We are delighted to share that we have been anonymously nominated for a Liverpool Community Impact Award!
Taking place this month, the awards recognise inspiring people, organisations and groups and their positive impact on the community. The Liverpool Community Impact Awards 2025 aim to celebrate people who are making a real difference in their communities through charitable contribution and community-focused projects and initiatives.
Centre 56 has been shortlisted for the Liverpool Community Impact Award, which recognises outstanding impact on our community!
What is Centre 56?
Centre 56 has been a place of safety and hope for families in Kirkdale for more than 50 years. We provide specialist nursery care for children aged 2-12 years who have experienced domestic abuse or crisis situations. At any given time, our nursery can be supporting up to 60 children and their wider families, including parents, siblings and grandparents. Through our Rainbow Room, families can pick up food, essentials and clothing free of charge as and when they need it. We also provide things like energy and food vouchers to ensure that children are growing up in warm homes where the fridges are full.
Centre 56 is a specialist, Ofsted registered, nursery offering the extra support children need to develop their confidence and self-esteem, improve their mental health and wellbeing and learn how to regulate their emotions and behaviours. It’s a nurturing, safe space for children to rebuild their trust in the world – and we rely on the public for support, donations and volunteering.
Our history
Centre 56 was established by two Liverpool doctors willing to stand up for change. Dr Basil Levy and Dr Cyril Taylor had become increasingly concerned about the injuries sustained by women at the hands of their partners, and worse still, the effect it was having on the children, who were witnessing the violent arguments and attacks. Together, they founded Centre 56 in 1973, making it the first women’s refuge outside of London. At this time awareness and understanding of the impact of domestic abuse on children was limited. However, Levy and Taylor had already seen the need for comprehensive, child-centred support, and forged a path that was way ahead of its time.
Why is the work of Centre 56 important?
Unfortunately, the work of Centre 56 has never been more needed, with violence against women and girls recently being declared an epidemic in the UK. According to Refuge, 1 in 4 women will experience domestic abuse in their lifetime and 1 woman is killed by a partner or ex-partner in England and Wales every five days. In addition to this, up to 90% of abuse takes place within earshot of a child.
Research has consistently shown that children exposed to domestic abuse are more likely to develop emotional and behavioural problems, struggle academically, and face a higher risk of entering abusive relationships themselves. Centre 56 recognised this long before it became a widely acknowledged issue and set out to break this cycle of suffering.
How can you help Centre 56?
Your donations help us ensure that local families have enough food to eat, money on the metre to keep them warm and the support they need to navigate tough times.
By becoming a monthly donor, you can help us work strategically to provide trauma-informed support and care, creating futures that are free from abuse. Set up a monthly donation on our enthuse page.
You can also donate food, essentials and clothing to our Rainbow Room – a judgement free space for our families to dip into as and when they need to. We accept donations of:
- Tea, coffee and biscuits
- Tinned goods e.g. fruit, veggies, soups, beans, meats etc.
- Rice and pasta
- Toiletries and period products
- Nappies and baby products
- Laundry detergent and fabric softeners
- Children’s clothing (for ages 2 – 12)
Please contact us via hello@centre56.org.uk to arrange a drop off.
We’re absolutely made up to receive this nomination and to be surrounded by such an amazingly supportive community who consistently show up for the families that we’re working with. Thank you for helping us build futures free from abuse.
