Most people would think that suburban and city life don’t go hand in hand.
However, in Marybone, located in Merseyside and just a 15-minute walk into Liverpool’s city centre, residents have the best of both worlds. The people in the area pride themselves on the tight-knit community, with a population of only 1,300 people, they love that everyone knows everyone.
Sandwiched between busy routes into the city centre, Leeds Street and Byrom Street, it sits in the shadow of historic buildings and has seen a lot of change in the recent decade with the demolition of the Churchill flyover and the new Byrom Point student block. The ECHO spent the day in the tiny part of Liverpool, chatting to some of the area's locals, to see what it’s like living in a slice of suburbia in the heart of the city and what they think makes it unique.
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At the heart of the community is the ‘Marybone Youth and Community Association’, a volunteer-led organisation that works to ensure residents in the community feel supported and provides a range of activities for young people and children.
Terence Brown, a football coach for Active Liverpool, has lived in Marybone his entire life and has dedicated his work to better the area for young people. He said, “I loved growing up in the area. Everyone’s happy and it’s a good, diverse community.”
He spoke of how since the children in the community became more active, the area overall has substantially improved. He said: “The impact on the kids is socially brilliant and it brought both the kids and the parents together.
“The wellbeing in the area has changed massively. We’ve not had much in the area before, but it’s got a bright future ahead. The area’s ready to thrive.”
Ahmed Karim, who has been living in Marybone for 10 years with his family said: “I do enjoy it here. We have good neighbours and are close to town. Everyone’s friendly in the area”.
Another local told the ECHO: “I’ve lived here all my life and never want to leave. The location and the people are great.”
Also making an impact in the area is former professional boxer Derry Mathews, who has been running his own boxing academy in Marybone for the last four years.
Derry spoke of how there is no one the club won’t welcome. He has made it his mission to create a hub for the community where everyone can enjoy themselves, from young children to professionals. He said: “Everyone loves the place and being in a happier environment. We’re putting back into the community and the city that we love.”
To make the area inclusive for all, Derry also caters sessions for people with disabilities and who suffer from bad mental health. Speaking of the local area and Liverpool, Derry said: “I’ll never leave the city, it’s the best city in the world.”
Despite the area’s small size, there is a real sense of community and neighbourly admiration. The residents of Marybone have shown how much they love their homes and the work they’re committed to improve the area shows how much potential it truly has.
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