Mayor Perry – listening Croydon – Newsroom

It was a pleasure to meet the parents as their children were excited to try out the new play equipment at Selsdon Rec and Purley Way Playing Fields. These are the latest in a series of neighborhood-wide park improvements where we use development money to improve local parks and green spaces. Find out about all the other new playgrounds in Canterbury Road and Whitehorse Recreation Grounds and Park Hill Park. It is my intention to continue this important playground upgrade program so that as many children and our young families as possible benefit.

Croydon is proud to be home to more young people under 18 than anywhere else in London – and we work closely with community and voluntary groups to give them opportunities to thrive. It was great to be at the launch of Legacy Youth Zone’s ‘Our Lasting Legacy’ strategy this week and to see the reach and influence they have had on young people – 13,000 young people have signed up as members since launch. We look forward to continuing to work together to enrich the lives of our young people and ensure that every young person can become the best version of themselves.

I am very saddened to learn of the passing of Tracey Davis, a beacon of our local community sector who worked tirelessly to help those in need. As the founder of Guiding Hands, she established food programs to help and support young mothers in need. She was always ready to work with others and help people in any way she could. Her energy and compassion will be missed by so many. My deepest condolences to her family.

I was honored to meet members of the Windrush Generation Legacy Association (WGLA) at this week’s coffee morning. It was an opportunity to celebrate the great role the Windrush generation played and continues to play in our borough. Their contributions are the fabric of our community and I am always in awe of their grit and determination to build a life here in the face of great adversity. The elders and other guests made good use of my time and turned the event into a question time for the mayor!

Speaking of which, my next Question Time event is at St Augustine’s Church in South Croydon on Wednesday 29th May at 6pm. It remains my priority to hear your views, so please book your place online.

Have a good weekend.

Jason Perry

Chief Executive of Croydon