Volunteer Thank You Event – North-West

The annual ReachOut Volunteer Thank You Event (VTYE) is one of our favourite nights of the year. It’s an opportunity for us to bring all of our wonderful volunteers together and show how much we appreciate their hard work, commitment and resilience.

The North-West VTYE took place on Thursday 4th April at the UK Fast campus in Manchester. We were so pleased to have over 70 Mentors and Project Leaders in attendance from projects in Manchester, Oldham and Liverpool. After some drinks, nibbles and mingling, everyone headed into the auditorium for the awards ceremony. Congratulations to all of our award winners, listed below.

Mentor who has volunteered the most hoursBremer Kayimbe – 109 hours!
ReachOut Club Volunteer of the Year

Mia Ratcliffe (Rolls Crescent Year 6)

Jake England (St Luke’s Year 5)

Mary Ferguson-Briggs (Rolls Crescent Year 6) – winner

ReachOut Academy Volunteer of the Year

Andreaa Iluita (Dean Trust Ardwick, Year 9 girls)

Georgia Davenport (Newman RC College, Year 8 girls)

Jamie Pratt (Dean Trust Ardwick, Year 8 boys) – winner

Newcomer of the Year

Charlie Walker (Pleasant Street Primary School)

Elizabeth Randall (St Nicholas Catholic Primary School)

Emma Hupperdine (Windsor Community Primary) – winner

Club Project of the YearSt Luke’s Year 6
Academy Project of the YearDean Trust Ardwick Year 9 girls
Project Leader of the YearNicole Burgess
Outstanding Mentor of the YearKimberley Hanson

Thank you to everyone who has helped to make our programmes in Manchester, Oldham and Liverpool such a success this year. It was a brilliant evening, celebrating everyone’s achievements. The London VTYE will be taking place on 5th June, so we’re excited to continue the celebrations then. Keep scrolling for the best photos of the evening!

We use cookies to improve your experience on our site and to show you the most relevant information. To find out more, read our updated Privacy Policy

CASE STUDY

“At first, I was really hesitant to take on the Project Leader role, despite having mentored with ReachOut. However, with the support of the team I’ve really developed my skills. For example, at the Mentee Graduation, I stood up in front of 200 people and presented an award which is something I would never ever have been able to have done before, and isn’t an opportunity I could gain in my other situations.”

Amy McCutcheon, Project Leader at ReachOut Academy, Dean Trust Ardwick, Manchester.

CASE STUDY 03

“Being able to spend the summer working at Rede Partners, was an amazing experience. Whether it was working in HR or Finance, I learned so much about the world of private equity, made great connections with fantastic people and I got to learn first-hand what it would be like to work there! I really believe that I can go onto build the career I want now I’ve been a part for a workplace for real”

Victor Adekunle, 18 years old, ReachOut Ambassador, London

CASE STUDY 02

“When I first my mentee, she was very reluctant to participate in the sessions. Now, I see a completely different person! Her confidence has grown and she is happy to join in! She still has some self-doubt when it comes to academic work, but that’s what I hope to help her overcome, because she is a very bright person!

Through mentoring, I’ve learnt I’m a lot more patient than I realised. There will be days where she refuses to participate and those are the days that I really see the importance of the character strengths, for both the mentees and the mentors. It also makes it easier for the mentee to understand the character strengths, when I use them myself”

Myrtle, ReachOut Club mentor at Tufnell Primary School, London

CASE STUDY 01

“There are more distractions than ever outside of school, and the commitment of our students to attend ReachOut sessions is testament to the value they place on the relationships they foster there, and the challenge and enjoyment they provide.

ReachOut’s focus on communication skills and character development has become an important aspect of our provision of support for these students. The opportunity to relate to a positive role- model other than their usual teachers is key to the programme’s impact, and the evidence of this has been seen in the students’ attendance, resilience and to their overall progress across all the subjects in the school.”

Thomas Janvrin, Assistant Vice Principal at the Petchey Academy London