A new multi-million pound youth zone for young people in Croydon is set to open its doors in September.
The Legacy Youth Zone which is nearing completion in Whitehorse Road, Croydon is backed by Croydon Council and is part of the national OnSite Youth Zone network. The charity was established by Lancashire based entrepreneur Bil Holroyd after he was asked to help fund a youth centre in Bolton.
As a charity with a sustainable funding model, it has raised £6.5m so far, including £3.25m from Croydon council.
Councillor Alisa Flemming, Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Learning, said: “I’m delighted that our amazing new Legacy Youth Zone will soon be opening its doors to young people from all over the borough, offering them a stunning new space and a wealth of new opportunities and experiences.”
Legacy Youth Zone. Pic: Legacy Youth Zone
100 DAY COUNTDOWN BEGINS! 🎉
We are very excited to announce that Legacy will officially open its doors on Saturday 7th September 2019! #100Daystogo 💯
£5 annual membership & 50p per visit! Visit our website to sign up & for more info about membership!https://t.co/gTQlYwC3Di pic.twitter.com/nkU0cTvtg4
— Legacy Youth Zone (@LegacyYZ) May 30, 2019
The project team involved young people in the borough as early as the planning stage and the name “Legacy” was suggested and voted by 3,000 local young people. Young people then spent months with the London based Design agency SEA Design to draw out the design for the new brand logo.
Chinelo Chizea, Marketing and Communications Coordinator of Legacy told Eastlondonlines: “They are involved from the very beginning of the project. They decided on the name and colour of the brand, they met with architects for ideas of the interiors of the building, which is very interesting. They have been involved with processes of the whole journey.”
“Young people have been really good assets to Legacy so that’s what makes them so special. They really enjoy being involved, and they will very much be involved even when we open.”
The centre will offer activities every day for young people aged 8 to 19, and up to 25 with disabilities with a £5 annual membership and 50p per visit.
Legacy will offer over 20 activities every day. Facilities will include an indoor climbing wall, music room with recording studio, 3G kick pitch, boxing gym, sports hall, training kitchen, fully equipped gym, dance and drama studio and enterprise suites accessible to everyone.
The youth zone is in the process of recruiting a hundred volunteers to support the delivery of service. They will include a variety of roles – creative arts, IT, sports, dance, performing arts etc. Further details are here.