The Baytree Centre: a social inclusion charity

The Baytree Centre:

a social inclusion charity

We have often extolled the virtues of mentoring – it’s a win/win for many as you are both giving a helping hand but also acquiring useful skills yourself. There are many opportunities to mentor which we have covered in Legal Women. This article hears from Phoebe Bragg, a Criminal Barrister at 5 KBW, who is also a youth mentor with the The Baytree Centre.

Phoebe Bragg:

I am a criminal barrister specialising in both prosecution and defence work all over the UK. More importantly I have been a Baytree mentor since 2020. This has enabled me to connect with women and girls in the local area who, either want advice and assistance about potential legal careers, or don't know anything about law and never saw themselves thinking about a career in law. I have also been doing weekly one-to-one mentoring with the same girl over the past four years, helping with schoolwork, organisation skills and anything that arises week to week.

One stand-out example was helping someone progress in English language. The mentee loved reading but really struggled with the reading concepts and self-confidence. This was a particular issue as English was not her first language and it seemed she missed out on some of the core learning in school. We set goals for reading over the summer holidays and when she came back from holiday, in her first few sessions she was so much more confident and suddenly able to read much more fluently. That confidence filtered into other areas of her work and school life and had a noticeable impact.

I'm a firm believer that everyone has something they can offer, whether it be a specialist skill, their knowledge of industry, or just their time. There is nothing better than seeing your mentees grow up and achieve, or if things aren’t going well for the mentee, to try and have some hand in supporting them. I couldn't recommend being a Baytree mentor highly enough and would encourage anyone to give their time to Baytree and their mission.

Baytree: Is a social inclusion charity supporting women and girls in Lambeth. 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. https://baytreecentre.org/

Youth Mentoring Program:

Baytree’s Youth Mentoring Programme supports 100 girls annually with one-to-one academic development. This initiative aids girls aged 10 to 18 in their academic growth, focusing on English and Maths, as well as their personal development. Volunteer mentors act as role models, creating a positive environment where young people feel safe and encouraged to set goals, enhance their academic performance, and build confidence. This support helps them achieve their aspirations and improve their overall well-being.■