In the last year, Stone and District Rotary Club have supported the amazing voluntary work by Andy Babb who has been helping Ukrainian refugees learn the English language. In addition to providing English language learning books for Andy’s classes, Stone and District Rotary Club have also helped support twenty or so Ukrainian families in Stone with the provision of school clothing and equipment to help their children better integrate at school.
Recently, Andy came to a Rotary Club meeting to tell the members about his work with Ukrainians here in Stone and explained how the financial support we have provided has helped. The text books that the Club sourced for Andy have made a terrific difference for all who attend the classes. Not only has Andy taught language skills to 14 to 70-year olds but help has been provided with accessing local services, he has organised special events and provided some with laptops and phones. Andy and his team of volunteers run free language classes at St Michael’s Hall in Stone three times a week and from three students attending the first session in April 2022, classes now average fifteen or twenty. The classes have been really successful with some individuals being able to continue and advance their original Ukrainian careers here in Staffordshire by getting compatible jobs. Andy has also been helping younger students with pre-university support so that they can advance their education whilst they are here.
