As International Beatleweek kicks off today, Liverpool’s iconic visitor attraction, The Salvation Army’s Strawberry Field, has launched its Path of Peace fundraiser, giving The Beatles fans the opportunity to permanently leave their messages of peace and love in the grounds that inspired John Lennon to write one of the Beatles’ biggest hits.
The Path of Peace runs around the new Strawberry Field Bandstand, located within the gardens where John Lennon had one of his earliest musical experiences when hearing The Salvation Army band play. His time in the gardens of the children’s home which once stood on the site, inspired Lennon to later pen the song, Strawberry Fields Forever.
For just £150, supporters can engrave their message of peace on a granite stone which will be laid around the bandstand as a part of Strawberry Field… forever. Profits from the fundraising initiative will support the charitable work of The Salvation Army’s Strawberry Field and will help fund Steps at Strawberry Field, a series of programmes empowering 18-25 year olds with learning difficulties or other barriers to gain and stay in employment to develop and achieve their goals.
The flagship Step to Work programme takes 12-18 months and consists of an eight-week work readiness course and three three-month work placements. It offers a unique person-first, holistic approach to becoming ‘work ready’, through classroom-based training and work placements that match each person and their individual needs.
Major Kathleen Versfeld, mission director, Strawberry Field, said:
“The Strawberry Field gardens provide visitors with a place for peace, prayer and quiet contemplation, as well as a space of sanctuary for people to connect with friends and family, nature, music and art. The Path of Peace is a rare opportunity for fans to continue John’s lasting legacy of peace and love by having their own messages immortalised at Strawberry Field forever, and in turn support The Salvation Army’s important work in removing barriers to employment for people with learning difficulties and providing this place of peace for all to enjoy.”
Strawberry Field is a visitor attraction in Liverpool, located at the iconic site immortalised by John Lennon in The Beatles’ hit, ‘Strawberry Fields Forever’. Telling the story of John Lennon’s childhood and the writing and recording of this iconic song, the attraction is home to an interactive visitor exhibition which includes the actual ‘Imagine piano’, the original red gates, and the peaceful gardens where John played, climbed trees and dreamed as a child, and a recently-installed Ukrainian Peace Monument, which will move to Ukraine at the end of the war.
Spaces on the Path of Peace can be reserved online here.
READ MORE: STRAWBERRY FIELD UNVEILS WORLD-FIRST UKRAINIAN GLOBAL PEACE MONUMENT
