Volunteers' Week is an annual celebration of the contribution millions of people make across the UK through volunteering in their communities​​. This year, we at ELATT - an award-winning education charity - invite you to join us in this celebration, and perhaps inspire you to become a part of our volunteering family.

Since 1984, ELATT has been dedicated to supporting students to improve their lives through employment. As part of our Learning Community, volunteers have been an integral part of our journey, aiding us in running our organisation while enhancing their own employability. As we celebrate Volunteers' Week 2023, we not only want to appreciate our existing volunteers but also invite new ones to join us and make a difference in their communities.

Volunteering is a fulfilling way to give back to the community. It enables you to develop new skills and, as many of our volunteers affirm, helping others makes you feel great in return​​. At ELATT, we offer a range of volunteering opportunities across Hackney, Tower Hamlets, Waltham Forest, Brent, and Ealing. Whether you're interested in gaining some teaching or administration experience in an informal setting, or simply wish to contribute your spare time to a good cause, we have a role for you.

Our main volunteering opportunities include roles as a Volunteer Teaching Assistant or a Volunteer Administration Assistant. We also have opportunities to support students through our Industry Partners and occasionally have positions available in Fundraising, Marketing, and IT support. Also, you can volunteer in the Wellbeing Service at ELATT. To learn more about these opportunities, please visit our website and explore our current volunteering vacancies.

We are looking for individuals who are well-organised, reliable, and possess good literacy and numeracy skills. Experience in an education setting is a plus, but not essential. The ability to interact with people who speak English as a second language and to work with colleagues and students from different cultural backgrounds is important. At ELATT, we value a non-judgmental approach that respects different cultures and is sensitive to the needs of students with difficult personal circumstances.

Volunteer roles at ELATT are unpaid, but we do offer some benefits. We will reimburse you for a set amount of travel costs and lunch per day, cover your DBS clearance, and provide an induction as well as ongoing training and support. Additionally, as a volunteer, you will have access to ELATT's staff training sessions.

Volunteers' Week 2023 is not just a time to celebrate ongoing commitment but also to inspire more people to say 'yes' to volunteering​​. With the breadth of volunteering opportunities on offer at ELATT, we hope to spark your interest and help you take the next steps in your volunteering journey​​.

So, whether you're looking to develop new skills, make a difference in your community, or just want to contribute some of your time to a worthy cause, consider volunteering with us at ELATT. We promise you a rewarding experience that not only benefits our students and the community, but also enriches your own life.

Here's to our inspirational volunteers, and those who are yet to join us - thank you, and let's have a great Volunteers' Week together​!

We are so proud to share that ELATT Sixth Form students recently partnered with Highway House a church and homeless shelter in Tottenham, North London to help improve conditions for rough sleepers in London. Highway House has a number of local homeless people who often sleep in their church hall. When the pandemic struck, no-one was allowed to sleep in the church hall due to social distancing rules. Thankfully, many were relocated in hotels during the pandemic, however some people were not found by outreach teams and some became homeless during the pandemic and could not access shelters for accommodation due to their closures so were faced with sleeping rough in terrible conditions.

In our Social and Personal Development sessions, our tutor asked our students how they would like to support the homeless. Their solution was to buy ten 'iglous', ordered from France, which could be set up in the church hall in the Highway House grounds or nearby, so that the homeless would now be able to sleep in the warm and dry without breaking social distancing rules. The students distributed these in March 2021 and also took part in befriending sessions with the homeless.

In the photo we see Emil who slept in Tottenham Green by Highway House. He said that he is happy with his Iglou and that it keeps him very warm.

Volunteering has been ongoing as part of the students Community Action Project. The volunteering involves; helping serve food and refreshment, sorting clothes, helping with cleaning and setting up the day centre and helping with the distribution and maintenance of the Iglous.

Throughout the project, our students have been working with Odd Eyes Theatre learning about camera skills and documentary making to produce a film which shows community action in action. It documents their understanding of homelessness and how their work with Highway House has given them an appreciation of the challenges faced by the homeless. The documentary also aims to raise awareness about homelessness amongst the ELATT community and encourage them to get involved in community action.

Summai, one of our students said “Helping out at Highway House has been a really good experience and I can understand more about homelessness and how it affects people's lives. I have learnt and used my skills to help out at this charity during our project at highway house I was really excited to get involved when we discussed it in class and I really wanted to get involved as it is something I am have very passionate about and I like helping people.”

Imtiaz, English and Personal and Social Development tutor at ELATT, said “Our students have been wonderful in how they jumped at the chance to volunteer with Highway House. They have really enjoyed it and learned a lot from their experience. As result of this, they would like to take part in further activities that would help the homeless.

Abigail from Highway House said “When ELATT reached out to us with the idea to purchase iglous for rough sleepers who have not been able to access statutory help, we thought it was great idea! We were very glad to partner with ELATT in making a difference in the circumstances that the pandemic has created, mainly the closures of open plan shelters. A number of people sleeping rough benefit from sleeping in the iglous. An extraordinary story... we had 6 international students who suffered from a fire in their property, leaving them homeless for 3 days! They used the iglous during that time outside of the shelter and they were very grateful for the provision.”

Conversation Clubs are an opportunity for ELATT’s language learners to practise their English speaking skills and develop confidence in a fun, informal environment.

These clubs also give ELATT students an opportunity to become organisers themselves – contributing to the community while gaining skills and experience. Our teaching assistant students in particular find this experience a useful addition to their CVs.

This is an area ELATT has long been involved in. Our very own Nafisah recently completed her PhD on Social Interactions in English and is now Dr Graham-Brown. As part of her research, she led ELATT’s involvement in an Erasmus project on Volunteers in Language Education, working together with community organisations from Slovenia, Denmark and the Netherlands www.languagevolunteers.com

Earlier this year, our Volunteer Manager, Yvonne Ackuaku, and three of our Conversation Club volunteers – Pascale, Gertrude and Izabel – were filmed about their conversation club experience as part of a Learning & Work Institute / Learning Unlimited project funded by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

You can see the four videos here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLmZbrFRJFfyPgDaa5DKwA5wayFVMdUsGd

The project also produced 15 units on a range of topics. These flexible and adaptable resources are designed to meet the needs of the huge range of conversation clubs across the UK. It was an exciting writing project which our Quality lead, Helen Rankin, was thrilled to be involved in as an LU Associate.

You can see the 15 units and the accompanying guides here:
https://learningandwork.org.uk/resources/research-and-reports/volunteers-english-language-learners-and-conversation-clubs/

Our current challenge is to build on the initial success in adapting conversation clubs to run online during the Covid-19 crisis. Despite the unfamiliar environment of Zoom, participants – including new joiners – have been able to bond and to discuss personal issues, including Black Lives Matter, in a supportive and constructive way.

If you would like to become an ESOL volunteer, please contact:
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
If you would like to join a conversation club, complete an ESOL enrolment form online:
https://www.elatt.org.uk/courses/english-skills

Today we are writing about housing problems in Hackney. Many people are suffering with some bad conditions. People are living in damp house, and they paying high rent, gas and electricity. Some houses have water leaking from the ceiling. People need to gather to campaign to the government so that they make something better about housing problems. Some people are living single glazing house in winter.

On 16/11/17 as Equal Voices class we wrote a letter about our housing problems we are facing in Hackney and we sent it to the council. We all together made a video, before we sent the letter. We sent the video and letter to Councillor Sem Moema

We are feeling better and proud after we sent the letter.
We hope that the council will start thinking about these problems and try to solve them and make good decisions.
Many thanks.

Shima, Sumi and Maria | 3508 Equal Voices

Read other stories

Two months ago on Friday 29 of September 2017 at 11 am we went to 242 Hoxton St N1. We went to a coffee morning in the church with our teacher. Because every slice of cake and cup of tea and coffee help us huge different of people facing cancer. There we met new people, we had a slice of cake some biscuits and tea then we are sitting together, talking to each other and there are some people taking pictures and making videos. We also take pictures we donated some money in the church. We really enjoyed the wonderful journey.

By Ruqia Naz, Francisca, Saloua and Preeti

Read more inspirational student stories

After carrying out a listening campaign this term in Hackney, our Equal Voices students found out the three main issues that people care about are: cost of fuel, housing and ESOL funding cuts. As a group they decided to focus on campaigning about the cost of fuel this term and the other issues next term. Most of the learners are using prepayment metres and felt that they are spending more money on their energy bills compared to people who are not using prepayment metres.

by Bayan Tuerxunbayi (Equal Voice Class)

We went to York Hall and attended an Assembly on 9th March 2017. It was a fast paced, dynamic and focused meeting, full of exciting stories and as well as inspiring hope for the future. There were many facilities for food and refreshments. There were many people who came from different organisations. We also listened to a few songs from a children’s choir of 150 singers, stories from history - Martin Luther King Jr, the Salvation Army, the matchstick girls, the dockers and music from a student orchestra. After that many people spoke about different problems as well as live public negotiation, and the setting out of TELCO’s vision for East London over the next 20 years. My friends spoke about energy bill problems. I was very happy and became more confident when my friends spoke on stage. When we finished, we took pictures and people threw balloons and confetti from the balcony. Everyone was very happy.

The promises that were made showed a sign of hope and a new beginning. It was an exciting and inspiring event that will give hope in our difficult climate. We believe East London future will be better.

What my Equal Voices classmates thought about the event:

• Kikelomo Akande: “I spoke about cheaper energy and what I have experienced. There were many other speeches. Everybody celebrated with balloons and confetti. I feel happy because I spoke confidently."
• Amina Sakhi: “What moved me the most was the presence of Syria’s family who thanked the country that embraced them. Later on ELATT students spoke about energy and its importance in our daily lives.”
• Anita Srdenovic: “Paul spoke about Bridge builders. These are not physical bridges. They are bridges of trust, bridges of justice, bridges of relational power for the common good. We took pictures and we now have more confidence speaking on stage.”
• Pankita Rajesh: “These promises were an exciting and inspiring event that will give hope in our difficult climate. We believe East London’s future will be better. I feel more confident and I am really proud to take part in the assembly and speaking in front of many people”

(By Ning Liu)

On 24 Oct, students from Elatt went to Lunar House to welcome the refugee children.

These children were from the Calais ‘jungle’, they were trapped in this ‘jungle’ for years. Nearly all of them fled from their home counties which are suffering from wars. Since they arrived at Calais, some of them stayed there, but the environment for children was terrible.

By Jolanta

On 15 - 06 – 2016, my college ''Elatt'' did a charity day for 'Ruth Hayman Trust'. On this day it did not rain, but was very windy. Especially on this day, I put on a black dress. I came at 11 o'clock and brought an electric oven. Other classmates came at 1pm and brought books, toys, clothes, cakes and brioches. We all together went in street selling cakes and brioches. We had a fun day and we laughed.

Last Monday Tower Hamlets Equal Voices learners held a special end of term Eid lunch, capability workshop and launched their campaign 'Love London, No Place to Hate'
The group created and planned a special menu, cooked for local residents, raised funds for Simple Gifts and held demonstrations/capability workshops in natural therapies, language exchange and henna.

By Paula