Rotarians making a difference with lots of support

for them to be together and not isolated in another country as well as introducing them to English culture.

“For local people, it has been great for the many volunteers who have helped me and I extend my thanks to them. The support of the Stone and District Rotary Club has been invaluable and greatly appreciated by all.”

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 20 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 15 or 20. 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.

Andy said: “By running these classes, we have made Ukrainians welcome, helped them with learning the language and find employment. It has provided an opportunity

After the talk, Rotary Club Vice President Victoria Fern thanked Andy for visiting the Club. She said: “Members of the Club have been delighted to help and it is really rewarding to see how well the financial support we have provided has been used, it’s very, very pleasing.”

As a result of the work that the club has done with Andy, club members now also have contact with many of the Ukrainian refugee families and have been able to assist them in other ways.

It has been a perfect Rotary Club project but working with Ukrainian refugees is only a small part of what Stone and District Rotary Club do to support our community…ordinary people making a real difference.