Table Reservations
Posted on 24.01.2019
The Shankly Hotel is known for playing host to an unmissable range of events. From afternoon tea served with a twist, to unique and themed occasions, at The Shankly Hotel we’re always striving to bring Liverpool something different.
So, when Louie Smith and his Dad approached us, we were excited to find out more about what they do. Louie is just 13, but has already built a wide following of supporters. The young DJ and budding entrepreneur has accumulated almost 9,000 Instagram followers for his growing events brand ‘Forever Young’.
The essence of Louie’s brand is to create a safe space for young people to come together and have fun. It’s no secret that children in the UK get their fair share of negative press, so Louie wanted to shed some light on the other side to the story.
Showcasing his entrepreneurial spirit, Louie set out to host kids raves for 10-14 years olds. Deciding that the events would be fully managed and professionally delivered, Louie also DJs at each event himself and invites other DJs to get involved too.
Louie gives profit from his shows to charity, with past donations going to Alder Hey. He is an ambassador for speaking out against Cyber Bullying having been victim of it himself due to the success he has had. Louie has created his own logo around ‘Speak Out’ and the hashtag #Iknowlouie to get people talking. He is also raising awareness against knife crime, another massive problem our youth are facing.
Forever Young began with one event in a small community hall. There were only about 80 people for the first rave, growing to a couple of hundred for the next event in Sefton Park. By Christmas, tickets for the event were in such high demand that Louie and his dad, Gerard came to meet our Director and Co-Owner, Chris Shankly with hopes of securing a bigger venue.
Chris decided to support him and offered our Garden of Eden venue for free, with our staff, team and expertise behind him. His latest event took place in Garden of Eden on 27th December, with 400 10-14 year olds in attendance. It’s safe to say that the night was a hit.
We’re delighted that Louie has chosen to donate a massive £500 from his last rave to The Cotton Street homeless shelter. On Friday 11th January, Louie and his mum and dad came along to make the generous donation and see what the shelter is all about. Louie and his family also had the chance to meet some of our residents and hear their stories.
Lawrence opened the shelter following the closure of Kingsway House. The Cotton Street Project is a unique homeless shelter initiative. Offering an opportunity to make life-changing connections, Cotton Street is designed to bring people together. Our social recovery program provides long-term solutions, from professional health support to training workshops.
We would like to say a big thank you to Louie and his family for their support and wish him the best of luck with his next ‘Forever Young’ events. Make sure you keep an eye out for more events this year! Head over to the Forever Young Instagram page to be kept in the loop.
