The Baytree Centre

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Non-profit organisation in South London, educating women and girls.

The Baytree Centre is a non-profit charitable organisation (Charity Registration No. 1175145) that support women and girls through comprehensive initiatives focused in education and social inclusion in Brixton. Guided by Catholic social teaching, Baytree provides education and employability skills to enhance opportunities and networks.

History

In 1981, Brixton experienced and endured riots due to a 50% unemployment rate and rampant racial discrimination. In response to the community’s needs, a group of women approached Father Thwaites for educational support. As a result, a small educational club was established in the Moorfields estate in 1982.

In 1987, a survey was conducted with Hilary Schlesinger, CEO of Lambeth Accord, to determine the community's main needs. The warehouse on Brixton Road was purchased in 1988, and in 1991, The Baytree Centre officially opened, providing skills-based courses for women.

Between 1997 and 2005, the Youth Service began after-school study clubs for girls, her Royal Highness Princess Anne visited to celebrate Baytree’s 10th anniversary and the Adult Service was awarded funding through the European Social Fund. In 2007, with the money fundraised from the community, a chapel was built.

Two years later, Baytree’s literacy programs for women started and in 2010, the Youth Forum obtained funding to design a new kitchen, which Levi Roots opened. Moreover, Baytree participated in the innovation of The Pearl Project, when funding cuts forced the Women's Service teachers to volunteer their time for 3 years. In 2017, Baytree and other Brixton-based youth organisations founded the Building Young Brixton consortium to support the community. That same year, Baytree became a registered independent charity.

During the lockdowns of the COVID-19 pandemic, Baytree aided in delivering food banks, digital services and data to over 500 families. As a partner in the Ecosystem Coldharbour initiative founded in 2021, Baytree has refreshed its vision, mission and strategy to meet users’ needs after the pandemic.

Programs

Women services

This service includes the Social Mobility Programme where mentors help the women provide support either in financial, education or family stability to empower them to gain potential. For ESOL programme, the literacy classes are for women and girls to gain confidence in speaking English . This provides opportunities and network in their lives and community. Other activities like Conversation Clubs, Zumba and Family Outings are free every day for women aged 18 and above.

Youth services

This service covers Sparks and Sparking Futures where the young women in secondary school to develop their skills and themselves in the life and the workplace. Workshops, discussions/ sessions and programs are supported by volunteers and mentors for the young women to experience . Into School is a programme for young women who are migrants, refugees or new arrivals to the country who are illiterate in English. This programme centres around in English lessons, mentoring, social activities and improving them for school and fulfilled lives.

Corporate partnerships and funders

The Baytree Centre works with corporate supporters to create partnerships to develop rewarding charitable engagement and fundraising opportunities.

Partnerships include Mentoring for career, skills and employability support, Corporate Internships/ Work Experience for girls with less connected backgrounds to intern, Fundraising for collaboration with annual match funding campaigns and Experience Days to visit an organisation.

Building Young Brixton Consortium Partners

Building Young Brixton (BYB) is a consortium of 9 Lambeth-based working to aid and empower young people in Brixton. It supports the progression of opportunities and outcomes that cater the young people.

The 8 organisations include Spiral, Ebony Horse Club, High Trees, Advocacy Academy, IRMO, Marcus Lipton (ML Community Enterprise) , Grove Adventure Playground and Juvenis.

The Place for All (PFA) is a partnership between BAYTREE's Women's Services, High Trees Community Development Trust, and Indo-American Refugee and Migrant Organisation (IRMO), working towards a more equal and inclusive Lambeth, supported by a stronger voluntary and community sector.

Ecosystem Coldharbour Consortium Partners

This consortium brings well-respected 1 community organisations that have experience in leading violence reduction initiatives in the area. It is funded by the My Ends programme, which provides support the neighbourhoods experiencing higher-than-usual levels of violence. My Ends is on of the strategies executed by the Mayor's Violence Reduction Unit.

Other organisations include Big Local Impact, Longfield Hall and Football Beyond Borders.

The Baytree Centre's contribution to women and girls has been documented in the press, radio and podcasts.

Affiliations and accreditations

Corporate partners such as Astrid and Miyu, The Lancet, and Friendship Adventure, with other partners like WONDER Foundation, Lambeth, Mencap, and Solace provide services and targeted support to clients to enhance the experience and communities.

Baytree's accreditations are to the UK government's Disability Confident scheme, Pearson Education Limited (Edexcel), Investing in Volunteers (IiV), The London Youth Quality Mark, Matrix Standard and Oxford Cambridge RSA.

Further reading

• Brixton Buzz. (2023). Sun Salutations raise money for The Baytree Centre in Brixton. [Online]. Brixton Buzz.com. Last Updated: 26 July 2023. Available at: Sun Salutations raise money for The Baytree Centre in Brixton [Accessed 9 October 2023].
• Christina Christofi. (2005). A Study of an Individual's Languages and Literacies. Language Issues. 17(2), pp.28-31. [Online]. Available at: [1] [Accessed 9 October 2023].
• Thiiird Magazine. (2023). Girls to The Front! The Youth Centre Endowing its Members With Newfound Confidence. [Online]. Thiiird Magazine.co.uk. Last Updated: July 2023. Available at: The Baytree Centre: The Youth Club for Brixton's Girls of Colour [Accessed 9 October 2023].
• Van Gogh House. (2021). Plant and Pigment Workshop with the Baytree Centre. [Online]. Van Gogh House.co.uk. Last Updated: n/a. Available at: News [Accessed 9 October 2023].
• Arcadia. (2023). Baytree Centre. Arcadia Magazine. 24 April 2023, p.3.
• Brixton Blog. (2023). It is helpful to view physical wellbeing as a bridge to improve your self-esteem. Strength of a Woman. [Online]. May 2023. Available at Brixton Bugle May 2023 [Accessed 10/10/2023].

External links

• Official Website

References

This article "The Baytree Centre" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical and/or the page Edithistory:The Baytree Centre. Articles copied from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be seen on the Draft Namespace of Wikipedia and not main one.

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