Launching Reach Central in St Helens

We’re excited to announce the launch of Reach Central, our new detached youth work project in the heart of St Helens town centre.

Thanks to funding from Merseyside Police, our youth workers will be delivering weekly sessions across key town centre locations, including Church Street, Chalon Way West, and areas around McDonald’s, The Range, and the Bowling Alley.

Reach Central is designed to:

• Provide a visible and trusted presence where young people already gather.

• Support young people through conversation, guidance, and signposting to local services.

• Reduce risks linked to anti-social behaviour by offering early intervention and positive engagement. • Work alongside local businesses, residents, and community partners to make the town centre a safer and more welcoming place for everyone.

This new project builds on the success of our work in Rainhill and reflects our commitment to listening to local needs and acting on community priorities.

📍 Look out for our youth workers in the town centre soon, wearing branded jackets and ID — and if you see us, come and say hello!

Reach Rainhill C.I.C. Awarded Funding from Rainhill Gala Committee

We’re thrilled to share that Reach Rainhill C.I.C. has been awarded two generous grants from the Rainhill Gala Committee, recognising our growing work with young people and the wider community:

• £108 to purchase two life-saving bleed control kits, ensuring our team can respond quickly and effectively in emergencies

• £400 to support the delivery of youth work sessions in Rainhill, helping us engage local young people, provide safe spaces, and connect them with opportunities that build confidence and belonging

This recognition is especially meaningful to us. For many of our team, the Gala has been a much-loved family tradition for years andit’s become an annual highlight for our families, so to now be supported by the Gala Committee feels like a very special achievement!

We’re also looking forward to attending the Gala Committee’s presentation evening in November, where we’ll share more about our work and how this funding will make a difference locally!

Reach Rainhill C.I.C. Welcomes New Director and SEND & Inclusion Lead

We’re proud to announce that Charlotte Aldridge has joined Reach Rainhill C.I.C. as a Director and SEND & Inclusion Lead.

Charlotte is a highly experienced SEN teacher and inclusive youth practitioner, with a rich background supporting children and young people with additional needs across Merseyside. Her career spans alternative provision, specialist schools, and inclusive youth facilities, always rooted in equity, accessibility, and person-centred approaches.

Her appointment strengthens our commitment to ensuring every project we deliver is inclusive from the ground up. Charlotte will lead on embedding adjustments, advocacy, and empowerment into our practice, ensuring children and young people with SEND feel truly welcomed, supported, and able to thrive.

📞 Contact: 0151 272 1376 |

✉️ admin@reachrainhill.co.uk

Reach Rainhill Awarded Funding to Launch New Youth Work Project

We’re proud to announce that Reach Rainhill C.I.C. has been awarded funding from Sport England’s Movement Fund, made possible by National Lottery players, to launch our newest project: Reach Active.

This funding means we can deliver weekly detached youth work sessions in Rainhill, creating consistent, safe spaces for young people to move, connect, and feel supported in their own community. Through informal, trusted outreach in parks and public spaces, we’ll meet young people where they are; offering everything from conversation and guidance to inclusive activities and youth-led engagement.

Reach Active is shaped by local voices. Young people told us they wanted “something to do”, “someone to talk to”, and “somewhere to just be” ; and this project is our answer.

“This is more than just funding; it’s a belief in something we’ve built from the ground up. Over the last few months, we’ve been welcomed into the community, built real relationships, and listened deeply to what young people and residents want to see. Reach Active is our response: consistent, youth-led support that’s visible, trusted, and part of the local landscape.

We’re proud to take this next step with the community that’s helped shape it; and we’re just getting started.”
James Dunn, Founder & Director, Reach Rainhill C.I.C.

Reach Active focuses on movement as a pathway to wellbeing, not just in the physical sense but in the emotional and social ways that matter most to young people. It’s about being visible, building trust, and creating opportunities for connection and growth.

“When young people are given a safe space and a voice, and the opportunity to enrich their passions, they begin to grow into the changemakers our communities need. At Reach Rainhill C.I.C, we’re deeply grateful to our funders for believing in this vision and making it possible for youth to be heard, supported, and empowered.”
Lorna West, Director / Therapeutic Practice & Creative Engagement Lead

We’ll be sharing updates, session times, and ways to get involved in the coming days. For now, we’d like to say thank you to the funders, the community, and every person who’s helped shape this journey!

👉 Stay connected by following us on social media or visiting www.reachrainhill.co.uk

📞 Contact: 0151 272 1376 |

✉️ admin@reachrainhill.co.uk