Jiu Jitsu is Back!

Some of you will already know this, but for those who don't — we have wonderful news. After losing council funding for our Jiu Jitsu and homework club programme, we were facing the very real prospect of it stopping altogether. We asked for prayer, and God answered.

A charitable trust, having heard about the work from a volunteer who visited in the summer, felt moved to fund the entire programme for a full year. This is a huge blessing. It means we're no longer reliant on unstable public funding and can plan long-term, knowing the work won't suddenly stop.

For those who aren't familiar with the programme, it's unique in its approach: children can only progress to the next belt if they receive good reports from school. We've seen previously struggling students achieve much better educational outcomes because they're so motivated to succeed on the mats. It's sport, discipline, and education all rolled into one — and it's changing lives.

We're also thrilled to share that a highly qualified teacher, Andreia, has been hired to lead the homework support side of the programme. She's organising the children into groups by age and ability, and her first major assessment session has already taken place. The programme's goal isn't only academic — Andreia will also be providing emotional support to the children, many of whom face significant challenges at home. Another prayer answered.