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On the day the London marathon was due to take place we are delighted that our 2.6 challengers have raised over £3,000 for LEAH!  We wanted to say a huge thank you to everyone who donated to the campaign as our services are needed more than ever.

Our wonderful marathon runner Andrew Daniels took part in his own challenge by running a ‘socially distanced marathon’ and you can find out more and fundraise for him via his Virgin Money Giving Page.

There is still time to donate to our fundraisers and you can still undertake your own 2.6 challenge for LEAH.

We’re particularly concerned at LEAH because people living in low-income communities, particularly migrants and refugees who don’t speak English, are especially vulnerable during emergencies.  Our learners often struggle to make a GP appointment and, for many, home-schooling will be very challenging during these times.

We know the life changing difference having a tutor to provide English language support during the crisis and in the future can make for our learners.  Having someone to focus on your particular language needs, provides a vital chance to feel more confident and able to fully integrate into society.

So, it’s vital that our work continues to ensure that non-native English speakers are not left behind.  We’re asking you to take part in an activity of your choice based around the numbers 2.6 or 26 and fundraise or donate to support Learn English At Home via twopointsixchallenge.co.uk

People of all ages are taking on The 2.6 Challenge with a host of activities.  There are many ways to get involved and as an education charity, we’ve got a few ideas ourselves:

• Learn how to say “thank you” in 26 languages (to help you we’ve provided a list of 50 languages here)

• Write a story using only 26 words

• Read 26 books

The only requirement is that you must follow Government guidelines on exercise and social distancing. Most people are taking part from Sunday 26 April but you can do your activity whenever is most convenient for you.

There are just five simple steps to take:

1. Dream up your 2.6 challenge – if you need help there are lots of ideas here

2. Head to twopointsixchallenge.co.uk to set up a fundraising page for Learn English at Home (Via the Virgin Money Giving site). (You will need to search for Learn English at Home to select us)

3. Ask all your friends and family to sponsor you and challenge them to do their own 2.6 Challenge

4. Complete your challenge

5. Share a photo or video of your challenge on social media with #TwoPointSixChallenge

(Alternatively if you would just like to donate directly you can donate straight to LEAH here)

We hope you’ll join the nation in The 2.6 Challenge to support Learn English At Home and help to save the UK’s charities.

27/04/20 JI

During this incredibly difficult time, the safety of our learners, volunteers and staff is our highest priority.

We have temporarily suspended our 1:1, community class services and social integration trips and visits and our wonderful volunteers are now supporting LEAH learners via a phone and online video ‘Keeping in Touch’ ESOL conversation and emergency support signposting service across Richmond, Kingston and Hounslow.

We are still taking referrals to our services although we are unable to arrange home based assessments until further notice.

Our staff team is working remotely and you can contact us if you have any questions by calling the LEAH office number 020 8255 6144 or by emailing info@leah.org.uk.

LEAH is hosting another walk on Wednesday, 25 March 2020 where our volunteers can meet other tutors and share their experiences.  LEAH tutors are also encouraged to bring along their learners so that they can meet others and practise their English language skills.

The walk will start at 10.00am and from the New Malden railway station.  From there, we will be walking along the new footpath to Raynes Park and back again by about 11.45am/12 noon.

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.