The name's Bond.

Last week we said farewell to our very own Bond. Jack Bond.  Don’t worry, he hasn’t been shot whilst wrestling a baddie on a fast moving train, but he has moved on from ReachOut! to work with Jeremy Corbyn, MP for Islington North. On behalf of all at ReachOut! we’d like to say a massive thank you for all his hard work at ReachOut! in the last 3½ years and wish him well in his future career.

Jack’s involvement with ReachOut! began in Manchester where he was studying History and Politics.  Xavier Bosch called him up personally and guilt tripped him into becoming a mentor.  It turned out to be a shrewd move by our CEO, and upon graduating Jack returned to London and took up a job as ReachOut! Academy Project Manager in Sept 2009.

Thrown in at the deep end, Jack took on the huge job of whipping the ReachOut! Academy into shape.  He doubled the size of the project and vastly increased the number and quality of mentors involved, whilst still ensuring the needs of the young people were met. Academic results at the project improved steadily, and he was a great example to all the young people and volunteers he worked alongside.

Somehow Jack still found time to get stranded with 30 kids in Madrid in 2010 during the Ash Crisis, run an football team for two seasons and even be in charge of our Junior Mentors Summer Programmes every year!   Whilst he has been left somewhat traumatised by certain events at ReachOut! (mostly splitting his head open whilst ice skating with the kids at Lea Valley Ice Rink) we hope he’ll remember his time here fondly.  He made a big difference to the kids he worked with, and his energy, passion and integrity will be deeply missed by all.