About Baytree

The Baytree Centre is an educational charity (charity registration number 1175145) for women and girls, based in the heart of Brixton, south London.

Inspired by Catholic Social Teaching in response to local needs, we address poor housing conditions, homelessness, lack of language and basic skills, and other barriers that can prevent our 800+ women and girls and their families from thriving.

The services we have developed with and for our clients focus on education, training, and employability skills to enhance confidence and self-esteem, raise aspirations and provide opportunities and networks to improve the lives of women and girls whom we serve.

Baytree’s education and support programmes are flexible and tailor services to the needs of the people living locally. All projects combine education with one-to-one mentoring. Social mobility mentoring gives women and girls the tools to identify and overcome their specific challenges and improve their life chances. Baytree’s relational, trauma-informed and professional approach ensures women and girls recognise their own worth and take concrete steps to build a bright future for themselves, their families and their communities.

Our Mission:

We inspire and support women and girls to gain the skills, confidence and wisdom they need to thrive in life, work and family. Baytree’s unique approach provides networks, opportunities and skills that empower women and girls. By supporting the women in our community, they improve economic and social inclusion for themselves and their families.

Character Development

At Baytree, we use Character Development as an educational approach that involves helping girls discover their own strengths and weaknesses and develop good habits. Our Character Development programme aims to empower girls to approach everyday decisions with the strength of good habits and critical thought.
Baytree has selected four key character traits: Resilience, Self-control, Good judgement, and Fairness, and all of them help the girls to understand their purpose.

Baytree's History

Brixton Uprising
50% unemployment rate and high racial discrimination were the catalyst; A group of women in Brixton approached Father Thwaites for support in their education
1982
Together with Hilary Schlesinger (CEO of Lambeth Accord) a survey was carried to establish the main needs of the community
1988
The Baytree Centre is officially opened and starts running skills-based courses for women
1997
Her Royal Highness Princess Anne visits the centre to celebrate Baytree’s recent 10 year anniversary
2005
Money is fundraised for the building of the Chapel
2009
Youth Forum obtains funding and designs the new kitchen which is opened by Levi Roots in November + The Youth Service is awarded a bronze level AQYP.
2013
Baytree, together with High Trees, IRMO, Spiral, Ebony Horse Club and Marcus Lipton Community Enterprise, founds the Building Young Brixton (BYB), a consortium of Brixton based Youth Organisations with 9 member organisations.
2017
Baytree delivers food bank, digital services and data to over 500 families during the lockdowns. We work hard online to ensure everyone is reached and supported
2021
Baytree refreshes its vision, mission and strategy to ensure it meets users' needs after the pandemic
1981
As a response a small educational club was set up in the Moorfields estate
1987
A warehouse on Brixton Road was purchased
1991
After-school study clubs for girls begin and Baytree’s Youth Service is born
2002
The Adult Service is awarded funding through the European Social Fund, in addition to Lambeth Council funding and charitable grants. Mentoring for women begins.
2007
Baytree’s unique Literacy programmes for Women begin.
2010
Extreme funding cuts force all the Women's Service teachers to volunteer for 3 years, creating the Pearl Project
2017
Baytree registers as an independent charity
2020
Baytree forms part of ECOSYSTEMS COLDHARBOUR a local initiative to prevent Youth Crime with 5 other local charities funded by Violence Reduction Unit
2022

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For any questions regarding the application process, email women@baytreecentre.org.uk.

Sparklers Club

supports girls in their final term of Year 6 and in year Year 7 with the transition from primary to secondary school; Tuesdays from 4:30 – 5:45 pm  

Junior Spark Club

for girls in years 8-9; Thursdays from 4:30 – 6:00 pm. 

Spark Club

for girls in years 10 and above; Wednesdays from 5:00 -7:00 pm.