Pupils reflect on their visit to The Shewsy as The Big Give begins next week

Eleven Salopians, accompanied by Mr Tickner and Miss Jones, visited the Shewsy this week.

This trip, which was based on a Law theme, resulted in some truly extraordinary opportunities and experiences that will live long in the minds of staff and pupils. Hanna M, Richard P and Magdalena K Del O summarise the trip brilliantly below.

What comes across clearly is the mutual benefit that Salopians and The Shewsy enjoy as a result of their long-standing relationship which has existed since 1903. Almost all of the Shewsy’s income to maintain their impact in the Everton community comes from charitable donation and the Shewsy would not exist without the support of the Salopian community.

The Big Give is about to start (2^nd – 9^th December) where all funds raised will be matched to double the impact. The generosity of the Salopian community in the next few weeks will be vital to support the Shewsy’s ongoing mission, and I hope our pupils’ words below will assure those who wish to donate that they are supporting a very worthy cause. Please dig deep to make this the best Big Give ever.

Dr Richard Case, Biology

Richard P (LVI, SH):

Our time at the Shewsy gave us a new insight into the importance of teamwork, and how a good community can shape young people’s lives. We learnt that the deprivation in Everton meant that the Shewsy stood as the only stable place of safety in many very young children’s lives, highlighting the importance of keeping it running.

Meeting the members of the club was both fun and transformative; at the Senior Club, we were privileged to interact with many people of a similar age to us, who were all kind enough to share their experiences, which gave us newfound perspective on the scale of the club’s impact on the community. At the Junior club, wewere quickly welcomed by the younger members of the club, and swiftly invited to a (very intense!) game of football in the club’s brilliant sports hall, where Mr Tickner, Felix and myself from Shrewsbury teamed up with the local vicar – Rev. Mikey Ferguson – against what seemed like the entirety of the local primary school! Additionally, we were invited to join the children in making a collaborative piece of artwork that championed the Shewsy’s inspiring motto: “Where people matter more than things.”

None of this opportunity that we were lucky enough to be presented with could have happened were it not for the unwavering efforts and generosity of the staff at the Shewsy. Namely, John Dumbell, the Senior Youth Worker, who took the time to give us an eye-opening tour of the area, teaching us about the past, present, and hopes for the future. We were treated to a spectacular view of the city from Everton Park, and had the opportunity to visit the Diogo Jota and Hillsborough Disaster memorials. The CEO, Vicki Parker, was also heavily involved in making sure we had everything we needed, as well as organising the discussions with the Judges. Vicki also shared the exciting news that the members of the Junior Club would be paying a visit to Shrewsbury School in 2026 – a visit that we very much hope they enjoy.

Hannah M (LVI, MSH):

We were lucky enough to speak to five different judges during our visit. On Tuesday evening, we met with Sir Mark Hedley, a retired High Court judge. Then, on Wednesday morning, we visited the Queen Elizabeth II Law Courts, where we met four Crown Court judges. It was extremely kind of them to give up their time, and the experience was truly invaluable. We were able to ask any questions we liked and learnt a great deal about what it takes, not only to become a judge or a lawyer, but also to work in the legal profession in general. They explained how the courts operate, with particular focus on the process of sentencing and the many steps involved before a final decision is made. We heard their professional views on punishment, rehabilitation, and how the growing awareness of neurodiversity and mental health is influencing the court system today. We also learnt more about crime in Liverpool, and discovered that, despite its reputation, the city does not experience any more crime than other major cities.

After meeting the four judges on Wednesday morning, we split into two groups. My group was fortunate enough to sit with the reporters observing the case of Paul Doyle, the man who drove into around 130 adults and children during the Liverpool parade last May. We happened to be there on the day he had a shock change of plea to guilty, after having pleaded not guilty all throughout the earlier proceedings. We watched the press rush to report the development, and it felt like a rather historic moment to witness. To add to our experience, the judge presiding over the case – the Recorder of Liverpool, Judge Menary - was one of the four judges we had spoken to earlier that morning.

Magdalena K (LVI, MSH):

I was a member of the second group of students: We were invited to watch a trial and sentencing for an alleged assault. As members of the public gallery, we sat behind the defendant and next to his family, allowing us to observe the interplay between justice and humanity – something we had asked the panel of judges questions about previously.

After this unique experience, we left the court and integrated with some of the children from the Senior Club we had got to know the night before. We split up into two groups and begun a touristic ‘treasure hunt’ to deepen our cultural understanding of the area. We were tasked with finding significant places in Liverpool and taking selfies in front of them. Personal highlights included the Cavern Club, where the Beatles started their careers, and the costumes store, where we took a selfie (wearing the obligatory comedy outfits!). This was a brilliant activity, as we got to know the members of the Shewsy better by learning more about the culture they grew up with. Overall, we are all immensely grateful to everyone involved in making this trip what it was, and hope that the Shewsy can continue to do its vital work of supporting the vulnerable community which it serves.