Friends Mark Scanlon and Lokendra Dooley hope to fill a gap in the city’s offerings
Co-creators of Awake Community Center Mark Scanlon and Lokendra Dooley
Two Scousers have joined forces in the hope of deterring kids from going down the “wrong path”. Entrepreneur and ex-MMA fighter Mark Scanlon has teamed up with friend Lokendra Dooley to launch a new community space in Old Swan.
Opening its doors this month, Awake Liverpool will offer children and young people aged five to 17 a safe and inspiring place to “learn, connect and grow” – something the owners argue the city needs more of. The space will provide a range of classes and workshops for children from every background, ensuring access for all families, with no barriers to participation.
Speaking about how it came about, Mark told the ECHO: “We’ve seen first-hand how few opportunities there are for young people in our local community. With so little to take part in, many kids and teens are left to figure things out on their own, and sometimes, that can lead them down the wrong path.
“At Awake, we want to change that. Our goal is to help young people stay active, connected and inspired, while giving them a chance to channel their energy into something real and positive.
Co-creators of Awake Community Center Mark Scanlon and Lokendra Dooley
“We’re building something for everyone, where every child in Liverpool feels like they belong somewhere. We want to help nurture the next generation into the best version of themselves.
Mark, who has worked on projects centre around children for six years now, will host some of the classes which range from fitness and martial arts to art and poetry.
Whereas his partner, Lokendra Dooley, who has spent the last eight years working as a full time volunteer at an Ashram in South India, is a trained Hatha Yoga teacher.
On Saturday, October 25, from 11am to 3pm, Awake will be hosting an open day to allow the community to see the space for the first time and get a taste for what’s to come. Each session will welcome around 20–30 participants and must be pre-booked to guarantee spaces.
Co-creators of Awake Community Center Mark Scanlon and Lokendra Dooley
The open day will have a variety of active sessions led by Awake’s amazing coaches that can be booked. They are free of charge but due to high demand, must be secured in advance so that the team can manage numbers.
Beyond its children’s programmes, Awake will act as a hub for community and cultural events across the city, including Mark’s endeavours at The I AM Project, digital detox events and the come together Christmas appeal.
Co-creator Lokendra added: “Awake is about bringing people together and reminding us of the importance and strength that lies in community.
“My background in practicing, training and teaching classical Hatha Yoga has transformed my life and I’ll be offering these powerful tools at Awake. I am grateful to be part of such an amazing and essential project in our city.”
Awake Liverpool, is found at 331 Prescot Road, Old Swan L13 3AS.