Headline posts

English at Home volunteers often say they learn as much as they teach. Our free online resources were born from that exchange. With their help, we've created a living library where ideas and experience circulate freely between tutors, learners and partners. Learning that builds safety Finding a new life begins with finding the words. For refugees and people seeking sanctuary, English is the bridge between isolation and connection. For volunteers, it’s a way to share insight and confidence. That’s why LASSN’s free resources exist: practical tools written and refined by those who know what starting over really means. Shared learning, shared strength English at Home has always been about connection, not classrooms. Volunteers meet learners in living rooms, libraries or online, using materials grounded in real life—GP visits, job interviews, school letters, small talk. “I used to be afraid to speak. Now I can help my daughter with her homework—and chat to my neighbour.” — Learner Where language meets trust Learning English is also about rebuilding confidence.When tutors and learners share stories, they rebuild trust as well as vocabulary. A lesson might drift into recipes, laughter or cultural exchange; both sides grow from it. “I learn every week—not just English, but how to listen.” — Volunteer tutor Knowledge that travels Today, these free materials reach far beyond Leeds— they've been downloaded by more than 800 tutors from across 16 countries in 2024–25. Whoever uses them extends the same spirit of solidarity: knowledge shared freely, confidence shared in return. The architecture of shared knowledge Behind every download is a small act of belonging—a volunteer preparing, a learner practising, a teacher adapting a worksheet. These resources turn learning into connection. They show that safety is built not only with walls but with understanding—language as shelter — shared, sturdy, and close at hand. by Jon Beech Click here to see our Free Teaching Resources

Supporting someone to learn English when their first language works very differently can feel tricky at times — especially when you’re not sure why certain words, sounds or structures are proving hard. Many volunteers tell us they sometimes worry about “getting it wrong” or not knowing the best way to help. To make things easier, we’ve created a new set of L1 Interference Guides. They give a simple overview of how different home languages work, the kinds of challenges learners often face when moving into English, and a few practical ideas you can use straight away. They’re short, friendly, and designed for real volunteer sessions — no linguistics degree required. The first guides cover: Amharic Arabic Dari Farsi Hindi Kurdish (Sorani) Pashto Urdu We’ll keep adding more as we go. so if there’s a language you’d love us to include next, please let us know.

This piece explores Welcome and Connect—a project built on something simple but transformative: people walking alongside one another. Like all LASSN’s work, it has evolved through the insight and experience of those involved—refugees finding their footing in Leeds, volunteers discovering new purpose, and staff learning from both. By looking at the “why” behind it, we see how LASSN’s values take shape in real relationships: mutual, local, and focused on what really matters “When I got the message that we had been granted leave to remain, I became speechless and emotional. It felt like finishing a long marathon—but the real race was just beginning.” — Amos Recognition brings freedom, but not belonging. After years of waiting and surveillance, people often find themselves adrift—safe in name but alone in practice. Welcome and Connect exists because no one should have to rebuild a life by chance. Building connection, not dependency Refugee status usually means another move—to an unfamiliar flat, far from friends. Welcome and Connect answers that dislocation with something radical in its simplicity: people meeting people. Volunteers are matched with newly recognised refugees for up to a year of one-to-one and group activities—walking, cooking, learning, exploring Leeds together. Volunteers don’t direct or rescue; they walk beside, helping people regain confidence at their own pace. “I didn’t know anyone in Leeds. Now I have someone to walk with, to talk with. It makes me feel part of the city.” — Aysha Shaped by lived experience From the start, refugees and volunteers have designed how the project works—how matches are made, what activities run, what genuine welcome looks like. Some now train new volunteers or co-lead groups, keeping the project real and responsive. This isn’t service delivery; it’s solidarity in motion. From recovery to belonging Welcome and Connect complements crisis services by focusing on what happens after safety: the slow rebuild of confidence, trust and routine. For some, it begins with short walks or learning a bus route. For others, it leads to joint projects—tree planting, heritage restoration, exhibitions. Each shared experience reconnects people to community and place. The ripple of welcome This work changes volunteers too. Many describe renewed purpose and deeper ties to their neighbourhoods; some inspire others to join. Each small step—a GP visit, a conversation, a trip to the hills—builds agency. More than 60 percent of participants move into study, volunteering or work; 98 percent of volunteers finish feeling more connected to Leeds. What keeps a city human Welcome and Connect is an everyday act of solidarity in a system built on separation. It proves that welcome isn’t a programme or a project—it’s the daily work of keeping a city human. by Jon Beech with Mehjabeen Hussein Rahim Find out more about becoming a Welcome and Connect Volunteer here. Donate to LASSN here

This article is part of our occasional series, diving into not just what LASSN does, but why it matters. Today, we’re focusing on our newtoleeds.org website, a resource that has grown and evolved over time. It’s been shaped by the collective insights, experiences, and efforts of our staff, volunteers, and the people we support. By exploring the “why” behind this project, we aim to show how our values guide everything we do—and how, with the continued support of our volunteers, donors, and partners, LASSN’s approach brings people together, creating lasting change for those new to Leeds. “When I got my status, I felt both happy and lost. For the first time I could decide things for myself—but I didn’t know where to start. Finding clear information helped me stand up again and see where my life could go.” — Charles Recognition brings freedom, but the map can sometimes still feel blank. Letters arrive in official English; buses follow unseen rules; GP forms make assumptions. Even topping up a travel card can feel like a test. New to Leeds turns confusion into orientation—and orientation into confidence. Information that builds confidence Access to information shapes access to everything else: housing, healthcare, education, friendship. That’s why New to Leeds is written and updated by refugees themselves—people who know which answers matter first. “The more I know, the more confident I feel to go out, speak, and take part in life here.” — Tea & Talk participant It’s a living guide to Leeds: where to find homes, classes, legal advice, food, faith groups and community—written in clear English and translated into fifty languages. From isolation to insight When you’ve been displaced, even catching the right bus can feel like an exam you haven’t revised for. Each page of New to Leeds replaces uncertainty with understanding. Someone who once felt “like a football kicked from one end to another” can now plan journeys, reach services and rebuild control. From navigation to contribution Every answer sparks action. People use the site to enrol at college, volunteer, start work, or simply feel ready to explore. “When I explain something I once struggled with, I feel strong—because now I’m the teacher.” — Early contributor Knowledge that multiplies The power of New to Leeds lies not just in its facts but in the trust it builds—each update a small act of solidarity, one refugee helping another avoid the wrong turn. “You can’t always change the system, but when you share knowledge, you change how it feels to live inside it.” — Recent editor The power of knowing Behind every click is someone reclaiming agency. New to Leeds shows that information isn’t optional—it’s safety, dignity, and the first step toward belonging. by Jon Beech Click here to visit New to Leeds

A new exhibition at the University of Leeds showcases artwork created by women from refugee and asylum seeker backgrounds, developed through the University’s Welcoming Migrants programme in partnership with Leeds Asylum Seekers’ Support Network (LASSN). In Touch, with Nature runs from 23 September – 20 December 2025 in the Stanley & Audrey Burton Gallery’s Small Exhibition Room. The works were inspired by summer workshops exploring the University’s collections, public art trail, and architecture, with participants drawing connections between Leeds’ design heritage and the visual cultures of their home countries. Working alongside Wakefield-based textile artist Ranya Abdulateef, the group experimented with printing, reliefs, and concertina-folded collages, creating vibrant new pieces that reflect both memory and discovery. Their art sits alongside objects from the University’s collections, from Burmantofts tiles to artist books, revealing shared patterns, traditions, and influences across cultures. Learning Coordinator Rachel Craddock says: “Through the group’s responses to art and architecture, we’ve all learned so much about our shared history of exchange and influence. This exhibition celebrates the value of different experiences and viewpoints, and the joy of discovering new things together.” The exhibition is free and open to all. Visitors are invited to reflect on their own connections with nature, culture, and creativity. Follow the link for more information Until: Saturday 20 December 2025 Location: The Stanley & Audrey Burton Gallery Cost: Free In Touch, with Nature | Galleries | University of Leeds

Thanks to a new collaboration with PBE (formerly Pro Bono Economics), we can now make sense of our donation data and use it to plan better — so we can help more people in Leeds. Through their Data First Aid service, PBE connected us with volunteer analyst Seva Smirnov, who built a simple, interactive dashboard to track donation trends. Now we can see patterns at a glance, understand our supporters better, and focus our energy where it makes the biggest difference. “We got access to a highly skilled individual who understood our needs and made sense of our raw data,” says Andrew Crossley of LASSN.“Collaborating with LASSN aligned with my own values,” adds Seva. “The team is thoughtful, data-savvy, and committed to insight-led fundraising.” With better data, we can help more people feel safe, connected, and at home in Leeds. If you’d like to be part of that change — by sharing your skills, volunteering, or making a gift — get in touch. For the full story click here