A youth centre in Croydon is set to offer free hot meals this winter.
Legacy Youth Zone in Whitehorse Road, Croydon, is offering the meal service to help families struggling with the cost of living.
The service is due to begin in January 2025 after the centre received funding from Intermediate Capital Group (ICG).
The youth centre also provided free meals for its members in December 2023, which saw 2,300 young people benefit from the initiative.
Legacy Youth Zone is part of the Onside Network of Youth Zones in the UK, and offers a safe space for young people in Croydon.
It caters to children and teenagers aged eight to 19, and up to 25 for those with additional needs.
The centre has a low yearly membership fee of £5, with each session costing just 50p.
Normally, hot meals at the youth centre cost £1, to provide young people the chance to enjoy a home-cooked meal while socialising with others.
The centre offers a variety of activities, including a gym, music room, recording and podcast studios, art room, and boxing gym.
These facilities can be accessed by members for just 50p a day.
The funding from ICG will enable the centre to supply free meals for all young people attending this winter.
Legacy Youth Zone is one of several OnSide Youth Zones in London, with others including West Youth Zone in Hammersmith and Fulham, Unitas in Barnet, and Future Youth Zone in Barking and Dagenham.