2010/11 is an exciting time of development for ReachOut Plus. We recognise the need to expand and grow – we also recognise the need to do that at a pace which will not unduly stretch the Charity's resources.

Change Of Name

Until the end of January we were known as ReachOut Projects. We changed our name so that we could express more about where the organisation is headed and how we see ourselves going forward.

We are a charity that seeks to reach out to those that need it most. We do run projects but we want to express something about our organisational commitment to added value, going the extra mile for people and to enhancing life and experience for those who use our services and access our support. Hence the Plus on the end of Reach Out!

Five Year Strategy

Please download a copy of our Five Year Strategy. We believe this a really exciting framework for development for the Charity and we would be pleased to have you work with us to help make it happen. One of the key aspects of the Strategy is to be more and more a provider of services and less just a provider of facilities. We have great facilities and we are pleased to make them available – but we also want to use them to grow our own services and to welcome other organisations as partners.

Double The Benefit

We want to offer more and more comprehensive services to more people. We want to double the number of people we work with to at least 6,000 per year. We also want to work even more relationally and supportively with all our beneficiaries to ensure the best possible outcomes for them. Take a look at all our programme pages to see more detail here.

A Broader Reach

We see the natural development of ReachOut Plus as becoming a regional charity with services in Buckinghamshire and Northamptonshire as well as North London.

A New And Larger Canal Boat

We are keen to increase our capacity and especially to look at launching a new and larger canal boat. The focus of delivery would primarily be to support a floating classroom especially for children and young people with special needs but for mainstream schools too. We need around £175,000 to make it happen. If you can help please let us know.

Circles Of Support

There is a separate section on the website about this. We are keen to develop this special programme which links young people with learning and other disabilities and needs with volunteers across the whole community. The first service launch will be in May and in Hertfordshire. We then want to extend the service into Bedfordshire in 2011.

London And Urban Schools

See the separate section on this too. Our plans are to extend this support to new areas outside as well as inside London, including the Midlands, Birmingham, Manchester etc. We will increase provision from 60 to 140 young people in 2010 and to at least 200 in 2011.

Fundraising

All this expansion is wonderful and exciting but it does cost money. We are keen to identify funding, fundraising partners and volunteers who can help make this all happen. Please see our fundraising and volunteering pages.

We have recently appointed Alison Waller as our Community Fundraiser. We want to add to our resources in this area. The plan is to appoint a colleague for Alison by the end of 2010.

Please keep checking out these pages and especially subscribe to our newsletter - just fill in your email address on the left and we'll do the rest.