Nick Clegg reaffirms need for summer schools as ReachOut!'s Summer Programme is in its eighth year

On the final day of the Liberal Democrat party conference, the leader of the party proposed a summer school scheme as a response to the riots that took over London in early August. During his keynote speech to his party on Wednesday, Nick Clegg highlighted the need to invest in programmes that would prevent young people from going 'off the rails'. Suggesting the introduction of summer schools and youth projects as a means to tackling these issues, Clegg argued that “Too many of those young people had simply fallen through the cracks, not just this summer but many summers ago when they lost touch with their own future."

The Deputy Prime Minister's concerns take us back to ReachOut!'s own Summer Programme this August. The proposal strikes a particular chord with the ReachOut! project, being a voluntary scheme and targeting a demographic that is directly referenced by Nick Clegg in his speech.

The ReachOut! Summer Programme is based in Hackney, one of the areas worst hit by the riots this summer, and the team were forced to close the school briefly as a result. However this August, the charity ran its eighth such programme, and the project, which provides a constructive way to spend the summer for young people and children from across east London experienced its most successful year ever despite the disruption.

As the country reflects on the summer and looks towards the next, ReachOut!'s work with young people seems even more relevant. In these analytical months after the riots, voices from across the political and social spectrum ask what it is we can learn from them. The growth of programmes like ReachOut!'s is absolutely crucial.

Clegg also talked of the step up from primary to secondary school, and the problems that face pupils moving from year 6 into year 7. This is an age category that the charity's ReachOut! Club (previously MMP) directly works with. Again, reliant on volunteers, the term time project aims to assist this often difficult transition, aiding not only academic success but also personal development and self esteem.

At a time of increasing difficulty for the charity sector and raising national concern about our young people, support for ReachOut's projects is vital.



Charlotte Goodhart and Steph Pickerill

ReachOut! hits campus to recruit volunteers.

As freshers get settled into student life, ReachOut!'s recruitment for its volunteer projects began this week. With over 100 volunteer places to fill, the term time projects will begin in a few months.

This year ReachOut! is excited to announce some changes to it's projects, building on the success of previous years and offering more volunteering opportunities than ever before.

Now in its eighth year, the ReachOut! Club (previously known as the Midweek Mentoring Project) is being run in 8 schools and recruiting over 100 volunteers. The mentoring programme runs across primary schools in Hackney and Tower Hamlets, once a week during term time.

A change to the ReachOut! Club this year is its co-ordination. Last year found the charity running a few projects with student volunteer coordinators, having previously used only paid employees for the role. Following from the success of this, over 90% of this year's projects will be run by volunteers, a move that has introduced huge opportunities for both the charity and the volunteers.
Chantelle, a history student at Queen Mary, volunteered on an MMP during her 2nd year, at Cayley Primary School in Stepney Green. The one to one aspect of the sessions is something that really stoods out from her experience; 'most of all it was working with a child on a regular basis, getting to know them and seeing them improve, especially their confidence levels'. Chantelle is going on to run a project herself.

The ReachOut! Academy is new to the ReachOut! timetable this year. The project is loosely based on what used to be the Soccer School. It will run at The Petchey Academy in Hackney for children and young people aged 7-16. As well as academic work, the sessions include football, arts and crafts and dance.

Both programmes are particularly suited to students for a number of reasons; taking up just one afternoon or evening a week, volunteers can fit the sessions in around their studies. It is also a chance for students who have come from outside of London to get away from campus and get to know the local area. As each school is assigned a team of volunteers, it is a great way to mix with students from other courses and from institutions across London while enhancing CVs, gaining valuable skills in leadership, communication and teamwork. Students are an invaluable asset to ReachOUt! and their commitment and enthusiasm run alongside the core aims of the charity.


Those interested can register to become a mentor on the website www.reachoutuk.org or come and see us at Queen Mary Freshers' Fair on Wednesday 21st and Thursday 22nd.

Artistic Makeover at ReachOut!

The ReachOut! Summer Programme had a creative makeover this year with the generous support of UK manufacturer of folders, British Loose Leaf, and London art supplier, Cass Art.British Loose Leaf (BLL) is a company based in Kent that designs and manufactures folders, ring-binders and files. From their range of school supplies, BLL generously donated a folder to each secondary school child attending the project. The products are a work of creation themselves; known as ‘Create-Your-Own’, they allow students to use their own design ideas and interests to create a unique and fun place to store their schoolwork.

‘I like the folders because they are artistic and creative; you can make them unique to match your personality…they are so different to other folders you can buy in any shop.’ Georgia, 14.

‘I enjoyed making the folder remind me of ReachOut!,’ Abiola, 13

Cass Art consists of 5 art shops around London and aspires to ‘fill this town with artists’. Supplying both professionals and amateurs with top-quality creative materials, Cass Art kindly gave ReachOut! access to their extensive range of stock for school children. Much of the selection combines creativity with learning, a key aspect of the summer project. The Art classes this summer included a collage of footprints (above) entitled 'When I grow up' and posters where students worked to represent ReachOut! and their experiences visually. The Art and Drama classes at the programme were taught by Rosie and Chipie, 'We are really grateful for the equipment that was donated this year, the kids had a lot of fun!'
ReachOut! would like to thank Cass Art and British Loose Leaf for their generosity this summer. http://www.cassart.co.uk/ Their flagship store is in Islington.

Steph Pickerill

A look back at the ReachOut! Summer Programme 2011

Last week, the most successful Summer Project to date came to an end. In its 8th year, parents, pupils and staff were invited to attend an afternoon of celebration as the project closed and we looked back at the achievements of ReachOut!’s young people and volunteers over the past year.
Certificates were presented to attendants of the Summer Programme to award effort in maths, English and science as well as sports, dance, drama and Art.
Volunteers were also celebrated as ReachOut! awarded its Summer Programme volunteers as well as its volunteer mentors from various projects throughout the year; individuals who have committed from 30 to 100 hours of their time and without whom, the projects could not go ahead.
The presentation ceremony was intermitted with impressive dance acts from the Summer Programme and parents and carers were able to view a beautiful display of the children’s art work.

We also heard from Ed Lehmann (left), ReachOut! Chair of Trustees, who thanked the volunteers, The Petchey Academy and the ReachOut! staff. ‘its fantastic to be involved in something like this, something so positive, where so much fantastic, constructive energy is funneled into making our community and our society a better place to live. We at ReachOut! firmly stand for education as a cornerstone to a civilized society, we believe education is the thing that we need most of all... in building a society we can all feel proud to be a part of… we want next summer to be even better!’
The event was run and hosted by the team of Junior Mentors. The team decorated the hall, compèred the ceremony and hosted a drinks reception to round of the afternoon.
ReachOut! would like to thank the Ernest Cook Trust, Jack Petchey Foundation, Help a Capital Child, Garfield Weston Foundation and Macquarie Group Foundation for funding this project.

Steph Pickerill