“My mentors were amazing role models and people I could aspire to be like; ReachOut has had a massive impact on my life.”
Shervann, Former ReachOut Mentee
“I joined ReachOut in 2005 when I was 9. At that time, I was getting good grades, but I think that led to me being a disruptive student, hardly listening to teachers and always talking in class. I also had a very short temper, which led to a few altercations with other students and I believe this is what ultimately led to me joining a ReachOut project.
At the time, the thing that kept me going back to ReachOut sessions each week was the promise of football, but in retrospect, I also see how much I enjoyed talking to the mentors and speaking to a role model who was not my parent or teacher. My mentor was someone I could identify with, someone who grew up in the same area as me and someone who liked the same things as me.
When I was 14, ReachOut arranged an insight day at Macquarie Group’s London office. It was my first experience of entering a professional office and we were taken through a ‘day in the life’ of a trader. As soon as I got home that evening, I googled financial services, investment banking and so on.
It sparked an interest in me and I pursued working in financial services from that day on, later studying economics at University and now working for a commercial real estate and investment firm.
Having access to a mentor was invaluable to me, as it gave me an opportunity to learn about what I could expect from university and life, good and bad! It was something I wasn’t able to get from school. My mentors were amazing role models, and people I could aspire to be like; ReachOut has undoubtedly had a massive impact on my life.”
You can make sure that more young people than ever work with a 1:1 mentor like Shervann did.
Through setting up a small monthly donation to ReachOut you’ll be:
Help us build sustainability by becoming a regular donor. Your gift will enable ReachOut to plan and make more informed decisions, which all contribute to our work helping young people build a better future. You can cancel your recurring donation at any time.
Every one-time donation boosts our impact and helps us link more young people to more volunteer mentors.
Any donation, large or small, is really appreciated by all of us on the ReachOut team. Even if all you can afford to give today is £1, it all counts and helps us continue our mission to bring more young people, exceptional mentors.
“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.
“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
“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
“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
