About
Leeds
A publication jointly produced by NHS Leeds and Leeds City Council | Summer 2011 | www.leeds.nhs.uk | www.leeds.gov.uk/aboutleeds
No place to hide as crackdown on loan sharks continues A HIGHLY successful initiative to rid the city of loan sharks is to be extended until 2015. The Illegal Money Lending Team gives loan sharks who prey on the vulnerable no place to hide in Leeds. Loan sharks can terrorise communities, charge extortionate interest on loans, lump on
indiscriminate charges at will and use violence to collect money. Nationally the investigations project is headed by Birmingham City Council’s enforcement team. This team has operated in partnership throughout West Yorkshire since 2008, enabling Birmingham’s officers to instigate legal proceedings on Leeds’
behalf, at no cost to this city council. Nationally, the Illegal Money Lending Team has arrested over 500 outlawed money lenders, written off over £37million worth of prohibited debts and resulted in prison sentencing totalling more than 107 years, plus one indefinite sentence for public protection.
That involves helping over 16,000 victims of loan sharks, referring over 600 to legal sources of financial support. All money lenders, operating as consumer credit businesses, must obtain a consumer credit licence from the Office of Fair Trading before engaging in money lending. Any loans made without a
Noise nuisance teams are listening LEEDS’ noise nuisance team offers a round-the-clock, rapidresponse system to clamp down on night-time rowdiness. Uniformed mobile patrols are on standby to tackle disturbances and their increased mobility means they can act as soon as possible. The noise service has been shaken up to feature extra night patrols and officers working more closely with community safety teams – at no extra cost. Extra night patrols out in the city have been introduced and noise nuisance officers are working more closely with community safety teams. Officers wear easily-identifiable high-visibility jackets. To report excessive noise, call 0113 222 4406 (daytime) and 0113 242 5841 (night).
Leeds Arena is taking shape
ARTIST IMPRESSION: how the Arena will look
Council prepares for leaner future AFTER a year of unprecedented financial challenge, a report published recently has confirmed Leeds City Council made essential savings in 2010-11.
READY TO ACT: our officers are on call for noise nuisance problems
consumer credit licence in force and without the correct paperwork issued are unenforceable in law. The Illegal Money Lending Team can be contacted on stoploansharks@birmingham.gov. uk or 0121 693 1122. For more information visit www. birmingham.gov.uk, searching for ‘Illegal Money Lending Team’.
The budget has been a key priority during 2010-11 for a council that has faced both increasing demand for vital services such as social care and massive in-year government spending cuts. It is hoped the 2010-11 financial performance will help keep the council ‘on track’ as it seeks to deliver £90m of savings this year. Maintaining financial discipline will also be hugely impor-
tant if the council is to find the significant further savings it will need to make in the February 2012 budget. The council warn that with over 1,000 staff leaving Leeds City Council through voluntary schemes last year, and further savings to make this year, the way in which public services are delivered will have to change. The Leeds City Council Financial Performance – Outturn 201011 report says the council dealt with a £15m in-year reduction in revenue grants and £12m in capital grants. Leeds also receives only £388
per head from the government whereas authorities like Manchester or Liverpool receive more than £700 per head. Despite this the council has managed to keep council tax levels low. The report says 2010-11 has been the council’s best year for council tax collection – 97.6 per cent of billed amounts were collected by the end of March. This is the best performance of England’s major cities and all of West Yorkshire. The council has also made significant improvements in productivity through a 10 per cent reduction in staff sickness levels.
WORK has started on building the long awaited 13,500-capacity Leeds Arena. Around 50 construction workers from BAM, the company signed up to build the arena, have moved on to the Clay Pit Lane site. You will be able to see the unique arena take shape over the coming months with the foundations laid and structure going up. A visitor centre will be open to the public. Around 42 cabins will be brought on site to create an office complex which will remain there until the venue opens in 2013. The Leeds Arena local impact programme will ensure business, educational and employment opportunities for local people. That means the creation of 100 opportunities for progression into employment for those living nearby, the safeguarding of 110 local construction jobs, 60 new apprentices and work experience for around 144 young people. Leeds Arena will boost the city’s economy by £25.5million per year. Further information on the Leeds Arena Local Impact Programme, such as jobs, visits and business events is available by contacting Construction Leeds at admin@ construction-leeds.org.uk.
2 About Leeds Leeds City Council section Summer 2011
Prospects good for job seekers THE JOB prospects of hundreds of young people in Leeds will be improved thanks to a new scheme. Young people, aged 16-24, will get individually tailored skills training and work experience, as part of a new scheme. Delivering it will be locallybased education charity Learning Partnerships and their YOUth Inspire project, alongside Leeds City Council, the City College and others. The council is investing over £400,000 into the scheme, matched by the Skills Funding Agency to help up to 580 young people who are currently not in education, employment or training, otherwise known as NEET. After an initial eight week programme the young people would be supported for a further six months to help them get a job, an apprenticeship or vocational training. There are currently around 1,700 16-18 year olds who are not in education, employment or training and an additional 6,000 19-24 year olds who are claiming job seekers allowance. Participants will get financial assistance to help them attend the training courses and work experience. Those claiming job seekers allowance will not lose their benefits. Other support comes from a workplace mentor and a caseworker to guide and support their search for a job. For more information visit www.learningpartnerships.org.uk.
This newspaper is published for the residents of Leeds. It is available in Braille, large print or audio tape. To contact the newspaper regards a council matter contact newspaper@leeds. gov.uk, 0113 224 3298 or About Leeds, Communications team, 4th Floor West, Leeds Civic Hall, Leeds, LS1 1UR. For more on the council visit www.twitter.com/ leedscc
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Children’s centres
ENJOY: Garforth’s centre includes a great sensory room
A STATE-OF-THE-ART children’s centre in every area of the city. That is the ambition of Leeds City Council.
Children’s centres are an opportunity for families to access vital services, helping them develop and succeed.
Mentors can make a real difference COULD you make a difference to a young person’s life? If you can spare one hour each fortnight, you could mentor a young person in a Leeds school, and inspire and motivate them to succeed. It’s a small time commitment but you could make a big difference. Leeds Mentoring is a city council service that links schools with volunteer mentors from the wider community. Mentors come from lots of different backgrounds, they’re good listeners and they’re nonjudgmental. Become a mentor and encourage young people to believe in themselves. Not only will your support mean a lot to a young person, becoming a mentor
can also help you boost your CV. It’s a great way to get more involved in your local community. You can choose to mentor a child in primary school, or a young person at secondary school. Schools all over the city take part in the mentoring scheme, so you should be able to mentor a young person at a school near your home or office. You don’t need any qualifications or experience as you’ll get full training. Leeds Mentoring will carry out a CRB check for you, and match you up with a mentee to make sure you both get the most out of the mentoring experience. To become a mentor or for more information contact Keelie Wood on 0113 395 1128 or keelie.wood@leeds.gov.uk.
HERE TO HELP: could you become a role model?
Inspectors’ praise for improvement in services GOVERNMENT inspectors have described the improvement in Leeds’ services for vulnerable and at risk children as ‘remarkable and impressive’. Following an unannounced inspection earlier this year, Ofsted inspectors acknowledged that services have made considerable progress since
concerns were raised in 2009. At Leeds City Council the latest inspection looked at the quality and effectiveness of ‘contact, referral and assessment arrangements and their impact on minimising any child abuse and neglect’. Inspectors spoke to a range of staff and considered evidence including electronic case records,
supervision files and notes, and observation of social workers undertaking assessments and referrals. Senior managers provide strong leadership which ‘has resulted in the remarkable and impressive improvement in the quality of the services inspected and the safety of children in the
city’, inspectors highlighted. The report confirms the council has addressed all the areas of priority action identified in the 2009 report and that firm arrangements are in place for most of the areas of development. The children and young people’s social care unit can be contacted on 0113 222 4403.
Leeds City Council section Summer 2011
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About Leeds 3
make their mark WELL DONE: judges say Chapeltown’s children’s centre is outstanding
One of the final children’s centres to open is based at Garforth Academy and has satellite centres at Micklefield Primary School and Firthfields Early Years Centre. This centre provides health and support services to hundreds of families across Garforth, including a baby clinic with health visitors, midwife drop-in sessions, a baby café breastfeeding support group and special groups for grandparents and childminders. There is also a sensory room at the centre which can be booked out by parents and groups, baby massage classes, a dancing and movement class for toddlers, and
PLAY TIME: As much fun for mum
story-time sessions. “I’m very impressed with the facilities, everything is new and it’s all free – I often recommend it to other mums,” said a mum who uses the centre. Chapeltown children’s centre,
meanwhile, has been judged as outstanding in both childcare provision and wider services to families, following two inspections by Ofsted. ‘Overall, outcomes for centre users are outstanding, particularly in children’s achievement,’ the Ofsted report noted. Children’s centre manager Colette Kurylo said: “I am very lucky to have the support of a great team who really put the needs of the children and families at the heart of everything they do.” You can contact the council’s children and young people’s social care on 0113 222 4403.
Can you provide a loving home? THERE are lots of children and young people in Leeds who are in need of a loving home and the support that being part of a family can bring. Foster carers in Leeds make an invaluable contribution to supporting vulnerable people, but the city needs more people to undertake fostering. Leeds City Council seeks to recruit more foster carers with the Do Something Amazing! campaign. Together we can help transform the lives of children and young people in the city. Margaret and Peter Hudson of Bramley have looked after around 200 children since they became foster carers 23 years ago – mainly on a short-term emergency or respite basis. Both Margaret and Peter are keen to encourage others. Margaret said: “You must go into fostering with your eyes open, the children are sometimes challenging but what you get out of if far outweighs the problems. “All it takes is patience and
someone with a lot of love to give. You will get all that love back from the children and much more. It really does change your life.” Peter added: “You have to make sure the kids become part of your family and treat them exactly the same as your own kids, no matter how long they’re with you for. “It is great when they go on to be adopted and you know they’re going to have a good life.” At a special awards ceremony earlier this year for Leeds foster carers, Margaret and Peter, and their daughter Tracy Addy, plus her husband Jonathan were all recognised for their commitment to foster care. Margaret and Peter’s other daughter Carol is a foster carer in Hull. Those interested in finding out more about fostering can register their interest online by visiting www.leeds.gov.uk/ fostering or contact 0113 247 4747 for advice and an information pack.
Primary school is one of best in country A LEEDS primary school has been judged as one of the best in the country. Robin Hood Primary School was assessed by Ofsted as an outstanding school which has gone from strength to strength.
The inspectors noted ‘outstanding value for money as pupils of all abilities and backgrounds… learn and progress exceptionally well’ and ‘high quality teaching, an exceptional curriculum and first-class care,
guidance and support for all’. Pupils were described as achieving ‘outstandingly well’ with an ‘above average and rising attendance. They are proud to be part of the school and give it more than 10 out of 10’.
CAMPAIGN SUPPORT: Tracy Addy and her parents, Peter and Margaret Hudson, along with husband Jonathan
From ASBO to art college: Catherine turns her life around
EASEL DOES IT: Catherine Emery with some of her artwork
A SCHOOLGIRL who received an ASBO to curb her drunken and aggressive behaviour is looking forward to a brighter future after gaining a place at Leeds College of Art. Catherine Emery was just 14 when she was given the antisocial behaviour order after a string of incidents. Two years on Catherine has turned her life around with the help of her school, Leeds City
Council’s youth offending service and antisocial behaviour team – and her own passion for art. She is currently taking GCSEs at Wetherby High School and her paintings are on exhibition at Meanwood Valley Farm. In January a judge was so impressed by her improved behaviour the ASBO was lifted six months early. The all-round support from Wetherby High School and the
youth offending service saw Catherine taken out of school for six months and sent to a special education centre. She was also given help to manage her anger and her drinking. The school also arranged for art therapy – which proved the ultimate turning point for Catherine. The city council’s antisocial behaviour unit can be contacted on 0113 222 4402.
4 About Leeds Leeds City Council section Summer 2011
www.leeds.gov.uk
People with mental health needs get individual support DAYTIME support for people with mental health needs is changing – from traditional building-based services to more individual support. This means more services, with greater numbers of people involved in social activities, training or getting back to work. Mark Smith of Armley is a passionate supporter of the switch, having been diagnosed with depression in 1998.
After a period attending a day centre, the 50-year-old found out about support from the community alternatives team (CAT). Mark took part in a range of activities, many organised by service users. He is amazed by the difference this has made. “Through the CAT I’ve made so many friends and done so many things. It has given me the confidence to say yes I can do this, I can move on,” Mark said.
“The service users organise lots of things – Christmas parties, karaoke nights, walks. We’ve even arranged holidays to Ireland and Scotland, with support from the CAT. “I haven’t worked for 13 years, but I’m now at the point where I can think about going back to work. It’s been a long time coming. “Getting back to normal dayto-day life is so important. You want to get to the point where
you’re able to set goals for yourself rather than someone doing it for you.” The change in approach is built on the results of a widescale consultation of day centre users, staff and local support groups. Many people felt services should be based more around people’s individual needs, with more freedom to help design and run activities.
SUPPORT: Mark Smith has received help from the community alternatives team
Tunnel repairs scheduled URGENT repairs are being carried out at weekends to Woodhouse Tunnel on the city’s inner ring road. One side of the tunnel will be closed in each direction, from 8pm on Friday until 5am the following Monday, until midOctober. There will be a contraflow through the tunnels, alternative routes will be signposted and the works are
scheduled to avoid major city centre weekend events. Drivers should allow for extra journey time. A 70-strong team will work round the clock to replace 800 square metres of tunnel roof concrete, which has deteriorated because of salt used in road grit. For more updates visit www.leeds.gov.uk/ woodhousetunnel.
Wellbeing centre will be one of the first of its kind
Charter ensures high care standards PEOPLE who receive care at home have a right to receive a first class service, thanks to a new customer agreement. The Homecare Customer Charter clearly sets out the levels of service expected from homecare providers. Leeds City Council has teamed up with its independent care providers to produce the charter. People who get care at home need to be supported by welltrained staff who treat them with courtesy and respect. They need to know that any concerns will be dealt with promptly. The Homecare Customer Charter is being sent out to those receiving homecare in Leeds. Each organisation providing homecare on behalf of the council is required to sign a
formal agreement to meet such standards while providing good value for money. The providers are all registered with the Care Quality Commission and regularly monitored by the council’s adult social care department. You can contact the council’s adult social care department on 0113 222 4401. A copy of the charter can be seen at www.leeds.gov.uk – search ‘homecare charter’. The council also sent out an information card called It’s not making a fuss to more than 5,000 older people in the city earlier this year. This informs people what they should do if they feel that they are not being cared for properly by anyone, paid or unpaid, who supports them in their homes.
HOLT Park will get a state-of-theart £30.6million wellbeing centre. Holt Park Active Living Centre will combine services provided by the council’s adult social care, youth and sports services and the local community, all under one roof. It will be one of the first of its kind in the UK, enabling people to get support when a health or social care need first arises and preventing a problem escalating.
The centre, in Holtdale Approach, will also help people with a physical or learning disability, or a mental health problem, access the personalised services they need confidently and easily. It will feature a hydrotherapy pool, 25-metre swimming pool, teaching pool, multi-activity rooms, meeting areas, café and older people’s hub.
PICTURE THIS: artists’ impressions of the new Holt Park Active Living Centre Images courtesy of Mentor
Other facilities include a learning disabilities hub, studio, Bodyline gym, garden, large activity hall and Changing Places facilities. The facilities were decided following a wide-ranging consultation with residents, community groups and others. Holt Park Active Living Centre will replace the current Holt Park Leisure Centre. The project will be overseen by Leeds City Council through the Local Education Partnership and contractor Interserve Project Services Ltd. The wellbeing centre is expected to open in summer 2013. Funding from the Department of Health covers the build of the new centre and lifecycle costs for a 25-year period. This private finance initiative funding is only available for new-build facilities rather than improving any existing buildings.
www.leeds.gov.uk
Leeds City Council section Summer 2011
About Leeds 5
Scheme makes available 300 family houses across Leeds A HOUSING incentive scheme designed to free up family housing in Leeds has opened up 300 properties in just three years. The scheme, launched by Leeds City Council in June 2008, helps council tenants downsize from houses that are too big for their needs. Tenants who decide to move
Burglary levels are tackled MORE than £1.3m is due to be invested in Leeds to reduce the number of burglaries over the next four years. The money – from the Community Safety Fund – will support the Leeds Burglary Reduction Strategy, designed to tackle burglary levels long-term. The strategy has identified six key impact areas: offender management and criminal justice; disrupting the stolen goods market; coordinated enforcement; crime prevention and security; the impact of burglary on vulnerable communities and ensuring value for money. Leeds was criticised by the Audit Commission for its high burglary levels in 2009/10 and, despite improvements at the last inspection in 2010/11, a number of concerns and recommendations were made. In 2010, Leeds recorded 8,869 such crimes with 1,600 people arrested for one or more burglary offences. Over the last four years this number exceeds 4,000.
to a smaller property will receive £1,000 for each bedroom they give up and help free up larger homes in the process. These homes can then be offered to families who desperately need these additional bedrooms, many of whom have been living in overcrowded conditions.
The scheme has released 300 properties and over 500 bedrooms in the last three years – 182 three-bed properties have been freed up for other households to move in to, including families living in overcrowded conditions. Overcrowding puts a real strain on families and can
make home life extremely tough, especially for those with children. Leeds City Council has to be innovative and make the most of the housing stock we have. We encourage any council tenant living in a property that is too large for them to contact their local housing office or One Stop
Empty council homes brought back to life NEWLY refurbished properties are set to provide homes to local people across Leeds. Almost 50 empty homes have been refurbished and will be relet to local people in Leeds as part of an initiative to re-use empty properties across the city. Leeds City Council has been working with the three ALMOs, which manage the housing stock for the council, to make sure
empty houses are brought back into use. In just three years, 46 council owned houses that were previously leased out to other housing associations have been refurbished to the decent homes standards and are now being rented out to people from the Leeds Homes Register. This effective schemes helps reduce the amount of overcrowding in some areas, while meeting
the needs of families locally. The average refurbishment cost has been around £15,000 per house, which has been met from the council’s major repairs allowance. The council own approximately 58,000 houses, the majority being on traditional council estates across the city which are managed by Aire Valley Homes, East North East Homes, West North West Homes and Belle Isle Ten-
ant Management Organisation respectively. Approximately 350 other houses, which are owned by the council and located across the city, are leased out to housing associations who provide supported housing for some of the most vulnerable residents in the city. Contact details for all housing repairs and tenant enquiries can be found on page 8.
IN HONOUR OF: the council is pleased to name this development in memory of Lance Corporal David Kirkness. We hope his family see this as a fitting tribute
HONOUR: The Lord-Lieutenant of West Yorkshire, Dr Ingrid M Roscoe officially opened the room
Ark Royal lives on LEEDS is keeping the HMS Ark Royal name alive. The Lord Mayor’s Blue Room has been renamed the HMS Ark Royal room as a testament to the close relationship between the city and the ship. The room is currently home to the HMS Ark Royal bell and a number of other artefacts from the ship, including the Freedom of the City scroll. Leeds residents raised an incredible £9million when the ship was torpedoed in 1941.
Centre about the scheme – you could move to a property that’s more suited to your needs and help to make a real difference to someone’s quality of life. For more information on the scheme please contact your local housing office or one stop centre – contact details can be found on page 8.
Affordable houses named in tribute
AFFORDABLE homes in Morley have been developed by housing association Accent Foundation with main contractor Dunelm Property Services, working in partnership with Leeds City Council and Aire Valley Homes. Kirkness Court, originally to
be called Corporation Street, has been named in memory of Lance Corporal David Kirkness, a soldier from Morley who died serving in Afghanistan during 2009. The site is made up of 22 two bedroom new apartments which are all for social rent and for people over the age of 55.
6 About Leeds Leeds City Council section Summer 2011
www.leeds.gov.uk
Council bid for Rugby League World Cup LEEDS is in the process of bidding to be a host city for the Rugby League World Cup 2013. If successful, matches would be played at Headingley Carnegie Stadium and Elland Road, while the city could be a training base too. Leeds residents can back the city’s bid at www.facebook.com/ leedsrlwc or www.twitter.com/ leedsrlwc. The tournament will be held in England and Wales from October to November 2013, bringing expected economic benefits to the UK of £30million to £50million.
Over 250,000 people will attend games broadcast in over 120 countries to 20m viewers worldwide. Each match in Leeds would bring a significant boost to the local economy alongside benefits in terms of business, culture and education. The council are working in partnership with Leeds Rhinos, Leeds United and Marketing Leeds, with the bid to be put forward by 15 July before an announcement later this year in November.
SPARKLING PROSPECT: Leeds will be bidding to host the Rugby League World Cup 2013
Olympic Flame set for Leeds THE Olympic Flame is coming to Leeds next year. The iconic symbol of the Olympic Games will be in Leeds on 24 June before heading to London for the world’s biggest sporting event in July. Thousands will get the chance to see the flame in Leeds at a celebration event. City of Leeds and Great Britain diver Rebecca Gallantree, who competed at Beijing in 2008, said: “I've experienced the inspiring impact that the Olympic Flame can have on athletes myself and I’m looking forward to seeing the people of Leeds being equally inspired by it."
Leeds has a big role to play in the Games. Among the many athletes aiming to take part will be triathlon stars, the brilliant Brownlee brothers, Alistair and Jonathan (pictured above). In June, the brothers were on top form at the ITU World Championship Series event in Madrid – Alistair, aged 23, beating his 21-year-old brother by two seconds. China’s track and field team,
AN INDEPENDENT evaluation says 2010 Leeds Year of Volunteering was a big success – with volunteer numbers up 200 per cent.
WELCOME: athletes and children celebrate the announcement
meanwhile, will use Leeds Metropolitan University as a pre-Olympics training base. For more information on Leeds and the London 2012 Olympic Games, visit www.leedsgold.co.uk.
Panel will promote disability sport A GROUP of young people in Leeds are helping to develop disability sport in the city after forming a new dedicated panel. The Leeds Disability Sport Youth Panel is the first of its kind in the city. The 16-25 year olds, with or without a disability, are focused on developing and promoting disability sport. The panel is chaired and coordinated by Leeds City
Volunteering year was a big success
Council’s disability sports development officer Ross Bibby and meet regularly to promote disability sport. They will play a key role in delivering Paralympic events and competitions in Leeds in the run-up to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. For more information visit www.leeds.gov.uk/disabilitysport or contact 0113 395 0159 or ross.bibby@leeds.gov.uk.
Your chance to get in the swim
Eight thousand people attended 100 events in the city last year, something we hope will leave an ongoing legacy in Leeds. The new Volunteer Centre in Leeds city centre, which continues to operate, was a key factor in the success of making it easier for people to get involved. Volunteering is a positive experience for participants, boosting personal confidence and developing new skills for the workplace, as well as benefiting our communities. A refreshed Compact for Leeds – an agreement by the public and voluntary sectors to work together – was launched, along with Leeds Volunteering Kitemark and Toolkit.
Based on the success of the campaign, Leeds City Council, Voluntary Action Leeds (VAL) and others fully support the ongoing 2011 European Year of Volunteering. VAL chief executive Richard Jackson said: “The 2010 Leeds Year of Volunteering really helped the voluntary sector to develop a better working relationship with Leeds City Council and other key partners in the city, including the business sector. “It has been a real joint effort for the benefit of the people of Leeds.” There are a host of activities happening now as part of 2011 European Year of Volunteering, while the Lord Mayor of Leeds, Cllr Rev’d Alan Taylor, has made VAL his charity of the year. For more information visit www.val.org.uk or visit the Volunteer Centre in St Paul’s Street.
THERE’S a wide range of swimming sessions in Leeds. A learn to swim scheme shows it’s never too late to take the plunge, building confidence and technique. There’s also diving, water polo, aqua aerobics and synchronised swimming, among other sessions. For the full range visit www.leeds.gov.uk/ swimming. You get a discount with a LEEDSCard. ENVIRONMENT EVENT: Leah Black, among others from Groundwork, accepts a volunteering torch from pupils of Carr Manor High School
www.leeds.gov.uk
Leeds City Council section Summer 2011
What’s On… Breeze on Tour: another summer of free events across the city for under-19s. Runs 27 July to 25 August. Includes live bands, dance, movie making and more. Visit www.breezeleeds.org/ breezeontour. Blah Blah Blah: The Carriageworks theatre company hope to recruit 10-16 year olds over the summer holidays. Sign up at carriageworks@leeds.gov.uk. Summer Touch Rugby League: fast-pace, minimal contact for men and women, aged 18-plus, of all abilities. Every Monday, 6-10pm, at John Charles Centre for Sport. Contact 395 0163 or visit www.leeds.gov.uk/ rugby. The Dripping Riot: true story drama based in 1865 sees Leeds servant imprisoned for stealing. The Carriageworks, 30 July, tickets £6.50 and £4.50 concessions. Box office 224 3801. MiniBeast Safari: explore life in the undergrowth searching for
About Leeds 7
There are many attractions to enjoy in Leeds over the coming months. Here we provide a round-up of some of those on offer.
Breeze
Leeds Light picture courtesy Jonathan Turner
Native Plains Americans
Dancing in the Street
bugs at Killingbeck Meadows on 18 August, 1-3pm. Contact 237 5275. Bushcraft Skills: wilderness survival skills like shelter building, fire lighting and foraging. Otley Chevin Forest Park on 4 September, 2-4pm. £10 per person. Contact 237 5268. Native Plains Americans: art includes warrior shirts, headdresses and sacred pipes, among other items. At Lotherton
Hall until 25 September. Visit www. leeds.gov.uk/lothertonhall. Dancing in the Street: procession and dancing with Leeds City Museum’s carnival troupe at Bramley Carnival (17 July, noon), Leeds Pride (7 August, noon) and Leeds West Indian Carnival (29 August, 1.30pm). An eponymous exhibition of the city’s carnivals and street festivals runs 22 July to 8 January at Leeds City Museum. It features colourful
costumes, films, photographs and trophies. Contact 224 3732 or www.leeds.gov.uk/citymuseum. Pianoforte: recital series features prize winners from the last competition. Alessandro Taverna, 4 September, 3pm. Sofya Gulyak, 11 December, 3pm. Contact 244 6586 or visit www.leedspiano.com. The Great Gatsby: classic tale of American dream from the Proper Job Theatre Company. The Carriageworks, 14 September,
tickets £11.50 and £9.50 concessions. Box office 224 3801 or www.carriageworkstheatre.org. uk. Light Night: venues all over Leeds stay open late on 7 October, 5-11pm, to offer all kinds of colourful and curious entertainment. Various venues include the Town Hall and St John the Evangelist’s Church in Briggate. Visit www.lightnight. co.uk.
Artist Damien Hirst’s first dedicated show
PACKED OUT: last year’s 50,000 crowd at Opera in the Park
Stars out in Leeds THERE are a host of big name artists in Leeds this summer at both Party in the Park and Opera in the Park. Multi-award winning boyband JLS will grace the stage at Temple Newsam for Party in the Park on 31 July. Joining them will be chart-toppers The Wanted, Jessie J, Example, Jay Sean and Tinchy Stryder. A new balloted ticket distribution system is in place, following overwhelming demand for tickets to the 70,000-capacity event in previous years. Tickets have been allocated. Successful applicants must pick up their tickets from the reception of 96.3 Radio Aire in Burley Road by 29 July – weekdays 8am to 6pm and Saturdays 10am to
WALKING IN THE AIR: Aled Jones
2pm. Proof of ID and address must be shown. Party in the Park is the UK’s biggest free pop party and organised by Leeds City Council and 96.3 Radio Aire. Opera in the Park, again at Temple Newsam, has television singing star Aled Jones as the presenter and leading performer. Joining Aled on stage will be
renowned opera soloists Orla Boylan, Heather Shipp, Gwyn Hughes Jones and David Kempster, as well as The Leeds Festival Chorus and The Orchestra of Opera North. This classical music concert takes place on 30 July and, for the first time, features a spectacular fireworks finale. Tickets, subject to availability, are £12 general admission, £9.50 LEEDSCard and Breezecard holders and £8.50 for LEEDS Card Extra holders. Outlets include Leeds Visitor Centre, The Carriageworks and Leeds Grand and www.leeds.gov.uk/opera. Opera in the Park is organised by the city council and supported by Magic 828 and the Yorkshire Post.
A MAJOR exhibition of Damien Hirst’s controversial work has opened at Leeds Art Gallery. Hirst has strong links with Leeds where he grew up and attended Leeds College of Art and Design before shooting to international prominence in the mid-1990s. The exhibition is the first dedicated display of Hirst’s work seen in Leeds, showing his early student works to later pieces after establishing his career. Running until 30 October, the exhibition is part of the national ARTIST ROOMS programme. This sees modern and contemporary art collections held by Tate and National Galleries of Scotland going on display at
venues around the country. For more about the exhibition visit www.leeds.gov.uk/artgallery. Visit www.artfund.org/ artistrooms for ARTIST ROOMS on Tour.
ART GALLERY: Away from the Flock will form part of this exhibition Away from the Flock © Damien Hirst. All rights reserved. DACS 2010.
8 About Leeds Leeds City Council section Summer 2011
www.leeds.gov.uk
AIM: we want Kirkgate Market to be the best in the UK
Market in the spotlight WHEEL: The HESCO Garden 2011 netted gold again for Leeds
Leeds’ garden wins top awards double LEEDS is celebrating securing more gold after making it two in a row at the world famous RHS Chelsea Flower Show. The Leeds challenger The HESCO Garden 2011 was awarded a coveted gold medal, matching the historic first-ever gold for Leeds in 2010. The theme of the HESCO Garden 2011 highlights the power of nature and water power in particular. Its centrepiece is a traditional mill as seen in Yorkshire during the industrial revolution. The garden drew widespread admiration including royal approval from HRH the Duke of Edinburgh as well as Leeds’ own Nell McAndrew and famous
Celebrity Nell McAndrew, third from left, at the HESCO Garden 2011 Pictured left is Julie Heselden, wife of the late Jimi Heselden OBE, owner of HESCO Bastion Ltd
names Jimmy Choo, Bill Bailey, Paul McKenna and Nigel Havers. The garden was produced by Leeds City Council’s parks and countryside service with sup-
port and full sponsorship from Leeds-based world-leading manufacturers of products used in civil engineering HESCO Bastion Limited. In addition to raising the profile of the city to an international audience, entering a show garden at Chelsea also allows council staff to learn new skills and techniques which are then used every day to improve green spaces all over Leeds – one of the greenest cities in the UK. Of the eight previous Chelsea gardens, six can now be visited by the public at sites in the city, including the gold medal-winning HESCO Garden 2010 and The HESCO Garden from 2009 in the ‘Gardens of the World’ section of Roundhay Park.
KIRKGATE market is an important part of the city centre and vital for new business start-ups, results from a recent consultation show. Leeds City Council went to the public to ask how they thought Kirkgate Market could start to become the best market in the UK. The consultation, earlier this year, gained over 950 responses from a wide ranging audience. Aside from its importance to the city centre and for start-ups, concerns were raised over parking and opening hours, while some admitted they simply ‘shopped
somewhere else’. Sue Burgess, Leeds City Council markets manager said: “I would like to thank everyone that took the time to fill in the survey about the future of Kirkgate Market. “The report has provided some interesting information, and given us a real platform to work from. “We understand that retail markets now need to respond to changing customer needs, and we are going to work hard to make this happen.” To view the consultation results visit www.leedsmarkets.co.uk.
Call goes out for more recycling LEEDS City Council is running a year-long campaign to get everybody recycling more. Those living in multi-storey council-managed flats will be given their own dedicated recycling facilities. Lincoln Green is one of the latest communities to benefit. Their communal recycling facilities – given by the city council and East North East Homes Leeds – allow residents to recycle paper, card, plastics, cans, aerosols and glass. We aim to have such facilities
available to every council multistorey flat by the autumn. It’s part of the wider programme to bring recycling to every home in Leeds. Communal recycling facilities have already been a great success on the Beckhill Estate in Meanwood. As new facilities are introduced, residents will be given information on how to recycle effectively. For more on recycling visit www.leeds.gov.uk/waste. For Environmental Services call 0113 222 4406.
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.
Adult Social Care Antisocial Behaviour Children and Young People’s Social Care Council Housing (for registration and bids) Council Tax and Benefits Customer Relations Electoral Services Environmental Services Highways Housing Options (for homelessness advice) Planning Registrars (for births, deaths, marriages) Minicom (for all services)
0113 222 4401 0113 222 4402 0113 222 4403 0113 222 4413 0113 222 4404 0113 222 4405 0113 222 4411 0113 222 4406 0113 222 4407 0113 222 4412 0113 222 4409 0113 222 4408 0113 222 4410
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