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 Adverse Childhood Experiences and Adverse Community Environments such as poor housing conditions, homelessness, lack of language and basic skills, and other barriers that can prevent our 1000+ 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 the women and girls whom we serve.
Baytree’s education and support programmes are flexible services tailored to the needs of the local community. All projects combine education with one-to-one mentoring. Social mobility mentoring is a science-based intervention that 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 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 Uprisings
50% unemployment rate and high racial discrimination were the catalyst;
A group of women in Brixton approached Father Thwaites for support in their education
Together with Hilary Schlesinger (CEO of Lambeth Accord) a survey is carried to establish the main needs of the community
The Baytree Centre is officially opened and starts running skills-based courses for women
Her Royal Highness Princess Anne visits the centre to celebrate Baytree’s recent 10 year anniversary
Money is fundraised for the building of the Chapel
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.
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.
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
Baytree refreshes its vision, mission and strategy to ensure it meets users' needs after the pandemic
As a response a small educational club is set up in the Moorfields estate
A warehouse on Brixton Road is purchased
After-school study clubs for girls begin and Baytree’s Youth Service is born
The Adult Service is awarded funding through the European Social Fund, in addition to Lambeth Council funding and charitable grants. Mentoring for women begins.
Baytree’s unique Literacy programmes for Women begin.
Extreme funding cuts force all the Women's Service teachers to volunteer for 3 years, creating the Pearl Project
Baytree registers as an independent charity
Baytree forms part of ECOSYSTEMS COLDHARBOUR a local initiative to prevent Youth Crime with 5 other local charities funded by Violence Reduction Unit
