How We Made It Happen
The process of opening a Youth Zone is a very important one and it sets the foundations for the success which it will bring.
Below is a timeline showing dates and stories of events that have taken place and also key milestones for those which are to come…
15th August 2015 Proposals for the development of another Youth Zone were given the go-ahead by Croydon Council – our third London project to be announced within a matter of months. Councillors voted in favour of the exciting plans, which will see a purpose-built Youth Zone open seven-days-a-week with more than 20 activities on…
18th August 2016 A number of young people from Croydon began work on the brand identity development for their new Youth Zone. The session, led by SEA – a London based design agency, involved a range of activities to get the group thinking creatively about what they want their Youth Zone to represent in their…
25th October 2016 The young people of Croydon have spoken and their OnSide Youth Zone will officially be known as ‘Legacy’. The announcement was made at a special presentation oat Bernard Weatherill House after a record number of young people had their say in the borough. Just short of 3,000 votes were cast…
23rd January 2017 Croydon’s Legacy Youth Zone received the backing of the Stone Family Foundation, with a generous £500,000 contribution towards its capital costs. Upon hearing of OnSide’s intention to develop Youth Zones in London, and in particular in Croydon, the Stone Family Foundation was only too happy to offer its support….
1st April 2017 The dream of building a state-of-the-art OnSide Youth Zone in Croydon has moved one step closer to becoming a reality with the submission of a planning application. Croydon Youth Zone – which was named Legacy by the young people of Croydon after a borough-wide vote – will be a world…
5th September 2017 Croydon’s new state-of-the-art £6million OnSide Youth Zone came a step closer this week when the planning application was approved by the Council. Once completed the Youth Zone will mean the young people of the borough will be able to access 20 exciting activities at a brand new centre which will…
7th November 2017 Croydon Youth Zone is delighted to announce that Nick Sleep has been appointed as its Chair. A supporter of OnSide, the charity developing the facility in Thornton Heath, Nick says he is excited to take on the role and extend the charity’s network of Youth Zones to Croydon. Read More
8th January 2018 Croydon’s Legacy Youth Zone has been boosted by the support of housing developer Redrow. The company has come onboard as a Founder Patron which means the company will be contributing £25,000 per year for three years towards the Youth Zone’s annual £1million revenue costs. Read More
1st March 2018 Croydon’s Legacy Youth Zone is delighted to welcome Barnabas Shelbourne onboard as Chief Executive. Barnabas brings with him a wealth of experience in youth work across various roles, from starting his career within the sector as a volunteer, moving into full-time roles and working in universal settings, delivering targeted projects…
8th May 2018 Croydon’s young people have moved one step closer to walking through the doors of their state-of-the-art £6.5million OnSide Youth Zone, after building work began this week. A special ground-breaking ceremony at the Youth Zone site in Selhurst welcomed many of the project’s funders to witness the first sod being cut…
6th August 2018 Housing association L&Q is helping to build a brighter future for Croydon’s young people by becoming the latest Founder Patron of Legacy Youth Zone. With funding from L&Q, Legacy will open next year, giving young people between eight and 19 (and up to 25 with additional needs) somewhere safe and…
5th September 2018 Young people from were proud to reveal their specially-designed hoardings at the site of Legacy Youth Zone. The hoardings displayed around the site showcase young people’s vision for the new £6.5million youth zone, set to open in 2019. Working in collaboration with award-winning design agency ZAK, members of the Youth…
27th September 2018 Legacy Youth Zone, Croydon’s soon-to-be-completed youth facility, hosted an event to welcome local rap star Michael Dapaah to its site on Wednesday 26th of September. The comedian behind fictional character Big Shaq, was born and raised in Croydon and spoke to local young people about his experiences growing up in…
14th November 2018 It’s been a busy few weeks months down on site at Whitehorse Road. Those passing will have noticed Legacy Youth Zone rapidly progressing with the steel shell of the building erected and really coming to life. External cladding and roof coverings are now being added to the steel frame to…
1st February 2019 Three new senior management positions have been filled at Croydon’s Legacy Youth Zone including Head of Youth Work, Volunteer and Training Manager, and Business Operations Manager. Legacy Youth Zone, which is due to open in Selhurst this summer, will be a safe and inspiring place for young people aged 8-19,…
15th February 2019 On Friday 15th February, funders and supporters of Croydon’s £6.5million Legacy Youth Zone were given an exclusive tour to see the progress on site, ahead of the official opening this summer. Just months away from completion, funders and young people were delighted to see the incredible progress being made on…
13th March 2019 Cleaning and Facilities Maintenance company, Chequers Contract Services has made an incredible £75,000 donation to Croydon’s Legacy Youth Zone, making them the latest Founder Patron of the charity. Croydon-based Chequers Contract Services was inspired to become a Founder Patron of Legacy Youth Zone after discovering how the new Youth Zone,…
14th May 2019 Legacy Youth Zone is calling for volunteers in Croydon to help support young people to lead healthier, happier, more aspirational lives. Once open this summer, the brand-new Youth Zone, will provide thousands of young people with somewhere to go, something to do and someone to talk to. The state-of-the-art Youth…
13th September 2019 There were smiles all round this weekend as over 1,800 people celebrated the official opening of Croydon’s Legacy Youth Zone on Saturday 7th September. The carnival-themed grand opening of offered everyone from across the Croydon community the opportunity to see what is on offer for young people inside the £6.5million…
Croydon Youth Zone announced
Branding process begins
A Legacy is launched
Stone Family Foundation Support Legacy
Planning application submitted for Croydon Youth Zone
Plans approved for Croydon Youth Zone
NICK SLEEP APPOINTED CROYDON YOUTH ZONE CHAIR
BARNABAS SHELBOURNE APPOINTED CHIEF EXECUTIVE
LEGACY YOUTH ZONE BREAKS GROUND
L&Q SUPPORTS CROYDON’S YOUNG PEOPLE
YOUNG PEOPLE UNVEIL SITE HOARDINGS
MICHAEL DAPAAH, CHEEKYSPORT AND KIERA-NICOLE BRENNAN VISIT LEGACY
LEGACY’S ENVELOPE NEARING COMPLETION
YOUTH ZONE TEAM SET TO CREATE A LEGACY FOR YOUNG PEOPLE
FUNDERS AND YOUNG PEOPLE GET A SNEAK PEEK OF LEGACY
CHEQUERS CONTRACT SERVICES DONATES £75,000 TO SUPPORT CROYDON’S YOUNG PEOPLE
LEGACY YOUTH ZONE’S CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS
LEGACY YOUTH ZONE IS OFFICIALLY OPEN