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Learn English At Home (LEAH) provides one on one English tuition to disadvantaged migrants and refugees in the SW London boroughs of Kingston, Richmond, and Hounslow. Richard initially volunteered as a tutor with LEAH when he retired from his career in the Civil Service. He explained that the experience gave him a “real appreciation of the benefits LEAH brought to migrant communities in the area, and of the needs of and problems experienced by those communities”.

When the opportunity to become a trustee of LEAH arose, Richard jumped at the chance. We asked him about his experience of being a trustee, and more recently, the Chair of the Board. We asked Richard what it really takes to become a Trustee.

What do your responsibilities look like as a trustee?

My main role recently has been contributing to and chairing meetings about the charity’s work and its future strategy. I chair the Board of Trustees and attend other committees – we run a Programme Development Committee, a Fundraising Committee, and a Finance Committee. As well as contributing to the charity’s future strategy, I attend fundraising events, speak about the charity’s work to local stakeholders, and become involved in discussions with local stakeholders and funders. I also line manage the charity’s Director. I think one of the functions of the Chair is to raise the profile of the charity and to spread information about its work, and I always seek ways of doing more of this.

What has been the best thing about being a trustee?

It has been really good to work with a group of people who are genuinely committed to improving a lot of disadvantaged communities and promoting social cohesion in what seems a difficult time for migrants. I’ve been impressed by the successes we have achieved, and by the stories our students bring about how improving their English has enriched their lives.

What hopes do you have for the Board’s future?

We are an inclusive Board, although hardly as diverse as our learner communities. I hope that we will be able to enrich the Board with new and more diverse talent in the coming months and years.

How has COVID-19 impacted on your role as a trustee this past year?

This has indeed been a turbulent year. We have had to change the ways we work in so many ways. I am proud of the way we have turned what was a face-to-face service into a remotely-delivered one, which continues to benefit many of our disadvantaged learners. Trustees have been very active in keeping abreast of this and acting as a critical friend to the Director as she has introduced these changes. Trustees’ meetings have also become virtual, which presents some challenges in managing a busy agenda. There is a plus side, however, our new ways of working have given us many ideas about how to deliver new and better services in the future, and thereby enrich the support we give to our students – and that can only be a good thing.

Would you recommend becoming a trustee to other people?

Being a trustee offers a real and important way of contributing to society and our local communities – the opportunity to develop and expand networks in the local community, and to develop links, and sometimes friendships with other people working with disadvantaged groups. The work is interesting and although it takes some time and effort, it is very worthwhile.

This article first appeared on 5 November on Volunteering Kingston. See the original article here. 

Kingston Voluntary Action cover LEAH’s amazing response to the pandemic for people from diverse communities with limited English. LEAH’s learners have been impacted disproportionately from the coronavirus and deep rooted inequalities that have been exacerbated. Find out about the support LEAH volunteers have given and how LEAH turned it’s services from place based to remote overnight! You can read the full article here.

The situation in the UK is a rapidly developing scenario and there are some simple things we can all do to help protect ourselves and others.

The Government has produced guidance on what you can and what you cannot do during the Coronavirus outbreak.  For more details, click here here for the latest information.

You can find also more useful information on the following websites:

• NHS website - for the latest NHS information and advice about coronavirus (COVID-19) and alert levels

There is separate advice about:

• people at higher risk from Coronavirus from the NHS

• self-isolation treatment if you have Coronavirus symptoms, again from the NHS

• supporting adults and children with learning disabilities or autistic adults and children from ‘scie’ – social care institute for excellence

If after following the NHS guidelines you need to call 111 you can ask for an interpreter and there is an easy read guide available here.

Please review this page for future updates.

Click here to find the latest NHS Coronavirus guidelines which have been translated into 60 languages.  These have been produced by Doctors of the World and can be downloaded for free.

You can find out more information for Non-UK Nationals on the GLA website here: www.london.gov.uk/what-we-do/eu-londoners-hub/information-covid-19-non-uk-nationals

Stay at home guidance for households with possible coronavirus (COVID-19) infection can be found here: www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-stay-at-home-guidance

Our staff team is now 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.

You can find our most up to date information on the Coronavirus here.

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