jonbeech

On Sunday 29th April, a group from LASSN went to Headingley Stadium to watch Leeds Rhinos face top of the table Warrington Wolves in a match celebrating 30 years since the start of the Rugby Super League.  Leeds won 26–22 in a fantastic back-and-forth game. Warrington started well, but Leeds stayed in it as the lead kept changing. A tense final quarter saw Leeds edge ahead and hold on, with the crowd right behind them. We were there thanks to a LASSN volunteer who is a big Rhinos fan, introducing us to staff there that very generously donated hospitality seats. That one conversation meant nine households could go together—many for their first live rugby league game, here or anywhere. And people really got into it, standing, cheering and swept up in the rhythm of the game. One man was dancing at the end, beaming and shouting, “I won, I won!” Another participant said: “I feel freedom. I felt like I wasn’t discriminated against and was just like a citizen here. When they scored, along with the music and the drums, the twinkling lights and the fireworks, I felt so happy.” There’s something powerful about days like this. When we sit together, follow the same match, feel the same buzz when a try is scored. For a while, everything else drops away. We can share something simple and real—and that’s often where a sense of belonging begins. Thank you to Leeds Rhinos—and to our amazing volunteer who made it happen.

One of the best things about looking back at 2025 is realising how much difference lots of small, everyday decisions have made. In late 2024, we updated our Sustainability Policy, in an attempt to decrease the environmental impact of our work. This wasn’t about grand gestures or shiny new initiatives. It was about noticing the things we could do a bit better, and then actually doing them: taking the bus instead of the car, printing one page less, reusing what we already have. None of it dramatic. All of it cumulative. We agreed to review our progress in January 2025 and here is what we found. Getting around Leeds, differently Travel is a good place to start, because it shows how much volunteer and staff choices matter. Compared to last year: Bike claims are up 10% Train claims are up 14% Bus claims are up nearly 27% Car claims are down almost 28% More cycling, more buses and trains. Fewer car journeys. That isn’t abstract “carbon saving”. It’s people taking the bus to visit a learner, cycling to a meeting, or getting the train instead of driving across the city. Those choices really do add up — thank you. Printing less (and wasting less) We’ve also quietly changed how we use paper. All printing and copying is now on 100% recycled paper, and we’re printing less overall. As a result: Spending on printer toner is down 25% Spending on paper is down 7% Behind the scenes, we’re reusing scrap paper where it makes sense, keeping an eye on printing trends, and recycling used cartridges. None of it glamorous — but it means less waste, fewer trees, and lower costs. Buying better (and buying less) We’ve cut back on big suppliers (Amazon, Curry's), been more careful about what we buy and when. Non-urgent buying is now slower and more considered, often from smaller or more ethical suppliers. Overall, purchasing is down 33% year on year. We’re also reusing more. Staff phones were bought second-hand, equipment is kept in use for longer, and our Christmas decorations are now stored and reused rather than replaced every year. And yes — the coffee matters too Both caffeinated and decaf office coffee are now Fairtrade by default. Same for the teabags and sugar. Warmer homes, lower energy use Across LASSN houses we focused on the basics that make a real difference: Draught excluders fitted throughout All new appliances are energy-efficient (A-rated or better) A switch to a green electricity tariff A Green Doctor visit to sense-check what we’re doing Some of the bigger jobs — insulation and glazing in particular — depend on landlords, so they take time. But progress is happening, step by step. Learning and sharing Sustainability is now built into our English at Home online resources, with sections on environmental issues, travel, recycling and energy use. These will be used more actively in sessions over 2026 — helping learners (and tutors) talk about sustainability in everyday, practical ways. What this means for [...]

In November 2025, LASSN’s three-year National Lottery funding for English at Home came to an end. This page shares highlights from our final report, covering the last year of funding and the difference it made. During this final year, 96 learners were supported by 82 volunteer tutors, with 55 new learner–tutor matches. Across the full three-year programme, English at Home supported 169 learners and 124 volunteers — building hundreds of one-to-one relationships rooted in trust, patience and care The impact in this final year was clear. Everyone who had a tutor for more than a month told us their confidence and independence improved. Learners used their English to do things many of us take for granted — speaking to doctors, helping their children at school, travelling independently, joining groups, volunteering, and moving towards work. One learner reflected:“Before I had a teacher visit my home, I knew nothing and my eyes were closed. Now they are wide open.” This final year also showed how important English at Home is in reducing isolation and building belonging. Learners talked about making friends, feeling safer, and becoming part of their local communities — even during a period of growing hostility and anxiety. Volunteers felt the impact too. As one tutor put it:“Nothing is stronger than a community built on understanding and love.” As Lottery funding ends, this final report captures what English at Home has consistently shown: steady, relationship-based support works — and its value goes far beyond language. Read the full report here

This article is part of our ongoing series exploring not just what LASSN does, but why it matters. Our shared houses—Grace, Eva and Kay—are ordinary homes made extraordinary by those within. They began as quiet gestures of trust, shaped by neighbours, volunteers and the men who now live there. Together they’ve become places of safety, dignity and shared belonging in Leeds. A home shaped by everyday decency There’s nothing unusual about the streets where these houses stand—and that’s the point. Each looks like any other terrace: a door, a garden, a kettle always on. Inside, people who once had nowhere to go share the gentle rhythms of daily life—cooking, cleaning, waiting for the washing machine to finish. For the first time in months, sometimes years, they have keys of their own. "They aren’t shelters; they’re homes. That’s the difference.” - Houses Volunteer Roots in generosity Eva and Grace Houses exist because two Leeds residents bought properties for LASSN to use rent-free. Their running costs were first covered by a legacy from Eva Pinthus, whose belief in welcome still echoes in the name above the door. Kay House was bought with another generous legacy and refurbished in 2025 to high environmental standards with help from Leeds Building Society Foundation. Each was founded on a shared conviction: that dignity begins with a stable place to live. How a house becomes a home There are no staff on site, no curfews, no signs outside. Residents decide how the house runs, share chores and agree what fairness looks like. House rules are written together, balancing safety with freedom. Neighbours know who lives there—and often lend a hand or a smile. These houses have quietly become part of their streets: neither hidden nor singled out, simply accepted. “It’s a nice, calm place. The people I live with are like family, and we help each other.” — Eva House guest Life begins to stretch again Many men arrive tired and wary after months of rough sleeping. Over time, routines settle in: shared meals, volunteering, college courses, language classes. One resident calls Grace House “a place that lets me breathe before I start again.” Support volunteers drop by each week, helping with letters, liaising with caseworkers, or just sharing a cup of tea. There’s laughter, the odd argument, and recovery—the texture of normal life returning. "Today we played table tennis, chatted, and laughed together — and for a little while, they forgot their situation. Seeing their peace and happiness reminded me why I volunteer. It gives me so much back in return." - House Volunteer What safety looks like You can measure success in the number of nights people spent indoors, but the real change is subtler: it's also a man buying groceries for the first time, opening a letter without fear, a neighbour waving at the bus stop. “Whenever someone asks where I live, I tell them I live in a palace.” — House guest Belonging, brick by brick Grace, Eva and Kay Houses show that [...]