THE FIRST YEAR
Southport Learning Town
Thank you for visiting the Southport Learning Town website.Learning Town began in late 2024 and early 2025 as a community-led initiative exploring how learning, creativity and participation can support wellbeing and place-based renewal in Southport.This work included the successful launch event at West Lancashire Yacht Club and the acclaimed inaugural Learning Festival held in June 2025, which brought together local residents, organisations and partners.As the early activity progressed, a wider opportunity became clear: coastal communities across the Liverpool City Region face shared challenges and shared potential. This insight has contributed to the development of Civic Coast - a broader, evidence-led framework supporting learning, skills, culture, inclusion and regeneration across our coastal places.This website is currently being updated to reflect this wider landscape of activity.To learn more about this regional work, please visit:
👉 civiccoast.orgThank you for your interest and support.
The original vision
Southport Learning Town began in early 2025 with a simple but powerful idea:that learning, creativity, curiosity and participation can strengthen communities, improve wellbeing and help shape a vibrant future for Southport.This vision was underpinned by a compelling strategic framework developed with local partners, placing lifelong learning at the heart of civic renewal.
Partners Coming Together
From the outset, local organisations rallied behind the vision - including cultural institutions, community groups, education providers and voluntary bodies.
Together they helped shape a programme that celebrated Southport’s identity, strengthened intergenerational connections, and highlighted the town’s creative and civic energy.
Public Launch Event
The initiative was first introduced at a well-attended launch event at West Lancashire Yacht Club in June 2025, where partners, community organisations and residents came together to explore the potential of a Learning Town model for Southport.The event showcased the enthusiasm, talent and collaborative spirit already present across the town.
The Inaugural Learning Festival
In June 2025, Southport hosted its first Learning Festival - a community-led celebration of curiosity, creativity and connection.Events took place across the town, involving families, older learners, schools, artists, speakers, and local organisations.The festival received strong praise from participants and partners alike, demonstrating the power of shared learning in building community and supporting wellbeing.
The Evolution: From a Learning Town to a Civic Coast
As this early work progressed, a wider opportunity became clear:Coastal communities across the Liverpool City Region face shared challenges - and shared potential.The insights, partnerships and learning from Southport have contributed to the development of Civic Coast:a broader, evidence-led framework supporting learning, skills, culture, inclusion and regeneration across our coastal places.Civic Coast builds upon the original Southport vision while expanding its scope and ambition.
Follow the Journey
This website is currently being updated to reflect this wider landscape of activity and the emerging opportunities for Southport and neighbouring coastal communities.To explore the next phase of this work, please visit:
👉 civiccoast.orgThank you for your interest and support.
Thank you!
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