We are local parents, grandparents, carers, play workers, youth workers and kids. We have come together to reclaim this centre. We demand that plans to demolish the building are scrapped and community groups get free, long-term use of the space. If the council won’t provide the services we need over the school holidays, we’ll run them ourselves.

This building and garden belong to the community. It’s where our kids had their birthday parties, learnt to play football, first looked at a caterpillar. It’s where we ran language classes and playgroups, video game tournaments and housing advice. Our kids got fed here when our fridges were empty and we couldn’t afford to go to the shops. We found strength in friendship here after escaping unspeakable violence in our own homes. We planted the apple trees, built the pizza oven, fixed leaks in the ceiling. 

You cannot just shut the doors and shut the community out. We cannot sit by while the building lies empty during the school holidays. We are reclaiming this space to run a community-led programme of activities that are free and open to all: 

We are done with consultations and ‘co-design’, with being spoken to like children. We are tired of asking where the Section 106 money has gone and getting no answers. Enough vague statements and broken promises. We don’t want community projects to be pitted against each other, competing for crumbs. We are taking a stand. 

We are calling on Haringey Council to: 

We invite all local groups to come talk to us so we can be united in meeting our immediate needs while defending the long-term future of this space. 

We fight because we care.