Legacy Youth Zone gets £1/2million support from Stone Family Foundation

Young people in Croydon have cause to celebrate because their soon-to-be-built ‘Legacy’ Youth Zone has received a generous £500,000 towards construction costs from the Stone Family Foundation.

The foundation commits more than £1million every year towards innovative, sustainable, and entrepreneurial projects across the UK.

The £6million Legacy centre, run by the Onside charity, will be a world-class youth facility. It opens its doors in Whitehorse Road in 2018.

OnSide has a remarkable track record of building world-class centres that give young people somewhere to go, something to do and someone to talk to. Costing just £5 for an annual membership, Youth Zones are places where all young people feel valued, they have a voice, they work and play together, and they develop respect and tolerance for those from different walks of life.

Legacy will provide 20 different activities every evening for up to 200 young people for just 50p per visit.

John Stone, Founder of The Stone Family Foundation said: We know what a fantastic job that Youth Zone is doing to improve the lives of disadvantaged young people.  I’m particularly delighted to help establish a new club in Croydon because of the real need for a safe, stimulating place in the district where the club will be built.”

Councillor Alisa Flemming, cabinet member for children, young people and learning, said: “This is brilliant news and I’d like to thank the Stone Foundation for their support for our young people. This is such an important project for Croydon, and I’m really pleased that the council’s investment is already being added to by others.”

 Kay Andrews, acting chair of Legacy Youth Zone, said: “We’re thrilled to have the Stone Family Foundation’s support. The foundation has a fantastic history of supporting brilliant charities so to have their backing shows what belief they have for the Youth Zone. I’d just like to extend my gratitude on behalf of the young people of Croydon, for it is they who will truly benefit from this generous funding.”

The council has invested £3million in the building work and will pay a further £300,000 annually towards running costs.

LEGACY GOT YOUR VOTE!

Croydon’s young people have already shown their excitement and enthusiasm for the Youth Zone.

Earlier this year a record number of votes were cast in a project to design and agree on a brand for the centre.

A series of workshops took place with young people trying out a series of design ideas with the help of a team of marketing professionals and graphic designers. Their final shortlist was then put out to the public vote, and more people took part than in any of OnSide’s previous projects.

Nearly eventually 3,000 had their say and the majority voted in favour of the name Legacy, which was announced at a special event which included presentations and performances from the young people involved with coming up with the new brand.

2016-11-23T11:06:13+00:00 November 23rd, 2016|Recent news|