A Public Realm Strategy for Port Sunlight

Port Sunlight Village Trust (PSVT) wishes to commission the production of a Public Realm Strategy for Port Sunlight in partnership with Wirral Council.

This is a unique opportunity to consider how the original vision, heritage values and character of the village can be explored through a 21^st century lens, where environmental sustainability, diversity and inclusion, health and wellbeing, and accessibility are highly significant contributing factors for liveability and creating a sense of place in which to play and work. The budget is £25,000 +VAT.

The design team will be required to present the final Public Realm Strategy to the PSVT Board on 7^th December 2021. Therefore, the final Strategy document will be required by PSVT by Friday 12^th November.

Click here to download the full brief.

For more information and clarification questions, contact Katherine Lynch, Director of Heritage, by calling 0151 644 4800 or emailing [email protected].

Port Sunlight Gazette, Summer Edition

Port Sunlight Village Trust has published the Summer Edition of the village newsletter, the Port Sunlight Gazette, which is hand delivered to every household in the village.

It includes news and information from Port Sunlight Village Trust, village groups and societies, local businesses, and other important stakeholders. Check it out here or download a copy to keep here.

PSVT Seeking Cleaning Staff

Part Time: Monday & Tuesday 14.5 hours in total plus 7 hours across 1 in 3 weekends. Flexing for holiday cover where needed.

Salary: National Living Wage or National Minimum wage as applicable.

PSVT is proud to be an Investors in People Silver accredited company and we are looking for a Cleaner who can demonstrate that they have the attributes to support our values and the willingness to help us deliver our goals and contribute to the success of the business.

We are dedicated to the preservation and promotion of our historic model village and our responsibilities are broad and diverse, including managing tenancies, maintaining properties and landscaped areas.

You will be required to carry out cleaning duties in a number of buildings these will include commercial and residential properties including public toilets. You will work alone and will be a key holder responsible for the secure opening and closing of buildings.

The successful candidate must be able to demonstrate experience of delivering excellent customer service and show evidence of a ‘can do’ attitude through identifying solutions to maximise performance in a timely manner.

For an application pack contact: download here or email [email protected]. Please note CVs will not be accepted.

Any queries to Roisin Cain, Housing Officer on 0151 644 4800

Completed applications must be submitted by 10.00am on 7^th July 2021

Sunlight soap inspires new installation at Port Sunlight

Box Room, Saturday 17th July – Sunday 19th September 2021

A new, large-scale art installation inspired by the iconic Sunlight soap packaging will be unveiled at Port Sunlight village in the Wirral this summer.

Created by artist Tod Hanson, Box Room combines graphics inspired by the world’s first packaged and branded laundry soap with references to the architectural features of the village and the industrial heritage of Lever Brothersfamous soap factory.

“When it was first produced, more than 100 years ago, the red, yellow and blue of Sunlight’s packaging was loud and modern, crashing into people’s homes, shops and high streets,” said Tod Hanson. “It still has that visual power today, I wanted to play with an iconic graphic and make it reveal something of the factory village behind it.”  

Box Room will be on show inside Port Sunlight’s church hall, which was once part of the MacFisheries shops complex in the village and thought to be used as a bakery. The outside of the 18 foot long box installation amplifies graphic elements from the Sunlight packaging, while inside is a room which fuses the functional design of a factory space with a decorative domestic interior.

Port Sunlight was founded in 1888 by William Lever to house the workers at his soap factory. More than 900 Grade II listed buildings are set in 130 acres of parkland and gardens and nearly every period of British architecture can be seen in the design of the houses and monuments, which were created by more than 30 different architects.

Sunlight soap was first produced in 1884 and gave its name to Port Sunlight village which, as well […]

PSVT seeks new volunteers

Following the reopening of Port Sunlight Museum in May 2021 and the relaunch of our volunteer programmes, PSVT is now advertising five new volunteer roles all of which are designed to support the visitor experience in Port Sunlight. We are looking for:

• Museum Assistants to steward all areas of the visitor experience including SoapWorks, Port Sunlight Museum, and the Edwardian Worker’s Cottage, working with the visitor services team to ensure a safe and enjoyable day out is had by all of our customers.
• Exhibition Assistants to steward a new contemporary art installation of the ‘My Port Sunlight Lockdown Collection’ by Tod Hanson at the Church Hall in Port Sunlight from 17th July to 19th September.

You will join a passionate, friendly and committed team of volunteers and staff at an exciting time for PSVT when we are starting to develop the visitor offer in the village and bring new meaning and fresh perspectives to the Port Sunlight story. We are looking for individuals who enjoy talking and interacting with people and have an interest in the heritage and significance of Port Sunlight. Full training will be provided along with reasonable travel expenses.

You can download role descriptions for all five positions here. To apply please complete a Volunteer Application Form and an Equality & Diversity Monitoring Form. Both are attached for you to include as links. For more information, contact Claire and Kate from PSVT’s volunteer team by emailing [email protected], or calling 01515 644 4800 / 07592 035 923

Our commitment to supporting and developing our […]

May Half Term 2021

To celebrate our visitor experience reopening, we have a variety of free half term activities to suit the whole family starting from Sunday 30^th May.

Rubber Ducky Trail
Ongoing* from 30^th May until 6^th June (*not operating Monday 31^st & Tuesday 1^st June)
Trail maps available 10am-5pm

Grab a trail map for a donation of your choice from Port Sunlight Museum or SoapWorks and follow the clues to discover our Port Sunlight rubber ducks hidden throughout the village. Unscramble the word the ducks are trying to spell out.

Make sure you take snaps with the ducks and use the hashtag #portsunlightvillage so we can share your rubber duck scavenger hunts on our social media channels!

Outdoor Entertainment

Bread and Butter Theatre Company
Sunday 30^th May – x4 40-minute performances from 11am

The fabulous Bread and Butter Theatre Company will be in Port Sunlight for the first time performing their fantastic brand of street theatre across the village on Sunday 30^th May from 11am, entertaining with a host of characters including Van Duck Brothers and Billinsgate and his Fisherman’s Friend and interacting with members of the public – fun and laughter for all!

Ebublio Magic Bubble Art
Wednesday 2^nd June from 10.30am – 4pm
Performances will last approx. 20 mins on the hour outside SoapWorks

Nothing draws a crowd like thousands of giant magic bubbles! So, to celebrate the opening of our brand-new bubbly interactive exhibition SoapWorks, based at The Lyceum (by the Dell), the wonderful Ebublio will entertain with their fantastic bubble performances. Not to be missed!

Puzzleduck Digital Treasure Hunt
£10 for 2 players

Brand new for 2021, Puzzleduck’s treasure hunt app will help you to explore […]

Being Port Sunlight chronicles the personal experiences of Port Sunlight’s residents, groups and businesses during the Covid-19 pandemic. Full of personal reminiscences, video footage and images relating to lockdown from groups, families and individuals.

The exhibition is an emotional and fascinating display of how we lived through this time of change.

The content for the exhibition has been drawn from Be Port Sunlight, an online hub containing a fascinating archive of audio-visual material which conveys as sense of life during the 2020 pandemic.

Featuring everything from homemade NHS ‘thank you’ signs and pandemic poetry to virtual pubs and a lockdown love bench, it all provides a snapshot of the intimate and shared moments which occurred in one historic village and conversation area during this time.

For more information on the online hub, visit www.beportsunlight.co

Admission to Being Port Sunlight is free and no pre-booking is required. COVID-related safety measures including social distancing and limited visitor numbers will be in place.

Opening Hours: Every Wednesday – Saturday, 11am – 3pm, until 19th September 2021
Location: Being Port Sunlight is located in the Port Sunlight Church Hall, Bridge Street CH62 4US

2021 Port Sunlight 10K/5K 

Sunday 13th June 2021 Cancellation Notice

Image Credit: BTR Liverpool

Following a review of the current health position which are in line with the Government ‘road map’ plans it has been decided that despite the best efforts of all concerned it will not be possible to host the Port Sunlight event on Sunday 13th June.

Although as organisers we have been very optimistic about being able to host the event this year – especially given the very positive recent improvements – it is still clear that the event would likely attract significant numbers on the day that would represent a potential health threat to everyone taking part, those involved in the delivery of the event and of course the residents on Port Sunlight Village.

Clearly this is not the news any of us wanted to hear but sadly the decision has been reached with the health and safety of all concerned being paramount.

Katherine Lynch, Director of Heritage from Port Sunlight Village Trust commented:

“Whilst we appreciate that this is disappointing news, we have a duty of care to the residents, volunteers, stewards, runners and their supporters, which we take very seriously. Port Sunlight Road Race is the perfect way to showcase this historic village and we look forward to welcoming everyone back in 2022 and experiencing that wonderful atmosphere you always get on race day – we’ve missed it!”

All entries from the 2020 and anyone who has entered the 2021 event will be held over to 2022.

The proposed date for the 2021 will be Sunday 12th June.

All entrants will receive […]