Saturday May 28 marks 10 years since the Watford FC Community Sports & Education Trust opened the Cedars Youth & Community Centre in Harrow, a site that has allowed the local community to have access to state-of-the-art and sustainable facilities.

The Harrow centre, which saw crime drop by a quarter in its first year since opening and a significant reduction in anti-social behaviour, provides an area for over 1,000 people a week to exercise, socialise and learn.

A £4.2 million grant in 2012 allowed for the opening of the site, which regenerated the old Cedars Youth Centre into a world-class youth and community facility.

An outdoor 4G Astroturf pitch, an indoor sports hall, a social space, music studios, an IT suite and community gym are among the facilities available to the public, all whilst using environmentally-friendly features like the recycling of rainwater, solar energy and natural lighting.

The late great Graham Taylor, who worked closely with the community from his first day as Watford manager to long after retirement, was full of praise for the centre, when attending its opening a decade ago.

“It’s a fantastic community hub – so revolutionary,” said Taylor.

“This place has everything for adults and children and I am incredibly proud about what has been achieved. Cedars is a perfect example of how, through our Community Sports & Education Trust working in close partnership with an organisation as forward-thinking as Harrow Council, we can really make a difference to those around us.”

Richard Segalov of Harrow Council saw first-hand the positive impact Cedars has on the area, particularly at a school-age level.

“There are a number of secondary schools in the area and there was an issue with the local community which was picked up by the local press, of alleged poor behaviour by large numbers of young people from the schools who would gather outside the shops,” said Segalov.

“The shopkeepers were concerned by the noise. They felt threatened and it was affecting their income. The Cedars Centre took the initiative to open up their facilities free of charge at school closing time to encourage the students to come down here to use the facilities.

“Sometimes there would be 70 or 80 kids from the schools, using the facilities, playing football, engaging them with the centre staff in a positive way. It quickly faded as a local issue as well as obviously helping the Centre to promote some of its other activities and engage with the local community.”

Attracting Royal attention, the centre was awarded the Gold Level of the London Youth Quality Mark by the Duke of Edinburgh in 2016, who visited to present the award.

Cedars continues to serve the community and provides a safe space for around 1,300 children and adults to lead positive and active lifestyles every week, becoming a staple of the local area.

For more information on Cedars and the activities offered at the centre, click HERE.

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