Supporting Croydon’s youth through local community partnerships
Following our appointment by the Government Property Agency (GPA) to carry out a Category B fit-out of 2 Ruskin Square, Croydon.
We’ve commenced a series of social value initiatives to support the local community.
We’ve partnered with ‘Gloves Not Gunz’, a local boxing club which aims to prevent and divert young people from crime and anti-social behaviour by tackling violence through sport.
Through the partnership, we have pledged to refurbish the Gloves Not Gunz gym to provide new lighting, heaters and shower and toilet facilities.
We have also committed to accept applications from members interested in work experience and internships, with one gym member due to enrolled as the first intern.
Marc Rice, Building Services Manager at Wates, has been attending training sessions at the club, sharing the story of his own boxing career and the positive impact it has had on both his personal and professional development.
Other community activities by Wates include mock interviews with Croydon Careers, offering work experience to a T-Level student at the Ruskin Square site, as well as mentoring young people through the ‘Lives Not Knives’ programme to provide workplace advice.
Our work in Croydon includes the transformation of the 10-storey Ruskin Square building on behalf of the GPA, which forms part of the wider Government Hubs Programme.
Due to complete in September 2024, the project will bring civil servants from three existing locations in Croydon to one centralised hub.
Our team has worked incredibly hard so far to provide the greatest benefit to the local community. As a family business, it’s important to us that we support young and vulnerable people by providing mentoring and work experience, and we’ll continue to provide new opportunities as we progress our work on site. We want to leave a lasting positive legacy in Croydon that extends beyond the end of our works at Ruskin Square and our work within the community will allow us to do so.”
Scott Camp
Managing Director of Wates fit-out and refurbishment operation
As a club, we’re always seeking opportunities to enable our young members to make positive changes in their lives. We’re incredibly grateful to Marc and the rest of the Wates team for their generosity in time and their commitment to mentoring our members. Community enrichment programmes have a real and lasting impact on young people’s lives and I look forward to continuing our partnership with Wates and seeing the development of our members as they explore the opportunities presented to them.”
Adam Ballard
Co-founder of Gloves Not Gunz
