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Welcome to the latest N-Gage update!
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N-Gage Promotional Video 
You may remember from our newsletter a couple of months ago that the BBC recently filmed a promotional video about N-Gage and the work we do featuring some of the young people we work with, Christie and some of the Catalyst Team. 

Here's the end result! We're sure you'll agree that the BBC have done a great job capturing the essence of N-Gage and the work we do.
Click here to watch the video
The N-Gage quiz night is back!
The date you need to put in your diary is Saturday 13th May. N-Gage quiz nights are fun for all the family, ticket prices include food.
Please contact the N-Gage office either by phone or email to book tickets.
Hope to see you there!
A word from Christie Spurling, 
N-Gage Founder & CEO

Many people who support N-Gage will know we have been working on application to open an Alternative Provision Free School in South Manchester. For the last ten years N-Gage has been delivering programs that help pupils at risk of exclusion re-engage with their education. With the free school policy we always felt we were ideally placed to open one, so we started the process. I was lucky enough to be offered a place on the New Schools Network development programme and that brought with it a wealth of support. They have an 80% success rate in helping people like N-Gage open schools. We had a series of meetings with schools and representatives from the council however, towards the end of these it became clear we didn’t have their support.

Another established provider from outside of the city is hoping to open in Manchester on the east of the city we think. We were unable to convince the powers that be to back our bid and buy places. Free schools without local authority support don’t really get off the ground and the local authority only has limited resources to support free schools.  So, regrettably, at this time we cannot proceed with our application. As an organisation we all feel desperately sad that we won’t, at the moment, get the opportunity to help young people in our city, some of whom we work alongside in a variety of ways.

The considerable work we have done on the bid, which was nearly complete, will not be wasted and we will look at ways we can use it to either try again in the future or develop something different.

I would like to thank the many people in the free school movement who have offered time and expertise free of charge. Particularly the teams at Westside Academy in London, Fermain Academy in Macclesfield, and all those people who had agreed to be governors and trustees. I know what we have been working on would have worked but sometimes the underlying politics can play a part in who the local authority feel they can support. Regardless of policy or politics we firmly believe that education should always be about young people and helping them and we will continue to do that. With the push towards more Academy Trusts the spirit of free schools is becoming very monetised and business driven. I think people like myself, who were excluded and left school with no qualifications who go on to set up and run successful charities or succeed in business, are precisely the sorts of people the free school policy was intended to support and encourage. I know that having the opportunity to work with young people at crisis and share my experiences is incredibly powerful and can inspire people to change.  I, alongside all the staff at N-Gage, will endeavour to develop and discover new ways of helping those young people in our community who are in need our support.

Booking.com Community Sponsorship
N-Gage is now part of the Booking.com Community Sponsor Partnership Programme. This means that bookings made on the bookings.com website using the N-Gage link will result in commission being paid to support the work of N-Gage from Booking.com at no extra expense to yourself.

It would be great if you could support N-Gage by using the link below  to log on to Booking.com if you plan to use this website to book your travel arrangements in the future.

http://www.booking.com/index.html?aid=1204584
Christie’s book
Since the launch of Christie’s book Facing My Past; Unlocking the Future  we have been inundated with orders and many, many amazing reviews. The story of Christie’s journey has struck a chord with many people. Thank you to everybody who has purchased a copy and also to everyone who has taken the time to give feedback on the book.

If you have not yet read Christie’s book or would like to order additional copies  you can do so by emailing admin@n-gage.org.uk . Further details will be sent to you about how to place your order. If you would like to book Christie to speak at your church or event, or are interested in hosting a date as part of a book tour, Please email admin@n-gage.org.uk .
 
 
 
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Thank you so much for your continued support and interest in the work we do here at N-Gage. Please do get in contact if you require any further information on anything featured within this newsletter.

Christie and The N-Gage Team

 
Copyright © 2017 N-Gage, Registered Charity: 1117843. All rights reserved.


Our mailing address is:
N-Gage
Benchill Community Centre
Benchill Road
Manchester, Eng,
M22 8EJ
United Kingdom

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N-Gage · N-Gage HQ, Suite 1.11, Parkway House, Palatine Road · Northenden · Manchester, M22 4DB · United Kingdom

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