Activities & Story Collection

Activities

Speakers and local organisations are invited to talk about their services so learners are connected with other local providers. We also arrange trips and outings for learners.

Activities

Story Collection

We provide opportunities for learners to share their experiences, particularly through our Short Story collection.

Story Collection

2022 - 2023

In addition to supporting our learners to learn English in class and through home tutoring, we found many ways to celebrate the achievements of our learners, enhance their experience with us and recognise important celebrations:

  • We held a Diwali lunch for our learners.
  • We supported Merton Heritage ‘There is More to Morden’ Photographic Competition and were delighted to achieve 2nd prize for our photo of our Morden English Class.
  • We celebrated Christmas with a traditional Cream Tea and mince pies for our learners
  • We celebrated Christmas with our volunteers with a mulled wine and mince pies reception
  • We had visits from Merton Uplift to support mental health for our learners.
  • We celebrated Volunteers Week with our volunteers by holding a curry lunch
  • We had local trips with our learners such as the British Museum
  • We supported Songs on Wheels fundraising event and our Ukrainian learners joined in the singing. Watch their performance here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1KFZ5nKcuvA 
  • We marked other cultural and international celebrations in class and in our creche including (but not limited to), Black History Month, International Womens Day, LGBQT month, Chinese New Year, Passover, Eid, Refugee Week, 75th Anniversary for Windrush and many others.
  • We supported Refugee Week, sharing a story about our experiences supporting learners (from one of our Home Tutors).  Learners also wrote and shared some of their own stories with us.
  • We started taster employability courses with Merton College – CV writing, interview skills, childcare, teaching assistance, green skills, health and social care and others.
  • We achieved awards for our Volunteers and Learners including a Certificate of Recognition for our Chair of Trustees, Best Learner and Best Tutor Award from Committee of South London Principals and a Gold Volunteer Award for Songs On Wheels from Merton Partnership Civic Pride Awards
  • We piloted our first Walk and Talk for our learners, volunteers and staff (with support from Mitcham Walk and Talk movement)
  • We held a celebratory international picnic for our staff, volunteers and learners to mark coming to the end of the academic year

2021 - 2022

  • We had visits from: South Thames College & Morden College, Healthwatch, Merton Uplift, Walk and Talk, Head of Libraries and Mitcham Libraries.
  • We celebrated Volunteers Week and the Platinum Jubilee with lunch.
  • We arranged a trip to the British Museum and to local libraries.
  • We had an end of term International picnic at Canons House Common.
  • We celebrated end of term by presenting certificates to our learners.

Merton Citizens, Refugee WeekJune 2022

Our learner presented her short story at the Merton Citizens Event part of Refugee Week 2022 ‘Healing’. Her story, ‘The Unforgettable Night’ shared her journey of leaving Sri Lanka. This event was attended by local dignitaries, Councillors, members of the Merton Citizens network such as churches and school, charity representatives and others with their own refugee journey.

Photo: Merton Citizens Refugee Event ‘Healing’ 2022 – Our learner with her daughter, sharing her story.

Some past activities include:

International Afternoon Tea

In April, 2018, our conversation group, Time to Talk, ran a community fund-raising event at St. Mark’s Family Centre. Everyone made a sweet or savoury dish, one of the group played the flute, there was paper flower making and henna painting. Lots of friends and family came to enjoy the afternoon, including Wimbledon MP, Stephen Hammond and his wife, Sally.

Curry Lunch

Encouraged by the success of our tea events, we organised our first Curry Lunch in November 2019. A team of ‘masterchefs’ from the group provided delicious home-made curries and traditional English puddings were made by our volunteers.

Story Collection

Story Collection is now in its 5th year. See below just some of the fantastic entries we received for our 2022 collection. Home and class learners are encouraged to write short stories on imagined or real subjects. Topics have ranged from a letter to ‘Dear Councillor’ talking about the things they would like to change in London to someone sharing a story about themselves and their journey to the UK. Or even some really funny and quirky stories.In June 2022, one of our learners read out her story ‘The Unforgettable Night’ at a Merton Citizens Refugee Event ‘Healing’ to over 100 guests from across Merton. Guests included the local Mayor of Merton, Councillors, charity representatives, schools and faith groups (see pic above)

We have produced illustrated booklets of some of our earlier Story Collections.

Order a copy of any of our Story Collections on the Readers page.

Readers