Wellbeing Enterprises Secures National Lottery Funding for Liverpool City Region Imaginarium

Four-year investment will launch a new civic platform to unlock civic capability and imagination across the region.

Wellbeing Enterprises CIC has secured funding from The National Lottery Community Fund, the largest funder of community activity in the UK to deliver the Liverpool City Region Imaginarium over the next four years.

The funding will support the development of a bold new civic platform designed to unlock civic capability and imagination - helping people develop the confidence, relationships and opportunities to shape the future of their communities.

Bringing together communities, practitioners and institutions from across Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool, Sefton, St Helens and Wirral, the Imaginarium will create space for people from all backgrounds to come together, share ideas and work collaboratively to address the issues that matter most in people’s lives - from health and wellbeing to greener neighbourhoods, stronger communities, greater opportunity and a more inclusive and sustainable future.

At a time when many communities feel disconnected from decision-making and pessimistic about the future, the Imaginarium aims to create new spaces for participation, creativity and collective problem-solving.

The Imaginarium will operate as a grassroots “think and do tank”, turning ideas into action through Imagination Labs, Dream Roadshows, Civic Fellowships and People’s Policy Prototypes - community-designed ideas for improving local systems, services and neighbourhoods.

For example, through local Dream Roadshows and Imagination Labs, residents and community organisations will be supported to develop and test ideas that respond to priorities identified by communities across the Liverpool City Region - including improving opportunities for young people, strengthening community cohesion across neighbourhoods and creating healthier, more connected communities.

The Imaginarium is open to everyone, while placing a strong emphasis on ensuring that people whose voices are often unheard are able to participate, contribute and shape outcomes.

Over the next four years, the Imaginarium will:

• Engage thousands of residents across the Liverpool City Region
• Support the development of new community leaders and civic capability
• Enable communities and partners to co-design and test practical solutions
• Influence policy and system change through lived experience and collective insight
• Strengthen connections between communities, organisations and public institutions

By connecting communities with public services, academic partners and local organisations, the Imaginarium will strengthen civic participation, build community confidence and create a lasting infrastructure for imagination-led change across the Liverpool City Region.

Mark Swift, Founder CEO of Wellbeing Enterprises CIC, said:

We are incredibly proud to have secured this investment from The National Lottery Community Fund to bring the Imaginarium to life across the Liverpool City Region over the next four years.

The Imaginarium is about unlocking civic capability and imagination - creating the space, confidence and opportunity for people to shape the future of their communities.

This is for everyone. It’s about bringing people together from different backgrounds and experiences, while making sure that those who are too often excluded from decision-making are able to participate and influence change.

We want the Imaginarium to become a platform where communities, practitioners and partners can come together to imagine and create healthier, fairer, greener and more connected futures for the Liverpool City Region. Together, we will turn ideas into action and build a new model for how communities and systems work together to improve wellbeing, reduce inequalities and create lasting change.

Beth Plant, Funding Manager at The National Lottery Community Fund, said:

Thanks to National Lottery players, we are delighted to support Wellbeing Enterprises CIC to deliver the Liverpool City Region Imaginarium.

This is an ambitious and innovative project that brings people together to share ideas, strengthen connections and shape solutions to the challenges they face.

We look forward to seeing how this work enables people across the region to improve their wellbeing and play an active role in shaping their communities.

Notes to Editors

• Wellbeing Enterprises CIC is a social enterprise working across the Liverpool City Region to support people to live healthier, happier and more connected lives.
• The Liverpool City Region Imaginarium is supported by The National Lottery Community Fund, with an initial four-year investment to establish and grow the platform.
• Activity will take place across Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool, Sefton, St Helens and Wirral.
• For more information, contact: James Smith - [email protected]  T: 01928 589 799