Croydon Voluntary Action is delighted to announce and host 13 new successful projects that will be funded by New Era Croydon and the Mayor of London’s Violence Reduction Unit.
New Era Croydon is part of the wider My Ends portfolio across 11 London Boroughs - and Croydon has been one of them from the very beginning five years ago.
The current consortium - Be Inspired, Reaching Higher, Palace for Life Foundation, Mentivity, Project 4 Youth Empowerment and Play Place - will now welcome and work alongside 13 new projects in a wider partnership.
Groups were selected by an assessment panel consisting of Croydon Voluntary Action, Croydon Council, Reaching Higher, Palace for Life Foundation and Play Place.
New Era Croydon is part of the wider My Ends portfolio across 11 London Boroughs - and Croydon has been one of them from the very beginning five years ago.
The current consortium - Be Inspired, Reaching Higher, Palace for Life Foundation, Mentivity, Project 4 Youth Empowerment and Play Place - will now welcome and work alongside 13 new projects in a wider partnership.
Groups were selected by an assessment panel consisting of Croydon Voluntary Action, Croydon Council, Reaching Higher, Palace for Life Foundation and Play Place.
The funded groups are:
Croydon Martial Arts Academy
Mainzworld
HOPE Programme
Love & Loss
Good Food Matters & Knowledge Practice
Pop Up Top Up
UTCAI
Walk With Me UK
BMETVFM
Anima Youth
The Inner Attitude
Ignite Young Minds
Genesis Esports Academy
All projects will work towards reducing and preventing youth violence in West Croydon and the Town Centre.
With over 65 applications received, the panel focused on the criteria:
Mainzworld
HOPE Programme
Love & Loss
Good Food Matters & Knowledge Practice
Pop Up Top Up
UTCAI
Walk With Me UK
BMETVFM
Anima Youth
The Inner Attitude
Ignite Young Minds
Genesis Esports Academy
All projects will work towards reducing and preventing youth violence in West Croydon and the Town Centre.
With over 65 applications received, the panel focused on the criteria:
Initiatives and activities that support young people to be in safe spaces after school.
Parental / family support to guide and support children and young people away from serious youth violence.
Specific activities for young girls and teenagers, encouraging positive behaviours and providing opportunities.
Craig Dyer, Co-Founder of Croydon Martial Arts Academy, will be opening up their gym in Surrey Street after school, evenings and on Sundays. He said: “I’m genuinely excited to launch this project because I know first-hand how life-changing it can be. As someone with lived experience, I’ve seen how martial arts can build discipline and confidence, but it’s the mentoring alongside it that really makes a difference. Together, they create a safe space where young people can grow, make better choices and feel like they truly belong.”
We are welcoming back projects like HOPE programme, Mainzworld and Walk with Me UK who will deliver exciting music, chess clubs and parental support.
Groups like Good Food Matters & Knowledge Practice, UTCAI, Anima Youth, The Inner Attitude and Ignite Young Minds are established professionals who will offer a range of fun sports, healthy cooking and the much-needed girls' interventions in safe spaces on London Road and in the Town Centre. This is of particular importance as we head back to school and the nights draw in.
Love & Loss, Pop Up Top Up and Genesis Esports Academy are bringing a fresh new approach to bereavement conversations, entrepreneurial start-ups and e-gaming for girls!
Shalina Alabaksh, CVA's New Era Croydon Manager, is excited about the expansion of the New Era groups. She said: “Our young people face many obvious challenges in Croydon, but the work of consortium partners remains positive and supportive. They are on the ground delivering during school, after school and on Saturdays. We need these new partners to complement the offer – and they’ll be doing that by scheduling evenings and Sunday support giving New Era Croydon a full Monday to Sunday timetable."
"Our council colleagues have been hugely supportive in not only giving their time in the selection process but also the ongoing support they will give to the overall programme, making this a true stakeholder partnership - just like what we set out to do in our bid.”
Parental / family support to guide and support children and young people away from serious youth violence.
Specific activities for young girls and teenagers, encouraging positive behaviours and providing opportunities.
Craig Dyer, Co-Founder of Croydon Martial Arts Academy, will be opening up their gym in Surrey Street after school, evenings and on Sundays. He said: “I’m genuinely excited to launch this project because I know first-hand how life-changing it can be. As someone with lived experience, I’ve seen how martial arts can build discipline and confidence, but it’s the mentoring alongside it that really makes a difference. Together, they create a safe space where young people can grow, make better choices and feel like they truly belong.”
We are welcoming back projects like HOPE programme, Mainzworld and Walk with Me UK who will deliver exciting music, chess clubs and parental support.
Groups like Good Food Matters & Knowledge Practice, UTCAI, Anima Youth, The Inner Attitude and Ignite Young Minds are established professionals who will offer a range of fun sports, healthy cooking and the much-needed girls' interventions in safe spaces on London Road and in the Town Centre. This is of particular importance as we head back to school and the nights draw in.
Love & Loss, Pop Up Top Up and Genesis Esports Academy are bringing a fresh new approach to bereavement conversations, entrepreneurial start-ups and e-gaming for girls!
Shalina Alabaksh, CVA's New Era Croydon Manager, is excited about the expansion of the New Era groups. She said: “Our young people face many obvious challenges in Croydon, but the work of consortium partners remains positive and supportive. They are on the ground delivering during school, after school and on Saturdays. We need these new partners to complement the offer – and they’ll be doing that by scheduling evenings and Sunday support giving New Era Croydon a full Monday to Sunday timetable."
"Our council colleagues have been hugely supportive in not only giving their time in the selection process but also the ongoing support they will give to the overall programme, making this a true stakeholder partnership - just like what we set out to do in our bid.”