Shrewsbury House - 'The Shewsy'
Shrewsbury House, a youth and community centre attached to St. Peter's Church in West Everton, Liverpool, has been a part of Shrewsbury School life for over one hundred years. Founded in 1903 by masters from Shrewsbury School, it continues to play a central role in the life of the Sixth Form.
Every year, four groups of pupils from the Lower Sixth spend nearly a week in the club, working with the young people and learning about life in the inner city, social care, crime and Liverpool's great maritime tradition. They leave changed, having had a wonderful, broadening time. These trips are very popular.
Links are strong between Shrewsbury House and the School, and the headmaster and three members of staff sit on its committee. Every May, a large group from Shrewsbury House spends the weekend at the school, and over the years good relationships have been fostered. Shrewsbury House is unique in being the only institution of its kind in the UK, and Shrewsbury School is also unique in offering social studies courses in its own youth and community centre.
Although some funding comes from Liverpool City Council and some from the Church of England, Shrewsbury House is still heavily reliant on donations from Salopians. It provides a valuable service in the community of West Everton which, although much changed, suffers from severe deprivation. However, the real poverty in the area remains spiritual and aspirational as much as anything else, and this is where the work of Shrewsbury House plays its part. The aim of the Shewsy is to provide a warm and safe environment for young people to meet, socialise and have fun. That was the case 100 years ago, and it still is.
