As Baytree celebrates its 35th anniversary, we are taking time to recognise the people who have shaped our journey. Few stories reflect Baytree’s values and impact more powerfully than that of Christina; who has dedicated three decades to supporting women and girls in Brixton.
Christina joined Baytree in 1996, after returning to London from Greece, where she had lived for 13 years. With two young sons and a husband to support, she was searching for local teaching work when she spotted an advert in the Evening Standard for an ESOL tutor at Baytree. She applied, was appointed — and, as she puts it, “never looked back.”
Decades of Remarkable Impact
In the early 2000s, Christina and her colleague Margaret Browne helped pioneer a new literacy programme for women with little or no formal education. Using a phonics-based approach, the programme gave women the tools to read and write, often for the very first time in their lives. What began as a pilot soon became a core part of Baytree’s Women’s Service and continues to change lives today.
Over the years, Christina has seen Baytree grow and flourish. She has been here for visits from Princess Anne at Baytree’s 10th anniversary and Boris Johnson, welcomed teenage volunteers from Spain who even stayed at Baytree, and delivered teaching in children’s centers across Lambeth.
At the heart of Christina’s journey is her teaching. Now Baytree’s Academic Manager, she continues to lead ESOL and literacy provision, supporting women every step of the way.
“It’s amazing to see someone go from not being able to read at all to reading confidently. It completely changes their life.”
For Christina, the greatest reward comes from seeing her students thrive long after they leave Baytree.
“When I meet ex-students who are thriving as professionals and mothers, and they say, ‘It’s thanks to you, Christina. It’s thanks to Baytree,’ it can be quite an emotional moment. It means everything.”
As we mark 35 years of Baytree, we are proud to celebrate Christina. Her dedication, compassion and belief in women’s potential embody everything Baytree stands for, and her story sits at the very heart of our charity.
