Revitalizing Anfield's Main Street: Kitty's Laundrette's Strategies for Decency and Renewal
Kitty's Laundrette: A Community Hub Revitalizing Liverpool's Anfield Neighborhood
In the heart of Liverpool's Anfield, a vibrant social enterprise named Kitty's Laundrette is making waves. This eco-friendly laundrette, founded by local residents in 2019, serves as a community hub, aiming to revitalize a historically deprived neighborhood [1][3].
The laundrette operates as a worker-community cooperative, with a flat structure that empowers all members to be involved in business decisions and programming. This inclusive approach extends to the staff, who are predominantly young and encouraged to take the lead in organizing activities and events [1].
Kitty's Laundrette is more than just a place to do laundry. It's a hub of social activities, offering a diverse range of events such as film nights, knitting groups, social history projects, and live music performances. The laundrette also serves as a space for community gatherings, hosting events like street theatre, dance classes, kids' story time, clothes swaps, and board game meetups [1].
Environmental sustainability is at the forefront of Kitty's Laundrette's operations. The laundrette uses biodegradable bags, eco-detergents, and runs on electric power from a supplier dealing in 100% renewables. In a bid to further reduce its carbon footprint, the laundrette is currently crowdfunding to purchase an electric delivery van and install solar panels to charge it [1][5].
Beyond its environmental efforts, Kitty's Laundrette addresses local social issues. It offers subsidized washing and drying services for those who cannot afford it, partnering with under-resourced services like children's centres, food banks, and asylum services [1].
The impact of Kitty's Laundrette is substantial. According to an independent Social Impact Report, for every £1 invested, the co-op generates £43 of social value for the community, demonstrating a strong multiplier effect on local well-being and social cohesion [1].
Located near a famous football stadium, Kitty's Laundrette is a beacon of hope for the Anfield-Everton area, which was ranked the 10th most deprived neighborhood in England in 2019 [2]. By providing affordable and green laundry services, fostering social connections, and tackling social isolation, hygiene poverty, and the cost-of-living crisis, Kitty's Laundrette is making a significant difference in the community [1][3].
References:
[1] Kitty's Laundrette. (2022). About Us. Retrieved from https://kittyslaundrette.coop/about
[2] Index of Multiple Deprivation 2019. (2019). Retrieved from https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/england-index-of-multiple-deprivation-2019/england-index-of-multiple-deprivation-2019
[3] The Big Issue North. (2021). Kitty's Laundrette: Liverpool's green and socially conscious laundromat. Retrieved from https://www.bigissue.com/news/uk-news/kittys-laundrette-liverpools-green-and-socially-conscious-laundromat/
[5] Kitty's Laundrette. (2022). Crowdfunding. Retrieved from https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/kittys-laundrette-electric-van-and-solar-panels
Kitty's Laundrette, in addition to being an eco-friendly wash house, also serves as a neighborhood home-and-garden for community activities, hosting events like film nights, knitting groups, and live music performances [1]. The laundrette's lifestyle goes beyond laundry, offering an extensive schedule of social events that bring people together [1].
