A ground-breaking ceremony marked the start of building work for Croydon’s new £6.5million state-of-the-art Legacy youth zone.
The Leader of Croydon Council joined other project funders at the Selhurst site this afternoon to witness a giant 10-foot spade kick-starting the development. They were also joined by members of the Legacy young people’s development group who have played an important role in planning the new youth zone.
The new youth zone, which is being developed by charity OnSide with a £3.25million contribution from Croydon Council towards construction costs, will offer a range of activities for young people aged 0-18 (or up to 25 with additional needs) in first-class facilities. They will include a four-court sports hall, 3G kick-pitch, fitness suite and martial arts area, as well as art, music, drama, cookery, enterprise and employability opportunities. Membership will cost just £5 a year and 50p a session.
OnSide has secured the remainder of the funding from external contributors including the Queen’s Trust, the Stone Family Foundation. Fidelity Foundation and UBS, Vistra and the Seroussi Foundation. Croydon Council has also committed to funding to £300, 000 per year as part of the annual £1million running costs.
The youth zone is being developed on the site of the former Whitehorse Youth Centre, at the junction of Whitehorse Road and Boulogne Road. Demolition of the old building got underway earlier in the Spring.
Leader of Croydon Council, Cllr Tony Newman, said: “I am really delighted to see this fantastic project becoming a reality. Through Legacy we are delivering a wonderful facility for Croydon’s young people and what is really special is that they have been at the centre of this project throughout, helping to shape what will be on offer.”