Family members, teachers and local councillors celebrated the achievements of two young men at the Crystal Palace Study Centre Achievement Awards on Saturday (March 21).

Terry Boyce, 13, and Aaron Rogers, 10, were the recipients of the annual awards, which recognise outstanding effort by students at the centre, based at Croydon’s Crystal Palace Football Club.

Both boys received a computer and printer, courtesy of Stanhope and Schroders, and a certificate.

Stanhope director Charles Walford said: “It was a pleasure to celebrate the achievements of Terry and Aaron. Both have worked extremely hard, diligently attending their classes at the centre and growing in confidence in the process.”

Terry had a 100 per cent attendance record at the study centre.Initially lacking in confidence, he became a keen and willing volunteer during group activities and was voted “student of the term” by his peers.

When Aaron arrived at the centre he was quiet and withdrawn, but as time progressed he became enthusiastic about his chosen project, producing an entertaining and informative newspaper front page.

The Crystal Palace Study Centre is part of the Department for Education and Skills Playing for Success Programme.The programme establishes out-of-school study centres at sports grounds in order to improve pupils’ literacy, numeracy and ICT skills by harnessing the attraction of sport to support learning.

In addition to supporting the annual awards, Stanhope and Schroders also fund a teacher for the centre.