Shpresa Programme is a user-led charity that promotes the participation and contribution of the Albanian-speaking community in the UK and enables its users to play a positive and active role in society. Shpresa runs many projects to support the Albanian-speaking community in London and the UK.
*Children and Young People project - aims to improve the life, education and the wellbeing of the Albanian-speaking children from refugee, asylum and migrant backgrounds as well as enabling their voices to get heard.
- Heritage project (Albanian language , heritage and social action)
- Youth champions (Sport, environment leadership, mental health training social action
- Breaking the chains Project
- Jack Petchey Awards
*Women's Heath and Wellbeing project - aims to improve the chances of the Albanian-speaking women to break the isolation, loneliness and other barriers so they can improve their health, integrate within the society and play a full part in the family, community and society.
- Empower Newham Women project
-Empower Barking and Dagenham Women Project
- Walk Talk watch
*Volunteering project - aims to promote volunteering amongst Albanian-speaking community as way to improve their chances of employment as well as their education and health. At the same time, as an organisation we offer work placements and internships, and team challenges for business teams.
- Still changing our future
*Advice and Advocacy project - aims to provide, in partnership with other providers such as MiCLU, Money A+E, Horizon, Manor gardens , New Europeans advice and advocacy on behalf of the Albanian-speaking clients in various fields - such as benefits, immigration , settlement , debts etc.
- Be the change
*Campaigning - aims to engage, up-skill and empower the Albanian-speaking people living in the UK, to work together to solve the problems that matter to them and for the common good. we are an active member of London citizens
- Living wage
- CLT( housing)
- Settle our status
- Mental health
*Training and Education - aiming to create opportunities and support members to identify and access training locally. we are working in partnership with Nals, Alisar Prospects training , Barking Adult college , Total family coaching etc
* Emergency provision - aims to relief of financial hardship, in particular providing financial support, clothes, food and access to data to the most vulnerable group by working in partnership with partners and local authority such as Newham council,
* Resources and research - aims to share our learning, model of working and resources with other user-led groups to maximise our impact and play our active role in society. we also want to get the voices and lived experiences of our members in research, currently working with UEL, York University , UCL, Liverpool university and Southhampton University
- Into the arms of traffickers
- LOHST
17/12/2025
At Shpresa Programme, our name means ‘hope’ - and that’s exactly what we strive to bring to the communities we serve. Every day, we respond to the growing needs and hardships faced by asylum seekers, refugees, and migrants, particularly those from the Albanian-speaking community.
In recent years, these families have faced heightened challenges: a hostile environment, negative rhetoric in Parliament and the media, changes to immigration laws, and even far-right threats and racist incidents. For many, life has become increasingly difficult and isolating.
The children and young people we support are among the most vulnerable. Many live in poverty, experience loneliness, cultural isolation, and struggle with limited language skills. Some are at risk of exploitation or trafficking and face significant mental health challenges.
Through the Toy Appeal, we aim to bring joy, comfort, and a sense of care to these children. These toys are more than gifts, they are symbols of inclusion, equality, and hope. They allow children to feel part of the holiday season, to know their voices are heard, and that their needs matter.
Every toy represents a message: You are valued. You belong. You are not alone. Together, we can make sure every child experiences the warmth and joy they deserve.
“Thank you for supporting the Toy Appeal.
Your kindness makes a world of difference.”
ourELBA
17/12/2025
At Shpresa Programme, we see the reality behind the headlines. Families who have fled danger, seeking safety, now face new hardships here. Among them is a mother with three young children, living in an asylum hotel. She receives just £9 a week to cover all her needs. Food is provided at the hotel, but if her children don’t like what’s offered, they go to bed hungry. She has no means to buy alternatives, no way to give them the little joys most of us take for granted.
This mother spends what little she has traveling to appointments, trying to navigate a complex system, all while carrying the weight of her children’s hopes. When the holidays come, she cannot afford a single gift. Imagine the heartbreak of wanting to make your children smile and having nothing to give.
That’s where the Toy Appeal changes everything. These toys are not just presents - they are lifelines of hope. When her children received their gifts, their faces lit up with joy. For a moment, they felt like any other child, included and cared for. For that mother, it was a reminder that she is not alone, that there are people who see her struggle and want to help.
Every toy tells a story of kindness.
Every gift says:
You matter. You belong. You are not forgotten.
Thank you for making this possible.
Together, we bring hope where it’s needed most.✨
15/12/2025
Cuce Matjane, nje kenge e bukur e kenduar nga dy artist te vegjel te talentuar, Leandro dhe Ana, nxenes te klases se gjuhës shqipe ne Barking.
Bravo Leo dhe Ana! 🇦🇱🇦🇱🇦🇱❤️❤️❤️✨️✨️✨️
15/12/2025
Lulet e Kurbetit, nje kenge teper e bukur e kenduar nga Jona e bukur dhe e talentuar, nxenese e klasës se gjuhes shqipe ne Barking.
Bravo Jona! 🇦🇱🇦🇱🇦🇱❤️❤️❤️✨️✨️✨️
15/12/2025
Join Our Team – Volunteer for Advice & Advocacy Training!✨
Are you passionate about making a difference in people’s lives? Do you want to help individuals facing challenges such as housing issues, welfare benefits, debt, immigration, and more?
We are looking for dedicated volunteers to join our Advice & Advocacy Team. This is a fantastic opportunity to gain hands-on experience, receive specialist training, and help increase our capacity to support vulnerable clients.
What We Offer:
✅ Comprehensive inhouse and external trainings in advice and advocacy
✅ Mentoring and support from experienced professionals
✅ Real-world experience in areas such as:
• Welfare rights & benefits
• Housing and homelessness prevention
• Debt management
• Immigration and trafficking support
• Access to food banks, clothing, and mental health services
What We Need:
• Commitment to helping others
• Good communication and problem-solving skills
• Willingness to learn and work as part of a team
Benefits for You:
• Gain valuable skills for future employment
• Make a real impact in your community
• Flexible volunteering hours
Help Fund Raiser raise money to support Islington Law Centre
15/12/2025
🎅🎄 Santa Run - Fundraising 🎄🎅
What an incredible day!
Thank you to Esme and all the young people for participating and doing great their best, in supporting Shpresa and fundraising for Shpresa.
Luli truly sent us the sunshine and energy ✨
I couldn’t be prouder to work alongside such inspiring young people and supporters, like Esme and team.
Thank you to everyone who ran, donated, cheered, and helped make the Santa Run a success - together we can make the difference. ✨
14/12/2025
14/12/2025
Vallja e Pinguinit nga femijet e klasave te gjuhës shqipe, Barking dhe Ilford.
🐧🐧🐧🐧🐧🐧❤️❤️❤️
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Shpresa Programme is a registered charity number 1110688 and a company limited by guarantee number 4692860. Shpresa works with over 2,000 Albanian speaking refugees and migrants each year to foster integration and to support men, women and children, enabling them to contribute to the communities in which they now live and work.
Shpresa received the Queen’s Award for Volunteering in 2004. We hold the London Youth Quality Mark, Gold Award for excellence in our Youth Work provision. We also hold the Special Distinction Award from the National Resource Centre for Supplementary Education for exceptional all round high quality supplementary school provision. We were awarded the Forum for Health and Well Being’s Communities of Health Award for the third year running in 2016. In October 2016, we were delighted to receive the Marsh Award for our contribution to the fight against modern slavery for our work with trafficked women and children. In July 2018 we fully achieved the PQASSO level 2 ( 4th addition) and we are proud to have achieved the Trustees Charity .
At Shpresa we have come into contact and supported many hundreds of Albanian speaking people , children who learn Albanian language dancing, perform get involve in sports, parents who learn English and parenting skills, volunteers who get training and support and later on jobs, women that suffer domestic violence and get protected, people who need information and guidance , food or clothes , Shpresa has become the family for the young people who are here without their parents and has become the organisation where we all can knock for help and they will try their best to help.
Our CEO received an Honorary Award as Migrant and Refugee Woman of the year in 2012, the David Crystal Award from the Chartered Institute of Linguists in 2014 in recognition of her work with Shpresa Programme fostering the study of community languages, the Ambassador For Peace from Universal Peace federation December 2016 and recently May 2017 the UK Foreign Social Entrepreneur Award from Money Gram Currently Shpresa is running several projects
Empower Women - Women’s Project, Make it happen - Albanian school, Working together to develop resilience – Youth Project ,Still changing our futures - volunteering,Resources - offer resources and support
Currently we are operating in these boroughs: Newham – 4 venue Including main office,Barking and Dagenham – 1 venue,Redbridge – 1 venue,Enfield – 1 venue, Haringey – 1 venue, Croydon – 3 venues,
Shpresa runs many projects to support the Albanian community in London
*Children and Young People project - aims to improve the life , the education and the wellbeing of the Albanian speaking children from refugee, asylum and migrant backgrounds as well as enabling their voices to get heard.
*Women's Heath and Wellbeing project - aims to improve the chances of the Albanian speaking women to break the isolation, loneliness and other barriers so they could improve their health, integrate within the society and play a full part in the family, community and society
*Volunteering project - aims to promote volunteering amongst Albanian speaking community as way forward in improving their chances of employment as well as their Education and health. In the same time as an organization we offer work placement and internship and team challenges for business teams
*Advice and Advocacy project - aims to provide in partnership with other providers such as RAMP, Praxis, RAMFEL and Community links advice and advocacy on behalf of the Albanian speaking clients in different fields such as benefits, immigration etc
*Campaigning aims to engage, up skill and build power of the Albanian speaking people leaving in UK and other communities to work together to solve the problems that matter to them and for the Common Good
* Resources aims to share our learning, model of working and resources with other user led groups to maximise our impact in the society and play our active role in the Big society
