Camberwell After School Program

In 1985, a group of single working mothers, recognising the increasing problem facing parents who had no care provision for their children during out of school hours, set up the; CAMBERWELL AFTER SCHOOL PROJECT.

The project set out to provide an after school service for 30 children from three schools within the Camberwell area of Southwark. It also set out to provide a holiday play scheme for 40 children during school holidays. The main priority users were children from single parent families. At first the project was based in a disused dining hall at Crawford Primary School and then a year later moved to a rented office on the Glebe Estate SE5. During the school holidays larger premises were used (mainly tenants halls) to facilitate the group activities.

A successful Urban Programme Application was made in 1988 for capital expenditure to erect a purpose built building. This enabled the organisation to carry out all of its activities under one roof as well as make other childcare provision available. The current premises completed on 5th March 1991, were erected on derelict land belonging to Southwark Council. Moving into the new building 0n 14 April 1991 enhanced the projects work in the community by enabling the extension of service from 30 to 40 children both during term time and school holidays.

Camberwell After School Project is a voluntary registered charity run organisation. Since its occupation of 14 Badsworth Road, the project has operated an after school service and holiday provision, Saturday school, playgroup and a morning escort service. The Playgroup has since closed down, but we now operate our services from three different centres, (Brandon Baptist Church and The Jack Hobbs Community centre) all providing after school services and two of which provide morning escort and holiday play scheme services. The organisation is co-ordinated by a voluntary management committee, which meets every six weeks to discuss the policies, procedures and guidelines of the organisation, as well as making decisions about major issues affecting the work of the organisation. Under the management committee is a centre manager, Carmen Linsday, who is responsible for the overall running of the centre.There is a staff team of 25 workers, including volunteers and trainees who help to run the services provided. Carmen Lindsay, founder of Camberwell After School Project (CASP) in Southwark, received an MBE from Queen Elizabeth II for services to childcare on December 6, 2006 at Buckingham Palace.

Funding for the various activities within the projects come from Southwark Councils leisure, Parent fees and various other sources throughout the year, such as one off grants and donations from individuals, charities and local companies.