Legacy Youth Zone’s Official Opening Party this Saturday

Young people and their families are invited to celebrate the official opening of Croydon’s Legacy Youth Zone this Saturday 7th September. The carnival-themed celebration will be open to the public from 11am until 3pm.

Located on Whitehorse Road in Selhurst, Legacy is a brand new £6.5million OnSide Youth Zone offering young people aged 8-19 and up to 25 for those with additional needs access to over 20 activities every day for just 50p per visit.

The official opening day will provide young people and their families with the opportunity to see what’s on offer inside the state-of-the-art Youth Zone, enjoy a range of activities, meet the team and register as a member.

The official opening party will be followed by senior club, which is open to members aged 13-19 from 4pm until 10pm.

From Saturday 7th September, Legacy Youth Zone will be open to young people 7 days a week, providing a safe and inspiring place for young people to enjoy their leisure time.

Annual member is £5 then young people pay just 50p per visit. Once registered, members have access to state-of-the-art facilities including an indoor climbing wall, fully equipped gym, music room with recording studio, training kitchen, sports hall, 3G kick pitch, dance and drama studio, health and wellbeing room and much more.

The charity, which aims to provide young people with somewhere to go, something to do and someone to talk to, has been developed in partnership with OnSide Youth Zones, Croydon Council and the local business community.

The initial £6.5million building costs have been joint funded by a number of partners; Croydon Council contributed £3.25million towards the construction costs with the remainder being sourced by OnSide from a number of contributors including the Queen’s Trust, the Stone Family Foundation and The Seroussi Foundation via UBS Optimus Foundation.

The Youth Zone’s annual running costs are supported by several founder patrons – a group of businesses and philanthropists who have pledged over £1m per year. Croydon Council will also contribute £300,000 to the Youth Zone’s annual running costs.
Over two thousand young people have already registered to become members of the Youth Zone following a string of successful VIP events throughout August.

Barnabas Shelbourne, CEO of Legacy Youth Zone said: “Croydon is bursting with bright and talented young people who now have somewhere safe and inspiring to spend their leisure time. From the music room to boxing studio, training kitchen to art room, we have something available for everyone. Croydon has 93,000 under-18s, which is more than any other London borough, I’d like to say a huge thank you to our supporters from across the public and private sector for making the dream of Croydon Youth Zone a reality for young people. Please join us in celebrating the official opening of Legacy Youth Zone on Saturday 7th September. “

Councillor Alisa Flemming, cabinet member for children, young people and learning, said: “The official opening of Croydon’s new Legacy Youth Zone is a real cause for celebration – it’s going to make a huge difference to so many of our young people, offering them exciting new opportunities, experiences and a stunning new space they can call their own. We’re proud to have invested in Legacy, and of every young person who has worked so hard to make this dream become a reality. I’m looking forward to seeing them all at the opening.”

To find out more about Legacy Youth Zone please visit www.legacyyouthzone.org