Welcome to ReachOut!

The ReachOut! Charity Cup date is set and we are accepting entries from teams! Organised by young people from ReachOut, London's most exclusive 5-a-side charity competition takes place on 19th February 2010 at The Petchey Academy. To download a flyer click here

ReachOut! London: (2) Promoting Diversity in Public Life

In January Reanna Fagan, a Year 9 student from The Bridge Academy in Hackney and a regular participant at the ReachOut! Soccer School, and Frances Blackwell, the ReachOut! London Programme Manager, represented Reachout! at a ministerial event run by the Government Equalities Office to inspire more people from diverse backgrounds to get involved in public life.

The event was the launch of a new initiative where over 100 public appointment ambassadors from different backgrounds, ages and all with a wealth of experience, use their skills and confidence to promote the plea lead by Bonnie Greer and the Minister, Maria Eagle to increase diversity and attract more talented people to apply for a public appointments. Reanna and Frances talked to ambassadors, who explained the benefits of taking up public appointments. These appointments are local, regional and national and cover bodies which make decisions that effect people’s every day lives, such as NHS Trusts, Magistrates, the Equality and Human Rights Commission.

ReachOut! spoke to Bonnie Greer along with other ambassadors about their roles, why they took up being active in public life, and the difference they are able to make. Bonnie Greer gave an inspirational speech sharing her experiences; as a child in the US, Greer had to travel far to get to school (due to racial segregation), it was several years before she and other ethnic minorities were able to attend the local, previously, 'white only school'. Later in life whilst pursuing a career in Law, Greer was told by a professor at University that women didn’t belong there, so she changed direction. Fortunately these barriers did not affect her goal and she is now a successful playwright and a member of the British Museum’s Board of Trustees, where she is leading the way for black women in public appointments. Reanna and Frances were shocked by Greer’s stories, surprised that inequality was so entrenched in Greer’s upbringing but also inspired and encouraged that she had overcome these barriers, reminding us how worthwhile ReachOut!’s mission to promote a culture of respect for others, no matter what our differences, as well as to encourage and motivate the young people we work with to excel and achieve their ambitions is! Frances commented that “Reanna and I both enjoyed our first experience at Lancaster House and hearing from such inspirational people; which provided us with real insights, entertainment and inspiration, all topped off with some delicious canapés!”

ReachOut! Manchester Fundraising Week 2010.

Running from Thursday 11th February to Saturday 20th February 2010 this is an exciting chance for you to make even more of a difference to ReachOut! Help us expand into more schools, with more projects, plus e-learning, soccer tournaments, summer projects, educational trips and interesting sessions for the young people YOU work with! So what activities can you get involved with?

• Be a ball boy (or girl) at our Charity Cup 2010 Football Tournament. Click here to view the flyer.

It would be great if EVERYONE (past, present and future volunteers of ReachOut! and friends) put themselves up for at least one of these activities! Further details of days and times will be heading your way soon.

Vodafone World of Difference: Welcome to Winner Heidi Hinchliffe

Heidi has been volunteering with ReachOut! since October 2009 as a mentor and project leader for the Friday Chrysalis Homework project.

After winning a place on the Vodafone Foundation’s 2009 World of Difference UK programme Heidi is joining our team on a full time basis. Along with her mentoring Heidi will be assisting in the co-ordination and running of the ReachOut! Fundraising Week in February so look out for her in these coming weeks!

We are very happy Heidi has been given this opportunity to join our team and help us support the young people of ReachOut! To read more and follow Heidi’s placement with us click here for her vodafone blog and here to read an article in her local paper.

The Vodafone programme gives 500 people from across the UK the opportunity to work for a charity of their choice. For details visit here

Training News

We have completed our training programme for 2009. Please check back here in the New Year for details of the training programme for 2010.

CRB details

Click here to find out all about completing the CRB formalities in Manchester and London.

Donations

If you would like to make a donation please click on the logo below. This will take you to the secure Justgiving website.

General News

Newletter archive

We have uploaded copies of all our newsletters (going back to 1998!) so if you want to read about the things ReachOut! got up to years ago click here

ReachOut! Manchester is currently working towards achieving the Greater Manchester Information, Advice and Guidance Award as part of our commitment to providing excellent services to young people. We want to make sure those young people are properly supported in being able to make informed decisions about their own future and informed choices about the issues they face. You can view a copy of our commitment letter and the Code of Practice here