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About GIFT Academy
Grace Incorporation Faith Trust (GIFT) was established November 2003. The vision of GIFT was birthed after founder members believed that there was a need for the local church to ‘move out of the box’ and make impacting change in the community.
GIFT aim
The aim of GIFT is to support young people, men and women from a diverse range of communities to access education and to tackle a range of issues that affect their access, performance and progression into education, training and employment.
GIFT Approach
GIFT’s approach is to provide a holistic service particularly for young people who are at risk of falling out of the education system with little or no qualification, in particular those at risks of becoming NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training). GIFT aims to provide early intervention and preventative measures.
The core activities of GIFT are the partnership work in the area of family support, counselling, mentoring, professional and personal development.
Long Term Impact
Below are some of the stories from our beneficiaries and volunteers who have engaged with Grace Incorporation Faith Trust (GIFT)
“I first came to GIFT when I was 14 years old for Saturday School, although I stopped attending Saturday School, they remained in my life, as a place where I could go for guidance and advice”
“When I left school and needed help writing my CV they were there, when I left College and needed help applying for jobs GIFT were there, and even when I decided that I wanted to go into self employment they were there to help me!”
“GIFT have been a consistently helpful presence, with a wealth of contact and resources that can greatly benefit the lives of young people who seek guidance and help” Chavez 2018
I have had the best support network around me; GIFT Academy Supplementary School has helped me achieve my goals and being part of the team. Their constant support and belief in me, has been one of the biggest factors in why I am where I am today. I am so thankful to GIFT, to Jackie especially; to Henry and all of the wonderful people I have been able to work with while I have been there. In 2017, after 3 years of consistently volunteering for GIFT, I was appointed the English Teacher for their Supplementary School. Growth and success are possible, no matters what avenues you have to face. I didn’t let anything stand in my way and I want to show my son that you can achieve anything you put your mind too. Shade 2018
A message from the managing director
Henry Ngawoofah
As one of the founding members of GIFT, it fills me with great pleasure to see, after a successful five year plan, the company really come into its own as a self-sustaining entity.
Prior to starting GIFT I worked for a number of organizations within the voluntary, public and private sector, from a volunteer to The Legal Officer at Manchester City Council’s Chief Executive’s Department, to working with the Lottery Heritage fund as it’s Community Development Officer.
Employing my skills gained from my honours degree in Law from Manchester Metropolitan University, and having gained experience both within the private and public practice in civil litigation, after a short spell within the legal profession I turned to Project Development and Management as my next career step.
Having gained experience working at Progress Trust and the Heritage Lottery Fund, supporting and developing numerous grassroots organizations I relished the ability to enable people to have real involvement in the running of their communities, in particularly the development of funding applications; project and service development.
A factor that has helped keep me focus in my business and work ethic is my life as a committed Christian. I believe that we all have a gift and talent to help achieve our goals and purpose in life.
It is our hope that through GIFT that the life of young people and families will change as the work continues ensuring that, whatever professional walls our clients come up against, whatever challenges modern society throws at us, we are always ready for change and always;
‘Moving out of the box’.
Henry
Background Information
Grace Incorporation Faith Trust (GIFT) is a consortium of grass roots community groups coming together with the purpose of delivering innovative community initiatives. GIFT is the umbrella organisations set up to capacity build, train and support the partner organisations.
GIFT’s mission is changing lives, changing futures in the community it serves.
The aim of GIFT is to support young people, men and women from diverse range of communities to access education and to tackle a range of issues that affect their access, performance and progression into education, training and employment.
GIFT’s approach is to provide a holistic service particularly for young people who are at risk of falling out of the education system with little or no qualification, in particular those at risks of becoming NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training).
GIFT Academy Collaborations and Partnerships
We work with local authorities, health trusts, Connexions, youth offending service, and local schools, colleges and universities. We have achieved local partnerships with The Manchester College to pursue projects that tackle NEET (not in employment, education and training) young people providing educational and employment opportunities for young people and adults from diverse communities.
