ReachOut! to Barcelona

Outside Be Dream Hostel, where dreams came true!

It’s not often you see a load of kids trundling around Hackney with suitcases, but when you do, the odds are it’s the ReachOut! Year 9s going on tour!

For the fourth year running a group of Hackney teenage boys travelled to Spain with ReachOut! on football tour, heading to Barcelona this year to see the magnificent architecture of the Sagrada Familia, the brilliant colours at the Parc Guell, and the glorious Camp Nou.  Sixteen kids and four leaders made the trip this year, the first ever holiday for five of the boys.  We flew out to Barcelona with British Airways (big thank you to Obi Agbarakwe) on Saturday 31^st March 2012 for a five day trip, with football and culture dominating the itinerary.

The ReachOut! Mentees in Park Guell

The boys played three football matches, drawing the first 3-3 with Brafa u14s, before losing a dire penalty shootout in which several players from both teams seemed to be practising passing to the keepers.  

Rashayne about to make a magnificent save!

In the second game, the ReachOut! boys made a truly magnificent effort in a narrow 4-3 loss to the Brafa u15s. Blair Massamba put in a masterclass display in central midfield, dominating the two older and larger Spanish opposition players and using the ball with real style and composure whenever possible.  In the two years I’ve worked with these particular boys, and the eight years at ReachOut!, this was the finest footballing display I’ve seen by our kids, and the boys were rightly very proud of themselves for both their performance and conduct.  Dinner on Las Ramblas followed, with an exotic menu of paella and (sadly) less exotic burgers.

The boys also took a tour of the FC Barcelona stadium (Camp Nou) and hit the beach in the sunshine – again, many experiencing the seaside for the first time.  A stone’s throw from the hostel, it was fantastic to see the boys having a great time in the sea, enjoying life as 13/14 year old kids, rather than being 13 going on 19 in their estates. 

Everyone needs a crazy mask... right?

In torrential rain the boys lost their final match against Braval u15s 4-3, but fortunately the skies cleared as we headed to the huge Port Aventura theme park!  The kids had a great day (thanks to Javi Segarra and Port Aventura), before returning to the hostel where ReachOut FC u14s Assistant Manager Arrigo Beino and centre back Bhavin Jamnadas cooked up a delicious pasta dinner. 

Feeling worse for wear after one of the rides!

We flew back on Wednesday 4^th April 2012, tired, but happy.  I honestly can’t think of a more worthwhile experience we can provide for these boys, and I know they’ll remember the trip for the rest of their lives.  


ReachOut! mentee Kashka said "The tour was an excellent opportunity to travel to Spain and to play football with a club and experience other international clubs.  The Camp Nou was a great place to visit as it is one of the biggest stadiums in the world!"


One boy's mum said “Thank you for this opportunity that you have given to my child, you have made the family very happy, given the boys hope and joy (rare gift).” "I pray you have the strength to continue" "for the joy you brought to these boys in hopeless Hackney. Thank you!”


Thanks to Yian Goh, Arrigo Beino and Stephen Hall for volunteering to accompany the group and sharing the sleep deprivation with myself, Jack Bond and Jacob Mohun.

Pete Blackwell

ReachOut! London Director

ReachOut FC u14 Manager 

Taking an evening stroll down Las Ramblas