Written by Fluer Rollet-Manus
Illustrations by Elise Tel
For SUITCASE Magazine

Link to full article

….Trot along Oakfield Road and you'll find Kitty's Launderette, a cooperative that has been a driving force behind Anfield's transformation since it opened in 2019. More than somewhere to wash your dirty socks, the launderette - powered by renewable energy - doubles up as a welcoming space. Locals knock elbows in its coffee shop and meet for events including "free tea 'n' toast" mornings, language classes and book readings. Forget wash-and-go, Kitty's wants its visitors to wash-and-grow.

Spurred by childhood memories of closed youth clubs and run-down theatres, Kitty's founder Grace Harrison had been inspired by Homebaked's success. For her, community-owned businesses are the future of the high street - and not simply because they offer affordable amenities. "By engaging with local people, our decisions can be led by our community's needs and desires," she says. In the short time they've been open, Kitty's Launderette has improved the wellbeing and eco-consciousness of its neighbourhood - and it's only by pulling together with others that this real, tangible change has happened….