A brand new community space is launching in Liverpool this month, offering children and young people aged five to 17 a safe and inspiring place to learn, connect and grow.

Officially opening its doors on Monday 27 October,  Awake Community Centre will offer a wide range of classes and workshops for children from every background, ensuring access for all families, with no barriers to participation.

Created by Liverpool entrepreneur Mark Scanlon – partner in Apex Liverpool, Frequency Fitness, The I Am Project, and the Come Together Christmas toy appeal – alongside his friend Lokendra Dooley, a trained Hatha Yoga teacher, Awake has been designed as a space for young people in Liverpool to move, create, grow and connect in meaningful ways.

Awake will host workshops, seminars, and live conversations and podcasts centred on wellbeing, personal development and shared life experiences, providing opportunities for young people to learn from one another and feel genuinely empowered.

Each session will welcome around 20–30 participants and must be pre-booked to guarantee spaces.

On Saturday 25 October, from 11am-3pm, Awake will be hosting an open day to allow the community to see the space for the first time and get a taste for what’s to come.

Beyond its children’s programmes, Awake will act as a hub for community and cultural events across the city, including Mark’s endeavours:

• The I AM Project – Delivering martial arts, physical fitness and mindfulness sessions to children in schools citywide. Mark has been hosting complimentary outdoor sessions throughout the summer and will bring these inside at Awake.
• Digital Detox Community Events – Free outdoor days encouraging families to disconnect from devices and reconnect with nature and each other. Mark has hosted four this year, taking around 600 people from Liverpool on days out to Wales with participants taking a day off their devices to connect with others and nature.
• Come Together Christmas Appeal – Each year Come Together Christmas support around 18 community centres across the city providing over 3000 families with toys, gifts, clothing as well as gas and electricity vouchers.

Awake is built for the community and sustained by it. All children’s classes will be able to operate without external funding, though donations and local support and are welcomed from anyone who wishes to help the centre grow and continue to expand its offerings.

Children attending are encouraged to make a donation to the centre, but sessions are open to all and subsidised for anyone not able to contribute.

Mark Scanlon, creator of Awake and several other wellbeing initiatives, says: “Over the past six years, I’ve worked on projects centred around children, their wellbeing and their behaviours, to help nurture the next generation into the best version of themselves.

“Our mission at Awake is to create a space where every child in Liverpool feels like they belong somewhere. We want to offer children and families a place to feel safe and connected as well as providing the opportunity to learn, laugh and grow, whether it be through fitness, creativity, knowledge or personal development.”

Lokendra Dooley, co-creator of Awake, adds: “Awake is about bringing people together and reminding us of the importance and strength that lies in community. My background in practicing, training and teaching classical Hatha Yoga has transformed my life and I’ll be offering these powerful tools at Awake.

“I am grateful to be part of such an amazing and essential project in our city.”

Awake’s new website is now live, and over the next two weeks it will be updated with class timetables, booking details, and information on upcoming events.

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