Monthly Archives: September 2009

Staff at Liverpool Lighthouse were in high spirits today as they prepared for a visit from Bulgarian VIP’s. The Deputy Mayor, Mrs Albena Atanasova and her assistant Anton Konstantinov from Sofia are members of a European good practice network called CoNet. The pair were treated to Liverpool Lighthouse’s culinary delights and entertainment as they learned about the UK’s first Urban Arts Centre.

The delegates five day trip to Liverpool that started on Monday 21st September had been organised by Liverpool City Council as part of a networking visit between CoNet and local social inclusion agencies which included Liverpool Lighthouse.

The afternoon was spent with Dr Modupe Omideyi (Liverpool Lighthouse CEO), Dr Tani Omideyi and Senior Managers as they demonstrated the work that happens here at the centre and beyond. Mrs Atanasova and Anton Konstantinov observed both ESOL and Harmonize classes taking place. They joked with Harmonize students asking if they knew where Bulgaria was. They then learned about Liverpool Lighthouse’s Bethal House project where they seemed to listen with interest as Housing Manager, Avril explained the aspects of the programme. International Manager Alfie Levene talked the group through the healthy eating practices that Bliss Bistro employs and the community service that the Furniture store offers.

Then came the entertainment which began with the over 55’s Kaleidescope Project performing their line dancing. The visitors had smiles on their faces as they observed the show and clapped along in support. This was followed by a fabulous performance by international guest Gospel artist Jimmy Lee Howard who had come all the way from Canada. It highlighted the international artists who perform at Kings’s Hall and the inclusion of gospel music in Liverpool Lighthouse projects across the organisation. Jimmy performed three show-stopping numbers effortlessly and had the audience up dancing. The final part of the afternoon involved collaboration talks with Liverpool Lighthouse’s CEO and Senior Managers.

On the day, Mrs Atanasova said “I have been very impressed with the way Liverpool Lighthouse’sprogrammes bring groups in danger of exclusion together. We have similar initiatives in Bulgaria but we can learn from one another. As a wheelchair user herself, Mrs Atanasova said “I have been most impressed with Liverpool’s disabled access around the city and especially on public transport systems. This is an area that we need to develop in Bulgaria and we shall take best practice ideas back with us.”

The UK’s first Urban Gospel Arts Centre, Liverpool Lighthouse is at the centre of an identity mix up. Merseyside’s drug rehabilitation charity The Lighthouse Project, who’s only connection with Liverpool Lighthouse is the similar name, featured in the news recently when it went into administration. Since then, Liverpool Lighthouse has been inundated with calls from concerned members of the public who have mistaken them for the ill-fated charity. Most disturbing though, is the news that the Local Education Authority who refer young people to Liverpool Lighthouse’ alternative education programme, have been wrongly informing parents that they have gone into administration.

Liverpool Lighthouse’s CEO, Dr Modupe Omideyi says “The Board and Management of Liverpool Lighthouse Ltd are sorry to hear in the news that an unassociated organisation with a similar name, that is, the Lighthouse Project, has gone into liquidation. We would like to make it clear that Liverpool Lighthouse, which is not connected in any way to the Lighthouse Project, is still fully operational and trading. As a charity we are in a strong position and have just received substantial funding from the Department for Children Schools and Families to run a weekend project in North Liverpool to engage with 600 young people. If this misconception continues to spread it could have detrimental effects on our work. We urge the local media to help us to get this message across to help us to continue with our community work.”