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BLACK AFRICAN FRANCOPHONE • LONDON • SINCE 2017

LOVE.

IMPACT.

RESILIENCE.

Rooted in Love. Built for Impact.

We are a registered charity serving & empowering Black African Francophone children, youth and families in London since 2017.

SUPPORT OUR WORK
EXPLORE OUR PROGRAMMES
GBM — Section 2: Who We Are (Refined)
Who We Are

Community-Founded.
Faith-Rooted.
Impact-Driven.

Grace Balafonte Ministries was founded in 2017 by members of the Black African Francophone community in London — people who understood first-hand the cultural, educational and spiritual needs of our families.

We exist to nurture children, empower young people and strengthen families — culturally, socially and spiritually. Our work is rooted in Christian faith and open to all.

We are not an external organisation working in the community — we are the community, building with and for one another.

♥ Love ◆ Impact ✦ Resilience
Meet the Team → Our Programmes
150+ Children served
8 Years of impact
6+ Free programmes
GBM — Our Work
Our Work

Who We Support
& How We Serve

Our mission focuses on three groups — children, young people and families — served through faith, culture and community-led programmes that nurture belonging, resilience and opportunity.

Children

Nurturing Children

Free holiday camps, creative activities and music workshops where children can learn, express themselves and grow in confidence. Through arts, play, music and community care, we create safe spaces where children feel valued, supported and inspired.

Young People

Empowering Youth

Weekly mentoring, leadership development and practical guidance for education, career direction and entrepreneurship. Our youth programmes include Bible study, creative workshops and community engagement to help young people grow in confidence, purpose and faith.

Families

Supporting Families

Informal guidance and practical support for families navigating schools, language barriers and SEND support. Our goal is to help parents feel supported, informed and connected to the community around them.

Flagship Programme · Summer 2026
01 · Children's Services
♥ Love · ✦ Impact

GBM Kidz Summer Camp 2026

Our flagship free summer camp returns — sports, arts, cooking, photography and enrichment in a safe, inclusive and faith-rooted environment. Open to all children aged 8–15. 100% free, with full SEN provision and a French-friendly space.

Ages 8–15 3–22 August 2026 100% Free SEN Welcome French Friendly
Register Your Child →
02 · Youth Work
◆ Resilience

Empowering Youth

Weekly mentoring, leadership development and practical guidance for education, career direction and entrepreneurship. Bible study, creative workshops and community engagement help young people grow in confidence, purpose and faith.

Ages 13–25 Free Mentoring Leadership
Learn more
03 · Family Support
♥ Love

Supporting Families

Informal guidance and practical support for families navigating schools, language barriers and SEND. We help parents feel supported, informed and connected — because a strong family is the foundation of a strong community.

All Families Free Bilingual FR/EN SEND Support
Learn more
04 · Faith & Community
♥ Love

Worship & Community Events

From gospel worship gatherings to community celebrations and Gym & Praise fitness sessions — our events bring people together to strengthen faith, wellbeing and relationships across generations.

All Ages Free Bilingual FR/EN Gym & Praise
Learn more
05 · Creative Arts
♥ Love

Music Training & Workshops

Through our GBM Creative Academy, children develop real musical skills — vocal coaching, piano, drums and music production — both in schools and through direct one-to-one sessions. We nurture creativity, discipline and confidence, opening genuine pathways into the creative industries.

Ages 5–16 Free Creative Academy In Schools 1-to-1
Learn more
06 · Digital & Media
✦ Impact

Media & Storytelling

Part of our GBM Creative Academy, delivered in schools and one-to-one. Photography, graphic design and storytelling projects help young people build creative media skills while telling the stories of our community — powerfully and on their own terms.

Ages 13–25 Free Creative Academy In Schools Photography
Learn more

Every programme is completely free.

No cost to any family, ever. Your support and involvement help us keep these doors open for the community that needs them most.

Explore Our Programmes → Volunteer With Us
GBM — Sections 4–8
Our Impact

Numbers That
Tell Real Stories

Behind every figure is a child who found confidence, a parent who felt supported, a young person who discovered their path. This is what impact means — not statistics, but lives changed.

150+
Children welcomed at our free summer camps since 2024
♥ Love in action
9
Years in the community — showing up before the charity number existed
◆ Resilience proven
6+
Free programmes spanning music, media, youth, camps, worship and families
✦ Impact at scale
100%
Free to every family — no cost, no barrier, no exceptions, every time
♥ Love as policy

"We are not here to help the community — we are the community, helping itself."

Grace Balafonte · Founder & Director
In Their Own Words

What Families
Actually Say

These are real messages from real parents — sent unprompted after camp. Every word belongs to a family whose child came home changed. We share them with permission and with pride.

♥ Love · GBM Kidz Camp

I want to say a very big thank you to the teachers and volunteers for their unrelenting effort to keep the children going. The pizza they made was delicious — and my children were so proud they made it themselves.

Mrs Temilola AbayomiGBMKidz Parent · Summer Camp 2025
FeedbackFriday
◆ Resilience · GBM Kidz Camp

He came back enthusiastic and happy every day, delighted with the activities and the wonderful atmosphere you created. Your dedication and kindness truly made his holidays special.

A GBM ParentHoliday Camp 2025
FeedbackFriday
♥ Love · GBM Kidz Camp

I don't have a word to express my gratitude. Truly we are blessed to have all of you. Thank you for the happiness and joy you give to Ivana and Eli-Ann. May the Lord bless you and all your generations.

A GBM ParentSummer Camp 2025
FeedbackFriday
✦ Impact · Family

This is our first time and expectations were beyond what we were thinking — both for me as a mummy and for the children. My daughter took her volunteering placement seriously as a work. She was telling her brother to call her Miss at the Camp. I am glad they have a great summer holiday to talk about.

Jérémie, Abéna & Camille's motherGBMKidz Summer Camp 2025
FeedbackFriday
◆ Resilience · Family

Last-minute childcare was provided without hesitation and I can truly see the work of God. My kids came back refreshed and always happy. You have planted a seed and this seed will grow beautifully. Thank you for your kindness, your care, your patience, and your love towards our children.

A GBM FamilySummer Camp 2025
FeedbackFriday
Get Involved

Four Ways to
Stand With Our Community

Whether you give, volunteer, refer or partner — every act of support helps us keep our programmes free and our doors open.

Donate

Give to the Work

Your donation funds a free camp place, a music lesson or a family support session — directly. Every pound stays in the community it came from.

Donate now
Volunteer

Give Your Time

We need mentors, workshop assistants, event helpers and skilled professionals. All backgrounds welcome. The families we serve are your community too.

Become a volunteer
Refer

Connect a Family

Know a family who would benefit from our camps, Creative Academy or support? Refer them directly or share our registration link with your network.

Share registration
Partner

Support as an Organisation

Schools, councils, churches and businesses can partner with GBM through sponsorship, Creative Academy placements or referral partnerships.

Get in touch

GBM Kidz Summer Camp 2026

Our flagship free camp returns this summer. Three weeks of music, arts, cooking, sport and enrichment in a safe, faith-rooted and bilingual environment. Places are limited — register now.

3–22 August 2026 Ages 8–15 100% Free SEN Welcome French Friendly
Register Your Child → Grinling Gibbons Primary School, London · Free places, no exceptions
Trust & Accountability

Trusted by Families.
Accountable to Our Community.

A registered UK charity with real governance, safeguarding standards and financial transparency — because the families we serve deserve nothing less.

1203259

Registered Charity

Registered with the Charity Commission for England & Wales since May 2023. No. 1203259.

DBS

Safeguarding First

Full safeguarding policies across all programmes. DBS-checked staff and volunteers at every event.

SEN

Professionally Led

Founder holds a BA in Music Business and Diploma in SEN. Team spans social work, education and music.

9yr

Community Governed

Led by and for the community we serve. First-generation African immigrants at every level of leadership.

Funded & Partnered by
Funder · 2 Years Running
National Lottery
Community Fund
Funding GBM Kidz Summer Camp 2024 and 2025, enabling every place to remain 100% free for families across South London.
Summer Camp Funder
Funder
Waitrose
Foundation
Supporting GBM's community programmes and programme delivery for Black African Francophone families across South London.
Community Funder
Long-term Venue & Education Partner
Grinling Gibbons
Primary School
Our long-term partner hosting GBM Kidz Summer Camp and collaborating with the GBM Creative Academy to deliver drum and piano lessons directly in school.
School Partner · Creative Academy
2017

Nine Years of Love.
A Community Still Rising.

Grace Balafonte Ministries has been showing up — before the grants, before the charity number, before anyone was watching — because our community needed us. Help us keep showing up.

♥ Love ◆ Resilience ✦ Impact
Donate to GBM → Volunteer With Us
Coming · 2027 · 10th Anniversary
The First Ever UK Black African
Francophone Christian Festival
Free · Bilingual FR/EN · London · All Families Welcome