Safe Spaces Trail- LoveLocks
This is a transcript of the podcast for LoveLocks. If you want to listen to the podcast, you can do so here. This was written by Megan.
A rolodex of memories sits in front of me as I attempt to pinpoint exactly when I fell in love with the aptly named café that soon became a home away from home. Was it the time I realised the girl sat before me was my best friend, when I cried in the toilets about my impending deadlines? When a pastry was put in front of me, a candle lit, and happy birthday whispered? When the ‘NO TERFS ON OUR TURF’ sticker was ripped off by an unwelcome visitor, only to be replaced by a larger statement scrawled onto the door in permanent marker? Is it the constant chats about animals, drag or music? Or is it just an accumulation of it all?
For when the world gets too much, when my breath is stuck at the back of my throat and my words struggle to form a sentence, I find myself here. When I sought security and warmth, this place opened its doors. Homesickness was left outside time and time again, as Liverpool welcomed me.
But what is Liverpool without its people? Without Scousers. Those who are born here, and those who find themselves here, called by a power bigger than themselves.
With a smile, an open door and cuppa in hand, it is Lovelocks that first taught me of the real Liverpool.
For I am the latter scouser. The one who wasn’t born here, but instead found myself pulled by the magnetism of a space that rejected Tory rules and said no to inhumanity, a place who welcomed people from across the world and stood up to what was right.
A community, similarly, to a plant, needs a lot of love and affection to blossom. Look around, see the blooms fill the space. A microcosmic environment of the city we inhabit. In inclusivity and warmth, we thrive.
Lovelocks captures the very essence of its namesake. In loyalty and a lack of judgement, a space has been created that harbours creatives, welcomes families and unites friends. Your identity is irrelevant, but Terf’s aren’t welcome, racists are stopped at the door and Tories can think again.
What do you hope people take away from your piece of work?
I’m hoping that people take away the importance of this space when they listen to or read my work. That they come to see the space themselves and find the same warmth that I do. Because everyone deserves to find their very own safe space, and it would be lovely if people found theirs through me.
If you could design your ideal space, what element of *this* space would you include?
If I could design my own space, I would steal so much of the elements that drew me to Lovelocks. The plants, the people, the prints. I’d need Sarah to do the cooking too. Can I just make Lovelocks 100 per cent vegan and put a photo of my cat up? Because I think it would be perfect then to be honest.
Why do you think safe spaces are important for young people?
Our country is almost set up to work against young people. From rising student debts to the constant scapegoating of our generation when tory policy backfires. It’s a lot. It’s overwhelming. So we need these hubs, the spaces filled with like minded people. To reset and realise our worth. To grow and develop in a space where we’re supported rather than cut down at every opportunity. These spaces prove to us that we are more than worthy of our successes, our friendships and the love we receive. And there’s nothing more important than that really is there.