Shenley Welcomes

09/10/2026

Wonderful gathering today, with 17 of us from 6 nations. All are welcome.

29/09/2026

“Hi! My name is Joy, and I come from China.

When I first came to the UK last year, I found it very difficult. Everything was new to me, and I often felt that I was far away from home.

But then I came to Shenley Welcomes. The volunteers have helped us practise English and have always been kind and supportive.

Here, I feel love, kindness and acceptance. It makes me feel like I am at home.

So I would like to say a big thank you. Thank you for making this place feel like a home for us.”

🇨🇳 Joy is a great participant in our family! She gets there early, makes the drinks for others, always asks how everyone is, and has improved in her English so much. Great job Joy!

25/09/2026

Wonderful to celebrate mid-Autumn festival today with a number of our Chinese and Hong Kong friends.

Wonderful job by Venus and Angie explaining the history, the food and the celebration in excellent English.

And an amazing array of home-made moon cakes to enjoy 😋

And a very happy birthday too to Steve one of our local volunteers! The delights of an English lemon cake were introduced to many today!

02/09/2026

A new year of Shenley Welcomes starts this Friday!
We often get asked "why do you do this group?"
Here's three of our answers:

13/02/2026

Nigel's spot on here. A vast amount of people in our communities speak no or little English. Truth.

He's absolutely right to raise it - cos of all the damage that does. It leads to:

- isolation - people who can't communicate get lonely quick

- poor health outcomes - missing info, appointments, friendship

- mutual fear and suspicion - we natives suspect the foreigners are frauds and threats. The foreigners suspect the natives are thinking the worst.

He's also right that some immigrants show zero desire or willing to learn English. And he's right that this is a problem.

But many in Shenley are desperate to learn, and are boldly against ghetto-ising themselves. They preach louder than anyone that "people who want to come here should integrate and contribute". And so they do the hard work of coping with the social anxiety, humiliation and nervousness that comes with being bad at something in a group setting, by turning up week every week to do exactly what Nigel wants them to do.

Our group is called Shenley Welcomes. We gather about 15-20 of us each week, to try and upskill in a safe and friendly space. We've never had an immigrant turn up who doesn't want to integrate (though there are hundreds in our community like that for sure, they just wouldn't show up). But we've had over 130 different people through since we began in May 2023. Most of them can't come anymore because they're now in workplace or voluntary roles, roles they got because their English and confidence improved. They now pay tax, and take workplace roles many ranks lower than their qualifications, simply to make sure they do contribute and pay their way. And good on them.

Want to make a difference in your community?

You don't have to agree with illegal immigration, or believe in limitless open doors. No-one believes that.

But our group has decided to stick with a posture of unashamed welcome towards those who HAVE arrived, and DO want to integrate, contribute and learn. To such people, you could make a real difference by coming and volunteering with our group.

The more English natives in the room the better, as people's skills go up way quicker, and we kill some of that mutual suspicion.

Message us if you want to volunteer.

Or, say hi and smile at your foreign neighbour when you put the bins out. That's more meaningful than can ever be said!

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09/01/2026

❌ No session today sadly ❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️🥶🥶🥶🥶

We will be back next week!

10/10/2025

Loved our Tapestry & English Practice workshop today! Thanks to artist and author Tina and Selly Manor Museum’s Louise for facilitating.

24 of us in across the session, representing:

🇹🇷🇸🇾🇱🇧🇲🇦🇰🇷🇷🇴🇮🇶🇮🇷🇮🇳🇸🇩🇬🇧

There was a rich tapestry of many colours, individual threads being weaved together as well as bringing their own brightness.

And they did tapestry too!

06/10/2025

"TAPESTRY & ENGLISH PRACTICE!" launches this Friday!

It's a series of free workshops combining craft & conversation, for people learning English in our community. As well as lots of chance to talk, there's a new skill involved - tapestry!

Four Fridays in October and November, 1.30-3pm, at Shenley Court Hall. All who want to practice speaking English are welcome.

We're thrilled to be welcoming our friends at Selly Manor Museum and Tapestry Tina (as we will call her!), all part of the "Common Threads" project.

Just come along, or message us for more info.