About Us

THE OBC

The OBC is a registered charity with a history of serving the community for over 120 years.
Based in Bermondsey South East London, the primary focus of our work is the provision of youth activities promoting social & personal development for young people between the ages of 7 - 25yrs.

The OBC is core funded by Southwark Council for the delivery of young people’s services.

Our Staff

NICK RILEY - CHIEF EXECUTIVE

PAULINE MORRISON (FINANCE)

SEVERITA IWOBI - YOUTH WORKER (SESSION LEADER IN CHARGE)

MARIAM KAMARA - YOUTH SUPPORT WORKER (ASSISITANT SESSION LEADER IN CHARGE)

BAI KOROMA - YOUTH SUPPORT WORKER

DAVID TOOTILL - (VOLUNTEER YOUTH SUPPORT WORKER)

Our Trustees

ALEXANDER THURGOOD - TREASURER
PETER HOLMES - TRUSTEE
Cllr MICHAEL SITU- TRUSTEE
NICOLA SMIKLE - TRUSTEE
SARAH-JANE ELVIN- CHAIR
 

 

History

HISTORY OF THE O.B.C

The origins of the OBC dates back to 1897 with the establishment of the Oxford Medical Mission (OMM),
a small dispensary located in Abbey Street SE1 (just a short walk from our current facility in Webb St ) by Dr John Stansfeld.

THE OXFORD PASTORATE

134_abbey_street.gif

Stansfeld's calling to Bermondsey was facilitated by the Oxford Pastorate (OP) of which he was a member.
Founded by Francis Chavasse the principle of Wycliffe Hall and Bishop of Liverpool it was the OP's first Chaplain Henry Gibbon who led the initial expedition to Bermondsey along with Stansfeld and Edwyn Barclay (Head of Barclay & Perkins Brewery in Park Street Southwark).












THE MEN FROM OXFORD

bermondsey_camp_officers.jpg

Stansfeld returned regularily to Oxford in order to recruit willing associates to assist with all aspects of the Mission.
These helpers were to include some of the most famous names of the 19th century (see notaries below)

 

THE OBC IN BERMONDSEY

The OBC has operated from a number of properties from within Bermondsey since 1897. Up until the 1980’s it also operated a residential centre for young people at Halls Green in Sevenoaks Kent.
The organisation has been at the current location since 1984 moving from the Pages Walk site it had occupied since the mid 1940's.

1 Pages Walk Facility.png

WEBB STREET SE1

The purchase of land and building of the current facility in Webb Street spearheaded an Urban Renewal Redevelopment Plan for the area which was incredibly run down at the time.

Incorporated within the plan for the area was the establishment of a sports pitch (Swanmead MUGA) and the redevelopment of the Arundle building which had stood unoccupied and derelict for some considerable time.

Screen Shot 2017-11-04 at 16.15.25.png
Screen Shot 2017-11-04 at 16.15.35.png
 

Messages of support for a move to the current site included those from The then Archbishop of Canterbury Robert Runcie
and former OBC boys club member Tommy Steele.

 

 

Click on the links below for more information about key figures in the history of the O.B.C.

Our Partners

The OBC is extremely grateful for the support it receives working in partnership with the following;

ACTIVE COMMUNITIES NETWORK ARUNDEL BUILDING COOPERATIVE BEDE YOUTH ADVENTURE
BERMONDSEY COMMUNITY COUNCIL
BRIGHTON BUILDINGS COOPERATIVE
BRIGHT SOJOURNER NURSERY                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         COMMUNITY SOUTHWARK DEPAUL SOCIETY                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             DRAGON SCHOOL OXFORD                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      FOOTBALL FUN LTD
GRANGE PRIMARY SCHOOL
GREGGS TOWER BRIDGE ROAD                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           GUILDABLE MANOR OF SOUTHWARK HADDON HALL
JERWOOD GALLERY                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           JIMMY ASHER FOUNDATION
LONDON BRIDGE AND WEST BERMONDSEY SAFER NEIGHBOURHOODS TEAM LONDON METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITY LONDON YOUTH MENTIVITY METROPOLITAN POLICE
MILLWALL COMMUNITY SCHEME
PECAN                                                                                                                           S.H.A.C.A. TENANTS & RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION SOUTHWARK COUNCIL YOUTH & PLAY SERVICE
SOUTHWARK COMMUNITY COUNCIL SOUHT LONDON AND MAUDSLEY NHS FOUNDATION TRUST (SLaM)                                                                                                                                                                                     TESCO                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           THE COURT LEET OF THE KINGS MANOR IN SOUTHWARK
THE DRAWING ROOM GALLERY THE WORSHIPFUL COMPANY OF PIPE MAKERS
UNICORN THEATRE                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             UNITED ST SAVIOURS CHARITY