• What does it do? Kitty’s Launderette is a worker community co-operative social enterprise, in the Everton and Anfield area of Liverpool, providing accessible domestic and commercial access to affordable, quality ecological laundry services. The warm space is also utilised as a creative social space for everyone living in the diverse local community through a programme of events and activities.
• Business model: Income from trading comes principally through the laundry– service washes, ecological alternative to dry-cleaning, commercial contracts, ironing and local football team kits.  
• Turnover:  Predominantly grant dependent before joining the Trade Up programme. Income from trading almost doubled following the programme and Match Trading grant.  Current: £160k (75% traded income, 25% grants which pay for some of the free creative programmes and activities) 
• SSE programme: Community Business Trade Up 2019.

A community launderette spinning social change 

A unique model, named in honour of Kitty Wilkinson, an Irish immigrant to Liverpool who is credited as the pioneer of the wash house movement in the UK amid times of mass social and health deprivation in the early 19th Century, Kitty’s Launderette demonstrates the potential of a social enterprise to create both economic and social impact.  

Grace Harrison from Kitty’s Launderette says of its impact, “there are many reasons why people use our launderette. One working single mum comes to use the launderette every couple of weeks to have a service wash. She says she would rather pay £10 for us to do her washing which then allows her the energy to cook a nice tea, she feels that this is a much better way of spending her time and money. I think this example shows how the limited resources of a person’s time and money can be positively impacted by the launderette.”  

There is a strong sense of community engagement at the Launderette, which serves as a social space for residents, providing a warm and inviting environment for people to gather and connect, as well as ad hoc creative events.  

“We make sure the launderette is really accessible and encourage people to stay and use the space, we offer everyone a free cuppa, creating a welcoming atmosphere that encourages social interaction and peer support and care.” says Grace. 

What impact did Match Trading have on Kitty’s Launderette? 

1. Progressing to a trading model  

Prior to being on the Trade Up programme, Grace describes the organisation as predominantly grant dependent. Up until the point of applying for the SSE programme, Kitty’s Launderette had been a development project but by undertaking the programme and having the keen determination of making the social enterprise trade, it all came at a crucial time to spur things on.  

“The programme and Match Trading added the wind to our sails at that important time.” 

 2. Expanding its social impact and reaching a broader audience  

 The additional grant funding allowed the organisation to invest in community-focused projects, improve its services, and reach a broader audience. This approach ensured that the social enterprise could achieve its mission while also generating revenue to support its operations. 

 3. Moving towards sustainable development 

 Grace says: “We’re continuing to get better at what we do. We’re in a good place now but we want to be even better; Develop and improve our services and best support our community by reflecting their needs. Strengthen our employment and capacity building practices from pre to post employment. We don’t necessarily need to grow for the sake of growing, but we want to grow incrementally, in deep ways that is driven by impact.” 

How did you find Match Trading?   

Grace says, “the reporting process was quite detailed, but Amanda is the greatest grant administrator going! She makes it easy to get all the paperwork sorted but doesn’t create obstacles and really celebrates your success in the process! This should be the way for all funding reporting but isn’t always. There is sometimes a feeling that funders almost want you to prove your legitimacy and scrutinise you. It can feel like a power imbalance. But it wasn’t like that at all with SSE.” 

 “[The sense of partnership] helps to foster an environment of good practice because of the nature of how the grant is matched to a learning programme. There was a shared goal and a sense of mutual progress. It was good to be on a programme that had an emphasis on trading and our long-term sustainability. Our organisation started as a project with the need to fundraise and secure investment to start the business, but we always wanted to move towards a more sustainable model.” 

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