Spare Time

Guy Pile-Gray and Jason Murphy have turned the overgrown derelict land at the back of the flats into a user friendly open space where the residents are able to meet together, eat together - from home grown vegetables - and make it into a place they can feel safe and secure.

For their efforts, they were awarded with an Outstanding Community Service Award as part of Croydon's Resident Participation Awards.

Work in progress

"It does bring people together in a really positive way", said Guy

"The reason we did this, he continued, is to make a place that this block and our local community could come to and, enjoy and feel safe and secure - particularly in this day and age it's nice to have a place you can come and feel secure in."

"Bearing in mind that we have a number of people in here who are disabled so their access to the outside is limited, it provides them with a place that they can go".

Deputy leader, Councillor Dudley Mead said: "We really want to hear from you about the fantastic individuals and groups in your area who go that extra mile to make things better for you and your community."

"There are many Croydon tenants who go out of their way to improve the lives of others and we think it’s about time they were thanked for their selfless deeds."

Nominations must be sent to the council's resident participation team by the end of November.

Listen to interview with Guy and Jason on what drove them to create safe haven for their neighbours - click onto link below:

Nomination forms are available by contacting the council's resident participation team on 020 8726 6100 or by download from the council’s website at www.croydon.gov.uk/residentparticipation.

What makes your neighbourhood special? Tell me who would you nominate and why? Email:

evadney.campbell@bbc.co.uk