Wirral's independent local news website
Christmas has come early for a community group in Liverpool after being awarded £10,000 by the Steve Morgan Foundation.
Love Wavertree was founded in 2019 in response to some negative media coverage of the area, and it has since grown to support a variety of local initiatives.
The organisation is now a Community Interest Company (CIC) and runs a shop called Reloved on Picton Road, selling donated clothes and general bric-a-brac.
Love Wavertree is volunteer-led and offers training opportunities to long-term unemployed and bursary programmes to people looking for work experience.
The CIC’s energy costs, like many others, have been impacted by rising energy costs. With demand for its weekly food club and referral programme soaring in recent months, they applied to the Steve Morgan Foundation for assistance and were awarded £10,000 to go towards its running costs.
Volunteer director Jean Warner said, “We were so grateful to the Foundation. When we were told we would be getting £10,000 it felt like Christmas had come early. Demand for our services has really gone up.”
Warner said Love Wavertree was launched to change the perception of the area after some negative headlines.
Since then the group has been involved in everything from book clubs, litter picks, park runs, sewing lessons, community markets, paying for a defibrillator and sponsoring children’s football teams.
Warner said, “The key focus of our work is about improving the local area but helping local families at the same time. Our activities have evolved as we have responded to what local people have said they have needed.
“Earlier this year we reviewed our operations and realised that as volunteers we were at full capacity.
“We’re are all volunteers and we were being asked to do more projects than we could manage.
“Our energy costs were going up so we approached the Steve Morgan Foundation and the £10,000 grant has really taken the pressure off.”
Liam Eaglestone, CEO of the Steve Morgan Foundation, said, “Love Wavertree is a relatively new organisation but has already made a big difference to their community. They rely heavily on their dedicated team of volunteers and we’re delighted to support them.”
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