They run Welcome to the UK, a Southend charity which helps families and individuals from overseas settle in and positively engage in their community.

They currently work with 550 families from 22 different nations, including several European countries, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iraq.

Since war broke out in Ukraine, they have also been helping refugees get the basics they need like food and water and accommodation and education for children.

“Our motto is we don’t judge anyone and that everyone deserves to live with dignity,” said Ilda.
“We help people to learn English at our ESOL classes and we run friendship groups where we find out what people need and how we can help them. It means people have the opportunity to truly understand the UK and integrate, and in turn give back to their community.”

Helping others - Ilda wants to stop isolation and help people give back to their community.

Based in the Victoria Shopping Centre, in Southend, the charity currently run ESOL classes and a friendship group on Fridays as well as drop in services for help and advice, 1:1 support and professional workshops.

They are based in two units, one for the regular classes and a separate space where the team can speak to people confidentially and during the friendship group, they offer a free creche too.

Ilda said: “Arriving in the UK can be very confusing for people. Knowing how the NHS works and to call 999 for an emergency, are things we take for granted. However, for someone new to the country they won’t know these things.” 

The location is convenient for people to come and speak to the team.
“Being in the shopping centre makes it very accessible and people see the sign and come in. A Ukrainian family saw us by waking past the sign while they were in the centre,” said Ilda.

Welcoming place - the team outside the centre in Southend.

Ilda knows first-hand what it is like to move to an unfamiliar country and feel isolated.
She left behind a successful career in Albania to move to the UK with her husband while pregnant in 2012. 

“For the first month it was lovely but then things became difficult because I didn’t speak English. I went to see the GP when I was eight months pregnant but I couldn’t explain anything and I felt like I could not do the best for my baby.”
When the baby was born, she began to feel more isolated.
“I needed help breastfeeding but it was hard to get support. I felt lost. At six months I was crying to the health visitor and she said to me go to the children’s centre and spend time there.”

She went to Blenheim Children’s Centre in Leigh and was happy to spend time with the friendly staff and other parents.
“The team had a key role in making Welcome to The UK happen. I would stay there from 9am to 4pm and do all the classes and absorb all the English. If you want to learn a language you have to surround yourself with it,” said Ilda, who speaks multiple languages. 
“Caroline Reynolds, who is not there now, was so helpful. I asked her if we could have a second language group and she said it was a great idea. We thought of a name for the friendship group and decided on Welcome to the UK because it was friendly and welcoming.”

Smiles - youngsters playing at the centre.

So, Ilda and other attendees had dedicated time to learn English.
The sessions were run at the children’s centre for two years. When the volunteer English teacher moved away Ilda suggested hiring a teacher and Caroline said it would be a good idea to make it a charity and apply for funding.
Ilda said: “I contacted SAVs and Gemma Cartwright was so helpful with the paperwork and really believed in me. Our first funding came from ROSCA and it was a big moment for us, it felt someone was believing in us.”

The team moved to The Victoria Shopping Centre in November 2020 and six months later they acquired the unit next door.
“It has been vital to us to have that additional space. During our friendship groups we let the people inspire us and tell us what they need and what we can do to help and take action.

“We had one lady who asked should she register her child for school as they were seven, we said yes in England they go to school from four years old. We had someone from the Southend Admissions team to come give a workshop and talk directly to the parents and answer their questions.
“Lady McAdden spoke about breast cancer and the importance of screening, and we had someone from Health Watch give a talk on what to do and where to go if you need health and social care services.”
“It is a group effort and Karen Eherinon and the team are the ones who make it all happen.”

Supportive event - the International Women's Day event was a success.

They recently hosted an empowering event to celebrate International Women’s Day at the Park Inn Hotel .
“It was a positive way for local women local women, community leaders and our members to learn a from each other and feel inspired," said Ilda.
"Helping people to integrate with dignity is our main goal. We are always available to help people with whatever they need and they work closely with many local organisations and other charities to achieve this. Welcome to the UK prides itself on being an educational charity with the goal of arming individuals and families with the tools they need to become fully independent, confident and able to give back to their community.”

Welcome to the UK is located on first Floor Victoria Shopping Centre, Unit F39 & F40, 362 Chartwell Square, Victoria Plaza, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, SS2 5SP.
The opening hours are 10am - 2pm Monday to Friday, term time only.  
Visit www.welcome2theuk.com for details.