After the riots in summer 2011, I opened Matthews Yard to create a place for our community. We have battled for survival for more than 5 years and thanks to the love and support of the people from Croydon we are still going strong today.

We have hosted thousands of events ranging from baby showers and birthday parties to weddings and wakes along with a diverse range of arts, cultural and community events including film festivals, political meetings, activist meetings, charity fundraisers, music gigs, comedy nights and so much more. But now we are at risk of closure because of developers who want to replace us with a housing development.

Over 50,000 people have attended events at MY and hundreds of thousands more have passed through our cafe for an informal meeting, or to have coffee, cake or the best burgers Croydon has ever seen (as voted by you the people, in Time Out this year).

Matthews Yard is a much needed central and independent focal point for community activity. The Impact Report available on the Matthews Yard website at http://matthewsyard.com/support provides much more information on our achievements.

Regeneration in Croydon now directly threatens Matthews Yard and all the work which has gone into building our space. If planning permission is granted and the building is demolished without MY securing an alternative home then we will be forced to close in Summer 2018.

To help Matthews Yard have the best shot at success and to ensure a lasting legacy, Matthews Yard has announced it will convert to a Community Interest Company and reinvest 100% of trading surpluses into delivering its community objectives. We now need the support of the Mayor of London to secure our long-term future.

If you care about art, culture or community and you want to help save Matthews Yard, then please, please sign and share this petition as far and wide as possible.