Rapper Stormzy has helped young people in London by establishing a multipurpose facility in Croydon. The #MerkyFC HQ center seeks to offer opportunities in gaming, music, and football.
Born Michael Omari, Stormzy was raised in Thornton Heath, just a few miles from the new facility.
The 30-year-old said on social media that the project has been in the works for three years and thanked Adidas for their assistance with the project.
On Thursday, he posted images and videos of the facility to his Instagram and X accounts.
“We all know there aren’t enough places for young people to hang out, so I partnered with Adidas to build this football center close to my childhood home in Croydon.
Related stories
“I’ve wanted to do this for a long, long time, and now there’s a community space that everyone in the area can use and benefit from,” he went on to say.
“You can play, create, and collaborate all under one roof at #Merky FC HQ, so sign up, come down, and do your own thing—this space is yours,” Stormzy wrote.
The #MerkyFC HQ
The multipurpose facility in Croydon is a commercial partnership. Adidas released a statement announcing the launch.
In addition to providing a location for podcasts and gaming events, the music studio will enable a more comprehensive offering to prospective local musicians.
Year-round community and school events can also be held at the building, which has a view of the well-known Brit School grounds.
Additionally, the new facility will provide new job possibilities for the local community and coaches.
“If you just provide someone with a space, an opportunity, or you just light a spark in them, you never know where or what that person goes on to be,”
Stormzy also stated that, “It seems like a story or a fairytale to me, but I think people underestimate its power and value. It’s about sowing a seed.”
He started #MerkyFC (football careers) in 2022 to assist members of underrepresented groups looking for work in the sports sector.
As a result, since 2022, over 60 individuals of black heritage have been hired for positions in various football-related brands.
Additionally, the rapper started providing financial aid to black kids wishing to attend Cambridge University.
