South Leeds Life is written by and for local people. People who live, work and play in the LS10 and LS11 areas of South Leeds.
The website and newspaper are produced by South Leeds Life CIC, a social enterprise registered with Companies House, No 9998695.
South Leeds Life is a member of the Independent Community News Network.
Our aims
To inform people of events, activities, issues and opportunities taking place in the South Leeds community;
To encourage the involvement of the wider community in communicating their experiences;
To foster community spirit and involvement; and
To provide a platform for local people to contribute and respond to community life more fully.
South Leeds Life is pleased to publish views from across the political spectrum, provided they comply with our editorial guidelines.
We remain a neutral publication with a diverse readership, as such we do not endorse any particular political party.
Contact us
South Leeds Life CIC
224 Cross Flatts Grove, Leeds, LS11 7BW
Email: info@southleedslife.com
Facebook : @SouthLeedsLife
Phone: 07894 583966
Complaints
South Leeds Life is regulated by IMPRESS and adheres to its standards code.
However, if you feel we have breached the code in any way and wish to make a complaint, please submit your complaint, in writing to the editor.
A copy of our complaints policy is available via our website at southleedslife.com/complaintsprocedure, or on request.
Senior councillors updated on Elland Road expansion plans
Senior councillors have been briefed on a major regeneration vision which could see Leeds United’s iconic Elland Road home become one of the country’s largest football stadiums.
At a meeting of Leeds City Council’s executive board, members were updated on a package of ambitious proposals that would transform a key part of south Leeds.
These include an imminent planning application from Leeds United to increase their famous ground’s capacity to up to 56,500, a move that, if approved, would see it join the ranks of the nation’s elite sporting venues.Land immediately surrounding the stadium is owned by Leeds City Council, meaning agreements will need to be in place between the council and the club before any expansion can begin.
A report to the executive board details the vast potential of the club’s upcoming application in the context of the wider Elland Road area, comprising around 30 acres of council-owned land which could be transformed and regenerated, with billions of pounds of investment then being unlocked.
With a potential Mass Rapid Transit link for south Leeds, the report outlines a unique opportunity for Elland Road to become a yearround destination, potentially giving a huge boost to the local economy while supporting the council’s broader inclusive growth ambitions.
As well as the stadium redevelopment, long term plans for the wider south Leeds area include the potential of British Library North
at Temple Works, the Holbeck Sports Hub and Heart of Holbeck, which will include the renewal of the local high street, transformation of a local community centre and the delivery of improvements to traditional terraced homes.
These projects sit alongside existing economic hubs at the White Rose Shopping Centre and White Rose Park.
At the meeting, members noted the huge potential of the Elland Road regeneration project and approved the start of legal agreements to dispose of council land to Leeds United Football Club, which would be needed for stadium enhancement.
Members approved steps to
refresh the council’s vision for the future regeneration of land adjacent to an expanded stadium, and to prepare for a future public consultation on the proposals, which will enable people in the area to have their say.
Councillor James Lewis, leader of Leeds City Council, said:
“Elland Road and Leeds United are part of the heart and soul of the city, and the club deserves a stadium befitting of its special status and incredible fans.
“Naturally we’re keen to support this however we can, and to work closely with the club to ensure they are in the best possible position to achieve their ambitions and build a bigger, brighter future for the club,
their supporters and sport in the city.
“From a wider perspective, the regeneration of the Elland Road area also represents one of the city’s most exciting development opportunities for a generation, which would revitalise a huge area of Leeds and potentially bring hundreds of millions of pounds into our local economy.
“Local residents will be fully consulted throughout the planning process and we’re keen to ensure their voices are heard and that they get the chance to inform the project at each stage.
“We want to do all that we can to maximise this incredible opportunity and put everything we can in place, including our MoU with the club’s development partner LFG, to facilitate what could represent a genuine game changer for Leeds.”
For more details and to view a full copy of the report, please visit: bit.ly/EllandRoadExpansion
New flexible workspace launching at White Rose Park
Anew
flexible workspace is set to open at White Rose Park this month, offering Grade A office and coworking space to Leeds businesses.
Developed in partnership with Munroe K, the new 2-Work location will bring high-quality, adaptable workspaces to the park as it continues to grow as a key business
hub in the region.
White Rose Park, owned and managed by Munroe K, is renowned for its focus on creating vibrant business communities. The park’s excellent transport links, including the White Rose Railway Station which is set to open in 2025, make it an ideal location for new and established businesses. Members will also enjoy access to premium on-site amenities, including a gym, café, and nursery, further emphasising a commitment to wellness and work-life balance.
Janthea Griffin, Director at 2-Work, said:
“We’re pleased to see strong interest in our new White Rose Park workspace ahead of its
opening. Businesses are looking for high-quality, flexible solutions in well-connected locations, and our partnership with Munroe K allows us to deliver just that. Our focus remains on creating a space that supports collaboration, productivity, and well-being.”
David Aspin, CEO of Munroe K, added:
“Welcoming 2-Work to White Rose Park will see us further develop what we offer to our community here at the Park, adding dynamic new workspaces for start-ups and scale-up businesses. Over the past 30 years we’ve endeavoured to consistently evolve White Rose Park to deliver the very best facilities and spaces for everyone here.”
This expansion marks the fourth location for 2-Work, which already operates successful workspaces in Leeds City Centre, East Leeds, and Wakefield’s Tileyard North. The White Rose Park site is set to be a flagship addition, offering businesses a vibrant, future-focused environment to work and grow.
For further information or workspace enquiries, visit www.2work.co.uk or contact 0113 320 1987
Elland Road stadium. Credit: Jeremy Morton
On the beat
with Sergeant Chloe Spencer
Cottingley day of action
Neighbourhood policing operates on effective engagement and consultation with its communities.
On 23 April a joint partnership day was held in Cottingley to do just that; engage with members of the Cottingley community and consult with them on what issues really matter to them.
Police officers in partnership with Leeds City Council Housing Officers, Anti-social Behaviour Team; Taxi Licencing and crime prevention officers, attended at Cottingley Community Centre to discuss issues and concerns in the Cottingley area. These included anti-social behaviour (ASB), drugs, vandalism and nuisance motorbikes.
The Police engaged with members of the public from the community engagement van on Cottingley Vale. Officers not only offered advice around crime prevention, but also provided a bike marking service which was greatly appreciated. Leeds City Council were parked up in the Hugo bus, also on Cottingley Vale, offering residents advice surrounding housing. Members of the public appreciated this service as access to such advice can sometimes feel out of reach.
The Police Off-Road Bike Team were out all day in the area conducting high visibility patrols, in areas known for its motorbike related ASB. We are pleased to report that officers did not come across any such nuisance bikes and officers
had some positive engagements with members of the public. Further, local Neighbourhood Policing officers carried out speed checks on Cottingley Drive, a 20mph zone, resulting in 15 speeding tickets being issued.
Whilst Police were busy with their proactive patrols, Leeds City Council officers carried out surveys of the local area to identify issues that need to be rectified such as, hazardous paving and overgrown shrubbery. Council officers along with Councillor Scopes also took part in litter picking throughout the estate. A total of 20 bags of litter were picked from the area! During the litter picking, Council officers identified multiple areas which are being used for fly tipping. These are not only an eye sore but also an environmental hazard and the appropriate enforcement action will be taken. Please do report such fly tipping or hazards, if you come across them, to the Council to assist them in keeping your area clean and safe.
Leeds City Council housing officers carried out home visits to local residents which gave local residents the opportunity to speak with housing and discuss any concerns they may have. This allowed those unable to reach the Council at various hubs across Leeds to speak in person with a Council officer.
Also present on the streets of Cottingley was the Leeds City Council Leeds Watch van. The purpose of the van is to
Reminder of no local elections in Leeds on 1 May
Withlocal elections prominent in the national news, readers may wonder why it’s so quiet in Leeds.
Leeds City Council has issued a reminder to voters that there are no local elections taking place in the city on Thursday 1 May 2025. As part of the elections cycle, once every four years there are no local elections held. This is called a fallow year, and occurs this year in the Leeds schedule. How the council election
cycle works in Leeds:
Every Leeds City Council ward is represented by three councillors who are each elected to serve a four-year term.
Their terms are staggered so that only one councillor is elected per ward in each local election.
This system is called voting by thirds, because a third of councillors are elected each year, over a four-year cycle.
Leeds had local elections in 2022, 2023 and 2024, so
2025 is the scheduled fallow year.
An all out election, where all 99 councillors are elected at the same time only occurs when there are changes to the ward boundaries. This last happened in 2018.
The next local elections to be held in Leeds are scheduled to take place next year on Thursday 7 May 2026, when the elections cycle resumes with a one-third election and 33 seats on Leeds City Council available.
capture footage which may otherwise not be caught by static cameras. We are pleased to report that during the patrols, no incidents or note were seen.
Neighbourhood Policing officers also spent the day at Cottingley Primary Academy. The pupils at the school were fantastic, asking officers lots of questions and getting involved with trying on uniforms and helmets and sitting in the police car and on the off road police motorbike. Officers reminded the children of what number to ring if they ever needed help from the Police, Fire Service or Ambulance (999 in case anyone needed reminding) and the importance of being able to speak to their teachers if anything was concerning them.
Collaboratively, with all partner agencies, we carried out multiple positive community engagement events as well as carrying out law enforcement, targeting community hotspots and areas of community concern. The day was a great success!
The Police and the Council rely on members of the public to provide us with community intelligence to be able to take positive action against crime in your area. If you are aware of any criminal activity in your area including anti-social behaviour, then please report to the police on 101 or 999 in an emergency. Alternatively, please speak to your housing officer or report to the Leeds Anti-Social Behaviour Team.
Leeds Civic Hall
Shake up sees end of Inner South Community Committee
Seniorcouncillors have approved plans to reduce the number of Community Committees from ten to eight at the meeting of the council’s executive board on 23 April.
It will mean the end of the Inner South Community Committee which is currently made up of the nine councillors of Beeston & Holbeck, Hunslet & Riverside and Middleton Park wards.
Under the plans Beeston & Holbeck and Hunslet & Riverside wards will join with Armley and Kirkstall wards in a new Inner South West Community Committee, whilst Middleton Park ward will join the Outer South Community Committee with Morley North, Morley South, Ardsley & Robin Hood and Rothwell wards.
The committees are responsible some Council functions in the
area such as street cleaning, green spaces and youth services; and it manages a well-being budget that funds large and small projects and the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Neighbourhood Fund.
The new committees will continue to meet four times a year.
Meetings are open to the public and include an open forum where residents can ask questions or raise local issues.
The proposals, which are expected to save £243,000 a year, have been under review for nearly two years and are due to be signed off by full council at its annual general meeting on 22 May.
Police worked with Council officers and other agencies
Website: www.southleedslife.com
Email: info@southleedslife.com
First young person takes up residence in Lowell House
Leeds’ new supported accommodation for homeless 18-25-year-olds, Lowell House, is now officially open and already providing homes and specialist intense support for young people with a history of rough sleeping.
At Lowell House, the young residents have their own studio apartment and 24/7 specialist support, helping them to develop independent living skills while addressing embedded trauma, challenges such as poor mental health and other complex needs like substance addiction.
Part of the government’s Single Homelessness Accommodation Programme (SHAP), Lowell House has been set-up by Beeston-based charity Turning Lives Around who is one of eight partners working collaboratively with other professionals to offer SHAP accommodation in Leeds.
There is SHAP accommodation for 59 people across the city with Lowell
House housing five. Funded by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), TLA is working in partnership with Leeds City Council, Barca, Leeds NHS Community team amongst others. All Lowell House clients will have easy access to mental health support, including psychologists and art therapy, and will be supported by a Barca Navigator.
Lowell House is named after the UK’s leading credit management specialists, Lowell, who have been working with TLA as their regional charity partner for more than two years and have partially funded, with a generous five figure donation, the transformation of former offices in South Leeds into the five purpose-built studio apartments plus communal facilities that make up Lowell House.
Helen Wilks is leading the team of specialist support workers who will be providing
24/7 support at Lowell House. She is looking forward to the longer-term support, security and stability that Lowell House will be able to offer, enabling
Closure for Hunslet cemetery’s chapel of rest?
by Ken Ingram
TheChapel of Rest at Hunslet Cemetery has stopped taking bookings for funeral services, with council officers citing a decline in demand and rising costs of keeping the building heated. In response to a query from Cllr Paul Wray (Labour, Hunslet & Riverside) officers said that families tend to prefer using other venues for funeral services, such as Cottingley Crematorium or funeral director-operated Chapels of Rest. In recent years, usage of Hunslet Chapel has fallen to around 10 or 12 occasions annually.
The cemetery is not in Cllr Wray’s ward and therefore he
had not been involved in any consultation ahead of the closure. It is, however, close to the ward boundary and used by many of his constituents. In a post on Facebook her said:
“As promised, I have had conversations with senior Councillors and members of the Cemeteries Service about the closure of this chapel of rest.
“These conversations were productive and reopening the site for use is not off the table but significant investment will be needed to bring it up to a standard to attract sufficient usage to cover the running costs, and to make the building viable and maintainable.
“Officers have advised they will get me exact costs but we
are looking at between £30,000 and £40,000 to bring the chapel to the same standards as the others run by the council, including live casting facilities, which have become a significant part of many modern services.
“The more significant barrier however will be how we make the building waterproof and energy efficient.
“Those surveys are due to be carried out by the Council’s Climate and Energy Team.
“Once I have more exact costs, I will update the community and we can begin to explore whether it is viable to bring the site back for future use, and so I can’t make the community any promises until I have that information.”
to ensuring Lowell House is, above all, a home for our clients, offering personalised support to meet their needs,” said Helen who has been working with young people for six years.
Lowell House was officially opened by John Pears, UK CEO of Lowell, whose UK HQ in Leeds employs around 2,000 people, and Steve Hoey, CEO of TLA which works to prevent homelessness amongst some of the most vulnerable in West Yorkshire, annually supporting more than 1200 people. John said:
it’s a foundation for these young individuals to rebuild their lives and develop the skills they need to thrive independently.”
Thanking Lowell for their ongoing support, Steve said:
the young tenants to settle and develop the independent learning skills and coping strategies they need.
“As a team we are committed
“We are incredibly proud to support Lowell House and the vital work being done by Turning Lives Around. This initiative aligns perfectly with our commitment to making a positive impact in our community. By providing safe, supported accommodation for young people who have faced significant challenges, we are helping to create a brighter future for them. Lowell House is more than just a place to live;
“We continue to be blown away by Lowell’s generosity, enthusiasm and commitment to us. Rough sleeping remains a challenge and a priority in the city. The fact that even some young people are driven to live on the streets by their own desperate circumstances is both heartbreaking and deeply concerning but SHAP and Lowell House provides hope that, with the new approach of working in partnership with other professionals, we can alleviate some of the challenge.”
“Lowell’s generosity has enabled us to get Lowell House off the ground and through it, TLA will be able to help some of these young people, providing the stability and support they need to go on and live full, independent, healthy lives.”
John Pears (left) cuts the ribbon to officially open Lowell House watched by Helen Wilks (centre), Steve Hoey (right) and colleagues Photo:
Councillor runs for Beeston Play Patch
Councillor
Ed Carlisle
(Green, Hunslet and Riverside) is running the Leeds half marathon this month, to raise funds for the new Rowland Road Play Patch project in Beeston Hill.
The Play Patch – an alternative outdoor play zone at the back of the Rowland Road Social Club – has been developed and built by local people, over the past two years, with the support of Yorkshire Contemporary
(formerly known as The Tetley).
It is now open every Saturday 11am-2pm to the public, for free, and will grow and evolve over the coming months and years.
You can find more information at www.facebook .com/YorkshireContemporary
Ed is running the 13.1 mile race across north Leeds on Sunday 11 May, and is looking to raise £1,000 for the Play Patch project. For more information, or to donate, visit:
www.justgiving.com/ crowdfunding/edplaypatch
Ed comments: “It’s been truly amazing to see the Play Patch take off like it has: it’s one of the very best community-led projects I’ve ever been part of.
“We’ve done especially well at developing it on a shoestring budget.
“Money from this will just enable us to step up, and do more: all contributions, big or small, would be brilliant.”
Sign up to subscribe
Sincewe launched our funding appeal in the face of a huge rise in printing costs and we have been humbled by your response, which has stabilised our financial position.
However, for long term viability we still need to sign up more individual subscribers and more organisational sponsors.
The reason is that this income avoids us being ‘in hock’ to any vested interest.
But if you are able to spare a few pounds each month, we need your help. You can help others read the news for free and ensure our independence.
If you can afford to, please take out a monthly subscription at £3, £4, £5 or £10 per month. You’ll get the paper delivered to your door and free South Leeds Life mug.
Simply sign up online at bit.ly/SLLsubscribe
Are you part of a community organisation, charity or business that could become a sponsor?
You will benefit from news coverage and free advertising options. Call 07894 583966 for more details.
No one has tried to put pressure on us yet, but we don’t want leave ourselves open to that happening in the future.
We know the whole country is suffering from the cost of living crisis and we know many of our readers are facing stark choices about heating and food.
We will never charge you to read the news, it’s very important to us that everyone in our community can access local community news.
You can also give the gift of news. Your subscription can now be gifted to another person and you have the option to pay monthly or annually. Follow the link to bit.ly/SLLsubscribe to sign up.
Or perhaps you just want to make a one off donation: Please make your • donation by bank transfer to South Leeds Life Group; sort code 08-92-99; a/c 65591910. Or send a cheque to us at • 224 Cross Flatts Grove, Beeston, LS11 7BW. Or look for the donate • button on our website to pay via PayPal or debit card.
Rowland PRoad Play Patch. Photo: Yorkshire Contemporary
Accountants embrace a matchmaking role
Hunslet-based West Yorkshire Community Accountancy Service (WYCAS) has launched a project matching volunteers from the finance sector to local charities.
Whilst an important part of the work of WYCAS is about producing high quality annual accounts, the charity offers other services, resources and training to the third sector too – many of which are free of charge. There is now a new
project .
The Abacus scheme, which has been running since July 2024, matches and supports finance focused individuals with West Yorkshire charities.
Introductory training is provided to placements, and when a charity match is found, WYCAS set up and attend the first 3-way meeting, The placements can ask WYCAS for support and advice throughout their 4 month tenure, when they offer up to 5
hours per week of their time. After 4 months the placement is eligible to receive a reference from WYCAS.
Claire Welling, the project lead says:
“Abacus is perfect for meeting the needs of both the placements (who are often accountancy students) and the small charities, who can struggle with capacity to focus on the bookkeeping and financial management. It is a win-win when the match works
well, serving to embed a culture of volunteering as well as lighten the load for community groups.”
Involve Leeds, also based in Hunslet, is one of the charities who have benefited from the scheme. When they joined the scheme the charity said:
“Our only worker would like support around invoicing those who rent space and working with QuickBooks receipts as these jobs often get relegated to the bottom of the to-do list. Financial filing would also help – in fact any jobs relating to finances would be welcome.”
The charity already had a relationship with WYCAS, their accountants and independent examiners, so hosting a placement from a trusted source was not daunting. The scheme has been fantastic in breaking down barriers for the placement (who is studying accountancy AAT level 4) and allowing her to experience the reality of building and maintaining a complete and robust financial system.
“As well as the recording work, our placement has been asking questions about the process, causing us to review and improve our systems. The supported placement has just concluded, but we are extending the volunteer arrangement in the short term, as there are still benefits for both parties.”
The scheme continues to evolve, as it becomes clear that every charity’s needs are
different; some just require a • spreadsheet recording system setting up properly for them, some welcome the • regular additional help with recording, to free up time for permanent staff others have shown an • interest in less regular support as there are not a significant volume of transactions
There will undoubtedly be other needs too — and the Abacus project is designed to flex and adapt accordingly.
The scheme has matched seven placements to date and has four more on the verge of being matched.
Another placement, Safina shared:
“I applied for the Abacus project as I was seeking a way to embed the learning from my AAT studies. The initial training allowed me to understand the context of charity reporting and also gain a basic understanding of two of the recording systems used.
“My placement means that I am working closely with a charity and using their system to keep up-to-date and relieve the pressure on the front-line staff. I am learning with every volunteering session and look forward to developing this for the duration of my placement.”
Claire Whiteley the Project Manager from Involve would recommend the Abacus project and the support provided by WYCAS to any charity saying:
“Having the placement has
helped me and Involve, not just in terms of getting a systemic approach to the finances but having someone to talk to about the financial systems. My volunteer has been inspirational – asking questions (to encourage me to think about process), developing a longer term approach which helps me and the organisation, bringing her skills to Involve. This has improved my confidence (as small organisations we often do a bit of everything and can feel overwhelmed), my knowledge and has had a real impact on Involve.
“The other aspect of the project was a chance to reflect – by being asked questions about the charity and the finances you learn and develop. By having another pair of hands you have practical support, which gives you time, often our biggest concern. Thank you to my volunteer and to WYCAS for helping us develop.”
If you know a charity or community group who would be interested in the Abacus project or in guidance on their financial management, please contact WYCAS, by email info@wycas.org.uk or call 0113 270 6291
WYCAS is a charity which aims to improve financial management in the third sector. They are based in Hunslet, Leeds and have been serving the third sector since 1999.
Leeds’ best kept secret: The Hunslet Club’s SROI
According to research conducted by Leeds Beckett University, The Hunslet Club in Leeds has demonstrated a remarkable Social Return on Investment (SROI) that is unprecedented.
The study found that for every £1 invested in the club, an average of £120 in social value is generated annually, with the range spanning from £66 to £174, depending on the specific program or activity.
Social Return on Investment (SROI) measures the value of positive social impact created for every pound spent. It goes beyond money, showing how investments in organisations lead to real-life benefits, such as improved wellbeing, education, or reduced crime, by turning those outcomes into measurable, meaningful results.
This means that an initial investment of £10,000 yields approximately £1.2 million in social value over a year. This substantial return reflects the club's extensive work in
providing sports, performing arts, vocational training, and youth outreach programs that positively impact young people and the local community.
The Hunslet Club is a not-forprofit youth organisation and registered charity based in South Leeds, dedicated to helping young people achieve their full potential since 1940.
Operating six days a week, The Hunslet Club delivers over 114 sessions weekly, including sports like football, boxing, rugby, and gymnastics and performing arts such as hiphop, ballet, and drama. With almost 4000 members, the club serves as a safe and inclusive space for young people aged 18 months to 25 years, offering a wide range of activities and programs designed to build confidence, skills, and community engagement.
The research also highlights the club's success in engaging over 2,000 young people weekly, offering free and subsidised sessions to ensure inclusivity and accessibility. .
The club's pricing policy, which
has remained unchanged for over a decade, ensures accessibility for all, with most activities costing only £1.50 or being free, regardless of participants' social or economic circumstances.
Dr. Joanne Trigwell, a lecturer in the School of Health at Leeds Beckett University, attributes the club's success to its dedicated staff, highquality facilities, diverse and affordable activities, and a warm, inclusive environment.
In a time where young people face increasing challenges, from mental health struggles and social isolation to limited access to positive extracurricular activities, spaces like The Hunslet Club are more vital than ever. They offer not just structure and opportunity, but a sense of belonging and
purpose. For many, the club becomes a second home, a place where they’re encouraged, empowered, and equipped with skills that extend far beyond the
classroom. By investing in youth-focused organisations like The Hunslet Club, communities can help shape a brighter, more resilient future for the next generation.
For a more detailed understanding of The Hunslet Club's impact, you can read their full Impact Report here: www.hunsletclub.org.uk/theimpact-of-the-hunslet-club
Members of The Hunslet Rogues drama group in rehearsal
Abacus volunteers with Claire Welling (right)
by Zoe Creasser
Money matters
with Leeds Credit Union
The mental health benefits of forming good financial habits
Taking place from Monday
12 May, Mental Health Awareness Week is an annual event designed to promote mental wellbeing, reduce stigma and encourage open conversations about mental health.
But did you know that research shows that taking small steps – like saving a small amount of money each month – can have a positive impact on both your financial wellbeing and your mental health?
Greg Potter, Head of Member Experience at Leeds Credit Union, explains everything you need to know.
What is financial wellbeing?
Financial wellbeing isn't about earning or being able to save lots of money, it's about people’s relationships with money, the control they have over their own finances and their ability to strike the right balance between having enough money to pay the bills and enough to spend on things they enjoy, both now and in the future.
Why is it important?
As well as being important for financial reasons, financial wellbeing is also important for our mental health.
People with poor financial wellbeing often suffer from stress and anxiety, and are at
an increased risk of becoming isolated. Furthermore, employees with financial concerns are more than twice as likely to suffer from reduced productivity and/or absenteeism at work than those with good financial wellbeing.
On the other hand, people with good financial wellbeing are less stressed about money, which has a positive effect on their overall health and can help improve their relationships.
How to manage and improve your financial wellbeing
Establishing good financial habits is easier said than done but these tips will help you on your way:
● Plan your spending: From essentials like utility bills to treats like holidays, learning to budget will improve your financial wellbeing by allowing you to take control of where you need and want to spend your money. Try to make time each time you get paid and draw up a budget for the coming weeks.
● Keep track of your spending: Once you’ve created a budget, you need to stick to it. Monitor your spending to help keep it under control and identify any areas where you could reduce your outgoings.
● Save money where you
can: The key to saving is to do it little and often so try to save on a weekly or monthly basis to help you cover your costs. A good idea is to set money aside every time you get paid and try to make it a regular habit. Setting yourself financial goals is a great way to stay motivated.
● Shop around for the best deals on things like insurance or phone contracts: You can save a significant amount of money by doing some research and shopping around, so review all your Direct Debits once a year and see where you could make savings. There are plenty of online comparison sites that can help.
● Plan for the future: Simply put, the more you can set aside now, the more flexibility you’ll have in future, so start putting money aside in a savings account for your future as soon as possible.
Another great idea is to regularly contribute to a pension fund, so enquire if your workplace provides one asap. The sooner you start, the better – even small amounts make a big difference over time, so set aside what you can and try to increase your contributions over time.
Leeds Credit Union provides affordable financial services to people in Leeds.
Volunteering with Girl Guiding in Hunslet
by Pamela Clark
Thereare lots of ways to get involved with Girl Guiding. It doesn’t matter what experience you have or what your background is or how much time you have.
If you are passionate about showing girls that they can do anything, we would love to hear from you.
I have personally been a volunteer with Brownies for 36 years and our units have recently moved to meet in the Involve Centre, Whitfield
Avenue, Hunslet, LS10 2QE together with our Rainbows and Guides/Rangers. We meet on Wednesdays, term times only, at the following times: Rainbows 6-7pm; Brownies and Rangers 6:15-7:30pm; and Guides 7:15-8:30pm.
By becoming a Girl Guide volunteer, you’ll be helping girls build their confidence, have adventures and learn new skills. Plus, becoming a Girl Guide volunteer is a great way of making new friends, learning new skills and trying new activities.
We know that not everyone can commit the same amount of time regularly and therefore we adopt a flexible approach to volunteering and so whatever it is you are looking for there will be something in it for you. You will be supporting girls and young women to thrive in their community.
We welcome members from all backgrounds, ages, genders, faiths and abilities and would love for you to join us. Please, if interested, give me, Pam, a call on 07986 629907 to have a chat and find out a bit more or you can check out the Girl Guiding website www.girlguiding.org.uk where you can also register your interest to join.
Cross Flatts Park tennis courts closed for improvements
The tennis courts at Cross Flatts Park are being refurbished, with work having started on on 7 April.
The works are taking place thanks to a £30m Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) Tennis Foundation project refurbishing courts across Britain, with £654,000 of this spent in Leeds. It is hoped that they will take ten weeks to complete, weather permitting.
The courts are located in a busy part of the park next to the playground and basketball courts and are fully accessible to everyone including full time wheelchair users. Buses number 2, 3, 3A, 24 and 74 all stop nearby.
Councillor Andrew Scopes (Labour, Beeston & Holbeck), said:
“This is an excellent, much appreciated investment in our
local park and I’d like to thank the LTA for funding it.
“While it’s a shame that the courts will be closed just as the warm weather and lighter evenings are coming round again, it’ll be great to see them fully refurbished and improved in time for summer. I’d encourage interested residents of all ages and abilities to make use of the courts when they reopen.”
What a tree-mendous view
Council staff have been carrying out routine maintenance work to trees in Cross Flatts Park this, removing dead, dying and broken branches. The work is separate to the felling of trees suffering from the disease Ash Dieback which was carried out last year. However some ash trees have continued to deteriorate and will be felled over the coming weeks. Photo: Keith Fuller
Vicki’s Tadcaster Triathlon challenge for St Gemma’s
Vicki
by Jeremy Morton
North, the Scheme Manager at Hunslet Moor House, the new extra flats in Beeston, is taking part in the Tadcaster Triathlon on Monday 5 May.
Whilst she admits to being quite active, she’s never done anything like this before. She set herself the challenge to raise funds for St Gemma’s Hospice who looked after her
mother in her last days.
“My mum passed away on 2 March after a 6 year battle with Myeloma (blood cancer)” explains Vicki. “Her wishes were to be supported in her final days by St Gemma’s. It all happened so quickly and she only spent the last 36 hours of her life there but they were just incredible with her and with our family and they continue to support us now via their Bereavement Counselling.
“They enabled us to be present with mum and to not worry that she was in pain. Even though mum at this point didn’t understand what was happening they always explained everything to her and were just so kind.
“Thank you will never be enough for what they do they really are angels.”
Vicki ran the London Marathon last year to raise funds for Myeloma UK, for this
Early help availavle as new Family Hubs launched
Aseriesof new ‘family hubs’ have been launched across Leeds, including one at Dewsbury Road Community Hub & Library, to bring together a wide range of services for people to access help more easily.
Leeds City Council has launched seven new hubs to host key support organisations under one roof, aiming to simplify the process for families to reach out for early help on a range of issues.
The new revamp allows the hubs to provide a single point of contact for families with children from birth up to the age of 18, to access guidance and advice on matters such as mental health, domestic abuse and substance use, one-to-one interventions and parenting groups.
They also provide support up to the age of 25 for young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
The new system will allow professionals to link up and work together more effectively
support provided across the city.
The family hubs were recently launched with an event in Leeds Civic Hall, where 200 people from across the sector gathered to celebrate the significant milestone in family support provision.
Councillor Helen Hayden, Leeds City Council’s executive member for children and families, said:
“This is an exciting development across the partnership to provide a more joined-up approach for children and families in need of extra help.
“Leeds has a continuous commitment to delivering early help provision, recognising the need to support families early in the life of the problem.
“These new highly efficient hubs will improve the quality of practice and experience of children and families and enable people to have the right conversations with the right services at the right time.
“Each hub has tailored
challenge she has had to learn to swim “properly” and has joined Seacroft Wheelers Zero to Hero group to improve her cycling confidence.
The Triathlon consists of a 400m swim, a 13km cycle and 6km run to finish.
“The training has been difficult having to do three separate disciplines none of which I can say I am really strong at but I have definitely enjoyed the variety and it is definitely something I would like to continue doing after this and to get better at.
"I wanted to do something as a challenge as I am 40 this year (not knowing what was about to happen).
“My mum thought I was absolutely nuts. I just want to make my mum proud.” Vicki added.
You can support Vicki by going to her Just Giving page at www.justgiving.com/page/ vicki-north-2, completing the sponsorship form at Hunslet Moor House, or why not call in for the fundraising coffee morning at Hunslet Moor House, Hunslet Hall Road, LS11 6TT on Tuesday 27 May from 10am.
in helping to overcome any difficulties families may be facing.
Each hub will have a hub manager, social workers, senior family help practitioners and family help workers who can deliver one-to-one support along with signposting to other services.
As well as creating a more streamlined service for both families and professionals, the innovative transformation has also enabled efficiency savings within the authority of £750,000.
It also adds to the successful cluster arrangements – where partner organisations work together with schools to support vulnerable families –as well as the existing early help hubs, to further bolster
support offers designed to meet the needs of that area and strengthens our ambition to support families, empower individuals and foster connections to create a brighter future for every family in Leeds.”
Anyone can contact the family hub network – both members of the public and professionals – via a phone number and an email address, to be directed to the appropriate contacts.
For more information visit www.leeds.gov.uk/childrenand-families, phone 0113 535 0185, or email family.hubs@leeds.gov.uk
Dewsbury Road Community Hub & Library is located at 190 Dewsbury Road, Beeston, LS11 6PF.
Located at Dewsbury Road Community Hub
Vicki North outside Hunslet Moor House
NEWS IN BRIEF
Wanted: the perfect anti-litter slogan
Creative and musical minds are being sought by Beeston & Holbeck Councillors to come up with the perfect jingles and slogans to combat littering and dog fouling in their ward.
Councillor Andrew Scopes (Labour, Beeston and Holbeck), said: “Reading about the ‘Don’t Mess With Texas’ campaign – which reduced litter on highways by over 70% over three years –made me wonder if there’s a similar phrase that could do the same for our patch of Leeds. Email your ideas to: andrew.scopes@leeds.gov.uk
Sustainability award
Harrison Spinks’ Technical Manager Ethan McGuigan has won the Award for Sustainability Champion –recognising an individual who has gone above and beyond to champion sustainability in the workplace, from the British Furniture Association (BFA). The company designs and manufactures its own springs in-house at its Beeston site, as well as rearing sheep and growing natural hemp fibres and linen flax on its very own Yorkshire farm.
Escape room’s bar refresh
Fast-growing immersive escape room experience, The Escapologist, has refreshed its impressive cocktail bar at its venue in the White Rose Shopping Centre. Established in 2017 by experienced hospitality leaders, Ellie and Olly McClaren, The Escapologist is an innovative escape room and atmospheric bar experience with three venues located in Leeds, Castleford and Gateshead.
Leeds-based
BME housing association Unity Homes and Enterprise is recruiting a new Chair and Board members.
Unity was formed in 1987 with the aim of building a strong BME community housing association to meet the urgent housing needs of black and minority ethnic communities in the city.
The initial focus was on Chapeltown, but this widened to other areas of Leeds including Harehills, Beeston, Holbeck, Chapel Allerton and Pudsey, and more recently to Kirklees.
With a turnover of £6.8 million and an annual investment in new and existing homes of around £6.5 million, Unity currently manages almost 1,400 properties for tenants from all communities and ethnic backgrounds.
In 2000 the association established its not-for-profit subsidiary company, Unity Enterprise, to support local entrepreneurial activity. It now provides 142 affordable business units for more than 80 diverse businesses across three centres in Leeds.
Unity invites applications for Chair and Board members Forward Leeds warn of the risks of
THC vapes might seem like a safer or more convenient alternative to smoking cannabis,” said James Barrie, Service Manager at Forward Leeds, “but the reality is that they often contain unknown and dangerous substances. We’ve seen an increase in people experiencing unexpected and serious effects, especially among young people who think they know what they’re taking — but don’t.”
The city’s alcohol and drug service has launched a powerful new awareness campaign to highlight the risks associated with products sold as THC vapes.
At the heart of the campaign is a short, engaging film aimed at young people and those experimenting with vaping THC.
Collectively, these organisations employ more than 1,200 people.
Working alongside housing officers, Unity’s Employment Services team helps unemployed people in hard-toreach communities to find jobs, access training and education opportunities or work as a community volunteer.
Cedric Boston, Unity Homes and Enterprise Chief Executive, said:
“We are seeking a Chair who understands what great Board culture looks like and has the ability to harness and maximise the effectiveness of our Board, to maintain our high standards of governance.
“Previous non-executive board level experience, and experience of chairing are important, but we are open to this being a first full Board Chair role. An understanding of the housing sector would be beneficial but is not essential.
“We are also wishing to recruit new Board members who share our passion and drive to help people create a better future for themselves and their communities.
“Their readiness to engage, ability to demonstrate that they share our absolute passion for what we do, and commitment to our social purpose are every bit as important as their skill set.”
Applications for all positions close on Tuesday 6 May 2025 at 9am. Job packs can be downloaded at www.campbell tickell.com/jobs
THC is one of the psychoactive ingredients found in cannabis and is the one usually associated with getting ‘high’.
The service has created a short film and social media content to highlight that most vapes sold as containing THC do not contain any THC at all. Instead, they can be laced with dangerous synthetic cannabinoids like spice or even synthetic opioids such as nitazenes, both of which can be highly potent and unpredictable, even leading to overdose or serious health complications.
The film also touches on lesser-known risks, such as the potential for lung damage caused by poor-quality vape liquids and the fact that vaping’s discreet nature can lead to higher levels of use
without realising it. Additionally, the long-term health impacts of vaping THC remain uncertain due to the relatively new and unregulated nature of the products.
James added:
“The campaign’s goal is not to scare, but to inform. Forward Leeds understands that some people will still choose to try illicit vapes that purport to contain THC — this initiative is about making sure those who do are equipped with the right knowledge to stay as safe as possible.”
Forward Leeds has advised anyone concerned about what may be in their vape to send them for testing to the Wedinos Project www.wedinos.org
Watch the film and learn more about vapes at: forwardleeds.co.uk/thcvapes
The Friends of Trentham Park in Beeston Hill organised a play day on Sunday 13 April. Many families came out to play together.
James Barrie with information about illicit THC Vapes
Gladiators: Heroes of the Colosseum exhibition coming to the Armouries
For the first time in the UK, the internationally acclaimed exhibition
Gladiators: Heroes of the Colosseum arrives at the Royal Armouries Museum, at Leeds Dock, from 28 June to 2 November 2025.
Having captivated over one million visitors worldwide, this landmark exhibition immerses audiences in the dramatic world of ancient Rome’s most revered warriors.
Developed in collaboration with the Colosseum in Rome,
Wonderland awaits
Leeds is set to tumble into a world of wonder this summer as LeedsBID brings a beloved literary classic to life with Wonderland Awaits – an immersive, city-wide celebration inspired by Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass.
Running from Saturday 26 July to Sunday 31 August 2025, this free, family-friendly event promises to fill the city with magic, curiosity, and colour, following on from the phenomenal success of last year’s Monopoly Leeds Takeover, which saw over 550,000 visitors.
This year, LeedsBID (Leeds Business Improvement District) invites visitors to journey down the rabbit hole for an unforgettable adventure. With interactive installations, largerthan-life characters, theatrical performances, puzzles to solve,
and plenty of surprises, Wonderland Awaits is set to spark the imaginations of all ages.
Pick up a special trail map and step into a dreamlike version of Leeds, where iconic locations across the city become scenes from Carroll’s world. Whether you’re sipping tea with the Mad Hatter, or spotting the grinning Cheshire Cat, adventure awaits around every corner.
There’s even a puzzle woven into the trail, with weekly prizes to be won, adding a layer of playfulness and discovery to the experience. Additional themed events and activities will pop up throughout the summer, giving lovers of the books plenty to explore.
LeedsBID has teamed up with Cuddle Creative Works, renowned globally for their show-stopping set design and
the exhibition features original artefacts from the National Archaeological Museum of Naples, including gladiatorial weaponry, armour, and three of the few surviving intact gladiator helmets. Using contemporary accounts,
immersive installations.
“We are absolutely delighted to be bringing the extraordinary works of Lewis Carroll to life for this year’s ‘Wonderland Awaits’ project,” says Dan Leroy, Business Manager at Cuddle Creative Works. “It’s such a pleasure to lift these surreal scenes from the pages of the books and reimagine them on the streets of Leeds.”
Wonderland Awaits is a truly collaborative event, with key partners across Leeds bringing the magic to life, including: Aire Park (on the former Tetley brewery site), Royal Armouries, Leeds Corn Exchange, Merrion Centre, Trinity Leeds and Leeds Conservatoire, whose students will take part in live theatrical performances.
Keep an eye on the website wonderlandleeds.com and follow @wonderlandleeds across social media platforms for further details to be announced in the coming months.
experiences.
Visitors of all ages can engage with the reality of gladiatorial life. Gladiators trained together and lived as a collective family; a community of fighters joined by fate. Perhaps surprisingly, meat was rarely on the menu for gladiators. Their vegetarian diet of beans and barley potage, supplemented by fresh vegetables alongside an ‘energy drink’ enriched with bone ash was served to increase mineral intake and ensure optimal bone structure.
Director General and Master of the Armouries, Nat Edwards, said:
The National Museum of Arms and Armour, the Royal Armouries provides a fitting backdrop for this extraordinary display.
Gladiators: Heroes of the Colosseum will be the first fullscale exhibition in the museum’s new special exhibition gallery, marking a significant milestone in the Armouries 700 masterplan for site transformation.
Tickets are now on sale via the Royal Armouries Museum website at tickets. royalarmouries.org. While museum entry remains free, the exhibition is ticketed.
Adults – £6.50 •
cutting-edge research, and discoveries from Pompeii’s gladiator barracks, Gladiators explores combat skills, daily life, and the social status of these warriors through immersive installations, lifesized models, and interactive
“There are few stories as compelling as that of the gladiators. From the great Hollywood epics to games, comics and Saturday evening TV – we’ve all shared the drama and larger than life stories.
“This exhibition delivers spectacle but also something far more powerful, real artefacts that connect us to the lives of the people behind the myth. It’s a rare opportunity to step into their world.”
Concessions - £4 • Children 4-17 - £4
• Children under 4 - free
• Gladiators: Heroes of the Colosseum is presented by the Royal Armouries in collaboration with the National Archaeological Museum of Naples, Expona and Contemporanea Progetti. The development of the Special Exhibitions Gallery has been supported by grants from The Wolfson Foundation and Garfield Weston Foundation.
like beyond the walls of their secondary school.
Young dancers shine on the professional stage South Leeds schools
Year 9 and 10 Dance students from Cockburn John Charles Academy and Cockburn School recently took centre stage at the prestigious Northern School of Contemporary Dance (NSCD), delivering their powerful and moving performances at the renowned Riley Theatre.
The visit was more than just a
trip—it was a full performance experience. Students had the unique opportunity to work alongside third-year NSCD students, learning an advanced piece of repertoire in a professional environment.
The culmination of the day saw the students perform a piece they had been developing over the past six weeks, to a
packed and enthusiastic audience. The CJCA student performance was themed around human connection.
The performances were described as “absolutely incredible,” and received high praise from both staff and attendees. For many of the students, it was a chance to glimpse what dance could look
Year“This was an unforgettable experience for our students,” said Headteacher at Cockburn John Charles Academy, Mrs Roberts.
“To perform on a professional stage, under the guidance of such talented dancers, has been incredibly inspiring. We are so proud of how our students rose to the occasion and represented the school with such passion and professionalism.”
The leader of Dance at Cockburn John Charles Academy, Mrs Davison, echoed the sentiment:
“Watching our students perform at NSCD was a proud moment. The piece they’ve been working on explores deep, emotional themes, and they conveyed that beautifully on stage.
“Collaborating with NSCD has been a brilliant experience, and we’re so grateful for their support and encouragement.”
A huge thank you goes to the Northern School of Contemporary Dance for their warm welcome and expert guidance and a massive well done to the young dancers who proved themselves ready for any stage.
New Connections is an innovative partnership between Leeds Conservatoire and Orchestras Live, where students benefit from training and real-world experience in orchestral community musicmaking, working closely with the acclaimed Manchester Camerata.
The most recent project, supported by Leeds International Concert Season and ArtForms, united pupils from
Cockburn Reach Academy enjoying the Story Bus Barcelona bound: South Leeds students make memories
Cockburn Reach Academy
pupils enjoyed a visit from The Leeds Libraries Story Bus.
The children loved exploring the board books, picture books and toys. The Story Bus team delivered a lovely Story & Rhyme session to support speech and language development. All the children in every class had the opportunity to visit the bus.
9 and 10 students from Cockburn Laurence Calvert Academy recently returned from an unforgettable four-day trip to Barcelona—an experience that blended culture, learning, and personal growth.
Eddie said “It was so good, we got to knock on a door and listen to a story!”. This supports their vision of promoting a love of reading for all ages.
From the moment they landed, students impressed staff and locals alike with their curiosity, enthusiasm, and positive
attitude. Whether exploring the iconic Sagrada Família, soaking in the colours of Park Güell, or navigating the lively streets of La Rambla, they represented their school with pride.
A highlight of the trip was an evening of traditional flamenco dancing, offering students a
chance to experience Spanish culture in a completely new way. They embraced every opportunity to learn and showed a genuine openness to new experiences, making the most of every cultural moment.
Students also had plenty of chances to practise their
Spanish in real-world settings— from ordering meals to chatting with shopkeepers—building both confidence and communication skills. They supported each other, stepped out of their comfort zones, and made the most of every opportunity. The trip wasn’t just about sightseeing; it was a chance for students to grow in confidence, independence, and cultural understanding. The memories made (and the countless photos taken!) will stay with them for years to come.
Students on stage at NSCD’s Riley Theatre
Cockburn School students performing with Manchester Camerata at Leeds Con
Website: www.southleedslife.com
Email: info@southleedslife.com
s perform with a professional orchestra
Hugh Gaitskell Primary School and Cockburn School, exploring the theme of Voyagers.
Pupils from both schools met at Leeds Conservatoire on the concert day, where they spent an afternoon rehearsing together
and experiencing the thrill of making music with a professional orchestra for the first time.
A highlight of the evening’s performance in The Venue, Leeds Conservatoire’s 350-seat
auditorium, was school children performing world premieres of their new music with the orchestra.
Hugh Gaitskell Primary School joined for ‘Sail to Distant Shores’ whilst Cockburn School took to the stage for ‘Ages of The Evolution.’
Mrs Amos, Director of Music at Cockburn Multi Academy Trust commented:
“It has been an amazing experience working on this project. The students have learned so much about how to work well as an ensemble, how to listen and share ideas and how to compose different parts. The students have been blown away by how small rhythmic or melodic ideas can be turned into whole pieces.
“They were particularly impressed when they saw all of their ideas notated in a score. There has been a real buzz around the department and school about this project.”
The concert included an exciting collection of short pieces for families, performed by Manchester Camerata, including music from How to Train Your Dragon, West Side Story’s
Mambo and the theme from Pirates of the Caribbean.
Patsy Gilbert, Vice Principal at Leeds Conservatoire said: “Many of the students we have studying with us at the Conservatoire started their music journey in brilliant schools music programmes and with passionate, driven teachers who understood that music and creativity can be the key to unlocking their potential.
“This New Connections project is an extension of that, demonstrating professional ensembles and education can come together to create truly life changing experiences for young people; not only in developing musical skills, but also developing self-expression, lifechanging creativity and confidence – all things young people need more and more.”
David Gurney, Executive Headteacher of the Cockburn Multi-academy Trust said:
“Watching our students perform on this stage made me extremely proud. The students were so professional and continue a long and rich history in the performing arts for Cockburn School.”
Mother’s Day lunch at Middleton Primary
Middleton Primary School was filled with love, laughter, and the delicious aroma of roast dinners last month as families gathered to celebrate a special early Mother’s Day event.
The school welcomed dozens of mums, grandmothers, carers, and loved ones for a warm and joyful roast dinner, prepared and served by the school’s kitchen staff.
Parents and carers shared laughs and stories over plates of
roast gammon, Yorkshire Puddings, and seasonal vegetables, followed by a selection of homemade desserts. Many expressed gratitude for the school’s effort in bringing the community together.
With a strong sense of community and appreciation in the air, Middleton Primary’s Mother’s Day roast dinner was declared a resounding success — now, they are on to planning another one for Father’s Day!
Beeston Primary School: The Best Start for Your Child’s Education
As parents, we all want the best for our children, especially when it comes to their education. Choosing the right primary school is a crucial decision which can shape their future.
Beeston Primary School has an Ofsted judgement of ‘Good’ with ‘Outstanding’ in the Early Years and we would love for you to enrol your child and give them the highest quality of education.
Our passionate and experienced staff create a nurturing and stimulating environment where children can thrive and develop a love of learning from an early age. Our curriculum is well-rounded and ensures that children receive a balanced education, fostering both academic excellence and personal growth.
At Beeston Primary School we pride ourselves on our inclusive and supportive school community. Every child is valued and encouraged to reach their full potential.
Enrolling your child at Beeston Primary School means giving them the best possible start in their education journey. We invite you to visit our school, meet our dedicated staff and see firsthand the wonderful opportunities which await your child.
We have places available for September 2025 – why not consider Beeston Primary School as your first choice? Register your child today and join our thriving school community.
For more information or to arrange a visit, please contact our school office on 0113 271 6978 or email mainoffice@beestonprimary.org Visit our website www.beestonprimaryschool.co.uk
nservatoire
Mothers enjoy lunch with their children at school
In our view
Report, report, report
Not for the first time we are reporting on the need to report issues to the police. This month BITMO, the tenant-led landlord that manages council housing in Belle Isle, has taken the initiative to leaflet its tenants and make it as easy as possible for them to report the drug dealing they see around them every day. Moaners will say that it doesn’t make a difference, but it does. The more information the police have, the better they can understand the picture and the better they can target their resources.
Investment saves money
The study carried out by Leeds Beckett University on The Hunslet Club shows what an amazing asset it is. For every £1 invested, it generates a social return of £120. The disability benefit PIP works in a similar way, allowing disabled people to by services that stop them falling back on the NHS, or having to give up work. Governments tend to see investment in services simply as expenditure that can’t be afforded, rather than as investment that will save money in the long term. Take the waiting times for ambulances. Investment in Social Care would free the hospital beds so that patients could move from A&E to wards, freeing up spaces for ambulances to discharge their patients and get to the next call. We need governments to act on this
The June issue of South Leeds Life will be out on Wednesday 28 May
The deadline for submissions is Thursday 22 May.
Your letters and comments
Benefit Cuts
My wife and myself both left school at 15 and worked all our lives raising 3 children who never went hungry by the way. Thanks to the so-called triple lock Mr Benn, between us we received an extra £16 per week. Not bad I hear you say ... Hang on, you took £200 Winter Fuel Allowance away from us or £4 per week, so the £16 now becomes £12. The Council have raised the Council Tax by £150 per year ie £3 per week, £12 now becomes £9 per week. Water Rates another £2 per week now we are down to £7 or £3.50 each. Add increases in Gas and Electric and now where is this increase that your fellow MPs are telling us is unaffordable? What did that man say? You can fool all of the people some of the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time. Give your head a wobble Mr Benn.
Peter Stone
It’s just not right to target the most vulnerable in our society for cost savings. The extension to retirement age, the years of austerity and health cuts create a population that is unwell and untreated. No mention of the announcement that people up to age 22 cannot apply for a disability benefit to support their costs of living. Does this mean they are magically well before this age? Tackling tax evasion and avoidance would raise far more and be actually ETHICAL. These policies are literally SICKENING.
Ann Hyacinth
Sad that you're defending the indefensible Hilary Benn, giving ammunition to your more right wing opponents.
Phil Goodfield
Chapel of Rest closure
LCC are whittling away the services which are expected.
I suppose they’re thinking that, like several libraries, this is surplus to requirements and will be sold off.
John
LCC has no money! If it gets to the
point they can only cover their basic essential services we will all be inhaling sharply as it won't be pretty.
Bev Lowery
Community Committees
If this can work then why has this not been adopted years ago? This probably won’t bring any benefits to the electorate just yet another example of getting less but paying more!
I thought Labour were going to bring an end to austerity Britain … Yet another lie!
Between the Conservatives and Labour they’re paving the way for Reform and that will see this country off. I hope they’re happy with their legacy.
Malcolm Simpson
Elland Road expansion
Looking at the area on a satellite image, it obviously includes all the car parking. Surely some inventive solution (I know LCC are not inventive) to the car parking issues. I know some people say it could never solve it. Well doing nothing, or even worse, relinquishing existing car park space will only make
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
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
things worse. They’re obviously wanting this to be a massive development, much more than just an extension to the stadium. Then plan accordingly. Also, build the Sports Hub alongside the stadium extension, then free up the old Matthew Murray site for housing.
John Leckenby
I love the overuse of “potential” throughout this article which gives all parties a get out clause. Especially prevalent when talking about a mass transit system.
Consultants cost a lot of money, hopefully not wasted like Leeds City Council have done in the past.
Mark Baum
As long as it includes multi-storey car park!
Muriel Rogers
It needs some sort of multi-storey or underground parking structure, maybe with a direct link onto the adjacent motorway. That would free up a lot of land that currently sits unused for 95% of the week and keep a lot of matchday traffic off local residential streets. It would also be good to see reinstatement of some of the trees that have been lost over the years, as the
area around the ground is very bleak / windswept at the moment and not at all welcoming. Hell, put solar panels, wind turbines and green walls on the new stands and make it one of the greenest grounds in football! A lot will depend on whether we can stay there in the Premier League of course.
Richard Edwards
Lowell House
I love this, but I'm never sure about advertising where vulnerable young people are going to live. I remember the issues of men loitering around the Hollies Hostel for vulnerable girls and women.
Sarke Ailuros Join
Comment online; by email: info@southleedslife.com; or post to: 224 Cross Flatts Grove, Leeds, LS11 7BW.
Letters may be edited for publication.
Corrections & clarifications
Hunslet Moor House
In our April edition ‘Extra care flats officially opened’ (page 1) we managed to correctly identify the cake cutters as Anne and Barry Parker in the photo caption, but in the opening paragraph referred to them as Anne and Barry Piner. We also managed to misspell Zaab and Stephen Sorrell’s names- we apologise for the errors.
Keep up to date with planning issues in LS10
Will the expansion of Elland Road bring more parking problems?
Email:
MP’s notebook
with Hilary Benn MP
First things first. Many many congratulations to Leeds United on gaining promotion to the Premiership. It’s where the club belongs, it’s great news for our city and let us all hope this will be the start of a new era of success in the top flight.
The Holbeck Viaduct Project is a great idea. It wants to take a redundant railway viaduct that runs from just close to Leeds City Station all the way to Gelderd Road, near Elland Road, and turn it into a green walkway.
I recently attended a meeting at Elland Road to talk about the proposal and to look at the prospects for progressing it.
The railway line viaduct was built in 1882 and the last train ran on it in 1983. It has 92 arches and is 7.5 m high and 7.2 m wide, but most important of all it gives great views over the city
One of the advantages of the project is that it would help shorten the walk from the
railway station to Elland Road on match days. With the plans to significantly extend the capacity at Elland Road, it would be really good if more supporters could make their way there by public transport, including by walking along the Holbeck Viaduct.
Like all projects, there are many complexities to deal with. Will Network Rail agree finally to dispose of it? How would you sort out landholdings along the way? How will the project deal with the fact that the viaduct passes over one railway line and several roads? What are the legal and insurance challenges? And most important of all, how can the project raise sufficient funds to meet the cost of maintaining the viaduct in the years ahead?
Everyone at the meeting realised that these questions will have to be answered, but the most important thing is that this is a brilliant idea that has been kept alive for nearly a decade thanks to the
persistence and determination of those who came up with it. And I, for one, can’t wait to get up there and see what a wonderful thing it will be.
The Government has passed emergency legislation - the Steel Industry (Special Measures) Act - to save British Steel's Scunthorpe plant. The Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said the Government had "no choice but to act" to save the plant, after the Chinese company Jingye, which bought British Steel in 2020, said it had been suffering financial losses of around £700,000 a day.
New supplies of coking coal and iron ore to keep the blast furnaces going have now been secured.
For me, the most important thing about what’s happened is that society has realised that having the capacity to make steel is absolutely fundamental to any country and to any economy, and we can’t let it
Disability not inability
disappear. It’s not called a strategic industry for nothing.
In April, millions of workers got a pay increase worth up to £1,400 a year through the boost to the National Living Wage. Nye Bevan - the man who created the National Health Service - once said that “socialism is the language of priorities”. He was right. Being in government is indeed all about making choices, and the rise in the National Living Wage is a really good example of that.
And finally, I do not generally attempt to report on my sporting efforts, mainly because they are so undistinguished, but I did rather enjoy my trip to Royal Portrush Golf Club in Northern Ireland recently.
It’s a beautiful and classic links course where the 153rd Open Golf Championship will be held in July, and the sun shone furiously the day I was there. There were a few required photographs with the captain of the club and then the golf professional appeared carrying a putter and two golf balls. He proceeded to invite me to have a go on the practice green.
Now at this point I must make it clear that I don’t play
Cuts won’t help people into work
Thisarticle has taken me a while to write as I haven’t felt such an emotional reaction to disability issues since the DNR (do not resuscitate) of disabled people through the pandemic.
I have also never, in my whole disabled existence, felt that my children or I are a minority and looked down upon for simply existing. I recognise the privilege that last statement screams, but as someone who has driven awareness and had a positive outlook it maybe that I have chosen to ignore the reality and the news our government want to change PIP has brought me crashing down.
The language purposefully used to rile up taxpayers by making it sound like we are draining resources that they are paying for, and we are all sat at home not working through choice, is disappointing as a Labour voter who previously cheered at them criticising similar
proposals from the Tory government.
I have experienced myself the social impact and rise in abuse of disabled people especially online after these proposals were put out there.
Strangers have now decided that my R-word kids and my Spas*** self are spending tax money and should get a job all because his government told him that was so.
Ironically, I do work and have had my job for 10 years, but this is now not good enough for the online trolls no, because I should have a better job! This is much more than the questioning of my abilities previously experienced or wondering if I’m faking anything to full blown slurs. We are now judged by usefulness, with some saying out loud they wouldn’t care if we can’t eat or heat our houses, and it would be our own fault.
The presumption that all workplaces are suited for disabled people is simply not
true and the lack of acknowledgement from our government on this subject is concerning. Yes, I do work and have maintained a job, however it is highly adapted. Some tasks have been removed from me as I struggle with them, I can fulfil my hours at any time over 7 days, I have a team of volunteers that help every day I am in and cover if I am unwell, if I am able, I can do work from home. I can move around, sit when I please, eat when I please, take small breaks.
This job is a unicorn. It is also wearing me out and I push myself further than doctors recommend, which is true of most disabled people and I doubt I will get to pension age. To work is my choice but not everyone else can manage and certainly wouldn’t even with my adaptations.
I am also reminded that my dear friend Janet passed away after she was removed from sickness benefits and told she
golf very often and when I do I am truly awful. You name itwayward shots, shanks, and a rare ability regularly to hit the ball into the rough, any bunker in sight or the water – are all features of my attempts to play. They have only been mitigated over the years by the encouragement of my sons who are much better at it than I am.
On this occasion I opted for a putt of about 4 feet and before addressing the ball I asked the golf professional what percentage of putts of that length a pro golfer would expect
to make. His answer was a bit daunting so you can imagine my inner pride when I managed to sink both putts! I realised at that point, however, that this was as good as it was going to get so I retreated from the green in haste.
In a couple of months’ time, the world’s greatest golfers will grace the course. And after his magnificent win at the US Masters, there are great hopes right across Northern Irelandand indeed the whole of the United Kingdom - that Rory McIlroy may prove to be victorious once again.
Hilary Benn is our Member of Parliament
He represents the Leeds South constituency
Contact:
Email: hilary.benn.mp@parliament.uk
Website: www.hilarybennmp.com
Constituency office: Unity Business Centre, 26 Roundhay Road, Leeds, LS7 1AB Tel: 0113 244 1097
work, home, being a better parent. My husband being my biggest support system and an unpaid carer.
must attend workshops and get a job two years before her pension was due. We found out she wasn’t eating properly (as she feared that the missing rent payment after her benefit switch would see her homeless, despite us informing her we wouldn’t allow that), which threw her diabetes out and she passed alone. Removing benefit’s does cause deaths.
I think what I am most angry with our government about is that PIP (Personal Independence Payment) is painted as free money. It is not means tested that is true, because it is for the cost of your disability. Mine pays for my mobility aids, prescriptions, therapies I can’t access on the NHS, the excessive heating bill as the cold affects me, appointment and travel costs to name a few.
Being able to maintain my own health means I can work and function. I can pay for things that may help me at
You may read that and wonder why the bill should come from the taxpayers. I understand this point of view but I also know that PIP was created to give independence, not just to be able to do things on our own, but to manage our own health and be able to live in our own homes. To not have to access home helps through the council, to delay when we ask for Personal Assistants again paid for by councils. Mine and my child’s PIP means we don’t have to access these services right now. Some PIP awards means that a small amount of money, way below the living wage can be given to a relative or friend so they can provide care 35 hours per week again saving costs to councils.
Above all this the lack of promise to give real help to disabled people getting into work not just by supporting them, but supporting employers too, is a massive concern. There has been no solid plan or funding allocated to make this work. Not all buildings are disabled-friendly still, insurances may have to go up if there is additional risk.
We are still waiting for the impact assessment. Most of us would hope with a big move like this, the government would
be proud to show the lack of impact … unless of course that isn’t the case.
As I see it many things contribute to disabled people not working. The NHS waiting times are extremely long meaning we are unable to address our health issues in a timely manner; the education system for SEND children is a mess, meaning poor education outcomes and lack of exam achievements; employment of disabled people needs improving and most employers cannot afford to pay for adaptations. These are all issues within the government’s control that are not being addressed fully and without that you will not get disabled people into steady work. The ableism that exists also needs to be worked on and ideas that disabled people are less intelligent, or less productive must be challenged. Lastly, we must make the PIP system not harder but fairer. I had a drop in award because my hair was clean when I attended my assessment. A system that presumes a disabled person should present as dishevelled is not one that is there to help. The cost of disability aids is astronomical and without PIP support I can’t afford them or other things that help me function, meaning I will likely and ironically have to quit my job.
with Christine Smart
Pathways for positivity
with Shannon Humphrey
If I don’t laugh, I’ll cry
As the little thunder clouds of doom lurk overhead heavy with grief, misery, sadness and worry, the very idea of laughter feels wildy inappropriate.
As though you shouldn’t be allowed to forget your woes by having fun or pleasure. As if laughter would be a betrayal of the all consuming thoughts
and feelings that plague you. And if by sheer accident a laugh does escape, you clamp your hand over your mouth, riddled with guilty feelings as if joy should be reserved for better times. But the truth is, laughter isn’t a betrayal of pain, it's a remedy for it.
Studies show that young children laugh 300-400 times
a day, while adults laugh on average 15-60 times a day. I understand fully, as responsibilities pile up, worries mount, adulting doesn’t always feel like much fun.
As a result, a good deep belly can be hard to find, especially on a daily basis. In difficult times, it might even feel forced, half-hearted, or worse,
indulgent. But it’s precisely in those darker moments, when joy feels furthest from reach, that we need laughter the most. I think at some point we've all uttered 'If I don't laugh, I'll cry'
Laughter releases endorphins, lowers stress hormones like cortisol, and boosts immune function. It oxygenates the body, relaxes muscles, and can even reduce physical pain.
These aren’t just feel-good
anecdotes; they’re physiological facts. Laughter isn't merely an emotional response, it's a full-body act of healing.
Did you some researchers believe, that our body doesn’t know the difference between a genuine laugh and a pretend laugh? A few years ago there was an emerging trend of “Laughter Yoga” - which is basically an hour or so of… laughing! I went along curious about the whole thing, to be honest I thought it’d be a bit embarrassing and not in the least bit funny. How wrong was I? Well, yes, it was embarrassing at first, but it was also hilarious. We began in pairs, looking at our partner and basically fake laughing, within moments we were all howling with laughter, tears of
joy, streaking our faces. Something in the ridiculousness of the situation cracked the tension wide open. It was very childlike, making silly noises, being daft and full of fun, as far from being a grown-up as you can be. Maybe I should find another session to respark my laugh. That said, you should never pretend to be happy when you’re not. Sadness is valid. Grief is real. But good mental health isn’t the absence of struggle, it’s the capacity to rebound, and lean into your resilience, it’s being able to bend without breaking. And part of building that resilience is reintroducing small sparks of joy, even if we don’t quite feel ready. We may never feel ready. But, it's worth a try. How about a phone call with that one friend who always has you wheezing with laughter. Rewatching a classic sitcom that once felt like home. A funny book, a ridiculous meme, my cat Gordon breaking into his food timer in under 30 seconds never fails to make me laugh.
These aren’t frivolous distractions designed to bury our head in the sand, away from real life problems, they’re important lifelines. They reconnect us to something essential, something enduring. Laughter reminds us we’re still here. Still capable of feeling joy, even if only fleetingly.
Sometimes, it’s a memory that brings laughter, a flash of someone’s expression, a moment that once had you doubled over, a silly story retold, it might be a photograph that hasnt seen the light of day in years.
At first, those memories might sting. They can feel bittersweet, or sad, especially if tied to people or times we’ve lost. But we can’t let sadness steal what was once real happiness. Those joyful memories are evidence of a life truly lived, and laughter keeps that spark alive.
So give yourself permission to laugh. Let yourself remember. Let joy find its way back in, one smile at a time.
Photo: Shutterstock
Review: Hold On To Your Butts at Slung Low
by Rebecca Townesend
Dinosaurs
ruled South Leeds on Saturday 19 April for two performances of the roarsome ‘Hold On To Your Butts’.
This Jurassic Park parody delighted the audience with a 3-person reenactment of the beloved classic film, which turns 32 years old this year. They re-create the whole plot including all the iconic moments; from a flabbergasted Dr Grant (played by Sam Neill) pulling off his sunglasses and turning the head of Dr Sattler (Laura Dern) when the first dinosaurs come into view; delving into the triceratops dung; and of course, the spinechilling moment when the still glass of water shakes as the T-Rex approaches.
You can only parody a film so well when you truly love it, and that love shines throughout this 70-minute show.
They beautifully mimic the cast, using a pair of specs and a frenetic demeanour to depict Jeff Goldblum’s Ian Malcolm, and (fake) chain smoking for Samuel L Jackson’s panicked and frantic Ray Arnold.
Using a very simple but hilarious array of props they bring the characters and dinosaurs to life.
A cycle helmet and traffic cone become a T-Rex; three pink party hats a triceratops and a white sock for the lamb carcass.
For the characters, a red tie becomes the money grabbing lawyer Donald Gennaro, a red rucksack and purple baseball cap for the children, Tim and Lex Murphy, and that pair of sunglasses for Dr Grant.
My favourite scene was the velociraptors in the kitchen, as Tim and Lex scramble to escape. The performers don swimming goggles and a
snarling demeanour, and the lights are dimmed for the final chase, and despite the hysterics from the audience I also recalled the fright when watching the film as the characters that have survived this far band together to keep the raptors at bay.
During the show we see two actors and there is also a foley artist (who creates sound effects) on stage who is amazing in making sure the high energy performance is matched with the right sounds from the squelch of dung, to rain, leaves rustling and most important of all the roars of the dinosaurs!
Performers Jack Baldwin and Charlie Ives from the theatre company Recent Cutbacks spoke to South Leeds Life about how much they enjoyed performing in Holbeck. Charlie Ives told us:
“Slung Low was a really special stop on our spring tour. In a world and industry that increasingly puts up barriers between audiences, artists, and art, it’s incredible to find somewhere that’s removing all the barriers they can to become a hub for the local community. The Pay What You Decide initiative makes audiences accessible, and our audiences were electric! We LOVED it!”
Jack Baldwin added:
“Places like Slung Low are vital and essential parts of both our industry and their communities. Their dedication and commitment allows artists across many different fields have a platform for their art and for people from all different walks of life to have access to live performance they may have no other way of enjoying. Slung Low is part of the life blood of live theatre in this country and it’s a joy to have been able to perform there.”
Tony Harrison and ‘V’ at 40
by Jeremy Morton
Youmay not have heard of Tony Harrison, but the poet is highly thought of in literary circles
Much of his work is steeped in the classical world of Greece and Rome, but 40 years ago he wrote a poem about Beeston that put him on the front pages of the tabloids.
He was moved to write V following a visit to his family plot in Holbeck Cemetery in May 1984. Many of the gravestones and memorials were daubed with graffiti, generally obscene four-letter words, and it was his repetition of these words in the poem that caused such a fuss.
V is about four-letter words, but it’s about so much more too. For Harrison, the graffiti reminds him of 1945 when along with other young people in the country he was encouraged to daub paint on walls - a V for victory as the war ended.
V might also stand for versus, he puts the graffiti and discarded drinks cans down to disgruntled football supporters making their way home from Elland Road. And also the struggle of the miners strike, his dad had told him there was a worked out pit under the cemetery which is why the grave stones fall over.
He wonders how important
poetry is as a profession compared to his forefathers’ trades of butcher, baker and publican. So perhaps V stands for verse. Harrison was born in Beeston and went to Leeds Grammar School and Leeds University. His studies and career took him away from his roots and that internal struggle is also echoed in the poem.
V is a very interesting poem and well worth a read. You can also find the Chanel 4 film, which includes a reading of the poem on YouTube.
I was lucky enough to meet
Harrison in 2013 when he visited Beeston Festival. He was appearing at an event in the city and we invited him to show another side of Beeston from the depressing scene he’d witnessed in 1984. He assured us that he held nothing against his birthplace and had many fond memories of growing up here.
Harrison is back in Beeston, or at least his likeness is which has appeared on a gable end wall in the Marleys thanks to nationally-acclaimed street artist Stewy.
Stewy commented: “It’s great to be back in Leeds. I’m drawn to creating small intimate works like this, without fuss, showing love for people like Tony H. And especially art like this, hidden in communities, away from the shiny city centre, where people have to search it out. I hope people like it.”
The Beeston mural was delivered in partnership with the South Leeds Street Art Collective, a fast-growing new project co-led by Cllr Ed Carlisle, BasementArtsProject, and a number of local artists.
Shows this month at Slung Low
SlungLow, Holbeck’s own theatre, are presenting four shows this month, but unfortunately Undermined which we previewed last month is not now going ahead.
Third Class is one-man theatre show based on the life of Titanic survivor Edward Dorking. Edward was gay.
Openly gay, and on Wednesday 10 April 1912, he set sail for New York on a ticket bought for him by his parents in the hope his American family could put him 'right'
Having survived the sinking, Edward toured the Vaudeville circuit, recreating the stories for a fact-hungry public.
But Edward didn't want fame; he wanted revenge. When everyone was talking about the deaths of millionaires and society figures, few were discussing the people who took the lion's share of the losses that night: the third class. Edward was coming for the upper classes. Third Class is on Saturday 10 May at 7:30pm.
Talking About The Fire is a show about a new nuclear
weapons treaty - one that’s trying to give the power to eliminate nuclear weapons to the states, and people, who don’t possess them. It’s a show and a conversation. We'll talk about where we are, where we live, and why it's important people like us talk about this at all. Saturday 17 May at 7:30pm plus a post-show discussion.
Three brave little Viking girls save the day in this bold and funny adventure story for little rebels, by the creator of the New York Times Best Illustrated Book Little Red and I Can Catch a Monster, Bethan Woollvin.
Once upon a time in a Viking village, everything seems to be going wrong. Chickens are disappearing, trees are falling down, and there's lots and lots of crashing and bashing. The silly Chieftain won't listen to the three littlest Vikings, but can they work together to figure out what's going on and save the day?
Three Little Vikings is all about cooperation, bravery, and getting your voice heard! This family-friendly show (3+)
is on Sunday 18 May at 2pm.
And finally, Sisters 360 (see page 22) is on Wednesday 21 May at 5pm.
All four shows are on at The
Warehouse in Holbeck, Crosby Street, LS11 9RQ and are payas-you-feel. Book your free tickets at www.slunglow.org/ shows and pay after the show.
Tony
Laurence Pears and Jack Baldwin in Hold On To Your Butts. Credit: Mark Senior
Artist Stewy with his stencilled portrait of Tony Harrison
Email:
Belle Isle unveils stunning community tapestry
by Penny Lewis and Honor Jeavons
Swarthmore
Education centre are thrilled to
announce the completion of the amazing Belle Isle Tapestry, a collaborative artwork co-created by the community and our talented Community Artist in
Residence, Elnaz Yazdani.
Over the past few months, Elnaz has immersed herself in the Belle Isle community, skillfully employing the art of embroidery to work with the
Can you help South Leeds’ Repair Cafés?
We are very lucky in South Leeds to have two Repair Cafés - in Belle Isle and Beeston.
The Belle Isle Repair Café is now well established at BITMO’s Gate centre and has recently been joined by a new one in Beeston at the St Luke’s CARES charity shop.
Repair Cafés bring to community together to solve the problem of broken stuff.
Do you have a toaster that’s on the blink? or a skirt that needs altering? Perhaps your kitchen knives need
sharpening, or your kid’s bike needs new brakes?
Bring those problems together with handy people who know how to fix things and don’t mind giving up a few hours every month - that’s a Repair Café.
It’s a win-win-win, saving money reducing rubbish and building a stronger community.
But it doesn’t work without the fixers stepping forward and saying ‘I’ll lend a hand’. So if you do have any fixing skills, or you can help with meeting and greeting and making the tea
please get in touch.
Beeston Repair Café runs on the first Saturday of the month from 1-4pm at St Luke’s CARES Charity Shop, 246 Dewsbury Road, LS11 6JQ. To volunteer here please contact: sally @stlukescares.org.uk, or abi. paterson@healthforall.org.uk or call 07800 512074
Belle Isle Repair Café runs on the third Saturday of the month from 1-4pm at BITMO’s Gate, Aberfield Gate, LS10 3QH. To volunteer here please contact: gate@belleisletmo .co.uk or call 07891 270094
residents of Belle Isle to weave together a rich tapestry of stories and connections to the local area.
From cherished personal memories to fascinating historical insights, the artwork beautifully represents the diverse and resilient spirit of Belle Isle.
We warmly invite you to the unveiling of the Belle Isle Tapestry on Thursday 29 May from 5-6pm at Bitmo’s Gate, Aberfield Gate, Belle Isle, LS10 3QH. Refreshments, in the form of tea, coffee, and cake, will be provided.
Following the unveiling, the Belle Isle Tapestry will remain on display at Bitmo’s Gate for one week before being relocated to the Community Corridor at Leeds City Museum, located in Millennium Square. It will be open to museum visitors from 10 June until 31 August. The tapestry will then return to its home in Belle Isle.
The Swarthmore Education Centre also invites the community to our final event: the Creative Communities, Pride in Place, Celebration on Friday 20 June from 11:30am to 1:30pm at Brodrick Hall, Leeds City Museum.
We would love to see
everyone who has been involved in the projectparticipants, their families, professionals working in the LS10 and LS11 communities, volunteers, employees of local community centres, and anyone with an interest in the
work of Swarthmore Education Centre’s Lottery funded Creative Communities Project over the past two years. These events will be wonderful opportunities to celebrate the creativity of South Leeds.
The Belle Isle Tapestry takes shape
What’s On
Your guide to events and activities across South Leeds in May
Please check that regular events are not affected by school holidays, 5 and 26-30 May
Full contact details can be found in our online What’s On guide at www.southleedslife.com/events
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 Let’s Play! (under 5s)
9:30am12:30pm Hamara Centre, Tempest Road, LS11 6RD 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 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 Tea and Bacon Buttie
10am-12pm BISA 59 Club, 59 Belle Isle Circus, LS10 3DU 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 Coffee Morning
11am-12pm Aspiring
Communities, 49 Barkly Road, Beeston, LS11 7EN
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 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
Walking Group
1-3:30pm BISA 59 Club, 59 Belle Isle Circus, LS10 3DU
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
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
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
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
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 Gardening groups
10am-12pm BISA 59 Club, 59 Belle Isle Circus, LS10 3DU 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
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
Website: www.southleedslife.com
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 Social Group and Bingo
1:30-3:30pm 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
3pm South Leeds Stadium, Middleton Grove, LS11 5DJ
Monday 2 June
Middleton Community Group
5-7pm Middleton Community Centre, Acre Road
11am-1pm Cross Flatts Park Hunslet Community Litterpick 11am-12:30pm Involve Centre,
10am-12pm Beeston Community Hub and Library, Town Street
A Song For Hunslet
1:30-3:30pm Involve Centre, Whitfield Avenue, LS10 2QE
6pm Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Acre Road, LS10 4LF
IN BRIEF
Tower Works Street Fest
The Tower Works Street Fest runs from Friday 2 to Sunday 4 May, off Water Lane in Holbeck. You will find fresh produce and street food to handmade crafts, original art, craft beer, specialty coffee, live music, and so much more. This is the first Street Fest of the year but it will be returning on the first weekend of each month through to September. Keep up to date at fb.com/mustardwharfleeds
Sing a song of Hunslet
Join Opera North for fun weekly creative music workshops, where you’ll have the chance to work with a songwriter and poet to create a brand new piece of music telling the stories you want to tell. At the end of a project, we’ll record the piece and have the opportunity to share it with the wider public. Everyone is welcome and you don’t need to be able to sing or read music to take part. Refreshments will be provided. The next sessions are on Tuesday 6, 13 and 20 May, 1:30-3:30pm at Involve Centre, Whitfield Avenue, Hunslet, LS10 2QE. Contact Jo on jo.bedford@operanorth.co.uk / 07960 856691 for more info.
Holbeck Together’s Wellbeing Wednesdays
Join Holbeck Together for Wednesday Wellbeing sessions at Ingram Gardens Community Room and enjoy a healthy discussion over a cuppa about improving your wellbeing and where you can access any support you may need.
Taking place every two weeks. It's for people over 55 and runs from 10:30-11:30am on the dates below and is free of charge.
The four Let’s Talk About sessions start with Dealing With Stress on Monday 14 May. That’s followed by Pain Management on 4 June; Challenging Negative Thoughts on 25 June; and Five Ways To Wellbeing on 23 July.
For more information, contact: Chris 07731 033 770 chris@holbecktogether.org OR Marie 07484 911 171 marie@holbecktogether.org
Wild Play at Skelton Grange
Spend a day playing outdoors at Skelton Grange Environment Centre in Stourton on Tuesday 27 May, 10am-4pm. Activities may include campfire cooking, crafts, shelter building, stalking and tracking, and/or wide games. For children aged 8-13 years. For more information and booking go to: tcv.org.uk/skeltongrange
Playhouse brings family-friendly skateboarding show to South Leeds
Leeds Playhouse is taking
‘Sisters 360’, an exciting family-friendly play by acclaimed Bradford playwright Asif Khan, on a Community Tour from 13-22 May to schools and neighbourhood venues across the city.
‘Sisters 360’ is a 60-minute show for young audiences inspired by real-life skateboarding sisters Layna, Maysa and Amaya from Hull, and their Olympic hero Sky Brown.
This Polka Theatre, AIK Productions and Turtle Key Arts co-production in association with Leeds Playhouse runs in the Barber Studio at the Playhouse from 7-10 May ahead of the Community Tour to:
LS-TEN, Kitson Road, • Hunslet, LS10 1NT on Tuesday 13 May at 5pm
St Mary’s Parochial Hall, • North Lingwell Road, Middleton, LS10 3SR on Saturday 17 May at 2:30pm and 5pm
Slung Low‘s Warehouse • in Holbeck, Crosby Street, LS11 9RQ on Wednesday 21 May at 5pm
The Playhouse has taken shows into neighbourhoods across the city for more than a decade, sharing professional theatrical productions in schools, church halls and unusual venues as part of its annual Community Tour.
Lily Craig, Creative
INSIGHT,
the Mental Health Peer Support Group are to take over holding Involve’s table top sales.
Communities Producer at the Playhouse, said:
“We work in neighbourhoods around the city all year round, delivering opportunities for people to come together to be creative, to express themselves and to learn more about each other. Our Community Tour is undoubtedly one of the highlights of the year, giving us the chance to take a fantastic, family-friendly show on the road – and to meet even more wonderful people across our city.”
Fatima and Salima are the closest, coolest, hijabi stepsisters in all of Bradford and they will win the Tiny is Mighty skateboarding competition –
there’s no doubt about it. They’ve practised every trick in the book and look (almost) as good as Sky Brown on the telly. Nothing will stop them. Except their parents have started whispering in the kitchen about living apart… moving to different cities… only seeing each other in the school holidays. How will they perfect their routine and win gold if their whole lives are about to turn 360? Only the greatest plan ever concocted will help them achieve their dreams.
Writer Asif Khan said:
“Sisters 360 was inspired by three young Muslim sisters from Hull, who themselves were inspired by 13-year-old
skateboarder Sky Brown at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics to take up the sport and showcase their new hobby loudly and proudly to the world. I loved how the sisters were breaking so many stereotypes, not only about being Muslim, but also being girls skateboarding.
“It’s been an extremely difficult period for many in the Muslim community and I hope this new play will, in a small way, provide some joy and positive representation, as well as being a really fun experience. I can guarantee that Fatima and Salima are truly the coolest people to hang out with!”
Suitable for Age 8+ • Running time: 60 minutes • Box office: 0113 213 • 7700 Book online: • leedsplayhouse.org.uk
They will commence on 31 May at 1-3pm at the Involve Centre in Hunslet. They will become a monthly event and hopefully a regular fundraising activity for INSIGHT. Due to Involve’s increasing workload they are unable to continue running the sales. INSIGHT were looking for more funding opportunities and it was therefore decided that INSIGHT would take the table top sales on as INSIGHT was struggling for regular income. Therefore, we are looking for donations. We are hoping to have cake sales, food stalls, Bric a Brac and raffles. Or perhaps you would just like to book your own stall? Stalls are priced at £5 for charities and individuals; £10 for businesses. The table top sales will commence on 31 May and will be held on the last Saturday of every month, 1-3pm, with set up from 12pm. It is helpful to book your stall in advance, so please email Vanessa at insightmhpsg@myyahoo.com
Leeds United legends’ charity match
Acharity football match will honour the memory of Leeds United fan Elliott Bransby and United legends Jack Charlton, Eddie and Frank Gray.
The match is taking place at South Leeds Stadium on Sunday 13 July.
Tickets go on general sale on Saturday 1 June, but 200 free tickets be available on Thursday 22 May from www. elliotjamesbransby.com/mem orial-football-match-2025
Gates open at 11am with curtain-raiser of Leeds New Generation v Middleton Park Junior Blacks kicking off at 12:30pm. The main match kicks off at 2:30pm Pre-match and half-time entertainment will be provided by: Thomas Martyn; Maxwell Thorpe; 2Touch Football
Playing for the Elliot James Bransby Memorial Shield will be Team Charlton, managed by Mick McCarthy and Paul Hart, and Team Gray managed by Eddie Gray MBE, Gordon Strachen OBE and Howard Wilkinson OBE. The match will raise funds for the Homeless Street Angels charity.
Academy; ND Dance Academy; Mos Eisley Misfits (Star Wars characters); and Cop Cars!
The Lord Mayor of Leeds, Cllr Dan Cohen, will be amongst the guests along with members of the Charlton and Gray families together with a host of sporting and television stars. The headline sponsors of the day are Aspire Property Group and Gough & Kelly.
Farah Ashraf (Salima) and Sara Abanur (Fatima) in Sisters 360. Credit: Tasha Best
Belle Isle Forest Garden Action Days
Fruit Works Co-op are transforming the field behind Belle Isle Post Office into a thriving tree nursery and forest garden. Come along to the monthly Action Days to give them a hand. Equipment and refreshments are provided. Meet at the gates next to the Post Office on Belle Isle Parade. The next session is on Thursday 8 May from 12:30-4pm.
Enjoying food and sunshine at Tower Works
Making a fire at Skelton Grange
South Leeds Stadium. Photo: Shutterstock
Email:
Move, explore, connect at Let’s Move: South Leeds
by Karen Peck
Get ready to move, explore, and connect at this year’s
Let's Move: South Leeds event taking place on Saturday 10 May 12–3pm at Cross Flatts Park in Beeston.
This community led event, supported by Get Set Leeds Local, brings together the amazing mix of activities that South Leeds has to offer. We aim to have something for all ages and abilities.
It should be a fun afternoon
filled with variety of information stalls, taster activities and opportunities for connection.
Previous events have been a community celebration which have showcased the breadth of what’s on offer across South Leeds and beyond for local communities, and introduced people to activities they may never have seen or tried previously.
The event will have a range of ‘come and try’ activities such as Tae Kwon Do, American Football, roller sports, dance, table tennis and multisports. You can bring along your bike for bike fixing and bike tagging or enjoy the bike activity zone (no bike required).
Come along and have your
photo taken with Leeds United mascot ‘Kop Cat’. We have wellbeing walks at 11am (women only) and 1pm (mixed); a yoga taster class at 12noon, a 1km fun run at 2.30pm; and Everybody Cycling are joining us for the afternoon 12-3pm with a great range of adapted bikes for children and adults to try.
We’d like to thank the Inner South Community Committee for it’s support, along with all those involved in the event. Come along and join in, chat and get to know what’s going on locally.
If you run a group/club and would like to be a part of it then get in touch: karen.peck @leeds.gov.uk
From Beeston to Bangkok: Gracjan wins Thai boxing gold
by James Bovington
AThaiboxer from Beeston’s Master Sken Academy (MSA) has just returned from two weeks of intense training and competition in Thailand.
Gracjan Krupski emerged as an elite member of the England team winning a gold medal in the 66kg pro-am category which allows older amateur fighters to compete under some professional rules. The event held in Bangkok was the WMF sanctioning body world championships.
“My first bout against an experienced Lebanese fighter aged 23 was well into the tournament,” said Krupski, 18, “I placed a lot of pressure on him with strong punches which did some damage and got me the win. I then went on to win the gold against a Brazilian competitor. I dominated the fight with further strong punches and a left kick. Bouts at the tournament were fast paced but it was great fun and more importantly I gained some valuable experience.”
“Uzbekistan had the most fighters but there was a large contingent in Team England especially juniors under sixteen. The Uzbeks were serious, but we had fun while offering each other strong support as we did for Matty Sylvester who won a silver in the 81kg category. Everyone enjoyed the high-quality hotel accommodation including swimming pool, gym and sauna. Now I’m back home catching up preparing for my
imminent ‘A’ level exams.”
Lawnswood School student Krupski lives in Bramley but trains in Beeston under Rafal Wrzeszcz, 39, who has been a qualified instructor since 2015 at MSA Beeston. Silver medallist Sylvester from Belle Isle is currently living in Thailand honing his skills alongside world champion Jordan Watson. With ten professional fights under his belt at just 21 Sylvester is soon to fight at Bangkok’s prestigious Rajadamnern Stadium.
Achieving success like Krupski and Sylvester is the goal of younger fighters from across South Leeds training at MSA such as Jakub, Jack, Fabian and Filip. “Thai boxing has made me athletic,” said college student Jakub, 17. “I used to get into scraps, now having trained for two years I can do so for sport. Everyone wins.” Jack, 15, “is happy that
this past year training Thai boxing has taught me how to defend myself which is a necessary skill and also great fun.”
Fabian, 15, states that “this sport just makes me feel better about myself as the training and competing is so good” with his friend Filip, 16, praising “the improved fitness all fighters develop and happy that after five years training, I’m now getting increasingly tough competitions.”
Pro-Am might well be unique to Thai boxing, or Muay Thai, in that much of the protective equipment worn in amateur bouts is no longer required. Pro-am boxers compete without shin pads, but elbow pads remain compulsory. Kicks, knees and elbows to the head are allowed but pro-am fights remain at amateur length, ie five two-minute rounds rather than the three minutes for professional bouts.
Works start on new 3G pitch in Hunslet to honour Lionesses
Works are underway to construct a new 3G pitch and three grass pitches to help turbocharge women’s and girls’ football in Leeds, thanks to investment from the Premier League, The FA and Government’s Football Foundation.
The new pitch at The Hunslet Club is one of at least 30 set to benefit from The Lionesses Futures Fund – a £30 million cash injection from the Government and The FA delivered by the Football Foundation.
The pitches will celebrate the Lionesses roaring to victory at the 2022 UEFA EUROs as well as their achievement of making the final at FIFA World Cup 2023 and will help meet the growing demand for women’s and girls’ football.
Since the Lionesses lifted
the trophy in 2022, 68,000 more girls are playing football compared to before the tournament. However, too often, badly lit pitches, unsuitable changing facilities and late-night kick-off times put women and girls off taking to the pitch.
Like every Lionesses Futures Fund site, the new pitch at The Hunslet Club will prioritise access for women and girls through reserved peak-time slots and welcoming changing facilities to create a best-inclass experience.
This is a significant step forward in improving the football facilities at The Hunslet Club and creating more opportunities for young people to play the game they love.
These new pitches will provide more access to high-quality training and matches, ensure
all-weather facilities for yearround football, support the growth of the club’s teams and community programmes, and enhance player development with top-class surfaces for training and competition.
As part of this expansion, the club is also launching a new JPL team, Leeds Riverside Elite Football Centre, the first of its kind in the area. This team will create a structured pathway for young players into semi/professional football, giving them exposure to elite coaching, high-level competition within the Junior Premier League, and greater development opportunities.
Ryan Grant, Business and Education Manager at The Hunslet Club said:
“After a lot of hard work behind the scenes it is finally time to announce the
development of the new 3G pitch at The Hunslet Club, which will contribute to our wider plans of the Hunslet Sports Village. The new development in collaboration with The Football Foundation will allow our junior grassroots football and rugby teams to see a closer pathway to our open age section following the ‘golden thread’. By having a world-class facility onsite it will allow all members of The Hunslet Club to experience elite facilities in the heart of South Leeds.
“It also see’s the launch of our new Junior Premier League team Leeds Riverside EFC which will provide local talent an opportunity to play in the shop-window
of professional academies whilst still playing for their grassroots Sunday teams. It’s exciting to be working with partners Leeds United Foundation on raising the profile of our female teams, as well as creating a new openage ladies team and we are
delighted to be hosting their girls section. The whole project will see the site thrive and make most evening and weekends feel like a gala with young people taking part in Sport, keeping active and healthy whilst keeping off the streets!”
Hunslet Club CEO Dennis Robbins, Jennie Baldwin-Baker, Operations and Finance Manager and Ryan Grant, Business and Education Manager
Gracjan Krupski with his gold medal, coach Rafal Wrzeszcz on the right
Patience pays off for Hunslet
Hunslet
recorded their first win of the Championship season and their first win in sixteen attempts against Batley Bulldogs at the Fox’s Biscuits Stadium on Good Friday, 18 April.
The Parksiders have shown glimpses of what they can do, but a mixture of injuries and players coming in and out of the squad meant they haven’t jelled until this game where in exciting style, they hung on for
experienced Batley side.
The notorious Mount Pleasant slope always plays a part in the game, and Batley chose to attack uphill in the first half. Lee Gaskell on his second outing looked a class acquisition, helping Billy Jowett score twice early on, first from a kick through and then from a cut out pass.
Batley pulled the score back, former Hunslet favourite Jack Render dived over in the corner, but Lachy Hanneghan
minutes. Gaskell kept the pressure on and tried a clever reverse kick, Hanneghan followed up and was unlucky not to score. However on 26 minutes the big stand-off saw a chance and kicked on the second tackle, this time Aaron Levy got there first and Hunslet led 10-22, a score they kept to the hooter.
On 47 minutes a Batley move to the left was anticipated by Coby Nichol who intercepted to start a long sprint up the hill.
Nichol fended off the defence to score a 90 yard stunner.
Batley replied nine minutes later and then scored twice in quick succession half way through the second half, bringing the score to 24-28.
We were in for a tight finish. Ethan O’Hanlon ran well to clear the lines and Lee Gaskell’s kicking pegged Batley back, but the game was held up when Jack Render had to be treated for a neck injury.
Who would have the nerve?
Starting their running journey with the Lakers’ Couch to 5k
Saturday 5 April’s parkrun in Cross Flatts Park, Beeston, not only marked the 12th birthday of the event, but also saw the graduation of the latest group of ‘Couch to 5k’ (C25K) runners.
South Leeds Lakers running club organised the programme which helps people who have never run before, or are returning from injury to build up their distance to be able to run 5km.
Trained run leaders supported the group over the ten week programme, which met three times a week.
Claire described the programme as “hard and rewarding” she continued:
“I would say doing it with the Lakers is the best decision I made because it’s been
Batley attacked and a kick caused chaos. It didn’t look like it touched a Hunslet man but the referee gave Batley the advantage and with some last ditch defending Hunslet saw Batley knock-on and held out for the victory.
On the hooter the Hunslet fans celebrated like they had won the cup. This may only be victory number one, but surely now the confidence will lead to more wins for The Parksiders.
Gaskell and Hanneghan were inspired at halfback whilst Jowitt and Nichol were a constant threat. Gilmore and O’Hanlon also stood out for Hunslet, but in the end all 17 players played their part.
The win at Batley was a contrast to the previous Friday’s outing under the lights at South Leeds Stadium against Halifax Panthers.
Despite a strong showing in the first half with new signing Lee Gaskell particularly impressive, The Parksiders had no possession in the second period, and with a 0-10 penalty count eventually tired in defence to concede six Halifax tries.
Still missing Captain Matty Beharrell and Aussie signing Kobe Rugless, Hunslet welcomed a host of injured players back, but lost Harvey Hallas, Greg Eden and Noah Booth during the week disrupting preparation.
From the off former Super League man Lee Gaskell looked impressive. His kicking was causing havoc in the Halifax defence and after forcing two drop outs a precise Gaskell chip was followed up by
amazing having all the support, I would not have done it on my own.”
Amy agreed:
“It’s been hard, but I’ve really enjoyed it and I’m proud of myself, because thinking back to week one I thought ‘no, I’m not going to get to week 9, no chance.’ In week one I probably couldn’t even run for a minute without being out of breath and today I’ve just run for 40 minutes non-stop, so I’m proud.”
One of the weekly sessions tied in with the Lakers’ club night which sees 50+ members go out on 5, 7.5, or 10km social runs from Hunslet Nelson Cricket Club. When the club celebrated its 10th birthday towards the end of the programme, every group had to start their run up Rex Hill (Ring Road Beeston Park).
This proved a turning point for the C25Kers, as Claire describes:
“I had a petulant moment at the beginning. I said I’m not doing it, I’m getting in the car, I’m going home. But running it is probably one of the best
Ethan Wood and Billy Jowitt. Wood getting there first to score, Jowitt converting after. 6-0 after 15 minutes.
Halifax replied on 19 and 29 minutes and converted a penalty on the hooter, going in 6-12 ahead at the break.
Hunslet needed a good start to the second half, but it was Halifax who scored two minutes in following two penalties.
Three more tries took the Panthers lead to 6-34 with 20 minutes to play. Then with Jordan Syme and Keelan Foster sin-binned for separate incidents, Halifax added two more.
Billy Jowett scored a consolation try on the hooter following up another disruptive Gaskell kick. Final score 12-46
On debut Lee Gaskell was impressive and received the Sponsors Player of the match, whilst Mackenzie Scurr got the vote from the Supporters. It was nice to see Cam Berry back in the fold, whilst Jowitt and Sam Campbell-Webb also had good matches.
But in the end discipline cost Hunslet in the second half. You can’t win matches without the ball and inevitably you will ship tries after defending for so long. But this season is a learning curve for Hunslet and there are signs that this team may challenge as the season goes on.
Hunslet’s next game is against Widnes at South Leeds stadium on Sunday 4 May. That’s followed by trips to York and Sheffield. You can read full match reports of all Hunslet’s games at southleedslife.com
achievements I’ve ever had. We were telling everyone the day after “we’ve run Rex Hill”. Tracy Allison, one of the run leaders along with Mark Reid, Wendy Murgatroyd and Sue Talbot, said:
“I’ve really enjoyed seeing them all progress. I’ve enjoyed the key moments when they’ve done Rex Hill and they’ve realised ‘yes, we can do this. I want to tell my kids, my partner that I’ve run up that hill’. It’s renewed my love of running in getting them hooked to it as well.”
The group shared their nerves before Saturday’s run on WhatsApp, but run leader Wendy reassured them saying:
“You can do this. Your run leaders are going to be with you every step of the way. Nerves are a good thing before a run, they show you care.”
Find out more about running with South Leeds Lakers at www.southleedslakers.co.uk
If you can’t wait for the next Lakers’ C25K you can download the NHS C25K app to your smartphone and start your journey.
Lachy Hanneghan scores at Batley. Credit: Craig Irvine
