Baytree Centre
In Brixton, the Baytree Community Centre has years of experience running education and social programmes for disadvantaged local women and girls. With SHINE's help, it has expanded its work to include a highly-structured after-school programme, PEACH – a project jam-packed with extra juice.
Based on a highly successful project in Chicago, PEACH is focused on improving academic performance. Students such as Hawa sign up for at least two hours every week of study support, supervised by peer mentors. The programme also includes individual tuition, group workshops, monthly character development classes and regular homework. To borrow a phrase: "this is not just mentoring; this is SHINE-funded mentoring."
The grant recipient
The Baytree Community Centre is based in Brixton. It has been running education and social programmes for hundreds of women and girls for the last 20 years. In 2006 the centre worked with young people from over 80 countries, 68% lived in households receiving income support and over 90% came from families with no history of further or higher education.
the PEACH programme
What it aims to do
- put in place a high quality and proven successful framework for out-of-school hours support
- break the intergenerational cycle of educational failure and raise achievement levels, aspirations and motivation
How it works
The PEACH programme is an after school educational programme. Over a three year period, 200 girls (between the ages of 8 and 17) and their families sign up to four elements:
- Parents: parental commitment is central to the project, with regular parenting workshops and monthly updates
- Education: weekly homework and study support; those who need it can have individual tuition with volunteer mentors and group workshops in literacy, maths and science
- Achievement: extra-curricular activities including cookery, dance and the Duke of Edinburgh’s award scheme
- CHaracter: monthly character building workshops aim to give each girl the right tools to recognise her own potential and then set and achieve her own goals
Results
- Average attendance jumped twenty percentage points
- In literacy more than half made better than expected progress
- Two thirds of the students are now reaching the expected level for their age
The funding
SHINE has made a grant to fund part of the running costs for this programme. Additional funding is being provided by other trusts and foundations.
Funding: £100,000 to the Baytree Centre, over four years (2008-12)
Visit the Baytree Centre's website: http://www.baytreecentre.co.uk
"Baytree is a remarkable venture, an exemplar educational environment where young people can access a wealth of developmental opportunities, both academic and social."
Lecturer and Baytree volunteer
"The difference in their attitude is amazing. They develop from not being interested and not showing any aptitude to study, to making a great effort, to enjoy what they are doing and to be confident in their capacity to get better outcomes at school."
University of London student and Baytree volunteer
"I have been coming to the Baytree Centre for nearly two years and have benefitted from it greatly. It is a place to come to learn new skills and it helps young people acheive their goals."
Student at Baytree
"Through SHINE we can offer our students a solid structure of personal and educational support through which they can achieve much more at school and give themselves the future they deserve."
project manager
Quotes
"Baytree is a remarkable venture, an exemplar educational environment where young people can access a wealth of developmental opportunities, both academic and social."
Lecturer and Baytree volunteer
"The difference in their attitude is amazing. They develop from not being interested and not showing any aptitude to study, to making a great effort, to enjoy what they are doing and to be confident in their capacity to get better outcomes at school."
University of London student and Baytree volunteer
"I have been coming to the Baytree Centre for nearly two years and have benefitted from it greatly. It is a place to come to learn new skills and it helps young people acheive their goals."
Student at Baytree
"Through SHINE we can offer our students a solid structure of personal and educational support through which they can achieve much more at school and give themselves the future they deserve."
project manager