ACC Liverpool Group Demonstrates Power of Venue-led Social Impact

Last week Liverpool’s M&S Bank Arena last night played host tonight to an unforgettable evening as people packed out the venue to celebrate the future of the city’s beloved children’s hospice Liverpool Zoe’s Place, reinforcing its position as one of the UK’s most socially responsible and community-driven venues.

The one-night-only concert, A Celebration of Liverpool Zoe’s Place, brought together an incredible mix of Merseyside talent to thank the community that saved the hospice from closure and to raise vital funds for its next chapter, now renamed Little Lights Liverpool Baby Hospice.

The venue, part of The ACC Liverpool Group and home to the M&S Bank Arena, Convention Centre and Exhibition Centre, offered to assist wherever possible in helping with the campaign to save the much-loved Liverpool hospice from closure. This included bringing together business in a forum to provide a coordinated response to fundraising last year, before hosting a night of celebration and future fundraising last week.

The music and entertainment event at the arena demonstrates the power of a venue putting the community at the heart of its operations, and reiterating its ongoing commitment to embedding social value throughout everything it does. Headlined by Jamie Webster, The Zutons, Lightning Seeds and many more amazing performers with the backing from the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, the event was a once-in-a-lifetime show of solidarity and creativity.

With over 9000 tickets sold, organisers called it a “landmark cultural moment” for Liverpool, not just musically, but emotionally too, as the hospice revealed its new name, Little Lights – Liverpool Baby Hospice, to a rapturous crowd.

“We see ourselves not only as a major events venue, but as a catalyst for positive change in Liverpool and beyond,” said Faye Dyer, Chief Executive of The ACC Liverpool Group. “Our role in the Zoe’s Place campaign reflects our belief that venues should do more than host events – they should actively contribute to the wellbeing of the communities they serve.” 

The success of the Zoe’s Place charity gig highlights a growing trend in the events sector: venues are increasingly being recognised not just for the footfall they generate, but for the impact they create. 

As the sector recovers and evolves post-pandemic, venues like ACC Liverpool are leading the way in redefining what value means. Social impact – from supporting local causes and creating employment opportunities to championing sustainability and accessibility – is becoming a key metric of success.

Faye Dyer added, “Events don’t exist in a vacuum. They have the power to shape lives, strengthen communities and spark change. That’s a responsibility we take seriously and one we believe every venue should embrace.”

This latest initiative builds on ACC Liverpool’s longstanding commitment to social responsibility. The venue has delivered over £2.1bn in economic impact to the Liverpool City Region since opening in 2008 and continues to play a pivotal role in regional regeneration, skills development and inclusive growth. 

By aligning world-class event delivery with a clear community purpose, ACC Liverpool is setting a new standard for what modern venues can and should achieve.
 

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