The change we make Annual review 2017-2018
This year saw LEAH start work in Hounslow, a big moment for us. Our experienced team of committed staff and trustees and strong model for training and supporting volunteers meant we were prepared for the challenge. We have been highly motivated by the huge need for our work. We’ve found almost all the clients referred to us in Hounslow to be facing challenges beyond isolation, including having been trafficked to this country and being victims of domestic violence. It’s with renewed purpose that we look to embed our pilot in the year ahead, recruiting more volunteers to support clients in Hounslow, building
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wider referral networks and seeking further funding partners. At the same time as we see our work flourishing in a new and specific locality, it’s fantastic to see the national spotlight on integration and the role of language in it. In its draft strategy on integration, the government highlights the need for new immigrants to learn English and for existing residents to support them in doing so: exactly LEAH’s model. The year ahead is an exciting one as we pursue ways to increase our impact at a local level, and find opportunities to voice nationally what we learn from the communities of which we are part. Kate Brown Learn English at Home, Director
CONTENTS What we offer.........................p3 What we said we’d do...........p4 What we did...........................p5 What we will do next.............p7
“LEAH is providing an amazing service to our residents.” Advocate – Modern Slavery Response Team, Hestia
info@leah.org.uk • www.leah.org.uk/ • 020 8255 6144
WHAT WE OFFER We provide the following free services to ethnic minority adults in Kingston and Richmond: ● 1 to 1 English tuition for speakers of other languages in their own home. ● Group conversation skills classes in community settings, with crèche facilities: – L iteracy classes supporting learners with their reading and writing skills. –C ommunicating with school classes helping parents with low levels of English to gain the language skills needed to communicate with school and support their child.
– Ham People’s Project, a group in Ham bringing together fluent English speakers and those learning English to craft, walk and share skills. – ESOL for life, a class integrated into our volunteer training, offering practically-focused English support for clients, and teaching practice for our volunteers. ● Trips and social activities. ● Information and advice about local statutory and voluntary services are integrated throughout.
“I am very grateful for all the support given to our mothers. You are doing an amazing job and we are very lucky to have LEAH working with us.” Health Visitor, Richmond & Hounslow Lessons include topics such as dental health.
This provision is delivered by volunteers who have completed an 8 week training course led by expert trainers.
020 8255 6144 • www.leah.org.uk/ • info@leah.org.uk
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WHAT WE SAID WE WOULD DO Implement the second year of our 2016-19 strategic plan, the key objectives of which are to: ● Improve and extend our support for isolated ethnic minority adults through existing services and the development of new ones. ● Manage and develop a well-supported and engaged community of volunteers. ● Create a sustainable organisation by developing the trustee board and increasing funding opportunities. ● Build relationships and engagement opportunities with funders, referrers, supporters and other partners.
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LEAH class meets the mayor.
“I’m so pleased the class is being so very well attended and received. I was very impressed, by both the teaching and the engagement.” Pauline Sharratt, Deputy Head/Inclusion Manager, Alexandra School, Kingston
info@leah.org.uk • www.leah.org.uk/ • 020 8255 6144
WHAT WE DID
100%
of 1 to 1 clients made a significant improvement in their English.
90%
of 1 to 1 clients have greater knowledge of local services.
19%
of 1 to 1 clients moved directly to college.
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referrals received.
93%
of 1 to 1 clients are more self-confident.
79%
of 1 to 1 clients feel less lonely.
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clients received free 1 to 1 English support in their home.
37
new volunteer tutors completed our training course.
91%
of 1 to 1 clients are more confident to speak to health care professionals.
34%
of 1 to 1 clients moved to a LEAH class.
“I have learnt lots words. I am very pleased because I can read books and signs in the shops. I am very happy because you give me this very kind teacher and she understands me.” LEAH client
128
clients supported through small group community classes.
92%
of volunteers report being well or very well supported.
020 8255 6144 • www.leah.org.uk/ • info@leah.org.uk
Client studying hard in Barnes.
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WHAT WE DID ● Grew the number of clients receiving our 1 to 1 tuition service by 10%. ● Doubled the number of community classes we offer including 3 literacy classes in Kingston, Whitton and Barnes and 2 schools classes.
● Developed new relationships with referrers in Hounslow and with funders interested in supporting the scale-up of our work. ● Ran 3 highly successful fundraising events to grow our unrestricted funding.
“LEAH are always on hand with any advice or help that might be needed. What an experience it has been for me and I have to say I have thoroughly enjoyed this year”. LEAH Volunteer
● Commissioned academics at UCL to carry out an evaluation of our 1 to 1 service to further evidence the impact of our work. ● Improved volunteer training with more focus on 1 to 1 lessons and supporting clients to move on to other provision after one year. ● Recruited 2 new trustees, appointed a new chair, treasurer and 2 deputy chairs.
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LEAH clients and volunteers enjoy a day out at Kew Gardens.
info@leah.org.uk • www.leah.org.uk/ • 020 8255 6144
WHAT WE WILL DO NEXT In the final year of our three year strategic plan, we are planning the following developments:
Improved and extended support for clients ● Design and secure funding for an innovative new type of community class, based on what our clients tell us they need. ● Launch a programme of social activities for our clients, giving them more opportunities to practise English and develop their social networks.
● Pilot new volunteer roles at LEAH and ways of engaging with us.
Sustainable organisation ● Develop our next three-year strategic plan, built on the needs and views of our clients, volunteers and referrers. ● Strengthen our approach to staff development.
Engaged volunteers
Strong partnerships
● Offer targeted training for volunteers teaching community classes.
● Share external evaluation findings with key decisionmakers.
020 8255 6144 • www.leah.org.uk/ • info@leah.org.uk
Previous client, Lamah, is now a LEAH volunteer.
● Seek joint funding initiatives to make a bigger impact in partnership.
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CASE STUDY: INAS & MAGGIE “When I first met Inas, she had two young children at home, no friends, no family and her husband worked full-time. She hardly made eye contact with me and was very shy. It was incredibly demoralising and isolating for this bright young person not to be able to communicate, and LEAH threw her a lifeline.” “Yes, I was shy before Maggie came along,” says Inas.“She pushed me. We’d go to a coffee shop and she would make me ask for the drinks.” Maggie helped
and clothes and so on. “We even did a few lessons on the vocabulary for cooking using recipes for making Sudanese food,” says Maggie.
Inas (left), originally from North Sudan, and LEAH tutor Maggie Baker (right).
Inas regain her confidence and self-esteem. Now “I’m not afraid to speak to anyone,” she says. Maggie’s approach started with things such as filling out forms, making medical appointments, communicating with school, shopping for food
“Before Maggie,” says Inas, “travelling on the buses was hard. I had to use a translator app on my phone to work out the names of the bus stations and stops.” She is now confident about getting around town, meeting nursery teachers and taking the children to medical appointments. Inas’s next goal is to pass the Life in the UK Test.
Thank you to our funders, volunteers and staff for your continued support
Village Planning
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info@leah.org.uk • www.leah.org.uk/ • 020 8255 6144