History

The Crew Club grew out of the tragic death of Jay Kensett, a young man who was stabbed on the estate in 1999. Around this time, young people were hanging around on the estate in large groups. Residents found this intimidating, but local mother Lorraine realised that they needed somewhere safe to go.

“This is the plushest community centre that I have ever seen”

HRH The Duke of Edinburgh

So Lorraine and partner Darren Snow, along with Barbara Draper and Lena Lennard, sought permission to run a youth club from disused portakabins on the estate. The City Council agreed to a three-month trial period, rent- free, and the Crew Club opened its doors on Monday 27th September 1999. New Deal for Communities (later known as eB4U) Funded a brand new 21st Centery Crew Club that was officially opened by HRH The Duke of Edinburgh on 8th March 2007. 

In Memory of Jay Kensett – October 1982 to March 1999