New Era Croydon
Empowering Youth Through Collaboration
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New Era Croydon is a hyper-local initiative funded by the Mayor of London’s Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) under the “MyEnds” programme. Operating in partnership with Croydon Council and the Croydon Metropolitan Police Service, the project is rooted in prevention and early intervention. By bringing together a powerful consortium of established local youth organisations, New Era Croydon provides detached outreach youth workers, school-based mentoring, and safe community activities in and around the town centre, ensuring vulnerable young people receive holistic, wrap-around support.
Key features and benefits
Multi-Agency Collaboration
Rather than working in silos, New Era Croydon unites specialist local charities under one funded umbrella, ensuring young people get the exact type of support they need.
Targeted Early Intervention
The project is specifically designed to intervene at key points in a young person’s life, tackling the root causes of criminal exploitation and youth violence before they escalate.
Safe Spaces and Safe Travel
A core focus is not just providing activities, but ensuring young people have genuinely safe spaces in the town centre and outreach workers to help them travel safely between locations.
Community-Led Solutions
Supported by Croydon Voluntary Action (CVA) as the Lead Accountable Body, the project empowers local people and grassroots organisations with the resources to drive real change.
Key features and benefits
This project is delivered through a collaborative effort by the following dedicated partners:
Be Inspired
Leading work with the most at-risk youth, providing mental health support, group activities, and linking with statutory bodies.
Mentivity
Delivering vital school-based mentoring and detached outreach work specifically for young people affected by peer gang involvement.
Reaching Higher
Running Youth Hubs, Employability Hubs, and a weekly Youth Café, ensuring authentic youth voices are amplified and supported.
P4YE
Championing a safe-space hub in the heart of Croydon town centre every Saturday, alongside youth outreach workers to ensure safe transit.
Palace For Life Foundation
Providing girls and mixed community football at Harris Invictus School, partnering with Legacy Youth Zone for a premier sports offering.
Play Place
Delivering engaging activities at Handcroft Youth Centre, including football fun nights and essential first aid workshops.
How to engage
Submit a Referral
Whether you are a professional, a parent, or a young person looking for support, you can submit a referral form directly through the website for review by the project team.
Access Safe Spaces
Young people can engage directly with the weekend hubs, youth cafés, and sports sessions run by the consortium partners across the town centre.
Connect with Outreach Workers
Our detached youth workers operate directly in the community and around the town centre, meeting young people where they are to offer guidance and safe transit.
Outcomes you can expect
- A measurable reduction in youth violence and criminal exploitation within the Croydon town centre.
- Increased access to safe, supervised spaces and reliable outreach support during peak vulnerable hours (like weekends).
- Improved mental health, well-being, and school engagement for at-risk youth.
- A stronger, more united community network of parents, schools, youth workers, and statutory services.
Pricing and access
New Era Croydon is a fully funded project supported by the Mayor of London’s Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) via the MyEnds programme. Because of this backing, all associated hubs, mentoring sessions, and outreach services provided by the consortium partners are free to access for the young people who need them most.
FAQs
Who is this Project for?
Young people in and around Croydon town centre who are vulnerable to exploitation, gang involvement, or in need of mental health and wellbeing support.
Who runs New Era Croydon?
It is a collaborative consortium of local charities, with Croydon Voluntary Action (CVA) acting as the Lead Accountable Body.
How do I refer a young person?
You can easily make a professional referral or a self-referral using the secure contact form on the New Era Croydon website.
Where do the activities take place?
Make a Referral | Project News | Contact the Team