The Bosco Centre  began in 1984, as an invitation from the Southwark Diocese to answer the  need for services for disadvantaged young people and their families. Sr. Cecily, on behalf of the Salesian Sisters started the Centre, using St Peter’s Parish hall as a youth club, helped by some members of the local community. In 1995 it became a registered charity. With lots of fundraising over the next two years and with the help of the young people, we slowly transformed and extended rat infested buildings into the buildings we have today. Over the 15-20 years we have had 8 extensions and refurbishments to bring about the Bosco Centre as it is now. Our motto ” you are young: you are precious: you are loved”, says what we are about.

The programmes that have developed over the years are:

• A day nursery for 34 children under 5
• An after school club for 5-11 year olds ( usually primary school children)
• a Youth club for 12-16 year olds and for those who are older as long as they are “helpers”
• A vocational college for 15-19 year olds ( who can stay until they are 25 as long as they are progressing towards better qualifications)

Our services are focused entirely on the well being of young people and their families, particularly those who have been “left out” in any way from the benefits of our society

We work under a ‘Salesian’ ethos which means we concentrate on and work with all young people and our doors are open all day and evening Monday to Fridays for most of the year round.

The Local Community is very supportive of our Charity, through volunteering and taking part in ongoing events.  We also work with other Community based organisations and most of our young people who attend are local. There are no restrictions on who we work with.

Over the years we have seen nursery children grow up, become junior club members and seniors, use our facilities, become qualified in different vocational areas, come and teach in our college, become parents and encourage their children to attend the Bosco in the different areas according to their ages and their needs. We believe in “home grown talent”

We have made a difference to the Community by providing safe childcare to enable parents to go to work, by training teenagers to be able to get a job and by providing youth clubs for young people to attend in their spare time. We offer apprenticeship training in childcare, IT and Administration and have  recently begun the apprenticeship training  in Youth Work so that Southwark and ourselves can have good youth workers and give young people safe and interesting activities in their leisure time

Our Charity is different to others because we work with a ‘Salesian’ ethos ( “it is not enough to love children: they must know they are loved” and love is shown in action and hard work as well as kind words)  so that means that we make every effort to help any young person in need. To be a “Salesian” is a way of living your life.

If you want to learn more about Salesians, please look up Saint John Bosco and ‘Salesian’ on the internet