Our Croydon Insider podcast is exclusive premium content for our paying subscribers.

On our panel this month are Anna Arthur, director of The Croydonites Festival, now in its 10th year, Darryl Chamberlain, the Editor of the Greenwich Wire news website, Donna Fraser, former international athlete, now working for the Professional Cricketers’ Association, and Dr Yusuf Osman, an equalities adviser.

Our panel of readers go behind the headlines to look at the Commissioners appointed by the government, providing an inside track of what we might expect from one of the quartet who has been sent in to take over the running of Croydon’s cash-strapped council.

There’s also a preview of the 2025 Croydonites drama and comedy festival, and a look ahead to the 60th anniversary of Croydon’s Youth Theatre.

Speaking out: Donna Fraser OBE

After an international sports career that saw her represent Britain at four Olympic Games, Fraser today is director of people, equity, diversity and inclusion at the cricketers’ union, the Professional Cricketers Association.

In our podcast, Fraser explains why such considerations enhance society, and how it is “almost a kick in the teeth” that some organisations are rolling back and closing down their DEI departments and activities.

Here’s a brief extract from the podcast:

PLUS: the panel hears how Inside Croydon sent five journalists off to investigate the maze that is the Whitgift Centre, and only four made it back…

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