Liverpool Lighthouse
Tell us what your business does?
Liverpool Lighthouse is an arts and community centre in the heart of Anfield.
What are passions and ambitions of the business or organisation?
Liverpool Lighthouse is a Creative Sanctuary - a safe space for everyone in the community to connect, create and find support. You'll always get a warm welcome at Liverpool Lighthouse, our dedicated team of staff and volunteers are committed to making our building a safe and welcoming space where you can engage at your own pace, get the support you need and discover the wellbeing benefits of creativity.
What are passions and ambitions of the business or organisation?
We have three missions: To be a space that offers arts for wellbeing for the whole community, particularly those who are most vulnerable, to support the development of artists from backgrounds underrepresented in the arts and to provide arts and culture experiences for the whole North Liverpool community. We also specialise in Creative Health - using the arts to improve health and wellbeing, whether through the mental health benefits of creativity, or using the arts to help people have their voices heard in the development of health services or making sure critical health messages reach the most vulnerable communities using creativity.
Why is it important that your business is in Anfield/Everton?
Liverpool Lighthouse has existed in Anfield for 25 years. We are a registered Charity with a heart to see our community thrive and people flourish. We are a safe and welcoming space to meet, connect, dwell and create. Our community programme offers creative activities to support wellbeing, alongside hot meals, a food pantry and advice and support. Our Creative Cafe offers a space open to the whole community to meet, connect and enjoy good food in a relaxing atmosphere and maybe take part in some creative activities. Our youth programme aims to support young people to develop skills through programmes aimed to nurture a love of books and stories and to make music. What's more, we believe in the power of art to make social change. We want to help people to use their voices, talents and experiences to change the world and make it better place for all of us.
What do you hope to gain from being in the AID Network?
We often hear from people who have been living in Anfield for decades, "We didn't know you were here!" We want people to know who and where we are so they can access our activities and find out for themselves the community and support available on their doorstep through our programmes. We hope the AID Network can get the word out so we can reach more people. Plus, we have great, affordable all day brekkies, barms, hearty soups, cakes and coffee on offer in our cafe, staffed by volunteers and helping to fund our community programme. We want to get the word out that you can have a tasty meal and support the local community at the same time here at Liverpool Lighthouse.
What have you gained by joining AID so far?
It's great to know what's going on in the area, what others are up to and how we can all work together to support the community and make things happen.
What does this neighbourhood mean to you?
Anfield is our home. Scousers are funny, resilient, generous, the heart of everything good in our community.
What advice would you give a new, local person starting up their own business or organisation in Anfield/Everton?
Go for it! We need more people with good ideas to develop the local area, more things for people to do, places to go, places to bring people into the area. Anfield is a great place to be. Our staff and volunteers at Liverpool Lighthouse are just so hardworking, it's a great place to set up a business and invest in people.
What are your aspirations for the area / what would you like the neighbourhood to look like in 5 or 10 years' time?
We hope that the new development brings some great quality shops, services, businesses and activities into the area. We know we need more for our young people, our older folks, more places people can connect and build community.
Something people might not know about the organisation…
Liverpool Lighthouse was a Gaumont Cinema when it was first built. Before that there was a training school for destitute girls on the site. So our patch of Anfield has always been a place for arts, culture and helping people build better lives. We're so proud to continue that tradition.
locationOakfield Road
Anfield, Liverpool,
Merseyside L4 0UF
