Community Post Type: Callouts

Be part of the Youth Dance Showcase during Leap 2025.

Event Information

The Youth Dance Showcase takes place on Sunday 4th May at The Capstone Theatre.
During the day, students will experience master classes and dance workshops from all dance disciplines, with a range of invited dance artists leading exciting sessions – last year they were joined by Joss La Porta (House of La Porta), Karl Newsam (MELT Dance), Melissa Collins (Funky Femmes) and The Lowry Centre for Advanced Training.

In the evening, your groups will perform in a 240 seater theatre. They encourage groups from diverse backgrounds and in a range of dance styles, to truly represent the Liverpool City Region.

How to Take Part

They are looking for 10 youth groups to perform at the event.

In order to secure your group’s place, you must complete the registration form and return along with the registration fee of £30 by 14th March.

If you would like your Youth Dance school or group to take part, download a registration form and return with your fee to: paul@leapfestival.co.uk.

More information about the festival and other opportunities at: https://www.leapfestival.co.uk/opportunities

For Leap 2025, they are Dancing at the Palm House to celebrate the amazing dance happening in local communities, and they’d love you to be part of it!

Event Information

The event takes place on Sunday 27th April at Sefton Park Palm House, and they’re looking for community groups from across Liverpool City Region to perform, and to lead workshops / taster sessions for other performers, and the general public.

This is a fantastic opportunity to see and sample other dance styles and to connect with others through dance. Last year, they held a similar event at Liverpool’s World Museum, and with this iconic venue they believe Dancing at the Palm House will be even more magical.

How to Take Part

If you’re part of a group that would like to perform at this event, they’d love to hear from you! Download the form, and send to paul@leapfestival.co.uk to register your interest.

More information about the festival and other opportunities at: https://www.leapfestival.co.uk/opportunities

A Liverpool wellbeing hub is offering free wellbeing treatments to help those struggling with the cost of living crisis thanks to National Lottery funding.

Inner Guru CIC’s ‘Community Roots’ project offers free classes and workshops including meditation, breathwork, yoga, sauna, ice baths, sharing circles and more.

With a centre in Kirkdale and a men’s mental health hub in Walton, Inner Guru CIC will soon be celebrating its 5th birthday. Since opening in 2020, they have helped improve the ‘mental, emotional and spiritual wellbeing’ of many people in the region through a wide range of activities and treatments.

The Community Roots project will fund free spaces for classes or workshops throughout 2025 to help people during these times of financial hardship. There are many classes available including Meditation Mondays, Yin Yoga Tuesdays, Disconnect With Kev on Thursdays, a 5-Week Yoga Course, and a 6-Week Breathwork Course. The CIC also offers a men’s mental health group, family workshops and counselling for young people.

The funding is available to anyone who is struggling due to the cost of living crisis and spaces are available on a trust basis, without scrutiny or judgement. People can visit the Inner Guru website and nominate themselves or someone else. The centre will then get in touch to discuss the treatments, courses and workshops available to choose from.

Inner Guru CIC Founder Lewis Powell said: “We’re living in challenging times where mental health problems and suicides are on the rise. One of the key contributing factors to stress and unhappiness is financial problems and the cost of living crisis is leading to a great deal of suffering in society — thanks to the National Lottery funding we can help those who are struggling through a range of treatments.”

He continued: “We’ve been doing great things in the community for almost 5 years and we have an experienced team of highly qualified and skilled practitioners. We have a number of classes from meditation to yoga and transformational courses in yoga, breathwork and more. We may not be able to resolve people’s financial problems but we are able to help them cope and give them tools to deal with stress.”

A recent study from UK mental health charity Mind revealed that a staggering 2.7 million people have considered suicide because of financial pressure. Research published by Mind today shows the full impact of the cost-of-living crisis on the nation’s mental health, with three in every 50 (6%) people in England and Wales saying they have considered ending their lives because of it.

Other findings include that one in five (20%) people report worsening depression because of the cost of living, and one in ten (10%) developing disordered eating as a result. The statistics are alarming and Inner Guru CIC is aiming to bridge that gap in the Liverpool region in 2025 thanks to the National Lottery funding.

Lewis Powell summarised: “Our hubs are based in North Liverpool, with a great deal of poverty around us — with that often comes mental health struggles, addiction and other suffering. Practises such as meditation, yoga, breathwork, physical exercise, sauna, cold water therapy and sharing circles can work wonders on improving mental health and general wellbeing and we’d like to help as many people as possible.”

He continued: “We’re a really friendly team and have an inclusive, non judgemental and non clinical environment so please, don’t be afraid to reach out and take advantage of our free treatments. Whether you’re referring yourself or someone you know who is struggling, just get in touch and give one of our classes or workshops a try — it could change your life.”

Inner Guru CIC is also looking to work with more wellbeing practitioners and community groups in 2025 in order to widen its reach and help as many people as possible. Venue hire is kept to an absolute minimum just covering costs and there are large spaces, treatment and therapy rooms, a sauna, ice barrels and more.

Inner Guru CIC / 3 Efik House, 81 Walton Road, Liverpool, L4 4AF / 07482 871127

CLICK HERE TO REFER YOURSELF OR SOMEONE ELSE FOR FREE WELLBEING TREATMENTS

Fore more info about classes and what’s on visit the Inner Guru CIC WEBSITE

RAWD’s brand new wellness video series, designed to support adults who identify as learning disabled and neurodiverse through yoga, meditation and more!

The online sessions will be available on YouTube for FREE on 3rd February 2025.

Get ready to move, clear your mind and discover your inner calm!

See their website here

Are you a creative practitioner interested in exploring the agricultural heritage of the borough of Knowsley?

Feed Back are looking for people to carry out research and deliver workshops and engaging activities on this theme to community groups in Knowsley.

Email: lucy@feedbackglobal.org

The Reader’s dedicated community Upcycling Group, which has been running for more than five years, is looking to expand and is offering free workshops for members.

Two friendly and open weekly volunteer group sessions committed to restoring or ‘upcycling’ furniture and other items meet every Friday at The Coach House – one of the Liverpool charity’s spaces in Calderstones Park, in the same courtyard as the Ice Cream Parlour and The Storybarn. They take place between 10am-1pm; and 1-4pm.

Thanks to new funding from Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority (MRWA) the Upcycling group is able to offer three free workshops for volunteer upcyclers in January and February.

Designer and upcycler Nicky Cash, who runs Done Up North, a Wirral-based upcycling business, and has appeared on the BBC’s flagship upcycling programme, Money for Nothing, as an artisan, will be leading workshops on Wood Revival and Restoration; Upholstery skills and Metallic design.

Lesley Worswick, Chief Executive of Merseyside Recycling & Waste Authority (MRWA), said: “This is an outstanding project, and I extend my gratitude to everyone involved in its successful delivery. By empowering people with the skills to repair and refurbish items, this initiative promotes a circular economy by reducing waste and unnecessary consumption.

“The workshops are inspiring, demonstrating the value of keeping usable furniture out of the waste stream and ensuring it continues to serve its purpose within our communities. I strongly encourage the development of similar initiatives that divert valuable furniture from the waste stream and ensure it continues to serve its purpose within our communities.”

The Upcycling Group is also looking for new members on a Friday, as well as announcing plans to establish a second group on a Saturday, with thanks to further funding from Merseyside Recycling & Waste Authority and launching an appeal for furniture donations which could be upcycled.

No upcycling experience is required by anyone interested in joining the group, and the group has projects ready to be worked on. It receives support from volunteer leads and members of staff from The Reader, who will train members to use equipment when necessary.

Mary Crotty, Engagement Manager at The Reader, the UK’s largest Shared Reading charity, which runs more than 490 shared reading groups across the Liverpool City Region and rest of the UK, said: “Our Upcycling Group is a friendly and dedicated community of volunteers. The drop-in group – which has morning and afternoon sessions – is incredibly welcoming and keen to get stuck into new projects and ideas.

“They add such a unique string to our bow of community wellbeing groups. I’d strongly encourage all who are curious to get in touch and have a go.”

Members of the group restore second hand, antique or vintage wooden furniture by sanding, re-varnishing, waxing or painting. They make repairs as needed, upholster and re-purpose older pieces of furniture or household items.

Projects can vary from turning an armchair, an old bike and standard lamp into a pedal-powered reading-light-chair for children in The Storybarn to repurposing bookcases and picture frames.

An upcycled piece of furniture can be returned to the owner, sold to raise funds towards The Reader’s charity work, created for use within the charity or sold to partner organisations, such as housing associations at a discounted rate, ensuring furniture goes to go to those most in need.

Anyone who has a potential item they would like to donate should email programmes@thereader.org.uk including a photograph of the piece. Furniture may be in need of minor repairs. The group is unable to collect furniture from people’s homes.

Anyone who would like to join the upcycling group or like some more information can email Mary at programmes@thereader.org.uk.

CASESTUDY 

Hilda Kiernan, from the Wirral, came to attend a Shared Reading group at The Reader after the pandemic around three years ago and ended up joining the charity’s community Upcycling Group.

A creative and former medical secretary, she has a degree in fine art and literature while also volunteers for Heart4Refugees on the Wirral, running art therapy for Syrian refugees.

She said: “I am very much into recycling and upcycling. It is so satisfying to create something new out of something which would have been thrown away.

“I did up a couple of piano stools and am currently sanding down a rocking chair – what I like about that is being in the fresh air of the park surroundings, chatting to the dog walkers. It’s very rewarding especially when someone likes what you’ve made and buys it.

“It’s lovely to see creativity around you and we are guided and supported by The Reader’s Operations and Facilities team.

“There are half a dozen of us in the Friday morning group and they are all absolutely lovely people. We are a mixed group from all walks of life but everyone is welcome. Outside of the group we have a meet up lunch and over Christmas both groups we all went to a pub for a Christmas lunch together which was great.

“We’re all looking forward to the upcoming workshops.”

Find out more at thereader.org.uk.

 

Liverpool Philharmonic is working with charities and community groups across Merseyside to offer staff, volunteers, participants and service users membership to their Leap into Live Music! scheme.

Leap into Live Music! is designed to give people who have never attended a concert or event at Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, the chance to enjoy live music without worrying about the cost with access to free and discounted tickets.

Events on offer include performances by the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, their hugely popular Family Concerts, and performances by visiting artists including some of the best names in rock, pop, folk, roots and contemporary music!

Click here to sign up.

You’ll then receive details of what events are available to book, and the Leap into Live Music! coordinator will be on hand to answer any questions you may have about attending.

For further information, please email leap@liverpoolphil.com.

Please note that this scheme is designed to support eligible groups and people who have not attended Liverpool Philharmonic previously.

Victoria Gallery & Museum would like to invite community partners from across Liverpool to join us in being part of our exhibition in the Tate Hall Museum (opens Sept 2025).

The exhibition will be about  Lightbulb moments and how to have great ideas. What great things have been invented or  discovered in Liverpool? What happens when you experience a ‘lightbulb moment’?  

What is the exhibition? 

The display will combine existing museum objects, items borrowed from The National Archives  relating to 19th-century inventions from Liverpool, stories from the University of Liverpool and,  importantly, stories relating to great ideas from right here in this city, in particular  highlighting the lightbulb moments when ideas form and inspiration strikes.  

We will show a series of inventions and innovations from Liverpool, but our theme isn’t limited to  science, medicine, technology or engineering. We would like to feature great ideas of human  endeavour, creative output, explorations of our world, social developments and more. If it’s a great  idea, it could potentially have a place in the exhibition alongside other great ideas. 

Would you or your group like to be involved? 

We are now asking partners from across Liverpool if they’d like to be involved in helping us to make  exhibition. To be included in the exhibition, you might want to: 

• suggest an invention, discovery or innovation from Liverpool that has a great ‘lightbulb  moment’ story – a moment of discovery, a problem that was solved, an innovation made, a  story of creativity, inspiration or ingenuity etc. 
• tell us about a great idea you or someone you know has had that might be a contender  for the exhibition  
• respond creatively to some of the inventions we’ve unearthed so far – from a machine for  pulling off wellies (above) and improved ship toilets to the invention of the football goal net  and AI-run robots.  
• help us to undertake historical research into some of the inventions and discoveries  

What can we offer you? 

Tate Hall Museum can offer: 

• a public-facing platform to showcase your work with visitors from Liverpool and beyond
• invitation to a special preview of the exhibition before it opens to the public
• access to the physical exhibition space to bring members of your group for a special visit or to hold events in our space 
• inclusion in the exhibition press release and social media posts about your work 

Interested? 

Let’s chat. We would like to have a conversation about what you’d feel willing to offer to the project  in terms of time, resources and effort and what kinds of involvement would best suit your group. Email gemma.jaleel@liverpool.ac.uk to register your interest.

Netherton Library are running taster sessions for their new Shared Reading group. They will be reading something different every week through January.

Feel free to head along – the remaining dates are: Tuesday 21st January, Friday 24th, Monday 27th and Wednesday 29th.

For more info, speak to staff in the library or ring 0151 525 0607.