Changing aspirations into realities

We inspire and support women and girls to gain the skills, confidence and wisdom they need to thrive in life, work and family.

The Baytree Centre

is a social inclusion charity for women and girls, based in the heart of Brixton, south London. An integral part of the community since 1991, we provide holistic support through personal development activities and workshops, mentoring, coaching, as well as English classes and integration support for newly arrived migrants and refugees.
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Why We Exist

Vision

All women and girls achieve their potential and lead fulfilled lives.

Mission

We inspire and support women and girls to gain the skills, confidence and wisdom they need to thrive in life, work and family.

Values

Love & Respect Person-Centred & Family Oriented Safe & Welcoming Professional & Trustworthy Collaborative & Positive

BAYTREE’s unique approach provides the accompaniment, programmes and opportunities that empower women and girls. By supporting the women in our community, we aim to improve economic and social inclusion for them and their families.

Our Women’s Service is committed to providing a warm, friendly and supportive space for women from all backgrounds.

Women’s Service

Our Youth Service provides a safe and supportive space for girls, aged 6 to 20, to develop personally and academically.

Youth Service

At Baytree we value the ongoing commitment and contribution of all our volunteers who provide invaluable support towards the delivery of our services.

Volunteer Service

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What Is Mentoring?

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Into School Program

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What Our Women Dream About

Amara’s story

Shay’s story

Fatima’s Story

Our Impact

Youth Services

Womens Services

Volunteers

Baytree in the news

Girls to The Front! The Youth Centre Endowing its Members With Newfound Confidence

Feeling confident to learn: creating education spaces where women…

BBC London news on the Into School programme at Baytree

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Amara’s story

I grew up in Africa. Not able to go to school. I worked – helped my mum. I was only 17 when I married.
Me, my husband and my two children came to the UK because we dreamt of a future for our children, for them to get a good education. When I first came I couldn’t read and I couldn’t help my children with homework like English and maths. My third child was born in the UK but me and my first two go to BAYTREE to learn English together.

Since my friend brought me to BAYTREE, with the help of my mentor I am now able to read and write! I can read texts and emails.
I am very grateful for BAYTREE and my mentor. I am no longer scared of people and can ask for help if needed. My mentor helped me with my CV and I have a cleaning job now.

My plan is to keep studying and get my dream job in healthcare. Then I’d love to pass the Life in the UK test and get a UK citizenship.

Shay’s story

Shay is originally from Angola where she was living in a small village but was always striving for a brighter future. She came to the UK in 2017 and has been studying ESOL at BAYTREE since 2018, beginning with a Beginners’ class and working her way through the levels until completing Entry 3 in 2022. She took part in BAYTREE’s Digital Champions IT course in 2019 and in the BAYTREE Coaching programme in 2019- 20, which helped her to develop her confidence.

BAYTREE’s employment coach helped Shay to prepare her CV and coached her in interview skills. Shay was successful at interview and started her new role. She works across three central London restaurants and is enjoying being part of all three teams. Shay now has a significantly increased, steady income and is thinking about her long-term goals. Eventually, she would like to qualify as a hairdresser and have her own business in the UK.

Fatima’s Journey

Fatima started her journey from Afghanistan at the age of 9. She witnessed her mother dying after being shot and her father decided to leave their home for his daughter’s safety. Fatima has travelled by foot, train, boat and bus and this journey took 2 years to complete.

Fatima and her father were placed in a hotel in Crystal Palace, along with 500 other refugees. The Baytree Centre got in touch with the manager and together we extracted all the information of girls that would benefit from our Programme. As most of them were waiting for their paperwork to be processed, money and transport was a big issue. The Baytree Centre was able to fund their travel to and from Brixton. On 16th November, Fatima and 7 other students registered on the Into School Programme, where they would attend daily English and Maths classes from Monday to Wednesday.

Due to the uncertainty of living in a temporary accommodation, Fatima struggled to secure a place in a secondary school. She attended the Into School Programme for a term until she was told she was being sent to North Yorkshire. We kept in touch with her and she expressed her struggle to apply for schools and she was being refused helped, too. We therefore contacted her local council and supported her application process. She is now in school and her father has said she is thriving and they feel happy she is accessing education. We still keep in touch with her and she is always updating her ESOL teacher on her school reports.

Fatmia's Journey

Sparklers Club

Sparklers takes place weekly for girls in their final term of Year 6 and starting Year 7, it runs on Tuesdays from 4.30-5.45pm. It supports the transition from primary to secondary school by making it a smooth and enjoyable process. 

Junior Spark Club

Junior Spark is a weekly group for girls in years 8-9 on Thursdays from 4.30-6pm. Each term, the girls decide what topics they would like to work on or discuss – for example friendships, finding motivation, or challenges at school. 

Spark Club

Spark Club is a weekly club for girls in year 10 and above and, much like Sparklers and Junior Spark, is a space for girls to develop life and leadership skills. Girls are empowered to understand and value their identity and potential. Spark currently runs on Wednesdays from 5-7pm.

Sparking Futures 

Sparking Futures supports girls and young women aged 14 and above, who are interested in taking the next step towards their future careers.  

The programme offers young women a range of employability opportunities including:  

  • Monthly skills workshops: These cover tangible skills such as applying for jobs, writing a CV, presenting yourself in an interview, routes into employment as well as rights and responsibilities in the workplace.  
  • Work experience and career insight days: These take place in the school holidays and provide an opportunity for young women to gain hands-on experience and insight into a particular career and workplace.  
  • Career champions programme: Young women are matched with a professional whose career is aligned with the young person’s career aspirations and is able to offer them one to one career guidance and practical support.  
  • Career Panels: We organise two annual career panels where we invite successful and inspirational women from a broad range of sectors to talk about their journeys.  
  • Young volunteering: We offer exciting and varying opportunities to support girls of primary school age, in afterschool clubs at Baytree (4:00 – 5:00 pm or 5:00 – 6:00 pm). Volunteers need to commit to one hour a week, for 6-10 weeks. Clubs include one-to-one reading, art, maths, literacy, science and coding. Girls and young women are prepared and trained for their volunteering role and supported throughout their journey.