Volunteering
Our volunteer team includes home tutors, classroom assistants, governance and office volunteers. They come from a range of backgrounds, languages and cultures.We are currently recruiting for Home Tutors
Can you give a couple of hours a week?
LET needs volunteers who speak a good level of English. You will teach English to adults wanting to learn the language, who cannot get to classes and need to learn in their own homes or in a community setting close to their home. We will provide training and regular support. We welcome applications from people whose first language is not English.
Volunteers get a chance to get to know and understand people from other cultures living in Merton and Wandsworth.
You can learn a lot about the English language in the process.
It’s fun and very worthwhile and rewarding to see how much learners progress.
Being able to speak English leads to real changes in learners’ lives and their abilities to connect with local people.
Requirements
- Volunteer home tutors need to complete our 20-hour training course and be able to travel to the learner’s home
- We welcome applications from people whose first language is not English
- We obtain DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) clearance for all tutors
Commitment Levels
- Lessons are once a week and last for one hour, with at least an hour of preparation
- On average, home tutors should allow a total of 3 to 4 hours a week and need to commit themselves for at least 6 months following the free training session
- They should also attend regular Update meetings
How To Apply
If you would like to be a home tutor or classroom volunteer, please fill in our Tutor Application Form.
Or contact classes@let.org.uk letting us know your relevant experience, availability and why you would be interested in tutoring.
What Tutors Say
“Hi, my name is Sophia and I live a few bus stops away from Mitcham. As a local resident in a diverse community, I was excited to hear about the opportunity to volunteer with LET.
I have a background of working in a primary school, supporting children with additional needs and also children who have English as an additional language. This sparked my interest in the field of ESOL and I decided to retrain, completing a level 5 TEFL course online. Whilst this provided good theoretical training, I really wanted some practical work experience. It was while I was out of work that I found out about LET and got in contact with them about volunteering.
After the necessary checks were completed I began helping out at one of the classes each week. Working alongside the very experienced ESOL teacher has taught me so much and given me an even greater passion to teach.
The classes are fun and engaging and the adult learners are motivated to learn. Ongoing training ensures that volunteers are equipped to teach. I have received training from a very experienced ESOL teacher and trainer and have access to the resources at the centre in Mitcham.
Volunteering at LET helped me gain the experience and confidence to apply and gain a position in the ESOL department at a college. I am so grateful for the opportunity and would highly recommend volunteering with LET to others.”
“It’s one of the best things I’ve ever done.”
“We get at least as much out of it as they do.”
“I've met people I'd never ever meet otherwise.”
Tutor Training
Our free tutor training courses give an overview of the different aspects of learning and teaching a language. It prepares tutors for teaching 1 to 1 in the home and introduces volunteers to the charity. Contact classes@let.org.uk for further details.
"I found the lesson practice great."
"I really enjoyed the course and meeting other tutors, and hope we get together again.
"Everything was set at a good pace. It was a relaxed atmosphere where I think everyone felt confident to ask questions and share ideas."
"The success stories had an encouraging effect of showing how rewarding it can be. It definitely made me feel that it is possible to do."
Matching With A Learner
Once the course and the DBS check are completed, we try to match volunteers with a suitable learner as soon as possible, taking into account volunteer preferences and how easy it is to reach a learner’s home.
For the first visit to the learner’s home, an assessor goes with the volunteer to introduce them.
The learner and volunteer tutor can then agree on a day and time for the lesson.
Lesson Plans and Teacher Resources
Some tutors like to work together on preparing their lessons, especially to start with. Tutors can also keep in contact by phone or email to discuss their tutoring. Some tutors meet up at least once a term to compare notes. There is an excellent lending library with a wide range of teaching resources from Pre-Entry upwards in our office at Vestry Hall. If you would like to visit the resource library, please contact us to arrange an appointment. We have published 22 readers on a variety of topics about Life in the UK. These are constantly being updated. They are easy to read and are aimed at Entry Level 1 and 2. They can be borrowed for use by tutors and learners.
Volunteering News
Volunteers receive Gold Award!
Gold Award achieved by Songs on Wheels, who raised an incredible £4,800 for LET through two fundraising events in 2019 and 2023.