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Ground-breaking Kitty’s Launderette plans expansion with new community crowdfunder
The north Liverpool-based cooperative social enterprise is continuing its laundry adventure, delivering more positive social impact with new sustainable growth plans. Kitty’s Launderette plans to grow the scale and impact of its work across the Liverpool city region. It plans to purchase an electric delivery van and charge point, as well as install a solar panel array on the roof. This will enable them to reach more customers and increase the long term environmental sustainability of the community business. To do so, they have launched a fundraising campaign on Crowdfunder UK, with a plan to raise £20,000 by 30th July. The launderette, based in Anfield/Everton offers good quality, affordable and environmental laundry services, as well as an accessible social space. Alongside becoming a thriving community hub, its work tackles social isolation and hygiene poverty with a programme that includes film nights, knitting groups, social history projects and subsidised laundry services for people struggling with the cost-of-living crisis. Supporters can choose from a range of rewards made by local artists and craftspeople, including recycled textile tote bags, natural soaps, postcards and enamel pin badges. There are also opportunities to hire the launderette for an event, or name a solar panel on its roof. Kitty’s Launderette was established in 2019 by a group of local residents to support their communityand invests everything it makes back into local jobs paying the Real Living Wage, quality services andfree social and educational events. It has survived the pandemic within their first year, and growninto a thriving community hub. In 2023 Kitty’s won the Community-Based Social Enterprise Awardfrom Social Enterprise UK, at the national sector body awards, which recognise impact andinnovation in purpose-led business. An independent Social Impact Report conducted in 2024, found that for every £1 spent or investedinto Kitty’s Launderette, they turn this into £43 of Social Value for their community. Grace Harrison, Organisational Development Lead at Kitty’s, says: “Kitty's Launderette has only gotthis far through the amazing support of people near and far who have believed in us and our vision.“ When Kitty’s Launderette launched its first crowdfunder back in 2018, it received massive interest and support – from Anfield to Canada, and was featured on the BBC, The Independent, The Guardian and Elle Magazine. Its 366 backers on the platform Kickstarter, included eight people who chose to name washing machines after loved ones. The plaques, proudly named after Granny Trixie, Dominic Magurie and Phyllis, can still be seen on the machines in Kitty’s today. Grace says “We were bowled over by the excitement and trust people put in us to deliver on our commitment to building a community launderette! We are so proud to say we achieved our dream with the support of our community. We really wanted to invite everyone to be part of this next stage of our development and so when people see our amazing new lecky van driving around town they can know they played a role in making that happen!“ It is the launderette’s experience of community need, shaped over the last six years, that has driven this new investment in environmentally-sustainable growth. Anthony Scott, Community Lead at Kitty’s said: “We have been working towards plans for a delivery service for some time. We established a temporary delivery service during the Covid-19 pandemic to support residents who were shielding at home in partnership with another local social enterprise, Peloton, using their cargo bikes. Recently, we have been running a commercial delivery service pilot with a local cab driver. We Know there is lots of interest in us establishing a permanent service with lots of capacity for responding to the changing needs of our community." Kitty’s has been committed to being an environmentally conscious business from the start. All of its machines are electric, powered by 100% renewable electricity. The plans for an electric van, powered by solar panels, enables Kitty’s to continue to grow, while minimising the impact on the environment and reducing localised emissions. In 2023, Kitty’s won the Community-Based Social Enterprise Award at the Social Enterprise UK Awards, receiving national recognition for the role it plays in its community. The awards recognise impact and innovation in purpose-led business. The campaign features a beautiful animated film from local artists Laura Spark and Jack Whiteley. To find out more about the campaign and take part, head to https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/kittys-laundry-deliveries. https://vimeo.com/1094783968?fl=pl&fe=sh kittyslaundrette.org.uk
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