Croydon charities face sale of buildings

Charities in south London are facing an uncertain future after council documents revealed the buildings they use could be sold.

Croydon Council is considering selling Cornerstone House, near Selhurst, which is used by 16 groups and a Purley property used by the local Mind branch.

The charities said they only found out about the potential sales after they were listed in scrutiny meeting notes.

Croydon Council said "each sale will be handled on a case-by-case basis".

Cornerstone House is currently home to Croydon Voluntary Action (CVA) which coordinates voluntary groups in the area.

It is also used by 15 charities which run community groups, refugee support, free mediation and accessible transport.

Along with Mind, they pay the council a nominal rent to provide public services from council buildings.

Speaking to the council's scrutiny committee last week, Steve Phaure, CEO of CVA, said Croydon Council had shown a "blatant disregard for the financial sustainability of the voluntary sector".

"We were under the understanding that we were in business together to try and do what's best for Croydon's community," he said.

"If these go, there will be serious implications for our communities and organisations which are supporting people working to prevent murders on our streets."

Croydon's Mind branch, which has been based at 26 Pampisford Road since 1967, is also due to be affected by the council's asset disposal plans.

A spokesperson made clear to the Local Democracy Reporting Service that the charity would not be able to buy the property or move elsewhere if plans went ahead in their current form.

Its CEO Emma Turner said she was "deeply concerned" and had not been included in conversations about the building's sale "so far".

She added: "We are pleased that Croydon Council has acknowledged this and trust that, as a valued community partner, we will now be meaningfully consulted moving forward.

"We know that with the cost-of-living crisis and increasing numbers of people struggling with their mental health, it is equally important to our organisation and the council that people in Croydon get the right support."

The council's scrutiny committee said it had formally recommended that the council give notice to all tenants before public papers about their potential sale are released.

Croydon Council's cabinet member for finance Jason Cummings said the council did not intend to "push" the charities out of the buildings.

A council spokesperson added that they would work with organisations and tenants over any proposals.

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