GRASSROOTS EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT SCHEME (GESS)

Upon the completion of the SSCS, we started to engage voluntarily in consultative activities talking to groups, schools, churches, and individuals, which birthed Grassroots Educational Support Scheme (GESS). In 2012 IT For All donated some IT equipment which to enhance this newest offering. Hence, overall BEST runs a series of projects, but our current main project is the “Grassroots Educational Support Scheme”.

This project aims to include; to provide support for BME children through after school homework assisted program to instill in them ethics of hard work and educational achievement, we provide sessions in sewing and embroidery, hairdressing, and hat-making, and provide skills, training, and mentorship to develop BME parents into more effective guardians.

This project is aimed at supporting young children achieve their educational potentials and to inculcate in them right habits for future problem solving. In this way young people are kept out of the street during after school and their energies channelled into meaningful and productive activities. Parents also get involved in their wards education by learning how to support them at home while also gaining new entrepreneurial, domestic or employability skills. Further more parents coming together to learn and work from diverse race, religion and background is promoting community cohesion. The aims of this project also stem from some of the strategic actions being undertaking by the Children’s Trust based on ‘Children and Young People’s Plan 2011-2014’, p.5 & 6. They include; to further raise educational standards by challenging and protecting the interests of children and young people, to support and challenge young people to access learning in order to gain the necessary skills and attributes to succeed in education, training and the world of work, children and young people achieve their learning potential and young people develop into skilled, responsible and independent adults.