We were thrilled that our volunteer Kate shared her experiences so eloquently at our AGM.  Here you can read what Kate said:

We all come into HWR in slightly different ways – often like me through a friend already volunteering. Back in early 2019 my friend Frances, whose husband Simon died suddenly last month (or she would have been here tonight), knew my career had been in English language teaching and writing, and also that I had run a food programme for schoolchildren in Uganda for 15 years, when we built kitchens, water butts and funded a daily mug of maize porridge for two large schools.  This was different, but my arm was twisted, I’m happy to say, and I duly signed up. I was originally asked to befriend a Syrian “mother-in-law who doesn’t go out much”.  It turned out she had spent time in Egypt before coming here and had never had the opportunity to learn any English.  More about her in a second. 
Then in May that year, I was asked to give ESOL support to Enas, a young woman recently arrived with her mother from Syria, also via Egypt where she and her parents had fled to 5 years before. All these people came on the Government Resettlement Scheme, though sadly in Enas’s case, without her father who died unexpectedly in Egypt. 

So where did my path take me? 
Back to my mother-in-law partner. For several months we had fun looking at, cutting up, pasting and playing games from Rosemary Picking and Margarete Prudden’s book First Resort, which I’m sure many of you know and use.  
Then came the pandemic in March 2020.  My relationship with her changed completely.  In fact it marked the end of our weekly contact.  She struggled too much with remote learning, and the family asked me to move on to teaching her son and daughter-in-law instead.  We all had to realise fast that life was now utterly different and that we would have to adapt to a new normal, including the fact that the word zoom had taken on a new meaning. Suddenly it didn’t mean whizzing about to different places, it meant doing something in the same place.  So once we’d figured out how to mute, unmute, chat and screenshare the family and I set out together on our new virtual journey.  The next turning came in the form of their 13 year old daughter.  A bit of zoom schooling started!  She was always very well prepared with her materials and instructions – I was the one who wasn’t prepared.  I never knew if we were about to study Martin Luther King, volcanoes, French, music theory or the mysteries of Greek myths.  But we got there, or at least somewhere, and she was able to send off her completed work to her teachers, with a little more confidence than might otherwise have been the case.  
Meanwhile my own path then took another turning.  Enas wanted to go to Middlesex University to study Interior Design.  Would I (or anyone) be willing to prepare her for the IELTS test – the English test that most universities require from international students.  I agreed to meet her – of course by zoom.  What I found was someone whose motivation was phenomenal.  Some had said that it might be better to study English for another year before trying the IELTS.  On the face of it, this seemed a good idea, but she was nothing if not determined and in a hurry.
She soon discovered that she would be allowed to take the DUOLINGO test instead of the more difficult IELTS.  Not long after that, she passed and became an undergraduate – all by zoom, never having set foot in a British university.  So began our next 3 years together, meeting some 4 hours a week, including in the vacations, she from her home, me from my home, and later from Dublin and Seattle too, where my children live, until she gained her degree.  Her graduation was a ceremony I’ll never forget. I don’t know anyone who deserved it more.  We are still in touch and regularly see each other, for real now.  And there are her lovely paintings.  Please take a moment to have a good look at them. 
 
So what have I learnt and not learnt? 
Firstly I’ve learnt a good deal about interior design! 
I’ve also developed deep admiration for both the Syrian families I have been lucky enough to be involved with. I admire them for simply coping, accepting, adapting, facing health problems with courage and patience, their learning capacity, for their hospitality, their skills and talents and their forbearance and resilience in the face of frustrating circumstances not of their own making.  Would I be as strong as this?  I often wonder… 
What haven’t I learnt?  Apart from Arabic, to my shame, I haven’t learnt enough about the bureaucracy many of our partners face, in obtaining Leave to Remain or becoming a British citizen. It’s a complicated business, expensive, time-consuming and stressful.  Of course, if unqualified, we are not entitled to offer official advice, any more than we should do the job of a social worker or an immigration lawyer, or a medic – although my friend Frances did find herself delivering a baby in a taxi some years ago I believe.  Fortunately she was a nurse, but it did give me a momentary pause for thought about volunteering.  My point is that informing ourselves about the likely steps they have to take, and about the changes that regularly come into force, puts us in a stronger position to be able to help when called upon, and to learn where the boundaries of our expertise lie. In my experience, my partners negotiate the maze of red tape extraordinarily well.  What they have needed most from me has been help with the B1 English language oral test – which changed its format a year or two ago - and the building of confidence to assess if/when they were ready to pass. 
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So what next?
What about when our partners are at last settled in terms of accommodation, schools, language and other courses, and hopefully jobs? In my case, one person is keen to continue with some English language lessons, others like to keep in touch socially. Our relationships remain strong, and even though we meet less often, it is interesting and fun to allow our conversations to wander down whatever winding path they might take us!
So, my motto is expect the unexpected – and go with the flow!  There is always something round the corner, waiting to steer our energy and skills in unanticipated directions. 
So let me wish you all, the very best in your own winding path.

We were privileged to interview our volunteer Raphaëlle, a software engineer from French speaking Canada who helps new refugees navigate websites to find information and accommodation.  We started asking how Raphaëlle came to Herts Welcomes Refugees:

We asked Raphaëlle about her role at Herts Welcomes Refugees:

Raphaëlle tells us about the skills she brings to her volunteering role and what she likes about volunteering:

And a highlight of her week?

Finally, what would Raphaëlle say to people considering volunteering?

Thank you so much for your inspiring words Raphaëlle, and for all you do for Herts Welcomes Refugees!

Today we interviewed our relatively new volunteer Angie Lewis who is also on our management team.  Angie tells us what brought her to volunteering, and her role in Herts Welcomes Refugees.  Thank you Angie, we are so lucky you have joined our team!

What brought you to Herts Welcomes Refugees?

What is your previous experience?

What was your first role at Herts Welcomes Refugees?

And your other role?

What gives you the most satisfaction in your volunteering role?

Has the participants' English improved?

What would you say to people considering volunteering with Herts Welcomes Refugees?

Today we hear from Tomasz, who not only works for the Refugee Council but raises funds for Herts Welcomes Refugees:

​"My name is Tomasz Gliński, and I am the Hertfordshire Area Manager at the Refugee Council. Each year, I take on a new cycling challenge to raise funds and awareness for Herts Welcomes Refugees—a phenomenal organisation that tirelessly supports refugees and asylum seekers in Hertfordshire. I have the privilege of witnessing first hand the impact that organisations like Herts Welcomes Refugees have on vulnerable newcomers. This annual ride is my way of recognising their vital work and contributing to a cause I deeply respect.
 
Last year, I embarked on an ambitious coast-to-coast ride, cycling from Southend to Bristol over three days. It was a challenging yet rewarding journey, pushing both my physical limits and fundraising goals. This year, I joined the London to Brighton ride—a fantastic experience with an incredible turnout of cyclists, all united in raising money for a variety of important causes. I was thrilled to have the chance to share my goal of fundraising for an organisation that is committed to making Hertfordshire a welcoming place for all. 
 
These rides are more than just personal challenges—they’re my way of giving back to a community I care about. In Hertfordshire, Herts Welcomes Refugees provides immediate aid and long-term support to help refugees settle into their new lives. From language training and social integration to helping with essentials and providing a sense of community, the organisation is invaluable for refugees finding their feet in a new country. And every member of the team volunteers their time, making their work even more inspiring.
 
Thanks to the generosity of donors, my rides have raised funds that go directly toward these services, supporting English classes, social events, educational supplies, and much more. It’s heartwarming to know that each mile pedalled is contributing to these essential programmes.
 
Looking forward, I’m excited to take on even bigger challenges, with plans for a London-to-Paris or London-to-Amsterdam ride next year. These endeavours remind me that, while the journey might be tough, every pedal stroke makes a difference. My goal is to continue rallying support for Herts Welcomes Refugees, recognising the crucial work they do in building a welcoming and inclusive Hertfordshire.
 
Thank you to everyone who has supported me along the way. Your donations, encouragement, and shared belief in this cause mean the world to me—and to those we’re helping."

Thank you so much Tomasz for your dedication and support for us alongside your full time job with the Refugee Council!

Watch this wonderful story from our volunteer Val​érie.  What inspires you to volunteer?

My career has been entirely in education, first in secondary schools and then in universities, where I focused on social justice issues in education.  When I retired, I was a trustee of a children’s educational charity. After my time there, and after the disruption of Covid had died down, I was keen to work again with a charity, and heard about HWR from a friend. I did not know what to expect but went to help out at the drop in at a church in Hemel Hempstead and soon got drawn in.

I was really pleased to be able to use skills and experience I had acquired working in education. First of all, I supported adult asylum seekers in accessing ESOL courses at the local college. It was so exciting to see how happy people were, as they went back into the classroom, sometimes after many years. I am learning all the time as well, trying to find my way through the complexities of educational possibilities for asylum seekers and refugees.

Another positive and exciting experience was working with our team, and lots of local partners in Dacorum to provide a ‘summer school’ when we had an influx of college age youngsters who arrived during the Spring of last year and could not be accepted in either school or college. Through this we ensured that about 25 youngsters were given some educational opportunities rather than missing out completely, in some cases for a whole academic year.

It has been a real privilege to work with asylum seekers taking their ‘testimony’ so that they had their ‘story’ clear and in chronological order in preparation for their substantive interview with the Home Office. More recently I have had the opportunity to interview some of the young men who have been given right to remain. Inevitably a lot of what I have heard has been shocking. I have heard a lot of sad and difficult things but I have been so impressed by the strength and resilience I have witnessed.
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Over the last few years, I have gained enormously in knowledge and understanding and have met so many wonderful and inspirational people, both the volunteers and the asylum seekers and refugees we aspire to support.  
 

Today we hear from Christy about volunteering together with her son.  Thank you so much for these inspiring words and to you both for all you are doing!

"My son and I had been searching for a meaningful way to volunteer together, something that would allow us to give back to the community whilst also spending quality time with each other. I worked as a teacher for 5 years, so wanted to use my experience in a way that would not only be fulfilling but hopefully impactful to young people. I was already aware of the work HWR was doing to support refugees and asylum seekers in Hertfordshire, and having called to speak Annabel it began to click into place that there was an opportunity to set up an activity club to support the children and young people living at a local hotel. 
 
We quickly gained a small group of volunteers, from aged 6-40, and started up a regular kids' club. We organise activities, sports, crafts and games for the children. It's heartwarming to see the kids' faces light up when we arrive, and my son has formed some lovely friendships with the children. These moments have not only strengthened our bond but also taught my son the importance of empathy and kindness - he is very proud of his role as a young volunteer and loves to tell people about his friends and all the different countries they are from! Volunteering has given him a fresh perspective on life, helping him to better understand the challenges others face and the importance of community support.
 
In addition to the kids' club, I also took on the role of offering more practical support to the families staying in the hotel. This includes distributing vouchers for essential items and sourcing much-needed supplies like suitcases and school uniforms. It's incredibly rewarding to know that our efforts are making a tangible difference in their lives, helping them feel more settled and supported in their new surroundings. Volunteering with HWR has truly been a transformative experience for both of us, and we are grateful for the opportunity to contribute to such a worthy cause."

Here Alison, from the Dacorum area team, records her video diary of a typical week:

Here volunteer Pete tells his story:

"I was introduced to HWR by an Iranian friend (not a refugee) who, in the course of describing the dire situation in her native country, mentioned that there were Iranian and other asylum-seekers at a local hotel and that an organisation, Herts Welcomes Refugees, was helping them.

Being appalled both by the plight of people fleeing their homes in desperation and the negative coverage in Parliament and the press of those arriving in the UK, I joined immediately. Having taught EFL overseas, albeit many years ago, it was natural for me to slip into an ESOL role, notwithstanding the very different circumstances and needs of those we support as compared to my students of long ago. Despite having a (post-EFL) career which I loved -doing academic research involving people with learning disabilities – my work as part of HWR is by far the most rewarding activity I have ever done. An example illustrates why.

Arriving at the hotel one day, I was asked to take an ESOL session with a recently-arrived couple (co-incidentally Iranian) who were beginners. Not having any prior experience of teaching at this level and with no appropriate material prepared, I gave the most boring, repetitive, uninspiring session possible. At the end, just as I was wishing I could speak Farsi so I could apologise and promise to have something prepared and more engaging next time, the husband smiled broadly, shook my hand and then gave me such a huge appreciative hug that I nearly burst into tears! It was just one of so many beautiful moments I have been lucky enough to experience with both residents and co-volunteers. 

Little vignettes like the one described show that, whilst we may give a little of ourselves to the people we support, they actually give back far more - in warmth, humility and (sometimes unwarranted!) appreciation. A heartfelt thanks, therefore, to my fabulous ESOL group learners, and to others who always brighten my day with smiles and friendly chat. I am grateful to you all!"
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Thanks Pete, we are so grateful for your commitment to the refugees you support.

We were delighted to hear from our volunteer Lorna, who tells us:

"My first experience of volunteering with HWR was helping at the monthly social lunches for Syrian refugees in Hitchin/Letchworth in 2017. Since then, I have used my experience as a secondary English teacher to help two secondary age Syrians with their English work, practised English conversation with one of their mothers and am now giving English support to another Syrian couple who moved to the area more recently. Once a week I also help at the HWR homework club in Hitchin.

I am inspired to volunteer because I can see that there is a great need for support and believe it is vital for people settling here to learn the language. I enjoy being able to use my teaching experience, now that I am retired. Alongside this, I dislike government policy towards refugees and the frequent negative press coverage, so as an individual I want to do something to counteract this.

From volunteering I have learnt more about how the system for asylum seekers and refugees works.

Meeting people face to face has also allowed me to learn more about other cultures and languages, and most importantly it has reinforced my feeling that asylum seekers and refugees are people just like us.

At first I was using Zoom to give English language support, as this was during the pandemic, and this created some difficulties, as I was unfamiliar with it. Nevertheless, it has been good to try to upskill myself on how to teach remotely and I think I have learnt quite a lot. Finding ways to overcome the language barrier is a challenge, which I enjoy.

In every interaction with those I have worked with there have been many moments, which have made this volunteering experience worthwhile – too many to mention. Overall, it is life-enhancing to get to know lovely people."

Thank you Lorna, we so appreciate your reflections on volunteering, and all that you do for Herts Welcomes Refugees!