The Summer Programme is back!

It’s the 9^th year that the Summer Programme has been run at the fantastic facilities in The Petchey Academy, Hackney.

Over 100 children pre-registered for the 3-week programme this year (more than double last year’s signups) and we’re expecting more newcomers throughout.  Many of the children are returning to the programme, having been involved with ReachOut! for years and it’s good to see some new faces. 

17 teaching and coaching staff will deliver a half day of booster classes in English and Maths, the other half is spent doing art, dance, drama and sports.  Once a week the staff take the pupils on a trip.

Across every lesson and activity, the teachers and volunteers (of whom there are a record 32!) are working to promote the key values of ReachOut! – raising aspirations, promoting fairness, self-control, good judgment and staying power.

ReachOut! Summer Programme staff preparing lessons 

We’ll be blogging from the programme, sharing updates, photos and stories.  Follow @ReachOutLondon on Twitter too!

Volunteering Organisation of the Year!

ReachOut! is extremely proud to have been chosen as the UCLU Volunteering Organisation of the Year 2011-2012!

The result was announced at the UCLU Awards Ceremony on the 31^st May, but as I was on holiday and all other ReachOut! Staff were busy running projects at The Petchey Academy in Dalston there was no-one to collect the certificate!

Fortunately ReachOut! mentors Bhabika Gurung and Emma Barker stepped up to receive the award from Professor Anthony Smith – UCL Vice-Provost for Education. Another example of how reliable our fantastic volunteers are!

Bhabika, Emma and Professor Anthony Smith

Afterwards Bhabika said “It was our pleasure to collect such a praiseworthy award. It's a matter of pride! When I was sitting and listening to the announcement, I had a feeling that our club would get the award. After all, our club is such a fabulous club where we do both academic as well as non-academic tasks such as sports and cooking. I would like to congratulate you [ReachOut!] for your management skills.”


This year the number of ReachOut! Volunteers from UCL has increased massively (from just 5 last year to over 50 in 2011-12!) helping us to expand into Camden and provide one-to-one mentor support to more children across east London.

Thanks to the dedicated team at UCL Volunteering Services Unit for their ongoing support, Bhabika and Emma for collecting the award, and Philip Wallmeier, Armita Satari Javid, Fleur Freedman, Chu Xiao Hui (Joy) and Rachel Ellis for nominating us!

By Fran Blackwell