B&Q Gillingham

Thrift & Thrive (Medway) has risen from the ashes of Gillingham Street Angels. We are a new enterprise dedicated to supporting the residents in Medway who are facing challenges such as the cost-of-living gap, social isolation, unemployment, poor mental health and difficulties in accessing health and social care. Our mission is to reduce food waste and minimize landfill while fostering creativity, confidence, and practical skills through recycling, repurposing, and reusing. We provide compassionate, non-judgmental support by offering essentials such as food, clothing, bedding, and companionship during times of crisis. Our services include a free school uniform bank, a community soup bar, hunger relief meals, and programs designed to improve skills and combat social isolation. Through charity shops, recycling initiatives, inclusive volunteering, and free health and wellbeing services, we create opportunities for everyone to thrive. By collaborating with local agencies, we empower individuals with the knowledge and resources to improve their life chances.

The Rowans is an alternative provision academy which takes pupils who have been permanently excluded or at risk of permanent exclusion from mainstream schools. The Rowans AP Academy has on average 65 key stage 3 and 4 pupils on roll. Classes are of six to eight pupils supported by a teaching assistant. All pupils may or may not have additional learning needs and have been identified as having behavioural, emotional and social difficulties. Some pupils are undergoing assessment for an Education and Health Care Plan. The Rowans offers holistic care, combining quality, personalised education with emotional support. The Rowans recognises that this holistic care is imperative for the pupils, many of whom have been out of education for a substantial period of time and therefore need intensive work to ensure they can access learning. The Rowans utilises the support and guidance of external agencies to offer targeted intervention. We have a strong, dedicated staff comprising of teachers, teaching assistants and support staff. We focus strongly on pupils’ academic and personal development and on increasing their confidence to prepare them for mainstream experience or for the next stage of their life. All pupils have access to a broad and balanced curriculum and the opportunity to achieve a variety of qualifications.

We are a local school in a deprived area and we are looking for extra resources to give our children new opportunities