Current Parent Tim Cottrell has been a Bradfield Club Trustee for two years and in this article, he talks about his unapologetic enthusiasm for the Youth Club. Its simply stated mission ‘A safe place to play, learn, eat and grow together’ belies that these basic tenets are not so simply achieved when you live in Peckham, an area given over to high levels of child poverty and a history of gang culture and where the streets are not necessarily a safe place and sadly sometimes neither are the homes.

‘You can’t help yourself but give them time.. because what the Bradfield Club does is so unbelievably important’

'I had no prior connection with the Club, but when I read the Bradfieldian article ‘ The Bradfield Club: A Safe Haven for Peckham youngsters - Bradfield College’ I felt compelled to understand more.

Peckham is a deprived area, not only that, but the historical gang culture also that has infused Peckham can make it very tough place in which to try and have what we would regard as a normal childhood. It’s true what the article said, the Bradfield Club offers a safe haven. It’s the place where children can come and they don’t have to worry about offending the wrong people, about status or facing threats. They can go to the Club, be children, and play. It’s a refuge from the challenges that they face on the streets and, even more sadly in some cases, at home. They have the chance to be children; they have a space to play safely and a place that will nurture and support their ambitions.

The Club provides food for children who otherwise wouldn’t have food all free of charge. It gives them the opportunity to speak with people who care about them and can help them with the challenges they face. It’s not just for the children, but also for their mothers and the broader community. Fitness class attendees often embrace in a group hug, sharing tears and solidarity. It’s a place where they feel able to do that. They know that they can find real support at the Bradfield Club.

Sadly, there are times when the Club becomes more than a place for activities and support; it becomes a refuge. Young people have sought safety there after experiencing harm at home, turning to the Club because it is where they feel secure. On my most recent visit, I was told of a particularly distressing situation in which a young girl came to the Club after suffering abuse within her own family. In that moment, the Bradfield Club provided care, stability, and support when those closest to her could not. Stories like these underpin just how vital the Club is to its community, and to the children who rely on it in their most vulnerable moments

It is a weighty responsibility in the hands of the Club manager, Daniel Campbell, but one he bears lightly and with absolute dedication. When you go to the Club and you speak to Dan about what he's doing, and you speak to children about how passionate they feel about the Club you can feel how ingrained and important it is in Peckham.

‘My children are incredibly lucky to go to a place like Bradfield College, and so I just feel that it's the right thing to be involved with the Club and to do what I am able to do for this very special place.’

As a Trustee my official commitment is to attend three meetings a year, but the level of involvement depends on you as an individual. You also don’t have to commit to being a Trustee, any support you can offer is just so much appreciated. For me, it’s a place where involvement is driven by genuine choice, not obligation. People step in because they want to help, and you can clearly see the direct, tangible impact of what you’ve contributed. I find that immensely rewarding...

I have seen this first hand through my company. I am part of a relatively new business, it’s small and one of the best things we have done is adopted the Bradfield Club as our charitypartner. Every member of our 12-person team has visited the Club, seen its work firsthand, and is fully committed to supporting this exceptional organisation.

We all derive an immense amount of satisfaction from being able to partner with such an integral part of a community that is only 20 minutes from our doorstep. Helping out makes them feel good about making a difference and in working in a place that wants to make a difference.

The Club is exceptionally good at what it does, and Dan is remarkable—resourceful, ambitious, and deeply committed. That said, he has to juggle competing demands, which is why, as an organisation, we’re focused on supporting the Club in the most effective ways possible. Whether that’s providing laptops, offering interview and careers advice, or helping strengthen organisational processes, our aim is to support the Club in achieving what it sets out to do.

The single biggest factor in the Club’s success is financial support. With annual running costs of around £150,000, this is a level of funding where meaningful impact is genuinely achievable. As a firm, we have committed to donating a share of our profits each year, and our team is equally committed to finding additional ways to raise funds for the Club. Knowing that our contribution directly and tangibly shapes what the Club can achieve is a powerful source of pride for everyone involved.

‘My key message is just how incredibly personally rewarding it has been to be able to help the Club in any way, not only for me as a Trustee, but for my colleagues as corporate sponsors.’

The Club is in real need of financial support; it relies on the generosity of contributions and grants to be able to continue the incredible work it does. I would encourage anyone reading this who thinks they, or their company, might be keen to get involved to get in contact with the Trustees. I can’t emphasise enough just how gratifying it is to be able to make a real difference, and there is no doubt that the Bradfield Club does make a substantial difference to the lives of the people it touches. It genuinely is the case that every little helps.'

If you are interested in the Club, to see it for yourself out of interest, or with the idea that it might be something where you would like to take your involvement further, reach out to the trustees and we can set something up. Our email address is trustees@thebradfieldclub.org.uk

Visit the Bradfield Club webpage for more information

Top line information from Impact Report 2025

526 members of which 65% are from single parent families and 90% receive free school meals

The Club provides: a safe place, hot meals, after school activities, homework club, football, basketball, gym, music making, mentoring, pathways to higher education & employment.