop off whatever you have at LEAH’s office or call and ask for us to arrange for your items to be collected.

08/01/2019

Jenny Irish will join LEAH on 14 January 2019, following six years at Central London Samaritans where she is currently Head of Branch Operations. Jenny takes over as Director from Kate Brown, who left in October for another opportunity after four years.

As Head of Branch Operations Jenny has led the strategic and operational development of Central London Samaritans to ensure its sustainability in a competitive funding environment.

“I am incredibly excited about joining LEAH at this time with the government’s focus on integration,” said Jenny. “It highlights the need for language support for new arrivals in our communities. I look forward to becoming a champion of LEAH’s model that brings together immigrants with existing residents like their volunteer tutors.”

Read the full announcement here.

10/12/18

A special cheque presentation evening for participants of the 2018 Charity Walk for Peace (CWFP) took place at the Baitul Futuh Mosque in Morden, Surrey last week.  The event also celebrated the work of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Elders Association (AMEA) who donated money so that CWFP could match-fund all of the monies raised by those who participated in the walk.

Former LEAH Director Kate Brown raised over £500 for LEAH’s tutor training programme when she took part in April’s walk in Royal Windsor Great Park.  Her sponsorship money was matched pound for pound by CWFP bringing the total raised to £1,120.

Helen said:  “It was a lovely event with many, many charities there as well as LEAH. The AMEA team were extremely hospitable and provided a wonderful meal for all - delicious!  I hope we can do next year’s walk even though it is in Milton Keynes!“

10/12/18

LEAH ‘Question Time’ with Sir Vince Cable

Voicing their concerns about the issues that matter to them, LEAH learners each spoke to Sir Vince Cable, local MP and Leader of the Liberal Democrats at our Whitton Literacy Class recently. Our learners had been learning about the work of an MP and how Sir Vince was elected to represent their views in Parliament. They all felt confident enough to ask individual questions around the table, which were heard and responded to with great insight by Sir Vince. Subjects ranged from who will be able to continue living here after Brexit and the need to reduce both hospital waiting times and school class sizes to issues with residence permit delays and the need for child benefit to be extended beyond the second child.

Sir Vince explained that our learners’ housing issues echo those many local people bring to him, particularly the lack of low-cost housing and associated high-occupancy problems.

One of our tutors, who comes from Syria and was originally a LEAH learner, asked about creating jobs for the younger generation and outlined the problems of gaining any work experience to start off a CV. This barrier to employment applies to many of our lower-level English speaking learners, who also struggle to find ESOL provision with childcare facilities. Sir Vince showed real understanding of the problems our learners face and underlined his support for LEAH's work, taking time to answer questions individually in clear simple English.

Having explained that he is available by appointment at his weekly surgery to talk further, it transpired that one of our students wanted to thank Sir Vince personally for helping with a housing problem when they met 6 or 7 years ago!

The LEAH team would like to thank Sir Vince for taking the time to listen and respond to our class. We were very proud of our learners who really found their voices and our six regular volunteer tutors who devote enormous time and energy to making this class so beneficial.

LEAH supporters Wendy Seigel (left) and Elaine Lovie (right) accept a cheque from Store Manager Dipen Thaker and the Co-op Team.

Pay Out Celebration Day

Store Manager Dipen Thaker and his team held their annual Pay Out Day Celebration last weekend to highlight how the Co-op supports the local community and to distribute donations to charities chosen by Co-op members this year.

LEAH was one of three local causes selected.  “On behalf of all of us, we’d like to thank Co-op members and Dipen’s Local Community Teams for raising an amazing £2,812.67,” said Elaine Lovie of LEAH.  “We’re absolutely delighted.  This donation will help fund our free English language programmes of 1:1 tuition in the home and community classes for ethnic minority adults in the local area.”

The Co-op gives 1% of what members spend on Co-op branded food products in their stores and selected services to local projects.  If you would like to know more about raising funds for LEAH whilst shopping at the Coop, click here.

LEAH has teamed up with www.easyfundraising.org.uk to raise free funds from over 3,000 big name retailers, such as Amazon, Argos, John Lewis, ASOS, Booking.com, eBay, Boden, and M&S. It’s free to register and there’s no additional cost to shoppers for using their website.

Simply login, select LEAH as your chosen charity and shop as you would normally through the store’s website. When you make a purchase, the retailer will send LEAH a small donation to say ‘thank you’. We want to raise as much as possible so please sign up and help us at www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/leahlearnenglishathome.

This time of year is filled with festive occasions that bring friends and families together to enjoy wonderful food, exchange gifts, celebrate their faith, and it’s customary for many to give to charity. So please think of LEAH this festive season when you shop online.

The instruments played by the children

We had a wonderful music session on Wednesday 14 November for learners and their pre-school children singing songs and even learning to do the Hokey Cokey. We would like to thank music teacher Jan for her wonderful guitar playing and for volunteering her time and skills.