“I feel like I now have a purpose. This process has been very important to me as I had lost the confidence in thinking I could work again.”

Gifted Woman

About Us

Many women across the UK are caught up in a cycle of addiction, homelessness and contact with the criminal justice system, facing a lack of opportunities and often a history of trauma and abuse at the foundation. Even when working hard to break the cycle, women can struggle to find work and support to reach their full potential. Gifted Women creates space for women to ignite a spark and forge a fresh pathway. We recognise that employment, training and further education can be key factors in lasting change and seek to journey with women as they progress into these opportunities.

Women in Plymouth, (Devon) and surrounding areas can self refer or can be referred to us by organisations across the city to take part in a trauma-informed programme of employability training and confidence building spanning up to 18 months. Our group work programme is a journey of discovery and personal growth for each woman, where she can set her own individual goals and work towards them in a supportive environment where both peers and practitioners are there to cheer her on.

As a key part of our employability programme, we link up with local employers to provide meaningful work experience placements which are tailored to women’s strengths and ambitions, enabling women to put all their learning into practice and experience being part of a team.

We know that loneliness and isolation are commonly felt amongst women we work with, and so we provide lots of social opportunities to build confidence and grow women’s support network. This includes a weekly drop in group for our community where women can meet others, have fun, build confidence and access support.

Our aim is to see women thriving in employment or be enrolled in further education and this is achieved in the woman’s own time and at a pace that feels realistic and sustainable. We are privileged to journey with women through the ups and downs along the way.

Our board of Trustees

Jenny Adjene (Founder and Chair of Trustees) is a small business owner and employer who has run a social enterprise which has supported women who have experienced multiple disadvantage back into employment. Responding to a need for gendered, trauma i

Jenny Adjene (Founder and Chair of Trustees) is a small business owner and employer who has run a social enterprise which has supported women who have experienced multiple disadvantage back into employment. Responding to a need for gendered, trauma informed employability support for women, Jenny started Gifted Women in 2020 to fill this gap. Jenny brought trustees and volunteers together to form the charity which has since grown exponentially. As an experienced business owner herself, Jenny passionately believes that businesses are uniquely positioned to create positive social impact in communities, with employers playing a key role in creating life changing opportunities for people. Alongside this, Jenny works in the women's sector as Effective Women's Centres Project Lead at the The Women's Centre Cornwall, leading a project which aims to evidence that women's centres and trauma-informed, gendered community interventions are a more effective alternative to prison for women experiencing multiple disadvantage.

Dr. Mary Embleton is a GP in inner city Plymouth . She has a special interest in Addiction, Mental Health and health inequalities and is involved in many community initiatives. She wants to see regeneration in Plymouth by reversing some of the inequ

Dr. Mary Embleton is a GP in inner city Plymouth . She has a special interest in Addiction, Mental Health and health inequalities and is involved in many community initiatives. She wants to see regeneration in Plymouth by reversing some of the inequality she sees every day . She works with women with complex needs and complex lives and realises the routes out are also complex .

Julie Howes has worked for over 20 years supporting those who are living with significant trauma, substance misuse and mental health difficulties and understands the complexities that can arise when people are trying to rebuild their lives. Julie tra

Julie Howes has worked for over 20 years supporting those who are living with significant trauma, substance misuse and mental health difficulties and understands the complexities that can arise when people are trying to rebuild their lives. Julie transformed her own life from someone who experienced significant trauma, used substances for many years to block this out and then fought hard for her own journey into recovery and into the world of employment. Having started off as a volunteer in the late 1990’s, Julie went on to work her way through the employment system, managing several Women’s projects and is now the CEO of Plymouth’s drug and alcohol service, The Harbour Centre.

Richard Greaves (Treasurer) brings experience as a senior executive in the commercial services sector, as a general manager, consultant, employer, and programme manager. His skills include identifying and focussing on the key things that need to cha

Richard Greaves (Treasurer) brings experience as a senior executive in the commercial services sector, as a general manager, consultant, employer, and programme manager. His skills include identifying and focussing on the key things that need to change bringing effective lasting benefits to organisations. He uses these skills as a mentor, offering advice and guidance to individuals who wish to improve their career prospects, as they strive to secure a much-needed job, or climb their career ladder.

Katie Sperring, (Trustee Secretary), is the GROW involvement Officer for the South of England with a National Housing Charity. GROW Stands for ‘Getting Real Opportunities of Work’, and Katie works with GROW Trainees, who have lived experience of the

Katie Sperring, (Trustee Secretary), is the GROW involvement Officer for the South of England with a National Housing Charity. GROW Stands for ‘Getting Real Opportunities of Work’, and Katie works with GROW Trainees, who have lived experience of the housing emergency, and/or multi-complex disadvantage through a supported traineeship. “I joined Shelter in 2021, as a GROW trainee myself, and now support other trainees through their traineeship. I have lived experience, which is in line with many of the women, Gifted Women serve and know how important it is for women facing barriers to employment, to get the right support to become meaningfully employed’. Katie is committed to equity and inclusion, having been part of a Women’s and Non-Binary Network, supporting all women, through the lens of equity, and contributes to the mentoring and evaluation of the Anti-Racism, Equity, and Inclusion Forum.

Caroline Danks became a trust fundraiser in 2004 and a major gifts fundraiser in 2006. Since then, she has raised millions for good causes from charitable trusts and major donors for both capital and revenue projects across a range of sectors (most n

Caroline Danks became a trust fundraiser in 2004 and a major gifts fundraiser in 2006. Since then, she has raised millions for good causes from charitable trusts and major donors for both capital and revenue projects across a range of sectors (most notably, environment, arts, heritage, health and hospices). Caroline is local to Plymouth and has been supporting Gifted Women as a volunteer before joining the board as a Trustee in early 2024. Caroline says: “At an event in 2022, I heard two women speak about the transformation they’d experienced since being part of Gifted Women. I was astounded at the power of this tiny organisation and was amazed that women in my local community who have faced the worst things in life (violence, addiction, homelessness) are invited to take up space in ways they never believed were possible. I am so grateful to be a trustee – what a blessing!”