Inspired by Liverpool’s iconic Liver Bird, The Kingdom of the Liver Bird will be a play space where children can climb, explore, discover and create their own adventures. Designed around the city’s history, imagination and sense of adventure, the new play area will feature a host of exciting play features.

The space has been designed for children of different ages and abilities, with accessibility and inclusivity at the heart of the plans. Alongside the larger play features, families will find sensory and interactive elements including communication tubes, textured panels, musical features, busy boards and creative play areas.

Children will also be able to enjoy different ways to explore the space, from climbing high for a view across the park to discovering accessible play areas at ground level.

The post Plans for Liver Bird themed play area at Chavasse Park announced appeared first on Liverpool ONE.

Ahead of Purple Tuesday in November, a worldwide initiative aimed at enhancing accessibility and inclusivity, the retail and entertainment destination has continued expanding its accessibility services as part of its ongoing accessibility journey. Part of this new wave of accessibility facility enhancements is the introduction of stoma-friendly toilets at Liverpool ONE.

Having access to stoma-friendly toilets can make the difference between someone with a stoma feeling confident to go out and enjoy life or staying at home through fear and anxiety.

At Colostomy UK, we know that simple changes to toilet facilities, such as providing a shelf, hook, and disposal bin, give people dignity, independence, and peace of mind.

Liverpool ONE’s commitment to creating stoma-friendly spaces sends a powerful message that everyone is welcome, and that hidden conditions should never be a barrier to taking part in everyday activities.

Giovanni Cinque, Marketing and Campaigns Manager at Colostomy UK.

Also part of these new accessibility tools and services are the availability of large print maps, an established ‘quiet hour’ every Friday morning across multiple stores, as well as the free rental service of sensory bags filled with a collection of tools that help individuals with sensory sensitivities in busy or loud environments.

According to a 2021 Liverpool City Region report commissioned by the Cheshire and Merseyside Directors of Public Health, an estimated 1 in 14 people in the region have a sensory impairment. Additionally, 10-15% of the population identify as neurodivergent – an umbrella term that includes neurominority identities such as autism, ADHD, dyslexia, dyspraxia, and dyscalculia.

In the coming weeks, Convo, an on-demand sign language interpretation service, will be introduced at the Liverpool ONE Information Centre.

We are working closely with partners, experts, and visitors with accessibility needs to ensure Liverpool ONE and the city centre is as welcoming as possible to all visitors.

We pride ourselves on being a destination that has something for everyone, and the introduction of these new initiatives is the next step in our ongoing commitment to enhancing visitor welcome and supporting our local community.

Donna Howitt, Deputy Centre Director at Liverpool ONE

The introduction of the additional accessibility tools and services is linked to the existing Liverpool City Region Accessibility Forum where individuals with lived experience are helping organisations across the region to become more accessible.

For more information about the existing accessibility services and tools visit www.liverpool-one.com/accessibility

The post Five new accessibility initiatives launching ahead of Purple Tuesday appeared first on Liverpool ONE.

The exhibition brings together work from Year 5 and Year 9 students as part of the 13th annual dot-art Schools programme. Entries were selected by a panel of arts professionals and an online public vote.

dot-art is a local social enterprise that supports artists of all ages through its gallery, exhibitions and community projects. Its schools programme focuses on encouraging creativity in young people.

The winning pieces, also shown at the Walker Art Gallery, are now available for the public to view on School Lane. 📍

The post dot-art Schools Exhibition Arrives appeared first on Liverpool ONE.

Now in its second year, the Sport Grant Programme invited local clubs to apply for funding, with six groups each receiving £500 to help with the cost of kit, equipment and traveling.

The winning teams and sport clubs awarded with grants are:

• Mersey Rowing Club from Liverpool
• Vortex Cheer from Sefton
• Hurricanes U9s Bleakhill Girls Football Team from St Helens
• Pex Hill Pulse U13s Football Club from Halton
• Victoria Colts Pumas U11s Junior Football Club from the Wirral
• Chester Hockey Club

Vortex Cheer, Hurricanes U9s Bleakhill Girls Football Team and Mersey Rowing Club are planning to use their grant to invest in new equipment for their teams. Victoria Colts Pumas U11s Junior Football Club and St Helens-based Hurricanes U9s Bleakhill Girls Football Team plan to purchase new kits for their teams.

Plus, Chester Hockey Club looks forward to using its grant to supercharge outreach for its unique inter-club gaming system, “Animal Magic”, which sees primary school age players take part in fun, fast-paced games on Saturday evenings and dedicated high-quality coaching on Sundays. The programme helps children enjoying the thrill of competition, building skills and creating a clear pathway from first touch to elite performance.

“Once again, we are so pleased to see the overwhelming response to this grant giveaway having received more than 250 applications from grassroots sports clubs and teams right across the region.

Supporting and nurturing young sporting talent is something we’re incredibly passionate about at Liverpool ONE, and we’re proud to be able to lend a hand to them developing members’ skills.

We have received five times more application this year and we have heard so many inspirational stories about incredible sporting organisations of all sizes, highlighting just how rich our region is in talent.

A huge congratulations to the six chosen teams and thank you to all who entered. It is wonderful to see and support such an array of young talent and future sporting stars right here in our local community.”

Donna Howitt, Place Strategy Director at Liverpool ONE

“Following last year’s successful launch, we at The Guide Liverpool are delighted to have been able to join forces with Liverpool ONE once again, to recognise and support rising sports stars from across the region.”

Jay Hynd, Director and Presenter at The Guide Liverpool

The post 2025 sport grants winners announced appeared first on Liverpool ONE.

Since its inception in 2009, the Liverpool ONE Foundation has awarded a total of 440 grants worth more than £3.8 million to help enhance the mental health of young people across Liverpool, Halton, Knowsley, Sefton, St Helens and Wirral.

From sleep improvement projects and art workshops to counselling services and activities to develop girl’s confidence; grants from the Liverpool ONE Foundation help to fund projects that support young people’s mental health and wellbeing.

The full list of successful applicants from this year include:

• Girls Friendly Society in Liverpool
• Refugee Women Connect in Liverpool
• The Bobby Colleran Trust in Liverpool
• Beautiful New Beginnings in Liverpool
• Sean Bailey Wellness CIC in Halton
• Evolving Mindset CIC in Knowsley
• Mind Balance Solutions CIC in Sefton
• RASA Merseyside in Sefton
• SWAN Women’s Centre in Sefton
• Home-Start St Helens in St Helens
• Community Capacity Builders in Wirral
• Comics Youth CIC in Wirral

The organisations awarded this year join groups across the region who were granted a two-year grant in 2024 including Growing Sudley CIC, Home Start Knowsley, Next Chapter NW CIC, Open Door Charity, Pure Insight 1628, Shy Lowen, The First Step (Knowsley Domestic Violence Support Services) and UK Unplugged CIC.

The Liverpool ONE Foundation is part of Liverpool ONE’s commitment to contribute to support local communities.

“We are so grateful to have been selected to receive a grant from the Liverpool ONE Foundation. This funding will help us deliver our Turn the Page programme, which offers one-to-one creative support for marginalised young people aged eight to 25 who feel anxious in groups, struggle to access mainstream services, or see themselves as outsiders. Through Turn the Page, we encourage young people to harness their own narratives, find confidence within an inclusive community, and develop the resilience to succeed on their own path.

“Our services are designed to support and amplify the often-diminished voices of marginalised youth through social campaigns and creative activities, including zine creation and comic book workshops.

“We are ecstatic that our commitment to discovering, distributing, and elevating the voices of young people has been recognised and supported by the Liverpool ONE Foundation, and we look forward to using this grant to provide proactive and reactive mental health support to young people across Merseyside through art and comics.”
Rhiannon Griffiths, Co-founder of Comics Youth CIC

“Supporting young people in our region is central to the values of Liverpool ONE. We pride ourselves on keeping culture and communities at the heart of our social impact initiatives and annual event programme.

“The work of the organisations awarded Liverpool ONE Foundation grants is making a real impact in the Liverpool City Region. These grants reflect our continued commitment to promoting positive mental health and wellbeing, allowing us to connect and support our community.”
Donna Howitt, Place Strategy Director for Liverpool ONE

“Liverpool ONE is committed to improving young people’s mental health and wellbeing across our Liverpool City Region. Since 2009, we’ve worked in partnership to distribute over £3.8 million in funding to local grassroots organisations.

“As one of our largest corporate donors, Liverpool ONE are a leading example of how a business can support its community through place-based giving. This year the Liverpool ONE Foundation grants will continue to strengthen that focus, backing a wide range of projects.”
Rae Brooke, Chief Executive of the Community Foundation for Merseyside

The post 2025 Liverpool ONE Foundation grants announced appeared first on Liverpool ONE.

Whether you’re taking a break from shopping or catching up with friends, you can now pick up a book and enjoy a moment of reading while you relax.

Our Reading Corners offer a welcoming space for everyone, featuring a carefully chosen selection from The Reader Bookshelf. With a variety of stories and genres to explore, there’s something for all ages to enjoy.

At Liverpool ONE, we’re committed to inspiring a love of reading and making books more accessible for all. Reading is a great way to unwind, spark imagination, and boost wellbeing, and we hope our reading corners encourage more people to take a break and enjoy the magic of a good book.

The reading corners are located at:

📍The Place to Eat at John Lewis & Partners
📍Bean Coffee on College Lane
📍Joe & the Juice on Paradise Street
📍Costa Coffee on Lord Street
📍Starbucks on Sugar House Steps
📍Starbucks on Paradise Street.

About the Reader Bookshelf.

The Reader Bookshelf is a carefully curated collection of stories, plays, and poems for adults and children. The theme Wonder celebrates curiosity, boldness, and openness in reading.

Some of the books available to read:

For Adults:

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
Foster by Claire Keegan
Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathan Swift
Little Boy Lost by Marghanita Laski
The Fat Lady Sings by Jacqueline Roy
Surfacing by Kathleen Jamie
She Had Some Horses by Joy Harjo
The Illustrated Man by Ray Bradbury

For Children

Twenty Questions by Mac Barnett
The Something by Rebecca Cobb
A Whale of a Time by Lou Peacock
Skellig by David Almond
Tales from Outer Suburbia by Shaun Ta
Charlotte’s Web by E.B White
The Final Year by Matt Goodfellow
Impossible Creatures by Katherine Rundell
Wonder by Ana Sampson

Find out more about The Reader here.

The post The Reading Corners at Liverpool ONE appeared first on Liverpool ONE.

The “Liverpool City Region For All Forum: Unlocking an accessible visitor economy” marked a significant milestone in the region’s commitment to universal accessibility, headlined by Paralympic champion and disability rights advocate Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson DBE DL.

A significant step toward creating an inclusive visitor economy with its pioneering accessibility forum, the event brought together leading disability advocates, businesses, and stakeholders at Exhibition Centre Liverpool, part of The ACC Liverpool Group.

The event launched the innovative Accessibility Marketplace, a digital platform designed to connect businesses with disability specialists and resources for continuous improvement in accessibility standards. This pioneering initiative will provide ongoing support to organisations committed to enhancing their accessibility journey.

Baroness Grey-Thompson, who delivered the keynote address, praised the region’s proactive approach: “This initiative demonstrates Liverpool City Region’s genuine commitment to accessibility. By bringing stakeholders together for these crucial conversations, we’re creating real momentum for positive change in the region.”

The forum featured powerful insights from influential speakers including Lucy Edwards, an award-winning presenter and disability activist who lost her sight at 17, and Ollie Thorn, an international para-snowsports athlete and disability inclusion advocate.

Natalie Wyatt, Managing Director of the Liverpool City Region Visitor Economy Partnership, emphasised the economic significance: “With over 60 million annual visitors to our region, ensuring universal accessibility isn’t just the right thing to do—it’s essential for our continued growth and success.

Our role is to collaborate with public and private sector partners to ignite the growth of the region and this means working harder to ensure that all visitors are welcome. The perspectives of the speakers today helped illuminate the path toward a more inclusive visitor economy and the forum was an excellent way to share best practice.”

Donna Howitt, Place Strategy Director of Liverpool ONE and Deputy Chair Liverpool City Region’s Local Visitor Economy Partnership (LVEP) said: “Liverpool City Region welcomes over 60 million visitors annually, drawn by our world-class attractions and experiences. We’re dedicated to making these experiences accessible to everyone, regardless of ability. Through initiatives like the forum, we’re equipping local businesses with practical tools and knowledge to enhance accessibility, ensuring every visitor can fully participate in and enjoy everything our vibrant region has to offer.”

The event revealed key findings from a Liverpool City Region Combined Authority-commissioned report on disabled visitors’ experiences, providing valuable insights for future improvements.

The forum was supported by major regional stakeholders including Liverpool ONE, ACC Liverpool, Liverpool BID Company, Liverpool Hospitality, Carlisle Support Services, Liverpool John Lennon Airport, Sodexo and Hospitality Hero.

The Accessibility toolkit is now live, offering businesses across the region continuous access to expert guidance and resources for improving accessibility standards.

The post Liverpool City Region champions accessibility with groundbreaking forum appeared first on Liverpool ONE.

You can see the fantastic 2024 display on School Lane showcasing the incredible talent of young artists from across the Liverpool City Region, and we are pleased to announce that the call for schools to enter for the 2025 display has been extended to 19 January 2025.

The competition is open to all primary, secondary and special schools based in the six boroughs of Liverpool City Region (Liverpool, Wirral, St Helens, Sefton, Knowsley, Halton) and near neighbours. There are two eligible age groups for entries – Year 5 and Year 9. There is purposely no theme for the artwork entries to make it easier for you to fit it into your existing schemes of work.

Find out more and register your school before 19 January HERE.

“We’re absolutely thrilled to once again join forces with the dot-art Schools Programme to showcase the artistic skills of local young people.

“Working with communities across Liverpool City Region is a core part of what we do at Liverpool ONE and, once again, we have been blown away by the amazing talent that is right on our doorstep. We’re confident that our visitors will enjoy these creative artworks.”

Donna Howitt, Place Strategy Director, Liverpool ONE

Over 90 schools participated in the dot-art 2024 Schools programme, fostering creativity and artistic expression among students. Over 1500 students’ art entries were shortlisted by a panel of judges, followed by an online public vote to be chosen as their schools’ winner to win a place in the 12^th annual exhibition at the Walker Art Gallery in June.

Families and art enthusiasts are encouraged to visit this new stunning display at Liverpool ONE which features the winning artworks from each school created by year 5 and Year 9 students, as well as the overall winners and runners up in both age groups.

“We are delighted to partner with Liverpool ONE to showcase and celebrate these talented young artists right here in the heart of the city. This exhibition not only celebrates their achievements and highlights the importance of creativity in education but also encourages families and communities to engage with the arts. We hope to inspire even more schools to join us in 2025!”

Carolyn Murray, dot-art Schools Project Manager

For more information about the dot-art Schools inter-school art competition and how your school can participate in 2025, please visit schools.dot-art.com or email schools@dot-art.com

The post dot-art Schools Winning Artists display appeared first on Liverpool ONE.

On Saturday 25 January, a city-centre parade led by Pagoda Arts, Movema, and the Liverpool Hung Gar Kung Fu Friendship Association filled the streets with colourful costumes and stilt walkers, starting at midday on Church Street and making it’s way through Liverpool ONE! Here are some pictures from the weekend.

In the lead-up to the New Year, thousands of red lanterns adorned the streets of Liverpool, and our estate glowed red, along with iconic buildings like St George’s Hall.

A striking willow snake sculpture was placed in the water feature near the Liverpool sign on Thomas Steers Way, created by artist Sarah Gallagher from Twigtwisters, and the Liverpool sign was also decorated to mark the occasion.

The post Lunar New Year 2025 in Liverpool appeared first on Liverpool ONE.

A 20-meter art display was presented on School Lane, along with interactive tree exhibits on Paradise Street, showcasing a collection of photos, stories, and poems submitted by residents across the region.

The collection of images and narratives were part of TreeStory, an initiative launched in 2020 by local art galleries Open Eye Gallery and dot-art during lockdown. Since its launch, residents were encouraged to capture images of trees that hold special significance to them, along with stories explaining why, to be featured on a special interactive map.

Passers-by could easily engage by scanning QR codes displayed on the pop-up exhibition and trees along Paradise Street, allowing them to submit their own tree photos connected to family histories, cherished memories, and daily experiences.

The post TreeStory Exhibition appeared first on Liverpool ONE.

Following last year’s huge achievement when the £3 million grant milestone was reached since its inception 15 years ago, this year, 10 organisations will receive £268,209 worth of funding.

The Liverpool ONE Foundation’s grants help to fund projects supporting young people’s mental health across Liverpool City Region, from nature-based mental health sessions and children’s activity hubs to peer mentoring projects and counselling services.

Among those chosen to receive funding this year is Next Chapter NW CIC, a Wirral-based organisation which delivers early intervention mental health programmes for young people and their parents through workshops, counselling and coaching sessions.

The full list of successful applicants from this year includes:

Pure Insight 1628 from Halton

Home Start Knowsley from Knowsley

The First Step from Knowsley

Growing Sudley CIC from Liverpool

Conquer Life CIC from Sefton

Shy Lowen from Sefton

VENUS from Sefton

Next Chapter NW CIC from Wirral

Open Door Charity from Wirral

UK Unplugged CIC from Wirral

Alongside the Liverpool ONE Foundation grants, five Greener Futures grants have been awarded totalling £22,000 to support organisations who are using a sustainable approach, with a positive impact on the environment, to support young people’s mental health. These grants offered continuation funding to groups who were successful in securing a Greener Futures grant in 2022, when it was launched by Grosvenor, so that they can continue their good work.

The Greener Futures fund the awarded organisations are:

Centre 63 from Knowsley

Croxteth & Gillmoss Community Federation from Liverpool

B 4 Biodiversity CIC from Sefton

Netherton Park Community Association from Sefton

Parenting 2000 from Sefton

Almost half a million young people have been supported through more than 430 grants during the last 15 years.

“The grant will allow Wirral children and families to access support at the earliest signs of need, particularly when facing mild to moderate mental health challenges that may otherwise go unaddressed. We extend our sincere gratitude to the Liverpool ONE Foundation for supporting our work. The impact this will have on numerous lives cannot be overstated.

“We have a particular focus on helping individuals and families understand their neuro-diversity, in order to navigate the journey ahead of them with greater acceptance, confidence and resilience. Our services encompass a wide array of support for mental wellness, health, and overall well-being, all delivered under one roof by a highly skilled and experienced team.

“The programme serves as a bridge between private and community support, offering a specialised and personalised approach to addressing mild to moderate mental health and well-being needs across the entire family unit, especially where other services may be inappropriate or inaccessible.

“We operate with a systemic approach aimed at fostering positive change, involving parents as integral part in their children’s journeys. Through equipping families with knowledge, skills, and resources, we strive to enhance overall health and well-being, positively influencing family life and the positive growth of future generations.”

Claire Owens from Next Chapter NW CIC

“Liverpool ONE’s commitment to supporting our region’s young people is at the heart of these Liverpool ONE Foundation grants which we’re pleased to see go to organisations right across the Liverpool City Region.

“This year, not only are we supporting the many organisations who work to support children’s mental health across the region, we are also awarding continuation funding to recipients of our Greener Futures Fund to enable them to have a positive impact on children’s wellbeing through nature led activities.”

Donna Howitt, Place Strategy Director for Liverpool ONE

“Organisations like Next Chapter NW CIC do such crucial work in the Liverpool City Region, helping to keep our young people happy, healthy and thriving.

“This year’s Liverpool ONE Foundation grants to youth organisations across the Liverpool City Region are a continuation of our investment in our city’s young people and their futures. We can’t wait to see the positive impact they have.”

Rae Brooke, Chief Executive of the Community Foundation for Merseyside

The post Mental health boost across the region with Liverpool ONE Foundation grants appeared first on Liverpool ONE.

A beautiful large wall mural takes over the entrance of Peter’s Lane, created by Liverpool ONE Culture Partner, Focal Studios.

The stunning artwork, ‘Harmony in Blossom’, is inspired by the rich tapestry of Chinese forestry landscapes. Designed for the Lunar New Year, it seamlessly integrates elements that evoke the spirit of new beginnings, prosperity, and the rejuvenation of nature.

The artwork employs a variety of illusionary techniques to ensure the scene extends beyond the two-dimensional surface of the printed walls. It incorporates ambiguous pathways and clearings within the imagery that allows viewers to imagine the continuation of the scene beyond the printed surface. This deliberate obscurity encourages diverse interpretations, inviting viewers to construct their own narratives and stories within the enchanting Chinese landscape. The forest floor extends into a sandstone pathway, allowing audiences to interact with the scene and take photos within the landscape.

The central theme of the artwork revolves around the symbolic significance of cherry
blossoms, heralding the arrival of spring and the promise of new life. Delicate branches adorned with these blossoms intertwine gracefully, forming a visual narrative that encapsulates the earth awakening after winter’s slumber.

Focal Studios are based in Start Yard, Birkenhead and specialise in creating immersive experiences, with tens of thousands of spectators across the country having experienced, discovered, and enjoyed our work.

Find out more about Focal Studios here.

Find out more about Liverpool ONE Culture Partners here.

The post Harmony in Blossom unveiled at Liverpool ONE for Lunar New Year Celebrations appeared first on Liverpool ONE.