I had the privilege of joining the Kerala Cultural and Welfare Association (KCWA) for their Golden Jubilee Onam celebration, KERALEEYAM 2025 in Fairfield Halls on Saturday 30th August. It was a truly special occasion to celebrate education, cultural pride, and community excellence.
Fairfield Halls was filled with energy and warmth of community spirit. From the traditional Onam festivities to the recognition of outstanding contributions across education and service, the event was a reminder of the strength and richness that Croydon’s communities bring to our borough.
I was pleased to be invited to talk about the progress we have made on community safety. I attended alongside Inspector Andrew Smith from Croydon Police, we spoke about the importance of partnership working with young people and communities - particularly in building trust and making impact. It was encouraging to hear the police report a 19% reduction in knife crime among other reduction in crime rates, as well as to see recognition of our joint work in tackling violence against women and girls. Community safety remains a shared priority, and it is only by working together council, police, and community we can continue to make progress and restore pride to our borough.
The evening saw Executive Mayor Jason Perry and Civic Mayor Cllr Richard Chatterjee present awards to honour community achievements. It was a fitting way to celebrate 50 years of KCWA’s contribution to Croydon, marking a milestone of service, culture, and togetherness.
