Summer Project Success

Both inside and outside the classroom, this year’s London Summer Project was full of firsts.

We had our first summer fete, sponsored by the ACCA. This involved the traditional features of a summer fair, from a bouncy castle to face painting, alongside some more bizarre activities, including a cactus-themed hoopla, inflatable basketball and 10 pin bowling! Throughout the fete, one of our volunteers, Ryan, DJ-ed while the volunteers from the ACCA served up popcorn.

Later in the project, we had our first visit from the Cabinet Office Olympic and Paralympic Legacy team who hosted an athletics competition and a tense game of sitting volley ball. Afterwards, they gave everyone the exciting chance to have their photograph taken with the Olympic torch. Other new activities included a cycling course and a climbing trip.

Inside the classroom, we made a special effort to instil our four character values in our mentees: fairness, good judgement, self-control and staying power. Throughout the project, we had a merit race, offering merits and prizes to those who made the most effort to display these values. This proved an effective way encourage the young people to think about and improve their behaviour.

Alongside all these new and exciting activities we kept the old favourites which included swimming, kayaking, ice-skating and a cinema trip. It will be hard to top this year’s Summer Project. Have a look below to read about one volunteer’s experience of the Project.

A volunteer’s experience of the ReachOut Summer Project

"I have had the best time at the ReachOut Summer Project", a quote by a volunteer epitomising the feeling at the ReachOut Summer Project where young people have fun whilst developing life and educational skills along the way.

The atmosphere of the final day celebrations spoke volumes. As a member of staff, seeing all the students and their enthusiastic parents for a final time made me realise that the Summer Programme is unique and offers different challenges to that of the ReachOut Club and Academy Programmes during the school year. This was my first year working on the Summer Programme teaching English, and I know in my heart that the children and staff alike have come out on the other side with an unforgettable experience.

The children at the summer project varied from ages 9-14, which I thought presented itself as a challenge as some of the older children would influence the younger ones. However, the younger kids were allowed to integrate themselves with the older year groups, which was great preparation for the jump from primary to secondary school. 

I believe that seeing kids improve their character is fundamental and the vast majority of them have developed throughout the summer, displaying ReachOut's core values of staying power, good judgement, fairness and self-control. Throughout the project, I felt the development of a great class rapport, something which cannot be continued but which the children and I will not forget.

The staff developed friendships quickly from the very start which allowed a feeling of togetherness and community, with plenty of camaraderie. There was a vast array of interesting and diverse characters but all came together to make the project a success, and the end of project social reflected this, as we all celebrated enthusiastically.

It has been a roller-coaster but when I saw the year groups that I taught improve considerably, it gave me a sense of relief and increased my confidence about my impact in the classroom. Passion and determination are key to succeeding with the children; something the staff had in abundance which is what made the project so successful.

Jeremy Tang