Centrale & Whitgift

•       Centrale & Whitgift presents Next Level - an immersive gaming experience in Croydon created byyoung people for young people.
•       Next Levels features everything from retro arcade games to the newest and most popular releases.
•       For more information, please click here. 

Working in partnership with Croydon charity Lives Not Knives, Centrale & Whitgift will be bringing an immersive FREE gaming experience into The Whitgift this May half term. The event ‘Next Level’ will run across half term from Saturday 27 May to Sunday 4 June in Whitgift Square.

There’s something for everyone as visitors can try their hand at arcade classics like Pac Man, Sonic and Mortal Kombat or have a go at console games, Mario Kart, FIFA 2023, and Super Smash Bros Ultimate. 

As well as being a cool space where young people and families can enjoy a fun day out during the half-term break, ‘Next Level’ is also an exciting project created by young people at Lives Not Knives. A group of 15/16 year olds worked with the centre to design the look, feel and experience of the gaming event.

Lives Not Knives is at the heart of efforts in Croydon to engage, educate, and empower young people to become the solution to the problem of knife crime – an issue which is impacting more and more young people in the borough. By handing the reins to the young people from Lives Not Knives to produce Next Level, they have gained an insight into how events are created and input their ideas into the experience – planning everything from the types of games, layout of the space, colours, music, lighting, operational set up and even the event name! 

The event promises to provide a thrilling opportunity for young people to engage in a fun and safe environment while showcasing the talent and creativity of the youth in Croydon.

"Working with young people at Lives Not Knives has been a great opportunity to harness their creativity, but also to challenge our own creativity and bring something unique to Croydon this half term," said Dominique Stagg, Marketing Manager at Centrale & Whitgift. "The event forms part of our commitment to deliver fun events and experiences to Croydon, and with a history of gaming in the Borough, we knew it would be the perfect opportunity to create a fun and engaging experience for everyone to enjoy while helping to showcase the brilliance that young people are capable of when they are empowered.”

Next Level will be open to the public in Whitgift Square opposite Superdry from 11am – 5pm every day of the May half term. 

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About Centrale & Whitgift

Located in the heart of Croydon Town Centre, Centrale & Whitgift is the community’s retail and leisure hub. Home to household brands including House of Fraser, Zara, M&S and H&M, the centres also boasts independent local businesses including Croydon Boxing Academy, Fashion Meets Music and Afro Hair Candy, as well as community and educational organisations from The Wellness Centre and The Textile Repair Café to Lives not Knives and Smartworks.

Through a programme of cultural events, Centrale & Whitgift celebrates Croydon’s rich heritage and diversity with annual community activations alongside immersive pop-ups and experiences during the Summer and Christmas holidays.

About Lives Not Knives

Lives Not Knives is an innovative, award winning, youth-led charity that works to prevent knife crime, serious youth violence and school exclusions by engaging, educating and empowering disadvantaged young people and supporting them to enjoy their lives and improve their future prospects. We offer a unique strategy that centres around personal one-to-one mentoring with 9-14 year olds, educational school roadshows, a fun after school club and a free summer programme of activities so that all the young people we work with can overcome adversity and transform their lives. 

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