Thirteen churches in the West Derby and South Sefton deaneries are preparing to launch new social action projects, after completing Together Liverpool’s Learning Communities programme.
Across four sessions, church teams explored local needs and demographics, mapped existing community activities, and drew up plans to launch new social action initiatives, or develop existing ones. They also received training in measuring impact, and tips on applying for funding.
As a result, several new projects are now already being planned in South Sefton including a community garden; a lunch club for older people; community drop-in sessions; an over-50s soup group, and a beginners’ crochet club. The existing Bootle Community Chaplains team will also be further developed as a result.
In West Derby similar plans are underway, for a new community garden to address social isolation while caring for the environment; a community meal for older people; a new community outreach and engagement program, and a support programme for families in need.
The Learning Communities programme supports the Diocese of Liverpool’s Fit for Mission priority of launching new social action projects, helping make bigger difference in our communities and encouraging more people to engage with church life. It is also open to churches who have opted out of Fit for Mission in any deanery where it runs.
West Derby and South Sefton are the third and fourth deanery groups to complete the programme, and Toxteth and Wavertree will be the fifth. It was piloted in 2023/24 in Huyton and Sefton North deaneries last year, leading to the launch of 20 new social action projects.
Among them, St Gabriel’s in Huyton Quarry has since opened a £30,000 community social action hub and café, and St Luke’s and St Jude’s in West Derby launched a lunch club to tackle social isolation and food insecurity.
All Saints with St Frideswyde church in Thornton and Crosby launched a warm space, and an after-school club for families, and St Peter’s in Formby expanded their afternoon tea box delivery service, to help tackle social isolation.
Together Liverpool CEO Rev James Green, said: “We’re excited about the future of social action across our region. Our vision is for communities where everyone can thrive, and our Learning Communities are helping make that vision a reality. We’ve had many encouraging conversations with participants and are looking forward to seeing the fruits of this work as new projects take root.
“We’re pleased to be supporting the Fit for Mission strategy and its goal of seeing new social action projects launched across our diocese. We’re grateful to the Fit for Mission team, Social Justice Portfolio Teams and Area Deans who have helped coordinate churches to take part.”
Christ Church Norris Green was among the five churches in West Derby to take part. Participant Lynn said: “What I have enjoyed most about the sessions is seeing our community from a different perspective. I have always felt part of the community but going through the sessions has helped me see things and connect in a different way. Real practical solutions to issues in our community.
“It was great to have practical tips on how to approach things, how to measure things. So many people don’t know what to do with their passion. It has been a very helpful process to guide you through from being passionate about making a change to be able to start doing something.”
Kerry from St Andrews, Clubmoor said: “I’ve really loved the last four sessions, getting to know what else is going on in our local communities. Hearing the visions that people have. It’s been really good to learn practical ways of developing the vision and learning the impacts that we’re going to have.
“I know when I came into this, I wasn’t sure where my focus was going to be. I have all these big ideas, like big national issues that we see, and these sessions have really helped me focus that energy into particular projects in my local community, while still, maintaining my passion for the bigger things to.”
You can view some of the maps of the existing social justice projects developed by Together Liverpool with participants by clicking this link.
Together Liverpool Social Action Lead Development Officer Joe Cottrell who facilitated the West Derby sessions, said: “It’s been a privilege to journey with these churches as they’ve explored how to meet the needs of their local communities. Every group brought a huge amount of insight, care, and creativity to the table. We’re looking forwards to seeing the impact these projects will have in the months and years ahead.”
The West Derby Learning Community participants included: Christ Church, Norris Green; The Good Shepherd, Norris Green; St Andrews, Clubmoor; St John’s, Knotty Ash, and St Cuthbert’s, Croxteth.
The South Sefton participants were: St Faith’s and St Mary’s, Great Crosby; Christ Church, Waterloo; St Paul, Litherland; St Oswald, Netherton; St John and St James, Orrel Hey; Christ Church, Bootle; St Matthew’s and St Leonard’s, Bootle and St Phillip’s and St Paul’s, Litherland.
Please get in touch to find out about taking part in a future Learning Community. Contact Together Liverpool’s CEO Rev James Green.
