REACH - Celebrating 10 years in the community. 

REACH Community Projects is a Haverhill based charity which exists to tackle poverty, increase aspirations and ultimately lift people out of poverty. REACH are part of the charitable work of River of Life Community Church (ROLCC) Haverhill but our volunteers (now numbering more than 60) come from many backgrounds.

REACH started out in 2005 providing debt counselling. Due to debt and other problems, people were missing meals and in some cases didn’t have enough money to put food on the table. In response to this, ‘Haverhill Foodbank’ was launched in October 2008.

Things moved fast and in September 2009 the Furniture Bank was set up. Then in January 2010, to bring all the projects under one umbrella, ‘REACH Community Projects’ was officially launched. The name REACH is an acronym for Restore, Encourage, Action, Community and Hope.

REACH has always aimed to get to the root cause of peoples problems. The charity needed a permanent home and eventually managed to secure premises on Haverhill’s Clemens Estate meaning that in May 2010, the ‘REACH Resource Centre’ opened its doors for the first time.

REACH Today

REACH are now able to see around 180 people per month. The charity runs three headline projects including Haverhill Foodbank, the Furniture Bank and REACH Money Advice. REACH are also able to run a ‘Starter Pack’ project offering bedding and kitchenware to those who literally have nothing.

What comes next?

REACH are developing a supported volunteer programme. Despite the improving economy, there are many needs within our community and REACH have ambitious plans for the future including a supported housing project with Hope into Action and an expansion of REACH services from other locations in the town.

Could you help?

It costs REACH around £120,000 per year to support 400 families and individuals. There include some of the most vulnerable in Haverhill. Just £10 will supply a bedding pack; £100 will feed a large family for a fortnight; £1000 will keep the Foodbank van on the road for a year and £10,000 will employ our debt administrator for a year which enables us to help more than 50 people with money management issues.

If you can help REACH in any way, whether it is by regular giving or a one-off donation, please get in touch with a member of the team on 01440 268003 or visit the REACH website.