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Baytree Centre

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Baytree Centre is a non-profit organisation (charity registration number 1175145) for women and girls in Brixton, South London. It opened in 1991.

History

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In 1981, Brixton experienced riots widely attributed to entrenched unemployment and racial discrimination.[1][2][3] In 1982, a small educational group was established in the Moorfields Estate by local priest Father Hugh Thwaites.[4] In 1987, a survey was conducted with Hilary Schlesinger, CEO of Lambeth Accord, and other women from Opus Dei to determine the community's main needs in order to expand the support.[5][6] That same year, Alvaro del Portillo, then the prelate of Opus Dei, blessed the premises.[7] The warehouse on Brixton Road was purchased in 1988, and in 1991 the centre officially opened.[8]

In 2002, Princess Anne visited the centre to celebrate Baytree's 10th anniversary.[9] In 2017, Baytree, along with other youth-based organisations in Brixton, founded Building Young Brixton, a partnership initiative of local charities.[10] In 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, Baytree delivered food banks, digital services and data to over 500 families in Brixton.[11][12] In 2021, Baytree joined Ecosystem Coldharbour, a local initiative aimed at preventing youth crime.[13]  Ecosystem Coldharbour won the Safer Lambeth Award at the Lambeth Civic Awards 2024.[14]

Baytree comprises the Youth Service, the Women's Service and the Volunteer Service.[15] [16][17] These offer ESOL classes, mentoring, careers workshops and after school activities.[18][19][11][20][21]

In 2018, an Opus Dei handbook listed Baytree as one of the organisation's corporate works [22] and Prelate Fernando Ocáriz described it as an Opus Dei initiative.[23] However, in 2001, Baytree’s director—an Opus Dei supernumerary—stated that its staff are of various faiths and that the centre does not seek to recruit new members.[6]

References

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  1. ^ Media, Brixton. "Brixton Bugle May 2023". brixtonblog.com. Retrieved 2024-05-15.
  2. ^ "Q&A: The Scarman Report". 2004-04-27. Retrieved 2025-06-26.
  3. ^ J. A. Cloake & M. R. Tudor. Multicultural Britain. Oxford University Press, 2001. pp.60–64
  4. ^ Monte, Pastor In (2012-08-29). "Fr Hugh Thwaites SJ — a personal memoir". Aspicientes in Jesum. Retrieved 2024-02-28.
  5. ^ "A journey around the world to God - DHEF". Retrieved 2025-06-26.
  6. ^ a b Miller, Annabel (10 November 2001). "Saints in the office" (PDF). The Tablet. Retrieved 26 June 2025.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  7. ^ "INITIATIVES: Social and educational projects inspired by Bishop Alvaro del Portillo" (PDF). Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer and Opus Dei Virtual Library. December 2013. Retrieved 26 June 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  8. ^ "Baytree CentRe: an Oasis in the Middle of Brixton, London". Opus Dei. 28 February 2013. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
  9. ^ "Princess Anne Visits Baytree". Opus Dei. 22 February 2024. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
  10. ^ "Love Lambeth". Love Lambeth: News From Lambeth Council. 2018-12-12. Archived from the original on 2025-04-20. Retrieved 2025-06-27.
  11. ^ a b "Coronavirus: Call to help vulnerable women during pandemic". BBC News. 2020-04-10. Retrieved 2024-02-28.
  12. ^ "Brixton Bugle December 2023". brixtonblog.com. Retrieved 2024-05-15.
  13. ^ "Simply Connect Croydon - Ecosystem Coldharbour: New Partnership for Bay Tree". croydon.simplyconnect.uk. Retrieved 2024-02-28.
  14. ^ Council, Lambeth (2024-02-16). "Love Lambeth". Love Lambeth. Retrieved 2024-02-28.
  15. ^ "Three times the success - The Baytree Centre's Fatima Programme smashes project targets and transforms the lives of 622 migrant girls and women - News - The Charles Plater Trust". www.plater.org.uk. Retrieved 2024-05-15.
  16. ^ Media, Brixton. "Brixton Bugle March 2020". brixtonblog.com. Retrieved 2024-05-15.
  17. ^ The Baytree Centre (2019-07-18). BBC London news on the Into School programme at Baytree. Retrieved 2024-05-15 – via YouTube.
  18. ^ "The Baytree Centre: The Youth Club for Brixton's Girls of Colour". Thiiird. Retrieved 2024-02-28.
  19. ^ "Brixton Bugle March 2023". brixtonblog.com. Retrieved 2024-02-28.
  20. ^ Darby, Olivia; Manacorda, Bianca; Presti, Giulia; Chik, Flora (2019-07-18). "Feeling confident to learn: creating education spaces where women feel welcome". Language Issues: The ESOL Journal. 30 (1): 24–36.
  21. ^ "The Why Factor: Why scarcity can damage decision making on Apple Podcasts". Apple Podcasts. Retrieved 2024-05-15.
  22. ^ "Information Handbook on the Opus Dei Prelature 2018" (PDF). Retrieved 26 June 2025.
  23. ^ Kington, Tom (2018-06-08). "Opus Dei schools find a big market with Mumsnet generation". www.thetimes.com. Retrieved 2025-06-26.
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