Look out behind you!

Thanks to our fantastic supporter Bloomberg, 40 children and mentors enjoyed an afternoon of booing baddies and cheering heroines at the Lyric Hammersmith.

Most of the children had never been to a panto before, so had a brilliant time getting involved with the festivities!

The classic Cinderella was enjoyed by all - including our wonderful Bloomberg Volunteer helpers. The ugly sisters (below with the Wicked Stepmother) took a real shine to Mo and Andy!

Thank you to Bloomberg, Andy, Mo and everyone involved - we had a fantastic festive theatrical afternoon!

Gareth Southgate visits the ReachOut! Academy

It was baltic outside last night.  The kids only got to play 35 minutes of football.  And even adult football in the hall was cancelled…  but we didn’t care because we got to meet Gareth Southgate at the ReachOut! Academy in Hackney!

ReachOut! volunteer Katee Hui was presented the Barclays Community Sports Award for November by Gareth Southgate for her incredible work founding and leading Hackney Laces Community Club over the past 18 months. We were lucky enough to grab hold of Gareth Southgate for 15 minutes after he presented her award, and he kindly agreed to talk to the ReachOut! Academy Year 10 boys who were also on site at The Petchey Academy at their weekly mentoring session.

Aside from our very own volunteer coach Michael Bakare, Gareth was the first professional footballer to visit the ReachOut!Academy in Hackney, and definitely the first England or Premiership player to do so.  A grand total of 22 boys, 3 staff and an amazing 18 ReachOut! mentors got to ask Gareth questions about his career and take photos before he departed for the long drive back to Harrogate in Yorkshire.  Questions ranged from ‘Are you considering a return to football management?’ and ‘What top tips do you have for our defenders?’ to simply ‘Can I have your autograph!?’.

Gareth took it all in his stride, and his responses were exactly what our boys need to hear from their role models in all walks of life.   In particular Gareth emphasized the need to always work hard at what you are trying to achieve, how important it is to want to be better every day, and that when you fail, to get up and try again.   Without meaning to he delivered a perfect session on one of ReachOut!'s core values - Staying Power!   

We’re really grateful he stopped by, and if he’s ever in the neighbourhood again maybe he could pop in to show us those top defending tips out on the pitch!

By Pete Blackwell

Bloomberg R&D turn elf for an evening

Thank you to  Research and Development Department from Bloomberg who turned elf for an evening this week! Volunteering after work, 30 people made over a hundred Christmas parcels and cards for our children at the ReachOut! Club. 

The team made brilliant elves. Should they ever wish for a snow-filled holiday, we are sure Father Christmas would give R&D a table at the workshop. We particularly commend the absolute precision and great team spirit that everyone brought to the job.

Bloomberg also support ReachOut! at the Academy, helping to fund the project and staff it with volunteer mentors. Thank you to Bloomberg for all your efforts - and keep your eyes peeled for when parcels are given in December. 

For more info on ReachOut! visit our website www.reachoutuk.org.

Let the counting of nearly 1,000 tiny chocolates begin! One, two three ..

You can never be too precise when cutting out festive pictures for the front of a Christmas card.

Or for that matter, when measuring and cutting fabric squares.

Arts and crafts really haven't changed since anyone's school days.

Five hundred and sixty seven, five hundred and sixty eight ...

These guys are very pleased to help out.

Now that's what we call team work!

The finished result. Beautiful!

 Thank you to everyone who came along, gave their time and gave their smiles to give something to our young people. We had a great time!

ROFC win Hackney Sports Club of the Year Award

Last night the volunteers and players of ReachOut!’s affiliated football club (ReachOut FC) had a moment of stardom as they took to the stage of Hackney Empire to receive the Hackney Sports Club of the Year Award!

The Award, recognising excellent club development work within Hackney for the benefit of the local communities, was presented by Anthony Joshua, Super Heavy Weight Olympic Champion.

As half of ROFC piled onto the stage (most of the U15s team was there along with two kids from the U12s, as well as volunteers Pete Blackwell, Tim Birtwistle and myself, representing the girls team!), turns were taken to hold Anthony’s gold medal and a couple of boys were lucky enough to wear it!

“I feel kinda like a celebrity!” commented ROFC U15s player Tionne.

Later, the Olympian gave some sound advice to Hackney’s young people and aspiring sports men and women, explaining how you have to make the right decisions on the weekends to be able to train hard on Mondays, and when asked what he would do if someone tried to punch him, he replied jokingly “I’d run away!” but followed it up explaining that it wouldn’t be right to retaliate, and that you shouldn’t get yourself into the position when someone wants to punch you in the first place!

The event was compered by the hilarious stand-up comedian Kat B who kept us all entertained throughout the evening but also had a few parting words of wisdom for us – whatever you want to do, be an Olympian, lawyer, doctor, consultant, or even a bin man – do it to the best of your ability. Good advice I’d say.

To find out a bit more about why the football club was nominated click here and if you’re interested in supporting ROFC, we’re always looking for volunteers who are available on the weekends to help take children to matches – if you think you might be interested please get in touch via the website www.reachoutfc.com thanks!

By Fran Blackwell

ReachOut FC nominated for Sports Club of the Year

Each year the Hackney Sports Awards recognise the achievements of the borough's sporting talent and contributions to sport at individual and team level over the past year. This year ReachOut Football Club (ROFC) has been nominated for Sports Club of the Year, however this is a sports club with a difference; founded in 2007 by Peter Blackwell, ReachOut FC is a voluntary run youth football club based in Hackney committed to helping its players excel not only in football but also in their studies. 

The club aims to field as many teams as possible per age group so that all children have the chance to play and enjoy football at their own level, irrespective of individual ability.  It is not an elite player development centre, but prides itself on offering quality coaching and playing opportunities to children and young people of all abilities, not simply the most talented.

What makes ROFC so unique as a football club are its close links with ReachOut! the charity; all ReachOut FC players must attend a one hour mentoring session before training each week at the ReachOut! Academy where they receive one-to-one help with homework from ReachOut!’s volunteer mentors, and are encouraged to develop positive character traits such as treating others fairly and working hard to achieve goals.

Peter Blackwell said “It is an honour that ROFC has been nominated.  I’m so proud of our young people who work hard every week to be able to play for their teams.  Many of the young people who have played for ROFC have become responsible young men and now volunteer within the club as mentors and coaches supporting the younger children.”  

The Hackney Sports Awards evening will take place on Wednesday 7^th November. Find out how ROFC gets on here.

ROFC is always looking for committed individuals to help offer football to more children in the area – if you think you might be interested please get in touch via the website www.reachoutfc.com