Impact

Mariam’s Story

My name is Mariam. I am 22 years old and have been attending The Baytree Centre since I was six. My family, originally from East Africa, migrated to the UK nearly 20 years ago. Like many other migrants, my mother struggled with English. In her homeland, she had only received education up to the UK equivalent of Year 7 before fleeing the country due to war. Moreover, she had been traumatised by witnessing the brutal killings of four of her brothers just before her escape.

Upon arriving in the UK, my mother joined Baytree for ESOL courses. Baytree supported her by providing a safe environment to learn new skills. She describes it as a home away from home and a place that fostered a familial atmosphere. Baytree boosted her confidence, allowing her to connect with people from diverse cultures. Besides learning English as a second language, it offered her the chance to study and learn from other migrants about their cultures and experiences. This enabled her to meet new people and gain new experiences. The tutors at Baytree were particularly supportive, instilling the confidence she needed to thrive in a diverse educational setting.

Growing up, I faced my own challenges. After moving to the UK, our family structure broke down and my parents separated. This turmoil made me aggressive and emotionally withdrawn. I often fought with my peers and was frequently sent home from school. I was bullied for lacking a father figure, which is culturally stigmatized in my community. Despite being referred to behavioural therapy, I resisted, feeling misunderstood and labelled as a troublesome child. Eventually, my mother enrolled me at Baytree, where I engaged in activities like ballet, cookery, art, Spark, and mentoring. Baytree has played a pivotal role in both my life and my mother’s, providing extensive support and opportunities.

Baytree has offered me a wealth of opportunities, from travel and volunteering to meeting inspirational individuals. It has been a place of lifelong friendships and relentless support, helping me discover myself during some of the darkest moments of my life. I currently volunteer there, assisting with the Junior Spark programme and empowering young teenagers.

My life has been marked by various traumas. At 12, I was assaulted, leaving me disconnected and isolated, having pushed away many friends and family, this resulted in my being angry and not engaging with school. Baytree was my refuge, and eventually, I found the confidence to open about my experiences. The support from the staff encouraged me to seek help, which included mentoring to help mend my relationship with my mother.  They also gave me extra academic mentoring sessions that helped me get my GCSEs and not drop off education at a key time in my life.

Growing up in Brixton, I have lost many friends to knife crime. In 2019, I lost my best friend to a tragic case of mistaken identity. He was stabbed on our estate, an event that left me angry and depressed. Baytree provided a safe space, surrounded by friends and focused support during my GCSEs, including tutoring and assessment reviews.

Baytree also assisted me in securing my first job as a youth worker at a local youth charity, boosting my confidence in working with young people.

I recently graduated with a 2.1 in Childhood and Youth Studies from Uni. The support from Baytree was crucial during the stress and anxiety of university life, especially following a traumatic event in my first year that nearly led me to drop out. With their guidance, I managed to excel beyond my expectations.

Since graduating, I have been working as a Behavioural Support Worker in a Pupil Referral Unit and as an Outreach Worker, helping young girls with behavioural and emotional needs. I plan to return to university in September to pursue a Master’s degree in Social Work.

With the unwavering support from Baytree, I have become the resilient and motivated young adult I am today.