“THE Corner House - it is inclusive, warm and a lovely setting for little ones and their parents.”
What better endorsement is there for a not-for-profit charity set up for families?
The Corner House Community and Family Hub CIO is Wirral’s Best for Kids 2024 and the dedicated team behind the charity cried tears of joy when they heard they’d won our latest award.
In April, we launched our Best of 2024 competition and we’ve given out 12 awards.
- Best for Hair – LA Hair
- Best for Pies – Pies4u
- Best for Nails - By Taylor Jade
- Best for Roast Dinner - The 21st Amendment Hoylake
- Best for Cocktails – Cow Shed Bar & Grill
- Best for Breakfast – At Gilly Gem’s
- Best for Fish and Chips - SelFish
- Best Beer Garden - The Red Fox
- Best for Fitness – Clubbercise and Chill
- Best for Tattoos – Speakeasy Tattoo Studio
- Best Independent Shop or Business – Snips Movies
- Best for Dessert – The Cookery Nook
Voting for Wirral’s Best for Pets is currently taking place and we’re also looking for nominations in our latest search - Best for Beauty.
Vote for Wirral’s Best for Pets 2024
Nominate your favourite for Wirral’s Best for Beauty 2024
Twelve kids’ classes and groups in Wirral made the shortlist for our latest Best of 2024 award and The Corner House Community and Family Hub CIO took this year’s coveted crown.
The Corner House is a registered charity made up of trustees – Kath Shaunessy, who is responsible for funding and finance, Andrew Smith, also finance, with Lisa McKevitt and Jane Egan taking care of the fun days and events and Lisa Smith working as manager.
It opened on January 4, 2022 having been previously known as Bee Early Years for 10 years.
The Corner House has always been in Birkenhead and when it got charity status the building on Berner Street became the new home.
Lisa, who is 45, said: “We were affiliated with Bee Wirral CIC but outgrew them so separated to stand on our own two feet, changing our name so as not to cause confusion between the two charities.
“The trustees have regular meetings to make sure the running of the charity is going smoothly and to make sure that the community is getting the best.
“They make the relevant changes in the best interests of The Corner House as a charity and for the community.
“The Corner House is a charity and we are a not-for-profit charity where every penny we earn goes back in to the charity itself.
“We have a wide range of groups, activities and special events, all planned to give your children the best start in life.
“We are a home from home for our families and we work closely with Package Hire Events Wirral (PHEW), A-Z Safari Parties, Ever Enchanted Events and FLS Events and Hire to bring special guests to the centre and light up the faces of our little ones.
“Santa also joins us at Christmas for our grotto.
“I am a qualified IAIM (International Association of Infant Massage) instructor and run a regular five-week infant massage session which is suitable from birth to one-year-old.”
The Corner House relies heavily on funding, fundraising and donations with everything going back out to the community.
The Corner House manager Lisa Smith
Lisa, who grew up in Birkenhead and Claughton Village and now lives in Seacombe, said: “I started working at SureStart before going on to Bee Wirral.
“I started out with just a box of toys and infant massage skills and with the support of the community, it rapidly grew to what we are today.
“I have been in Early Years for more than 20 years and use my experience and skills to support families and young children in the best way I can.
“We opened the charity as I have a well rooted background in Early Years.
“Since leaving school all I wanted to do was work with children.
“As I got older and more experienced in the field, I found that it’s not just about working with kids, it’s working with families and communities that helps.
“The cost of living, parental breakups, being a new parent, social issues etc all put strains on people and this is where I feel I need to help in any way I can.
“This is why, if we identify any barriers like financial hardship, social anxieties or even general parental anxieties, we have some free places for people to come and feel safe in our community.
“We strive to help and open our doors to everyone regardless of who they are and what they need, as long as they have kids they can attend groups.”
The Corner House’s focus is on families and providing a safe, friendly and welcoming place offering help and support.
There are stay and play sessions, sensory play sessions and infant massage as well eat and play and SEN groups in addition to positivity clubs and summer fun days with yoga coming later in the year.
Lisa said: “If we don’t know how best to support, we will go above and beyond to find answers.
“Our volunteers give up their time to come in and help us, as they share the same core values as we do and want to help provide support to as many families as we can.
“Our Early Years team will happily make you a brew and will lead you in a fun play session so you and your little one can bond and create memories in a friendly environment.”
What do families think of The Corner House? Why did they think they should win our latest Best of 2024 award?
One review on their Facebook page said: “Absolutely fantastic place!
“Everyone makes you feel so welcome and is so friendly.
“Lisa is just amazing with everything she does there.
“All the classes are so much fun and the babies all really enjoy them.
“It’s just brilliant.”
The Corner House Community and Family Hub CIO
Another said: “I would absolutely recommend The Corner House - it is inclusive, warm and a lovely setting for little ones and their parents.
“Lisa and the volunteers are very welcoming and go up and beyond to make sure you have a great time.
“We attend the baby sensory class on a Friday and it's a great way to interact and connect with other mums.
“We also recently completed the baby massage course which my little one loved.”
Lisa said: “We are a home from home providing a hot drink with a laid-back approach and no pressure on anyone who attends.
“Even if they are having a bad day, they can come to us and we can help them through it.
“They choose to come to us and we appreciate there are other places to go - we are humbled that we are their first choice.
“It’s not a job to me, it’s an obsession.
“Even on my days off or out of hours, I will answer people when I can as I don’t like people waiting on replies and I just want to make people happy and feel better about these early and some of the hardest days in parenthood.
“Happy parents mean happy babies and none of us are given a manual on how to parent so I am here to help and support.”
There's music and sensory classes for babies and toddlers
When everyone at The Corner House heard they’d made the shortlist for Wirral’s Best for Kids 2024 they were humbled and felt honoured to be included alongside the other companies and businesses in the top 12.
Lisa said: “To find out that we’ve won is overwhelming and we’re a little shocked.
“We’re so grateful to everyone who took time to vote by commenting on social media and buying the Wirral Globe to email in votes.
“I had tears of joy when I heard we’d won!
“Thank you to all our customers and the community for taking time out of their busy days to vote for us - it means the world to everyone at The Corner House.
“Thank you for making our community an amazing place to be a part of.
“We couldn’t do any of this without your support and the support of our volunteers.”
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