Leeanna’s Wish is a Black female led organisation. Our leadership team have lived experience and a deep understanding of the issues affecting our community.

Founded in June 2021, Leeanna’s Wish provides support for protected groups living in and around St Albans. From grass roots level to influencing social policy, we are dedicated to combatting inequality. Our principal aim is to enable those most at risk of social exclusion to develop essential life skills and access the range of services in the wider community.

Our inter-generational programmes aim to engage, empower, and promote social interaction and friendships.

Our projects are designed to meet identified needs in the community – eg Computer Skills Workshops for the over 50’s and Tuesday coffee mornings for community cohesion. We also have a weekly Saturday Club for young people aged 11+.

Leeannas Wish have started Friday evening community nights at Cottonmill Community Centre in Cottonmill, St Albans, Hertfordshire.

Our project supports vulnerable individuals and families. The Cottonmill community lacks facilities and has the highest number of Black, African, Caribbean, and Black British residents in St Albans. In Cottonmill 643 households rent from the council, which is the highest number for any ward in St Albans.

Thanks to funding from Hertfordshire Community Foundation, we have our venue in place from 8pm-11pm. However, there are still a lot of challenges. The evenings are volunteer led and funds are desperately needed to provide for our local community.

The Community Centre was built in June 2021, in the heart of Cottonmill, and is used by lots of people and groups from the local community. We want to ensure that our Friday evenings provide for a 'home from home' for people to use throughout the year, so they can save on fuel and food bills at home. 

 - To serve affordable hot meals once a month, serving up to 100 people.

 - To provide a warm, welcoming space every Friday night with a variety of things to do: knitting hub, kids zone, puzzles, karaoke, film screenings, board games, daily papers and magazines, activities, advice centres and more in response to what people ask for. 

 - To engage with local residents. schools, health centres and housing associations to identify the local people most in need of fuel and food support, so that we get the help to the people who need it most. 

The money donated will be used to employ a cook, subsidise costs of food for those who cannot afford to pay, pay for raffle prizes, a film licence, equipment and things for people to read/use/play with, petrol to provide lifts to pick up / drop off non drivers. We estimate we'll need about £5,000 to provide all of this for 50 weeks.

www.leeannaswish.org

www.facebook.com/leeannaswishcic