SHAMIM MIAH, CEO
The social, economic and educational landscape for families, young people and adults is changing rapidly. Rising living costs, housing pressures, digital inequality and emotional wellbeing challenges mean our communities need support that is responsive, compassionate and rooted in real-life experience.
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Because of this, Soul (Social Organisation for Unity & Leisure) must continuously ask ourselves:
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Why do we do what we do?
Who do we do it for?
How do we do it well — and sustainably?
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This strategy answers those questions. Developed alongside community members, volunteers, young people, parents, partners, and local organisations, it provides a clear direction for the next four years of our work.
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Our future direction is anchored in an evidence-based approach to community wellbeing, youth development, housing support, skills building, and holistic empowerment. We believe that social and emotional development, stability in housing, access to opportunity and strong community connections are essential foundations for a positive and resilient life.
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This strategy ensures that Soul continues to be a thriving, community-led organisation — bold in our mission, clear in our purpose, and fully committed to delivering the highest standard of support for the people who need us most.
“ReachOut opened everything up a little more for me.”
ReachOut Mentee
ABOUT SOUL?
Soul is a community-led organisation based in Newham, dedicated to creating opportunities, strengthening resilience and supporting people of all ages to live more secure, confident and fulfilling lives. ​Through collective mentoring, employment programmes, practical housing and welfare support, life-skills development, youth engagement and community wellbeing activities, we help people overcome barriers and build the tools they need to thrive. ​
​We exist because too many people — young and old — face challenges that limit their opportunities.
From housing instability, debt and financial insecurity, to confidence issues, social isolation or limited access to work and education — we support those who need it most.
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We focus particularly on:
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Young people aged 10–18 who benefit from emotional support, positive role models, structured activities and behavioural development
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Adults facing financial difficulties, housing problems or unemployment
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Families navigating complex social, emotional or practical challenges
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People who require accessible, safe community spaces to connect and grow
Our programmes are informed by evidence-based practice, community voice, and a trauma-aware, person-centred approach, delivered alongside trained staff, volunteers and partner organisations.
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Through weekly sessions, drop-in services, workshops and mentoring, participants build confidence, communication skills, self-awareness, independence, and practical tools for life. We also offer pathways into training, work experience, coaching opportunities and community leadership.
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OUR VISION
A community where every person — young or adult — has the confidence, stability and opportunity to succeed.
OUR MISSION
To empower people through mentoring, skills-building, housing and welfare support, and community-led programmes that remove barriers and unlock potential.
In the last three years:
We've Supported
who came from
We've Delivered
We've trained
...and
32
60,820
different ethnic backgrounds.
hours of mentoring.
2,852
young people
2,248
volunteer mentors
246
youth practitioners.
57%
of young people were eligible for free school meals.
58%
of the schools we work in were in the UK's 30% most deprived communities.
78%
of teachers saw an increase in students' confidence.
75%
of young people reported greater self-confidence.
80%
of teachers saw improvement in students' behaviour.
69%
of ReachOut mentees improved their school attendance.
88%
of teachers saw improvement in students' attitude to learning.
WHY DO WE EXIST?
In 2022 the UK’s 15-year-olds had the lowest average life satisfaction in Europe.
Young people from poorer backgrounds always or often feel lonely (46%) or isolated (40%).
Half of those from low‑income backgrounds (51%) have noticed a decrease in the variety of after school activities or clubs in their area in recent years.
Investment in youth services has dropped by 70% in the last decade.
At the start of primary school, children from low-income households are 4.8 months behind their peers in meeting early learning goals. At the end of primary school this is 10 months. When taking their GCSEs, this increases to 19 months and 22.7 months (nearly two years) at the end of secondary school. This is the widest gap since 2012.
93% of teachers say the current education system doesn’t support students’ social and emotional development.
“The main impact has been seeing their confidence grow within themselves. They’ve blossomed as young adults.”
Teacher at a ReachOut Partner School
OUR VALUES
Our values guide everything we do:
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Unity
We create inclusive spaces where everyone belongs, feels valued and is treated with respect.
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Compassion
We meet people where they are, without judgement, and support them with empathy and understanding.
Growth
We believe in developing skills, confidence and opportunities that lead to long-term positive change.
Ambition
We want the very best for our community — and we work tirelessly to create pathways to success.
Integrity
We act with honesty, transparency and accountability in all that we do.
“For me and my friends who took part in ReachOut, it helped to level the playing field, providing us with the same opportunities as young people from more well-off backgrounds.”
OUR GOALS FOR 2025–2029
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1. Strengthen and Expand Youth Development
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Increase access to mentoring, emotional skills development and leadership programmes
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Provide school partnerships, after-school sessions, holiday programmes and volunteering pathways
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Recruit and support 200+ volunteer mentors
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Offer accredited training and qualifications for young people aged 14–182.
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2. Deepen Our Housing, Welfare and Financial Support Services
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Expand advice services for rent arrears, housing forms, section notices and homelessness prevention
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Increase access to debt management help, budgeting support and benefits advice.
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Strengthen partnerships with councils, legal networks and community agencies
3. Build Pathways Into Training, Work and Community Leadership
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Offer employability workshops, CV support, and job-readiness coaching
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Develop Soul’s Sessional Coaching Programme for ages 16+ during school holidays
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Create volunteer-to-career pathways within Soul
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Establish partnerships with local employers for work experience and placements
4. Enhance Wellbeing and Social-Emotional Resilience for All Ages
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Deliver group sessions and 1:1 support focusing on confidence, communication, positive behaviour and emotional understanding
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Provide parent support workshops, wellbeing groups and community connection activities
5. Strengthen Our Community Spaces
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Grow the impact of Jeyes Community Centre as a hub for learning, support & collaboration
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Offer affordable room hire for local groups, charities and community events
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Invest in safe, accessible, modernised spaces for programme delivery
6. Build Sustainable Income and Long-Term Organisational Stability.
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Diversify funding streams and develop income-generating projects
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Strengthen monitoring, impact measurement and evaluation
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Invest in staff training, volunteer development and digital systems
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Build partnerships that expand our reach and deepen community impact
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Close the opportunity gap for those constrained by circumstance.
WE WILL
OUR AMBITIONS
Tackle social inequalities by focusing our support on the UK’s most deprived communities and in areas where we can help close the opportunity gap and drive lasting social change.
Ensure that our programmes and the curriculum are evidence informed and evidence building so that our young people have the best opportunity to succeed and be the hero in their own movie.
Deploy trusted adults, recruited through our network of corporate and community partners, who are relatable, well trained and equipped to support young people to develop in a safe and supportive space.
100% of our work is focused within the schools and communities where the need is highest and for the young people who need it most.
All young people on our programmes develop their social and emotional skills, wellbeing, confidence and increase their school engagement. They build positive relationships with their peers and trusted adults, which transcends beyond the programme.
Deploy trusted adults, recruited through our network of corporate and community partners, who are relatable, well trained and equipped to support young people to develop in a safe and supportive space.
Our partners are inspiring the workforce of the future and opening their eyes to future career paths.
Working with our network of partners, we will provide opportunities for young people to expand their horizons, raise their aspirations and see a pathway to success.
The impact of our work and the experiences of the young people we support, helps shape policy and influence system-level decisions.
An established strategic partner for schools.
WE WILL
OUR AMBITIONS
Build purposeful partnerships with schools, designing programmes that support students' social & emotional skills development, confidence, wellbeing, and attendance.
Every school we partner with reports improvements in students' socio-emotional skills development, confidence, wellbeing, and attendance, underpinned by strong relationships with our team and evidence-led programmes.
Empower school staff by connecting them with employer mentors who share insight and expertise, in order to enrich teaching practice and professional growth.
Champion collective learning and insight, sharing knowledge and learning between our community of schools and teachers.
A network of employer mentors is actively supporting the professional development of school staff, through structured mentoring.
Employer-led sessions are a standard feature in all our school programmes, providing young people with regular exposure to a diverse range of career pathways and role models.
School leaders and staff view us as a strategic partner, not just a programme provider — engaging in long-term planning, staff development, and community-driven initiatives.
Youth informed and youth led.
WE WILL
OUR AMBITIONS
Develop all our learning curriculums and quality controls with young people to ensure that each session is engaging, stretching and developmental.
100% of young people on our programmes score highly that they were encouraged to share their opinions, that their opinion was listened to, and they would recommend ReachOut to other young people.
Further develop our youth panel programme, creating value for the members and ensure there are opportunities for them to continue to advocate for themselves and their peers.
A committed, inspired and motivated team of changemakers who see that their voices and opinions have been listened to and acted on.
ReachOut is seen as a trusted advocate for young people and we use our voice in national conversations, breaking down barriers so that every young person has the opportunity to succeed.
Create meaningful organisational decision-making protocols with young people and with youth voice at the heart.
Amplify the voices of young people in the spaces we are in; with our staff team and volunteers, corporate and community partners, with our funders, through our organisational comms and networking channels and through our role within the Fair Education Alliance.
An established strategic partner for schools.
WE WILL
OUR AMBITIONS
Respond to the tough economic climate and pressing issues across the globe and ensure that our plans are robust, achievable and built for the future.
Look within to create efficiencies, adapting our operational and delivery models, investing in tools and software to free up staff capacity whilst enhancing our offer.
Continue to operate to high levels of governance, compliance and safeguarding standards, regularly reviewing process and decision-making improvements and adapt when needed.
We grow our delivery within our existing footprint and expand to new locations at the right time, sustainably.
Our partnerships and fundraising portfolio creates value for all. We are regarded as a strategic partner and opportunities are maximised. We will welcome new partners who believe in our work and the young people we support and create new sustainable income streams.
Starting small and failing fast, our team will embrace continuous process improvements and new tools. The user experience is enhanced, and we have a better understanding of how to allocate resources in the future.
“Before I came to ReachOut, I wasn’t very confident, but now I can see the bright side of myself and I know I can actually be confident! This makes me feel amazing.”
Year 6 Mentee
Enabling Factors for Success
Organisational Strength & Culture
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Vision-led leadership aligned to long-term mission.
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Staff wellbeing, professional growth, and inclusive culture.
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Agile operations with systems that support scale & learning.
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Active in youth, education & mental health networks.
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Collaborating with schools and the Fair Education Alliance.
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Leading on youth voice & social and emotional skills.
Sector Positioning &
Influence
Sustainable & Diversified Funding
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Develop compelling, outcomes-led cases for support tailored to a range of funders.
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Build long-term, values-aligned partnerships with funders who share our vision.
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Create engagement opportunities that connect supporters to our mission.
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Offer transparent reporting, clear impact metrics, and regular updates to build funder confidence.
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Ensure a balanced and resilient funding mix to protect against external shifts.
“ReachOut has definitely encouraged me to seek any help if I’m struggling with my own mental health and they’ve encouraged me to be able to speak to them or speak to my parents and to take care of myself.”
Year 9 Mentee
Our Values and Behaviours
Our team is dedicated to creating a high-performing, solution-focused workplace whereby integrity, accountability, and authenticity guide us. By staying committed to our goals, supporting one another, and driving ambitious results, we safeguard our resources and achieve lasting impact for our organisation and the young people and communities we serve.
“ReachOut just provides an all-encompassing space for these kids to be themselves and to get better at being the people they want to be.”
Teacher at ReachOut Partner School
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