About
NEWSPAPER OF THE YEAR
Leeds
British Association of Communicators in Business Northern Region awards 2007, 2008 and 2009
Simples!
INSI
Meerkats and much more: three pages of summer fun in and around Leeds: pages 6-8
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Summer 2010 www.leeds.gov.uk/aboutleeds
Tenant hails first new council houses in 20 years TENANTS have now moved into the first new council homes built in Leeds for 20 years. Faye Musgrave is one of the first to move into the new council housing in the Oaklands Estate, Gipton. It’s part of the progress on housing made in Leeds, but we need to achieve more. We need to improve upon our achievements: better help for the homeless, more families moving into larger homes and invaluable help for those looking to swap homes. Back at Oaklands Estate, Faye – a secretary at St James’s Hospital – is delighted with her new council home. “When I was offered it, I thought there was a catch,” she said. “There wasn’t. This is in a league of its own.” Oaklands’ five, three-bedroom family houses are the first new council homes developed as part of Leeds City Council’s East and North East Leeds (ENEHL) initiative. A further five family homes will be available as council tenancies in Seacroft on the Parklands estate this summer. Work will be finished on a further 63 new build council homes in Gipton by March 2011. Building work is well under way. The council homes are not only needed and affordable, but the kind people want to live in. “This is a fantastic result for local families, great news for
‘A league of its own’ DELIGHTED: new tenant Faye Musgrave: “When I was offered it, I thought there was a catch. There wasn’t. This is in a league of its own”
the local community and a huge achievement for Leeds,” said Angelena Fixter, chair of the
East North East Homes Leeds (ENEHL) board. Paul Miller, a director of devel-
oper Bellway Homes, added: “Our site manager Bob and his team will be working even harder than usual to finish the work by next March.” The scheme is supported by Leeds City Council, ENEHL and the Homes and Communities Agency. In spring, meanwhile, the people of Pudsey got their first chance to look around a new development of affordable housing in west Leeds. Leeds City Council unveiled the homes for older people at Chaucer Gardens in Pudsey – the first scheme to be completed under the city’s Strategic Affordable Housing Partnership. The scheme at Chaucer Gardens comprises six two-bedroom bungalows for shared ownership and 10 two-bedroom social rented apartments. The scheme is intended for people aged 55 and over. ■ Turn to page 10
Chelsea champs Garden grabs show gold: page 8
You voted Full details on city councillors and executive board: pages 4 and 5
Super Sharna TV’s Harry Gration pays tribute to south Leeds’s top resident: page 13
Leeds: new administration in control
LEADER: Cllr Keith Wakefield
THE Labour group, supported by the Green councillors, now run Leeds City Council. With Leeds having 99 city councillors, 33 seats were contested – one in each ward – in May. The make up of Leeds City Council is: Labour (48 councillors), Conservative (22), Liberal Democrats (21), Morley Borough Independents (6) and Green (2). Labour gained four seats, the Morley Borough Independents
one. The Conservative, Liberal Democrat, Green and British National parties each lost a seat. There is also one less independent. Voter turnout was 63 per cent, a 27.24 per cent increase on the comparative figure for 2008. Away from the election, Leeds City Council has also announced that Tom Riordan is our new chief executive, the local authority’s most senior employee. His
appointment follows an employment selection process in April and before May’s unrelated election of councillors. Tom will join the authority in August, taking over from Paul Rogerson, who is retiring. His appointment was unanimously agreed by councillors. Tom is currently the chief executive of the regional development agency Yorkshire Forward ■ Turn to page 4
NEWS • LEARNING • STREETS • LIVING IN LEEDS • WHAT’S ON • BUSINESS
2 About Leeds Summer 2010
NEWS
Courtesy of WRAP
Colours that stop you wasting energy SWITCHED ON: you can recycle electrical items
Thumbs-up to recycling with more kerbside collections MORE homes in Leeds are benefiting from kerbside and communal recycling collections. This comes as the council aims to increase household recycling to 40 per cent by next year. Green bag collections are being rolled out for properties with difficult access, while high rise and multi-occupancy buildings will benefit from communal recycling banks – along with traditional green wheeled bins. A handy leaflet and collection calendar give the required information. Meanwhile, recycle week takes place from 21-27 June and looks to reuse unwanted small electrical and electronic items also known as weee – waste electrical and electronic equipment. You can take part. For more information visit www. leeds.gov.uk/recycleforleeds. You can now recycle empty cleaning, bathroom, hair products and fresh cream aerosols in your green bin or bag. Do not squash or pierce the cans. All aerosols should be empty. Remember tins, cans, paper, cardboard, plastics – types one, two and four – and aerosols can all go in your green bin or bag.
This newspaper is published for the residents of Leeds. It is available in Braille, large print or audio tape. To contact the newspaper, call 0113 224 3298, email newspaper@leeds. gov.uk or write to About Leeds, Communications team, 4th Floor West, Leeds Civic Hall, Leeds, LS1 1UR. Like About Leeds? Then don’t miss www.twitter.com/ leedscc. Our Twitter news page features a wide variety of council news. The page is updated frequently and already has over 1,400 followers. It’s produced at no extra cost.
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TWO new services from Leeds City Council are helping residents save money and stop wasting energy. Hundreds of people have already borrowed an energy reader from libraries in a bid to ditch their energy-guzzling habits. The readers show how many units of electricity you use and how much you spend using everyday household gadgets. People can see immediately what’s costing the most and where they can make changes to save money and energy. Thermal imaging has also been
used to help residents identify if their home could benefit from better insulation. The HeatSeekers vehicle has taken thermal images of 8,000 properties in Adel and Wharfedale and HeatSeekers’ energy advisers are providing residents with advice on how to insulate walls and lofts and access grants. For more information about energy readers in libraries, go to www.leeds.gov.uk/libraries or call 0113 247 6016. For a free insulation survey on your home contact HeatSeekers on 0845 390 9390.
UNINSULATED: escaping energy will be costly for the householder
INSULATED: heat is trapped in the home
Road safety figures continue to go down THE latest figures for Leeds show road casualties are at an all time low. The total number for 2009 was 3,057. That’s down 597 – 16 per cent – on the average for the last five years and the lowest since 1974, when the district was formed. The total is now below the government-set target of halving the number of casualties by 2010. People are increasingly becoming aware of taking responsibility, while the council’s road safety promotion unit continues to provide city-wide education and training. Campaigns such as Seat Belt on flooded the city with messages reminding car drivers and passengers of the importance of belting up. Surveys had shown that a quarter of adults and 35 per cent of children were travelling with-
Cookridge pupils know the importance of road safety.
out seat belts. Pupils from Templenewsam Halton Primary School, mean-
while, are doing their bit to improve road safety and cut traffic locally.
Environment officers: here to help OUR newly formed environment officers have joined forces to offer a highly visual community support. The 23 new officers – formerly known as neighbourhood wardens and environmental services action officers – have a wide range of jobs. They will take fast action on flytipping, littering, dog fouling, neighbourhood noise, garden or bin yard waste, nuisance properties and obstructions to roads. Look out for officers helping to keep Leeds a hassle-free place to live. Any environmental issues can be reported to 0113 222 4406.
They are ditching journeys by car having signed up to pilot the scoot to school scheme. Pupils travel to and from classes on loaned micro-scooters. They have all taken part in training from the council’s road safety team. The scheme encourages more children to get active, have fun, cut traffic and improve the local environment. “Our children and their parents are very enthusiastic about the scoot to school scheme,” said headteacher Kay Crellin. Another school promoting road safety is Cookridge Primary. Their road safety week saw Year 6 children become mini police as they swooped on offending motorists – offering lines or fines. Year 5 pupils used a device to check drivers’ speeds outside the school, while other children practised crossing roads.
Waste matters MORE detailed information has been released recently about the final two proposals for dealing with the household waste that will otherwise be sent to landfill. To find out more, and register to receive information in future, go to www.leeds. gov.uk/leedswaste, or send your name and address to Leeds RWT Registration, Knowsthorpe Gate, Cross Green, LS9 0NP.
NEWS
Summer 2010
About Leeds 3
Seeking new ways to tackle antisocial behaviour THE way antisocial behaviour is tackled in Leeds is under review. Over the 18 months up to September last year, Leeds City Council and West Yorkshire Police received more than 84,000 calls on antisocial behaviour. By talking extensively to people on the frontline and those receiving help, the review will identify and respond to the way antisocial behaviour is dealt with – from the initial complaint through to any investigation. The aim is to ensure victims are appropriately supported while perpetrators are given the opportunity to change their behaviour for the better. It’s being done with a process used successfully by a number of police forces in the UK. Residents’ views are being canvassed as the team visit local neighbourhood forums and meetings. The review will be overseen by a governance board of senior managers from both the council, West Yorkshire Police and housing providers.
Call the review team on 01924 294667 to make your suggestions. n Efforts to reduce burglary rates in Leeds are starting to have an impact, government inspectors say. Four months on from the initial inspection in December 2009, a progress report was published by the inspectors. The report said: “Key public services are working together to target areas of the city where burglary rates are highest, with a range of preventative measures. “They are sharing intelligence, proactively managing offenders to try to cut re-offending and improving security for homes and businesses. “The early signs are this work is making a difference as burglary rates are now more stable and the rate of increase is slowing down.” A unit, led by West Yorkshire Police and the council, has been set up in the Safer Leeds partnership to address burglary and other crime. If you have any information about crime, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on freephone 0800 555 111.
CUFFED: in the film, Sam, played by Ben Burman, is arrested
Film explores wayward behaviour
interactive DVD resource that has been produced for schools, the campaign contains hundreds of simple challenges on physical activity, healthy eating, emotional wellbeing and doing your bit for the planet. There are also creative challenges around music, dance, drama, visual art and local heritage. Individual pupils, classes, year groups, whole schools and families have taken up the challenge. Have you? For more information about the Be Healthy! campaign visit www.educationleeds.co.uk/ healthyschools.
HELPLINE: a rape crisis service is on offer in Leeds. Picture posed by model
A RAPE crisis service has restarted in Leeds. SARSVL – support after rape and sexual violence Leeds – has set up a helpline on 0113 202 1844. The helpline offers free, confidential support for females affected by sexual violence.
It’s the first of more services to come. The helpline comes just over a year after the city council held an Eliminate Violence Against Women event. The majority of attendees agreed Leeds needed a rape crisis service – the last one having shut 10 years ago.
How many stars does your favourite Leeds eating place have? THERE are now over 400 places in Leeds rated by our food and health team as being five star for hygiene – do you know how to find them? It’s easy. Go to the website
teaching pack, are available, price £15, from Hannah Jackson at Leeds City Council, ASBU, PO Box 214, Leeds LS12 9BP. She can be contacted on 0113 247 8728 or hannah. jackson@leeds.gov.uk.
Rape crisis service starts again: and more help follows
Just do one thing well THE highly successful Be Healthy! Campaign launched for the fifth time in spring. This time, it is Be Healthy! Be Creative in partnership with Find Your Talent. Five citywide school-based young leader events took place in April, with pupils from 49 different schools learning how to plan and organise challenges throughout the summer term. The campaign encourages children and young people to ‘just do one thing well’ to improve their lives and make them happier and healthier. Delivered through an
acted in, filmed and edited the final piece. “The young people involved were enthusiastic and creative, they came up with great ideas,” Aileen Barrass, of the council’s anti-social behaviour unit, said. Copies of the DVD, and a
YOUNG people in Leeds have starred in a film. Y-ABC tells the story of two young people who get caught up in antisocial behaviour. The making of the film involved 36 young people from six Leeds high schools who
www.scoresonthedoors.org.uk. There you’ll find the ratings of Leeds food premises, ranging from zero to five stars. The site is very popular and gets over 250,000 hits per year.
Many places also proudly display their hygiene certificate – look for the logo, pictured opposite. What’s the score for your favourite eatery?
SARSVL relies totally on volunteers and donations. It is supported by Leeds Domestic Violence Team. The helpline runs 6-8pm on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. For more information visit www.supportafterrapeleeds.org.uk.
4 About Leeds Summer 2010
ELECTION
How the people of Leeds cast their vote
INCREASE: the voter turnout was up sharply on recent years. Leeds has 99 councillors serving all 33 of the city’s wards
Introducing the councillors of Leeds City Council Congreve (L), Angela Gabriel (L), Adam Ogilvie (L) Bramley and Stanningley: Neil Taggart (L), Denise Atkinson (L), Ted Hanley (L) Burmantofts and Richmond Hill: Ron Grahame (L), Ralph Pryke (LD), Richard Brett (LD) Calverley and Farsley: Rod Wood
where he has been for over a decade. While there, and in 2008, he was asked by the Chancellor to lead a team of experts to coordinate how the region should secure the future of highly skilled employment in the financial services sector. “This is a fantastic opportunity, I’m very excited and I’m looking forward to coming to Leeds to build on the good work of Paul Rogerson,” Tom said. Below is the full list of councillors for Leeds City Council. Adel and Wharfedale: Clive Fox (C), Barry Anderson (C), Les Carter (C) Alwoodley: Peter Harrand (C), Ronnie Feldman (C), Ruth Feldman (C) Ardsley and Robin Hood: Lisa Mulherin (L), Karen Renshaw (L), Jack Dunn (L) Armley: Janet Harper (L), Alison Lowe (L), Jim McKenna (L) Beeston and Holbeck: David
Courtesy of Yorkshire Forward
n From page 1
NEW APPOINTMENT: Tom Riordan
(C), Andrew Carter (C), Joseph Marjoram (C) Chapel Allerton: Jane Dowson (L), Eileen Taylor (L), Mohammed Rafique (L) City and Hunslet: Mohammed Iqbal (L), Elizabeth Nash (L), Patrick Davey (L) Cross Gates and Whinmoor: Peter Gruen (L), Suzi Armitage (L), Pauleen Grahame (L) Farnley and Wortley: John Hardy (L), David Blackburn (G), Ann Blackburn (G) Garforth and Swillington: Thomas Murray (L), Andrea McKenna (L), Mark Dobson (L) Gipton and Harehills: Kamila Maqsood (L), Alan Taylor (LD), Arif Hussain (L) Guiseley and Rawdon: Pat Latty (C), Graham Latty (C), Stuart Andrew (C) Harewood: Matthew Robinson (C), Ann Castle (C), Rachael Procter (C) Headingley: Martin Hamilton (LD), Jamie Matthews (LD), James Monaghan (LD)
Horsforth: Brian Cleasby (LD), Christopher Townsley (LD), Andrew Barker (LD) Hyde Park and Woodhouse: Javaid Akhtar (L), Gerry Harper (L), Penny Ewens (LD) Killingbeck and Seacroft: Brian Selby (L), Graham Hyde (L), Veronica Morgan (L) Kippax and Methley: Keith Wakefield (L), Keith Parker (L), James Lewis (L) Kirkstall: Bernard Atha (L), Lucinda Yeadon (L), John Illingworth (L) Middleton Park: Kim Groves (L), Geoffrey Driver (L), Judith Blake (L) Moortown: Sharon Hamilton (L), Mark Harris (LD), Brenda Lancaster (LD) Morley North: Thomas Leadley (MBI), Robert Finnigan (MBI), Bob Gettings (MBI) Morley South: Shirley Varley (MBI), Judith Elliott (MBI), Terry Grayshon (MBI) Otley and Yeadon: Ryk Downes (LD), Graham Kirkland (LD), Co-
lin Campbell (LD) Pudsey: Mick Coulson (L), Josie Jarosz (L), Richard Lewis (L) Rothwell: Stewart Golton (LD), Donald Wilson (LD), Steve Smith (LD) Roundhay: Ghulam Hussain (L), Matthew Lobley (C), Valerie Kendall (C) Temple Newsam: Mick Lyons (L), William Hyde (C), David Schofield (C) Weetwood: Judith Chapman (LD), Ben Chastney (LD), Sue Bentley (LD) Wetherby: John Procter (C), Gerald Wilkinson (C), Alan Lamb (C) The office telephone numbers are: Conservative (0113 247 4704 or 4549), Labour (0113 247 6922 or 4049), Lib Dem (0113 247 4580), Green (0113 395 1435) and Morley Borough Independents (0113 247 7538). Full contact details, including email addresses, can be found at www.leeds.gov.uk – select the ‘council democracy’ and ‘councillors’ links.
ELECTION
Summer 2010
About Leeds 5
Leeds City Council executive board
Cllr Keith Wakefield Leader
Cllr Richard Lewis Development and Regeneration
Cllr Peter Gruen Cllr Judith Blake Neighbourhoods and Children’s Services Housing
Cllr Lucinda Yeadon Adult Health and Social Care
Cllr Thomas Murray Environmental Services
Cllr Adam Ogilvie Leisure
Cllr Jane Dowson Support for Children’s Services
Cllr Ann Blackburn Green Group
Cllr Andrew Carter Conservative Group
Cllr Stewart Golton Liberal Democrats Group
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This follows the election of a minority Labour administration, with the support of the Green group, in May. The executive board – the principal decision making body of the council – is made up of 11 councillors. Councillor Keith Wakefield is the leader of Leeds City Council and, as such, chairs the executive board. He and six other councillors, all from the Labour group, are responsible for specific council services. The councillors’ portfolio service responsibilities are: Keith Wakefield (Central and Corporate), Richard Lewis (Development and Regeneration), Peter Gruen (Neighbourhoods and Housing), Judith Blake (Children’s Services), Lucinda Yeadon (Adult Health and Social Care), Thomas Murray (Environmental Services) and Adam Ogilvie (Leisure). In addition, the council leader has appointed Councillor Jane Dowson, of Labour, to support the executive member for Children’s Services. This advisory member will be able to attend and speak, but not vote at executive board. The remaining three executive board members represent other political groups in Leeds.
These councillors are Ann Blackburn (the Green group), Andrew Carter (Conservative) and Stewart Golton (Liberal Democrats). The city council had been run by a Conservative and Liberal Democrat joint administration prior to the annual meeting of the council on 27 May. Now, the Labour group has agreed an arrangement which will see the Green group vote with Labour at key times. Labour gained four seats in Leeds at the local elections on 6 May but the results – see page 1 – left the council under no overall control from any single political group. The executive board meets in public sessions approximately once a month at the Civic Hall. Except when legally sensitive or confidential information is discussed, all meetings of the executive are open to the public. The meetings usually start at 1pm on a Wednesday. As we went to press the next scheduled meetings of the executive board take place on 22 June, 21 July and 25 August. Further details, including agenda minutes, are available at www.leeds.gov.uk – select ‘executive board’ from the a-z search. n The annual meeting of the council also elected Councillor Jim McKenna as Lord Mayor and Councillor Patrick Davey as Deputy Lord Mayor.
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LEEDS City Council will be run by a new executive board.
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SERVICES THE COUNCIL PROVIDES
6 About Leeds Summer 2010
NEWS
Your band could be live on stage
MAJOR EVENT: Leeds Festival is one of the UK’s biggest festivals
FANCY playing at Leeds Festival 2011? Centre Stage is an unbelievable competition offering West Yorkshire school children the chance to win a slot at the internationally renowned music festival next year. To enter your band for
Leeds Festival 2011, contact centrestage@martinhouse. org.uk or 01937 844569. More information is also available on the Centrestage Facebook page. Organised by Martin House Children’s Hospice, Centre Stage is already a hit with pupils and the likes of Leeds band The
Breeze’s dynamic decade BREEZECARD is 10 years old! Launched in 2000 as the young person’s LeedsCard, Breeze gives young people access to events and activities across the city, as well as discounts and offers. In Leeds, 121,000 young people now have a Breezecard. To celebrate this, Breeze has created an exclusive celebratory Breezecard with added discounts and offers which will be sent to all Leeds school pupils. June marks the start of a summer of exciting Breeze events. The 14th annual Breeze International Youth Festival kicks off from Thursday 24 June until Sunday 27 June, offering an exciting programme of music and arts performances including information on how young people can get involved in creative projects all year round. The final day of the festival closes with the first stage of Breeze has Talent auditions, the competition for young people to
showcase their talent. Registration for Breeze has Talent is now open at www.breezeleeds.org/ breezehastalent. From 17 July a series of Breeze and mini-Breeze events will be touring the city. Breeze on Tour has something for everyone, including giant inflatables, music, movie making and much more. All young people wishing to attend must remember their Breezecard. If you enjoy Breeze on Tour look out for Backyard Breeze coming to an area near you soon with cage football, DJ MCing and other fun activities right on your doorstep. For more information on all these Breeze events, to sign up for Breezecard, register for Breeze has Talent or find out about general events and activities for young people in Leeds this summer go to www.breezeleeds.org. Full details and line-ups at www.breezeleeds.org/BIYF.
Try sailing TRY something different this summer with Leeds Sailing and Activity Centre. Activities – for those aged eight and above – include sailing, canoeing, kayaking, rock climbing, abseiling, raft building, off-road biking, Krypton Factor problem solving sessions and orienteering. No previous experience is needed, but prior enrolment is essential. Adults can also take part in sailing, canoeing, kayaking or power boating. You can book birthday parties – with canoes, kayaks, raft building or sailing. Again, you must be aged eight or above. For more information call 0113 2503616 or visit www. leeds.gov.uk/sailingcentre.
Art event
KATS IN THE CRADLE: meerkats are among Tropical World attractions
Meer the merrier COMPARE the new meerkats at Tropical World. Simples! The popular Roundhay visitor attraction boasts three meerkats born earlier this year – the first born at Tropical World in over 10 years. They are the latest exciting new arrivals to Tropical World. Last November a rare albino 11ft Burmese python and a 5ft yellow anaconda arrived from Scotland, followed by three highly popular young Morelet crocodiles. Elsewhere, West Leeds Country Park Visitor Centre
CUT ABOVE: Breeze celebrates a dynamic decade this summer
Pigeon Detectives, who support the competition. The grand final – featuring six Leeds schools – takes place at Leeds O2 Academy on 19 July. The 2010 winner will perform on the BBC Introducing Stage at Leeds and Reading festivals in August.
opened at Pudsey Park in March. It’s free to enter and celebrates a diverse range of wildlife and habitats found locally – including rabbits, birds and butterflies, among others. It also features a stone-built farmhouse barn, interactive woodland area and six new aquariums holding native freshwater fish including trout, carp, roach, tench and pike. The stunning centrepiece is a 13,000 litre tank filled with a variety of fish.
FROM 8 August-19 September Leeds Art Gallery will host a new groundbreaking version of Open Show which, for the first time in its history, is open to young people making this a spectacular all-ages community art event. This citywide search for undiscovered artistic talent will give finalists the opportunity to have their work professionally hung in the gallery and judged by Leeds Met’s young curators group and a panel of local artists. For further details visit: www. leeds.gov.uk/artgallery/Leeds_ Art_Gallery/The_Open_Show. aspx. Submissions will be accepted between 10 and 13 July.
Irish fun THE Irish Festival promises a weekend of fun-packed activities for all the family. The free event – at John Charles Centre for Sport on 17-18 July – features live music, Gaelic football, Irish food and drink. There’s also a host of children’s activities, such as face painting and inflatables. It starts at noon both days, finishing 7pm on the Saturday and 11pm the following day. For more information go to www.leeds.gov.uk/jccs.
NEWS
Summer 2010
About Leeds 7
Looking good for leisure CENTRES SPREAD: Leeds’ new leisure centres offer great facilities
LEISURE facilities in Leeds are getting a facelift with new centres opening and improvements taking place across the city. Work kicked off at Kippax earlier this year with improvements being made to a number of areas including the pool hall.
Next to see improvements were customers at Scott Hall, with an extension to the Bodyline gym and major improvements being made to changing facilities, pool side and the heating and ventilation system. Armley residents were celebrating in May with the opening
of a brand-new leisure centre that included three swimming pools, 100-station Bodyline gym, two sports halls and a café bar. The action continues this month with the opening of another new state-of-the art leisure centre in Morley on 22 June. The centre will boast the larg-
See the city’s sights by bus TAKE a fresh look at Leeds this summer with two great new ways of enjoying the city. The Leeds City Sightseeing Bus and The Leeds City Cruise are a great way of sampling our wonderful local landmarks. The distinctive open-top, hop on hop off bus takes in The Royal Armouries, Millennium Square, the Corn Exchange and the Victoria Quarter, along its five mile city centre route. It runs six times per day until 26 September. Passengers on the Leeds City Cruise, meanwhile, can relax as they peruse our regenerated waterways along the historical route from Clarence Dock to Brewery Wharf and Granary Wharf. The Cruise runs every weekend and bank holiday until 26 September, and every day during August. Find out more by picking up leaflets from various city venues, including Leeds Visitor Centre, or at www.yorkshire.com.
Lick your lips for our food festival
est Bodyline gym in the city hosting an impressive 150 pieces of equipment along with pools and sports halls. Plans are also in the process of being approved for improvements at Aireborough, Kirkstall and Otley as part of the allocation of funding from the Free
Memory Lane
Swimming Capital Modernisation Programme. The new sites and improvements are all part of the council’s ongoing commitment to providing quality and affordable leisure facilities. To find out what you can get up to at your local leisure centre visit www.leeds.gov.uk/leisurecentres.
Sacred Heart School, Burley Road – comment by Ron Davies
GROUND BREAKING: an artist’s impression of how Leeds Arena will look
Inside the new Arena HERE is the latest, exciting image of Leeds Arena. The 13,500 capacity venue in Claypit Lane promises next generation arena design, having been granted outline planning permission, subject to conditions. World leaders BAM Construction has been selected as the preferred contractor to build the arena, following huge amounts of interest. “We’ll be bringing the skills
and expertise that has gone into building the stadium to host this year’s World Cup Final to the arena, together with our local knowledge and track record in Leeds,” said BAM director James Wimpenny. The company is also working hard to restore the world famous Leeds City Varieties. The first phase of the £9.2m restoration of Swan Street’s Victorian-era music hall started earlier this year.
THE city’s food lover’s festival runs 1-4 July. Leeds Loves Food will bring together a jam packed calendar of events including cookery demonstrations, food masterclasses and sampling. Many events will be free to attend. The festival includes ‘Food of the World’ chef demonstrations and food workshops for young people at The Merrion Centre, the Granary Wharf ‘Big Picnic’, plus Beer and Food
Matching at City Inn Hotel, among others. Participating venues include the Cosmopolitan Hotel, Casa Mia, Sandanista, Tampopo, Salvo’s, Leeds City Museum and the Seven Arts Centre. An events calendar is available from Leeds Visitor Centre, The Light and Victoria Quarter, among other venues. More information is also available at www.leedslovesfood. com.
I went to Sacred Heart School until 1958 as, like all pupils who attended this school, I left at 15. The school was under the church and was either accessed down Poplar Road or steps between the club and church. Under the church forecourt was what was called the air raid shelter. It was a very dark and
dirty place. Poplar Road was used as a playground by the senior boys, aged 13-15. This would not have been allowed these days. Comment and photograph from Leodis, www.leodis.net . n View thousands of photographs of Leeds online through the Leeds photographic archive.
Lotherton Hall guided tour SPECIAL guided tours of Lotheron Hall’s formal gardens are on offer. Created between 1903 and the outbreak of WWI by Laura Gwendolen Douglas TrenchGascoigne, these beautiful gardens exemplify Edwardian gorgeousness. The tours – on 9 June, 7 July and 4 August – are free, but parking costs £3.60. Prior booking, on 0113 264 5535, is needed.
ATTRACTION: the Peony Priest statue
8 About Leeds Summer 2010
NEWS
Leeds gardeners go for gold at Chelsea LEEDS City Council has claimed its first-ever gold medal for excellence at the world-famous RHS Chelsea Flower Show.
The stunning elite show garden entry The HESCO Garden 2010, produced by the council’s Parks and Countryside staff with engineering design and support from sponsors HESCO Bastion Limited, wowed the judges and visitors alike to earn the highestranking level of award at the prestigious event in London. The gold medal is a first for Leeds at Chelsea after earning two successive Silver Gilt Flora awards in the last two years and either silver or bronze category awards with their five other previous show gardens dating back to their first appearance at Chelsea in 1997. Of the seven previous Chelsea gardens, four can now be visited by the public at sites in the city. To find out all the latest news on The HESCO Garden 2010, visit the website at www.leedsatchelsea.com or follow the garden on Twitter at http://twitter.com/ leedsatchelsea. n A bumper crop of entries, meanwhile, are anticipated for the newly named Leeds Allotment Competition. Is your plot tidy? Do you grow nice fresh vegetables? Do you take a pride in your gardening? If the answer is yes then go on, have a go, get an entry form and
Tiny tennis TENNIS is getting a makeover at Rothwell Leisure Centre, with changes to the mini version and the introduction of tiny tots tennis. The new tiny tots tennis sessions, for children aged 2-4, involves parents on court too. Their children are introduced to body movement, hand eye coordination, numeracy and sending and receiving skills in a fun and structured way. Two 45 minute mini tennis red sessions will follow the new tiny tots class. The first session is aimed at 5-7 year olds, with the mini red plus class for those aged eight-plus. These sponge ball sessions will focus on the basics of tennis technique and tactics and introduces players to competition. For more call 0113 282 4110.
On the road
WAT-ER SUCCESS: gold medal is a first for Leeds at the prestigious event
see how you do. Entries for the competition can be made through site secretaries or by calling 0113 266 6139. Entries must be in no later than 30 June. Judging will take place in the week commencing 19 July. The competition is run by the Leeds and District Gardeners Federation on behalf of the city council. n There’s also the annual Leeds in Bloom private garden competition, as well as Yorkshire in Bloom and Britain in Bloom. There over 40 in Bloom groups all working to improve the environment of Leeds. Over 20 of these voluntary
groups enter the annual Yorkshire in Bloom competition. Judging takes place in July, with the Yorkshire in Bloom Awards
CHELSEA: presenter and gardener Christine Walkden helped launch the Leeds Chelsea show entry
night held at the Royal Armouries in September. Leeds in Bloom supports the groups with technical support, limited floral displays and the awarding of grants. Leeds in Bloom private gardens competition, meanwhile, closes at the end of June. It has three categories – the large and small gardens sections, plus container or hanging baskets event – split across 20 local areas. The Leeds in Bloom awards presentation will be at the Town Hall in September. For more information, or to take part, email richard.gill@ leeds.gov.uk.
THE Leeds Gypsy, Roma and Traveller Photographic Exhibition started this year’s GRT History Month at Leeds Central Library in May. Leeds has a rich history of Travellers dating back to the 1500s who have a valuable role in the city’s cultural heritage. Containing self portraits of local young Travellers taken in Studio12 sessions supported by Find Your Talent, the exhibition gave a new perspective. Photographs from Leeds’ archives depicting local Traveller life from the 1800s to the present day were also on display. For more visit: www. grtleeds.co.uk.
Why not give unsung heroes a pat on the back? DO YOU know a person or group that have made a real difference to you or your local community through volunteering? Why not let them know how much their efforts are appreciated by nominating them for a volunteering award? There are armies of unsung heroes in Leeds who give their time and energy for free to help charities, improve the lives of vulnerable people and put something back into the community. That’s why we’ve introduced the Leeds Volunteering Awards, and now we need you to nominate any volunteer or group of volunteers that you feel deserve a pat on the back for the unpaid work they do. Volunteers
can also nominate themselves. To make a nomination visit www.leedsyearofvolunteering. co.uk and complete an online form. Alternatively, forms are available from Volunteer Centre Leeds, Enterprise House, 12 St Pauls Street, LS1 2LE. The closing date for nominations is 30 September.
July, meanwhile, is dedicated to leisure, sports, arts and culture. Many of the city’s sports clubs and organisations simply wouldn’t exist without volunteers, and we’re keen to get more people involved. Find out more by coming along to our marketplace event between 1-4pm on Saturday, 24 July in Briggate. Visit www. leedsyearofvolunteering.co.uk for details of events, activities and opportunities for our upcoming monthly themes. August will focus on volunteering and the environment, parks and wildlife. September is geared towards volunteering for a safer Leeds.
FIRM FOUNDATIONS: volunteering offers invaluable help throughout Leeds
VISION
Summer 2010
About Leeds 9
Progress on our vision In 2004, the Leeds Initiative, the city’s partnership organisation led by Leeds City Council, published the Vision for Leeds 2004 to 2020 – a long-term plan for the future of the city. Here’s a look back at some of the aims and projects to see what progress has been made. In 2004 we set the direction for the future of Leeds with three key aims… n Going up a league as city – making Leeds an internationally competitive city – the best place in the country to live, work and learn, with a high quality of life for everyone. This tried to capture the combination of economic development, quality of life and competitiveness that makes cities great, and makes them recognised in the world. Leeds is now firmly established
as an international city and is one of the top European cities in which to do business. But there is still more to do, and the current economic situation has given us new challenges.
Narrowing the gap between the most disadvantaged people and communities and the rest of the city.
n
We have ‘narrowed the gap’ – but not enough and not
always with lasting results. We have made good progress in achieving some targets – our young people are getting better exam results, the number of people smoking has fallen, and fewer of our neighbourhoods are deprived. But progress remains slow in other areas such as the health gap between our richer and poorer areas. Despite all our efforts, one in
five people in Leeds still live in poverty. Many people are unable to afford to heat their homes adequately, live in poor quality housing, and lose out further because they cannot access basic financial services that many of us take for granted.
Developing Leeds’ role as the regional capital, contributing to the national economy as a competitive European city, supporting
n
and supported by a region that is becoming increasingly prosperous.
Leeds is now firmly established as the regional capital. We are working closely together with ten other local authorities to develop a regional approach, which recognises the impact of Leeds’ economic strength on the wider Leeds’ area, and have created ways of planning more effectively at that level.
SPOTLIGHT ON THE PRIORITY PROJECTS all children’s health services at Leeds General Infirmary means that we are well on our way to providing a healthy start to life.
The Vision for Leeds 2004 to 2020 also set out a number of priority projects, based on what the people of Leeds told us are important, to improve the quality of life in the city and the region. Good progress is being made in all of these projects.
Develop a world class health service
KEY PRIORITY: an artist’s impression of how Leeds Arena will look ACCESSIBLE: ftr buses
Improve public transport The purple Ftr buses and the free city centre bus are a common sight around the city centre, helping to improve public transport. National rail links to London have improved with more frequent services and work continues to modernise the city’s train station.
has contributed to better exam results.
Improving the cultural life of the city The upcoming Leeds Arena is a massive boost for the city,
and will play a crucial part in improving the cultural life of the city. Other flagship facilities include the new City Museum, Carriageworks Theatre, the refurbished Grand Theatre and
the Olympic-standard John Charles Centre for Sport.
Provide a healthy start to life Increased participation in PE and sport, and the relocation of
The new cancer unit at St James’s Hospital and new community health centres are contributing towards developing world-class health services. However, while we have made good progress in all our priority projects, there remains more to be done to make sure that everybody in Leeds has a good quality of life. During the autumn we will be holding a public consultation to find out the views of as many people as possible that live or work in all parts of Leeds to develop a new Vision. For more information visit our website and join the debate on our internet forum at www. leedsinitiative.org.
Tackle crime, drugs and antisocial behaviour Four hundred extra police community support officers and the country’s largest CCTV system are helping us tackle crime, drugs and antisocial behaviour, and making Leeds a safer place.
Improve learning and achievements in schools Investment in new schools and in existing schools is helping to improve learning and achievements in schools, and
TOP CITY: universities will continue to make Leeds known internationally
GOOD PROGRESS: narrowing the gap by improving our neighbourhoods
10 About Leeds Summer 2010
New council housing: a league of its own n From page 1 Local apprentices work on all the new affordable housing development sites across the city. n Elsewhere, we had no homeless families in temporary accommodation with private providers by February – the first time this has happened since the late nineties. This follows positive changes to the way we provide effective advice and assistance. In September 2008, there were 412 families in temporary, private accommodation. The economic downturn then led to a 20 per cent rise in the number of people presenting themselves to Leeds Housing Options, at a time when the budget was reduced by £3.5 million. n In the last year, over 2,000 Leeds tenants have registered with www.houseexchange.org. uk – a website offering invaluable help for those looking to swap home. Users now don’t have to wait for another council property to become empty. Email alerts are sent quickly when a suitable property is made available. n More families are now in larger homes too. They have been able to make the switch thanks to a Leeds Homes Register incentive which has seen 180 other council tenants voluntarily freeing up the bigger properties for families. For more information on housing visit www.leeds.gov. uk/housing.
More support SHORT breaks in one’s own home are available for carers and individuals who have a wide range of support needs, thanks to Leeds Shared Lives. The service, formerly known as Family Placement, matches their carers with older people and adults with learning or physical disabilities, sensory impairments or dementia for a short break. Leeds Shared Lives are looking for people interested in being a carer, who are offered training, support and an allowance. For more call 0113 224 3503.
NEWS
Top award is a vote for independence CARE and Repair Leeds has won a major national award – again.
The charitable status group provide many services to older and disabled people so they can live independently. Care and Repair was named agency of the year at the Foundations Annual Home Improvement Agency Awards. It’s the second such award for the group who were rewarded for ‘an exceptionally high standard of service across all areas of work’. Care and Repair has been running for 23 years. Its services in the home include maintenance, security, adaptations, falls prevention, hospital discharge and advice. One beneficiary, named here as Mrs D, said: “Since I had the adaptations fitted my confidence
came back and this led me to find my health improved. “I am so grateful to all that were involved with improving my daily living and cannot thank them enough. “It is also good to know someone is out there to help when needed.” Care and Repair is available on 0113 240 6009. They are based at 323 Roundhay Road, Leeds LS8.
n Finding local cleaners, gardeners and care providers just got a whole lot easier, thanks to a new directory launched recently. Leedsdirectory.org lets you search for services in your area or postcode. It even offers an
WIN: Care and Repair’s Janet White, Cedric Wilks and Bill Rollinson are pictured with Sandra Twitchett, far left, of Leeds City Council
‘Amazon-style’ ratings system so you can see what other people thought of a service before you use it. The directory is funded by the
council and run in partnership with local charity Care and Repair. Visit www.leeds.gov.uk/ personal_budgets for more.
Short break where everyone benefits YOUNG disabled people and their families are enjoying a new state-of-the-art short breaks unit which opened recently. Rainbow House in Bramley includes 12 individual bedrooms, each with en-suite facilities and designed with flexibility in mind – it is fully accessible for wheelchair users. The unit will enable children and young adults to gain confidence with short breaks away from their parents, with the aim of preparing them for greater independence in adult life. The sensory room and ball pool are already proving to be a favourite, alongside the fully-equipped bright and lively playground. Billy and Sarah Gillfillan whose daughter Jessica had helped in the consultations about Rainbow House, but sadly died before it opened, were invited to cut the
SHORT BREAKS: Rainbow House
LOVE IT: a Rainbow House guest and his sister enjoy the unit
ribbon to officially open the unit. It was built by the
Leeds Independent Living Accommodation Company consortium (LiLAC). The consortium has worked closely with parents, children and care experts to deliver accommodation tailored to the specialised needs of its residents. The children selected furnishings and decoration and helped to choose equipment for the play area. Even the name ‘Rainbow House’ was chosen by one of the children.
Help with meals THE council’s meals at home service provides hot, nutritious meals on top of bringing invaluable personal contact for older people wishing to live at home. Call us on 0845 125 4113 if you are interested in getting this service. Due to rising demand this service is only available following a needs assessment by council staff.
NORTH EAST LEEDS
Community group set up A NEW community group, CARA, has been set up for the enjoyment and benefit of anyone who lives, works, shops or socialises in Chapel Allerton. Run by local residents, it looks set to be a huge success and has been boosted by Inner North East Area Committee funding. With a joining fee at just £5 per year, members of the nonprofit scheme will benefit from a range of fantastic discounts in shops and establishments across Chapel Allerton. The group has already held a very successful Easter egg event in the village centre. CARA has more events planned and aim to raise money for local causes. For more details on CARA, or to become a member, visit www.lovechapelallerton.com or call 07583 048759.
Outlook is a lot brighter… CHAPEL Allerton, Moortown and Roundhay will still look cleaner and brighter over the next year. This is thanks to Inner North East Area Committee agreeing to fund the community payback scheme for a second year. Local residents and organisations can refer work through to the team for action including environmental improvements, painting and grounds maintenance, although the land or building has to be public. For more information call the area management team on 0113 214 5866.
Diary dates Area Committee – Outer n 5 July, 6pm, Scholes Village Hall n 20 September, 6pm, Boston Spa High School
Area Committee – Inner
About Leeds 11
Joint Service Centre to open in the autumn CHAPELTOWN’S landmark £10 million Joint Service Centre opens this autumn. The centre, in Chapeltown Road, will offer local people better city council and NHS Leeds services. These include a new customer
service centre, library, jobshop, GP surgery, pharmacy and a range of community health services. Elsewhere, the Jewish Heritage Centre for Children will be a walk through, hands-on exhibition about Jewish life and culture
starting in the old, cobbled streets of the Polish/Russian village and culminating in the ultra-modern kosher kitchen and shop. The building is now constructed. The ‘old village’ is being decorated and furnished.
Summer full of fun lies ahead YOUNGSTERS throughout north east Leeds are in for a treat this summer as both inner and outer area committees are funding a fun packed programme of events. At Wetherby and Allerton High school a multisports camp will run for one week giving a chance to try out football, rugby, cricket archery, athletics and swimming. These events will be run by Leeds City Council in conjunction with Wetherby Sports Association. In inner north east there will be a whole host of trips including to Yeadon Tarn, Herd Farm, caving and the seaside. Young people will also be able to learn DJing skills, martial arts, football and multi-sports at dedicated camps. Rollerskating, biking and a number of fun days will also be held, including a KICK martial arts seminar. To find out more about what’s happening in your area check out www.breezeleeds.org/ or look out for your cluster booklet. n Two enjoyable community days of celebration and commemoration were held at the Mandela Community Centre during the Easter holidays. Activities such as Breeze laser quest and inflatables, DJing, face painting, competitions and dance were enjoyed by all. It also gave members of the
The centre has been funded mainly through the Heritage Lottery Fund with support from Outer North East Area Committee. It will open officially on 4 October.
Events are bringing us together FIVE community engagement events were held in north east Leeds during the spring. The events – in Alwoodley, Chapel Allerton, Moortown, Roundhay and one for the Harewood and Wetherby wards – inform residents of the area committee’s local priorities and services. The events took the form of a ‘market stall event’. Residents had the opportunity to speak with officers on a one to one basis, as well as city and parish councillors. This forms part of the annual programme of community engagement.
FUN DAY: the KICK martial arts seminar
ONE ON ONE: the five community events gave residents the opportunity to speak with officials
DOUBLE DELIGHT: two days of celebration and commemoration at the Mandela Community Centre
community a chance to see what goes on inside the building. The first day also included the unveiling of two plaques.
n 21 June, 4pm, Marjorie and Arnold Ziff Centre n 6 September, 4pm, St Edmund’s Hall
One marked 25 years since the extension was built. The other plaque commemorates the ‘fallen angels’ of the community.
Young people’s voice will be heard
Summer events n 18 June, Chapeltown/Scott Hall Breeze n 19 June, Friends of Gledhow Valley n 3 July, Wetherby Police Open Day n 10 July, Moor Allerton Gala n 31 July, Beck Hills Funday n 21 August, Oakwood Farmers Market
Summer 2010
TUNED IN: volunteers at Barleyfield’s radio project
THE Barleyfields Radio Project for young people will get grant funding in readiness for a busy summer. Barleyfields’ volunteer presenters, interviewers and technical staff play a vital part in training young people to get an accredited media studies qualification. When ready, the young people move on to live broadcasting on local station Tempo FM. During the summer they will play a big part
in Tempo FM’s coverage of the Wetherby Police Station open day, doing interviews, recordings and live studio links. They have also made many advertisements and announcements for a variety of events. The grant was approved recently by Outer North East Area Committee and enables Barleyfields to buy licences in line with media regulator Ofcom.
12 About Leeds Summer 2010
Award winning idea to keep Leeds tidy
LEEDS University Student Union is running an award winning project when students move out of their rented property
NORTH WEST LEEDS
on 30 June. As part of the Leave Leeds Tidy scheme, student wardens and volunteers will drop off red bags across LS6
for households to fill with re-useable items. These items are given to charities and free shops in local
communities. This ensures mountains of waste – including toasters, clothes and furnishings –
Cash aid to clean up north west area MORE than £12,000 has been pledged by Outer North West Area Committee to tackle various environmental concerns across Otley and Yeadon. The funding will back Muck:up!, an anti-dog fouling campaign set up by a local resident group. It will provide extra dog warden patrols in hot spot areas during out of normal working hours.
There will also be an event at Otley Chevin to raise awareness on environmental protection, particularly dog-fouling issues, with local residents and pet owners. The campaign is in conjunction with the council’s responsible dog ownership scheme. For more on dog control orders, visit www.leeds.gov.uk/dogs. Visitors to Wharfemeadows and Yeadon Tarnfield Parks will
be able to enjoy a clean and safe environment, including weekends and bank holidays, as additional staff will be provided. In addition, the entrance area of Prince Henry’s Grammar School and Otley Chippendale swimming pool will be decorated with more flowers and plants. It will make the area more attractive and get local people more involved in sports and cultural activities.
MESSAGE: one of the top designs
Energy savings add up
OLDER people in Holt Park and Tinshill are keeping fit with a new chair-based exercise class. Run by Opal, a voluntary organisation helping older people live independently, the weekly class not only helps participants keep mobile, it is also friendly. Having started in April, the class runs for 38 weeks. Transport can be provided. Contact Ailsa Rhodes on 0113 261 9103 for more information. Aireborough Voluntary Services to the Elderly with Disabilities (Avsed), meanwhile, will replace their seven-yearold, 16-seater minibus with a new one. Their buses have been very popular with over 400 users in Guiseley, Yeadon and Rawdon. They are used MondayFriday and Sunday to get older people to churches, social centres and clubs. The new bus arrives in July. For more information, call Tessa Holmes on 0113 250 1702. Funding from both inner and outer north west area committees enables groups, including Opal and Avsed, to provide services to local older people.
Area Committee – Inner
More chances to play and fencing erected around the playground. The extended adventure playground will offer more activities to children of the community. The scout and guide headquarters, which houses many groups, is being radically refurbished with a new roof, re-plastered and painted walls, plus tiled toilets. The whole building has also been rewired. All three projects are part funded by Outer North West Area Committee.
Keeping fit and sitting down
Diary dates
IMPROVEMENT: children enjoy the playground at Yeadon Westfield
YOUNG people will benefit from better facilities this summer. These include a new Early Years base at Rawdon St Peter’s Primary School, an extended playground at Yeadon Westfield Infant School and the refurbished scout and guide headquarters in Horsforth. The Early Years base has an outdoor area and a shared kitchen. Parents will be assured of their children’s safety as there will be a tarmac path laid by the school
does not go to landfill. The project is funded by Inner North West Area Committee.
n 1 July, 7pm, Leeds Civic Hall THERM FRIEND: an assembly at Otley the Whartons Primary School gets a visit from Thermo, the council’s energy superhero
SCHOOLS are being helped to cut their CO2 emission by at least 10 per cent. Green Check Energy Savers – an initiative run by Groundwork Leeds – could also make average savings of £1,373. Energy monitors were put in five outer north west Leeds schools over a six week period. Data showed savings of around 168kg of CO2, 391 KWh and £35 per school. Across 39 weeks, the average savings would be 6,559
kg of CO2 and 1,5252 KWh per school… or £1,373. The project is funded by Outer North West Area Committee.
Clearing the way A COMMUNITY clean up in and around Hyde Park brought together local places of worship. The day, organised by Concord Leeds in April, was a big success with the streets and park left spotless.
n 23 September, 7pm, venue to be confirmed
Area Committee – Outer n 21 June, 2pm, Civic Hall n 27 September, 2pm, venue to be confirmed
Forums n Yeadon, 15 June and 7 September, both 7pm and Yeadon Town Hall n Guiseley and Rawdon, 16 June, 7pm, Guiseley Methodist Church
SOUTH LEEDS
Summer 2010
Recognising all our community heroes MAKING a difference to people’s lives was the inspiration for the very first Aire Valley Homes Community Awards. Residents from outer south Leeds were represented heavily from among the 50 entries. Individual tenants, residents and community groups were recognised at the ceremony hosted by BBC Look North presenter Harry Gration. Notable winners included resident of the year Sharna Ramsden, plus Denshaws and Newland Tenants’ and Residents’ Association (group of the year) and Mother’s Pride Teatime Club of Rothwell
Improvement plans are launched TWO neighbourhood improvement plans have been launched in outer south Leeds. The plans foster community pride by encouraging residents to work with agencies on local issues. They will be carried out in Harrops and Bridge Street in Morley, plus Thorpe on the Hill in Ardsley and Robin Hood. Kelly Hamer, pictured, from Leeds Metropolitan University, has started a four-month placement with Outer South Area Management Team. She will take a lead in Harrops and Bridge Street.
Diary dates Area Committee – Inner n 22 June, 6.30pm, Hugh
Gaitskell Primary School n 22 September, 6.30pm, Building Blocks
Area Committee – Outer n 21 June, 4pm, Morley Town Hall n 6 September, 4pm, Rothwell One Stop Centre
(community initiative). Aire Valley Homes chief executive John Clark said: “These awards are designed to recognise the people and projects that bring life and passion to the community.” Whiterose Residents’ Association, meanwhile, made the final despite only being formed in June 2009 as part of a neighbourhood improvement plan. They contribute to the Cardinals, Redhalls and Thirlmere areas of Beeston. “We are determined to make our community a safe and pleasant place to live in,” said association chair Yvonne Crowther.
PEOPLE CHAMP: award winner Sharna Ramsden with host Harry Gration
Festival promises to be best so far THIS year’s I Love South Leeds Festival will be the biggest and best yet. It runs from June to August in Cottingley, Beeston, Holbeck, Hunslet, Belle Isle and Middleton South Leeds Superstar sees young people, aged up to 16, show off their talents in dancing, singing, martial arts and magic. In 2009, nearly 1,000 young people took part. The grand finale takes place at
Holbeck Gala on 10 July. Auditions have already taken place, while the semi finals are being held at Beeston Festival (12 June), Belle Isle Gala (19 June) and Hunslet Festival (26 June) – as this
newspaper is distributed. Turn It Up has music workshops for young people, aged eight-16. These include playing instruments, production and DJ-ing. South Leeds Olympics offers people the chance to taken part in sport and dance. The I Love South Leeds Festival is funded by Inner South Area Committee. For more information visit www. leeds.gov.uk/ilovesouthleeds or call 0113 395 1306.
About Leeds 13
Saluting business excellence EXCELLENCE in business was rewarded at a Morley celebration. Morley Town Centre Summits and Business Awards recognise businesses who demonstrate best practice, great customer service and exceptional value. The winners were voted for by the public. They included Crispin (retail outlet), Nicole Dennis Body and Soul (health, fitness and beauty), Pippins Nursery (offices, online, non-retail and entertainment), Bertie’s Diner (food and drink) and Mandy Lenton (employee). A special Chamber’s Choice award was given jointly to Amanns, Jones Accountants and Crispin for their work landscaping and planting at Morley Bottoms. The awards, at the Town Hall in March, were organised by Morley Chamber and town centre manager Peter Mudge, with support from the town council. Award sponsors included the Morley Observer and Advertiser, the Co-operative Travel, Smith Robinson, The Furniture Centre and Joseph Priestley College.
BEST FOOD AND DRINK: Bob Lacey and Jackie Deaves of Bertie’s Diner are pictured with sponsor Richard Tempest of The Furniture Centre
Work is hailed THE fantastic work of local volunteers was lauded at a support fair. The event, in March, gave information, a funding showcase and training opportunities for community groups. Organised by Outer South Area Committee, it also had a guest appearance from Ronnie the Rhino, free beauty treatments, a Tingley Brass Band performance and refreshments from Mother’s Pride Teatime Club.
BEST RETAIL: Bob Thaxter of Crispin with sponsor Erica Madelin of The Morley Observer and Advertiser
Priorities plan MORE activities for young people, increased support on training and employment, and environmental improvements. These are the top priorities for local people, identified by listening to residents at community engagement events. It’s part of the Inner South Area Delivery Plan. For more, contact 0113 224 3040 or nhd. southareacomm@leeds.gov.uk
TRIAL PERIOD: recycling rates have rocketed in Rothwell
Flocking to recycle RECYCLING rates have rocketed 57 per cent as part of a six month trial involving around 8,500 homes in Rothwell. It includes a weekly
collection of food waste and a fortnightly service for the green recycling, brown garden waste and the black general waste bins. The trial started lateFebruary.
BEST OFFICES: Gillian and Jeremy Turner of Pippins Nursery with sponsors Tracey Connah and Wendy Kettlewell of Smith Robinson Insurance Brokers
14 About Leeds Summer 2010
EAST LEEDS
Funding boost for centres in the community THREE community centres in inner east Leeds are benefiting from over £300,000 worth of investment. The investment follows the council’s decision to give responsibility for community centres to area committees. Ebor Gardens Community Centre, Kentmere Community Centre and Richmond Hill Community Centre have each got funding to improve the vitality and viability of these centres, creating hubs for the neighbourhood they serve. Kentmere Community Centre has a new entrance and reception area, alongside improvements to its main hall and community room, including a new kitchen area. Ebor Gardens Community Centre has benefited from a new roof, windows, toilets, flooring and a renovation throughout. Richmond Hill Community Centre will be the next to benefit, with an extension and full refurbishment, both inside and out, planned. The Ebor Gardens area also benefited from a major clean up, thanks to a large scale volunteer event organised by Bridge Street Church, Rigton Residents’ Associ-
Diary dates Area Committee – Inner n 17 June, 6pm, Harehills
Primary n 23 September, 6pm, venue
tbc
Area Committee – Outer n 6 July, 4pm, Leeds Civic Hall n 7 September, time tbc, Leeds Civic Hall
Summer events n 4 July, Killingbeck and Seacroft Gala n 10 July, Gipton Gala n 24 July, Harehills Festival n 24 September, Lark in the Park
CHOICE: there’s a wide range of pursuits available to young people
THREE OF THE BEST: Ebor Gardens, Kentmere and Richmond Hill have benefited
ation and others. Free skips were provided by the area committee. Over 200 volunteers took part with over seven tonnes of rubbish removed.
n A joint service centre – pictured – opens in Harehills during July. It will offer residents help on a
Getting involved POPULAR community engagement events took place across inner east Leeds. Residents had an opportunity to spend a budget of monopoly money on locally established priorities. The limited budget illustrated to residents the challenges facing those who make real financial decisions. Residents were also given an opportunity to speak with various council departments, East North East Homes Leeds, NHS Leeds, West Yorkshire Police and local voluntary organisations. Themed debates, chaired by ward councillors, proved enjoyable to participating residents. Information was also given on 2010 Leeds Year of Volunteering – see page 8 for more on this.
variety of services from Leeds’s city council and credit union. Services at the centre – situated at the corner of Harehills Lane and Compton Lane – will include a library, jobshop, welfare rights surgery, financial advice and customer services. NHS Leeds will be operating a primary mental health care service by appointment at the site. Enthusiasts of the old building will not be disappointed. Many of the much loved original library features have been preserved and the green space improved.
The great outdoors A WIDE range of enjoyable activities are on offer to young people in inner east Leeds. The area committee and youth services, along with voluntary sector partners, have put together a fun programme while also promoting health, environmental and good behaviour messages. Healthy lifestyles are encouraged with football camps, swimming and multi sports activities. There’s also art with dance, radio, painting and craft making. Elsewhere residential pursuits are offered. These include go-karting, ice skating, snowboarding, caving, canoeing, kayaking, kneeboarding, biking – both mountain and motor, plus
sports coaching. Free play for younger people is on offer at Alston Lane community centre, East End Park and Banstead Park. Harehills Park has plenty too. The old police pod has been converted into a base for activities and play. A course, meanwhile, explores the options available in life to girls. It looks to raise personal ambitions, prevent abusive relationships, build resilience and self-esteem, develop support and use positive communication. For more information – including booking details or venues – on any of these activities contact Inner East Leeds Area Committee on 0113 214 5894.
Waste sort site is set to be refurbished
More volunteers
WORK begins in autumn to refurbish east Leeds household waste sort site. The site, in Seacroft, will be closed for around nine months in order to build a split level recycling centre and reuse shop. People using east Leeds will be redirected to the nearest site – Stanley Road in Harehills, LS9 7LP. For more on household waste sites go to www.leeds. gov.uk/recycleforleeds and click on ‘recycling – sites’. You can also call 0113 222 4406.
MORE than 40 people have become volunteers for older people, following a four day recruitment drive. Outer East Area Committee organised the event to recruit volunteers to help our many local elderly support networks and luncheon clubs. The networks and clubs are invaluable – without them many older sociable people may otherwise be isolated. The volunteering event – held at venues in Garforth, Kippax, Swarcliffe and Halton – gave residents the chance to speak with a variety of services
offering advice and help. Pupils from local schools, meanwhile, contributed to proceedings, while it also proved a good time for the hundreds of older people in attendance. Free lunches and entertainment was provided, with a special rendition of Dick Whittington and music hall by Pocket Panto. In November, Outer East Area Committee is holding an awards event for local volunteers working in sport, environmental projects and with young people.
WEST LEEDS
Tackling crime SMARTER solutions will tackle crime in west Leeds. Take our memo cams – five cameras which have been used to get successful convictions against bogus official burglars. They get a clear picture of the offender and will be put in elderly victims’ homes. A ‘capture house’ is also being set up. It will be fitted with desirable items, such as a laptop, kitted with a tracking device. Cameras, lighting and ‘smart water’ will also be used to gather evidence. It will move around west Leeds in response to burglary hotspots. Outer West Area Committee has approved funding.
Big thank you AN AWARDS event thanks volunteers who improve west north west Leeds. The celebration will be held in the autumn. Categories include health and wellbeing; neighbourhoods; across the generations; literacy and learning; sports, leisure, arts and culture; environment, parks and wildlife; children and young people; safer Leeds and inclusive volunteering. To nominate an individual or team contact 0113 395 2833 or sohail.effendi@leeds.gov.uk.
Traders helped SMALL local traders and charities at Bramley Shopping Centre are being supported with security radios. With the radios, the grateful shops can get immediate help from security guards, ensuring improved customer and staff safety. The radios have been bought through Inner West Area Committee’s wellbeing fund.
FARSLEY is set for more improvements – thanks to the city’s town and district centre regeneration scheme. The scheme, involving 17 local centres across Leeds, encourages economic regeneration and business confidence by investing in an area’s infrastructure. Work in Farsley is due to start later this year. This latest stage – phase 2 – will concentrate on
Andrew Square. The refurbished public toilets will reopen, the ginnel opposite Andrew Square linking School Street will be improved, heritage style lamps and street furniture will be installed in Town Street, while the car park and road in front of Marsden Court will be resurfaced and remodelled. This work follows earlier improvements to the Memorial Gardens, library exterior and public
THE sixth I Love West Leeds Arts Festival takes place in July. The three week festival runs across west Leeds, featuring professional and community arts activities. Highlights this year include the Big Free Festival Day at Farnley Hall Park on Sunday 4 July, 1-5pm. It features amazing acrobatics from Tanzanian group The Black Eagles, Shedopolis – 15 interactive garden sheds – and more family activities than you can shake a stick at. The Armley Hippo trail will be west Leeds’s own superlamabanana with five artists
creating artworks of the massive mammal and over 200 school children decorating their own hippo. The festival Young Writers in Residence programme will enable junior scribes to work with a professional wordsmith to produce new, festival-inspired work. The area and lampost gallery will bring a huge outdoor photographic exhibition to the streets of west Leeds. And that is just a few highlights. For more information, or a brochure, visit www. ilovewestleeds.co.uk.
n Armley, 15 June, 7pm, AOSC n Armley, 20 July, 7pm, AOSC n Bramley, 29 July, 7.30pm, Eric Atkinson Centre
ary this spring. As well as providing a fantastic wildlife habitat in years to come, it also offers screening for a playground, primary school and other properties from the busy A6120 ring road. Local people and volunteers joined council staff to do the planting, which is part of our work with national environmental charity Trees for Cities.
JOB WELL DONE: sweeping through Stonebridge Lane in the clean up
Children join clean up LOCAL children played a big part in a three day clean up of Farnley land. The efforts of Bawn’s Junior Wardens scheme, with others, made a big improvement to the stretch running adjacent to Stonebridge Lane.
Others involved included West North West Homes Leeds, ward councillors, Groundwork Leeds, Outer West Area Panel and Area Committee. It’s hoped this work will lead to future improvements in the area.
Antisocial crackdown
n 22 June, 5pm, venue Stanningley Rugby Club n 8 September, 5pm, venue to be confirmed
Forums
safety CCTV cameras. Specific areas to benefit previously include the town centre, Back Lane, Prospect Street and Old Road, among others. Each town and district scheme is done in consultation with local traders, shoppers and residents. Farsley, meanwhile, is benefiting from 40 semi-mature oak trees being planted along the Farfield Recreation Ground bound-
Festival’s promise
Area Committee – Inner
n 9 July, 2pm, Calverley Mechanics Institute n 10 September, 2pm, Pudsey Park Visitor Centre
About Leeds 15
More improvements coming to Farsley
Diary dates
Area Committee – Outer
Summer 2010
SIX OF THE BEST: I Love West Leeds is celebrating its sixth year
THE A-BREEZE-C Project was a great success in responding to antisocial behaviour in Bramley’s Fairfield Estate. Up to 48 young people per week attended. This coincided with an almost halving of the number of antisocial complaints made during the five week project in March. A-Breeze-C included a music and DJ workshop, no to knife session, the Y-ABC film (see story, page 3), cage football and
Be proud – and put your litter in a bin ARMLEY schools will take part in designing a poster which encourages people to put litter in bins. It’s part of a civic pride educational campaign demonstrating the antisocial
nature of littering our streets. The campaign supports the recently completed town and district centre regeneration works in Armley Town Street, which strives to improve the vitality and popularity of
the town centre for workers, residents and visitors. Work includes resurfaced pavements, replaced kerbs, street furniture, public art and heritage style lighting.
Talk to Frank, which discusses drugs. The police, council, area management, Positive Activities for Young People and BARCA Youth Inclusion Project took part.
SUCCESS: 48 young people per week benefited from A-Breeze-C
16 About Leeds Summer 2010
NEWS
Chance to earn while you learn
Down to business HAVING a baby is a life changing experience for many women and for ex-probation officer, Gemma Stow, it led to the creation of her new business. Just over a year ago Gemma launched Skillz Education, an alternative education centre offering training opportunities to young people. Gemma said: “As a probation officer many of the people I met had left school without any qualifications and turned to crime as they couldn’t find employment that gave them enough money to support themselves or their families.” Gemma offers accredited courses in construction, fashion, horticulture and personal and social health education. She has been helped to get her business off the ground through
the West Leeds Enterprise Centre (WLEC), by Sharing the Success which is part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund. The centre has given her access to business advice, training and use of its facilities to get things moving. Gemma added: “It’s been a real advantage having a business mentor at the WLEC for support throughout the process. “I really enjoy running my own business and urge anyone out there who has a passion or idea to turn it into their own enterprise.” She currently has two fulltime employees, Lucy Tomlin and John Guthrie, and two part-time teachers working with schools. For more information visit www.skillzeducation.co.uk or www.sharingthesuccess.co.uk.
SUCCESS SHARED: Gemma (centre) in Wortley, with staff and a client
Rooftop has views of its own THE launch of the stunning 21 storey cylindrical residential building Candle House marked the completion of the £90 million Granary Wharf scheme. This unique residential development also incorporates a communal roof-top terrace – the highest garden of its kind in Leeds. There are 160 apartments at Candle House that range from studio to one and two bedroom properties, which have been designed to utilise space. Granary Wharf has strong heritage roots. These developments, a vision of ISIS Waterside Regeneration, help breathe new life into the area. For more visit www.granarywharf. co.uk or www.holbeckurbanvillage. co.uk.
THE council has met its target to employ 250 apprentices by March 2010. Now, many more posts continue to be recruited by the Work4Leeds apprenticeship scheme. The scheme offers many career opportunities across the council. Apprentices can get qualifications, hands-on skills, knowledge and experience. Training is done in the workplace with experienced staff. Sukbir, aged 17, an apprentice administrative assistant at the central interpreting and translation unit, found Work4Leeds very helpful. “I’m a practical kind of person, I liked the idea of learning while I am working and earning,” Sukbir said. Apprenticeship opportunities are advertised at www. leeds.gov.uk – search for ‘Work4Leeds’.
Best paper: again THE About Leeds newspaper has again been named best newspaper. The council About publication won Tenant ha the newspaper ils first ne w council ho category at the ‘A leagusues in 20 years of its owe Communicators n’ in Business north awards 2009. This Leeds: ne w adminis tration in control follows About Leeds winning the same award in 2007 and 2008. The CiB awards reward excellence in communication. About Leeds was recognised for its editorial quality and understanding of its audience. NEWSPAPER OF
Leeds THE YEAR
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LEARN AND EARN: Sukbir
Contacting Leeds City Council Detailed information on all our services can be found at our website, www.leeds.gov.uk. If the service you require is not listed, please call our general enquiries number on 0113 222 4444. The council has 15 one stop centres. Contact them on general.enquiries@ leeds.gov.uk.
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Housing repairs and tenant enquiries: Belle Isle Tenant Management Organisation (repairs) 0800 389 5503 (office hours) 0113 376 0499 (out of hours) bitmo-enquiries@belleisletmo.co.uk Belle Isle TMO (general) 0113 214 1833 East North East Homes Leeds 0800 915 1600 enehl.enquiries@enehl.org.uk Aire Valley Homes Leeds 0800 915 6660 avhleeds.enquiries@avhleeds.org.uk West North West Homes Leeds 0800 915 1113 wnwhl.enquiries@wnwhl.org.uk Emergencies outside of opening hours: Highways, street lights, signage and building repairs 0113 376 0499 Noise problems 0113 242 5841 Adult Social Care and Emergency Accommodation 0113 240 9536