A Visit to the Shewsy: Discovering Community in Everton

A few weeks ago I, and some fellow Lower Sixth pupils took a trip to Everton, Liverpool to visit Shrewsbury House, more commonly known as the Shewsy.

Because the school has been connected with the youth club since it was first established over a century ago, I had heard many things about the Shewsy through assemblies, newsletters, and word of mouth from different visiting trips and students. Yet, I had never known the full story of the club and organisation.

I wanted to attend a trip to the Shewsy to explore the art and culture of Liverpool (and admittedly I wanted to have a chance to witness with my own eyes where the Beatles had formed), but once I got off the bus, I realised that there was so much more to the area, and more importantly, the Shewsy, than I had ever thought. To describe the environment of the Shewsy as anything other than a family, although cliché, would be a lie. From the moment we entered the youth club, there was an immediate feeling of belonging and consideration for others.

We first went on a walking tour of the area led by one of the leaders of the organisation, where we achieved a better understanding of the history of the Shewsy and Everton. Following that, the other students and I went to pick up the junior group from primary school to accompany them back to the club. Engaging with the smaller children was a real joy. From making bracelets to playing tag, interacting with the kids and forming a real connection with them over the two sessions was one of the highlights of my year.

Following that, the other students and I attended the senior club, which catered more towards children closer to our own ages. Through dance and karaoke, we were able to join in on their routines at the club. It felt as though we had all attended the Shewsy for years together. Again, although we all come from different backgrounds, it was heartwarming to know that we could all enjoy the activities at the Shewsy together, regardless of whether or not we had ever attended before.

In terms of learning about the art and culture of Liverpool, the other students and I had the opportunity to drive into the heart of the city and see the two very different cathedrals in person. We then had some free time to roam around the Liverpool Art Museum, a highlight for me, and later in the day we had a guided tour of Liverpool Hope University, a school dedicated to the creative and performing arts. There we even had the chance to experiment with making our own music! An informal talk was also given to us by the established playwright, and former Shewsy member Kenny O’Connell, in which we were able to ask questions about the process of writing a script, and overall gain more interesting information about his profession.

Seeing the art and culture of Liverpool was an amazing experience, but on the whole, visiting the Shewsy is an event that I will never forget. From the other children, younger or our age, to the history of the club, and even to staying overnight in the hostel itself with other friends in my year, it was a wonderful experience to have attended the Shewsy trip. I would recommend it to anyone considering it in the future; you will undoubtedly have as amazing an experience as I did. And as I now know, Liverpool is so much more than just the town that the Beatles grew up in.

Lulu P (UVI, QEH)