South leeds life 12 nov15

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Issue 12 | November 2015

What’s happening in Beeston, Belle Isle, Cottingley, Holbeck, Hunslet, Middleton & Stourton

Community

heroes honoured

In this issue:

Cockburn’s conversion

page 2

From Leeds to Iraq with love

page 4

Hannah stands for Mayor

page 9

White Rose Community Award winners pose with their glassware trophies

The outstanding achievement of Hamara Healthy Living Centre was recognised at the fourth annual White Rose Shopping Centre Community Awards.

The new award for an organisation that goes the extra mile to help others, went to Beeston-based Hamara for its work in supporting the Syrian Refugee appeal.

Attendees at the ceremony where awards were made to more than 20 community heroes, heard how Hamara, acting as a collection point for food, clothing, toiletries and bedding, received enough donations within a matter of

weeks to fill two large garages.

The goods will be distributed to those in need via aid organisations.

As well as being recognised for its collective work, two young Hamara members, 11-year-old Arooje Khan and her 10-year-old brother Adie received a joint award for the tireless work they have done in raising money for the Leeds Children’s Heart Surgery Fund and Martin House Children’s Hospice.

Other local award winners included Leeanne Rowinska from Women's Health Matters who set up the YUMS Young Mothers Group in Middleton as well as Laurence Wright and Adam

Whitely who look after 250,000 honey bees that live on the roof of the centre in their spare time.

Taylor-Mae Francis and Douglas Pattison are both long standing members of The Hunslet Club. TaylorMae now volunteers and help coach the younger children in Cheerleading and Gymnastics. Douglas is the National Schoolboy Boxing Champion and a great role model in the club.

Sue Pennycook picked up an award for her working heading up the partnership that has turned around the fortunes of the South Leeds Youth Hub in Belle Isle.

Each award recipient received a hand made piece of glass produced by the Glassroom at Cockburn School featuring a stunning kingfisher design created by Year 8 pupil Erin-Rae Hughes who was also recognised for her work.

Centre Manager Dean Stratton said: “This is my favourite day of the year as it gives us a chance to say thank you to the public spirited people who make Leeds such a special place.”

Turn to the centre pages to find out more about the work of the award winners

Get the latest news at www.southleedslife.com - new stories posted daily

Fusion play at The Holbeck

page 12

NEWS

FEEDBACK

LOCAL!LIVES

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p9

WHAT’S!ON

p10

SPORT!

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ARTS

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South Leeds Life | November 2015

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About us South Leeds Life is written by and for local people. People who live and work in the LS10 and LS11 areas of South Leeds.

The blog and newspaper are produced by the South Leeds Life Group, a constituted community group with elected officers.

Our aims are: 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 started as a blog in November 2010 and still posts news every day at: www.southleedslife.com

What’s happening to Tax Credits?

by Hilary Benn MP

What's happening to Tax Credits?

A lot of people have been writing to me about the plan to cut tax credits for about 3 million families from next April.

Tax credits are a series of benefits introduced by the last Labour government to help low-paid families. There are two types: Working Tax Credit (WTC) for those in work, and Child Tax Credit (CTC) for those with children. Lots of people rely on them and that's why there is such concern about the impact these reductions will have on households locally, some of whom have already been hit by the bedroom tax and the cuts to council tax benefit.

In our area of Leeds Central there are 8,700 working families

claiming tax credits, including 6,900 families with children. The Institute for Fiscal Studies says that nationally working families are set to lose an average of £1,000 a year.

Ministers have claimed that people will actually be better off because the minimum wage is increasing, but this simply doesn’t stack up. In reality, just 26% of the losses working people experience as a result of these changes will be compensated for by the increase.

When the letters telling families exactly how they will be affected start arriving, there will be a lot of people in our community left wondering exactly how they are going to be able to make ends meet.

Living standards have stalled for six years and people have been working harder than ever. It's quite simply unfair and as your MP I am pushing the Government to think again.

Have you registered to vote?

The system for registering people to vote has changed. Previously, one person in a household could register everyone who lived there but now we have a system of individual electoral registration under which each person is required to register and provide information like your date of birth and/or your national insurance number.

Around one million people may be knocked off the electoral register this year because of the change so make sure you are not one of them. You can’t vote in elections if you’re not on the register. You could be fined £80 if you’re not registered to vote. And if you don’t register, you might find it harder to get a credit card, mobile phone contract and passport, or to change your energy supplier. But the main argument for making sure you

Hilary Benn MP

register is that it is our democratic right and our chance to decide how and by whom we are governed. A lot of people fought very hard to make sure that we have the right to vote, so we have a responsibility to use it.

It is quick and easy to register you can do so online in three minutes at www.gov.uk/registerto-vote.

Cockburn plans for academy conversion

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Cockburn School in Beeston. Photo: Jeremy Mortonk

by Jeremy Morton Twenty parents and community members attended a meeting at Cockburn School to discuss the school governors’ intentions to convert the school to Academy status on Monday 19 October.

The meeting heard a presentation from Headteacher David Gurney explaining the school’s reasons for considering conversion. He stressed that the change in status would have little effect on day-to-day school life with no change to the school’s name, uniform, admissions policy, curriculum and staff employment conditions.

He said the reasons for

the change are two fold.

Firstly the Government has said that it wants every school to become an Academy by 2020. Schools that do not opt to convert could be forced to with no choice of sponsor or academy chain. Mr Gurney told the meeting: “We want to remain masters of our own destiny.”

The second reason is the financial position. As a ‘maintained’ school 10% of Cockburn’s budget is kept

by Leeds City Council and pooled to provide services across all the local authority schools. Mr Gurney said that the services offered by the Council were dwindling year on year and services such as finance and human resources now had to be

paid for. As an academy, he explained, Cockburn would receive its whole budget and could buy in services from any provider. This would release more funding for the school.

Cockburn plans to create a Multi Academy Trust and hopes that the primary schools which are currently partners in the Learning Trust (South Leeds) will also convert and join the Academy Trust.

It is not clear that any of the primary schools plan to convert at this stage. It was clarified that regardless of the schools’ status, Cockburn would continue to work closely with the partner schools.

Dave Westwell, Chair of Governors, said that Cockburn would not become a selective school

saying it went totally against the school’s ethos.

Cockburn currently selects 10% of its pupils based on its performing arts specialism, but these pupils have a wide range of academic ability.This policy would continue if the school converts.

In closing the meeting Mr Westwell said “It appears we are going ahead (with conversion to an Academy), but I want to make it clear that Cockburn won’t change.

We are a successful, over subscribed, locally focussed school and we will continue to be.”

More information about Cockburn’s plans are available on the school’s website: www.cockburnschool.or g/academy-conversion.

20mph zones Leeds City Council has unveiled plans for new 20mph zones in the East Granges area of Belle Isle and the Hunslet Green Whitfields estate in Hunslet.

The zones are part of the council’s roll out of 20mph zones across most residential streets in the city and are aimed at increasing road safety.

A spokesperson for the LCC Highways and Transportation said: “20 mph speed limits make residential streets safer for all.

In those areas of the city where 20 mph speed limits have been introduced, there was on average a 43% reduction in accidents. The number of accidents involving child pedestrians has halved.”

The two schemes will now go to public consultation and if no objections are received the works will be carried out.

Between them the two schemes will cost £25,000 to implement.

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November 2015 | South Leeds Life

News 3

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Holbeck Elderly Aid’s minibus delivery Trustees and volunteers of Holbeck Elderly Aid unveiled their brand new bespoke minibus to the community on Friday 16 October.

Thanks to the Big Lottery Fund, Holbeck Elderly Aid has received a more modern and advanced wheelchair accessible vehicle, customised by Standford Coachworks.

The minibus will transform the experience of the service users who will now travel in comfort and style. The minibus is crucial to the service Holbeck Elderly Aid provides to the community. Helping to

improve the transport means breaking down barriers some service users face. Providing a safe and secure mode of travel will make this more accessible to the more vulnerable and isolated members of the community.

Rt Hon Hilary Benn MP cut the ribbon in Balm Walk, saying; “We want to thank the Big Lottery for providing the money, but most importantly celebrate the fact that your members are going to travel in style and comfort, may god bless this bus and all who are driven around in her.”

Middleton dog owner fined

Hilary Benn MP cuts the ribbon. Photo: Lucy Potter

HIV service under threat

by Niki Woods

Leeds Skyline Service – the service which provides support to those living with HIV, their friends, family and carers, as well as providing educational services – has been served with a closure notice by Leeds City Council.

The council says a reduction in this year’s Public Health budget and lack of detail about recurrent funding means it will not be providing any funding for the service past 31 March 2016.The council say that, unless the budgetary position changes, this means that the Skyline service will end on 31 March 2016.

HIV infections in the UK are at an alltime high, and Leeds is in the upper tier of local authorities for HIV prevalence per 1000 of population, meaning that providing support, raising awareness, and preventing HIV infection is an important public health consideration.

Skyline currently provides confidential one-to-one emotional support, cognitive behavioural therapy, information and advice on

treatment/benefits/housing/finances, one-to-one and group peer support, training and workshops, mental health support and complementary therapies.

Their prevention service works within communities to raise awareness of HIV, reduce the number of new infections and challenge stigma and prejudice.

There is currently no other agency in the Leeds area which provides these services to all people affected by HIV. Closure of this service will mean that, other than the LGI, Leeds will have no HIV support service.

Representatives from the council have met with Skyline staff and service users and stated that there is no possibility of the funding merely being reduced in order that a reduced service could continue – funding will either be preserved (unlikely) or entirely removed.

Skyline staff and service users are working together to cover social

media, organise a change.org petition, provide case studies and lobby decision-makers and government.

HIV is still a highly stigmatised condition. The psychological and physical impact of living with HIV is such that the prevalence of mental illness in people living with HIV is far higher than in the general population, and people with HIV are more likely to be unemployed. Many people living with HIV are from marginalised or disempowered communities who have

Our Ken is up for an award

by Kenneth Ingram

I’ve been nominated by Carla Yeomans at BITMO for a Halifax Giving Extra Award. Carla said: “Ken is known to many people living and working in Belle Isle because of all his volunteering activities and lovely outlook on life!

“Ken’s diary is bursting with activities and events that he supports to give people living in his neighbourhood better opportunities; better support; and better access to services.

“Most recently, Ken completed a 10k Memory

News in brief

has dementia along with other health concerns, including partial vision and is awaiting cancer treatment.

“He is an incredible person. If Ken can, we all can.”

The Halifax asked me how Kenneth Ingram at Parkrun I could use the £5,000 prize Walk, which inspired him to become a qualified Walk money if I win. I would use Leader and start up a new with the groups I volunteer community Walk and Talk with: Julie’s Ancestry Group group! Ken is 66 years old, and getting materials for the

Art Club; trips out for the Parnaby Pals dementia group; run a First Aid course and hold a charity fundraiser at BITMO’s GATE; Cross Flatts Parkrun and of course South Leeds Life.

I would like to say thank you to Carla for nominating me. If I’m lucky in winning would appoint Carla to help me organise how the money is spent.

To read the full nomination and find out more about the competition go to: https://community.halifax. co.uk/2015/nominees/yor kshire-and-northmidlands/kenneth-ingram/

already been affected by other funding cuts. 1 in 500 people in Leeds have HIV, and although there is not geographical data available, the closure of this service will therefore undoubtedly affect many people who live in South Leeds.

Skyline say that they will continue to fight for continuation of the service right up until a final decision is made and beyond. Staff believe that there is now a key window of opportunity for concerned individuals to lobby their councillors and their MP against this decision, and say that people can do this either directly by contacting their local councillor or MP, or can do it through Skyline. People who want to lobby but want to preserve their anonymity can do so either directly or through Skyline.

Skyline are organising a campaign and co-ordinating submissions to the council, including a deputation who will speak before the Council on 11 November, and personal case studies.

Anyone who wants more information, to access support, or to help with the campaign should contact Skyline directly on (0113) 244 9767 leedsskyline@theBHA.org.uk.

Nicola Willmore, of Throstle Lane, failed to pay the £75 fixed penalty notice issued after dog wardens found her dog wandering the streets in April this year.

All dogs must be on a lead when on paths, pavements or verges next to roads. The dog disrupted traffic on Middleton Park Avenue. Willmore’s failure to pay resulted in prosecution, a fine of £40, and costs totalling £405.

Nicola punches for Unity Homes Olympic boxing icon Nicola Adams MBE was the star attraction at Unity Homes and Enterprise’s Annual General Meeting, which also heard a speech from Leeds City Council chief executive Tom Riordan.

Unity’s Ali Akbor said: “Unity will continue to do our very best to provide high quality housing and other professional support to as many individuals and families as we can.”

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News New Bewerley pupils’ building posters in brief Business connections Voluntary sector organisations and charities in South Leeds are receiving a boost following the announcement that Lloyds Banking Group will be seconding Malcolm Hall as a Business Connector into the area.

“I believe business has a vital role to play in supporting and working with the voluntary sector making a real difference to the local communities.” Contact Malcolm on 07740 699738.

The range of professions involved in building new council homes have been brought to life in artwork created by local pupils.

New ‘building brighter futures’ banners displaying the posters created by New Bewerley Community School pupils are now on show at a Beeston site where 60 homes are being built by the council’s partners, sc4L and Keepmoat.

The posters were designed by pupils after they were treated to a construction alphabet assembly by mascot Keepmoat Ken before the summer break.

They were challenged to pick a letter and identify the different professions needed to make a building project work and design a poster for their preferred role. Pupils were also warned of the dangers on building sites.

New Bewerley pupils with Cllr Debra Coupar and staff from Keepmoat

From Leeds to Iraq with love

Stephanie sorts Centre’s travel

All roads and modes of transport lead to White Rose Shopping Centre for Stephanie Hunter, who has joined the team at the centre as Travel Planning Coordinator as White Rose prepares for expansion. The extension of the centre which involves a multi-screen cinema with IMAX screen, new restaurants and the creation of a new car park, will start later this year.

Stephanie’s new role is to help promote and raise awareness of all of the ways by which visitors can get to and from the centre.

Aldi set for new year opening Aldi have confirmed that they will be opening their new store on Burton Road early in the new year. The main building work is complete, but the store is still to be fitted out.

The store is expected to create 40 jobs and Aldi will be working with Leeds City Council’s Jobs & Skills team to ensure as many posts as possible go to local people.

Volunteers load up the lorries. Photo: Chris Mitton

by Ed Carlisle October saw the conclusion of the epic Leeds2Iraq charity appeal, with dozens of volunteers from across south Leeds and beyond loading up two articulated lorries with 25 tonnes of winter aid – which are now heading out to refugee camps in northern Iraq.

Over the past weeks, an estimated 250 people have worked together at St Luke’s Church in Beeston/Holbeck to sort and pack a huge mountain of donations from the public.

Volunteers have included: school groups, Mormons from across the region, scouts,

teachers, a team from Asda HQ, people who are themselves homeless, the St Luke’s Cares team, and a wide range of people from the south Leeds communities.

The donations were made up of winter clothing, bedding, shoes, medical aids (crutches, wheelchairs, etc), items for babies and infants, and more – for those who’ve fled the current violence in Iraq and Syria, and who now find themselves living in refugee camps in the mountainous Kurdistan in northern Iraq.This is the second such appeal in Leeds (the first was last winter, also based at St Luke’s), and both have been part of the national Samara’s Aid Appeal network.Beeston resident

Lydia Mitton, who helped coordinate the appeal, says: “It’s been an incredible few weeks, and we’re so grateful to every single person who’s helped, donated, supported, or contributed in any way. It’s been a lot of hard graft, but it’s also been an amazing team effort. It’s easy to feel powerless to act on big global issues like the Middle Eastern situation, but I hope together we’ve played our small part in making things a bit better there.”

People are still able to contribute to the Leeds2Iraq appeal, by donating money (of any amount, large or small) via Samara’s Aid, to help cover the transport costs out of Iraq.

Many thanks.

Work starts to remove Knostrop Cut

A £45million project to improve flood defences in Leeds city centre is progressing well with work now starting to remove a length of the Knostrop Cut. As well as protecting city centre properties and jobs, the flood defence scheme will also protect 300 acres of development land and open up key regeneration opportunities in the South Bank area of Hunslet.

The river footbridge at Knostrop has been taken away for refurbishment while work is now underway to remove a length of the manmade island. This involves taking away a 600 metre length of land which is approximately 48,000 cubic metres of material. It will allow the River Aire and the Aire and Calder Navigation to be merged along this length increasing the flow of water out of the city centre during a flood event.

This is one of the largest river flood defence schemes in the country, designed to protect Leeds from a 1-in-75-year river flood event.

Other elements of the scheme which began earlier in the year include the removal of the existing Victorian weir at Knostrop and replacing it with a new moveable weir which can lowered in high water conditions to control the flow of water and reduce river levels.

The Leeds project represents the first time these moveable weirs have been installed anywhere in the UK for flood defence purposes. In addition the construction of new landscape defences such as low level embankments, terracing and riverside walls at low points along the riverbank is progressing as planned.

Several educational site visits have taken place with schools and community groups. If you would like to receive more information about this, please email LFAS@leeds.gov.uk.

There is more information on the Council’s website at:

www.leeds.gov.uk/residents/Pages/floodalleviationscheme.aspx

Work has started to remove the man made island

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The Green Doctor will help you cut your bills

by Jessica Brand

Starting my new role as a Doctor at Green Groundwork Leeds I was excited at the prospect of working for a charity that has worked to help so many communities in the UK and, as a Green Doctor, being able to do this in such a hands-on way.

I have now been in the role just two weeks and it has been full of new and exciting experiences including learning how to make radiator panels, giving advice on energy tariffs, teaching service users how to read their meters and driving a transit van for the very first time! I have attended a Level 3 Energy Awareness course in Manchester which was extremely beneficial in giving me the knowledge and tools to help people to reduce their bills, keep their homes warmer and overall avoid them falling into fuel poverty.

For me one of the most rewarding parts of the role I have found so far is working directly with residents of the South Leeds community. Going into their homes means we are able to talk closely with them about their concerns and see any areas of improvement to their dwelling including draught-proofing doors and windows. It is additionally rewarding when we are able to make them significant savings to their fuel bills, something that almost everyone, including yourselves, can benefit from.

If you want to make use of our valuable and completely free service you can give us a call on 0808 1683547 to arrange a home visit. We can provide support for those of you who have children under 16 living with you, who are aged 60 or over or have a disability or long-term health condition. In addition to qualify for a visit you must be currently in receipt of benefits or have an annual household

income of less than £21,000.

Do not hesitate to give us a ring if you are unsure if you meet these requirements and we will be happy to help.

In addition if you are living in a privately rented property or own your property we can further help you as part of our recently-launched Warmth for Wellbeing scheme. As well as providing the energy advice and installation of energysaving devices we can now help with repairs to existing heating and hot water systems, servicing of heating appliances, emergency heating and will provide you with carbon monoxide monitors. This service follows the same criteria as above and is offered by the Green Doctors at Groundwork Leeds in partnership with Care & Repair Leeds.

I am looking forward to getting to meet and help more and more of you to save money and keep warmer this winter.

Celebrating literacy at South Leeds Academy

Literacy was the subject when pupils and parents gathered at The South Leeds Academy on Monday 19 October.

Opening the school’s first Literacy Festival Principal Marc Doyle talked about the power of words and said the school was working hard to improve the quality of literacy. “Reading opens avenues, life chances and opportunities” he said.

to social justice.”

The audience was also entertained by the school’s steel band and heard a song from pupil Chloe Whitaker before exploring the many stands and demonstrations.

There was a chance to tour the library and speak with local employers and colleges as well as teachers from every subject department.

Parents and pupils were able to discuss their work with teachers

The audience of a hundred or so parents and pupils also saw a video message from Education Minister Nicky Morgan who encouraged the children to “read well, read widely” and said “literacy is the cornerstone of our commitment

Drama students put on a performance of ‘Alice In Wordland’, whilst in the PE department stars of Rugby League reinforced the message that literacy is important and Leeds Rollerdolls showed off their rollerblading skills.

November 2015 | South Leeds Life

South Leeds Life | November 2015

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6 White Rose Community Awards

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Buzzing Beekeepers Hamara’s young heroes There’s something on the roof of the White Rose ShoppingCentre. A quarter of a million somethings actually. Yes 250,000 honey bees live on the roof of the centre and are looked after by Laurence Wright (Loz to his mates) and Adam Whitely.

Loz and Adam work at the centre, part of the team keeping the outside

pristine, looking after the bees in their own time.They have been mentored by experienced beekeeper Keith Dobson and have learned enough to bread their own colony.

The bees visit fields and gardens within a 2-5 mile radius to gather nectar. The honey they make has been entered at several shows and won prizes at Emley, Leeds and Harrogate.

Arooje (10) and her brother Adie (11) Khan have been actively involved in the Hamara Healthy Living Centre’s Give a Gift Initiative, which has, over the past three years, raised tens of thousands of pounds for the Leeds Children’s Heart Surgery Fund and Martin House Children’s Hospice.

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Twenty individuals and organisations were recognised at the White Rose Community Awards.

On these page we dig behind the headlines to tell you more about these community heroes who help to make South Leeds a better place to live.

Young mum’s playgroup a lifeline

Fundraisers Arooje and Adie Khan

Loz and Adam tending the bees on the White Rose roof

For Arooje, whose fabulous fundraising includes producing 2 videos and reading out an inspirational poem, her excellent efforts have provided a way of thanking the NHS for the treatment she received in the early part of her life, after she was born premature.This brother and sister collaboration have helped raise vital funds and much needed awareness of very worthy local charities.

been so supportive. I’ve made new friends and got to do loads of things. Itgives me a reason to go out of my front door and has really boosted my confidence.”

Originally the group met every fortnight but the young women loved it so much they asked if they could be trained as volunteers and run it themselves on alternate weeks.

Leeanne successfully sought funding from The People’s Health Trust and trained some

Turning around the Hub

New Nursery now open

Sue Pennycook picked up the award on behalf of the partnership that has transformed the South Leeds Youth Hub in Belle Isle.

* Brand new building * Places for 3 year olds * Mornings or afternoons * Beeston Road LS11 6AA

Call 0113 385 7910 for more details or email: haskham@laneendprimary.org.uk

Originally built in 2008 on the site of the Merlyn Rees High School, the Hub struggled in its first incarnation, but Sue is heading up a team including The Hunslet Club, Opera North, Southway school,The Works Skatepark and DAZL. Southway providing alternative and vocational educational opportunities for boys and girls aged 11-16 years of age. Its occupation of the building has brought financial stability to the facility allow it to offer out of school activities to the all young people throughout the week.

A new board headed up by Cllr Kim Groves and including Land Securities (which runs the White Rose Centre) is ensuring a great future for this landmark facility.

Decorating cookies

White Rose Community Awards 7

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Everyone’s a winner

The YUMS Young Mums Tots’n’Tums group was set up by Leeanne Rowinska from Women’s Health Matters five years ago.

It is now run by volunteers from amongst the mums and has moved from fortnightly to weekly sessions at the Play & Learning Centre on Throstle Lane in Middleton.

“I love it” said Mum Vicki Stead. “I’ve been coming on and off for 18 months and it has

of the young women as volunteers. The group now meets every week and has an average attendance of 16 young mums plus their children.

Sessions are open to mothers under 25 years and their children. For more information call (0113) 201 6692, or email: YUMS@womenshealthmatters.org.uk, or like ‘Yums Leeds’ on Facebook.

Photos by Jeremy Morton

Volunteers Kylie Rumney & Hayley Bickerdike with mum Vicki Stead

Hamara Centre goes the extra mile As a new addition this year the White Rose Shopping Centre presented an award for exceptional contribution to the Hamara Healthy Living Centre.

Presenting the award, Centre Manager Dean Stratton said: “This community organisation, not only inspires its members to achieve and reach their full potential, but is outward looking and mindful of the needs of others – whether just around the corner, or in Leeds – or facing desperate circumstances in countries across the world.”

They were quick to respond to the plight of refugees and asylum seekers from Syria.

Working alongside the organisation Positive Action for

Refugees and Asylum Seekers (PAFRAS) Hamara provided a collection point where people within the south Leeds community could donate muchneeded food, clothing, toiletries and bedding.

The response was massive and within a matter of weeks, enough items were collected to fill two large garages. In addition to the items given, money was also donated to support the aid agencies in their humanitarian work.

This work goes on alongside the many services the centre offers to the Beeston community. There are lunch clubs for the elderly; a programme of activities for people with learning disabilities;

listed as an endangered species by the RSPB. Sam Knight, a member of the White Rose team who judged the competition with her colleague Laura Robinson, said: “The standard of entries was exceptionally high and we are delighted to work in partnership with Cockburn each year to

produce a trophy that is so original”.

Since 2012, when White Rose awarded Jubilee medals to community stalwarts to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee awards have been made to more than 100 people in recognition of the good works that they do.

Sam Knight with Erin-Rae Hughes

Habib Khan & Hanif Malik receive their award from Dean Stratton

a newly refurbished gym; Tai Chi classes; health promotion; youth groups and a supplementary school.

Commenting on the award, Hamara’s Chief Executive Hanif Malik said: “The word Hamara

means ‘ours’. For the last fifteen years we have tried to make sure we are serving our community of Beeston. It is fantastic for the whole team at Hamara to receive this recognition for our work.”

Khaleeq Interacts with community Combine commitment to the community with baking fabulous cupcakes that are sold to raise money for others and you have two powerful ingredients.

Now add in organisational skills and a determination to succeed and you have a very special person indeed. Khaleeqa Bostan – who, as a year 11 student at South Leeds Academy and President of its Interact Club – is the driving force behind a group of dedicated young people who have raised around £3,000 in just a couple of years for local charities including St Luke’s Cares.

Interact Clubs are youth clubs sponsored by individual Rotary Clubs, where students complete various projects within their local community

Meet the trophy designer Taylor-Mae is a

For the third consecutive year, the Glassroom at Cockburn School has produced a hand-made glass trophy for our community heroes and, once again, it will be a unique design.

The design for the 2015 trophy was created by 12-yearold Erin-Rae Hughes – a Year 8 student at Cockburn.

Erin-Rae, who wants to be an interior designer when she finishes her education, said: “I took my inspiration from the natural world and really enjoyed the challenge of the competition.”

Centre Manager Dean Stratton revealed that the Kingfisher design marks the fact that Kingfishers have been sighted at the White Rose Centre this year amongst the beautifully kept grounds.

These beautiful birds are often seen near rivers and are amber-

November 2015 | South Leeds Life

club role model

Taylor-Mae Francis recieves her award from Dean Stratton

Taylor Mae Francis has been a member of the Hunslet Club for many years.

In the past 12 months she has started to volunteer at the Club coaching younger or less experienced members in Cheerleading and Gymnastics.

She is a positive role model to other members and is also keen to help out in other areas where she can. These have included helping out in the tuck shop and during the Summer Activity Camp.

Taylor-Mae’s confidence to help engage the younger members of the Club is particularly inspiring and she’s a true role model that embodies everything that The Hunslet Club stands for. As a volunteer she is an invaluable and well respected young lady that gives a lot of her time to help other people.

and with their peers whilst raising funds for nominated charities.

The club’s motto is “they smile, we smile”.

By raising funds for local charities the students realised that they would get to see the benefits for their peers within the local

community and the Academy, as the charity gives back to young people in Leeds.

Khaleeq and her colleagues efforts highlight the drive and determination of The South Leeds Academy students in making a difference in their local community.

South Leeds Life | November 2015

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6 White Rose Community Awards

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Buzzing Beekeepers Hamara’s young heroes There’s something on the roof of the White Rose ShoppingCentre. A quarter of a million somethings actually. Yes 250,000 honey bees live on the roof of the centre and are looked after by Laurence Wright (Loz to his mates) and Adam Whitely.

Loz and Adam work at the centre, part of the team keeping the outside

pristine, looking after the bees in their own time.They have been mentored by experienced beekeeper Keith Dobson and have learned enough to bread their own colony.

The bees visit fields and gardens within a 2-5 mile radius to gather nectar. The honey they make has been entered at several shows and won prizes at Emley, Leeds and Harrogate.

Arooje (10) and her brother Adie (11) Khan have been actively involved in the Hamara Healthy Living Centre’s Give a Gift Initiative, which has, over the past three years, raised tens of thousands of pounds for the Leeds Children’s Heart Surgery Fund and Martin House Children’s Hospice.

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Twenty individuals and organisations were recognised at the White Rose Community Awards.

On these page we dig behind the headlines to tell you more about these community heroes who help to make South Leeds a better place to live.

Young mum’s playgroup a lifeline

Fundraisers Arooje and Adie Khan

Loz and Adam tending the bees on the White Rose roof

For Arooje, whose fabulous fundraising includes producing 2 videos and reading out an inspirational poem, her excellent efforts have provided a way of thanking the NHS for the treatment she received in the early part of her life, after she was born premature.This brother and sister collaboration have helped raise vital funds and much needed awareness of very worthy local charities.

been so supportive. I’ve made new friends and got to do loads of things. Itgives me a reason to go out of my front door and has really boosted my confidence.”

Originally the group met every fortnight but the young women loved it so much they asked if they could be trained as volunteers and run it themselves on alternate weeks.

Leeanne successfully sought funding from The People’s Health Trust and trained some

Turning around the Hub

New Nursery now open

Sue Pennycook picked up the award on behalf of the partnership that has transformed the South Leeds Youth Hub in Belle Isle.

* Brand new building * Places for 3 year olds * Mornings or afternoons * Beeston Road LS11 6AA

Call 0113 385 7910 for more details or email: haskham@laneendprimary.org.uk

Originally built in 2008 on the site of the Merlyn Rees High School, the Hub struggled in its first incarnation, but Sue is heading up a team including The Hunslet Club, Opera North, Southway school,The Works Skatepark and DAZL. Southway providing alternative and vocational educational opportunities for boys and girls aged 11-16 years of age. Its occupation of the building has brought financial stability to the facility allow it to offer out of school activities to the all young people throughout the week.

A new board headed up by Cllr Kim Groves and including Land Securities (which runs the White Rose Centre) is ensuring a great future for this landmark facility.

Decorating cookies

White Rose Community Awards 7

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Everyone’s a winner

The YUMS Young Mums Tots’n’Tums group was set up by Leeanne Rowinska from Women’s Health Matters five years ago.

It is now run by volunteers from amongst the mums and has moved from fortnightly to weekly sessions at the Play & Learning Centre on Throstle Lane in Middleton.

“I love it” said Mum Vicki Stead. “I’ve been coming on and off for 18 months and it has

of the young women as volunteers. The group now meets every week and has an average attendance of 16 young mums plus their children.

Sessions are open to mothers under 25 years and their children. For more information call (0113) 201 6692, or email: YUMS@womenshealthmatters.org.uk, or like ‘Yums Leeds’ on Facebook.

Photos by Jeremy Morton

Volunteers Kylie Rumney & Hayley Bickerdike with mum Vicki Stead

Hamara Centre goes the extra mile As a new addition this year the White Rose Shopping Centre presented an award for exceptional contribution to the Hamara Healthy Living Centre.

Presenting the award, Centre Manager Dean Stratton said: “This community organisation, not only inspires its members to achieve and reach their full potential, but is outward looking and mindful of the needs of others – whether just around the corner, or in Leeds – or facing desperate circumstances in countries across the world.”

They were quick to respond to the plight of refugees and asylum seekers from Syria.

Working alongside the organisation Positive Action for

Refugees and Asylum Seekers (PAFRAS) Hamara provided a collection point where people within the south Leeds community could donate muchneeded food, clothing, toiletries and bedding.

The response was massive and within a matter of weeks, enough items were collected to fill two large garages. In addition to the items given, money was also donated to support the aid agencies in their humanitarian work.

This work goes on alongside the many services the centre offers to the Beeston community. There are lunch clubs for the elderly; a programme of activities for people with learning disabilities;

listed as an endangered species by the RSPB. Sam Knight, a member of the White Rose team who judged the competition with her colleague Laura Robinson, said: “The standard of entries was exceptionally high and we are delighted to work in partnership with Cockburn each year to

produce a trophy that is so original”.

Since 2012, when White Rose awarded Jubilee medals to community stalwarts to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee awards have been made to more than 100 people in recognition of the good works that they do.

Sam Knight with Erin-Rae Hughes

Habib Khan & Hanif Malik receive their award from Dean Stratton

a newly refurbished gym; Tai Chi classes; health promotion; youth groups and a supplementary school.

Commenting on the award, Hamara’s Chief Executive Hanif Malik said: “The word Hamara

means ‘ours’. For the last fifteen years we have tried to make sure we are serving our community of Beeston. It is fantastic for the whole team at Hamara to receive this recognition for our work.”

Khaleeq Interacts with community Combine commitment to the community with baking fabulous cupcakes that are sold to raise money for others and you have two powerful ingredients.

Now add in organisational skills and a determination to succeed and you have a very special person indeed. Khaleeqa Bostan – who, as a year 11 student at South Leeds Academy and President of its Interact Club – is the driving force behind a group of dedicated young people who have raised around £3,000 in just a couple of years for local charities including St Luke’s Cares.

Interact Clubs are youth clubs sponsored by individual Rotary Clubs, where students complete various projects within their local community

Meet the trophy designer Taylor-Mae is a

For the third consecutive year, the Glassroom at Cockburn School has produced a hand-made glass trophy for our community heroes and, once again, it will be a unique design.

The design for the 2015 trophy was created by 12-yearold Erin-Rae Hughes – a Year 8 student at Cockburn.

Erin-Rae, who wants to be an interior designer when she finishes her education, said: “I took my inspiration from the natural world and really enjoyed the challenge of the competition.”

Centre Manager Dean Stratton revealed that the Kingfisher design marks the fact that Kingfishers have been sighted at the White Rose Centre this year amongst the beautifully kept grounds.

These beautiful birds are often seen near rivers and are amber-

November 2015 | South Leeds Life

club role model

Taylor-Mae Francis recieves her award from Dean Stratton

Taylor Mae Francis has been a member of the Hunslet Club for many years.

In the past 12 months she has started to volunteer at the Club coaching younger or less experienced members in Cheerleading and Gymnastics.

She is a positive role model to other members and is also keen to help out in other areas where she can. These have included helping out in the tuck shop and during the Summer Activity Camp.

Taylor-Mae’s confidence to help engage the younger members of the Club is particularly inspiring and she’s a true role model that embodies everything that The Hunslet Club stands for. As a volunteer she is an invaluable and well respected young lady that gives a lot of her time to help other people.

and with their peers whilst raising funds for nominated charities.

The club’s motto is “they smile, we smile”.

By raising funds for local charities the students realised that they would get to see the benefits for their peers within the local

community and the Academy, as the charity gives back to young people in Leeds.

Khaleeq and her colleagues efforts highlight the drive and determination of The South Leeds Academy students in making a difference in their local community.

South Leeds Life | November 2015

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8 Opinion

In our view

Community Heroes

We started this newspaper with a one-off edition in June 2014. We chose to highlight the important role that volunteers play in our community life and illustrated it with a photo of the White Rose Community Award winners from two years ago. A new set of community heroes are featured on this month’s front page. Could it be you next year? Why not get involved and volunteer with a group near you.

From Leeds with love

Speaking of volunteers, what a fantastic job the volunteers did at St Luke’s in Beeston, sorting and packing donations to keep refugees in Iraq warm this winter.

It is such a credit to our community that people of all faiths and none come to together to donate time, money and clothing to help people who they have never met, but are suffering such hardships.

Vote for Hannah!

We hear many complaints about young people’s behaviour, so it’s great to see the inspirational lead that Hannah Begum is offering.

She not only wants to be Leeds Children’s Mayor, but has a practical project to deliver if she’s elected. If you are under 18, please vote for Hannah! But hurry, voting closes on Thursday 5 November.

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Your letters and comments

Top Tweets

Development Plans

I think the building of sheltered accommodation for our elderly people is an excellent idea.

Lots of them will have lived in their present homes for a very long time, homes that aren’t necessarily adaptable in a practical way for when they inevitably become less able bodied and need something slightly different, but still in a position where they are pretty much fully independent with some support from family members, rather than having to resort to going in a residential home.

There does need to be a large house building programme as we have a growing population – for all kinds of reasons – people live longer, stay single and live alone longer, and so on… successive governments have failed to cope with the need to build 200k+ homes a year to maintain the current bad situation as ‘good’ as it is.

Relaxing planning laws would be a reasonable start, especially on brownfield sites.

Taking Beeston specifically, there are large plots of land on Old Lane and Barkly Road that would be ideal for this purpose.

Better to start in these areas rather than concreting over playing fields and other open spaces.

Luke Senior I honestly believe one of the best ways to improve certain areas not just south Leeds but others as well would be update the Quality of the housing. I am trying to be positive here but the rows and rows of back to back terraces really are a eye sore and terrible to live in. I know I don't like

The Holbeck, not the oldest club?

mine is it just me who thinks over a twenty year period or more as it would be a huge project to take on it would be possible to demolish them all and replace them with modern clean housing that's up to date and not stuck in the past. Ok the back to backs did once serve their purpose quite well but not anymore they are awful to live in no room,scruffy and no sense of privacy. How anyone could raise a family comfortably in one is beyond me.

If it's possible I'm honestly impressed. If I have visitors they alway get the same impression of the area and think it's run down and deprived which is quite true. I haven't posted to cause anything other than a conversation. Would be great to hear people's opinions. Improve the area through demolition and modernisation and leave the past in the past.

Bondi Arron

Your Councillors and MP Beeston & Holbeck ward

Includes Beeston from Cross Flatts Park up to the Co-op, Cottingley, old Holbeck. The three councillors are:

David Congreve 0113 277 7389 david.congreve@leeds.gov.uk Angela Gabriel 07946 632 468 angela.gabriel@leeds.gov.uk Adam Ogilvie 0113 247 4578 adam.ogilvie@leeds.gov.uk

City & Hunslet ward Includes the city centre, Holbeck Urban Village, Beeston Hill and Hunslet. The three councillors are:

Patrick Davey 0113 261 0465 patrick.davey@leeds.gov.uk Mohammed Iqbal 0113 294 1049 mohammed.iqbal@leeds.gov.uk Elizabeth Nash 0113 275 8594 elizabeth.nash@leeds.gov.uk

Middleton Park ward Includes Belle Isle and Middleton. The three councillors are:

Judith Blake Kim Groves Paul Truswell

0113 395 1735 judith.blake@leeds.gov.uk 07891 741 832 kim.groves@leeds.gov.uk 0113 247 4472 paul.truswell@leeds.gov.uk

Leeds Central MP – Rt Hon Hilary Benn Hilary Benn is our MP. He represents the Leeds Central constituency which covers Hunslet, Belle Isle, Beeston, Holbeck, Cottingley in south Leeds as well as the city centre, Woodhouse, Little London, Lincoln Green, Richmond Hill, Osmondthorpe, Halton Moor and New Wortley.

Contact: hilary.benn.mp@parliament.uk, www.hilarybennmp.com Constituency office: Suite 7, Unity Business Centre, 26 Roundhay Road, Leeds LS7 1AB; phone: 0113 244 1097

Immigration

The state of public services in Britain today has nothing whatsoever to do with migration – legal or “illegal”, except in this one respect: it is thanks to the presence of skilled and dedicated migrant workers that these services are running at all.

That the NHS is at breaking point, and that there is insufficient good quality housing of the right kind for working people of any ethnicity and national origin, is solely due to the choices made by successive governments since the late 1970s.

Isn’t about time we stopped swallowing the lies we’re fed by an elite that cares for no-one but their own class, and for nothing but their own wealth? Isn’t it about time we understood, and asserted, that we have more in common with the foreign-born nurses and doctors who run our NHS, the foreign-born care workers who care for our parents and grandparents, the pickers and packers who prepare and dispatch the goods that we buy, and with the desperate people fleeing war and deprivation who until a few years ago were leading ordinary just like ours, than with the toffs, despots and oligarchs who rule us?

Susan Talbot

Not the oldest club

Could you please stop calling Holbeck WMC the oldest working men’s club in the country. It’s irritating as it’s not even near.

It was founded in 1877 making it probably the oldest in Leeds but of the many clubs older than it two stand out: Walthamstow WMC was founded in 1862 the same year as the CIU itself, while Reddish WMC in Stockport has traced its origin to 1857.

Chris Brewis Join the debate. Comment online, email your letter to info@southleedslife.com, or post to: 224 Cross Flatts Grove, Leeds, LS11 7BW.

Keep up to date, up to the minute, by following South Leeds Life’s Twitter feed: @SouthLeedsLife.

Twitter is the 140 character ‘micro blogging’ site. It’s free and you can sign up at twitter.com. It’s a great place to find the very latest news.

Here are some of our favourite recent tweets: @littleharryhawk Top afternoon helping the @TrussellTrust @ Middleton @asda. Generosity of people heartwarming #love

@GillVolition Looking forward to hearty breakfast tomorrow at @CB_FT 's new community cafe at Vale Circles @lisamulherin @CB_FT's breakfasts are the best! What time will you be serving til? @LufcColin @groves_kim @SouthLeedsLife Sadly, I think installing speed cameras is the only way this speed limit will be obeyed. @groves_kim @LufcColin @SouthLeedsLife we are looking at Speed Indicater Device and We have secured funding for a couple of cameras @BasementArtsPro A packed out #BasementHQ last night #Daily #BAProgramme2015

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@LeedsArts @LufcColin @keithhitchiner @HunsletHawksRL That flag is clocking up the air miles. It has more holidays than Judith Chalmers! @RichardsStephen The legend that is @keithhitchiner puts Alan Wicker to shame! @andybanjobrown SAT's up in #BelleIsle? Must be the primary school classical music immersion @Opera_North

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Local lives 9

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Hannah aims to be Children’s Mayor

by Lucy Potter South Leeds primary schoolgirl Hannah Begum has been shortlisted for the Children’s Lord Mayor of Leeds.

Ten year old Hannah from Hunslet Moor Primary school in Beeston is the only candidate from South Leeds.

Each child had to write their own wish or manifesto and put forward to get chosen. Hannah has said: “If I was Children’s Lord Mayor of Leeds, I would love to set up ‘Global Families of Leeds Project’ Her manifesto is very simple – bringing children and young people of Leeds to have more opportunities to interact with each other.”

I first met Hannah three years ago when I was a dinner lady at the school. I wasn’t surprised she went for the role, even in year three she was always looking out for others. I meet her now, and she is tired after a week of campaigning, she’s just been at Hunslet Carr this morning. The school has been networking with local schools in the area and arranging Hannah to visit within school time.

Her mum says: “She is so confident, just

Hannah writes ‘My community is very transient with many new families coming from all over the world. My project would give the perfect platform for children and young people to feel safe, ask questions, and learn about respecting other cultures, religions and beliefs in a safe environment.’

Her practical approach is cost effective too. She says Hannah Begum the groups already exist and it would only be a little bit getting up there and speaking in front of a of work to coordinate a database for the class of children she doesn’t know, it just organisations that would like to sign up naturally flows and she doesn’t have along with help to transport them around trouble getting her vision over to the the city. Should Hannah become Children’s other children”.

Lord Mayor of Leeds, not only will she be The school are 100% behind Hannah able to turn her dream into a reality, but too, especially her year six teacher Miss she will get to help switch on the Hicks. The head teacher Hannah Darley Christmas Lights and have her name said: engraved in ‘gold’ in the civic hall.

“We can’t think of a better candidate.

If you are under 18 you can vote here: Her manifesto is clear and she has initiated http://www.breezeleeds.org/HaveYour everything herself, showing great Say/Pages/Leeds-Childrens-Mayor.aspx motivation and a role model to her peers.”

Polls close on Thursday 5 November.

Interview with BITMO’s Chis Holmes

by Kenneth Ingram

Chris Holmes has recently been voted back onto the BITMO Board.

I would imagine BITMO and BITMOs GATE have meant a lot to you over the last few years before and after you joined the Board. Can you please tell us a bit about your best moments?

Including how Julie has helped you in this venture.

I suppose there is no one thing I can say as there is many things that I’ve enjoyed doing.

What I have learnt has helped me to come along and do more voluntary work and it’s inspired me to do more and been able to take this back to Julie who I then encouraged to start her Ancestry group.

As you know yourself the group has gone from strength to strength. I applaud her whole-heartedly for that.

Chris you’ve recently been voted in as the new chairman of the Belle Isle and Middleton In Bloom Group. What do you hope to bring to the group in the next year or so?

First of all as you can see there have been three more planters on Belle Isle Road and Belle Isle Circus. Instaplanta

November 2015 | South Leeds Life

has supplied them and how they work is we get the money from every 6th planter so hopefully with that funding that’s a regular revenue, so we can get as many planters all the way up in Belle Isle and

They also search out for possible sponsorship from companies which helps Belle Isle and Middleton look a better, more colourful place.

That then leaves us volunteers at Belle Isle and Middleton In Bloom to do other things such as planting where we are needed and allowed to plant.

Please tell us a little about any hobbies you have Chris?

I love cooking and as much as I enjoy volunteering it can be tiring and sometimes stressful so my relaxation is to cook.

I take over the kitchen, nobody is allowed to go in. I Chris Holmes have music on and I just cook. Today I’m Middleton. making a right concoction: It would be my idea to be spaghetti, onions, mushrooms able to supply hanging baskets, with chicken all coated in curry subsidised, rather than asking sauce. someone to pay full price.

Chris, what is your favourite Could you please tell me a bit food and drink? more about Instaplanta?

During the summertime I Instaplanta actually supply like to have a glass of cider the plant boxes which are outside in the sun or go out around 4ft square. They fill it, for a meal. If I’ve gone out to a plant it and water it. pub it would be lager and

other times I might have a glass of wine, white wine.

I prefer proper roast meals and Sunday lunches, they’re my favourite, them and stews.

Where in the world would you and Julie like to go on holiday where you’ve never been to before?

There are a couple of places I would like to go that are aboard. I think Julie would get on a plane at a push, but she is a bit nervous. I’m off to Berlin this week, at the weekend, I’ve always fancied going to Germany.The other two places would be Canada and Australia.

Have you anything you would like to add to this interview before closing Chris?

Yes, I would like to thank you for letting people know who I am, and getting Belle Isle and Middleton in Bloom out there.

I would like to see as many volunteers as we can get.

More hands make light work, and we would like more volunteers in Middleton itself.

You can get more details of the group and how to volunteer by going to the In Bloom Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/BelleIsle-and-Middleton-In-Bloom -620449834739133

South Leeds hikers conquer Ben Nevis

by Niki Woods

On the first weekend of October, thirty people - and a dog - from south Leeds travelled to Fort William in western Scotland – to hike up Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in the British Isles.

‘mountain track’, taking us a distance of approximately 10 miles with an ascent of 1352 metres. The initial few miles involved a steep climb up a path made of large rocks, challenging our calves and thighs, before reaching a welcome plateau which gave great views of the surrounding

Preparing to set off

It follows previous valleys and the now distant community hikes over the past hostel. The path then begun to 2-3 years, to Snowdon and the zigzag and again became more Yorkshire Three Peaks – giving challenging, involving loose local people the opportunity rocks and scree.The headwind to take on a challenge here was strong and all layers together, get inspired by were now needed for the final ascent to the summit. nature, and have a laugh.

By now fog had set in and The group set off early Saturday in two minibuses the first of the group to reach which had been generously the summit saw more fog than lent by the Hunslet Hawks and views – although occasional Hamara, for the long (7 hour) breaks gave some views of the drive to Fort Wiliam. The glen (valley) below. After a group ranged in age from 14 to short (and at -6ºC, very cold) 60 and the long journey break to look at the cairns and provided plenty of time for memorials, everyone to get to know each observatory at the top and to refuel, those first up began other better.

After arriving at the Glen their descent, encouraging Nevis Hostel in the early fellow walkers who were still evening, everyone shared a on their way up to the summit! delicious communal supper Those arriving later to the made by group members, summit were rewarded by the before preparing sandwiches fog clearing and good views for Sunday’s hike and enjoying across the glen.

All members of the group a campfire. The majority of people then slept in the hostel, successfully reached the but some camped, and some mountain summit, and made it even spent the night under the back down the at-times kneestars. A couple of lucky challenging path in one piece. campers even saw an One or two group members impressive stag at very close even ran down! It took us between 5 and 8 hours up and range!

Bright and early on Sunday down. The climb itself was morning, breakfast was made easier due to the consumed and everyone weather being so good, but headed out in glorious was still challenging and is an that each sunshine to start the climb. achievement Some participants had member can be proud of. previously climbed Ben Nevis independently – but for most, this was their biggest challenge yet attempted.

The weather was far better than we’d dared to hope for.

The route The only way is up. Photo: Radek Kucko taken was the

South Leeds Life | November 2015

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10 What’s On

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What’s On

Your guide to events and activities across South Leeds in November Every Monday Swimming 9:45am Holbeck Elderly Aid Happy Chinese Families Group 9:30am-12pm Beeston Village Community Centre General fitness for the over 55's 11:30am-12:30pm St Andrews Community Centre, Beeston.

Walk and Talk 1:30-2:30pm Middleton Park Visitor Centre Keep Fit 4:15-5pm BITMOs GATE, Aberfield Gate, Belle Isle Women only running with South Leeds Sisters 5.45pm Beginners Phoenix Bar, John Charles Centre Zumba 7pm Middleton Parochial Hall Every Tuesday Keep Fit 9:30am Trinity Network, Belle Isle Over 55's Nesfield church hall community room Knit & Natter 10:30am-12pm Middleton Park Visitor Centre General fitness over 55's 10-11am St Anthony's church hall, Beeston Chair based mobility session 11.30am-1pm Cottingley Community Centre Lunch Club 12:15-1:30pm St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck

South Leeds Lakers running group 7pm from Beeston Co-op HUB Choir 7-8:30pm Slung Low HUB, 67-71 Bath Road, Holbeck Every Wednesday Chair mobility 10-10:45am Trinity Network, Belle Isle Over 55's Nesfield church hall community room Breaklfast Club & Foodbank 10am-12pm Hunslet Methodist Church, Telford Terrace, Balm Rd Computer Club 10am-12pm Holbeck Elderly Aid, Balm Walk Shopping Trip 10am-1pm Holbeck Elderly Aid, Balm Walk Pop Up Council Hub 10am-3pm The Recreations, Holbeck CAP Job Club 10am-12pm Two Willows Children’s Centre, Cardinal Square, Beeston Community Craft Cafe 10am-12pm Church of the Nazarene, Hunslet Hall Road Walk and Talk 12-1pm BITMOs GATE, Aberfield Gate, Belle Isle Line Dancing 1:45pm Trinity Network, Nesfield Road, Belle Isle Knit and Crochet Group 3-5pm Costa Coffee, Crown Point Retail Park Aerobics and Dance 3:30-4:30pm Cottingley

For up to date event information make sure you go online to

www.southleedslife.com and check the What’s On Calendar

Primary Academy General fitness (suitable for beginners) 6-7pm Belle Isle Family Cntre Zumba 6:30pm Middleton Parochial Hall, Town Street Women only running with South Leeds Sisters 7.15pm Improvers Phoenix Bar, John Charles Centre Every Thursday Tea & Toast 8:30-9:30am Beeston Parish Centre, Town Street Heart Cafe 10-11:30am St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck Middleton Park Estate Volunteers 10am-3pm Middleton Park Visitor Centre South Leeds Life News Cafe 10am-12pm Brew Coffee Shop, Beeston Road Chair based mobility group and games group 11:15am-12:30pm Beeston Village Community Centre Line Dancing 1pm Trinity Network, Nesfield Road, Belle Isle Craft Group 1:30-3:30pm Cleveleys Court, Holbeck Mashed up fitness session aerobic dance 1:45-2:45pm Beeston Village Community Centre Game Time 4:30-6pm Beeston Parish Centre, Town Street Women only running with South Leeds Sisters 5.45pm Intermediates Phoenix Bar, John Charles Centre for Sport General fitness (suitable for beginners) 6-7pm Beeston Parish Centre Indoor Bowls 7-10pm The Holbeck (WMC), Jenkinson Lawn Clubbercise 7:15pm-8pm Beeston Parish Centre Zumba 7:15pm Middleton Parochial Hall Every Friday Charity Shop, Tea & Toast 9am-12pm Beeston Hill United Free Church, Malvern Road South Leeds Life News Cafe 10am-12pm BITMOs GATE, Aberfield Gate, Belle Isle Under 5s Storytime 10-11am Dewsbury Road Library Ladies Singing Group 10:30am-12;30pm Tenant Hall, Acre Close, Middleton

In Harmony Community Choir 12:15-1pm Windmill Primary School, Belle Isle Fish & Chip Lunch Club 12:30-1:30pm St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck Krok Po Kroku (Polish Group) 12:30-2:30pm Beeston Village Community Centre Games Afternoon 1:30-3pm St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck Friday Night Project 6-9pm Middleton Leisure Centre Friday Night Drop In 6:30-8:30pm Watsonian Pavilion, Cross Flatts Park Every Saturday Breakfast Club 8:30-11am Vale Circles Centre, Tunstall Road, Beeston Cross Flatts Parkrun 9am Run or walk 5km Watsonian Pavilion, Cross Flatts Park Police Contact Point 9:30-11:30am St George’s Centre, Middleton Zumba 10am Beeston Parish Centre, Town Street Middleton Railway 11am-4pm Moor Road, Hunslet Every Sunday Middleton Railway 11am-4pm Moor Road, Hunslet Circuit Training 4:15-5pm Beeston Parish Centre, Town Street Clubbercise 5-5:45pm Beeston Parish Centre, Town Street Sunday 1 November Gated Community 5pm Slung Low Theatre 67-71 Bath Road, Holbeck Monday 2 November St Luke’s Tenants & Residents Assoc 6pm St Luke’s Church, Malvern Road, Beeston Tuesday 3 November Mostly Men 10am-12pm Northcotes Community Centre Friends of Stank Hall Barn 7:30pm The Broadway pub, Dewsbury Road Wednesday 4 November Hunslet Memories 12-2pm Garden Gate pub, Whitfield Place, Hunslet Hunslet Tenants & Residents 6:30-8pm Church of the Nazarene, Grove Road

5th November 7:00pm

Thursday 5 November Hunslet Carr Residents Ass 6:30pm Woodhouse Hill Community Centre, Woodhouse Hill Avenue Middleton Park Bonfire 7pm Middleton Park A Pleasing Terror: Two Ghost Stories 7:30pm Slung Low Theatre 67-71 Bath Road, Holbeck Saturday 7 November Christmas Bazaar 10am-2pm St Andrew’s Methodist Church, Old Lane, Beeston Fundraiser for Linus Harrison 7pm The Plantation pub, Bodmin Crescent, Middleton Sunday 8 November Sunday Lunch 1-3pm Holbeck Community Centre, Elland Road The Peoples Republic of Poetry 5pm Slung Low Theatre 67-71 Bath Road, Holbeck Monday 9 November Beeston Local History Society 8pm Beeston Parish Centre, Town Street Wednesday 11 November Leeds Soup 6pm The Adelphi pub, Hunslet Road Cottingley Hall TRAC 6:30pm Cottingley Community Centre,

Cottingley Approach Thursday 12 November Beeston Community Forum 7:30pm Beeston Village Community Centre Thursday 19 November Comics Club!

3:15-4:45pm Dewsbury Road Library Friends of Middleton Park 7pm St George’s Centre, Middleton Saturday 21 November Leeds Young Archaeologists Club 10am-12pm Middleton Park Visitor Centre Sunday 22 November Me and Mr C 5pm Slung Low Theatre 67-71 Bath Road, Holbeck Wednesday 25 November Hunslet Moor Residents Meeting 6:30pm St Peter’s Court, Dewsbury Road Saturday 28 November Holbeck Feast Cafe 9-11am St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck Sunday 29 November BITMO Lunch Club 1-3pm BITMO’s GATE, Aberfield Gate, Belle Isle Maltings Lunch Club 1-3pm Maltings Court, Maltings Road, Beeston Community Meal 5-6:30pm Watsonian Pavilion, Cross Flatts Park

Publicise your event with South Leeds Life Send full details of your event to: info@southleedslife.com, or post to: 224 Cross Flatts Grove, Leeds, LS11 7BW

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November 2015 | South Leeds Life

Arts 11

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Evie’s WW1 story

The story of Evie, a Leeds woman whose husband is away in the trenches held an audience at St Matthew’s Community Centre spellbound at a performance on 13 October.

Evie’s Story, a onewoman show featuring Sandra Chewins, is presented by Space2 and follows a previous show about Harry’s experiences in France. Evie tells her Sandra Chewins plays Evie story of helping the war effort working at Barnbow on its head.”

Evie reflects on the first day munitions factory in Cross of the Battle of the Somme Gates. She vividly describes life when 750 Leeds Pals went inside a ‘whole new town stuck the top. 200 were dead over on the side of Leeds’ with 60,000 workers, mostly within minutes and there women and its own train wasn’t a street in the city that wasn’t affected. Barnbow service.

As Evie says: “But if you’d suffered its own tragedy six said to me, this time last year, months later when an that we’d have women messing explosion and fire killed 35 round with the bombs and women.

The performance was put explosives, I would have told you to go and have a little lie on by Holbeck Elderly Aid and down with a damp cloth followed on from their lunch pressed on your forehead. club. There was plenty to None of us could have seen discuss over tea and cake as this coming. It’s a funny old the audience reflected on their thing war. It turns everything own family histories.

Fusion at The Holbeck

by Pat Jackson On Saturday 10 October there was a fundraiser in aid of PAFRAS (Positive Action for Refugees and Asylum Seekers). The venue was the former Working Mens’ Club which is now run as a co-operative and according to the name above the door is called The Holbeck.

Fusion who are a very talented group from very different backgrounds took everyone on a musical world journey which was happy and sad in equal measures. But definitely one of the most enjoyable experiences the audience could have wished for.

First up was a duo from Wakefield Ben (Robinson) and Hannah. I’ve given you his surname in case you want to listen to him on iTunes where he has a new EP. Their music had a lovely folksey feel and made a lovely start to the evening.

Fusion whose gig this was, then came on, they are very well named as they are a fusion of many different musical styles from all over the world which are combined to make their very distinctive sound.

“Our own take on it” was how Steve Skinner, the leader of the group, described it in his introduction.

In the first half we were treated a range

Fusion

of songs, firstly Istanbul, then a Syrian love song called Ah ya Zane which was played as a tribute to all who have left their homes, then Breathe Deep, which combined a song from Zimbabwe with a Punjabi tune.Yahnee was next, based on a Greek song, telling the tale of young men who leave their homes for cities or countries and return changed people.

The different styles of all these was amazing and the talent of the artists superb. The number of instruments they played added spice to this adventure in music and the audience joined in with clapping in time to the music when asked.

I could go on and on but as this is for a newspaper and not a book I suppose I had better just give you the address of their Facebook page, where you may find out if there is a gig in your area and find out more about them. I hope you do and have the pleasure of going to see them yourself.

Their Facebook page is FusionWorld Leeds We must not forget what this fundraiser was for and if you would like to know more about PAFRAS then visit their website at www.pafras.org.uk I am sure they would welcome any help or donation you can give.

www.southleedslife.com

South Leeds Life | November 2015

12 Sport

Twitter: @SouthLeedsLife

Hawks prepare for Championship 1

The Hunslet Hawks have lost no time following their disappointing relegation to Championship 1 in rebuilding the squad ready for next season.

A core of this season’s team have been re-signed and new players brought in from other clubs. One of the first to sign was the fans favourite Jimmy Watson who had such a good season at full back. Jimmy picked up the Supporters Player of the Season, Player of the Season as well as the Players Player of the Season at the club’s recent annual awards ceremony.

Other players who have re-signed include goal kicking half back Simon Brown, back row forward Mufaro Mvududu and prop forward Lewis Reed.

George Flanagan, Michael Haley, Mathew Tebb, Danny Ansell, Marcus Elliott, Aston Wilson, Liam Mackay and Nathan Darby have also put pen to paper on new one year deals. Hawks Centre Danny Maun retired at the end of the 2015 season.

New players coming in include Ayden Faal who has returned to the club from Batley Bulldogs and Matt Carbutt also returning to South Leeds Stadium from Doncaster. Forward Jack Pickles and Jay Leary have joined the club from York City Knights, powerful centre/back row Jake Normington has joined from East Leeds ARLFC as has utility back Danny Thomas from Oxford.

Utility player Lee Waterman has been signed from Doncaster. Waterman was a real fans favourite at the Keepmoat and was the clubs leading try scorer in 2012 as they gained promotion to the Championship.

The latest squad news as we went to press was that James Duckworth has signed a 12 month contract extension for 2016. Duckworth joined the club from Leeds Rhinos in February and was hugely influential as the club fought hard against

relegation. Duckworth, 21, a centre/wing made 15 appearances in 2015 scoring 3 tries and also scored a try in the 2014 Grand Final at Headingley.

Director of Rugby Darren Williams said "We are under no illusion in terms of the test that awaits us in League One, it is going to be a major challenge for us, so its

Kingstone Championship 1 2016 Regular Season Sunday

6 March

Sunday

A Hawk abroad

by Keith Hitchiner

Looking forward to next season Coach Barry Eaton told the Yorkshire Evening Post: “It is going to be tough next season, that’s for sure, in terms of the teams we are competing against. Eight or nine teams in League One are really, really competitive. There’s some good sides in there and it will be a tougher proposition

Jimmy Watson scores against Featherstone Photo: Steve Gaunt / Touchstonepics.com

vitally important that we continue to strengthen the squad both with new players as well as retaining key players from last season’s squad.

“Weve got another couple of additions to announce as our 2016 squad is almost complete.”

Meanwhile the league has announced the fixtures for the 2016 season (see below). Hunslet Hawks will kick off their Kingstone Press Championship 1 campaign at Spotland as they visit Rochdale Hornets on Sunday 6 March.

Before that the Hawks plan four friendly matches to warm up in the pre-season.

The first to be announced is a fixture against Keighley Cougars. The match will take place on Sunday 14 February 2016 at Cougar Park, kick off 3pm.

Rochdale Hornets

Away

3pm

13 March Barrow Raiders

Away

3:30pm

Friday

25 March Keighley Cougars

Home 2pm

Sunday

10 April

Newcastle Thunder

Away

Sunday

17 April

Doncaster RLFC

Home 3pm

Sunday

24 April

Oxford RLFC

Away

Sunday

8 May

Hemel Stags

Home 3pm

Sunday

15 May

Toulouse

Home 3pm

Sunday

22 May

Uni Gloucester All Golds

Away

Sunday

5 June

London Skolars

Home 3pm

Sunday

12 June

York City Knights

Away

Sunday

19 June

Coventry Bears

Home 3pm

Sunday

26 June

South Wales Scorpions

Away

Sunday

10 July

North Wales Crusaders

Home 3pm

3pm 2:30pm

3pm 3pm 3pm

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than last year, when there were three or four in the mix.”

2016 sees the introduction of a split after 15 rounds with the top eight playing each other once and the top two after seven rounds battling it out for the first promotion spot to the Kingstone Press Championship.

The loser enters a four-team play-off against fifth-place whilst second and third play off for a place in the second play-off final with the victors securing promotion.

The bottom seven after 15 rounds, who will be playing for the inaugural League 1 Shield, will tussle with each team twice, once home and once away, and first and second after seven rounds will go head-tohead for the League 1 Shield.

It was a while after booking my 16 nights vacation in Hong Kong that I discovered there was to be a rugby league competition by an advert for it on Facebook, so I liked and followed the page.

I messaged the coach, Jason Fairleigh, about the game in Hong Kong, and told him that I would bring him a 2014 Hawks jersey worn by Michael Haley during that season, and Hunslet legend Stephen Pryce agreed to provide me with one also.

The competitions, which were the inaugural ones in Hong Kong, were due to take place on the penultimate day of my holiday, starting at 9am.

As with many places we had encountered it involved overcoming an incline to get there, and was immediately spotted by Jason who told us to get a drink and chill. We did as told and were greeted by some others who recognised the strip and welcomed us, and were astounded to find how well we were prepared, for as well as the jerseys we had brought the Garden Gate Ultras flags as well.

One guy who took

particular interest in the shirt and the Hunslet history was Brad Sunman, originally from Brisbane and wearing a Gold Coast Titans shirt, and such was his interest that he asked to join the Hunslet Myrtle White and Flame Facebook page.

I wandered over to where the tag was taking place and found them most to be local kids, and that it was a very popular sport here in Hong Kong. In contrast Rugby League was relatively new, and it was trying to merge the two in some way to progress and already an overseas game had been arranged at Manila Storm, with Jason as head coach. I also talked to James Hall from Guiseley, who had only been there 18 months, but was using his experience as chairman to progress the game there.

It was a very enjoyable day, Team Bacchus won the tag, while Mong Kok Creepers beat Coastal Cobras in the final 17-4 after a tough battle all played in temperatures of 28 degrees. I presented the 2 shirts to Jason, who in turn gave me 2 tops, before the main presentation, after which the bus took them back to the Rula Bula, Central, for refreshments.

Marathon men (and ladies)

The strength of running in South Leeds was demonstrated at Cross Flatts Parkrun this month.

Before the run started on Saturday 17 October, eight runners that had completed the Plusnet Yorkshire Marathon the week before were called to the front to be applauded by their peers.

Ewan Mitchell (2nd right) has written an honest and emotional account of his run on his blog ‘Run Sanch Run’ at: runsanchorun.blogspot.co.uk/ 2015/10/yorkshire-marathon2015.html The Marathon runners pictured are (L-R) Danny Cassidy, Ewan

Mitchell, Adam Bull, Colin Johnstone, Carol Bull, Cara Palmer, Daz Hewitt, Sean Hewitt. Not

pictured are Keith Johnstone, Martin Bell, Karen Head, Steve Head and Hannah Marshall.