Please note that we do not accept self-referrals. Clients need to be referred by a professional.
Learn at Home
One-to-one lessons
We offer one-to-one lessons for learners who need extra support. Our trained LEAH volunteers work with learners online or in person to help them improve their English skills, understand local services, and become more connected to their community. This service is ideal for those who face challenges leaving the home due to health reasons, caring responsibilities, or past trauma.
Clients are matched with a volunteer who provides personalised lessons online via Zoom, or in person in homes, refuges, hostels, and community spaces.
Learn in a Class
Group community classes
For learners who are ready to progress from one-to-one lessons, or prefer to learn in a group, we offer online and in-person community classes. These classes focus on improving English language skills, boosting confidence, and supporting integration into local communities. We also focus on health and wellbeing.
Our classes are for individuals who cannot attend college courses.
LEAH’s community classes are a stepping stone to further learning, college, volunteering, or even employment.
Group classes are delivered online via Zoom or take place in community spaces.
Learn at Work
Workplace classes
Our workplace courses are designed for employees with limited English who want to improve their skills for career advancement. Sessions are delivered on-site at businesses to ensure workers can apply their learning directly in their roles.
Trips & Visits
Group Events
Our group events offer a chance for learners to explore the local community, meet others, and practice their English in informal, relaxed settings. These trips help reduce isolation and encourage social connections, making it easier for learners to integrate and thrive.
We organise trips to local places of interest such as Kew Gardens, Hampton Court Palace and the Royal Parks, and also arrange less formal gatherings such as coffee mornings and ‘walk and talk’ meetings.
Learner Stories
FAQs
We offer online and in person one-to-one and group English lessons. In person one-to-one lessons can be provided in the learner’s home or in a community space such as a library. Our community classes are held at local community venues and some have creche facilities.
We accept referrals from health and social care professionals; government and educational organisations, and other charities. We are currently unable to accept referrals from family members or friends or self-referrals.
We do not accept self-referrals or referrals from family members or friends.
Residents of Kingston upon Thames, Richmond and Hounslow boroughs (and across London if a person has experienced violence or has been trafficked) with low level English language skills who need help to communicate their basic/everyday needs but cannot attend adult education classes regularly for the following reasons:
- Have additional social needs e.g. experienced domestic violence or victims of trafficking
- Have a young child/children at home with additional needs e.g. a disability
- Have physical or mental health needs
- Are carers who cannot leave home because of their caring duties
- Have very low-level English language skills
We will send you and the person you have referred an email confirming that we have received the request for support.
One of our LEAH coordinators will contact the learner to arrange an initial assessment. This is to help us design the best support for the learner in terms of their English language and additional needs. It’s very important that the learner attends the initial assessment at the agreed time. We are unable to support learners who fail to attend and they will be removed from our waiting list.
Once we have assessed the learner’s needs and level of English, we either identify a tutor for 1:1 lessons and arrange an introductory meeting and a suitable day and time to have their lessons or tell the learner the time and day for group classes.
We aim to find a tutor as soon as we can but it depends on the availability of volunteers at that time. We have a waiting list and the waiting time can range from one to nine months. We prioritise learners according to their needs.
If your learner’s contact details or situation changes while they are waiting for a tutor or during the time they have a LEAH tutor, please contact us directly to update us.
Lessons take place between the hours of 9:00 and 17:00. Volunteer tutors meet their students once a week at a prearranged time, either in person or over Zoom. It is important that lessons are held regularly.
LEAH tutors attend an online intensive 5-week course (1 day a week). We also require tutors to complete online Safeguarding and Diversity and Inclusion courses.
Yes. All our tutors are required to have a DBS check.
If you have any queries or worries about the service your learner is receiving, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Make A Referral
Please note that we do not accept self referrals. Clients need to be referred by a professional.
