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We are delighted to have secured our first London Marathon place!  Andrew Daniels is running on our behalf and he says,

“LEAH can change lives through language. Imagine living in a community where your children can speak English fluently and you are struggling to make yourself understood, where you don’t dare attend a Parents' Meeting in case you can’t understand the teacher, where you struggle to make a GP appointment or buy an Oyster card.  Now consider having a tutor coming into your home to work just with you, to focus on your particular language needs.  From here you stand a chance of progressing to college to build on those skills and even into work.  You are much more confident and ready to fully integrate into society.

This really resonated with me, particularly as I had an authentic connection with LEAH’s work.  My grandmother retained a family name, De Courcey, her maternal Grandmother’s surname. The De Courcey story is one that has similarities to many of the stories of those that LEAH assists.  The family were Huguenots, French Protestants persecuted and exiled from Catholic France.  They eventually found a home and welcome in London.

I would like to think that in their time of need, someone showed them kindness, helped them learn English and through that support enabled them to integrate more easily into their adopted country.

And that’s what LEAH does and has been doing quietly but really effectively for over 30 years. I want to connect personally with this good work and enable LEAH to keep doing it.  It will be the Angel sitting on my shoulder during the testing moments of the fundraising challenge, the arduous 16-week training plan, the race itself and most of all the last mile where I know I’ll need to draw on every possible source of physical and mental strength to see me through.”

You can find out more about where the funds will go and donate here.

Thank you!

Jenny Irish, Director

24/02/20

LEAH has been awarded £120k in grant funding from the Integrated Communities Innovation Fund (ICIF).  Working with partners Merton Home Tutoring and Cultivate London, the one-year project provides opportunities for 300 isolated migrants and refugees to mix socially with established English-speaking residents through a programme of gardening and language support.

“Transforming local space through cultivation is a shared and purposeful activity that transcends culture, religion and geography so is highly effective in building stronger local communities,” said LEAH Director, Jenny Irish.

“This funding is absolutely brilliant,” said Jenny. “We’re delighted to be given the opportunity to demonstrate how small local charities and social enterprises working together creatively can bring about positive change within communities.”

Read the press notice or information sheet.

LEAH’s popular annual quiz certainly delivered on its promise late last month:  more than 75 participants, comprising supporters and their friends and family members, gathered at The Wych Elm in Kingston in a joyous and relaxed atmosphere and raised over £1,000 in aid of the charity’s home and community based English classes in Richmond, Kingston and Hounslow.

Whether a whizz on world geography, a human encyclopaedia of sports facts or just lucky at bingo, the Wych Elm’s Michael and Charlotte prepared several challenging brain teasers and ticklers to suit all tastes.  And there were prizes aplenty: delightful dinners for two at The Wych Elm and several wonderful raffle prizes generously donated by supporters of LEAH.

Jenny Irish, LEAH Director said “It was a wonderful, warm and friendly evening and I’d like to extend my thanks to all the supporters who joined us to raise funds for LEAH’s vital work and to Michael and Charlotte for hosting us and donating such great prizes.”

It was also a fantastic opportunity for LEAH’s new volunteers to meet supporters and members of staff.

Hope to see you there next year!

04/02/2020

Over 100 supporters, their family and friends raised £6,000 at LEAH’s annual fundraising dinner last month in aid of the charity’s English language and literacy projects in Richmond, Kingston and Hounslow.

A delicious Indian buffet and entertainers known as the Bollywood Vibes set the scene.  Guests crowded the dance floor, showing-off their moves.  It proved to be a terrific warm-up for the auction that followed.

Wielding a golf club (instead of a gavel), well-known charity auctioneer Chris Mills successfully coaxed bidders to achieve the highest ever result for a LEAH fundraising event.

Director Jenny Irish said, “It was great fun and a delight to meet so many tutors and their friends and family.  I want to thank the local businesses and supporters who generously donated prizes for the raffle and auction, and especially The Royal Mid-Surrey Golf Club who waived the cost of the venue”.

At Learn English At Home (LEAH) we are seeking new trustees with the skills and experience to complement our existing Board and support the charity as it grows and develops.  If you are passionate about languages, cultures and social cohesion, this could be the right voluntary role for you.

Becoming a LEAH trustee is a great opportunity to contribute your knowledge and experience, gain new skills and be part of an organisation making a real difference to the lives of vulnerable individuals to support them to learn English, improve their confidence, support them to find out more about local services and as a result build stronger, more integrated communities.

We are particularly looking for a ‘Treasurer and Trustee’ as well a ‘Trustee' with specialist skills in Marketing and Communications’

To find out more, including how to apply, read our recruitment pack here.

Best wishes,

Jenny.

Please join us for LEAH’s annual fundraising dinner at the splendid Royal Mid-Surrey Golf Club in Richmond’s Old Deer Park for an Indian-themed evening of food and entertainment.   Enjoy a feast of delicious meat, vegetarian and vegan main dishes, accompanied by a selection of tasty sides for £40. There will be a cash bar for wine and beer. Bollywood music and dance will entertain guests during the evening.

We have some high-value items for auction and a wide range of raffle prizes. So, why not book a table for an evening of fun, friendship and fundraising.   Please let us know if you have any particular dietary, or accessibility requirements.

Tickets are available online here. If you wish to book a table for eight or ten places, please email events@leah.org.uk and we will provide you with payment options. Once we’ve received payment your place is confirmed.

We had a fabulous day trip to Kew Gardens with a group of LEAH learners from Kingston, Richmond and Hounslow, their preschool children and some of our volunteer tutors this week.  Many of the learners had never been to Kew Gardens before and really enjoyed this new experience in beautiful surroundings.  Our volunteer tutors showed small groups round the gardens, practising English along the way.

Some of the plants, especially in the Waterlily House, reminded learners of their own countries and it was lovely sharing these memories with them and learning from them.   We also admired the Chihuly iconic artwork installations.

Then a highlight of the day was the best group picnic ever!  Lots of laughter, chatting and sharing the most delicious home cooked food.

The trip was made possible through our membership of the Kew Gardens Community Membership Scheme.

In partnership with Cultivate London, and the Growing together Project, Learn English at Home is offering free English sessions for adults with low levels of English.

At these sessions, which are to take place at Ham Youth Centre (directions), attendees will be able to practise speaking English whilst learning about growing plants. These sessions are free and refreshments will be provided. Children are also welcome and travel can be provided if required.

The sessions will take place on a Monday morning between 10am and 11.30 am during the summer months and will start on 1 July 2019 with ongoing registration.

Ham Youth Centre is on Ham Close, Ham, TW10 7PL. These activities are based outdoors so it is important to dress appropriately for the weather.  You might even need a sun hat!

To register, contact LEAH on 020 8255 6144 or email info@leah.org.uk.

26/06/19-EJL

Exciting news! Two LEAH students have been recognised for progression, dedication, hard work and resilience this year under the ‘Kingston Adult Achievers’ Awards’ scheme which is sponsored by Kingston Rotary Club. This wonderful scheme supports people who have been successful in learning despite difficulties or disadvantage.

We were really delighted to see two of our students Taghreed and Pranvera, receiving certificates and being part of this ceremony. One of our volunteer tutors, Rebecca, read citations about their achievements at the ceremony. A wonderful occasion!

The awards were presented in a short ceremony on 5th June 2019 in the Guildhall, Kingston by Councillor Thay Thayalan, the former Mayor of the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames and Olivia Boult, the Former Deputy Mayor.

05/06/2019 - kb

LEAH has teamed up with two award-winning choirs that promise to entertain, inspire and amuse you with a memorable evening of song (flyer).

Gwalia is a Welsh male choir that has been delighting audiences with its varied repertoire for over fifty years.  They perform traditional Welsh songs, opera choruses, show-tunes and contemporary pieces.

The Rock Choir is the pioneer of the UK’s contemporary choir movement.  Their members sing rock, pop and chart songs ranging from ballads through to up-tempo, contemporary songs.

Please join us for what will be a toe-tapping, feel-good evening.  Proceeds from the concert will go towards LEAH’s projects for 1:1 home tuition and community classes.

Tickets are available online here for £12. Refreshments will be available for a voluntary donation (cash only, please).

Date and time: 29 May 2019 from 07.30pm

Location: Duke Street Church, Duke Street, Richmond TW9 1DH

Contact: Learn English at Home info@leah.org.uk and 020 8255 6144