North Manchester Football Club have their first competitive game

The boys from the North Manchester Academy kicked off their summer with their first ever competitive tournament as a team.The boys have been working towards building a team in their ReachOut sessions, and the annual Tintwhistle Athletic tournament in Glossop represented the fruits of 2 years hard work.

The tournament proved a great opportunity for the team to get a few competitive games under their belt before the start of the football league in a few months time. Many of the opposition teams had been playing together as teams for considerably longer than we had, but that didn't deter the North Manchester boys. They gave it their all and came away with plenty of positives to take into next season, while conducting themselves like real sportsmen.

Here is to many more ReachOut North Manchester FC matches to come!

Luke 
Manchester

Junior Mentors project goes down a treat!

Six months of hard work and preparation by our Junior Mentors came down to a night of fine dining and entertainment at Bishop Challoner School. The young people catered to a host of guests; family members, friends and even the Head of Girls’ Campus Nick Soar!

     

Head Teacher Nick Soar enjoys his starter.

The young people, who are part of the ReachOut Junior Mentors Project, served up a delightful 3 course meal; with the option of having either lamb or fruit kebab as a starter, chicken and mushroom pie or rice and peas with chicken. This was then topped off with a warm, delectable apple crumble for desert.

This was followed by a performance written and directed by, and starring the young people. In the months leading up to the event, the Junior Mentors prepared tirelessly for an enactment of how gang culture was ruining the community. They used the death of a fellow pupil who fell unkindly to gang culture, and also their own perception to put on a show which was described as ‘Top notch’ by Luke Ounsworth.

The audience were on the edge of their seat as the Junior Mentors performed.

The ReachOut Junior Mentors Project, funded by the Macquarie Group Foundation, are paired with senior mentors that help guide young people through various tasks and projects, that ultimately are designed to boost confidence & skills, encourage teamwork and provide a unique experience.

Sarah Barker, mother of Taylor Barker said “Taylor is very academic but has struggled emotionally and the ReachOut project came along at just the right time to give her the extra support she needed. The girls have become a really tight knit group. It’s been a really excellent project.”

Junior Mentor Shawkat Hussain said “ReachOut has changed my way of thinking about the future, it's not straightforward, because what I had in mind was to be a businessman, but I met mentors who work in banks and thought I could do that, and I also think I'd like to be a mentor one day. It's just been a great opportunity to be able to come to ReachOut.”

By Ali Aden, ex-ReachOut mentee

A fond farewell to Hannah Christie

1^st October 2012 was a landmark moment in ReachOut history as Hannah Christie became our first employee to transfer between offices.  After two years working in our Manchester office in roles including volunteer management, project delivery and fundraising, she moved to our London office to head up our fundraising efforts nationwide.

Hannah settled really well, and was a great asset to our team in London.  She did a wonderful job, exceeding both mine and ReachOut’s expectations in every way.  She brought some great attributes to the table, not least her office banter, but especially her relentless work ethic and intelligent creativity. 

She has been a really valued member of our team, and as such there were bittersweet emotions when she left us last month (May 2013) for an incredible opportunity as Corporate Partnerships Manager at the St Giles Trust.  Thankfully she’s still helping us with fundraising, and volunteers regularly at the ReachOut Academy, so it’s not quite goodbye and we wish her all the best in the new job!

Peter Blackwell

Sir Howard Bernstein Visits ReachOut

On Monday the 3rd of June Sir Howard Bernstein payed a visit to our Rusholme headquarters. Our own Xavier Bosch invited Sir Howard, because he felt the CEO of Manchester City Council could impart some valuable wisdom to our mentors and mentees.

As most readers of this blog will agree, mentoring is such a valuable process for young people in Manchester and London, but what did Sir Howard have to say about it?

Throughout Sir Howard's talk, he emphasized the importance of the work that ReachOut carries out on a weekly basis. He argued that mentoring was preventative of future disadvantage, and as a result helps to reduce the dependency of disadvantaged people on council support. Bearing this in mind, mentoring is not only a hugely beneficial thing for the individuals themselves, but also for the city as a whole.

Sir Howard has done more than anyone else to make Manchester a vibrant and recession proof city. In recognition of his commitment to improving the city, ReachOut awarded him the title of Honorary Chief Mentor.

If there is one leaf we can take out of Sir Howard's book, its that we can all do something to make our city great. So let's carry on with the good work!

Luke Shelbourn
Manchester

In Pictures Summer 2013

London Academy Y9s (and Fran) outside the stunning 'Sagrada  Familia' during a half-term trip to Barcelona

Manchester’s (frosty) annual Junior Mentor outward bound trip to Aberdovey

A full house for the Volunteer Awards in Manchester

London 'Bronze Award' winners proudly show off their certificates at the Volunteer Awards

Top Corner! 'Simply Health' eventually ran out winners in another successful Charity Cup in Manchester

Bloomberg, champions of the London Charity Cup 2013, pictured with the tournament organisers, the London Academy Y9's

ReachOut supporter Terry Stokes was one of four brave souls who ran the London Marathon on our behalf

ReachOut has undergone an amazing makeover