This week, I have been out and about across the borough, meeting residents and sharing updates on the exciting plans we have for Croydon’s future.

A real highlight was speaking at the Develop Croydon: Game On conference in Fairfield Halls. I set out a clear message to investors that Croydon’s time is now. With our Growth Plan and Town Centre Vision in place, more than £1.2bn has already been invested in Croydon since I became Executive Mayor, and confidence in our borough is clearly building.

I also attended the Start-up Croydon Business Support Programme launch. The programme is backed by UK Shared Prosperity Fund investment and gives established companies, micro-businesses, and people turning ideas into side hustles access to tailored support, expert workshops and one-to-one guidance on finance, digital skills, innovation and growth planning.

I am looking forward to seeing what will grow from this – the new ideas, the new partnerships, the new enterprises and the new confidence.

The energy and positivity coming from both events shows the progress we are making as we restore pride and confidence in Croydon.

Brigstock Community Hub – Thornton Heath

I held my first on-the-road casework surgery at the Brigstock Community Hub in Thornton Heath. It is a fantastic local resource, offering advice on health, benefits, and energy bills, and stands as a great example of community-led support making a real difference.

It was a pleasure to meet so many residents and hear directly about the issues that matter most – from housing and repairs to parking, fly-tipping, and antisocial behaviour. These are all priorities for me, and I am working hard to tackle them and restore pride in our borough.

Croydon Drop-In

I was proud to support Croydon Drop-In at their Annual General Meeting. This fantastic charity has been supporting young people and families across our borough for almost 50 years. They provide vital help through counselling, advocacy, and health education including their innovative Talk-Bus. Over the past year alone, they have delivered almost 8,000 counselling sessions to 769 young people.

Coming together in Remembrance

I joined Faiths Together in Croydon at Braithwaite Hall last night for a moving remembrance and peace event. It is always powerful when our community comes together, especially at this time of year.

We will be marking Remembrance Sunday at the Cenotaph with a wreath-laying ceremony and two-minute silence to honour those who served and sacrificed. We will hold a further two-minute silence on Armistice Day itself. All are welcome. Find out more.

On Armistice Day we will also be reaffirming our commitment as a Council and a borough to the Armed Forces Covenant.

Tram Derailment Memorial

It is hard to believe that nine years have passed since the tragic tram derailment at Sandilands on 9 November 2016, which claimed seven lives and injured many more.

As we do each year, we will gather as a community at the memorial on Central Parade, Market Square, New Addington to remember the victims and stand in solidarity with all those affected. We will never forget them. Find out more.

Jason Perry Executive Mayor of Croydon