How do we turn needs and ideas into sustainable enterprises for North Liverpool?
As I mentioned in my previous post on here Thursday evening and Friday this week were all about North Liverpool for me. Working here with The Beautiful Ideas Co. It was great.

After an afternoon on site at Granby 4 Streets I got on the 19 bus (not that one above) to Stanley Park. Thursday was a cold clear evening and I arrived at the park to see, all lit up and sparkling, one of the most beautiful sights in all of Liverpool.

The Isla Gladstone Conservatory.

I was well early for what I was there to do, so spent a good while outside taking these photographs. No apologies whatsoever then for showing you a good few of them. Our North Liverpool gem. Eventually I went inside, for the first time since I was a tiny child growing up over the road in Diana Street.

Gathering for the official beginning of LaunchPad by The Beautiful Ideas Co.

During which I Skyped with a couple of our inspirations from New York.

Lee-Sean Huang and David-Colby Reed from Foossa in Brooklyn – Community Centred Design and Social Innovation. Inspirational.

And all day Friday from 9:00 at the Sandon in Anfield.

The next morning, Friday, was an early gathering at The Sandon in Anfield for a day of ideas sharing and developing. A mix of residents, friends, city councillors and organisations, about 40 of us in all during the day. Collaborating openly on ideas for what might work in North Liverpool. Ideas just being born and shaped right now, but to be worked on and shaped further over the next few months in The Beautiful Ideas programme. So more on what they are as they begin to happen.

Friday morning inspirations and experiences came from Sally Anne and John from the Homebaked board.

Shortly followed in by Pat and Cally who’d brought in everyone’s lunch. Homebaked pies, tiffin and drinks to take out.

Because then we went out on a bus.

And no ordinary bus as you can see, but a vintage Liverpool Corporation bus from the Merseyside Transport Trust.

Most people, obviously, went upstairs for a good look around North Liverpool.

An hour or more thinking and looking at what might work where.

A bus full of stories, memories and possibilities.

And some quieter reflections and planning by the organisers downstairs.

‘Til we finally got back to Anfield for more planning and working at The Sandon in the afternoon.

Doing work you love, in a place you love and on a Corpy bus too?

Life doesn’t get much better. The Beautiful Ideas, in and with and from North Liverpool are on their way.

And if you weren’t there you haven’t missed out. Loads more still to happen.