Growing Faith Hub launched at Alsop High School

Faith leaders, community members and students attended a special event at Alsop High School to launch a Growing Faith Learning hub. The event was launched in the presence of The Lord Mayor of Liverpool, Councillor Roy Gladden.

The launch included music performed by students from Alsop High School and Arnot St Mary Church of England Primary School. Young people, who will be at the heart of the learning hub, spoke about how they want to generate neighbourhood pride and build “beacons of hope” in which all can flourish and build the interests of all – the common good. 

Readings and prayers from major world religions were also read by pupils from Kirkdale St Lawrence Primary School.

Canon Ellen Loudon, director of social justice at Liverpool Cathedral, spoke about how the hub will enable young people to gain an understanding of religion. Canon Loudon reminded the assembled audience that schools are at the centre of communities and play a vital role in their transformation. 

Bishop Tom Williams from the Archdiocese of Liverpool reminded young people of their potential to be the change the want to see.

Inspector Sarah Rotherham, local policing community inspector, said: “Thank you for inviting me to the launch of the Together We Can Growing Faith Club at Alsop High School. It was evident that there is enthusiasm and passion for community at Alsop and this is reflected within the pupils and staff at the school. 

“I went away from the launch hopeful and excited for the future. Thank you for all the school does, not only for the pupils of Alsop, but the wider community.”

Kim O’Brien, executive editor of Educate Magazine, said: “The launch was amazing. I felt incredibly privileged to be invited. 

“What Alsop have accomplished is truly inspiring and the school should feel very proud. A real honour to be invited.”

The Growing Faith Hub is funded by the Church of England and it will foster opportunities to celebrate faith through stories of hope and social action within schools throughout north Liverpool. 

The hub will be the catalyst to grow faith, form character and develop a “Network of Kindness” to bring people together. It will provide the opportunity to link the faith communities with local schools and institutions.

The launch included a film recorded in Walton Church for the Day of Remembrance for the those who have died from Covid-19. During the film, young people lit candles and spoke eloquently about how we rebuild and reconnect after the recent pandemic.

You can watch the film here.

During the launch Alsop High School pledged to work with Arnot St Mary and Kirkdale St Lawrence Primary Schools, Walton Team Ministry, Liverpool Diocese and the leaders of faith communities. They pledged to work together for the common good and encourage collaboration between people of different faiths and cultures. 

The hub intends to foster communities where the voice of children and young people is instinctively at the centre of thinking and practice and where children and young people are enabled to be leaders and ‘agents of change’.