Surrey Freemasons Support Children and Young People with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities in Croydon through Legacy Youth Zone Charity
On Tuesday, September 9, 2025, it was announced that around 400 children and young people in and around Croydon will receive much-needed help and support for their special educational needs and disabilities. Thanks to a generous grant of £41,000 from Surrey Freemasons to the Legacy Youth Zone charity, these young individuals will have access to a variety of activities and resources specifically designed for them.
The grant will go towards supporting the Beyond Limits Session at the Legacy Youth Zone, which caters to young people with additional needs. This session allows them to engage in the same activities as their peers, such as rock climbing, music production, and performing arts. Approximately 50-70 young people attend each week, with the support of Youth Workers who provide tailored holistic support to meet their individual needs. Families attending the session can also receive additional support from the Inclusion Coordinator, including help with wellbeing, navigating diagnoses, and securing carers or respite time.
The Beyond Limits Session offers a range of fun, social, and educational activities, such as basketball, roller-skating, woodwork, gardening, cooking, and karaoke. The facility also has specialist sensory equipment, accessible toilets, a lift, and sports wheelchairs to ensure inclusivity. Monthly activities such as the climbing wall and boxing gym are also offered, and a hot meal is served at each session for just £1. In addition to these activities, Legacy Youth Zone also offers a volunteering and leadership program for those aged 14 and above called ‘Young Leaders’. This program aims to develop practical skills and foster social connections and self-confidence.
Legacy Youth Zone is part of the OnSide network of youth charities across the UK. The facility caters to young people aged 8-19 and up to 25 with additional needs. This grant comes at a critical time as youth providers in Croydon and across the UK struggle to maintain their services due to funding cuts.
Apart from the Beyond Limits Session, Legacy Youth Zone also works tirelessly to provide extra support to those with additional needs, enabling them to participate in the Junior and Senior universal sessions. The Beyond Limits Session offers a unique opportunity for young people with additional needs to access activities and opportunities that they may not have access to elsewhere.
Legacy Youth Zone often collaborates with other organizations, such as Stanley Arts, to provide additional opportunities for young people. For example, one of Legacy’s non-verbal members, Rees, participated in the Stanley Arts Go Kart Festival in the summer of 2023.
The impact of Legacy Youth Zone’s programs has been significant, with 88% of children and young people reporting boosted social skills, 86% experiencing increased resilience, 89% reporting improved confidence, and 88% reporting better or sustained happiness and wellbeing.
The charity’s beneficiaries represent a significant portion of the most deprived in the community, with 63% coming from the three out of 10 most deprived areas compared to 34% of children and young people in the borough. Additionally, 46% of the beneficiaries are eligible for Free School Meals, compared to 29% in the borough.
The generous grant from Surrey Freemasons has been made possible through the Masonic Charitable Foundation, which is funded by Freemasons, their families, and friends from across England and Wales.
Syreeta, Pastoral and SEND Lead from the Legacy Youth Zone, Croydon, expressed her gratitude for the grant, stating, “We’re very grateful to Surrey Freemasons for their generous grant, which will allow us to reach hundreds of children and young people who will get the chance to both have fun, make friends, and develop self-confidence and practical skills.”
Likewise, Nick Burger, Head of Surrey Freemasons, shared his sentiments, saying, “I’m very pleased we’ve been able to help the Legacy Youth Zone with their hugely important project, helping children and young people with special educational needs. Unfortunately, funding cuts are affecting these kinds of services all over the country, so it’s vital that these services in Croydon will still be available.”
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