liverpool arabic centre
Liverpool
Liverpool Arabic Centre (LAC) was initially set up as Nadey Al – Cul in 1995
after a group of parents from Yemeni and Arabic backgrounds raised concerns with
each other about their children’s educational and personal development which was
being affected by negative experiences they were having within schools and
unaddressed issues present due having dual heritage backgrounds. The parents’
aim was to set up a club to support children and young people from Yemeni/Arabic
backgrounds for whom there was limited support available from statutory services
and a lack of knowledge around specific cultural and religious issues. The aim
of the club was to instill cultural pride and support the personal development
of the children and young people as well as to encourage the development of
their own identities within wider society by educating the children in Arabic
language and also through promoting Arabic cultural awareness to the wider
community particularly local schools through arts, performance and discussion.
In September 2000 Nadey Al – Cul changed its name to Liverpool Yemeni Arabic
Club (LYAC) to reflect its expanding service provision and provide a focus on
its target group of beneficiaries. LYAC’s activities continued to focus on
teaching Arabic language to children and young people, organising educational
and cultural activities for families and putting on a Yemeni/Arabic festival to
promote and encourage cultural awareness to people from non-Arabic backgrounds.
LYAC opened its official premises in Lodge Lane in September 2000. A productive
partnership was then formed with the Bluecoat Arts Centre – Nadey Al Bluecoat
–which has since developed into the highly successful annual Liverpool Arabic
Arts Festival. In 2006 LYAC went through a process of re-branding in order to
address the changing needs of the community and to cater for the wider Arab
communities settling in the Merseyside area in recent years. LYAC became the
Liverpool Arabic Centre
