Townsend Lane in Anfield was once a typical high street with pubs, butchers, bakeries, and electrical shops, fostering a deep sense of community. Over the decades, many pubs and community spaces closed, transforming the street. However, new businesses have retained the area's strong community spirit.
The Scranary Cafe: A Community Hub
Irene Nelson, 57, bought The Scranary cafe after walking past it nearly eight years ago, drawn by its spacious layout. While initially focused on commercial viability, the community she built makes her happy to work daily.
She told the ECHO: "Our customers in here are amazing, we get the same people in every week. I have got phone numbers for the majority of them. I buy them birthday presents, because they are like family to me."
She added: "For instance, we have two old ladies, Maureen and Pat, in their 90s. Every single Monday without fail, they come in. They have their own cups that I give them and they sit at the same table every week."
During the pandemic, Irene shifted her model but focused on protecting vulnerable community members. She said: "Through covid, I used to come in on a Sunday, even though we couldn't open. I used to make roast dinners and just pass them out to the customers that I knew needed them. Most of my customers are fairly old, so for me, there was a sense of who is going to do their roast dinners?"
Mio's Supermarket: A Long-Standing Provider
Further down the road, Mio's Supermarket, run by Miophe Saleh, 61, opened in 1982 and has been a vital service ever since. Miophe said: "When people come in here, they know they can be confident in what they're buying, because they're not going to get overcharged, they're going to get the best price we can give them. I think it's important that you have a good relationship with the community, in return they are great with us as well."
He added: "I think the way life is at the moment, everyone's struggling. We try and do promotions to make things as affordable for people as we can, we've always done that. We try and keep prices fair, and we try and survive like everyone else."
The Hope Foundation: A Charitable Hub
Townsend Lane faces social deprivation, but The Hope Foundation charity, opened in 2023, has become a vital hub. CEO Stephen Robertson said: "There is a real community ethos here that you don't really get in other parts of the city, so it's great to be a part of this community."
The Hope Foundation focuses on combating homelessness, reducing housing poverty, and managing financial issues. Stephen said: "We have an open door policy, anyone and everyone's welcome with any sort of need. We have a holistic approach, so we try and work with people around a range of projects, not just focus on one. If someone comes in and they need help with housing, we'll sit them down, we'll get them a coffee, and see how we can help them with that."
He added: "People can come with issues, the cost of living's a real issue at the moment, so a lot of people are struggling with that, just putting food on the table."
