Roundshaw’s Pheonix Centre is undoubtedly the heart of the often misunderstood Sutton estate.

The centre houses a gym, library and other vital community services relied upon by local residents.

The Beehive Cafe could easily be viewed as another of these vital services.

It acts as a meeting point for many on the estate and is a place where they can expect a good coffee, croissant and a warm welcome from owner, Shen Inalpolat, and her team. 

Shen seems to know everyone who walks through the doors of the centre, if not by name then at least by face.

Her time running a burger van outside the centre and working on the various community Fayres has meant she has become a familiar face to many in Roundshaw. 

So, when 35-year-old Darren Taylor began sitting silently in the centre from open till close, Shen began to notice and wanted to reach out. 

During a visit to the centre last week, Shen told the local democracy reporting service (LDRS): “One day I saw him sitting there and asked him if he wanted a coffee, he looked at me and said why do you know my name I said everyone knows your name Darren.”

Darren’s life has been spent in and out of Roundshaw, due to his recent past as a former violent offender.

His numerous short spells in prison and mental health battles have meant that he has lived a fractious life.

Darren has since returned to Roundshaw following his release from prison on June 8.

However, instead of having a home to return to, he is sleeping under canvas in a nearby woods. 

Despite being dubbed a medium risk, and completing his license, Darren has repeatedly struggled to secure safe and secure accommodation in his home borough.

He told the LDRS: “My probation took me down from high risk to medium risk, and I’ve done everything needed to get me into a place.”

Darren was previously housed by Sutton Council’s homelessness service Encompass but was evicted by his landlord following anti-social behaviour.

After he left that property, Darren said he was told he would not be provided with another home because he did not meet the threshold of vulnerability as defined in homelessness law. 

Darren once again approached Encompass following his release in June. He said that he tried to get an advocate to speak on his behalf as he struggles to articulate himself, but says this was unsuccessful and that was as far as he has got with Sutton.

His housing case has since been passed to Croydon Council,  who has acknowledged his situation.

However, they told Darren that he is not currently registered on the London database for sleeping rough in Croydon and that the earliest appointment he could have for a meeting would be in November.

Darren told the LDRS how hearing this made his heart sink. He said: “Beggars can’t be choosers and I would just be grateful for anything.

“I feel like I’m getting somewhere, I hop this fence, I hop that fence and then something else blocks me. Now I’m at the last stage where they haven’t got any appointments for me and there’s nothing more I can do for them.”

Darren now spends most of his days inside the centre so he can stay warm and keep his phone charged, just in case there is an update on his housing situation. 

Shen added: “He’s already done winter and Christmas outside, he’s done the whole thing. I didn’t think about it as much over the summer, but now the weather is changing and it’s getting colder and wetter, I worry for him.

“Over Christmas, we had that homeless who had been sleeping under the ramps in the Sutton ASDA car park for six months. They found him dead on Christmas Eve.

“These people have got nowhere to go, and then when they’re found dead everyone turns around and says what happened. We’re not helping them.”

Darren cited his own experiences of last Christmas as a moment when he knew he wanted to change his life for the better. Before going back inside for a brief spell in prison, Darren was sleeping rough in Roundshaw, owing to his family cutting ties with him.

He said: “I could only it see it as an experience, if I saw it for what it was it would kill me. I spent Christmas Day last year in the alleyway on a bit of plywood, I could hear all my nieces, nephews and family having their Christmas dinner next door.”

“It broke me so I had to leave, and that was the first time it really hit my heart. It’s just draining me a lot now.

“Me and my mum have had a bit of a strained relationship. She’s scared for me because I kept coming home all cut up, so I promised her I’d stop all that.”

Despite his previous employment as a heavy machine operator, Darren cannot currently work due to his diagnosed depression, ADHD, psychosis and anti-social behaviour disorder. While employment is deemed an essential part of reintegration after prison, Darren feels he can help the community in other ways.

Shen told the LDRS that since getting to know him a couple of months ago, Darren has become involved in events throughout Roundshaw and has won the trust of residents.

She said: “He came in to help move some furniture in St Paul’s church. It was his first time in the church and he said he felt a little bit uncomfortable.”

“Mother Bernie and all of the other old ladies in there loved him because he doesn’t show that side of him. He’s been a part of Roundshaw for such a long time, he was just on the other side of it.”

According to UK government statistics, people are most likely to re-offend within the first six months of being released from custody or receiving a non-custodial conviction. Safe accommodation has also been identified as a huge factor when it comes to reoffending, simply because it means people have a place to stay away from the streets.

The nature of Darren’s violent offences has meant he does not feel safe around much of the borough. Outside of Roundshaw, he feels he would be better getting on with his life in Croydon. 

Looking over at Shen and the cafe, Darren said: “I just need a bit of space to get out of the way and get on with my life. It could be so easy to fall back into that life, it would take one small slip and I could get barred from a place like this.”

Shen remarked: “He’s just a quiet and kind guy, he’s done his time. I just feel the label is following him, and that is a shame, people make mistakes and everyone deserves an opportunity to change themselves.”

Darren has other reasons for wanting to turn his life around. He is a father to two girls, aged 6 and 12.

While his criminal history has meant that he cannot currently see his children, he hopes that with time, and a roof over his head, he can come back into their lives. “My girls loved me, and I’d like to be their Dad again.”

Darren also has ambitions to go out to Nigeria, where his girlfriend lives.  He told the LDRS: “She was one of the first girls to give me a chance and show me love.

“Everything is coming together for me now, I got Shen and a new family here. The only thing I’m missing is a space for myself.”

When approached for comment, a Croydon Council spokesperson said: “We are working on a number of measures to prevent rough sleeping and will always do our best to ensure all our residents at risk of homelessness are supported to safely help them off the streets.

“While Mr Taylor is not registered on the London database for sleeping rough in Croydon, we have notified another local authority who he has contacted for housing support.”