BayTree Centre in Brixton
Jodie Goddard, 26, from Southwark has been the lead volunteer of art and crafts activities at the Baytree Centre in Brixton since January 2009 - the centre works with inner city families by providing educational and training programmes for women and girls.
How I got involved...
I found out about the Baytree Centre via websites like do-it.org.uk and direct.gov.uk, which sent me bulletins of projects that I might like to be involved in. After studying fine art and finding myself involved with more logistical art events roles after graduation, I wanted to get back into creating art and decided to get involved with art workshops and teaching.
My volunteering at Baytree...
I decided to start teaching locally by volunteering in the art class at Baytree - this helped to build my confidence and experience. I volunteer every Monday afternoon in term time, working with other volunteers who may be studying, changing career and gaining experience or simply have some spare time and want to use it positively.
There are also lots of women who come to the centre to learn English, take course, take part in yoga classes and bring in their children to lessons after school. Lots of women with English as a second language attend the centre, all of them with varied faiths and beliefs. The staff are also extremely helpful, friendly and appreciate of the volunteers.
Why volunteer?
I really enjoy leading the class of girls in arts and crafts - I love it when the girls enjoy the project I have set and become excited about creativity. Leading a class of 15 girls can be difficult at times, especially as they all have diverse needs and abilities but it has also helped me gain a better understanding of my local community outside of my work colleagues and friendship groups.
It's also really rewarding to be part of a wider group of diverse people and this has helped me settle into London better, as I only moved here a few years ago from Yorkshire. I also appreciate that I am offered courses to take part in at the Baytree Centre which will further my careers.
I will continue to volunteer for the project until the end of the school term as I will begin a PGCE in September. In the future I would like to travel and volunteer, maybe somewhere in South America.
Case Study by Jennifer Harrison
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