Supporting Creative Co-learning in Southport

The Engine Room – An Experiment

Hello! I'm Dr Eric Lybeck, an American expat sociologist from the University of Manchester, who’s been researching issues around place, education, work and what seems to be holding back community regeneration in Britain and beyond. Building on years of research into 'what works' in creative regeneration strategies, and local collaboration across sectors in Southport, Merseyside and Greater Manchester, we created The Engine Room . Our vision is one where there are no empty shops on the high streets and together we re-imagine our seaside town in dynamic, inclusive and sustainable ways.

The Engine Room is a groundbreaking initiative aimed at transforming disused spaces in Southport into vibrant community and creative hubs. Our incubation model should provide a sustainable solution to revitalize our town, fostering local entrepreneurship and cultural growth. We plan to kickstart a generation of entrepreneurs who can fill the historic Wayfarers Arcade and then Lord Street with activity, creativity and culture. To fund this we need to build up the right balance of public, private and philanthropic funding. Particularly as we are getting started we need your support to build out our space and support the first cohort of young people to start new ventures.