Croydon celebrates Stormzy opening the Selhurst youth center to tackle knife crime

Croydon’s newest youth centre, opened by Stormzy, has been dubbed an ‘oasis’ for youth. Community leaders insist the council needs ‘alternative safe spaces’ to prevent school absenteeism and knife crime. This comes after a school principal revealed that around 10 percent of his students are currently out of school.

The Selhurst-based #Merky FC youth center was opened last week by the Thornton Heath-born rapper, to much acclaim from fans, community leaders and politicians. The facility, built in partnership with Adidas and EA Sports, includes a 5G pitch, recording studio, games room and various workshop spaces.

Speaking at last week’s launch, Stormzy said: “I’ve wanted to do this for a long time and now there’s a community space for everyone in the area to use and benefit from.”

READ MORE: Sadiq Khan left without a target for reducing knife crime after four stabbings over the Bank Holiday weekend

He added: “#Merky FC HQ is for you to play, create and collaborate under one roof, so sign up, come on down and do your own thing, this space is yours. Croydon, we’re open. “

Facilities Manager Maddy Orobator said: “It’s a powerful thing and that’s why we had this meeting straight away. I wanted to bring the community together so they can put forward their ideas and push them forward. It’s their space, let them use it. “

Anthony King, from the MyEnds youth programme, said: “This place seemed like an oasis last week. This is a space for you, no matter what school you come from.

A week after its launch, Croydon leaders are now exploring how to ensure the facility delivers on its promise of community cohesion. A meeting chaired by Mr King brought together several business leaders, charities, faith groups and the Mayor of Croydon to discuss how the facility could be used to tackle knife crime and school absenteeism in the borough.

Michael Nelson, headteacher at nearby Beckmead College, said: “The biggest problem is the high percentage of children not attending school. They can use these kinds of places and gradually reintegrate.”

Mr Nelson has attended Beckmead SEN College in South Norwood for the past 13 years and believes this new facility will provide his students with a safe alternative space away from the street.

Being less than a mile from the facility, he believes Beckmead students will see #Merky FC as a place where they can reintegrate before returning to school.

He described how students have many reasons for not going to school, including domestic violence and substance abuse. He added that partnerships with facilities like #Merky FC allow schools to gradually bring students back to education through the power of sport and creativity.

This sentiment was echoed by fellow headteacher Saqib Chaudhri, who felt Croydon’s youth needed more spaces like this facility, which provide safety and support.

Mr Chaudhri from Oasis Academy Shirley said: “It’s a great facility because it can be used during the school day. It’s about having an alternative environment that is positive for our young people.”

This appetite for new community centers comes in the context of the ongoing knife crime that has marred London’s most populous borough. 2023 has been a particularly difficult year for Croydon, with two teenagers losing their lives to knife crime.

According to Met Police data, while the number of people under the age of 25 injured by knives has fallen, from 1,954 in 2016 to 1,435 last year, the figures have risen every year since 2020. Not surprisingly, prevention and community safety dominated the discussion at the May 7 meeting.

Musician and campaigner Raspec also shocked attendees by revealing that British first aid training does not currently teach people what to do if someone has been stabbed. Ben Eckett from Croydon-based sports charity BeInspired believed the facility could also be useful for high-risk young people.

He said: “At the moment I’m not sure how we will be involved, it’s all quite early days at the moment. Our project is not based on football, it is mainly boxing and ju-jitsu.

“However, we will refer our young people to come here because many of our young people live in this area. It will be freely accessible and I hope this can become a space where we can carry out many of our interventions and group programs.”

Mr Eckett described how BeInspired, formerly Gloves Not Gunz, was founded to keep young people away from violence. Eckett said, “When we first started Gloves Not Gunz, that’s what it was all about. There had been a murder outside my friend’s gym and we felt like we had to do something for the community.”

While community leaders were optimistic about their hopes for the facility, concerns arose about its accessibility for youth throughout the municipality.

While they acknowledged that the joint promotion between Stormzy and Croydon Council would mean many would be aware of the facility, they feared barriers remained for young people outside the Selhurst and South Norwood area.

Mr Chaudhri also stressed that safety must be of paramount importance at the new facility, given the prevalence of school-to-school violence. He suggested improving lighting around the facility to allay fears of violence.

He also added that transportation must be arranged to ensure that young people can access it safely from far and wide. He said: “For example, there should be minibuses for people from New Addington. They (young people) need someone to watch over them from A to B.”

Croydon Executive Mayor Jason Perry reiterated the view that this facility will be a great benefit to young people in the borough. He said: “I was delighted to visit #Merky FC’s new headquarters in Selhurst this week and see first-hand the football and community facilities, and hear about the fantastic opportunities that will be available to Croydon’s young people .

“Stormzy has never forgotten his roots and Croydon was delighted to honor him with a Freedom of the Borough award last year, recognizing how much he gives back to his home town. We look forward to working with #Merky FC and partners in improving opportunities and outcomes for our young people in Croydon.”

In addition to the volunteer opportunities for youth, #Merky FC staff also said that employment opportunities would also be available at the facility. Despite its launch last week, the recording studio is not yet officially open to the public.

Don’t miss the biggest Croydon stories. Sign up to our Croydon Central newsletter HERE for the latest weekly news and more.