South Yorkshire
WH Community

About Us

We are an established volunteer organisation headquartered in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, with a distinguished track record spanning over three decades since our inception in 1995. Our membership comprises more than 600 individuals from diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds. We are dedicated to facilitating the successful integration and wellbeing of new migrants and refugees, whilst simultaneously addressing the needs of vulnerable and marginalised communities within our region.

 

Our Comprehensive Services

We deliver an extensive portfolio of programmes and initiatives designed to address the multifaceted needs of our diverse membership. Most of our services are provided free of charge to our 600 members, with only select events requiring a nominal contribution of a few pounds.

• Educational and Administrative Support:
  English language instruction (ESOL), comprehensive information services, and professional document translation across multiple languages

• Enrichment Programmes:
  Specialised classes including Knitting, Tai Chi, Handcraft instruction, and traditional interest groups

• Community Engagement:
  Organised walking groups, curated community excursions, and our flagship Monday lunch initiative (approximately 40 participants, 45 weeks annually)

• Youth Development:
  Art exposure, structured educational outings, and digital literacy programmes for children 

• Recreational Activities:
  Competitive and recreational sports including Swimming, Table tennis, and Badminton

• Employment Solutions:
  Comprehensive vocational support encompassing practical language development, interview preparation, CV writing, digital proficiency, and email communication skills to facilitate successful employment outcomes

• Cultural Celebrations:
  Commemorative events including Lunar New Year, Mid Autumn Festival, Christmas, and New Year festivities

• Horticultural Initiative:
  Our allotment project enables members to cultivate vegetables, promoting both financial sustainability and community cohesion

Our membership spans an age range from 3 to 89 years, and we continually develop age-appropriate programming to serve this diverse demographic.

 

Our Strategic Vision

We are committed to facilitating the seamless transition of new migrants and refugees into British society. Our approach emphasises the cultivation of meaningful social connections, the enhancement of psychological wellbeing, and the establishment of an inclusive environment that transcends cultural and linguistic boundaries. We provide comprehensive bilingual translation services to our 600 members, ensuring equitable access to information and support.

 

Our Achievements and Future Objectives

In 2025, we successfully supported 7,150 individuals across South Yorkshire region, representing a significant increase of 235% compared to 2024, when we supported 2,130 individuals. Our membership has also expanded substantially, growing from 380 members in 2024 to 600 members in 2025, an increase of 58%. Our ambitious target for 2026 is to extend our support to 8,000 new migrants and refugees.

We are particularly committed to ameliorating the mental health, physical well-being, emotional resilience, and social integration of elderly individuals and children. Language barriers frequently impede successful integration into British society; consequently, we are intensifying our efforts to provide enhanced English language instruction and culturally sensitive support services to facilitate their meaningful participation in community life.

 

Our Gratitude

We extend our sincere appreciation to our dedicated voluntary team of 30 volunteers, whose unwavering commitment and tireless efforts have been instrumental in supporting our community activities and events throughout the year.

We also express our heartfelt thanks to our funders for their invaluable support in sustaining our programmes. We are grateful to the Funded by UK Government, South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority, NHS South Yorkshire Integrated Care Board, Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council, The National Lottery, and other charitable organisations across the UK whose generous contributions enable us to continue our vital work.