Stephanie Peacock MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport), visited Knowsley last week to meet local heroes who are involved in community projects and grassroots sports.
Along with Anneliese Midgley, MP for Knowsley, and Councillor Graham Morgan, Leader of Knowsley Council, the MP met with Tom Stalker, a former Olympic boxer, from Stalker’s Gym in Huyton and also representatives from Make CIC in Huyton Village and Heart of Glass who are based at Make CIC.
Tom captained the Team GB boxing team at the London 2012 Olympics, opened Stalker’s Gym on Derby Road in 2023 to provide boxing opportunities for children and young people.
Stalker’s Gym is also one of the key delivery partners for Knowsley Council’s Be the Change project. The aim of Be the Change is to steer women and girls in Knowsley away from those involved in serious and organised crime through a range of sessions, from wellness classes for new and expectant mums to the sport and fitness sessions on offer at Stalker’s Gym.
Make CIC is a purpose-driven social enterprise with several vibrant spaces across the Liverpool City Region – with one such space being located on Derby Road in Huyton. Make CIC unites and enriches communities through creativity, art and culture through a range of classes as well as offering a ‘maker space’ for new ventures to grow and develop.
Heart of Glass has a space in Make CIC and delivers a range of activities and projects in and around Knowsley. Heart of Glass is a community arts organisation and bring communities together to create real change for communities. Through collaboration and conversation, Heart of Glass bring amazing art projects to the most surprising spaces throughout Knowsley and beyond – from book clubs, crafting workshops through to engaging with communities to deliver a sculpture at Huyton Train Station, art trails across six parks in Halewood and a Strong Women mural installed in Kirkby town centre.
Anneliese Midgley MP said “I loved welcoming Minister Peacock to Knowsley for the first time, and introducing her to the incredible work Stalker’s Gym, Make and Heart of Glass are doing in Huyton Village by supporting young people through grassroots sports and creating spaces for arts and culture. She got a glimpse of what Knowsley has to offer, and I know this Government is committed to helping us go even further. I will be pressing her for investment in sports and government initiatives to come to Knowsley.”
Cllr Graham Morgan, Leader of Knowsley Council, added “I was delighted to welcome Stephanie Peacock MP to Knowsley and showcase some of the fantastic work we are doing here to promote community engagement and activities. Stalker’s Gym, Make CIC and Heart of Glass are all delivering truly inspiring activities and projects here in Knowsley for the benefit of our communities.”