The Timeless Charm of Ham House
On Tuesday, August 11, our wellbeing learners enjoyed a lovely visit to Ham House, accompanied by our coordinator Alice and volunteers Anne-Marie, Kirstin, Leo and Sharon.
We started with a walk past the Ham House Gatehouse and down Ham Avenue, where we stopped to talk about the history of the German School and admire the horses at the nearby polo club.
At Ham House, we were warmly welcomed by staff at the entrance. We were given a fascinating introduction to the house and gardens, which gave us lots to talk about as we explored.
The man who spoke to us tailored his talk to our learners - his introduction was interesting and just the right length. We learnt about some of the different owners of the house, and how being able to maintain a lawn was a sign of status.
We then spent time exploring the beautiful gardens together. Everyone enjoyed the lavender and the different games on offer. As the day became warmer, we took refuge in the café for some refreshments and a chance to sit down, chat and enjoy each other’s company.
The students particularly enjoyed visiting the kitchens and finding out more about life in the house.
Volunteer Kirstin reflected
“It was a lovely sunny day, with a nice mixed group of people, some very charming and engaged school-age children, and a gorgeous baby. I saw friendships being formed between women from different countries, and saw women eager to learn about different aspects of British culture and history, who appreciated the beauty in the house or the garden, and were interested and engaged in what they were seeing."
The visit also led to some very exciting news for LEAH. Sally Connellan, Senior Visitor Experience Officer at Ham House, saw our group during their visit, chatted to one of our volunteers, and got in touch with us afterwards to tell us about their Community Access Scheme. Following a meeting with Sally, we are delighted to now have our own Community Access Card! This means we can take groups of up to 15 LEAH people to Ham House as often as we like, as long as we book in advance.
We are really grateful to the team at Ham House for their warm welcome and for making this opportunity possible. Thank you to everyone who joined us and helped make it such an enjoyable day.
Thank you also to our funders. 
A Calming Morning in Nature
On July 28th, as part of our summer wellbeing programme, participants enjoyed a special visit to the Dose of Nature outdoor space at Pensford Field in Kew, where learners, volunteers and children came together to experience the restorative power of nature.
Our group included nine learners, three volunteers and eight children. From the moment we arrived, we were made to feel incredibly welcome by Alison, CEO of Dose of Nature, Katie, Operations Manager, and the rest of the team.
Alison led an engaging session centred around the five senses, encouraging everyone to slow down, connect with the natural world and enjoy the simple pleasure of spending time outdoors. One of the highlights was discovering the art of "treelaxing" – lying beneath the trees and gazing up through the canopy – a wonderfully calming experience that many of us will be trying again at home.
Throughout the session, we were treated to refreshments in a peaceful woodland glade, and were able to fully explore the site, with its woodland paths, pond, beehives and quiet spaces to sit and reflect. It was a magical setting that provided the perfect environment for relaxation, conversation and connection.
The visit clearly made an impression on our participants. One learner, Farrokh, shared:
"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."
One of our volunteers fed back:
"I thought the morning with Dose of Nature was fabulous. And discovering the lovely secret wildlife space of Pensford Field was a wonderful surprise. I would think that the students got a lot of enjoyment from the morning experience and talking about the benefits of nature. As did I!"
Experiences like this are a reminder of the importance of wellbeing alongside language learning. Spending time together outdoors gave our learners the opportunity to build confidence, make new connections and enjoy a sense of belonging in a welcoming and inclusive environment.
We are very grateful to everyone at Dose of Nature for their generous hospitality and for creating such a memorable experience for our learners, volunteers and families. We look forward to visiting again.
Thank you also to our funders.
We are now half way through our summer wellbeing programme. It's not too late to join us! If you would like to come along, you can find out more and sign up here
Summer wellbeing programme
This summer, we are running a lovely programme of wellbeing events in Richmond.
This is primarily aimed at people seeking sanctuary who live in the London Borough of Richmond, including
- Asylum seekers
- Refugees
- Those seeking asylum and those who have recently received refugee status.
- Those on Government resettlement schemes including the Afghan programmes (ARAP/ACRS), Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme, and UK Resettlement Scheme.
- Those on the Homes for Ukraine, Ukraine Family, or Ukraine Extension scheme.
If you, or any adults you know, are interested in taking part, people can sign up using this link: LEAH's summer wellbeing programme (or scan the QR code on the poster below)
The events are free to attend, and we will reimburse travel costs, and provide refreshments. Children are welcome.
If you have any questions, please contact us at info@leah.org.uk
Tickets for Good!
What better way to feel valued and appreciated than being given access to free and discounted tickets to top shows and events?
Tickets for Good recognises the incredible contribution made by people working across the NHS, education and charity sectors. By partnering with organisers of concerts, shows, attractions and live experiences across the UK, it gives eligible workers access to free and discounted tickets as a 'thank you' for everything they do.
LEAH signed up for a Tickets for Good account last year, and since then our staff have enjoyed a variety of fantastic events. The highlight so far, however, was the opportunity to see Harry Styles at his sold-out Wembley Stadium concert.
Three members of our team headed to Wembley, each taking three guests, and they had the time of their lives!
Here's what they said.
Our Coordinator, Matilda:
“A HUGE thank you to Tickets for Good. Thanks to them I was able to celebrate my 53rd birthday with my first ever trip to a concert at Wembley Stadium to see Shania Twain and Harry Styles. It doesn't get much better!”
Our Volunteer Manager, Anna:
“It was wonderful to get tickets to see Harry Styles at Wembley on 1st July through Tickets for Good. I went with my three girlfriends, and we were really impressed with our seat. The whole process was straightforward, and communication was excellent throughout. It meant so much to feel that my work was recognised in this way. Tickets for Good is a fantastic service. I've used it several times now and always feel grateful to those who organise it.”
If you work for a charity and would like to enjoy amazing experiences like these, we'd highly recommend signing up for a Tickets for Good account.
A trip to the natural history museum
On 6 July 2026, our Monday class from YMCA Wimbledon enjoyed a fantastic trip to the Natural History Museum with their teacher, Matilda.
The visit brought our classroom learning to life as learners explored some of the museum's most popular galleries.
Having recently studied animals, including comparatives and superlatives, it was the perfect opportunity to compare the enormous blue whale with an elephant and other animals we had been discussing in class.
Earlier in the year, learners had also shown a keen interest in dinosaurs, so meeting the museum's famous T-Rex was a real highlight!
Despite the hot weather and busy museum, everyone enjoyed exploring the Dinosaur, Mammals and Birds galleries, before relaxing in the beautiful new gardens with cold drinks and coffee from the new garden café.
What our learners had to say about the trip:
"Thank you Teacher for taking us to a beautiful historical museum and we had a lovely day"
"Thank you teacher. l feel very happy today."
A Wonderful Afternoon at Hogarth's House
On Thursday 2nd July, 14 learners and 2 children joined LEAH for a community trip to Hogarth's House in Chiswick.
The visit gave learners the opportunity to practise their English, learn about local history, spend time outdoors, and connect with others in a relaxed and welcoming environment.
After arriving, everyone enjoyed lunch together before exploring the historic home of William Hogarth, the famous 18th-century English artist and satirist.
Our learners were fascinated by the age of the house and enjoyed looking at Hogarth's artwork and discovering more about his life. For many, it was their first visit to a historic English home, prompting lots of questions and conversations.
One of the highlights of the day was discovering a mulberry tree in the gardens, full of ripe fruit ready to be picked. Many learners were excited to recognise the fruit from their home countries and shared memories of eating mulberries with family and friends. It was a lovely moment that sparked conversation, cultural exchange and plenty of smiles.
After exploring the beautiful gardens, the group finished the afternoon with a friendly game of skittles, giving everyone the chance to relax, laugh and spend time together.
As well as enjoying the trip, several learners signed up for summer volunteering opportunities. These activities will help them continue practising English, build confidence, meet new people and stay connected with their community during the holiday period, reducing the risk of social isolation.
Fun and a Focus Group in Kingston
On Tuesday 30th June, we were delighted to welcome 13 mothers and 14 children to our first LEAH Family Focus Group at Picnic Soft Play in Kingston.
The event brought together learners from across several boroughs, giving mothers the opportunity to meet one another, build new friendships, and enjoy a relaxed and welcoming space with their children. By hiring the venue exclusively, we were able to create a calm, non-overwhelming environment where everyone could feel comfortable, connect with others, and enjoy quality time together.
While the children explored the soft play and enjoyed time together, parents were able to relax with a hot drink, connect with other mothers, and take part in discussions about their experiences with LEAH. As part of our Focus Group, we spoke about how learning English has impacted their lives, what support has been most valuable, and how we can continue to improve our services for families in the future.
We provided travel money for all attendees, a hot drink for every mother and juice for every child.
What our learners said
The conversations we had throughout the day highlighted just how important these opportunities are for parents who are learning English and building a new life in the UK.
"I want to meet people and be able to help with my confidence."
"I would like to thank everyone at LEAH for their support and kindness. I would love more trips and activities where we can meet other mothers, make friends and practise our English."
These comments reinforce the importance of creating welcoming spaces where families can reduce isolation, build confidence, practise English outside the classroom, and develop supportive friendships within their local community.
Building community through shared experiences
The turnout was fantastic, and it was wonderful to see learners travelling from different boroughs to spend the day together. Watching mothers connect while their children played demonstrated the value of providing safe, inclusive spaces where families can relax, share experiences, and support one another.
We hope this is the first of many LEAH Focus Groups, giving learners the opportunity to shape our services while taking part in enjoyable community activities. Bringing families together helps strengthen local communities, encourages language development through real-life social interaction, and ensures that the voices of our learners remain at the heart of everything we do.
A huge thank you to everyone who attended and helped make the day such a success.
The Big Give - we did it!
This year we took 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 during the week of 22-29 June were match funded, meaning we were able to exceed our target of £1000.
A huge thank you to everyone who donated, and helped us raise £1312 to enable us to continue to provide essential English language support to asylum seekers, refugees and migrants facing barriers to accessing college.
Kingston Mayor’s Civic Service
LEAH were delighted to be invited to attend a very special Mayoral Sunday Civic Service, held at All Saints Church in Kingston on Sunday 28th June 2026, in the presence of the new Mayor of Kingston, Councillor Thay Thayalan, and Deputy Mayor Jane Lim.
Our Trustee Jenny Zhong-Rees represented LEAH at the event, and said
It was a privilege to represent LEAH at the Mayor’s Civic Service marking the beginning of Councillor Thay Thayalan’s mayoral year.
The theme of Sanctuary was especially meaningful. As a charity supporting refugees, asylum seekers and migrants to learn English and build confidence in their new communities, LEAH sees every day how a welcoming community can transform lives. Sanctuary is more than a place of safety - it is about belonging, dignity and the opportunity to thrive.
The service was a wonderful reminder that the values of compassion, inclusion and community are shared across our borough, and we look forward to continuing to play our part in making Kingston a place where everyone feels welcome.
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.
Our campaign goes live at 12:00 on Monday June 22nd!
Please click here to donate