Croydon youth group offering free hot meals through winter

By Charlotte Edwards

A Croydon youth club is offering free hot meals to young people this winter in response to the cost-of-living crisis.

Legacy Youth Zone, in Whitehorse Road, has been given funding from Intermediate Capital Group (ICG) to provide the meals this winter, starting from this month.

Myke Catterall, chief executive officer, said: “At Legacy, we believe no young person should face hunger, especially during winter.

“Providing free meals is not just about nourishment – it’s about showing care, building hope and supporting the future of our community here in Croydon”.

The group previously offered free hot meals for members in December 2023, serving 2,300 young people in total.

Legacy Youth Zone is a safe space for young people in Croydon aged between eight and 19, or up to 25 with additional needs.

The service, part of the Onside Network of Youth Zones in the UK, provides a range of diverse activities for them to get involved in.

The Youth Zone boasts a number of different amenities including a fully equipped gym, music room, recording studio, podcast room, art room and boxing gym. Young people can access all rooms with a £5 charge per year, and 50p per session.

Usually, hot meals at the Youth Zone cost just £1, giving young people in the area the opportunity for a hot home cooked meal while socialising with other people their age.

Legacy Youth Zone in Croydon is just one of the available OnSide Youth Zones in London, there is also West Youth Zone in Hammersmith and Fulham, Unitas in Barnet and Future Youth Zone in Barking and Dagenham.

Pictured top: From left, Croydon Legacy Youth Zone volunteers Emma Blakinston and Macie Ellis (Picture: Legacy Youth Zone)