Your FREE community newspaper Issue 117 | March 2025
£10M FOR TEMPLE WORKS CONFIRMED
Iconic Holbeck mill remains on track for regeneration
by Jeremy Morton
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has recommitted £10m to help breathe fresh life into Holbeck’s historic Grade I Listed Temple Works building, paving the way for it to become the home of a new British Library North.
The announcement was made following a visit by Deputy Prime Minister, Angela Rayner MP, last month.
The grant was originally awarded from the Department for Levelling Up’s £100m culture regeneration budget towards the end of last government. The incoming Labour government said they were “minded to withdraw” from the scheme last autumn.
Councillor James Lewis, leader of Leeds City Council, said:
“The British Library North project aims to create a worldclass space for learning, research, exhibitions and events that would unlock the huge potential of Temple Works and boost the ongoing regeneration of the wider Holbeck and South Bank areas.
“It is therefore really welcome news that the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has confirmed that, following a consultation, this £10m of funding is now in
CGI of how the regenerated Temple Works might look
place to support the process of bringing the Temple Works building into public ownership and back into use.
“We have worked hard in recent months with partners, including the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, Homes England and the British Library itself, to make the case for this funding.
“Together we were able to emphasise the importance of the scheme and the economic and social benefits it would bring to Leeds, West Yorkshire
and the North, not least through engagement and connections with local communities.
“We were very pleased to welcome the Deputy Prime Minister to Temple Works last week so she could see firsthand what this remarkable heritage asset is all about.
“We will now continue to work alongside partners on detailed plans for the full funding, design and development of a project that remains a complex and
challenging undertaking, but one that offers a major regeneration opportunity for both Temple Works and the surrounding area.”
Developer CEG bought the iconic flax mill built by John Marshall in the 1840s in 2017. They had already spent £3.5m by 2021 on survey and safety work to understand the unorthodox building.
As part of the devolution deal in 2020 that saw the creation of the West Yorkshire Mayor, £25m was earmarked to site
British Library North in Leeds, with Temple Works the preferred location. £5m of that was drawn down in 2021 for stabilisation works to the building.
In 2022 Historic England awarded the project £1m for repairs to the roof and to the Counting house. Last year the Gate Lodge was fully restored, a prototype for the masonry repair of the Mill’s east elevation. The full cost of regenerating Temple Works is estimated to be £70m.
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Vastinthave submitted a planning application to erect four temporary Padel courts at Aire Park on the former Tetley brewery site in Hunslet.
The courts, which will be run by Padel Social Club, are planned to last for five years after which they will be replaced by permanent development as the site is built out.
The courts will be sited on the former petrol station on Meadow Lane.
As well as the courts there will be changing rooms and a bar social area constructed from shipping containers plus outdoor seating.
Padel has been described as a cross between tennis and squash. The court is similar to, but smaller than a tennis court and players can hit the ball off the walls as they can in squash. It is a game that is currently rising in popularity as a very accessible and social activity.
Commenting on the planning application, Head of Portfolio at
Vastint UK, Michael Cronin said: “In line with the wider South Bank regeneration, our vision for Aire Park is to build a community which places health and wellbeing at its core. Padel is the world’s fastest
growing participation sport, so as we continue to deliver our vision and progress our new public realm, eight-acre public park and new retail and leisure facilities, it felt only fitting that Padel should be captured
in our plans.
New mixed-use development takes shape in Holbeck Plans for temporary Padel courts at Aire Park
GGI of proposed Padel court
Leading
build-to-rent provider
PLATFORM_ has officially revealed the name of its 10th – and first mixed-use – development in the UK.
Sweetfields, Leeds, will become a 1.3 million sqft neighbourhood in the South Bank area of Holbeck incorporating over 1,350 new homes, 160,000 sqft of Grade A office and commercial space all set around a new public square.
Drawing its name from the location on Sweet Street West, as well as the historic surrounding green spaces, Sweetfields will be a vibrant addition to the ongoing regeneration of the South Bank area
“We look forward to progressing this planning application and can’t wait to welcome people to the facility and provide yet another reason to venture south of the river and discover the community we’re creating at Aire Park.”
You can read the full planning application at publicaccess.leeds .gov.uk, search for 25/00005/FU. You can comment on the plans until Friday 14 March 2025.
as part of the city council’s vision to expand the city centre to the south.
PLATFORM_, along with investment partner Housing Growth Partnership, broke ground on phase 1 of this new destination in 2024, commencing the delivery of 451 new high-quality homes for rent, a grocery store, the public square and reinstatement of the historic Commercial pub, once owned by Leeds United icon Peter Lorimer.
As well as becoming a neighbourhood with a range of amenities, Sweetfields is adjacent to the bars, restaurants and businesses of the Temple district, Holbeck Urban Village and the
planned British Library North development.
Alongside the first phase residential development completing at the start of 2027, two new office buildings provide 90,000 sqft and 45,000 sqft respectively.
Targeting BREEAM Excellent sustainability accreditation and providing access to parking, business lounges and amenities across the wider neighbourhood, this workspace is being marketed by appointed commercial agents Knight Frank.
Jean-Marc Vandevivere, CEO at PLATFORM_ commented:
“Sweetfields is an area that is
steeped in local history, and we’re delighted to pick up its story and create a new chapter by bringing homes, jobs and businesses back to a site that has been vacant since 2008. Our investment in acquiring the land, securing planning, designing and now building out the site reflects our commitment to creating a vibrant new neighbourhood to support delivery of Leeds City Council’s economic, investment, regeneration and housing goals.
“The Sweetfields name is the first step in bringing the site to life and attracting a wide range of residents as well as retail, leisure and workspace occupiers, creating a neighbourhood that people from across Leeds and beyond can enjoy the benefits of.” With a masterplan by Leeds based architects DLG, Sweetfields will bring a mix of studio, one-, two- and threebedroom Build To Rent (BTR) apartments to the city from early 2027. Amenities will include a gym, residents’ lounges, coworking space, a private dining suite, and extensive outdoor space and roof terraces incorporating exercise areas, children’s play areas, and pet-friendly facilities. Visit www. sweetfields.co.uk
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Three Guides from the 5th Middleton group have achieved their Gold Awards.
Consultation supports Elland Road being on track for mass transit Golden Guides jump for joy
The Gold Award, the highest award in Guiding, was awarded to Amelia Mae White, Sophia
Warrender and Annabel Wood last month.
We asked the girls about their experience of gaining the award: Amelia-Mae said:
“It showed me how to preserve to achieve the award I wanted to do to rangers with and also to set my mind to something to get it done. Guides has been a fun way to
chill with friends at the end of the week.”
Sophia said:
“Whilst doing my gold award I have been able to develop different skills and work on different subjects to grow my knowledge. I am glad to have done my gold award as it gave me a challenge to work towards and put me out of my comfort zone trying things I wouldn’t have tried before.
“Guides gave me a place where I could be myself and socialise with friends whilst also developing key life skills that will help me in the future. I have enjoyed doing my guide gold award and look forward to achieving my gold award in Rangers.”
Annabel added:
“The most enjoyable part was getting to do all the badges and activities with my guiding friends and sisters. I’ve experienced so much through Guides including fab trips camping and to Disney as well as learning new skills. Thank you to all guide leaders and more for helping me get where I am today!”
The 5th Middleton group meet at South Leeds URC Church, Nesfield Road, Belle Isle every Friday evening in term time.
They have four sections for different age groups: Rainbows (4-7 years), Brownies (7-10), Guides (10-14) and Rangers (14-18). If you are interested in joining the unit, or any other unit, please visit: bit.ly/GuidesSL
New games area planned for Cottingley
Aplanning application has been submitted to build a Multi Use Game Area (MUGA) on the old skatepark, off Cottingley Drive.
The plan, developed by Groundwork Yorkshire on behalf of the council, who own the land, aims to create a safe an inviting space.
The MUGA will be surrounded by outdoor gym equipment, games tables and concrete seating; the area will be lit and two highly visible
routes in and out.
The plans have been have developed in consultation with local residents. The old skatepark was underused and, being secluded, attracted antisocial behaviour.
Having developed the play area for younger children, residents were keen to see sporting facilities for teenagers on the estate.
The works will be funded from the Morley Town Deal funding.
Cllr Andrew Scopes (Labour, Beeston & Holbeck) commented:
“I’m excited about these proposals and the potential for really improving facilities in the area. It’s good to see this go to planning with the extension of the playground on the other side of the estate already in progress.”
You can read the full planning application at publicaccess.leeds.gov.uk, search for 25/00297/FU.
Thousandsof people across West Yorkshire, as well as leaders in business and education, have come out in support of plans for a regionwide Mass Transit network.
It comes as West Yorkshire Combined Authority releases a consultation report showing more than two thirds of people surveyed across the region are supportive of plans to create a tram system initially covering Bradford and Leeds.
The feedback will help the Combined Authority select its preferred scheme later this year, before consulting on a detailed version of the preferred route in early 2026.
This feedback is important to ensure the final plans meet the needs of the communities and businesses near the routes, and it will help add more details to the development plans for Phase One.
While no decisions on routes have yet been taken, the most supported route in south Leeds (L6) would run via Holbeck, Elland Road Stadium and Beeston Ring Road before finishing at the White Rose Centre. This was followed by (L7), which would run via Gelderd Road, Lowfield Road, Elland Road Stadium and Old Lane.
The route options consultation took place during summer and autumn 2024, and saw 4,845 individuals and organisations have their say on plans for the region’s biggest proposed infrastructure project in decades.
Respondents said improving connections with residential areas, reducing traffic congestion and providing quick journey times were the most important outcomes for a mass transit network in the region.
In addition to thousands of members of the public, the plans also received support from regional leaders in the worlds of commerce and
education.
Steve Foster, Landsec’s Centre Director for White Rose and Trinity Leeds shopping centres, said:
“Leeds has always been a city of industry and innovation and deserves a modern transport network to match its ambition. Today is an important step forward for improving connections between north and south Leeds, as well as the rest of West Yorkshire.
“Investment in modern, sustainable transport infrastructure will not only boost economic growth, especially if it links the city centre to the wider region and hubs like White Rose, but also extends access to opportunity for people across the region.”
Mayor of West Yorkshire Tracy Brabin said:
“The public has emphatically told us: ‘we want mass transit!’
“This is our region’s biggest infrastructure project in decades and will help us deliver on the growth mission to put more money in people’s pockets.
“It is time to deliver a tram for the people of West Yorkshire and get spades in the ground by 2028.”
The report comes hot on the heels of Chancellor Rachel Reeves’s recent growth speech, during which she spoke of government’s commitment to support the West Yorkshire Mass Transit scheme.
While routes are yet to be selected, the findings from the consultation will be considered alongside several other factors including the findings on environmental surveys, further engagement with stakeholders and feasibility analysis to inform the preferred scheme decision later this year. A further consultation on a detailed version of the proposed route will take place in early 2026.
Amelia Mae White, Sophia Warrender and Annabel Wood achieved their Gold Awards
CGI for illustrative purposes only
On the beat
with Inspector Mark Lund
Fighting crime with the community
Iamwriting this article to update you on the good work that has been undertaken in the Hunslet and Riverside ward.
Since December I have had the use of the Neighbourhood Impact Team and Team Leodis to assist with issues raised by the community, councillors and police intelligence.
This work is still ongoing, but we have made significant progress to tackle many of the issues. Thus far we have executed 13 warrants, fully closed 16 properties and partially closed 8. 21 arrests and counting have been made for a variety of offences.
9 criminal prevention notice warnings and 2 criminal prevention notices have been served.
A full criminal behaviour order has been issued, the first of its kind, to a drug dealer following conviction at court. This prevents him from residing in the Beeston area and has a number of other conditions. We are currently seeking further criminal behaviour orders for others who are causing harm in the community.
None of this work could have been conducted without the help of the community and I encourage continued reporting, we need the information and intelligence to act.
The work continues not just in Hunslet & Riverside, but across all of South Leeds and our dedicated social media platforms give updates on the work that we do. I am conscious that people report
things and do not get an update or see any changes which is why we are trying to get the message out and tell the public what we are doing.
We conducted the first community-based day of action in Beeston on Friday 21 February, involving a number of partner agencies, police cadets, community groups and residents. This involved litter picking, fly tipping clearance and enforcement, trading standards visits to shops, police horses deployed in the area, a walk around with housing, residents visited and a number of other such activities.
Together with West Yorkshire Trading Standards and Wagtail UK Limited, 5 commercial premises were searched and thousands of illegal cigarettes and vapes were seized.
Traffic units issued over 16 tickets for various road traffic offences, made 2 arrests for being Over the Prescribed Limit and seized 3 vehicles that were not road legal.
NPT were out in force speaking and listening to the
public. Our cadets and their unit leader, PC Jones, organised a clear up around the Heathcroft fields, clearing over 10 sacks of rubbish, and then undertook a test purchasing operation, testing for underage sales of alcohol and vapes, with 4 stores failing.
Linda Davis, Head of Trading Standards (Protecting Communities) said “I would like to thank all the partners involved and members of the public for reporting illegal sales and encourage everyone to continue doing so to reduce the harm caused by tobacco in our communities far from being a victimless crime, the illegal trade in tobacco costs government billions each year in lost revenue, makes it easier for children to start smoking, takes advantage of cashstrapped families, and helps fund organised crime.”
We will be planning another in the coming months and I would encourage as many residents, community groups and agencies to join us and to become involved. This will be advertised in due course.
Old and new come together to restart Hunslet TARA
Anew-look Hunslet Tenants & Residents Association (TARA) will be meeting again on Friday 14 March from 67:30pm at the Involve Community Centre, Whitfield Avenue, LS10 2QE.
After a period of ill health, the old Hunslet TARA committee have taken the decision to stand down, And we wish them all the very best with their future endeavours. However, it was decided that the old Chair would return, to pool his experience with a new Chair to restart the group.
The new Chair, Adrian Burnett, said:
“I’m proud to be leading the TARA forward and looking forward to helping the community get its pride back. Between myself and Stewart, we bring a wealth of experience to Hunslet TARA and we plan to do as much as we can to help this area we serve.”
The Vice Chair, Stewart Walton said:
“I am very pleased to be returning and working with Adrian. Together, I am sure we can do wonders for our community. Adrian and I have worked together before on other projects so we know this can work. We plan to speak to all the other hubs and organisations.
“We don’t shy away from the size and scale of the mountain there is to climb. However, we
do intend to put everything we have into this area.”
Our Treasurer commented:
“Adrian and Stewart have a lot of plans going forward. I am pleased to be doing this with them. They have my full support.”
Cllr Paul Wray (Labour, Hunslet & Riverside) also commented:
“I’d like to welcome the new officers to their roles and I look forward to working with Adrian as Chair and Stewart as Vicechair.
“I know there is much to do on this housing estate and having more eyes and ears in the local area, people who have a passion for it, will help the Council and partners to do more to support the people
that live in the area. I am under no illusion that together, Adrian and Stewart will make a great partnership.”
With spring just around the corner, there is much for us to do. However, we can’t do this alone, so if you would like to help in anyway, shape or form, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. This is a community focused venture led by members of the community. Please do come and join us if you feel able. Everyone is welcome. For more information, contact Adrian on, 07368 228521 or Stewart, 07419 776356
Future Hunslet TARA meetings will be held on the second Friday of each month at the Involve Community Centre.
Are you a fixer? Beeston Repair Cafe needs you!
StLuke’s CARES is working with Our Future Beeston to set up a Repair Cafe for Beeston.
Repair Cafés are community spaces where people can bring broken items to be fixed, enjoy a cuppa, and connect with neighbours.
It’s all done free of charge, but the project needs local people to step forward to help.
Do you have a skill or a smile to share? They are looking for volunteers who can:
Fix things - Whether you're handy with electronics, sewing, bikes, or general repairs. Make a great cup of teaKeep the kettle boiling and help create a warm, welcoming space.
Be a friendly face - Greet visitors and help the event run smoothly.
Volunteering isn’t all giving, you will meet new people and
be part of something positive.
You can share your skills (or learn new ones). And you’ll know that you are helping to reduce waste and support sustainability in Beeston.
Interested?
Get in touch - we'd love to hear from you! sally@stlukescares.org.uk, or abi.paterson@healthforall.org. uk or call 07800 512074
Adrian Burnett and Stewart Walton
Mounted Police visited as part of the Day of Action
Holbeck Together’s Community Transport Service is connecting people and supporting community
Holbeck Together offers a reliable and affordable community minibus service that caters to the needs of local residents.
user to get out and about and enjoy group trips. It also means I can retain some independence by going on the weekly shopping trips."
Minibus for Hire: A Flexible Option for Groups
Panel approves floodlighting at Cockburn School 3G pitch
by Jeremy Morton
Councillors
on the South & West Plans Panel voted to approve a planning application to install floodlights on the new artificial pitch and tennis courts at Cockburn School in Beeston at a meeting on 6 February.
The football/rugby pitch will be covered by lighting on six 15m high poles, whilst the tennis/netball courts will be lit from eight 8m poles.
In their report to the panel officers recommended approval. They said the proposed lighting plan, with additional conditions would ensure very little light would reach the ancient woodland, about 0.5 lux which they said was the equivalent of a moonlit night.
Taking this and results of a bat survey, they were satisfied that the development did not pose an unacceptable impact on the local wildlife.
Charles Centre for Sport were not fully booked on evenings. She concluded:
“The area already has enough existing or pending floodlit pitches.”
Emma Watson, Chief Operations Officer at Cockburn Multi-academy Trust, speaking in support of the application rejected this, quoting the draft 3G Leeds Football Facilities Plan, which states that the city is short of 29 full size pitches, with 10 of that shortfall within South Leeds.
“The project is about improving the facilities, it’s about creating those lasting opportunities for young people, promoting health and wellbeing and fostering a sense of community pride” she said.
The community transport service is also there to help those with mobility difficulties stay active.
The transport service plays a vital role in ensuring that local people can participate in activities and outings that they might otherwise find difficult to attend – whether it’s popping out to Holbeck Together’s
The minibus is used to help community members get out and about and stay as independent as possible. Weekly return trips to local shops (including visits to Morley Town Centre, Crossgates, or Owlcoates, Pudsey), offer older adults in the community the opportunity to do their shopping in a convenient, safe manner.
activity programme at St Matthews or enjoying a day trip to the seaside!
For details of upcoming trips, including dates, times, and costs, check out Holbeck Together’s latest newsletter or visit the website at holbeck together.org
Barry, a local Holbeck resident says:
"I love the fact that Holbeck Together’s transport offer enables me as a wheelchair
With a quick sign up process, if you’re a local organisation or a community group, you can also hire the minibuses for your own events, ensuring safe and comfortable transport for everyone.
The Community Transport team already work with a number of organisations on a regular basis across the city who hire the buses for their activities and outings.
The fleet includes two fullyequipped VW Crafter minibuses, each with capacity for up to fifteen passengers plus the driver. These minibuses are also fully accessible for those with mobility challenges, with the ability to accommodate two fixed wheelchairs once the three rear seats are removed.
The dedicated drivers also work closely with clients to customise routes, ensuring that each trip meets the specific needs of the group.
As a charity terms and conditions apply to use of the minibus by external organisations, but the friendly team at Holbeck Together can talk this through with you when you enquire.
For more information or to hire a minibus, please contact Holbeck Together on 0113
The application had received 50 letters of support and 44 letters opposing it. Those in favour stressed the benefit to community sports clubs and opportunities for young people to be active; while objections centred on the impact on local nature, especially the nearby ancient woodland of Middleton Park.
At the meeting two people spoke against the application.
Alan Shaw from the Friends of Middleton Park said:
“The impact assessment on the surrounding grassland, local nature reserve and nearby semi-ancient woodland is insufficient and concentrates only on bat species.”
Suzanne Grace from Save South Leeds Former Golf Course Community Group said that the 3G pitch at Middleton Leisure Centre ran at a deficit and that tennis courts at John
“We understand that introducing floodlighting must be done sensitively and we do take seriously our responsibility to the local environment and to the community. We fully support and agree the mitigating conditions set out by the planning officer, ensuring that the impact on wildlife and the environment and residents is managed responsibly.”
The application was approved with conditions including: Use of floodlights in • accordance with specified hours:
Jan to Mar; Nov and Dec: Mon–Fri 8am–9pm, Sat–Sun 8am–9pm (as per Community Use Agreement)
Apr and Oct: Mon–Fri 8am–8pm, Sat–Sun 8am–5pm (as per Community Use Agreement)
May to Sept: No floodlight use
Floodlights to be switched • off when not in use
Process for dealing with • complaints about floodlighting Lighting design strategy • for bats
Providing accessible transport: Holbeck Together
Seeing the world as others do
Avinash from the Association of Blind Asians (ABA) spoke to women at Asha Neighbourhood Project in Beeston in January. They learned about common misconceptions around visual impairment including eye health statistics, common eye conditions and how to prevent them. ABA provides culturally appropriate services and advocacy to support people with visual impairments living in Leeds.
Park pavilion closed for refurbishment
TheWatsonian Pavilion in Cross Flatts Park, Beeston, is currently closed in order for improvements to be carried out across the building.
The pavilion, which includes The Bridge Cafe run by Health for All, will have its flooring, kitchen units and canopy replaced as well as LED lighting fitted by Leeds Building Services.
While replacing the canopy was originally to be funded by £12,000 allocated by Beeston & Holbeck and Hunslet & Riverside councillors through the Inner South Community
Committee, along with funds raised by Friends of Cross Flatts Park, an underspend on a separate project to improve the building’s energy efficiency has led to extra funding for the canopy, kitchen and flooring works.
People who have booked the building for hire during the refurbishment period will be offered full refunds.
Councillor Paul Wray (Labour, Hunslet and Riverside) said:
“As a member of Friends of Cross Flatts Park I’m very glad that the Watsonia Pavilion will receive some much-needed
investment including the replacement of the canopy.
“While it will be a shame for the pavilion to close, the time is right for the works to take place and I hope that it can be completed within the three weeks for the building to reopen in the spring.”
The building is scheduled to reopen on Monday 10 March.
The building is named after Thomas Watson, a Beeston man who made his fortune in South Africa and gifted the original building to the people of Beeston. See issue 83 February 2022 for his story.
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The Watsonian Pavilion in Cross Flatts Park
New “one-stop site” for people who have faced issues with alcohol and drugs
RecoveryinLeeds
is a new one-stop website for people who have faced issues with alcohol and drugs across Leeds.
The website aims to offer comprehensive information on activities, venues, community support, and stories to help people maintain abstinence and thrive in their recovery.
The website was developed through 5 WAYS, the Leeds hub for those in recovery from issues with alcohol and drugs,
Topps
following a suggestion from their members. It’s now intended to be a collaborative venture with people able to suggest venues, events and activities online to be added to the site.
Lead Practitioner at 5 WAYS
Matt Whitton said:
“The creation of RecoveryinLeeds recognises the importance of community and connection in staying abstinent. Stopping using drugs or alcohol is really tough
but so is staying stopped. This site will provide a wealth of options and inspiration for people.”
The website was launched at 5 WAYS at an event on 29 January 2025.
Michelle Regan, who is in recovery and attended the launch, said:
“This website is a gamechanger for people in recovery. It brings together so many resources in one place, making it easier to find support, activities, and community connections. It’s amazing to see something built by people in recovery, for people in recovery.”
Other organisations involved in the website as it grows and develops are Recovery Runners, St Annes Alcohol Services and Getting Clean. Individuals are welcome to make suggestions and submissions as well.
For more information or to explore the platform, visit www.RecoveryinLeeds.org.uk
Tiles partners with colleges to tackle skills shortage
Aneweducation partnership designed to boost the number of qualified tilers in the UK has been launched by Topps Tiles.
The UK’s number one tile specialist is teaming up with Leeds College of Building and South & City College Birmingham to inspire the next generation of skilled tradespeople.
The partnership comes in response to a troubling decline in skilled tilers. The UK needs around 37,650 wall and floor tilers by 2028, according to CITB Labour Market forecasts. In 2004, over 47,300 tilers were recorded in the UK, but this plummeted by nearly 34% to 31,300 roles in 2020.
To counter this, Topps Tiles is transferring 50% of its Apprenticeship Levy funds (government tax employers pay
to fund apprenticeship training) to support small tiling companies wanting to take on a tiling apprentice.
As part of the initiative, Topps Tiles will promote the tiling apprenticeship training delivered at Leeds College of Building via in-store and online promotions. The company has already donated tens of thousands of pounds of tiling equipment and materials to both colleges to support teaching.
In 2022, the government removed funding for Level 2 Wall & Floor Tiling Diplomas, which halted progression routes for full-time students. However, both colleges still offer a Level 2 Wall & Floor Tiling Apprenticeship Standard, usually completed over two years. Apprentices travel to the colleges from as far away as
Northumberland to Lincolnshire.
John Shaw, Learning & Development Manager at Topps Tiles, added:
“Tilers today may handle larger or more complex geometric patterned tiles, sustainable materials, highinsulation tiles and underfloor heating, heightened safety regulations, or even new technology such as precision tooling and digital planning using 3D design software. Fresh talent is urgently needed to keep up with industry demands, so our new education partnership is vital for the industry and the wider economy.”
Alan Heard, Leeds College of Building Wall & Floor Tiling Lecturer, said:
“Topps Tiles deserves credit for helping to boost the number of tiling apprentices. Their investment and support in Leeds and Birmingham have been second to none. We already received a delivery of 12 palets of tiles along with other tools, materials, and even matting for electric underfloor heating. Having equipment like this for hands-on training is vital to ensure young professionals are fully prepared for sector demands when they qualify.”
Fancy knowing more about leadership?
Ever thought you could add some value as a governor, on a board, or as a volunteer but not known what it might take or how to set about it?
Holbeck has a Leadership Academy and it’s for you!
“I felt so challenged and so supported all at the same time. Before this programme, I had felt somewhat disconnected from my goals, but now I feel on track!”
LEADERSHIP ACADEMY PARTICIPANT
A 12 week course, every Friday evening from 4th April 2O25.
With a weekend residential in some of the finest Yorkshire countryside. It costs you nothing, we’ll provide everything you need, sort out all the transport you’ll need and even help with childcare.
To get more information, ask any questions and reserve your FREE place
Tiling apprentices are
Matt Whitton demonstrates the website at the launch
Money matters with Leeds Credit Union
It’s time to spring clean your finances
If January is the best time for people to pay off debts and reassess their finances, the return of spring is arguably the best time to put plans in place to try and start saving money.
In this article, Greg Potter, Head of Member Experience at Leeds Credit Union, takes a look at some of the different ways people can both save and make money in order to help them improve their finances.
Saving money
Your food shop
With food among the largest expenditures in most households, now is the perfect time to explore how you could spend less at the supermarket.
The simplest way to do so is to start shopping at Lidl or Aldi - the two cheapest supermarkets in the UK. In January 2025, a basket of 100 everyday items in Aldi cost more than £19 less than at Asda.
It's also worth remembering that all supermarkets reduce the prices on products that are about to reach their sell-bydates, so try to shop after 6pm and keep your eyes out for items with yellow stickers - they may be reduced by as much as 80%.
Monday and Saturday evenings are the best days to
find a bargain.
Your mobile phone
To make sure you're not overpaying for your mobile phone, explore the possibility of switching from a contract to a SIM-only deal, which are often cheaper in the long run compared to contract agreements because you're not paying back the cost of a new smartphone.
Buying a handset outright - or using one you already ownand opting for SIM-only allows you to choose any provider and pick the minutes, texts and data you need, making it easier to only pay for what you use and reducing your monthly outgoings. Shop for the best current SIM-only deals at uswitch.com
Making money
If you've got some spare time on your hands, you could make more money with some of these easy tips!
Sell parking spaces
If your driveway often has no car parked on it, why not rent it out? Websites like justpark .com allow you to do just that, making it a quick and easy way to make extra money without having to lift a finger. Get paid to do simple tasks for people in your area
From planting flowers to
lifting furniture or cleaning kitchens, websites like airtasker.com and taskrabbit .co.uk connect people who need simple tasks completing with people who are happy to help them, enabling you to make extra money, fast.
After registering, you simply reply to people who want tasks doing with an offer (eg you might offer to walk someone's dog for £10) and if they accept your offer, the job - and money - is yours.
Have a clear out
For a quick cash injection, it's never been easier to sell unwanted items online through websites like eBay, Gumtree and Facebook Marketplace. Go through your house, loft, garden and garage and if you find anything you no longer want, need or use, sell it.
Tax
HMRC will let you earn up to £1,000 per year tax-free. Above that you they may need to complete a Self Assessment tax return. You can check your tax obligations using HMRC’s new easy-to-use guide at taxhelpforhustles.campaign .gov.uk
Leeds Credit Union provides straightforward and affordable financial services to people in Leeds.
Leeds United show support for Holbeck Together
LeedsUnited’s Sky Bet Championship fixture against Cardiff City on 1 February was dedicated to South Leeds-based charity, Holbeck Together, who have been working closely with the club for a number of years as they continue to support some of the most disadvantaged people in the local area.
Ahead of the dedicated fixture, Leeds United club legend Eddie Gray stopped by one of the charity’s wellbeing breakfast events, chatting with staff, volunteers and the people the organisation supports, to hear their stories and more about the charity.
Holbeck Together provide a variety of services and activities to support the community that is just a stone’s throw from the stadium, keeping people of all ages socially and physically active, whilst promoting healthy lifestyles and choices, and offering affordable food to those most in need.
To continue supporting some of the most isolated people in our local area and to continue the incredibly vital work they are doing every day, the organisation relies heavily on donations. Therefore the
charity will be hosting a fundraising event around the ground at the weekend, with special guests also presenting in some of the stadium lounges.
Speaking at the recent wellbeing breakfast, Eddie was quick to praise the important work being delivered by the charity:
“It is just about the people,” Gray explained. “That is what life is all about to me. It is great they can come here, meet up and get something to eat. I like coming here. Elland Road is within walking distance, and it is a focal point.
“It is nice to come down and see how they are doing. I think it is a great thing that they do here. They put this on and it is for the community and the people that live local. They can come in here and meet people, talk to them and probably make new friends here, which is good.”
Elissa Newman, Chief Officer at Holbeck Together, added:
“We are based in the heart of Holbeck, in the shadows of Elland Road, and we provide key support where people experience consistent poverty, ill health, loneliness and mental wellbeing troubles.
“As a charity, we endeavour to deliver a busy schedule of community support services and health and wellbeing activities for people, just like the breakfast event we have thrown this morning.
“Holbeck remains one of the most deprived areas in England, and any help we can get from the incredible Leeds United fanbase will go so far in supporting so many people who really need it.
“Our relationship with the club has a profound impact on the work that we carry out, it is a football club with its heart in the community, whom have an eternal open door for us, and our continued work with the Leeds United Foundation also provides once-in-a-lifetime opportunities for young people living so close to the ground.”
Some of the other events the charity host and deliver, include baby massage groups, parents and tots’ groups, family teatime club, wellbeing café, day trips on their community minibus, chronic illness and pain group sessions, social supermarket for affordable food, charity shop, meals on wheels and bingo afternoons.
Find more information at: holbecktogether.org
Eddie Gray with Elissa Newman, CEO and Leanne Elliott, Community Development Worker, Holbeck Together
Eddie Gray chatting with members at Holbeck Together
Website: www.southleedslife.com
Email: info@southleedslife.com
Seagulls celebrate 20 years of paint recycling
Local pioneering paint reuse social enterprise, Seagulls, are celebrating 20 years helping people to access recycled low-cost paint to redecorate their homes and upcycle their furniture.
The social enterprise started as an idea thought up between two friends around a kitchen table, about how to support the environment and make a positive difference to the local community. Fast forward 20 years and the social enterprise has helped provide countless people with work-based training and volunteering opportunities alongside transforming several community spaces in to bright, positive and welcoming places: our current home on Water Lane in Holbeck, The Rainbow of Hope at Leeds City Market and 1000’s of homes across the city.
Working in partnership with Leeds City Council from the very beginning, the first paint collection container went on to Pudsey household waste and recycling centre in 2005. Since then, Seagulls has:
Recycled over 2,085,889 • litres of paint, enough to fill 6 swimming pools or the weight of 750 elephants!
Provided 4,325 volunteer • hours in 2024
Provided over £1million • of social impact to Leeds residents in 2024 through volunteering, environmental
benefits and cheap paint
Cat Hyde (Seagulls • Founder) won the 2023 Social Entrepreneur of the year Award, Enterprise Yorkshire & Humber (SEYH) Awards
Won PWC (National) • Social Impact Award 2024
To help reduce the millions of litres of paint that are wasted
in the UK each year, Leeds residents can drop off their unused paint in the bright pink Seagulls containers at any of the eight recycling centres around Leeds. The paint is recycled and can be purchased at a low-price from Seagulls Paint Store at 129 Water Lane, Holbeck, LS11 9UD.
Councillor Mohammed Rafique, Leeds City Council’s executive member for climate, energy, environment and green space, said:
“I’m incredibly proud to celebrate this milestone with Seagulls where they’re transforming waste paint into a community resource. Seagulls provides a unique service for local people, not only helping to prevent paint being wasted, but also providing important social benefits like training, upcycling workshops and volunteering opportunities.”
Cat Hyde, co-founder at Seagulls said:
“The last 20 years has been a rollercoaster of a ride, navigating boxing day floods, covid, cost of living crisis but we are still here and thriving which is an amazing achievement for Seagulls and worth every moment of celebration.
“I feel extremely proud that we run Seagulls with people and planet at our heart and continue to grow and thrive.’’
Shiko Group set to hit £9.2m turnover
Shiko
Group, the bar and kitchen operator behind Fearns and The Canary at Leeds Dock, is predicting its biggest year to date when it publishes its annual figures next month, projecting a turnover of £9.2m this year, just six years after acquiring its first venue, The Lawn Club in Manchester.
Collaborating with its funding partner, Universal Hospitality, Shiko Group is forecasting an even bigger 2025/26, with a predicted turnover of £14m with the addition of more proposed new sites in Manchester and beyond.
Since 2019 (when its turnover was just £300,000), Shiko Group has gone from strength to strength, spanning Manchester and Leeds with its eight flagship venues – Fearns and The Canary in Leeds
alongside Side Street, Courts Club, The Lawn Club, The Dome, The Stables and Foley’s in Manchester.
Anthony Ellis commented: “From the offset, [cofounder] Jonathan [Ware] and I have looked to create ‘Unique Venues and Unforgettable Experiences’, and much of the success is not only down to our fantastic collection of venues, but the hard work of our agile and adaptable team, without whom none of this would be possible. The future’s certainly very bright.”
Born out of its sister company, events specialists WePop and named after cofounder Anthony Ellis’s late mother Yoshiko, Shiko Group is now firmly established as one of the most exciting and dynamic names in hospitality in the North.
Fundraiser for new play room at Leeds Children’s Hospital
As part of Leeds Hospital Charity’s campaign to deliver play to all areas of the hospital, staff and families are now fundraising for a dedicated play space on the respiratory ward, aiming to raise £20,000.
Many of the children cared for on the ward have complex respiratory and medical needs and can spend weeks or even months in hospital, and currently there is no space for them to play other than in their hospital bed.
The fundraising drive has been led by Ward Manager Pooja Patel. The respiratory ward is one of the only units without a play room.
Pooja wanted to tackle this, she said:
“The hospital ward is a clinical, unfamiliar environment for young people, often facing scary procedures and treatments. We recognise the importance of creating a safe, calm space where young
people can play, explore and simply be children, away from the confines of their bedside.
“This space will be a safe haven, it not only offers a much-needed break from their hospital bed, but also helps improve a child’s mental health and wellbeing. It’s all about creating small moments of joy during an incredibly challenging time for poorly children and their families.”
The team need to raise £20,000 to transform a currently unusable room on the ward into a bright, inviting multi-purpose space, complete with a mobile sensory unit tailored to the needs of children with learning difficulties or mobility issues.
4-year-old George Clarke from Middleton, Leeds has very complex medical needs, one of which is respiratory and he has spent lots of time in and out of hospital.
George’s mum Emma spoke to us about the difference a
play room would makel:
“Having a playroom creates a safe haven for children like George who spend so much time in hospital for long periods away from their families. So, to be able to move away from their bedside and have time to be a child is so important to their health and well being, as well as their recovery.
“The staff and Play Specialist Fi are amazing and try their very hardest to keep children occupied and relaxed, making sure children feel at home and ready to face any obstacle through play therapy. However, doing this at a child’s bedside which ends up being their safe space, is also very confusing and scary for a child. Having a playroom will open so many doors, allowing children to open up and give them a sense of freedom to be who they are and feel safe to express their needs and wants through play.”
Fi O’Connor, Play Specialist on the ward, shared how the
new playroom, in addition to Leeds Hospitals Charity’s appeal to expand the Play Team will make a real difference to poorly children, she said:
“Lots of the young people I meet feel overwhelmed in hospital. It’s our job as the Play Team to be there for every sick child in hospital and we do everything that we can to help make the hospital experience brighter.
“We currently provide play for children and young people at their bedside, but there’s nowhere to go away from the busy and sometimes stressful environment on the ward. The new play room will provide us with a dedicated space where we can engage in play with young people that feels more like home to them.”
To support the team’s fundraising efforts, you can donate at:
www.justgiving.com/page/ pooja-patel-1734778716943
The Canary bar at Leeds Dock
George, from Middleton, has to play on his hospital bed
Cat Hyde (centre) with Cllr Mohammed Rafique (right)
Development of extra care flats in Beeston completed
PreferredHomes has completed its first development in South Leeds, comprising 63 self-contained apartments at Hunslet Moor House, over 30 of which are already occupied.
Built on the site of a derelict 1970s shopping precinct on Hunslet Hall Road, the modern Extra Care Housing apartments at Hunslet Moor House represent a £16.3m investment into the local economy. Made up of 51 onebedroom and 12 two-bedroom self-contained apartments, all homes are for affordable rent.
Preferred Homes is working in partnership with Leeds City Council via a Nominations Agreement to ensure apartments are filled according to need, supporting the procurement of care in a cost efficient and effective way. Hunslet Moor House will satisfy 50% of the demand for Extra Care Housing within a five-mile catchment, easing the
pressure faced by the council as it seeks to provide the best possible care options for local people.
The development features
community spaces for residents to socialise, as well as a café, shop and landscaped gardens. The café and shop are also open to the
public. Apartments include fully-fitted kitchens and private balconies, and energy efficiency is prioritised through roof-mounted solar panels, with residents benefitting from low utility bills.
Hunslet Moor House will be managed by Preferred Homes’s management partner, Pinnacle Group, which will provide a full management service, ranging from lettings
and rent collection to maintenance administration and repairs. Alongside this, the company will undertake caretaking, cleaning and grounds maintenance, as well as running a programme of social activities which will make a positive impact on residents’ lives.
The Nuveen-backed affordable extra care operator has eight more developments in the pipeline, with its next scheme opening in Telford this spring. Preferred Homes retains ownership of developments, meaning it has a long-term interest in ensuring the places created are sustainable and well-managed for residents. Its homes are designed to meet design principles by the Housing our Ageing Population Panel for Innovation (HAPPI), featuring smart home and assistive technology.
Stephen Sorrell, Social Partnership Director of Preferred Homes Ltd, said:
“It’s a real milestone seeing the Preferred Homes vision come to life in Leeds. Thanks to our strong partnership with the City Council, we’ve been able to realise our shared ambitions for the site and make sure it will be a community asset for years to come. We hope to build on this as we deepen our partnership work with councils and replicate the success of Hunslet Moor House across the country.
“At Hunslet Moor House we
are achieving the Preferred Homes mission – ensuring everyone has the opportunity to retain their independence and dignity as they age.”
Councillor Salma Arif, Leeds City Council’s executive member for adult social care, active lifestyles and culture, said:
“It’s great to see this new state-of-the-art development begin to welcome its first tenants, ensuring older residents with extra care, support or housing needs can live full and active lives within a safe and healthy environment.
“I’m also delighted that these high-quality apartments will be let for low-cost affordable rent – with tenancies supported by Leeds City Council social work team –highlighting how we’re using our local partnerships to take meaningful action on the national housing emergency.
“Extra care schemes such as this, and the services they offer, further reinforce our ambition for Leeds to be the best city to grow old in and a place where people age well, with its residents able to maintain their independence in the wider community for longer, in an environment that supports mental wellbeing and peace of mind.”
People can register their interest in the housing availability via Preferred Homes website: preferred homes.co.uk/leeds-site
Spring manufacturer Spinks achieves 100th patent milestone
Leading British spring manufacturer and components supplier to the mattress and furniture industry, Beeston-based Spinks, has achieved a major milestone after receiving its 100th patent – demonstrating its ongoing commitment to innovation.
Richard Essery, Chief Commercial Officer for Spinks, said: “This is a remarkable achievement for the business –few are able to accomplish such a feat, and we are incredibly proud to be leading the way for innovation within the industry.
“Reaching such a significant milestone proves our true commitment and dedication to innovation, pushing the boundaries of new technologies, products and processes.
“At Spinks we are constantly striving to create new, inventive products that our customers will truly benefit from, and over the years each patent has marked a step forward in our journey to redefine comfort.”
The business submitted its first patent in 1996, for its successful Revolution pocket coil invention – a unique pocket spring within a pocket spring system that offers an unmatched level of comfort and support – which has proved to be one of the company’s most notable and successful creations, and is still widely used around the world.
Spinks has continued to patent various microcoil inventions, including conical designs, miniature coil within coil models, and microcoils that feature fabrics on the top and bottom to provide different thermal characteristics.
The company has also seen success with the introduction of its patent-pending pocket coiling machine, which aims to reduce energy consumption for the business by 60%, as well as minimising raw materials needed in the spring-making process.
Now, in 2025, Spinks is planning to launch a number of new innovations that will again set new standards in coil technology for the furniture and seating industries. These designs, of which international patents have been applied for, include next-generation microcoil and core pocket spring systems, all featuring glue-free constructions.
Vibrant Culture W diversity at Cockb Grease is the word at Cockburn Laurence Calvert Academy
This year’s production at Cockburn Laurence Calvert Academy was the musical Grease.
The show was seen by a total audience of 1,000 people at three evening performances and one matinee for local primary schools.
The cast and crew have been working extremely hard since September to make Grease the best it could possibly be.
Four months of pure
dedication definitely paid off, and it was clear to see from the performances just how committed everyone was.
For weeks leading up to the show the students involved stayed for rehearsals after school to perfect choreography, finalise lines and practise songs.
Calvert students brought to the stage a sensational performance with their biggest production yet.
Five primary schools attended
the matinee performance and one student from Elements Primary said:
“I thought it was absolutely fantastic. I liked the big dance numbers, it was very professional.”
Everyone shared the view that the musical was a complete and utter success, and a great experience for all who came.
One audience member even remarked:
“I wish I’d bought tickets for
every night!”
The cast and crew also really enjoyed being a part of something so remarkable.
The age of the cast ranged from 11-15 and students have been praised on their talent and professionalism.
One audience member even went as far as to say;
“I would like to congratulate you all for the Grease show, it was AMAZING. Worthy of an Oscar!”
Twosecondary schools in south Leeds, Cockburn John Charles Academy and Cockburn School, recently transformed into a vibrant tapestry of global cultures during its annual Culture Week.
The event showcased a rich tapestry of traditions, customs, and arts from around the globe, reflecting the commitment to embracing multiculturalism and fostering understanding among its members. Culture Week featured a myriad of workshops, performances, and interactive sessions and served as a beacon of hope, inspiring individuals to embrace diversity, celebrate differences – a celebration that transcends borders.
In today's interconnected world, understanding and appreciating diverse cultures is paramount. Culture Week serves as a platform to celebrate this diversity, promoting inclusivity and broadening students' horizons. By engaging in various cultural activities, students gain insights into traditions and perspectives different from their own, preparing them to be compassionate and informed global citizens.
The school menus transformed delighting taste buds by offering a range of international cuisines. From Spanish paella to Indian curry, students had the opportunity to savour dishes from around the globe.
Another highlight of Culture Week at Cockburn School and
was the eagerly anticipated fashion shows, where students took centre stage to proudly exhibit their cultural heritage in front of packed-out audiences. Dazzling traditional attire from countries spanning the globe graced the runway, showcasing the rich diversity of styles, fabrics, and designs that define cultures worldwide. Students across all schools were invited to wear their own clothes for the day with a suggestion that the clothes would say something about their cultural interests and background.
Both schools also put on dance and music shows that featured song, dance and sitars. Students performed traditional songs and dances, highlighting the universal language of music
Cockburn John Charles Academy
Students onstage performing in Grease
A dance performance at Cockburn John
Flags of many nations on display at Cockburn School
Week celebrates burn MAT schools
and dance.
At Cockburn School, the PE department put on their own “International Football Tournament” with teams playing matches during their lunchtimes. By the end of the week there were winning teams representing a range of countries.
At Cockburn John Charles Academy, teachers integrated cultural themes into their lessons, providing students with a global perspective across subjects. This approach enriched the curriculum and encouraged students to appreciate the interconnectedness of different disciplines.
Reflecting on the resounding success of Culture Week across three schools, Executive
Headteacher, David Gurney, said, "Yet again, Culture Week embodies the spirit of unity and celebration that defines our school communities and the community in south Leeds which has such a richness and diversity of our collective heritage. We continue to commit to embracing multiculturalism in all its forms. I am extremely proud of the way our students have celebrated and respected each other’s cultures and the work they have put in, supported by our excellent staff.”
As the week concluded, the school communities were left with a deeper appreciation for the world's cultures and a strengthened commitment to fostering inclusivity and understanding within and beyond the school walls.
Whatan inspiring and fantastic day celebrating our next generation of workers.
Prior to the day itself, the children worked within their classes learning about different occupations in modern Britain.
The children were then invited to dress up as the occupation they wished to be when they grow up. They dressed up in a huge range of occupations including vets, firefighters, game designers, teachers, basketball players and BMX racers. The day itself was jam packed full of visitors inspiring the young people. The children had an assembly from a member of staff at the Leeds Rhinos to kick the day off.
Throughout the day there were various workshops from their visitors.
They were lucky enough to have an abundance of occupations share their stories and knowledge including a web
Cockburn John Charles Academy shines in Connections National Theatre competition Aspirations Day at Middleton Primary School
Cockburn
John Charles Academy recently showcased its theatrical talent in the prestigious Connections National Theatre Competition, performing No Regrets by acclaimed playwright Gary McNair.
The event, which brings together schools and youth theatre groups from across the country, provided students with a platform to display their creativity, collaboration, and passion for the performing arts.
The play, No Regrets, is a thought-provoking piece exploring themes of youth, decision-making, and the unpredictability of life. Under the guidance of dedicated staff, the students put on a mesmerising performance, demonstrating their acting prowess and deep understanding of the play’s themes.
Throughout the competition, students engaged in intensive rehearsals, refining their stage presence, voice projection, and emotional expression. Their hard work and dedication paid off, as their performance was met with high praise from judges and audience members alike.
Headteacher Mrs S Roberts, expressed her pride in the students, stating, “Theatre is a
developer, chemical engineer researcher, recruitment business owner, college tutors, nursery manager and a
pharmacist as well as workshops and vehicle tours from the Police, Fire Brigade and Ambulance Service. In amongst
all the visitors, the teachers also led sessions to further develop the children’s understanding of the skills needed to succeed in the world of work. They were so grateful to all our visitors for inspiring their children, the next generation. The feedback from the children was incredible and they were so much more informed about the potential careers ahead of them.
powerful medium for young people to express themselves, and our students did an incredible job bringing No Regrets to life. Their talent, commitment, and teamwork were truly inspiring.”
Participation in the Connections National Theatre
Competition not only allowed students to develop their dramatic skills but also fostered confidence, resilience, and a love for storytelling. The experience will no doubt leave a lasting impression on all involved, reinforcing the school’s commitment to the arts and creative expression.
As the curtain falls on this year’s competition, Cockburn John Charles Academy looks forward to more opportunities to engage in the performing arts, continuing to nurture the next generation of actors and theatre enthusiasts.
CJCA students performed in a National Theatre competition
Pupils met firefighters as part of Aspirations Day
n Charles Academy
In our view
Build, but make some space for nature
The city skyline is dominated by cranes again and this time many of them are south of the river. Large blocks of flats (sorry, apartments) and offices are springing up and they will soon be joined by some significant towers: at Silver Street and Sweet Street in Holbeck and at Aire Park, the former Tetley brewery site in Hunslet.
There’s no doubt that we need more housing and if we want the city’s service economy to grow, more office space. The new buildings boast high environmental credentials (BREEAM in the jargon), but they are still built of concrete, steel and bricks.
People also need trees and grass, flora and fauna to thrive. The sites being developed are former industrial sites, so green spaces have to be created from scratch.
Vastinit are doing a good job of this on the former Tetley brewery site. The Aire Park development which will include thousands of flats and thousands of square feet of office space will also include an actual park, which is already starting to take shape. It is to be hoped that other developers efforts, whilst not as generous will provide enough nature for the new residents.
Most of the new housing being built here is for private rental. Build To Rent or BTR in the jargon. Again, we need more good quality private rented accommodation, but this and building homes for sale will not solve the housing crisis.
Building more social housing, council and housing association, is crucial. This would help those most in need and relive pressure on the other sectors to slow the rise in rents and house prices. Social housing at social rents, not the socalled ‘affordable’ rents, which are set at 80% of unaffordable market rents. That’s the challenge for the government.
Your letters and comments
Tempest Road junction
It seems people feel strongly on this issue. I’ve lived on Tempest Road for 10 years and takes a while to be able to cross the road. I would settle for no change in traffic but a second zebra crossing more towards the Beeston Road end. It’s great so many have a view even if they are not agreeing with each other.
Frances
Sweetfields
Apart from a mention of a grocery store will there be a post office or bank or doctors surgery or dentist for the people who will eventually live at this new development in Holbeck?
Mike
The other day in the train station. I looked at all the grey high rise buildings and the skyline is daunting. Bland and more and more skyscrapers. What a horrible place Leeds is becoming. Whitehall Road into Leeds is like walking down a tunnel.
Nigel Perry
It looks absolutely brilliant! I am looking forward to seeing it all be developed.
Jacques Ap
Brilliant. I worked over the road from The Commercial pub. Gillinson Dewhirst across the road from Kays from 1977 to 1980.
Clive Samme
I don’t think Leeds needs another ‘prime centre’, it needs actual affordable housing development for the people who already live here and help fix the area instead of selling every inch of land to greedy developers so they can pump out these concrete behemoths and forcing people out of areas they’ve called home for years? The amount of new constructions in Leeds that are empty or have a handful living in them is a joke.
Julie Newsome
No one lived there before. This is industrial wasteland turned into city
centre prime. This is a privately owned site. The owner has put in a planning application If it complies with planning policy it must be approved. The feedback maybe 10 years ago was that the city centre north of the station was full. Moving development south of the river has been a success.
Martin Dean
Parking charges
The additional car parking charge at Leeds Urban Bike Park means that people will now use alternative parking methods like parking on Gypsy Lane and walking up that way. The area is already congested with cars to and from the school / evening sports club / cricket club. The parking on the grass verge has ruined the grass making it a mud bathmainly with dog walkers parking to go into the woods.
It might only be £1 but that is £1
Your Leeds City Councillors
Beeston & Holbeck ward Includes Beeston from Cross Flatts Park to the Ring Road, Cottingley and Holbeck. The three councillors are:
Shaf Ali (Labour) (0113) 378 8810 sharafat.ali@leeds.gov.uk
Annie Maloney (Labour) 07554 969236 annie.maloney@leeds.gov.uk
Andrew Scopes (Labour) 07860 400645 andrew.scopes@leeds.gov.uk
Hunslet & Riverside ward Includes the city centre, Beeston Hill and Hunslet. The three councillors are:
Ed Carlisle (Green) 07738 921277 ed.carlisle@leeds.gov.uk
Mohammed Iqbal (Labour) 0113 226 8796 mohammed.iqbal@leeds.gov.uk
Paul Wray (Labour) 07528 512649 paul.wray@leeds.gov.uk
Middleton Park ward Includes Belle Isle and Middleton. The three councillors are:
Rob Chesterfield (SDP) (0113) 378 0900 rob.chesterfield@leeds.gov.uk
Wayne Dixon (SDP) 07852 311717 wayne.dixon@leeds.gov.uk
Emma Pogson-Golden (SDP) 07794 577586 emma.pogson-golden@leeds.gov.uk
people shouldn’t need to spend to access green spaces. This group do incredible activities and it helps keeps kids entertained and off the streets, in a time when the likes of knife crime is at a all time high. You should be ashamed Leeds City Council.
Such an odd location to implement a charge, it makes you wonder if there’s an ulterior motive.
M Swanson
I totally agree charging to park for the Parkrun is unacceptable. However, as a resident on a “side street” where parking is already half on the road and half on the narrow pavements, I dread to think what it will be like on run days and any other times that events are held in the park. People with pushchairs and young children or mobility scooters will find themselves having to use whatever road is left as the paths are too narrow to use. This will make it even harder for car users to access their own drives.
M Hollingworth
Pavement parking
Friday 22 November marked four years since the previous government’s consultation on pavement parking in England closed. Cars parked on, and sometimes hogging the whole pavement, will be a familiar sight to many.
Pavement parking is dangerous especially for families with young children, people with sight loss and disabled people. A recent poll found that 87 per cent of parents have had to walk in the road because of a vehicle blocking the pavement. It damages pavement surfaces too.
Living Streets has been campaigning on this issue for over 50 years and it's high time we saw an end to the problem.
Pavement parking has been banned (with exemptions) in London since the
1970s. Scotland adopted a similar approach to London which came into force earlier this year. The Welsh Government has indicated they will take action on pavement parking – but England is way behind.
We hope your readers will join Living Streets and supporters like me, in urging the new Government to deal with the troubling legacy of pavement parking once and for all. Everyone will be the better for it.
Barbara Cotton
Cross country champions
This is brilliant news. Many congratulations to all our wonderful Leeds cross country runners and especially to the Senior Women’s Team, our Champions.
Al Garthwaite
Hunslet RLFC
A disappointing display at Barrow, in particular the defence. Hopefully we have learnt some lessons and will improve as the season progresses. It wasn’t all bad news, I thought the forwards did well and there was some promising moves in attack. We move onto next week
John Collett
Join the debate
Comment online; by email: info@southleedslife.com; or post to: 224 Cross Flatts Grove, Leeds, LS11 7BW.
Letters may be edited for publication.
Sweetfields pn Sweet Street West: CGI of the development showing blocks with full approval and those (in white) with outline approval
MP’s notebook
with Hilary Benn MP
Imagine you are starting out as a young scientific researcher. You have an idea and want to test it in a laboratory, but you don't have one. What can you do?
Step forward a new company based in Holbeck called QuickLabs which has been created to solve this problem by hiring out equipped laboratory space in very flexible ways to research startups. I visited the firm the other way and saw the concept in action.
If you think of office space needed by a new business, there are lots of places now where you can hire a desk or a meeting room or someone to take your phone messages when you're starting out. We are pretty used to the idea by now, but for research scientists it's been rather different unless you're part of a university or have a persuaded a big company to back you.
Britain has an extraordinary reputation for scientific and engineering research and discovery. The UK's research strengths can be counted in the number of Nobel Prizes that
have been won. A few years ago I went on a tour of a research laboratory in Cambridge. They split us into two groups and both the tour guides who took us round had won the Nobel Prize!
Just think of the inventions that we have given to the world. The steam engine, the World Wide Web, the telephone, the jet engine, Portland cement, television, the electric motor, stainless steel, the pneumatic tyre and graphene to name but a few. But it doesn't always follow that we are equally good at turning these inventions into commercial products. And that's where people with ideas come in who can industrialise what they have developed. It’s great to think that in the heart of our community there's one enterprise that is thinking about how it can help others to do precisely that.
I don't know who invented quad bikes, but they’re really useful for farmers. They’re not so wonderful, however, when they’re speeding down your road or churning up a football
pitch at the hands of a balaclava-wearing rider who for some inexplicable reason thinks that this is a reasonable thing to do. It isn't. And it causes a lot of distress in our community.
I recently met with the councillors from Middleton Park ward and the the West Yorkshire deputy Mayor for policing and crime to discuss what more can be done to deal with this menace. We agreed that the first and most important thing is for people to report what they have seen. I know that some say “What's the point? I've reported it before, and nothing ever seems to happen,” But that doesn't mean that the police aren’t looking into the reports that other people are making in order to try and identify those responsible so that they can be prosecuted and have their bike confiscated.
The second thing that can be done is to give the police greater powers, and here I'm very glad to be able to report that the new Police and Crime Bill will give the police greater
We are all democracy
Spring is here, and that normally means only one thing: the local city council elections.
But happily perhaps, they’re not on this year. Not because they were cancelled (as happened in a few parts of the UK this year) – but because every four years, there’s a break in the election cycle. We restart again next May (2026): hang in there.
However, brilliantly, there’s been a whole lot of local democracy going on. There was the big local storm, about the controversial planning application on Grovehall Drive in Beeston, as reported in last month’s newspaper. This was a sterling example of local people getting organised, challenging, probing, speaking up, making noise; and the media played a key part in turning up the dial, and building pressure.
The dispute around the planned changes to the Tempest Road - Dewsbury Road junction has been similarly fascinating. Council highways officers (with the best of intentions, I’d argue) are
proposing a certain solution to this accident hotspot – but residents, led by the Beeston Hill Community Association, are unconvinced. Again, they’ve done brilliantly to spark and harness local interest and engagement. Scores of people have met, shared ideas – and spoken up in the media, online, and via the official community consultation. For the record, I
believe one of the alternative proposals conceived by a local resident is entirely affordable and credible.
The community association team also met with the highways officers, trying to find common ground and agreement. Years ago (November 2021), I wrote a South Leeds Life feature about
powers to seize quad bikes without warning. I thoroughly welcome it.
I visited Holbeck Together recently for a catch up about the Heart of Holbeck project. This is going to do three things. First, it will refurbish the grade two-listed former St Matthew’s church, and the old Box Office building, owned by Leeds Building Society, on the other side of the road. These will ultimately become the home of Holbeck Together and provide a multi-use social and events space and a health and wellbeing activity programme. Second, it will improve the area and Holbeck Moor, and third, it will introduce much-needed energy efficiency upgrades to 240 back-to-back homes. All in all, over £15 million will be invested in the local community.
Holbeck Together was recently awarded a match day at Elland Road which was a huge privilege and much enjoyed. What's more, Leeds Utd beat Cardiff 7-0 that day, so I think they've now become a lucky mascot! How’s that for the power of community partnership?
And finally, I paid a visit to Elland Road this week to hear from Angus Kinnear, the club‘s Chief Executive, about their plans to expand the stadium.
that is, the crucial importance of blending ‘amateur’ (eg local) and ‘expert’ (eg professional) insights and wisdom, for good decision-making and results for a community. This recent process typifies this. Ultimately, residents might not get the result they want: it’s in the balance. But local groups do get results, sometimes against the odds, when they get organised and speak up; we certainly get little or nothing if we don’t speak up.
The proposal is to build two new stands to take the capacity from 37,645 to 53,000. Leeds United has an extraordinarily loyal fan base, with 20,000 people currently on the waiting list for season tickets.
The fact that the club’s new owners want to put this investment in is a real sign of confidence in the future, and given United’s current position at the top of the Championship, we are all hoping for a return to the Premier League next season.
It’s not just the additional capacity that these proposals are about. They also involve looking at the land around the ground to see what development opportunities there are. One of the biggest issues will be how all these additional fans will travel to and
from the ground. Local residents currently face problems with match day parking, so the more supporters who can walk or come by public transport the better. We should also have an eye on the future Leeds mass transit system, with one of the two routes most favourably received in the recent consultation stopping outside Elland Road.
The club are going to hold a series of roadshows and consultation events in the spring so that the public and the local community can have their say. But my view is that this is absolutely the right thing to do for a club whose name and history – and I trust its future – are synonymous with the pride and success of our great city.
Constituency office: Unity Business Centre, 26 Roundhay Road, Leeds, LS7 1AB Tel: 0113 244 1097
local political representative –am hungry for challenge. Political representatives need to be pushed, stretched, questioned. We don’t and can’t know everything. Life is complex, a muddle, and it’s not always easy to piece together events and dynamics, to get a full understanding of any given situation. More, not less, community dialogue and involvement is invaluable.
I’d particularly urge communities to get more organised and mobilised: when residents act in harmony, it massively increases their chances of being heard, and taken seriously. And if people don’t feel they’re being well served, I trust they might get involved in the elections, and even perhaps themselves stand as candidates. The more dynamic and plural the political landscape, the better, for everyone.
Indeed, the world’s in a pickle. As individuals and communities, we clearly face many challenges. And no-one’s better placed or more likely to fight for us, than us. Let’s build and nurture more powerful communities. Elections are part of that, but only one component. The media (social, and mainstream) have a key role to play. Once again, community associations and
organisations are hugely useful – to muster and channel local aspirations and demands. Let’s develop more work in schools that enables young people to understand politics, and also recognise their own capacity to create change. I was in a Hunslet primary school this week, being peppered with brilliant questions, and we discussed how young people needn’t wait to turn 18 to become ‘political’ – just look at Greta Thunberg. And education isn’t just about schools. How can we all together inform and inspire one another, about big social and political issues? (But as we do so, we need also to foster a culture of curiosity and respectful debate, especially when we disagree.)
Finally, at the recent Youth Summit, we were discussing with local youngsters how ‘democracy’ means ‘power of the people’. (It’s sometimes described as ‘rule of the people’, but the Greek word ‘kratos’ is better translated as ‘power’.) Power is not elsewhere. We all have power. Our words carry power. Our relationships carry power. Our actions carry power. How can we each develop and enact power, in our lives, in our communities, and help make things better?
by Cllr Ed Carlisle
Members
Forgrove Machinery Company Local history with Ken Burton
Twoyoung men who were employed in the Engineering Labourites at the Yorkshire College visited a soap works in 1897 where they saw a number of girls wrapping the bars of soap by hand.
Andrew Forbes and Frederick Grover thought that a mechanical device could be provided to carry out this necessary but tedious operation and in their spare time they designed and made an automatic machine for this purpose.
However, it was not a commercial success so they adapted it for wrapping pieces of butterscotch and offered it to Parkinson’s of Doncaster. But once again this was not successful however it was found to work fine on oblong tablets of moulded chocolate.
The “Old Rocking Horse” as it became known because of its action could wrap at 100 pieces per minute and was soon being sold to chocolate makers in England and Switzerland.
It was decided by the two men to start a company the name of which was based on their names FOR from Forbes and GROVE from Grover and the result was the Forgrove Machinery Company Ltd. The company was formed on 3 August 1901 with a capital of £1,000 provided by Grover’s relative JW Bennett, the company’s first Chairman. Production was carried out at the Union Foundry Mills in Dewsbury Road although at this time wrapping machinery was not in general use and at the end of the first year of operation managers reported that five machines had been made and sold and were confident that ten could be produced the following year. The Company beat its own target by producing an average of one a month.
In 1904 the Company moved to larger premises at No.8 Admiral Street further up Dewsbury Road near Moor Road and Hunslet Hall Road junction. In this year Mr Grover became Chairman of the company, a post he held for 35 years, and with the resignation of Mr Forbes at the end of the year, he also became its sole Managing Director. In 1905 a
London office was opened in Queen Victoria Street and in 1906 the Admiral Street premises were extended. Headquarters staff consisted of five people and a boy along with 66 works employees. 1907 saw negotiations take place in the USA regarding the right to a Forgrove machine. Subsequently a number were made in America by a company formed and called the Consolidated Wrapping Machine Company in which Baker Perkins’ French associates, Jeanjean had an interest but no lasting development took place as far as Forgrove were concerned. During the First World War
there was a cancellation of orders for wrapping machines and like others Forgrove took to war munitions work with a series of contracts for machining 6-inch shell noses although during the four years of war they also managed to produce 80 wrapping machines and after hostilities finished had a large number enquires.
It was thought that with the capital gained it was in order to extend and to this extent an acre of land was purchased at Oakhurst Avenue, Dewsbury Road and a new works and offices of some 13,000 square feet was built and finished by 1920.
In 1927 Forgrove’s association with Baker Perkins began. This was prompted by the sudden death of Forgrove’s salesman in the USA, Mr McKeage. HG Wenban made a trip to America to preserve continuity and arrange for Baker Perkins Inc to carry on the Agency. In 1928 Forgrove’s arrangements with Baker Perkins were complete with the latter selling Forgrove machines exclusively at home and abroad and also taking a minority holding in Forgrove with a member of Baker Perkins joining the Forgrove Board.
In 1929 the Drawing Office was extended followed in 1930
by a two bay extension to the works and by 1933 three more bays were added to the works to accommodate increasing business. In spite of the previous extensions factory space was still too restricted so in 1936 a major extension involving building a two storey concrete and brick extension on the Company’s original land area to double the factory production area. During this work there was some disagreement over boundaries with the owner of the adjacent property which led Forgrove buying the land and buildings on it.
World War Two was on the cards and the Ministry of Supply was in touch with Forgrove in 1938 asking them to plan for armaments production. When the war began Forgrove employees totalled 313 - 64 staff and 249 workers but by 1941 work was going on round the clock and over 700 people were employed including around 200 women.
The main wartime production was gun sights for 25-pounder guns a large portion of which was sent to the Westwood Works where the guns were assembled. Gun sights were also made for 5.5-inch howitzers and for the twin 6pounder anti-coastal guns which were sent to Peterborough. Breech mechanisms for the 6-pounder tank and anti-tank were turned out at the rate of 100 per week and along with other engineering companies Forgrove made more than 3,000 of these guns in their Leeds factory.
In 1943 they turned to the production of the 20mm Polsen machine gun. This gun had originally been designed in Poland but in 1939 when Poland fell to the Germans it came to the UK. It was similar to the 20mm Oerlikon gun but had less than half the parts and cost less than a quarter of the Oerlikon.
The year 1943 saw the Company amalgamating with Baker Perkins. In 1944 transwrap machines were modified to handle anti-malaria tablets for use by troops in the Far East.
Post-war expansion would be required and an extension was planned to the west of Hartley Property but Hartley had no plans to start production and Forgrove bought the property in 1946. This again doubled the factory production space and it allowed the whole of the prewar factory to be used as a machine shop.
Following the 1943 merger the Company fortunes continued to improve through the late 1940s and early 1950s and 1950 saw the start of a new works of 40,000 square feet on the Team Valley Trading Estate in Gateshead and Forgrove now employed 700 people between Leeds and Gateshead and to keep pace with the Company growth another factory was opened at Seacroft in Leeds.
In 1961 Baker Perkins acquired Rose Brothers (Gainsborough) Ltd and took the opportunity to group all its packaging machinery assets under one management and on 1 January 1967 Rose Forgrove was formed. Anticipating this amalgamation in 1968 and when it took place in 1969 the Leeds and Seacroft factories were moved into new premises at Seacroft that had been completed by July 1969 and both the Dewsbury Road and the first Seacroft factory freehold properties were sold in 1971. In 1985 Forgrove Machinery became Baker Perkins BCS Ltd and in 1988 it was renamed APV Baker FES Ltd.
In 2025 the buildings have gone through many changes but to see the tragedy they are now especially the frontage on Dewsbury Road is a disgrace to the city, the owners and a complete eyesore to the neighbourhood.
The first chocolate wrapping machine Forgrove’s
Website: www.southleedslife.com
Email: info@southleedslife.com
Pathways for positivity
with Shannon Humphrey Timing is everything
Ican’tbelieve it’s March already, can you?
Sometimes it feels like life is racing past—like everyone else is ticking off milestones while I’m stuck in neutral.
But here’s the thing: life isn’t a race. Timing is everything, and your timing? It’s uniquely yours, and that’s what makes it right.
I struggled for ages to get back in shape, still sporting those lockdown-love-handles years later. I tried watching motivational videos, signed up for gym classes I never attended, dug out my old leg warmers, and even gave myself pep talks in the mirror.
But nothing worked. Sticking to a routine felt impossible— until one day, it didn’t. Something shifted. I got up one
morning and went to the gym.
Then I did the same thing the next day.
It’s been well over a year now, and I’ve stuck with it. The difference? Timing. My readiness finally aligned with my actions, and that made all the difference. When your motivation and actions come together, things feel a million times more manageable.
Of course, there’s a fine line between waiting for the right time and simply putting things off. Ask yourself: am I waiting because I’m genuinely not ready, or because I’m afraid?
Fear has a funny way of hiding behind the idea of “waiting for everything to fall into place.” But life rarely hands us perfect conditions. Whether it’s starting a fitness
journey, pursuing a dream, or making peace with where you are, trust your timing—but don’t let fear keep you stuck. Life isn’t a sprint; it’s a winding, unpredictable path. Every
small step forward is part of your larger story.
When I first thought about going back to the gym, I didn’t jump straight in. I spent hours lying in bed, scrolling through reels of other people working out, reading about routines, looking at before and after photos of gym successes,
gently psyching myself up. As simple as it sounds, those little things kept the idea alive and helped me get ready for the day I finally committed.
As children, we all move through life in step with our peers — school, birthdays, shared milestones. But as adults, we scatter onto completely different paths.
Some friends marry young and start families; others chase careers, travel, or focus on different goals.
My best friend has six children and three grandchildren. I have a cat. Both lives are valid, even though they couldn’t be more
different.
Comparison, though tempting, is a trap. It robs you of the joy in your own journey. Life isn’t about matching someone else’s timeline. Instead, it’s about following your own path. Every step you take, no matter how small, is shaping your story.
Celebrate your progress, trust the process, and stop worrying about what others expect. It’s not about how quickly you reach your destination; look for the joy in the journey. Take things at your own pace, and trust that right now, you’re exactly where you need to be.
Photo: Shutterstock
Sing a song of Hunslet with Opera North
Opera North will be working with local people in Hunslet over the coming months to co-create a brand new song in celebration of Hunslet and its residents.
The songwriting project is a response to Creative Communities work (see opposite) and is the start of a programme of community activities in the area.
There will be weekly workshop sessions after Easter, but before that there will be three drop in sessions where you can find out what it’s all about and have a go at making some music. All sessions will be led by a fantastic musician and songwriter, there will even be refreshments.
Opera North are no strangers to South Leeds having been working at Windmill Primary School for over 12 years. Their In Harmony programme now also runs at Low Road, New Bewerley, Clapgate and Sharp Lane primary schools.
Community Engagement Manager at Opera North, Jo Bedford, explained:
“Over the past 6 months we have begun working more
intensively in LS10 to develop a programme of activity with key partners over the next few years.
“Plans include: co-creating new works with residents; mounting performances; collaborating with local choirs and other services; and bringing our resources to support the established activities in the community.
“We already have established programmes in the area, but we have not yet been able to develop strong relationships and networks in the communities surrounding the schools and this is the intention over the next few years.”
Drop-in session dates:
Tuesday 25 March, 1:30–3pm at Involve Centre, Whitfield Avenue, LS10 2QE
Friday 28 March, 10:30–12pm at Hunslet Community Hub & Library, off Church Street, LS10 2NS
Friday 4 April, 1:30–3pm at Hunslet Community Hub & Library, off Church Street, LS10 2NS
For more information contact jo.bedford@operanorth.co.uk; 07970 856691
Art in the Community: Celebrating Hunslet unveiling
by Honor Jeavons
We are delighted to invite you to the unveiling of an inspiring, public artwork created by the community in Hunslet.
The unveiling will take place on Saturday 22 March at the Involve Community Centre from 1:30-3:30pm.
Refreshments in the form of hot and cold drinks and cake will be available.
Our Community Artist in Residence, Rozi Fuller, worked with community groups around Hunslet, collecting stories from people about what’s important to them in their area. A core group met with Rozi each week to incorporate these stories into a collaborative work of art.
The artwork they have created is a beautiful, large scale collage with images that animate via a free app. This original artwork will remain on the wall at Involve for all visitors to appreciate.
There will also be large scale prints of the artwork displayed on the walls outside Involve, which will be available to be displayed in other locations too. In the artwork, you will see well-known and more obscure stories relating to Hunslet’s history, as well as people and places which are important today.
We hope to see you there. If you can let us know if you are coming by following the QR code, that would be great, but you are welcome to just turn up.
Co-creating art with communities in Belle Isle
In other exciting news, our Community Artist, Elnaz Yazdani has been co-creating with many local people in Belle Isle. The artwork they're creating is a large scale embroidered cloth, called the Belle Isle Tapestry.
Elnaz is based at Belle Isle TMO every Monday from 9:30am-12:30pm. She will also be at the Repair Cafe on Saturday 15 March. Come along if you’d like to get involved in creating or sharing your stories of the area, which can be included in the artwork.
Please check our Facebook page for other times you can join Elnaz at Bitmo.
Please go along to BITMO or contact us if you’d like to be involved: creative. communities @swarthmore .org.uk or contact Penny on 07438 666342
Art workshops
Our current workshop sessions have been taking place at the Hamara centre, South Leeds Reform Church and Hunslet Involve.
Participants have had the opportunity to try a range of
activities including bookbinding, puppetry, glass painting and watercolour. We
have had great feedback:
“This craft has been my favourite so far. Maria is fantastic at what she does. She’s really helped calm me down too.” (making clay tiles)
“I really loved how cheap and accessible this project was. It really allowed us to use our imaginations” (puppet making)
“Loved this workshop! It allowed me to try using tools that I wouldn’t normally use, which helped my motor skills. I loved creating my own story and appreciated how the teacher guided us slowly through each step and checked up on us individually. Thank you“
Search for Creative Communities to follow our Facebook page and keep up to date with our events and activities.
Celebrate Hunslet and its residents in song
Join the unveiling on Saturday 22 March
The Belle Isle Tapestry is taking shape
Middleton Railway will reopen with Community Day
Middleton Railway will open its 2025 season on Saturday 4 April with its traditional Community Day.
The day offers a platform to a wide range of community groups to promote themselves to visitors and hopefully gain some new members.
People visiting the railway will get a chance to find out about local history, wildlife, sporting groups and activities for the elderly. Train rides are free for the day.
The railway sees itself as an important part of the South Leeds community, after all it has been here for the last 277 years! As such Middleton Railway will have its own stand aimed at promoting what it
does and the opportunities it provides for volunteers.
The relaxed setting also allows the different community groups to talk to each other, share experiences and possibly even develop opportunities to support each other and develop new projects.
Charles Milner, Chair of the Middleton Railway explained:
“The event will feature of wide range of community groups covering elements of local life such as the history of the area, Middleton Park and the wildlife of the area, sporting activities for all ages and other community based activities together with groups focussed on providing support for different constituents of the
South Leeds community including the elderly.
“It is also planned that representatives of the local emergency services, the Fire Service and Neighbourhood Policing will be present for at least some of the day - duties permitting. As such there should be much to interest all visitors to Community Day and give them a better idea of all that their community has to offer.
“The Middleton Railway looks forward to welcoming many, many visitors and like the other participating groups showcasing what it offers.”
It’s not too late for local groups to book a stall – contact info@middletonrailway.co.uk
BHCA and Hamara to host Community Iftar this month
by Sarah Hutchinson
After a very special and successful Community Iftar last year, the Beeston Hill Community Association (BHCA) is excited to host another Iftar Event in collaboration with Hamara Healthy Living Centre on Tempest Road on Monday 17 March 2025 from 5:30pm. This will be a wonderful opportunity for friends and neighbours, of all beliefs, to come together to break-fast during the holy month of Ramadan. We will share delicious food and good company as we come together in the spirit of unity.
For Muslims, Ramadan is the 9th month of the Islamic calendar and fasting during Ramadan is one of the 5 pillars
of Islam. It’s a holy month and a very spiritual time for people of Muslim faith.
Iftar is the name for breaking of the fast at sunset. All around the world, Muslim people fast for 30 days during the holy month. This means no food or water from just before sunrise all the way until sunset. Of course, there are exemptions from fasting which are usually for medical or hardship reasons.
Lead organiser Shaz says; “The Iftar is an opportunity for everyone in the community to come together and rejoice in all the cultures/faith/beliefs we all live among. An opportunity to learn and respect each other whilst enjoying some lovely food. It's an event that allows local businesses to give back to their community and for them
Re:establish are opening a new space and they need your help
Re:establish, the charity that works with young people in Beeston and Holbeck, has found its own home in Holbeck and is in the process of getting it ready to open later this month.
The Loft is located next to Slung Low’s Warehouse in Holbeck and Jamyang Buddhist Centre on Crosby Road. The former warehouse space is being transformed into activity and meeting spaces, there will also be a teaching kitchen and greenhouse space.
Re:establish have teamed up with Open Source Arts to develop and manage The Loft and have set the date for an opening party – on Thursday 20 March 2025. They just need some help with the final push to decorate the building.
to be recognised. We look forward to seeing lots of people on 17 March. Donations are still welcomed.”
Our hope is to build on the positives of last year, but unlike last year, there will be no prebooked tickets. There will be limited places, so we ask that guests arrive promptly! Doors will open at 5:30pm and will close at 6pm. The event is FREE, however a ‘pay as you feel’ donation is required on entry – small or large, anything will be much appreciated. Any money raised (after covering the event costs) will be used to support future community events, such as a Summer Fayre and a Christmas Market later in the year.
We hope you can join us for this very special event! Everyone is welcome.
The Loft will be available for the community to use
Willing volunteers, you don’t need any construction skills, are invited to lend a hand every Thursday between 10am and 7pm and every Saturday between 10:30am and 2:30pm. In return for your elbow grease, you will receive a hot meal.
The team are also keen to hear from people and groups who would like to use the space. Have you got an idea for a project, but nowhere to run it? The space is free for people trying out new ideas. Contact:
phil12@reestablish.org.uk
Even if you can’t help with the work, you are welcome to join the opening party, which is also a celebration of Re:establish’s 10th anniversary, on Thursday 20 March from 6-8:30pm.
Browsing the stalls at last year’s Community Day
What’s On
Your guide to events and activities across South Leeds in March
Every Monday
Money Buddies
9am-12pm Dewsbury Road
Community Hub & Library Tea and Toast
9am-12pm BITMO’s Gate, Aberfield Gate, LS10 3QH Parents & Tots Group
9:30-11am St Matthew’s
Community Centre, Holbeck
Trinity Network Tea and Toast
9:30-3pm United Reformed Church, Nesfield Road, Belle Isle Women Only Exercise (HFA)
9:30-10:15am Beeston Village Community Centre, off Town St MEA Crafts Group
9:30-10:45am Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Acre Road
Holbeck Together coffee shop
10am-12pm St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck Creative Communities Workshop
10am-2pm Beeston Village
Community Centre, off Town Street, LS11 8DQ
Book: 07483 666342
Crochet & Knitting Group
10am-12pm Beeston Community Hub & Library, Town Street
MHA Craft Club
10-11:30am St Andrew’s
Community Centre, Old Lane Mums and Tots
10:30am-12pm Asha
Neighbourhood Project, Beeston
Monday Breakfast Club
10:30am-12pm Involve Centre, Whitfield Ave, Hunslet, LS10 2QE Chair Based Exercise
10:30am-12pm BISA 59 Club, 59 Belle Isle Circus Story & Rhyme (under 5s)
10:30-11:30am Dewsbury Road
Community Hub & Library
Lychee Red Chinese Seniors Lunch Club
11am-1pm Beeston Village Community Centre, off Town St
Digital 121 support drop in 11am-12pm Dewsbury Road
Community Hub & Library
MEA Bingo and Hoy
11am-12pm Middleton Elderly Aid
Social Centre, Acre Road
Trinity Network Indoor Curling
11:30am United Reformed Church, Nesfield Road, Belle Isle MHA Soup & Sandwich
11:30am-1pm St Andrew’s Community Centre, Old Lane Cottingley Warm Space
11:30am-2:30pm Cottingley Community Centre, LS11 0HJ
A Piece Of Me play for under 5s
12-3pm Hamara Centre, Tempest Road, LS11 6RD Holbeck Together Lunch Club
12-1pm St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck
MEA Lunch Club
12-1:30pm Middleton Elderly Aid
Social Centre, Acre Road
Trinity Network Lunch Club, Bingo
12:30-2:15pm United Reformed Church, Nesfield Road, Belle Isle
Women’s Wellbeing (HFA)
1-3pm Middleton Family Centre, Sissons Road, LS10 4JG Green Gym
1-3:30pm Skelton Grange Environment Centre, Sourton, LS10 1RS
50+ Women’s Friendship Group
1-3pm Asha Neighbourhood Project, Beeston, LS11 6JG
MHA Meditation & Movement
1:15-2:15pm St Andrew’s Community Centre, Old Lane Beeston Bookwormers Book Club
1:30-2:30pm Dewsbury Road
Community Hub & Library Beeston
Digital Inclusion Classes
1:30-3:30pm BISA 59 Club, 59 Belle Isle Circus Dancercise
1:30-2:30pm Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Acre Road
Children’s Gardening Group
3:30-4:30pm Dewsbury Road
Community Hub & Library
Free Football sessions (8-18 yrs)
4-6pm Blenkinsop Field, Acre Road, Middleton, LS10 4JQ
Ultimate Dance Academy
4:30-7pm Cranmore & Raylands
Community Centre, LS10 4AW
Community Sports Session
4:30-5:30pm Clapgate Primary School, Cranmore Drive LS10 4AW Kickboxing
6:30-8:30pm Beeston Parish Centre, Town Street Legs, Bums & Tums
7pm Cranmore & Raylands
Community Centre, LS10 4AW
ANDYSMANCLUB
7-9pm Leeds College of Building, Cudbear Street, Hunslet LS10 1EF
ANDYSMANCLUB
7-9pm Vale Circles, Tunstall Road, Dewsbury Rd, Beeston LS11 5JF
Every Tuesday
Tots Group
9-11am Manorfield Hall, Newhall Road, Belle Isle Stay and Play under 5s
9-10:30am Windmill Children’s Centre, Windmill Road LS10 3HQ
MHA Breakfast Buddies
9:30-11:30am St Andrew’s Community Centre, Old Lane Advice & Advocacy
9:30am-2:30pm Asha Neighbourhood Project, Beeston Book: 0113 270 4600
Trinity Network Indoor Exercise
9:45am United Reformed Church, Nesfield Road, Belle Isle Mobile Hub & Library
10am-3:30pm near St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck Chair Based Exercise
10-11am St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck Coffee and Connect
10-11:30am St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck
Creative Communities Workshop
10am-2pm Manorfield Hall, Newhall Road, LS10 3RR Book: 07483 666342
Grandparents Kinship Support Group
10am-12pm St George’s Centre, Middleton
Bosom Buddies Breastfeeding Peer Support Group
10am-12pm Tenants Hall, Acre Close, Middleton, LS10 4HX Woodwork
10am Cranmore & Raylands Community Centre, Belle Isle
MHA Exercise Class
10-11am South Leeds
Conservative Club, Wooler Street, Beeston, LS11 7JH
Craft & Chat
10:30am-12:30pm St George’s Community Hub and Library, Middleton
Aasra Unpaid Carers Group
10:30am-12:30pm Hamara Centre, Tempest Road, LS11 6RD Story & Rhyme (under 5s)
10:30-11:30am Beeston
Community Hub & Library, Town St Story & Rhyme (under 5s)
10:30-11:30am Hunslet
Community Hub & Library, off Church Street
Bingo and Hoy
11am-12pm Middleton Elderly Aid
Social Centre, Acre Road
MHA Lunch and Social
11am-2pm Arthington Court, Balm Road, Hunslet
MHA Walkie Talkies
11:30am-3:30pm Hunslet Nelson
Cricket Club, Gipsy Lane, Beeston
MEA Lunch Club
12-1:30pm Middleton Elderly Aid
Social Centre, Acre Road
Holbeck Together Lunch Club
12-1:15pm St Matthew’s
Community Centre, Holbeck
Lunch Club and Social
12-3pm BISA 59 Club,
59 Belle Isle Circus
Trinity Network Lunch Club
12:30-1:30pm United Reformed Church, Nesfield Road, Belle Isle
Lunchtime meditation
12:30-1pm Jamyang Buddhist Centre, Ingram Road Holbeck
Women Only Swimming
1-2pm Asha Neighbourhood
Project, Beeston
MHA Line Dancing
1-3pm St Andrew’s Community Centre, Old Lane, Beeston
MEA Walking Group
1:30-3:30pm Middleton Elderly
Aid Social Centre, Acre Road. Healthy Hearts Advice
1:30-4pm BITMOs Gate, Aberfield Gate, Belle Isle Road, LS10 3QH
Creative Communities Art Workshop and Heritage Cafe
2-4pm Involve Community Centre, Whitfield Avenue, LS10 2QE
MEA Line Dancing
2-3pm Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Acre Road. Help with Computers
3-7pm BITMOs Gate, Aberfield Gate, Belle Isle Road, LS10 3QH
Hot Meal (free to BITMO tenants)
4-5:30pm BITMOs GATE, Aberfield Gate, Belle Isle Road
Free Kids Sports
3:30pm Low Grange View, Belle Isle, LS10 3DT
Insight Mental Health Peer
Support Group
3:45-6pm Involve Community Centre, Hunslet, LS10 2QE
Women’s Make & Do Group
4:30-6pm Dewsbury Road
Community Hub & Library
Book: 07848 515528
Free Kids Sports
4:45pm West Grange Road MUGA, Belle Isle, LS10 3AW
Cockburn Community Choir
5-6pm Cockburn School, Gipsy
Lane, Beeston DAZL Dance
5:30-6:30pm Cottingley
Community Centre, LS11 0HJ Girls-only Football
5:30pm Yrs 2-4; 6:30pm Yrs 5-7 The Hunslet Club, Hillidge Road, LS10 1BP
Dance Fitness (14+)
6-7pm Middleton Community Centre, Acre Road Book: 07519 018675
Inside Out exercise class (HFA)
6-7pm Tenants Hall, Acre Close, Middleton, LS10 4HX
Free Football sessions (8-18 yrs)
6:30-8:30pm Holbeck Community Centre, Old Elland Road
Hunslet Nelson Women’s Rounders
6:30-7:30pm Hunslet Nelson Cricket Club, Gipsy Lane, Beeston Yoga (HFA)
6:40pm Cranmore & Raylands
Community Centre, Belle Isle South Leeds Lakers Running Club
6:50pm Hunslet Nelson Cricket Club, Gipsy Lane, Beeston. Book: bit.ly/LakersRunning MINT Men’s Support Group
7-9pm BITMOs GATE, Aberfield Gate, Belle Isle Road, LS10 3QH
Middletones singing group (HFA)
7-9pm Laurel Bank Day Centre, Middleton Park Avenue, LS10 4HY
Every Wednesday
Seniors Breakfast Club
9am-12pm Belle Isle Welcome Centre, St John & St Barnabas Church, LS10 3DN
Everyday Lives coffee morning
9-11am Beeston Village Community Centre, off Town St Open doors
9:30-11:30am St Andrew’s Methodist Church, Old Lane, Beeston Holbeck Together shopping trip
9:30am-12:30pm Bacon Butty morning
9:30-11:30am Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Acre Road. Advice & Advocacy
9:30am-2:30pm Asha Neighbourhood Project, Beeston Book: 0113 270 4600
Brave Hearts peer support group for women whose children no longer live with them
10am-12pm Middleton Family Centre 256-262 Sissons Road LS10 4JG
Creative Communities Workshop 10am-2pm Hunslet Community Hub & Library, LS10 2NS Book: 07483 666342
Adult Maths Support 10am-1pm BITMOs GATE, Aberfield Gate, LS10 3QH
Mobile Council Hub & Library
10am-12pm outside shops, Cottingley
Holbeck Together coffee morning 10am-12pm Ingram Court Community Room, Holbeck Trinity Network Keep Fit with Julie 10am United Reformed Church, Nesfield Road, Belle Isle Anti-social Behaviour surgery 10am-12pm Dewsbury Road Community Hub & Library
Creative Communities Workshop
10am-2pm Involve Leeds, Whitfield Avenue, Hunslet, LS10 2QE Book: 07483 666342
Woodwork
10am Cranmore & Raylands
Community Centre, Belle Isle
Remember Together Group
Young Dementia Leeds Hub, Cottingley Book: 07983 215865 email mcst@ageukleeds.org.uk
Beeston In Bloom Gardening Gp 10am-12pm Millennium Garden, Cross Flatts Park Scrabble Club
10am-12pm St George’s Community Hub and Library, Middleton Rags To Riches Sewing Group
10am-12pm Tenants Hall, Acre Close, Middleton, LS10 4HX
Little Lighthouse Playgroup
10:30am-12:30pm South Bank Sanctuary, 2 Hunslet Hall Road, LS11 6TT
Beeston Remembered
10:30-11:30am Beeston
Community Hub & Library,Town St Raising Vibes
11am-2pm Holbeck Moor Skatepark
Hunslet Litterpicking Group
11-12:30pm Involve Centre, Whitfield Avenue, LS10 2QE
The Lunch Club
11:30am-1:30pm Manorfield Hall, Newhall Road Belle Isle LS10 3RR
Holbeck Together Lunch Club
12-1:30pm Ingram Court
Community Room, Holbeck
MHA Cottingley Lunch Club
12-2pm Cottingley Community Centre, 115 Cottingley Approach
Trinity Network Lunch Club
12:30-1:30pm United Reformed Church, Nesfield Road, Belle Isle
Sew It Seams Sewing Group
1-3pm Tenants Hall, Acre Close, Middleton, LS10 4HX
Walking Group
1-2:30pm meet at Asha, 43 Stratford Street, LS11 6JG
Warm Space
1-3pm St Luke’s CARES 246 Dewsbury Road, LS11 6JQ
Holbeck Together Craft Afternoon
1:15-3:15pm Ingram Court
Community Room, Holbeck
Parents & Tots Social
1:30-2:30pm Hamara Centre, Tempest Road, Beeston Walk and Talk (HFA)
2-3pm meet at Middleton Park main gates on Town Street Tai Chi
2pm Cranmore & Raylands
Community Centre, Belle Isle
Children bike confidence
3:45-4:30pm Watsonian Pavilion, Cross Flatts Park, LS11 7NA
Brave Words Drama Group (4-17)
4-7:30pm Beeston Village
Community Centre, off Town St Book: 07775 926166
Free Football sessions (8-18 yrs)
4:30-6:30pm South Leeds Youth Hub, Belle Isle.
Ultimate Dance Academy
4:20-6pm Cranmore & Raylands
Community Centre, LS10 4AW
DAZL Dance (5-11 yrs)
4:30-5:15pm South Leeds Youth Hub, Middleton Road, Belle Isle
Bat & Chat Table Tennis
5-7pm Dewsbury Road
Community Hub & Library
DAZL Adult Dance Fit
5:15-6pm South Leeds Youth Hub, Middleton Road, Belle Isle 3rd Middleton Scouts
5:30-7:30pm Manorfield Hall, Newhall Road Belle Isle LS10 3RR
1st SLAM Beavers (6-8 yrs)
6-7:30pm St Andrew’s Community Centre, Cardinal Road, Beeston
51st Leeds (Hunslet) Rainbows, Brownies & Guides
6-7pm Rainbows; 6:15-7:30pm Brownies; 7:15-8:30pm Guides
Involve Centre, Whitfield Avenue, Hunslet, LS10 2QE
Women & Girls Cricket
6pm Hunslet Nelson Cricket Club, Gipsy Lane, Beeston, LS11 5TT Illuminate Dance
6pm Cranmore & Raylands
Community Centre, Belle Isle
Food Cycle free hot meal
630pm St Luke’s Church, Malvern Road, Beeston LS11 8PD Holbeck Moor FC: Inclusive adult football training
6:30pm Holbeck Moor Line Dancing
6:30-9pm Manorfield Hall, Newhall Road Belle Isle LS10 3RR Leeds Camera Club
8pm St George’s Community Hub and Library, Middleton, LS10 4UZ photoleeds.com
Every Thursday
Tots Group
9-11am Manorfield Hall, Newhall Road, Belle Isle, LS10 3RR Book: 07794 577586
Music & Movement
9am-1pm Little Angels Playzone, The Sugar Mill, Beeston Parents & Tots Group
9-11am Beeston Village Community Centre, off Town St Mobile Hub & Library
9:30am-3:30pm near St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck
Advice & Advocacy
9:30am-2:30pm Asha Neighbourhood Project, Beeston Book: 0113 270 4600 Holbeck Community Shop
9:30am-2pm St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck Ping Pong
9:30-10:30am Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Acre Road Holbeck Together Coffee Shop
9:45-11:30am St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck Trinity Network Craft
10am United Reformed Church, Nesfield Road, Belle Isle Kushy Nana (HFA Elder Bangladeshi Women’s Group) 10am-12pm Building Blocks Nursery, Maud Avenue, LS11 7DD Women’s Friendship Group 10am-12pm Hunslet Methodist Church, Telford Terrace, Balm Rd Craft and Chat
10-11:45am Cranmore & Raylands Community Centre Woodwork
10am Cranmore & Raylands Community Centre, Belle Isle Craft Group / Digital Inclusion
10:30am-12pm BISA 59 Club, 59 Belle Isle Circus Story & Rhyme (under 5s)
10:30-11:30am St George’s Community Hub and Library, Middleton Walking Football
11am-12pm The Hunslet Club, Hillidge Road
Bingo and Hoy
11am-12pm Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Acre Road
Warm Space
11:30am-2pm Cottingley Community Centre
Holbeck Together Line Dancing
11:30am-12:30pm St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck MEA Lunch Club
12-1:30pm Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Acre Road
Crooked Clock Lunch Club 12pm Sussex Avenue, Hunslet Book: 07470 167243
Website: www.southleedslife.com
Bingo and Hoy
11am-12pm Middleton Elderly Aid
Social Centre, Acre Road
Warm Space
11:30am-2pm Cottingley
Community Centre
Holbeck Together Line Dancing
11:30am-12:30pm St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck
MEA Lunch Club
12-1:30pm Middleton Elderly Aid
Social Centre, Acre Road
Crooked Clock Lunch Club
12pm Sussex Avenue, Hunslet Book: 07470 167243
Free Soup and a Roll
12-2pm Church of the Nazarene, Lupton Street, Hunslet
Holbeck Women’s Group (HFA)
12-2pm Ingram Gardens
Community Centre, LS11 9SA
LGBTQ+ Peer Support Group
12-2pm Cranmore & Raylands
Community Centre, Belle Isle
MHA Lunch Club & Social
12-2:30pm St Andrew’s
Community Centre, Old Lane
Trinity Network Lunch Club
12:30-1:30pm United Reformed Church, Nesfield Road, Belle Isle Bingo
12:30-2:30pm Watsonian Pavilion, Cross Flatts Park Women Only Swimming
1-2pm Asha Neighbourhood Project, Beeston Warm Space & Computer support
1-5pm BITMOs GATE, Aberfield Gate, Belle Isle Road, LS10 3QH Kushy Dil (Bangladeshi Women’s Group)
1-3pm Building Blocks Nursery, Maud Avenue, LS11 7DD Online Computer class
1-2:30pm Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Acre Road Conversation Club for asylum seekers and refugees
1:30-3:30pm The Holbeck club, Jenkinson Lawn Craft Workshop
1-2:30pm Cranmore & Raylans Community Centre, Cranmore Drive, LS10 4AW Walking Group
1:30-3:30pm Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Acre Road Digital Inclusion / Social Group
1:30-3pm BISA 59 Club, 59 Belle Isle Circus After School Games Club
3-4:30pm Hunslet Community Hub & Library, off Church Street Youth Club
4:30-6:30pm Welcome Centre, St John & St Barnabas Church, Belle Isle Road, LS10 3DN Community Basketball
5-6pm 14+ women & girls
Cockburn John Charles Academy, Old Run Road, Belle Isle Free Football sessions (8-18 yrs)
5-8pm Hunslet Moor. Middleton Scout Group
5:30-7:30pm Manorfield Hall, Newhall Road, Belle Isle Book: scoutsmiddleton@gmail.com
Sanctuary Youth (Year 7+)
6-8pm South Bank Sanctuary, 2 Hunslet Hall Road, LS11 6TT Boys and Girls Rugby
6:30-8pm Leeds Corinthians, Nutty Slack, Middleton, LS10 4AX Yoga
6:30pm St Andrew’s Methodist Church, Cardinal Road, Beeston Book: 07512 393228
Hunslet Nelson Women’s Rounders
6:30-7:30pm Hunslet Nelson Cricket Club, Gipsy Lane, Beeston Boxercise
Email: info@southleedslife.com
Every Friday
Charity Shop and Warm Space
8:30-11:30am United Free Church, Malvern Road, Beeston Stay & Play
9-11am St Anthony’s Church Hall, Old Lane, Beeston
Breakfast Club
9:15-11:15am BITMOs GATE, Aberfield Gate, Belle Isle Road
Breakfast Club and Food Bank
9:30-11:30am Manorfield Hall, Newhall Road Belle Isle LS10 3RR
Affordable Breakfast
9:30am Cranmore & Raylands
Community Centre, Belle Isle
Menspace drop in 9:30am Cranmore & Raylands
Community Centre, Belle Isle Women only Exercise (HFA)
9:30-10:15am Beeston Village
Community Centre, off Town St IT & Computer Skills
9:30am-12pm Asha Neighbourhood Project, Beeston Toast & Games, Knit & Natter
9:30-11am Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Acre Road. MHA Breakfast
9:30-11:30am Hunslet Nelson Cricket Club, Gipsy Lane, Beeston Hunslet RLFC Breakfast Club
10am-12pm Phoenix Suite, South Leeds Stadium
Holbeck Together Coffee Shop
10am-12pm St Matthew’s
Community Centre
Holbeck Together Dance On 10-11am St Matthew’s
Community Centre, Holbeck
Hobbies Together (HFA)
10am-12pm Tenants Hall, Acre
Close, Middleton, LS10 4HX
A Choir’d Taste (Women’s Choir)
10am-12pm Tenants Hall, Acre
Close, Middleton, LS10 4HX
Gardening Group
10am-12pm BISA 59 Club, 59 Belle Isle Circus
Julie’s Ancestry Group
10am-12pm and 1-3pm 26 Belle Isle Circus, LS10 3AE
MHA Stretch & Tone
10-11am St Andrew’s Community Centre, Old Lane, Beeston Green Team Volunteers
10am-3pm Skelton Grange
Environment Centre, Stourton Beety Din Older Women’s Group
10:30am-1pm Beeston Village Community Centre, off Town St Knit & Natter
11am-12:30pm Cranmore & Raylans Community Centre, Cranmore Drive, LS10 4AW Bingo and Hoy
11am-12pm Middleton Elderly Aid
Social Centre, Acre Road Fish & Chip Lunch
11:30am-1pm St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck
MHA St Mary’s Lunch Club
12-1:30pm Beeston Parish Centre, Town Street, LS11 8PN MEA Lunch Club
12-1:30pm Middleton Elderly Aid
Social Centre, Acre Road
Trinity Network Lunch Club
12:30pm United Reformed Church, Nesfield Road, Belle Isle Lunchtime meditation
12:30-1pm Jamyang Buddhist Centre, Ingram Road Holbeck
Ballroom & Sequence Dancing
1-3pm St Andrew’s Community Centre, Old Lane, Beeston 50+ Gup Shup Group
1-3pm Asha Neighbourhood Project, Beeston
Prize Bingo Afternoon
1:15-2:15pm St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck
Chair-based Exercise
1:45-2:45pm Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Acre Road. Free Football sessions (8-18 yrs)
3:30-5:30pm Holbeck Community Centre, Elland Road
Active Communities
4-6pm Welcome Centre, St John & St Barnabas Church, Belle Isle Road, LS10 3DN
Middleton Skaters
4pm (under 8s); 5pm (under 13s)
Parkside Hub, Colin Cooper Fields, Belle Isle, LS10 3HF
Table Tennis
4:45-5:25pm (7-11yrs) 5:306:15pm (12-15yrs) St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck
DAZL Youth Club
5-7pm Middleton Community Centre, Acre Road Illuminate Dance
5-7pm Cranmore & Raylands
Community Centre, Belle Isle South Leeds Lakers Juniors (Athletics)
6-7pm South Leeds Stadium Book: fb.com/juniorlakersleeds
Youth Club
6-8pm The Gambia Welfare Society, Oak House, Balm Walk, Holbeck, LS11 9PG
Suzaku Martial Arts Children’s gp
6-9pm Beeston Village Community
Centre, off Town Street
1st SLAM Cubs (8-10½ yrs)
6:15-7:45pm St Andrew’s
Community Centre, Cardinal Road, Beeston
Ultimate Dance Academy
7-8m Cranmore & Raylands
Community Centre, Belle Isle
5th Middleton Guides & Rangers
7:30-9pm South Leeds URC
Church, Nesfield Road, Belle Isle
1st SLAM Scouts (10½-14 yrs)
8-9:30pm St Andrew’s Community Centre, Cardinal Road, Beeston
Every Saturday
Debbie Heart Theatre School
8am-12:30pm Manorfield Hall, Newhall Road, Belle Isle
Cross Flatts parkrun
9am Top of Cross Flatts Park, Beeston, LS11 7NA
Middleton Woods parkrun
9am Leeds Urban Bike Park
Ring Road, Middleton, LS10 3TN
Community Basketball
9-10:30am 8-12 years, mixed
10:30am-12pm Yr6-9 Girls
3:30-5pm U16/U14 Boys
Cockburn School, Gipsy Lane, Beeston
Holbeck Moor FC Juniors (4-6yrs)
9am Ingram Road Primary School, Holbeck
Saturday Breakfast
9:30-11am Middleton Elderly Aid
Social Centre, Acre Road
Adult Cycle Training
10am Watsonian Pavilion, Cross Flatts Park, Beeston
Book: bit.ly/CycleNorth
Ultimate Dance Academy
10:15am-1:40pm Cranmore & Raylands Community Centre ParkPlay
10:30am-12:30pm Brickfield Park, Lady Pit Lane, Beeston
Champions Soccer Saturday
10:30-11:30am Hunslet Moor
Arts & Crafts Lunch
11am-12:45pm Hunslet
Community Hub & Library, off Church Street
Bingo
12-3pm Middleton Elderly Aid
Social Centre, Acre Road
3rd Middleton Scouts
Youth Club
6-8pm The Gambia Welfare Society, Oak House, Balm Walk, Holbeck, LS11 9PG
Youth Club
7-9pm LS-TEN Skatepark, Kitson Road, Hunslet
Every Sunday
Junior parkrun (4-14 yrs)
9am Top of Cross Flatts Park Indoor Children’s Exercise
10am-12pm Hillside, Beeston Rd Healthy Minds Cycling Skills 10-11am Watsonian Pavilion, Cross Flatts Park Play For All (7-13 yrs)
11am-1pm Cross Flatts Park Hunslet Community Litterpick 11am-12:30pm Involve Centre, Whitfield Avenue, LS10 2QE
Big Bike Fix drop in workshop
12-4pm Harlech Avenue, Beeston Toning & Stretching with Julie
6:30-7:30pm DAZL HQ, Middleton Community Centre, Acre Road. Book: 07783 786776
Zumba
7pm Cranmore & Raylands Community Centre, Belle Isle
March
Saturday 8 March
Middleton Makers Market
10am-2pm Middleton Park Circus Wellbeing Day
10am-4:30pm Jamyang Buddhist Centre, Ingram Road Holbeck Community/Reflections Cafe 10-12pm United Reformed Church, Nesfield Road, Belle Isle
Women Only Paint Party
1-3pm Seagulls Resuse, 129 Water Lane, Holbeck, LS11 9UD
Sunday 9 March
Sunday Breakfast
9am St Luke’s Church, Malvern Road, LS11 8PD
Farmers’ Market
10am-4pm Armouries Square, Leeds Dock, LS10 1LT
Hunslet RLFC v Doncaster RLFC
3pm South Leeds Stadium, Middleton Grove, LS11 5DJ
South Leeds Community Kitchen
4-5:45pm Beeston Parish Centre (St Mary’s), Town Street, LS11 8PN
Tuesday 11 March
MEA Hearing Aid Clinic
10am-12:30pm Middleton Elderly Aid, Acre Road, LS10 4JQ Menopause Support Group 7pm Hamara Centre, Tempest Road, Beeston, LS11 6RD
Wednesday 12 March
MHA Kurling
10-11am St Andrew’s Community Centre, Old Lane, Beeston MHA Singing Sensations
1:30-3pm St Andrew’s Community Centre, Old Lane, Beeston MEA Film Club: Little Voice
1:30-3pm Middleton Elderly Aid, Acre Road, LS10 4JQ
Thursday 13 March
Holbeck Wellbeing Breakfast
10-11am St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck
Friday 14 March
Police Contact Point
10am-12pm Cottingley
Community Centre, LS11 0HJ
Hunslet Tenants & Residents Ass 6pm Involve Centre, Whitfield Avenue, LS10 2QE
Saturday 15 March
Repair Cafe
1-4pm BITMO’s Gate, Aberfield Gate, Belle Isle, LS10 3QH
Hunslet ARLFC v West Bowling
Sunday 16 March
Guided Mining Walk
1pm Middleton Park Visitor Centre, off Town Street
Monday 17 March
Community Iftar
5:30pm Hamara Centre, Tempest Road, Beeston, LS11 6RD
Wednesday 19 March
MHA Connie Crafters
3-4:30pm South Leeds
Conservative Club, Wooler Street, Beeston, LS11 7JH
Thursday 20 March
SEN-tastic
9:15-10:30am St Luke’s Church, Malvern Road, LS11 8PD
Leeds Baby Bank
10am-12pm Dewsbury Road
Community Hub & Library
St Luke’s Tenants & Residents
6:30pm St Luke’s Church, Malvern Road, LS11 8PD
Re:establish’s The Loft opening
6-8:30pm The Loft, Crosby Street, Holbeck, LS11 9RQ
Saturday 22 March
Holbeck Jumble Sale
10am-1pm Jamyang Buddhist Centre, Ingram Road Holbeck
Creative Communities public art unveiling
1:30-3:30pm Involve Centre, Whitfield Avenue, LS10 2QE
Hunslet ARLFC v Thatto Heath
Crusaders
2:30pm The Oval, LS10 2AT
Tuesday 25 March
Police Contact Point
10am-12pm Hunslet Community Hub and Library, off Church Street
A Song For Hunslet drop-in
1:30-3pm Involve Centre, Whitfield Avenue, LS10 2QE
Wednesday 26 March
Councillor surgery
9:30-10:30am Middleton Elderly Aid, Acre Road, LS10 4JQ
Holbeck Cemetery Volunteers 10am-1pm Fairfax Road, Beeston, LS11 8SY
Coffee Morning and Bingo
10am-12pm Cardinal Court, Beeston, LS11 8HP
MHA Kurling
10-11am St Andrew’s Community Centre, Old Lane, Beeston
Police Contact Point
10am-12pm Dewsbury Road
Community Hub & Library
Police Contact Point
10am-12pm Ingram Gardens
Community Centre, Holbeck
Thursday 27 March
Police Contact Point
10am-12pm Beeston Community Hub and Library, Town Street Hunslet Remembered
10-11:30am Hunslet Community Hub & Library, off Church Street, LS10 2NS
Friday 28 March
A Song For Hunslet drop-in
10:30am-12pm Hunslet
Community Hub & Library, off Church Street, LS10 2NS
Beeston & Holbeck Councillors’ Surgeries 4pm Beeston Community Hub & Library, Town Street, Beeston 5pm St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck 6pm Cottingley Community Centre
Sunday 30 March
Holbeck Together Sunday Lunch
12-2pm St Matthew’s Community Centre, LS11 9NR Book (0113) 245 5553
Monday 31 March
Beeston Hill Community Assoc 6:30pm Hamara Centre, Tempest Road, LS11 6RD
April
Tuesday 1 April
Stronger Together support group for carers of disabled children
11am-1pm BITMO’s GATE, Aberfield Gate, LS10 3QH
Wednesday 2 April
Middleton Life History Group
10am United Reformed Church, Nesfield Road, Belle Isle
Thursday 3 April
Hunslet Carr Residents Assoc
6:30pm Woodhouse Hill
Community Centre, LS10 2EF
Beeston Community Forum
7:30-9pm Beeston Village
Community Centre, Beeston Park Place, off Town Street
Friday 4 April
MEA Legal advice drop-in
9:30-11:30am Middleton Elderly Aid, Acre Road, LS10 4JQ
Police Contact Point
10am-12pm Cottingley
Community Centre, LS11 0HJ
A Song For Hunslet drop-in
1:30-3pm Hunslet Community Hub & Library, off Church Street, LS10 2NS
Saturday 5 April
Middleton Railway Community Day
10am-4pm Moor Road, Hunslet, LS10 2JG
Leeds Dads Soft Play 10am-12pm Little Angels, Beeston, LS11 7HL Hunslet Cemetery Volunteers 10am-1pm Middleton Road Coffee morning
10am-12pm Church of the Nazarene, Grove Road, Hunslet
Sunday 6 April
Middleton Park Litter Pick 1pm Middleton Park Visitor Centre, off Town Street
7-8pm Cranmore & Raylands Community Centre, Belle Isle
Friday Social Club
1:30-3:30pm BISA 59 Club, 59 Belle Isle Circus
12:45-2:15pm Manorfield Hall, Newhall Road Belle Isle LS10 3RR
2:30pm The Oval, LS10 2AT
Do you need to advertise a licence application for your business?
We can help if the business is in LS10 or LS11
We charge £200 for legal notices
Contact us to make sure you time your application close to our publication dates
Email: info@southleedslife.com Call: 07894 583966
Mission and Pastoral Measure 2011
Beeston Hill Holy Spirit (Diocese of Leeds)
The Church Commissioners have prepared a draft scheme providing for the sale of the closed church building of Beeston Hill Holy Spirit and its annexed land for business use and for purposes ancillary thereto.
A copy of the draft Scheme may be inspected on the main door of Beeston Hill Holy Spirit. You may also access the draft Scheme on the Commissioners’ website from the link to draft schemes online at www.churchofengland.org/ consultation or obtain or inspect a copy during normal office hours at the Church Commissioners’ office by applying to Clare Chapman. Large print and/or audio copies are available on request.
Having considered the proposals you may make representations either in support or against the draft scheme by e-mail to joanna.chandler-clarke @churchofengland.org or by writing to Representations, Closed Churches Division, Church Commissioners, Church House, Great Smith Street, London, SW1P 3AZ.
Please note that any communications received after 4th April 2025 cannot be treated as a representation.
For details of this process see www.ccpastoral.org. If you require further clarification about the draft scheme or process you can contact the Case Officer Clare Chapman on 07879 165 208 or by e-mail: clare.chapman@churchofengland.org
The Church Commissioners are a Registered Charity (1140097)
Goods Vehicle Operator’s Licence
One Stop Hire Ltd
of Sandringham House, Ackhurst Business Park, Foxhole Road, Chorley, PR7 1NY is applying for a licence to use 1 New Princess Street, Holbeck, Leeds LS11 9BA as an operating centre for 2 goods vehicles and 0 trailers
Owners or occupiers of land (including buildings) near the operating centre(s) who believe that their use or enjoyment of that land would be affected, should make written representations to the Office of The Traffic Commissioner, Quarry House, Quarry Hill, Leeds, LS2 7UE, stating their reasons, within 21 days of this notice. Representors must at the same time send a copy of their representations to the applicant at the address given at the top of this notice. A Guide to Making Representations is available from the Traffic Commissioner’s office.
Boxing brothers, Middleton mum & 7 year old on the Golden Team bill
by James Bovington
BrothersThomas and Aidan Winstanley train together at Hunslet’s Golden Team gym and are looking forward to representing their club on Golden Team’s March home show fittingly themed as ‘Brothers in Arms’.
Thomas, 17, admits that until he started boxing training eighteen months ago “I was going off the tracks mixing with the wrong crowd. Our uncle Ryan had been training at Golden Team for two years and had won a local promotion’s title belt. He explained how boxing had helped him cope with addictions and turn his life around. He advised that if I knuckled down people would help and it’s true. I’d dabbled in sports, but I’ve fallen in love with boxing, although four weekly training sessions are hard. Now I want to win belts and eventually become a professional boxer with my dream being to be good enough for the ultimate test, a brutal twelve round battle at a major venue. Leeds Arena? One of a long series of tough and talented Leeds boxers to do so.”
Young brother Aidan, 16, is a business student at a local college and had done some boxing when younger. “It’s Thomas who’s motivated me to take it up again. I can’t wait for my first bout on our club show in March. If I do well, I’ll continue competing, but the training itself is beneficial. I supplement it with lots of running, what boxers call roadwork. Our mother says she’s petrified about our boxing but will support us whatever.”
“I had two bouts last year,”
explained Thomas. “I lost the first to an experienced lad but won the second on November’s Golden Team show by unanimous decision. Three months on I’m feeling increasingly confident in my boxing. Aidan and I will both show just what we’re made of and prove how physically and mentally strong we are.”
Thomas and Aidan have four sponsors between them but need more to make progress.
“We’re grateful to Whitkirk Cleaning Solutions, Alaw Burgers & Shakes, Aesthetics by Jo and The Golden Guy.”
Owner Padraic McDonagh congratulated the Winstanleys “for fighting for the family name and dedicating their lives to train for a golden future.”
Fighting on the same bill will be Nicola Aldred from Middleton who was urged by one of her three sisters to give boxing a go to help her cope with her PTSD and now four years after having walked into Padraic McDonagh’s Golden Team Gym in Hunslet and now the mother of a boy of twelve is the club’s deputy manager and leads young children’s boxing classes.
“It was so bad I didn’t leave the house for months,” said Nicola, 31, a qualified plumber who originally hails from Richmond.
“I fell in love with the sport and would recommend it to anyone. I’ve been competing for three years now and have won five fights including a title belt on a Holmes Promotions show. I’m looking forward to my next bout on our show at the Aria Suite in Woodhouse on Friday 7 March.”
Joining her will be Mia who’s taking her first steps into the square circle aged just seven
with a three round skills bout, each round lasting one minute.
“I’ve trained Mia for a year and she’s keen to be the next Katie Taylor. She’s talented and knows how to hit,” explained Aldred. “Our boxers all start out
this way just showcasing their skills without the pressure of a win/lose result. That comes soon enough but never before a child turns ten.”
Mum Christieanne is delighted at Mia’s progress. “A massive thank you to Nicola for giving Mia this chance and making her believe that she can do it. I didn’t think she’d come this far. The positive comments she gets, the compliments and high fives all of it she absolutely loves.”
If interested in sponsoring these boxers or a bout on the show, please contact Golden Team on Facebook or at goldenteamp1@icloud.com or on 07432 297690.
“We’re delighted to provide opportunities for boxers young and younger to show how dedicated and courageous they are,” said Golden Team’s owner Padraic McDonagh. “Our show is on Friday 7 March at the Aria Suite on Woodhouse Street, Leeds 6. Doors open at 6pm.”
Brothers in arms: Thomas and Aidan Winstanley
Nicola Aldred and Mia
Email: info@southleedslife.com
Let’s Move: South Leeds set to return in May
Althoughby Karen Peck
we’re big advocates for being active all year round, it’s been a busy start to 2025 for Get Set Leeds Local, catching up with partners and residents who are developing plans and ideas for the Spring / Summer when it can feel a bit easier to get outdoors or get active.
Get Set Leeds Local (GSLL) is our approach to community working. Its Active Leeds led (part of Leeds City Council), with Sport England support working alongside residents and partners across Hunslet & Riverside and Beeston & Holbeck wards, exploring how collaboratively we can break down barriers and make it easier for more people to move more.
As we continue to build on the great ideas that local residents have, or work
collectively to support existing activities to sustain, we’d still love to connect with more community champions who are keen to make a difference within our communities. If you have an idea for something that may help you, your family, your school or street be more active then get in touch.
We have various bits of funding and offer other support to try and enable some of those ideas to develop. Give us a follow on social media (Get
Set Leeds Local) or contact us via getsetleedslocal@leeds .gov.uk
Let’s Move: South Leeds
Save the date: Event at Cross Flatts Park Saturday 10 May 12–3pm
After a great participatory event last year, Let’s Move: South Leeds will return once again in 2025 at Cross Flatts Park. We’ve already signed up a great range of local providers coming together for a festival of fun, movement and community
by sharing their sport/activity through providing a taster activity, a demonstration, mini challenge or a stall.
If you’re part of an ‘active’ group, whether that’s dance or martial arts, volleyball or archery, walking or climbing, we’d love for them to be part of this event. It’s a great chance for organisations to network, as well as showcasing and celebrating the breadth of what’s on offer in South Leeds to local residents.
We want to help connect people to things already taking place across the area. We also want to raise the profile on the many different ways people can be active.
• Please let me know if your group/club could be involved delivering an activity, demo, taster, stall or supporting in another way.
• Share the information with others who may want to be involved (sports clubs, organisations, dance groups, martial arts groups etc)
• Can your business donate a prize?
• Would you like to volunteer or be part of the planning team? Get in touch with karen.peck@leeds.gov .uk or ring 07891 274130 for information or to be a part of it.
Hunslet show grit as they get used to life in the Championship
Continued from page 24 were making mistakes, but they dug in to stop the game turning into a rout and on 60 minutes Kobe Rugless on his debut nipped over from acting halfback close to the posts to narrow the score to 30-12. But Hunslet couldn’t add to their total and Barrow scored another try and a penalty. Full time score: 38-12 It was a tough afternoon for Hunslet. They were too lightweight in attack and defence, although the last 20 minutes saw an improvement. However, it’s early season and clearly some new players will need to gel into the side. After a disastrous first 20 minutes against Bradford Bulls at home on 23 February, where Hunslet fans were in fear of a rout against the Championship favourites, The Parksiders turned in a determined performance to silence the huge Bulls contingent. Bradford are aiming for Super League this year, but the Championship new boys showed they won’t be pushovers in what is already looking like a fantastically competitive Division.
The Bulls scored four tries in the first 16 minutes and were looking to male it five when Hunslet’s Noah Booth read a pass and intercepted, going 80 yards to outpace the Bulls defence.
Another Bradford try and a penalty on the hooter led to a half time score of 6-30. The Bulls stretched their lead on 52 minutes, but Hunslet replied with tries by Mackenzie Scurr and Greg Eden after The Parksiders had forced a drop out, bringing the score to 1634. Hunslet scored again through Liam Whelan on 72
minutes. Another Hunslet try would have made for an interesting finish, but Bradford put the game to bed on 77 minutes. Final score 20-38.
On 2 March Hunslet were at home again in the 1895 Cup facing Widnes Vikings in what proved to be a closely fought encounter between two evenly matched teams. The game could have gone either way, but after leading at the break Hunslet will be disappointed to not get the win.
On 9 minutes Hunslet took the lead, when quality passing to the right and a superb Noah
Leeds City triumph at National Cross Country Championships
Continued from page 24 strength, and ability to perform under pressure at the highest level.
The senior men fought valiantly and were agonisingly close to a podium finish, securing 4th place in an intensely competitive field. Star performer Harry Butler moved through the field like a freight train, relentlessly powering past competitors to finish an impressive 28th place, leading the team’s strong showing.
In the Under 17 Women’s section Poppy Henson proved that she is not just one of the top young athletes in Yorkshire, but a genuine star in the making. Racing against the nation’s best, she delivered a fearless performance, holding her own from the gun and pushing hard over the challenging course to finish an incredible 6th place. Teammates Anna Schlossan and Sophia Hidayat also showed grit and resilience, gaining valuable experience by finishing 126th and 138th respectively.
Yaried Alem demonstrated his exceptional talent and racecraft in the Under 15 Boys, with a phenomenal 2nd place finish, making him the national runner-up in his age group. His brave and tactical racing was a testament to his ability and consistency, proving that he is one of the most exciting young endurance runners in the UK today.
Booth flick pass set Mackenzie Turner into space and the winger left defenders in his wake to score. That was followed up on 15 minutes when Lachy Hanneghan showed his strength from close in to score. Beharrell converting. 10-0.
The visitors hit back scoring from a scum in a good position and again after being awarded six more tackles, 10-12 after half an hour.
The try of the game came on 35 minutes when Noah Booth read the play and intercepted to go 90 yards to score.
Beharrell converting 16-12 With the half time hooter looming, Hunslet were awarded six more tackles for a change and Lachy Hanneghan sold a big dummy and go to go over to the right of the posts. 20-12 at the break.
Widnes scored on 49 minutes and edged ahead in the seven minutes later. It was obvious this game would go down to the wire, as the match went from end to end.
Five minutes later Hunslet were back ahead as Lachy Hanneghan completed a hattrick with another dummy and
competitors saw them tackle the tough, muddy course with resilience, setting the stage for future achievements.
Ruth Friend once again confirmed her place among the very best young runners in the country, delivering an excellent 20th place finish in the Under 15 Girls. Her performance was a masterclass in competitive racing, proving she has both the endurance and tactical awareness to be a force at the national level for years to come. The team finished 26th overall, with strong supporting performances from: Harriet Williams, Talitha Hodgkinson and Astrid Gamesby.
The dominance of the senior women, combined with the depth in the senior men’s squad and the exceptional performances from the younger age groups, signals a golden era ahead for Leeds City AC. With role models like Jen Walsh and Harry Butler guiding the emerging stars like Poppy Henson, Yaried Alem, and Ruth Friend the club is wellpositioned for continued success in the years to come.
Leeds City AC’s athletes and coaches should be immensely proud of their achievements at this year’s Championships, proving once again that they are among the very best in the country.
The team finished 17th overall, with solid performances from Alexander Smith, Joseph Booth, Ben Bedford and Woody Beaumont.
Evie Hodgkinson made a strong national debut in the Under 13 Girls, finishing an impressive 69th place as Leeds City AC’s sole competitor in the category. Her ability to compete on such a big stage at a young age bodes well for future success.
A determined effort in the Under 13 Boys from the youngest Leeds City AC
go close to the line. Beharrell converting 26-24
The bounce of the ball didn’t always go Hunslet’s way, as Mackenzie Turner was unlucky the ball hit him going out for a Widnes scrum. More pressure for Hunslet, and on 67 minutes quick passing to the right sent Max Roberts over to score and Widnes had the lead 26-28. That wasn’t the end though as Hunslet pushed for a winner. Mackenzie Turner made a half break, then Billy Jowitt and Noah Booth both made inroads, but Widnes held on for
With the National Cross Country Championships set to be held in the north next year, Leeds City AC will have their sights firmly set on even greater success. The club will be gunning for overall team titles in the Senior Women, Senior Men, and Under 15 Girls categories, while also aiming for individual silverware. With the strength and talent across all age groups, Leeds City AC is ready to make a statement when the National comes up’t north in 2026.
Leeds City Athletics Club trains at The John Charles Centre For Sport, Middleton Grove, LS11 5DJ. Find out more about the club at: www.leedscityac.org
the win and go to play York in the Quarter Finals.
For Head Coach Dean Muir there were encouraging signs as his side fought hard against an experienced Championship side, and look like they can score from all over the pitch. But, Hunslet will have to start getting over the line in these matches, starting with their next match in the League at home to Doncaster on 9 March.
You can read full match reports of all Hunslet’s matches at southleedslife.com
Larroyer, Fishwick and Whitmore halt Widnes. Credit: PBW Media
Hunslet show grit as they get used to life in the Championship
Leeds City triumph at National Cross Country Championships
by Ian Pickles
Thismonth has proved a steep learning curve for newly promoted Hunslet RLFC as they faced experienced Championship sides.
Whilst not recording a win, Coach Dean Muir must be pleased to see the squad start to gel and performances improve despite injuries.
First up they faced Super League Huddersfield Giants in the Challenge Cup on 9 February at South Leeds Stadium. Hunslet produced a battling but ultimately unsuccessful performance.
The Giants ruck speed and strength meant Hunslet had to do a lot of tackling against fulltime professionals that took its toll later in the game, but if they take this experience into the Championship league season it should stand them in good stead.
Huddersfield started off on the front foot and The Parksiders had to do some tough defence work, but on 8 minutes a high kick was spilt by the Huddersfield full-back and Greg Eden pounced to scoop up and score.
That would be Hunslet’s only score, but this wasn’t a rout.
Girls rugby takes off in
by Jeremy Morton
Aftermonths of training a group of girls have played their first rugby match in Middleton.
The origins of the team lie in the weekly rugby sessions run by Hunslet Rugby Foundation (HRF) at Nutty Slack, the Leeds Corinthians’ ground in Middleton.
The sessions are open to boys and girls, but the girls’ section has taken off faster than the boys.
For their first game the girls, who are in Years 7 and 8 at school, took on a team from Sheffield RUFC. The match was 11-a-side with two 20 minute
halves and no one worried about the score, this was about experiencing playing as a team.
“Despite the bitter weather the girls played with a smile on their face,” said Michael Nuttall, HRF’s Manager.
“There’s only so much you can do in training, so they will have learned loads, about the game and about themselves, by playing this match.
As will Aidan, Paul and James, our Development Officers, who has been coaching them.
“They gave a good account of themselves, they were really brilliant.”
They had great support watching from friends and
The Parksiders held the Giants to two tries in the first half and were still only two scores down until the 61st minute. But the Giants were too strong and ran out 6-34 winners.
Hunslet had a tough introduction to Championship Rugby League at a bitterly cold Northern Competitions Stadium, Barrow on 16 February as the Parksiders lost out to a smarting Raiders side, who had been knocked out of the Challenge cup last week by fellow League 1 promoted club Oldham.
Barrow had the better of the early arm wrestle and Matty Beharrel uncharacteristically missed a penalty, but Hunslet were still first on the scoreboard after Hanneghan intercepted a pass and fed Noah Booth who showed a pair of clean heels to out-sprint the Barrow defence for a try.
Beharrell converting 0-6 Hunslet struggled to get out of their half in the first period and conceded four tries going in 18-6 at the break.
The Raiders extended their lead to 30-6 with two more tries early in the second half. Nothing was going well for Hunslet, with ball in hand they
Continued on page 23
Middleton
families.
HRF are always looking for more girls (and boys) who are in Years 6-9 to get involved. The sessions run every Thursday at 6:30-8pm, for more information go to Hunslet Rugby Foundation’s Facebook page or email michael.nuttall @hunsletrugbyfoundation.co .uk
There’s a lot more to HRF than rugby. As well as delivering PE sessions in schools, they run two youth club nights at the Belle Isle Welcome Centre at St John & St Barnabas Church on Belle Isle Road (LS10 3DN). On Thursdays from 4:30-6:30pm and Fridays, 4-6pm.
Leeds City Athletic Club delivered an outstanding performance at the English National Cross Country Championships 2025, held at Parliament Hill Fields, London, on Saturday 22 February.
The senior women’s team dominated the competition, securing the National Championship title, while the senior men narrowly missed out on a team medal, finishing a close fourth. With young athletes making a strong impression in their national debuts, the future looks incredibly bright for Leeds City
Mackenzie Scurr dives over to score against Bradford. Credit: Zac Berg
Jennifer Walsh, Georgia Malir, Dominique Corradi and Katrina Ballantyne - the victorious Leeds City AC Senior Women’s team
Playing with a smile on their faces