SAFE Regen began life as small creative arts collective in the late 1990s, winning commissions from hospitals, schools, charities, public services and private contractors to engage communities in the co-production of public artworks. After taking up residence in a dis-used school in Bootle in 2007, SAFE has achieved rapid and sustained growth, becoming firmly established as a key Community Hub in the South Sefton community, supporting thousands of local residents and helping hundreds of small businesses, social enterprises, creative and social organisations to start up and grow. It acts as a conduit between the ‘family’ of social organisations and micro/SMEs based with its hub, and major anchor institutions such as Sefton Borough Council, local Public Health and NHS trusts, colleges and universities, housing associations and regeneration bodies. It now owns and manages; a community pub (event space), a Community Business Hub (housing 13 other social enterprises) 5 acres of growing/public space adjacent to a stretch of the Liverpool/Leeds canal, which it has formally adopted and cares for. Our main focus is the regeneration of a small area around the Leeds-Liverpool canal near Bootle town centre. Working with our partners, including Regenerus, Canal and Rivers Trust and Sefton Council, we take a community approach to regeneration, carrying out as much work as we possibly can amongst ourselves. This means greater training, development and employment opportunities for local people and a greater sense of ownership and engagement in the regeneration, as well as keeping costs as low as possible. SAFE led the destinationbootle project – a major £33 million-pound community-led capital development programme which involves the building of affordable homes, integrated community business/health facilities and a canal side leisure offer. This programme will ensure the fullest involvement of local people of all abilities in the regeneration of their neighbourhood.
