South leeds life 24 dec16

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Issue 24 | December 2016

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

Middleton parents’ plea: Give the gift of life this Christmas

Give your bone marrow for Zara

by Jeremy Morton

Jonathan and Michelle Lundy are appealing for more people to sign up to the bone marrow register after their 8 year old daughter Zara suffered a relapse during her treatment for Leukaemia.

Zara, who attends Westwood Primary School, was diagnosed in January 2015 with T-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia and had started chemotherapy treatment, but relapsed last week.

She now needs a bone marrow transplant and immediate family are currently being tested as potential matches. The hospital will then look to the national database to try and find a match.

The family are hoping to increase their chances of finding a match by encouraging more people to register as a donor.

Meanwhile Zara has this week started intense chemo to force

her back into remission with the hope of finding a donor match to do a bone marrow transplant in the new year.

Jonathan and Michelle said: “We are desperate do everything we can to help Zara.

We are checking to see if we are a match and can donate our bone marrow. We urge everyone to sign up to the Bone Marrow Register. If it doesn’t help our Zara, it might help someone else in this awful situation.”

To sign up as a donor you need to be aged 17-40 years old (registered before your 41st birthday), male and be a blood donor.

Females, within the same age range, from Black, Asian, minority ethnicities and mixed ethnicity backgrounds are also accepted.

To become a blood donor call 0300 123 23 23; visit the donor centre at 117 The Headrow in the city centre; or find out more here: www.blood.co.uk

pumping in high pressure water and chemicals to force it out.

It's been subject to considerable opposition and campaigning across the country and the world – but UK operations seem likely to start in the coming year.

Fracking isn't yet happening in or near Leeds, but 'Frack

Plans revealed for brewery site

page 4

Pudsey pops in for breakfast

page 9

25 years of Health For All

page 12

Junior Parkrun

Zara Lundy with her sister Blythe

Fracking waste headed for Knostrop?

A Leeds environmental group is warning residents of south Leeds about the risk of large amounts of toxic waste water being brought to the area for processing and disposal.

Fracking is a controversial new method for extracting gas and oil from underground, by

In this issue:

Free Leeds' campaigners have discovered that very large quantities of the waste water left over from fracking operations across the North are likely to be brought to Leeds – to the Knostrop water treatment works, immediately opposite Hunslet on the River Aire.They warn that this waste

contains very high levels of toxic chemicals and heavy metals, that simply cannot be adequately processed – and that it will be released into the River Aire and therefore the local water table, or the local food system (via agricultural slurry).

Continues on page 4

Read the full fracking story next month

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

NEWS

SCHOOLS

FEEDBACK PEOPLE ARTS

page 16 p2-6

p8-9 p10

p11

p13

WHAT’S!ON p14-15 SPORT!

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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 South Leeds Life CIC, a social enterprise registered with Companies House.

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

Contact us Email: info@southleedslife.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/ southleedslife Twitter: @SouthLeedsLife Phone: 07894 583966 We would love to hear from you!

Tell us your news Tell us what you’d like us to report on Tell us about your local events

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Remember, in order to build a better world

by Hilary Benn MP

Recent figures published by End Child Poverty have highlighted the problem of rising inequality in our community.

Leeds Central is the 7th worst constituency in the country for child poverty, with 11,520 of our children estimated to be living below the poverty line. Greater demand for foodbanks in recent years is just one consequence of what has been happening, as some people struggle to pay the bills and feed their families.

Faced with this, the question for all of us is what can we do to change things and ensure that every child has a decent start in life? A fairer society would be a good place to begin and a good education is fundamental to that.

On which subject, one of the pleasures of my job is getting the opportunity to visit local primary schools. On my most recent visit, the year 6 class had loads of

questions about all the aspects of an MP’s life but we also reflected on Remembrance Sunday because it was coming up and they had recently been studying the First World War. I told them for me, it is the time of the year when I remember my great uncle Oliver and my uncle Michael who were killed in the First and Second World Wars. Oliver died at Gallipoli in 1915 and because his body was never found he is one of the 22,000 names inscribed on the Helles Memorial.

Michael was an RAF pilot who died three weeks after D-Day when his Mosquito crashed. This year I went to the Field of Remembrance at Westminster Abbey and put two crosses into the ground with their names on them.Then I stepped back and looked at all of the other names that had been written on all of the other crosses. Each one a son, a father, a sister or a brother, a wife or a husband; the serried rows of memories representing the grief of countless families who lost

someone who was very special to them.

I talked with the children about how important it is that we do this every year; not only to remember those we loved, but also to reflect on their sacrifice on behalf of future generations. Sacrifice which our Armed Forces continue to make to this day as we ask them, as a nation, to serve in difficult situations and dangerous places.

It is particularly important that each succeeding generation understands what Remembrance Sunday is all about and why it matters. The children at the school certainly understood that and because of this they will be better equipped to play their part in taking decisions about the future of world as they grow older.

I often rather impishly say “Have your teachers told that you will be running the world when people like me are long gone?” and I get a few funny looks from the bright, keen faces in front of me. But it is true, and the thing that fills me with more

Hilary Benn MP encouragement than anything as I take leave of any school I visit, is that I depart in the full and certain knowledge that the future of our community, and of our world, will be in good hands.

Finally, may I take this opportunity to wish you and all those you love a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

‘South Bank’ plans firm up with HS2 station and Tetley site plans

by Jeremy Morton

In the last month developer Vastint has unveiled its plans for the Tetley site and the location of the High Speed Rail station has been confirmed The way these two sites are developed is very important in setting the tone for developments throughout the so-called South Bank – the areas of Hunslet and Holbeck close to the River Aire.

The development of the former brewery will bring 1,000 new 2,3 and 4 bedroom homes to the area and create thousands of office, retail, entertainment and maintenance jobs. It will also create employment opportunities during the construction phase.

Previous discussions about the area suggested creating a ‘Hunslet Stray’, a green route following the original course of Hunslet Road from Leeds Bridge to

the Printworks campus, and the developers have broadly adopted this approach. The park meanders through a range of office and residential blocks and is overlooked by the commercial units – restaurants and shops to add safety.

Vastint have indicated they plan to create the central spine of the park – a key route through the site – at the start of redevelopment, ahead of other building works.

The plans promote walking and cycling routes through the site, potentially connecting across Leeds Bridge to Briggate and across a new river footbridge to Sovereign Square and Boar Lane. The buildings will be tall typically about eight storeys high with offices and residential properties grouped separately. One of the redidential blocks may rise to a similar height to Bridgewater Place (‘The Dalek’).

Model of the Tetley brewery site development Vastint are expected to apply for outline planning permission for phase 1 of the site shortly. If that is approved they will commission architects to draw up detailed plans for the buildings and submit those for specific planning permission. They hope to start work on site in 2018.

The preferred route of the national high-speed rail project was also released this month, showing how the new line will come into

Leeds. The announcement confirms the revised plans released last year for Leeds Station to be remodelled into an integrated ‘Yorkshire Hub’ to accommodate HS2 alongside regional and local services.

The HS2 line will use the existing route through Hunslet (the Castleford line) before rising onto a viaduct and arriving at the new station located close to the existing Asda House on Great Wilson Street and

forming a T with the existing station.

Responding to the announcement the Leader of Leeds City Council (and Middleton Park ward member) Councillor Judith Blake said: “This is very welcome news not only to provide further confidence that HS2 will be completed in its entirety but also to offer certainty in that everyone can now know exactly where and how it will come into Leeds. That is hugely important as now planning at all levels can be carried out in an informed way around HS2, what it means and where it will go.

“This announcement also confirms the remodelling of Leeds Station as a single integrated transport hub, which is very pleasing as it is a key element of the South Bank Leeds development which aims to provide more than 35,000 jobs, over 4,000 homes and educational facilities for over 10,000 students.”

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Hunslet Club raises beer festival bar

It’s back by popular demand! After the success of last year’s inaugural Hunslet Club Beer Festival it will be back again bigger and better than ever.

The festival is on Saturday 10th December 2016 in the Club’s main hall at its premises on Hillidge Road, Hunslet. There will be over 20 guest beers, lagers and ciders with festive treats such as Hardy’s & Hanson’s “Rockin Rudolph” Wychwood brewery’s “Bah Humbug!” and Well’s “A Good Stuffing” as well as authentic Bavarian style food served from a log cabin.

Entertainment will be provided by Kellermeister Oompah Band – “The Ooompah Loompahs” who promise lots of fun and plenty of audience participation opportunities. Doors open at 4pm.

Andrea Edwards , Operations Manager at the Club comments “ We are really excited to be bringing this event back to the Club. Over 200 people attended last year and we had some great feedback. This year we have a wider range of beers/lagers and have gone all out to get the best oompah band around to ensure that we continue to ‘raise the bar’ and deliver another quality event.”

Entry tickets are £5 which includes a free half pint of your choice. Tickets are available now from The Hunslet Club reception.

People Matters courses are now for everyone

by Tina Turnbull Just launching in January for the first time is a range of adult learning courses in subjects from Beading to Djembe Drums from People Matters.

All local people from across south Leeds who are 19 years and over and would like to give learning something a try in a friendly, relaxed community environment are welcome to join in. You will agree personal goals and work closely with the tutor to build your talents in the area you choose. For example the Film Making course is for anyone who would like to experience this fantastic medium for telling a story. It might be a story to highlight your experiences or a travel guide for visitors to the community. There will be a lot to do both in front and behind the

Learning in a supportive environment with People Matters camera.

All courses give everyone who takes part a chance to build their self confidence, meet different

Middleton Omnibus bedsits plan rejected

Proposals to convert the former Omnibus public house on Throstle Road North have turned down by Leeds City Council.

The planning application submitted by owners PC Fencing & Landscaping Ltd attracted 132 objections from local residents.

The plans included 16 bedsits with shared kitchens and bathrooms and outline plans for a The former Omnibus pub second block in the application had to be made on rear car park.

The site is next door to Sharp planning grounds, not on who Lane Primary School and might or might not occupy the Headteacher Mandi Wilson has bedsits.

South Leeds Life understands submitted an objection to the that the target group is older planning application raising single men and that the concerns about possible tenants and the lack of parking for the developers have carried out a school – parents used to use similar pub conversion in the pub car park at the start and Castleford.

Planning officers rejected the end of the school day. application, stating in the Councillors told a recent decision notice: “the lack of public meeting that contrary to communal living rooms for rumours the building was not to be a bail hostel. They explained relaxation purposes, the lack of that objections to the planning sufficient privacy and bathroom

facilities to serve the potential number of residents, the layout of rooms and the modest proportion of the bedsits, the conversion represents an over intensive development which offers a poor level of general amenity to prospective residents.”

The developer has now lodged an appeal with the Planning Inspectorate. This government body will consider the application and its rejection and has the power to overturn the Council’s decision.

people and receive recognition for their work through a film premier, exhibition, sales achieved on the Upcycling to Sell course or a plan

of action for your future from the Future Options course. The benefits far outweigh the small concession based cost available to most of the people who take part.

People Matters was established in 2002 and has gone from strength to strength. Based locally in Holbeck on Croydon Street just off Domestic Street they are truly a local organisation putting it’s 250+ members first. As a social enterprise any money made is put straight back in to the organisation to support those that feel they need a little friendly support to move towards their goals.

For more information contact People Matters (Leeds) 0113 234 6896 by visiting their website www.peoplemattersleeds.co.uk email: info@peoplemattersleeds.co.uk or on www.facebook.com/ PeopleMattersLeeds

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Fracking It’s a burnt out car, but is it art? waste for Knostrop?

Photo: Greensefa via Creative Commons Continued from page 1 Over fifty people turned out on a mucky night for the local campaign launch event on Monday 21 November, at St Joseph's Club in Hunslet.

Speakers featured Dr Tim Thornton, a retired GP and parish councillor from Ryedale in North Yorkshire (an area slated for fracking) – and Tina Louise Rothery of Nanas Against Fracking, one of the lead campaigners against the fracking operations in Blackpool.

Tina told South Leeds Life: “The shale gas industry is huge, and very dangerous – so this meeting was brilliant, with lots of people who give a damn about the community.

Because even if they don't frack in Leeds, you're going to be expected to take their waste at Knostrop. This isn't scaremongering – but you need to know what's in that waste, and what it's going to do to your community.You assume there are safeguards, but the government is closing its eyes to the dangers.”

South Leeds Life are in contact with Yorkshire Water, FCC Environmental (a commercial firm next to Knostrop, who will also be involved in processing the waste), and Leeds City Council about the potential risks and concerns, and will offer further updates in the coming weeks and months. For more info, visit our website, visit www.frackfreeknostrop.wordpress.com, or do your own research online.

Retirement Studio Flats to Let St Peters Court ‐ Leeds £275 PCM

Two lovely "irst "loor self contained studio "lats available to the over 55’s. The "lats are neutrally decorated throughout with a lounge and sleeping area and also a kitchen and wet room.

Close to local amenities with easy access to bus routes going to the White Rose Centre and Leeds City Centre.

(Please note additional charges apply which include; heating, hot water and water rates, support charge and service charges).

Call Sue to book a viewing!!

0113 277 1180

A stolen car that was abandoned and set fire to in Middleton Park received the art gallery treatment as someone added a laminated caption card to it.

The car was discovered by staff on 4 November and moved to the top of Middleton Grove, near the Equestrian centre, awaiting collection. The wreck was removed on Monday 21 November.

It’s not clear what point the mystery artist was trying to make.

Perhaps the length of time taken to remove the vehicle, or a cynical view that a burnt out car somehow represented South Leeds?

South Leeds Life asked its contacts in the Leeds arts scene –

the fake sign clearly shows knowledge of art gallery conventions – but all denied knowledge.

Cllr Kim Groves commented: “Middleton Park is attracting record visitor numbers and local people from the whole of South Leeds enjoy this vast green space that hosts free events run by both Leeds City Council and Friends of Middleton Park . I simply appeal to the very small minority who damage or dump cars in the park to consider the implications of their actions . Every day the Park is home to many local groups and local school children visit on a weekly basis - it is an outside classroom steeped in history.

“Leeds City Council Parks Team and local Councillors are working

Car and caption in Middleton Park

with Friends of Middleton Park and partners to make it an even better experience. So a burnt out car is disappointing but will not get in the way of progress for the

majority of people who love the park.”

Park life: Nick’s view

If you’ve been for a walk in Middleton Park lately you might have noticed some building work near to the Rose Garden.

A new viewpoint is being created to commemorate Nick Rose, a driving force in the Friends of Middleton Park group who died last year. Current Chair of the Friends, Alan Shaw, takes up the story: We have been working with Leeds City Council, Wades Charity, and Nick’s wife on a suitable memorial for Nick Rose our former Chair that would both commemorate his work in the Park and with the Friends, as well as provide for an opportunity to help to integrate the former golf course land into the rest of the existing parkland.

‘Nick’s View’, designed by Leeds City Council and very much including the views of the Friends,

provides for a point in the Park where people can stop, rest, and just enjoy the quiet nature of the Park.

It has been designed so that when people do use its seating areas they have a lovely view over the old 1850’s estate land towards

the east, something Nick was keen on preserving.

The seating area is off the main circular path so should be a quiet area for contemplation. Nick’s wife Maureen suggested the use of walnut trees (apparently one of Nick’s favourites) and we have

used them to ‘frame’ the view.

However we have also designed it as a destination point for a new path system across and through the older part of the golf course, extending from the edge of the current bowling green to where Nick’s View looks out over the estate.

The height of the structure at the rear of the seating area will be visible from the edge of the bowling green and will therefore provide a clear site to ‘aim for’ when following the new mown path.

Costs for the whole scheme will be met from a number of sources and not by the council.The Friends will be making a suitable donation to this. Wades Charity have also been closely involved in the project and are assisting with finding the funding to undertake the scheme.

For sale: two streets in Beeston

It’s not every day you get the opportunity to buy two streets, but 44 flats and 29 houses on Kirk Beston Close and Cross Heath Grove in Beeston are currently on the market.

In fact it’s not the whole of Cross Heath Grove, the section parallel to Elland Road is not affected. The 73 properties for sale, known collectively as the Elland Portfolio, are rented out and were owned by Angelic Interiors Ltd who went into administration in July this year.

Offers are now being sought for the single freehold by agents Allsop and Carter Jonas.

Existing tenancies will not be affected by the sale of the freehold, but ominously the agents information pack suggests that “active asset management” could see the rental income for the estate raised by nearly £45,000 a year. That equates to an average rent hike of £12 per week, £600 per year, per household.

For sale: Cad Beston Close

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Call for elderly helpline Sod cut in Garnets answered by HEA

most deprived and socially isolated people in the city.

The grant is part of a £1million NHS CCG Third Sector Health Grants programme, managed by Leeds Community Foundation to enable local people to live healthier lives.

Photo: Phil Whitehouse via Creative Commons An area Holbeck Elderly Aid (HEA), a identified by HEA in need of some South Leeds charity supporting serious attention is the demand for vulnerable older people in the an out-of-hours phone line – an easy community has received a Third to use service which bridges the gap Sector Health Grant from NHS between those at their most Leeds South and East Clinical vulnerable and the services NHS Commissioning Group (CCG) to provides. The ‘We HEAr You’ the value of over £46,000. helpline will offer one-to-one The vital funds will be used to support, whilst working to reduce implement a programme of strategic the number of potentially support initiatives to cater for the unnecessary calls to the ambulance

services, NHS Direct and other services as it will give those in need an opportunity to confide and build a relationship with someone who is local and there solely to listen and offer support. Callers who require medical attention will be signposted to medical professionals.

The service will be in operation 5pm-9pm and Monday-Friday Saturday-Sunday 9am-8pm and has been launched ahead of the winter months, which have been identified as the most challenging and depressing for those who feel socially isolated or vulnerable.

In addition to the helpline, HEA has also introduced a weekly Health & Wellbeing Clinic held at St Matthews Community Centre in Holbeck. HEA has elicited the help of health professionals including Carers Leeds to support the delivery of health and wellbeing topics, including nutrition, weight loss and staying active, health screening and more. This initiative is

designed to help people get the support they need to encourage a lifestyle change and help to manage long-term health conditions – all of which will help to reduce admissions and re-admissions to hospital.

Speaking on behalf of HEA, Chief Officer, Elissa Newman said: “Understanding the needs of our service users and the older people in the wider community in South Leeds is our number one priority.

Insights into the circumstances of those people who are vulnerable and feel socially isolated has given us access to understand why calls are made to request NHS services which we know could be avoided.

This presents a huge opportunity for us to lower these call outs via the ‘We HEAr You’ helpline and the weekly Health & Wellbeing Clinics and provide a direct level of support in the community.”

The confidential “We HEAr You” helpline can be reached on (0113) 244 4742.

Cllr Richard Lewis and Cllr Debra Coupar with Steve Howard and Tony Pollard of Kier Construction Work has started to build 25 new council houses at a site on Garnet Grove in Beeston.

South Leeds Life previously reported on the planning application and the views of neighbouring residents whose request of open space within the development was rejected by Leeds City Council.

Apart from providing new homes, will also offer a number of employment and training opportunities including apprenticeships to be advertised locally.

The 19 two-bed and 6 three-bed houses will be built to the Leeds Standard in terms of design and quality, as well as embodying the best in design for sustainability, space and energy efficiency.

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Make a Christmas gift of your old bicycle

Now in its third year, The Works skate park in Hunslet are fixing up old, forgotten and outgrown bikes and giving them to children and young people from disadvantaged backgrounds in Leeds.

Have you got an old bike you could donate? The Works can recycle and reuse discarded bikes (of all sizes). As long as they are in fixable condition, we give the refurbished bike to children and young people at

Christmas who don’t already have a bike.

Recipients of the recycled bikes are also offered free bike maintenance, cycling tuition and free membership to The Works Skatepark.

Last year 130 children benefited from the campaign with bikes going to individuals, families and some schools who created Bike Libraries so even more children would benefit.

You can drop them off, or have them collected. Give a gift

this year that doesn’t cost a penny but will make a difference to a child from Leeds.

Please contact The Works Charity for more information on (0113) 244 6015 or email info@theworksskatepark .com BAM Nuttall construction, working on the nearby flood alleviation scheme heard about the appeal and donated five bikes.

“These bikes were originally

Club threatened by asbestos

by Ed Carlisle

The much-loved Holbeck social club (formerly the Working Men’s Club) is facing a considerable uphill struggle in the coming months to keep their doors open, having been hit with a £28,000 bill to urgently clear out asbestos from the premises.

The club is reputedly the oldest WMC in the country, having first opened in 1871, before moving to its current site on Jenkinson Lawn (just off Holbeck Moor Road) in 1877 – and plans for their 140th anniversary celebrations next year are already in the pipeline.

Indeed, the club has much to celebrate nowadays: it was wracked with debt just five years ago, making a loss of £30,000 per year at the time. But a local volunteer-led take-over in 2012 has seen the club start to thrive again, with a booming and active membership (now 300+), a growing number of events and bookings – and financial stability, just.

However, that’s all been thrown into jeopardy by a recent survey that brought to light the presence of asbestos in several key parts of the building. Asbestos was a common building material until the 1990s, but has since been linked with a range of serious lung and respiratory diseases, and is no longer used; it typically presents no danger if left undisturbed, but is normally removed from public buildings where possible.

The committee gathered quotes for the work, and were appalled to learn that it would cost at least £28,000.

They therefore held an emergency meeting on Sunday 30 October and have set themselves the ambitious challenge of raising at least £10,000, to start the work, by the time of the Annual General Meeting in February. So far they have already raised

£3,000.

Committee member and volunteer manager Ian Pickup commented: “It’s been remarkable to see the way in which people have pulled together to turn the club around these past years.

We’re one big community, running this place together – so this news has been a massive blow, it could easily wipe us out.

We’re appealing to all the members, local residents, or anyone to help us survive.

We can’t lose this amazing community venue.”

For full info on how to support, click here, or call Ian direct on 07830 665016.

The committee are especially appealing for donations or direct debits – and new members are always welcome, at just £5 per year. Contact from building contractors able to help fulfil the work at reduced cost would also be very welcome.

In the meantime, the club very much remains open for business – with events including wrestling (3 December), family film nights, weekly quizzes and bingo, community parties, and more.

The club was recently nominated in three categories at the Club Mirror Awards: Best Community Club, Best Turn Around Club and King of Clubs. Sadly they didn’t win, but it was very good to be nominated.

The club has set up a Just Giving page for donations: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfund ing/SavetheHolbeckWMC

bought for staff to cycle around the city centre and get between the various work sites on the project,” said Jonathan Bulmer, an engineer at BAM Nuttall. “We don’t need them anymore but they are in fantastic condition so we wanted to find them a new home.We’re really pleased that The Works charity will distribute the bikes to local youngsters who don’t already own a bike in time for Christmas.”

BAM Nuttall support The Works bike appeal

Light and magic on Leeds art trail

The year-long project started Leeds is all set for an commuters in Leeds Station, a unprecedented Advent this year, shower of lights cascading down back in January with an ambitious with an immersive art and lights Holy Trinity Church’s façade, some creative group, including Leeds trail bringing added sparkle, added sparkle in Park Square’s College of Art, East St Arts, Trinity originality and innovation to the trees, and a 4x4 box art experience Leeds and Hammersons, who city centre over the festive which captures unique scenes of wanted to do something a little festive humanity. There are also different for Christmas 2016, with season.

Christmas In Leeds is something performances from Northern a campaign to engage local new; a trail of art, light and magic Ballet, festive light projections from audiences and bring Christmas to for all ages, designed to different key areas of guide people around the city centre.

Leeds whilst Andrew Cooper, simultaneously LeedsBID Chief showcasing both local Executive, said: creatives and shining a “LeedsBID is light on all of the city delighted to launch centre’s corners. this innovative, LeedsBID (Leeds interactive Christmas Business Improvement in Leeds trail, bringing District) has worked in that added sparkle to collaboration with key the festive season in partners - East Street the city.We hope that Arts, Leeds College of it provides an Art, essential added NEWSUBSTANCE, Holy Trinity Church, Boar Lane | Photo: Tom Joy element for people to Lumen, Northern come to Leeds this Ballet, Trinity Leeds, Corn Leeds College of Art, some helpful Christmas - to stay, shop, explore Exchange, St John's Centre, Harvey elves and some sleeping polar and enjoy the city.”

Nichols and Leeds City Council – bears!

Welcome to Leeds proudly Members of the public can pick presents Christmas in Leeds — a to create the installations on the up maps from key locations across trail of art, light and magic. From 1 trail.

Running from 1 December to 3 the city centre, including hotels and December you are invited to January, travellers on the trail can the Leeds Visitor Centre and also explore the 15 spectacular enjoy: a gigantic and surreal semi- download a digital version from installations around Leeds city human shining high over christmas.welcometoleeds.co.uk. centre – by the city, for the city.

St Andrew’s marks sixtieth

Under threat -The Holbeck Club

St Andrew’s Methodist Church, on Old Lane in Beeston celebrated its 60th anniversary on Sunday 6 November 2016.

Both current and former members attended a service of celebration and thanksgiving led by the Rev Paul Bettison.

Paul was brought up in Beeston and remembers visiting the new St Andrew’s as a young boy in 1956. Many local people will remember Paul’s parents who were regular worshippers at Trinity Methodist Church.

St Andrew’s is still very much at the centre of the community.

The

Pantomime group is going strong and the Live at Home Scheme is based there and this year has celebrated its 25th anniversary.

Young people are active in the church community with all the uniformed organisations meeting weekly as does the O’Donnell School of

Dance. There is also a monthly Messy Church which attracts over 20 children plus parents/carers.

A Foodbank operates from St Andrews on Mondays and there is a weekly Open Doors drop in on Wednesday morning for refreshments, a chat and support.

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Cockburn pays respect on Armistice Day

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Meteorites and Moon rocks for Space Week Children at Cottingley Primary Academy got to handle moon rocks and meteorites as part of the school’s Space Week last week (21-25 November 2016).

The space theme ran right across classes with a Space Crafts competition – children from each year group creating a craft to do with space with a winner announced in assembly from each phase. The week finished with a fancy dress space day on the Friday.

The Lunar samples were made available by the Science and Technology Facilities Council’s

Borrow The Moon scheme for schools. Each class has held a parent workshop and all the children have taken part in activities involving the samples.

The moon rock was brought back by the Apollo astronauts 45 years ago. Samples were presented to every country on Earth and distributed to universities for study with some set aside for schools.

Cottingley Primary has recently been awarded the Primary Science Quality Mark (PSQM) Silver Award for its work in science. Enrichment, bringing a subject to life through innovative

Davina Nattrass and Cockburn cadets by the school’s war memorials Students and staff at Cockburn paid their respect on Armistice Day (Friday 11 November) with a dignified ceremony at the school war memorial.

Cockburn students who are cadets from across the armed forces wore their military uniform to school. Led by Year 11 student Davina Nattrass, they marched along the school corridors leading a procession

that included Student Ambassadors, the Headteacher, David Gurney and Rev. Andy Myers from Middleton Parish.

Rev. Andy Myers gave a thoughtful address before blessing the war memorial. The Head Girl, Jessica Davies then read a poem “For the Fallen” before a wreath was laid.

To complete the proceedings, The Last Post, played by Music Teacher Robin Gloor, was played

across the school on the tannoy system. Students and staff across the school listened to the music play as they stood and marked the occasion with two minutes of silence.

One of the school Values is respect and this annual event in the life of the school is a fitting way of learning about respect while paying tribute to those former students who have lost their lives in conflict.

Examining space rocks

Space themed fancy dress

Key Stage 2 applied for normally adult roles ranging from cook to Deputy Head.

The photo slideshow shows pupils taking on a range of jobs in school.

Some helped Mrs Walker in the school office; some became teachers; some helped in Upper Foundation Stage (Reception); whilst

Georgia takes over as Cook in Charge

Taking over as teacher for the day other’s worked with Mr Dyson the Premises Manager; or became Deputy Head or Cook in Charge.

Takeover is a project run nationally by the Children’s Commission.

It’s a fun, hugely successful and exciting engagement project which sees organisations across England opening their doors to children and

young people to take over adult roles.

It puts children and young people in decision-making positions and encourages organisations and businesses to hear their views. Children gain an insight into the adult world and organisations benefit from a fresh perspective about their work.

Schools 9

Email: info@southleedslife.com

Pudsey pops in for Breakfast In Need Pupils, parents and staff at Hunslet Moor Primary School in Beeston marked Children In Need day with a big charity breakfast on Friday 18 November.

The school runs a daily breakfast club, supported by Greggs and PWC, for 40-50 children. The club ensures children are nourished and ready to start school and it helps working parents manage their mornings. For Children In Need the whole school was and parents invited encouraged to come too.

Irene Johnson started the school’s breakfast club over 20 years ago and is still involved today. “There’s a lot of work goes into today’s event, but I love it” she said. “It’s great to see the parents come in and have breakfast with their children.”

I spoke to one parent enjoying breakfast with his

son, he told me: “This is such a good opportunity for children to learn about charity and those that are worse off than them” he said. “My son was so excited he got up early and woke me to bring him on time! It’s so good to have events like this.We see parents in the playground to say hello, but this is a chance to socialise.”

The School Council also helped with the organisation making sure the hall was decorated.

“It’s good to help children who have got less than you and to welcome everyone into the school” one pupil told me.

“It’s good that there are lots of people here so we can raise lots of money” added another.

“It feels good to be involved in helping a charity.”

Headteacher Hannah Darley commented: “Today has been a great

success! Breakfast in Need is its 10th year at Hunslet Moor and is a fantastic opportunity to bring the whole school community together to enjoy themselves and raise money for such an important cause.

“This success is only achieved through the generous donations of staff’s time and food and the valued support of our families who participate and support the event so enthusiastically. I would like to

say a special thank you to Mrs Bailey and Mrs Graham, who both did a great job in organising us all to host this popular event.”

The school raised almost £250 for Children In Need.

Pudsey Bear and pupils from Hunslet Moor Primary School with: (L-R) Isabelle Bailey, Hannah Darley, Tony Taylor (Greggs) and David Collins (PWC)

The stage is set Caring for others

forms of study, such as bringing moon rock to school, played a large part in achieving the award.

Year 6 teacher Hannah Marshall said: “As science leader, I can say taking part in the PSQM has

changed science in our school and made it exciting and engaging for all the children. We regularly hold whole school events such as Space Week and the children get so much out of it.”

Pupils takeover at New Bewerley School Pioneers love where they live

Monday 14 November was takeover day at New Bewerley Community School in Beeston as children across the school took on adult roles for the day.

The whole school was involved with children in Key Stage 1 painting pictures of staff in school, whilst those in

December 2016 | South Leeds Life

The next generation of police officers, the West Yorkshire Pioneers together with local councillors Kim Groves and Paul Truswell embraced the spirit of the Belle Isle and Middleton ‘Love Where You Live’ project last month at a bulb planting morning at Middleton Park Avenue.

The ‘Love Where You Live’ project is the brainchild of Cllr Groves and an opportunity for the community to come together to address issues that matter to them. With the challenges that local authorities face and the significant reductions in funding, reinvigorating the relationship with local people and new opportunities for change and innovation has never been more important.

This five year project aims to build relationships in Belle Isle and Middleton by engaging communities in a variety of ways and develop community pride and cohesion, ensuring the community views will be at the heart of the plan. Lead officer, Carl Hinchcliffe, and the Inner South Community team will be working with over 25 partners to make Belle Isle and Middleton the best place in the city to grow up and live in.

Councillor Kim Groves (Labour, Middleton Park) said: “Planting bulbs in Belle Isle and

Middleton has been part of the wider project ‘Love Where You Live’ for a couple of years now and it was great to join the Pioneers from Cockburn School to plant some more!

“It is fantastic that young people from our area are training to be Pioneers and are helping with the community project and vision for everyone to love where they live. I know we are all looking forward to spring 2017 when the colourful display of daffodils will

bloom.

“As part of the ‘Love Where you Live’ project, it is important that we listen to what people want and deliver it if financially possible.

“Local people know their area better than anyone and so their views will be central to the ideas that drive this project. I look forward to the project launching in 2017 and working with residents.”

Last December, the children, families and staff at Lane End Primary School in Holbeck decided that they were going to try to raise funds so that they could buy a stage for their school hall.

A massive fundraising effort began – but the target was a very ambitious £6,000 as the staff wanted the best staging they could get for the children.

A number of fun events were planned and held through the year – a family Easter baking competition, Cinema Night, a Summer Ball disco, and a Summer Fair. As always at Lane End, the families were exceptionally generous with both their time and

NPS – the organisation that were involved in the design and building of the school even held a fund raising event in their office – a ‘Seaside Day’ – where they all dressed up ready for a day at the beach, donating £250 to the fund.

Swinton Insurance staff gave up their time and ran a stall at our Summer Fair, donating prizes and then giving all proceeds to the fund raising cause.

Leeds City Council and our Local Councillors, Angela Gabriel and Elizabeth Nash also offered their support – with £1,000 ‘MICE’ contributions from both the Beeston & Holbeck and City and Hunslet teams.

Excited that they were getting

Children celebrate the new stage with Cllr Angela Gabriel

Cllrs Kim Groves and Paul Truswell with Police Pioneers from Cockburn School

donations.

Local community groups and businesses were asked to support, and we were delighted at the response the school got from including Sofcat IT, who donated £250, Winder Power who donated £500 and all the other local businesses who kindly donated prizes for the Summer Fair raffle.

very close to the £6,000 target, the school were told that they had been successful in securing a ‘Citizens and Community Grant’ of £1,000 – they had reached their target!

Now the children will be ‘treading the boards’ like professional actors in their upcoming Christmas Shows.

The children and families at Lane End Primary School have been thinking about ways that they can support others that are not as fortunate as they are, and have been donating items that might help.

Food gathered at Lane End Primary for St George’s Crypt As part of Harvest Festival, the school dried and packets of food items and gifts which were was thinking about farmers were collected through then put into decorated and being thankful for the October – and what a lot shoe boxes. These are then managed to sent to children in things we have to eat. They they communities across the decided to try to help St contribute!

The children at Lane End world that won’t be able to George’s Crypt in Leeds, which is a charity that does also wanted to be involved celebrate Christmas as we so much good work, in the charity ‘Operation can this year, for all sorts of reasons out of their supporting the homeless Christmas Child’ project.

Children and their control, such as warfare or and vulnerable people in families were invited to natural disasters.

Leeds.

Mrs Britton, the Donations of tinned, collect and donate small Headteacher at Lane End said: “I am so proud of how thoughtful and kind our children and families are.

We are only a small school at the moment, but they always manage to amaze us with the levels of their generosity.

“We have such a caring community here in Holbeck, and the children of Lane End are definitely a big part of that.”

Presents collected for Operation Christmas Child

www.southleedslife.com

South Leeds Life | December 2016

www.southleedslife.com

8 Schools

Twitter: @SouthLeedsLife

Cockburn pays respect on Armistice Day

Website: www.southleedslife.com

Facebook: facebook.com/southleedslife

Meteorites and Moon rocks for Space Week Children at Cottingley Primary Academy got to handle moon rocks and meteorites as part of the school’s Space Week last week (21-25 November 2016).

The space theme ran right across classes with a Space Crafts competition – children from each year group creating a craft to do with space with a winner announced in assembly from each phase. The week finished with a fancy dress space day on the Friday.

The Lunar samples were made available by the Science and Technology Facilities Council’s

Borrow The Moon scheme for schools. Each class has held a parent workshop and all the children have taken part in activities involving the samples.

The moon rock was brought back by the Apollo astronauts 45 years ago. Samples were presented to every country on Earth and distributed to universities for study with some set aside for schools.

Cottingley Primary has recently been awarded the Primary Science Quality Mark (PSQM) Silver Award for its work in science. Enrichment, bringing a subject to life through innovative

Davina Nattrass and Cockburn cadets by the school’s war memorials Students and staff at Cockburn paid their respect on Armistice Day (Friday 11 November) with a dignified ceremony at the school war memorial.

Cockburn students who are cadets from across the armed forces wore their military uniform to school. Led by Year 11 student Davina Nattrass, they marched along the school corridors leading a procession

that included Student Ambassadors, the Headteacher, David Gurney and Rev. Andy Myers from Middleton Parish.

Rev. Andy Myers gave a thoughtful address before blessing the war memorial. The Head Girl, Jessica Davies then read a poem “For the Fallen” before a wreath was laid.

To complete the proceedings, The Last Post, played by Music Teacher Robin Gloor, was played

across the school on the tannoy system. Students and staff across the school listened to the music play as they stood and marked the occasion with two minutes of silence.

One of the school Values is respect and this annual event in the life of the school is a fitting way of learning about respect while paying tribute to those former students who have lost their lives in conflict.

Examining space rocks

Space themed fancy dress

Key Stage 2 applied for normally adult roles ranging from cook to Deputy Head.

The photo slideshow shows pupils taking on a range of jobs in school.

Some helped Mrs Walker in the school office; some became teachers; some helped in Upper Foundation Stage (Reception); whilst

Georgia takes over as Cook in Charge

Taking over as teacher for the day other’s worked with Mr Dyson the Premises Manager; or became Deputy Head or Cook in Charge.

Takeover is a project run nationally by the Children’s Commission.

It’s a fun, hugely successful and exciting engagement project which sees organisations across England opening their doors to children and

young people to take over adult roles.

It puts children and young people in decision-making positions and encourages organisations and businesses to hear their views. Children gain an insight into the adult world and organisations benefit from a fresh perspective about their work.

Schools 9

Email: info@southleedslife.com

Pudsey pops in for Breakfast In Need Pupils, parents and staff at Hunslet Moor Primary School in Beeston marked Children In Need day with a big charity breakfast on Friday 18 November.

The school runs a daily breakfast club, supported by Greggs and PWC, for 40-50 children. The club ensures children are nourished and ready to start school and it helps working parents manage their mornings. For Children In Need the whole school was and parents invited encouraged to come too.

Irene Johnson started the school’s breakfast club over 20 years ago and is still involved today. “There’s a lot of work goes into today’s event, but I love it” she said. “It’s great to see the parents come in and have breakfast with their children.”

I spoke to one parent enjoying breakfast with his

son, he told me: “This is such a good opportunity for children to learn about charity and those that are worse off than them” he said. “My son was so excited he got up early and woke me to bring him on time! It’s so good to have events like this.We see parents in the playground to say hello, but this is a chance to socialise.”

The School Council also helped with the organisation making sure the hall was decorated.

“It’s good to help children who have got less than you and to welcome everyone into the school” one pupil told me.

“It’s good that there are lots of people here so we can raise lots of money” added another.

“It feels good to be involved in helping a charity.”

Headteacher Hannah Darley commented: “Today has been a great

success! Breakfast in Need is its 10th year at Hunslet Moor and is a fantastic opportunity to bring the whole school community together to enjoy themselves and raise money for such an important cause.

“This success is only achieved through the generous donations of staff’s time and food and the valued support of our families who participate and support the event so enthusiastically. I would like to

say a special thank you to Mrs Bailey and Mrs Graham, who both did a great job in organising us all to host this popular event.”

The school raised almost £250 for Children In Need.

Pudsey Bear and pupils from Hunslet Moor Primary School with: (L-R) Isabelle Bailey, Hannah Darley, Tony Taylor (Greggs) and David Collins (PWC)

The stage is set Caring for others

forms of study, such as bringing moon rock to school, played a large part in achieving the award.

Year 6 teacher Hannah Marshall said: “As science leader, I can say taking part in the PSQM has

changed science in our school and made it exciting and engaging for all the children. We regularly hold whole school events such as Space Week and the children get so much out of it.”

Pupils takeover at New Bewerley School Pioneers love where they live

Monday 14 November was takeover day at New Bewerley Community School in Beeston as children across the school took on adult roles for the day.

The whole school was involved with children in Key Stage 1 painting pictures of staff in school, whilst those in

December 2016 | South Leeds Life

The next generation of police officers, the West Yorkshire Pioneers together with local councillors Kim Groves and Paul Truswell embraced the spirit of the Belle Isle and Middleton ‘Love Where You Live’ project last month at a bulb planting morning at Middleton Park Avenue.

The ‘Love Where You Live’ project is the brainchild of Cllr Groves and an opportunity for the community to come together to address issues that matter to them. With the challenges that local authorities face and the significant reductions in funding, reinvigorating the relationship with local people and new opportunities for change and innovation has never been more important.

This five year project aims to build relationships in Belle Isle and Middleton by engaging communities in a variety of ways and develop community pride and cohesion, ensuring the community views will be at the heart of the plan. Lead officer, Carl Hinchcliffe, and the Inner South Community team will be working with over 25 partners to make Belle Isle and Middleton the best place in the city to grow up and live in.

Councillor Kim Groves (Labour, Middleton Park) said: “Planting bulbs in Belle Isle and

Middleton has been part of the wider project ‘Love Where You Live’ for a couple of years now and it was great to join the Pioneers from Cockburn School to plant some more!

“It is fantastic that young people from our area are training to be Pioneers and are helping with the community project and vision for everyone to love where they live. I know we are all looking forward to spring 2017 when the colourful display of daffodils will

bloom.

“As part of the ‘Love Where you Live’ project, it is important that we listen to what people want and deliver it if financially possible.

“Local people know their area better than anyone and so their views will be central to the ideas that drive this project. I look forward to the project launching in 2017 and working with residents.”

Last December, the children, families and staff at Lane End Primary School in Holbeck decided that they were going to try to raise funds so that they could buy a stage for their school hall.

A massive fundraising effort began – but the target was a very ambitious £6,000 as the staff wanted the best staging they could get for the children.

A number of fun events were planned and held through the year – a family Easter baking competition, Cinema Night, a Summer Ball disco, and a Summer Fair. As always at Lane End, the families were exceptionally generous with both their time and

NPS – the organisation that were involved in the design and building of the school even held a fund raising event in their office – a ‘Seaside Day’ – where they all dressed up ready for a day at the beach, donating £250 to the fund.

Swinton Insurance staff gave up their time and ran a stall at our Summer Fair, donating prizes and then giving all proceeds to the fund raising cause.

Leeds City Council and our Local Councillors, Angela Gabriel and Elizabeth Nash also offered their support – with £1,000 ‘MICE’ contributions from both the Beeston & Holbeck and City and Hunslet teams.

Excited that they were getting

Children celebrate the new stage with Cllr Angela Gabriel

Cllrs Kim Groves and Paul Truswell with Police Pioneers from Cockburn School

donations.

Local community groups and businesses were asked to support, and we were delighted at the response the school got from including Sofcat IT, who donated £250, Winder Power who donated £500 and all the other local businesses who kindly donated prizes for the Summer Fair raffle.

very close to the £6,000 target, the school were told that they had been successful in securing a ‘Citizens and Community Grant’ of £1,000 – they had reached their target!

Now the children will be ‘treading the boards’ like professional actors in their upcoming Christmas Shows.

The children and families at Lane End Primary School have been thinking about ways that they can support others that are not as fortunate as they are, and have been donating items that might help.

Food gathered at Lane End Primary for St George’s Crypt As part of Harvest Festival, the school dried and packets of food items and gifts which were was thinking about farmers were collected through then put into decorated and being thankful for the October – and what a lot shoe boxes. These are then managed to sent to children in things we have to eat. They they communities across the decided to try to help St contribute!

The children at Lane End world that won’t be able to George’s Crypt in Leeds, which is a charity that does also wanted to be involved celebrate Christmas as we so much good work, in the charity ‘Operation can this year, for all sorts of reasons out of their supporting the homeless Christmas Child’ project.

Children and their control, such as warfare or and vulnerable people in families were invited to natural disasters.

Leeds.

Mrs Britton, the Donations of tinned, collect and donate small Headteacher at Lane End said: “I am so proud of how thoughtful and kind our children and families are.

We are only a small school at the moment, but they always manage to amaze us with the levels of their generosity.

“We have such a caring community here in Holbeck, and the children of Lane End are definitely a big part of that.”

Presents collected for Operation Christmas Child

www.southleedslife.com

South Leeds Life | December 2016

10 Opinion

In our view

Bone Marrow

Imagine the anxiety of the Lundy family as they wait to see if there’s a match on the Bone Marrow Register for little Zara.

You can do something about that and it’s as easy as giving blood.

Never mind about getting ready for Christmas - do it now!

You might not be a match, but you will know you have done what you can and maybe you’ll be a match for someone else.

South Bank

We know a lot of our readers don’t like the name ‘South Bank’, but South Leeds Life takes the pragmatic approach. The area is being called South Bank and if we want to be part of the debate about how it develops we need to engage with the name.

The name South Bank isn’t aimed at us anyway. It is aimed at decision makers in London, Europe and probably China. The South Bank is probably the largest regeneration scheme in Europe. If we ignore it, it won’t go away.

Seasons Greetings

And finally (as they say), as we come to end end of our sixth year online and second year in print, we would like to wish our readers a very happy Christmas and a peaceful New Year.

That’s from the Board, the Editor and all the volunteers.

Twitter: @SouthLeedsLife

Facebook: facebook.com/southleedslife

Your letters and comments

Top Tweets

Fracking

The world already has 5 times more known oil and gas sites than we can ever use if we are to avoid catastrophic climate change. Earth is on track to sail past the two degree Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) threshold for dangerous global warming by 2050, seven of the world's top climate scientists warned this month. That is only 34 years away, not some dim and distant point in the future.

Helen Moraa Wind turbines are inefficient, and are a threat to wildlife, as well as looking absolutely horrendous.

Make it a planning condition that all new homes are built containing solar panels to the south facing elevation and the possibility for air source heat pumps, micro generation is where it is at to reduce the requirement for expensive infrastructure.

Luke Senior

Streets for sale

Just goes to show: who the hell wants to live in Beeston?

Simon Rigby I disagree Simon. I love living in Beeston, it’s a friendly place with a caring community. The houses up for sale aren’t empty, so I guess those tenants agree with me. The only trouble is too much of Beeston is now owned by private landlords.

Jeremy Morton Glad to see someone else thinks there are too may pension pot private landlords in the area. Out of 30 houses in my once family friendly street there are now only 3 houses left that aren’t owned by greedy grabbing private landlords renting them out to everything.We’ve had brothels, drugs dens, the lot and no one seems to know what a bin is for. They might learn if they were paying rent and council tax.

For sale: Cad Beston Close Jude Tempest I've lived there. It's a lovely little estate but the flats are shocking to live in. They are freezing and most of them are damp and mouldy .

Samantha Newton

Donating marrow

bone

I've just received my swab pack. I'm registered.... hope I

can change someone's life!

Linda Marshall Riley

Join the debate Comment online; by email: info@southleedslife.com; or post to: 224 Cross Flatts Grove, Leeds, LS11 7BW. Letters may be edited for publication.

Give a subscription for Christmas

As a community newspaper, our finances are somewhat precarious. We get income from grants, from advertising and from groups and individuals who support us by becoming ‘Friends’.

We are asking all our readers to consider taking out a supporters subscription. Everyone who takes out a £4 per month bank standing order will be credited on the website and have our

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 257 1679 david.congreve@leeds.gov.uk Angela Gabriel 07946 632 468 angela.gabriel@leeds.gov.uk Adam Ogilvie 07969 680 024 adam.ogilvie@leeds.gov.uk

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

newspaper delivered to their door.

More importantly you will be enabling us to keep bringing you the news that matters to you about your neighbourhood. Please support us.

Payment by Standing Order To: The Manager,

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Middleton Park ward

Account name: ____________________________________________________________

Sort code 08 – 92 – 99

Account no.65591910

Your bank account details:

Includes Belle Isle and Middleton. The three councillors are:

0113 247 7761 judith.blake@leeds.gov.uk 07891 741 832 kim.groves@leeds.gov.uk 0113 247 6922 paul.truswell@leeds.gov.uk

@fizzandnonsense Seasonal reminder: pls consider popping advent calendars & other Xmas goodies into food banks now.

Being poor is esp s*** this time of year. @TheSocBiz Wandered round Holbeck this morning - noticed Leeds Liverpool canal cost five times more than originally budgeted. @shine_leeds Today is @BBCCiN they fund a couple of our workers to do group work and mentoring in inner #southleeds thanks for the support! @SlungLow Cracking team of volunteers from @SlateLeeds digging in and getting festive as we trim up the HUB ready for the Christmas Fayre ! @LCC_employment Need any support with jobsearch or developing your #skills? The Point @whiteroseleeds is the place to be whiterose.co.uk/thepoint @Clean_Leeds And yet more flytipping to clear, this time at Parkwood Close, Beeston. Help us find them!

Please pay a monthly payment of £4 (four pounds) until further notice starting on 1st January 2017 to:

Patrick Davey 0113 267 1282 patrick.davey@leeds.gov.uk Mohammed Iqbal 0113 226 8796 mohammed.iqbal@leeds.gov.uk Elizabeth Nash 0113 275 8594 elizabeth.nash@leeds.gov.uk

Judith Blake Kim Groves Paul Truswell

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:

Sort Code: _____-_____-_____ Account no: ___________________________________ Signature: _________________________________ Date: _________________________

Leeds Central MP – Rt Hon Hilary Benn

Your address (for newspaper delivery):

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

Please return to: 224 Cross Flatts Grove, Leeds, LS11 7BW

_______________________________ Postcode: ________________________________

@Middletoncentre Are you that grandparent that always gets dragged into the ball pool with your grandchild? We see plenty in our soft play area @CB_FT This Christmas we'll be supplying 250 food parcels to the people of South Leeds!

Help us with donations: cbft.co.uk #Leeds @HealthforAllLds Volunteers from across S Leeds learning about funding for community groups – lovely people all keen to come back for more in New Year!

www.southleedslife.com

Website: www.southleedslife.com

December 2016 | South Leeds Life

People 11

Email: info@southleedslife.com

Call for Stourton stories Law firm shines a

Calling all from Hunslet, Stourton and surrounding areas!

Were you born in the area? Did you work in the area or at Thwaite Mill? Do you have any stories from your ancestors of the area?

If so, we would love to hear from you. We are doing a history of Hunslet, the canal, and Thwaite Mill but want this to be about the personal stories from real people. If you have some pictures to share, that would be wonderful too.

If you want to be involved, please contact either Wendy

light on legal careers

Breakwell – wendy.breakwell @leeds.gov.uk or or Chris Sharp –

christopher.sharp @leeds.gov.uk, or call (0113) 336 7393

national attention since the Daily Mail and Fox News picked up on the story. Nathan is delighted with the publicity: “It’s a nice feeling to know that the little baby has so much love around the world.”

Nathan has been making videos for around 10 years and would like to work full time in the industry.

“For the time being though I am happy with it being my side hobby, it keeps me busy and my creative juices flowing. I already have a lot of ideas for short horror films with the new baby involved!” he says.

You can see more of Nathan’s films on his YouTube channel or on Facebook.

Search for NathanDuceTV.

Psycho announcement

Most people send cards, ring relatives, or post the news on Facebook, but horror fans Nathan and Mary Duce decided to share their news by recreating the shower scene from Alfred Hitchcock’s film ‘Psycho’.

The couple enjoy recreating scenes from horror films on video, so when Mary became pregnant with their first child, it seemed the natural thing to do. The scene shows Nathan trying to figure out what 2+1 means and then taking a shower. Mary bursts in brandishing a pregnancy test rather than a knife.

Friends and family of the couple, from New Forest Village in Middleton, were very happy and excited by the news and not put off by the unorthodox message. Nathan and Mary have now gained

Nathan re-enacts the shower scene from Psycho

Lucy’s walk on hot coals

Lucy and Sadiya feel the heat

South Leeds Life volunteer Lucy Potter and colleague Sadiya Salim (child friendly Leeds worker) took part in a fire walk on Wednesday 24 November in Victoria Gardens.

It was to help raise money and awareness for the Children's Heart Surgery Fund and congenital heart disease.

The charity which supports the Children's Heart Surgery Unit at the LGI provides support including accommodation for the families of babies

and children across the region.

Alongside 48 other passionate supporters they bore the soles of their feet for some daring fire walking.

Lucy said “It was very very hot, but we had been motivated up to the point of walking on hot embers for 40 minutes prior by fire walking experts. The feeling afterwards was that of elation and relief.”

To donate please go to www.goldengiving.com/ fundraising/Fundraising FireWalk

This year marks 95 years more young people to Leeds-based law firm, Shulmans LLP, has teamed since women were first recognise these exciting up with The Shine Project to allowed into the profession prospects and pursue a career help inspire teenage girls to and according to figures in law.

Speaking of the firm’s work pursue higher education and recently reported by the embark on a successful Solicitors Regulation Authority, with The Shine Project, Sarah women now make up 47 per said: career in the legal sector.

“We are The Shine delighted to be Project offers involved with this support, friendship fantastic project and mentoring to and support the more than 200 positive work they teens aged 11 to 18 are doing. in the inner South “Shine is all about Leeds area, helping encouraging young them understand people to reach their value and their potential and potential. with so much As part of the Kate Alty (Shine), Sarah Briscall, Hayley Milton ongoing (Shulmans), Chloe Dennison & Millie Wood diversity in law, firm’s support of the along with a variety project, Sarah Briscall, Solicitor cent of all solicitors in the UK, of different routes into the at Shulmans, hosted an with two-thirds of practising profession, we were really keen interactive workshop for the female solicitors aged under to show them what can be project’s members on the 35. achieved. diversity within the legal With such growing “We’re thrilled to be able to sector, in an effort to prove opportunities in the industry, give something back and that the sky is the limit when it along with a variety of funding hopefully we’ve inspired some comes to exciting career and support schemes, of the girls to consider a legal options.

Shulmans is keen to encourage career in the future.”

www.southleedslife.com

South Leeds Life | December 2016

12 Health For All

Twitter: @SouthLeedsLife

Grandparents’ self help group

A group of grandparents who look after their grandchildren have formed a self help group with support from Health For All. Stepping in to take care of young children can have a profound effect on your life.

Having raised your own children and seen them grow up, to be suddenly back dealing with nappies and the school run is quite a shock to the system.

“Don’t get me wrong” one grandparent explained, “I don’t begrudge looking after the children for one second, but it has turned my life upside down.”

Another lady describes herself as a 52 year old single mum with children aged 4 and 6 years old.

“I’ve had to give up work and I don’t have a social life anymore” she explains. “The kids are on Child Protection Orders so any babysitter would have to be DBS checked.”

There are a host of issues associated with caring for grandchildren. The children themselves have all the issues of no longer living with Mum and Dad. Often the loss of trust and security of the upheaval can lead to behavioural issues. Bullying in the playground – “You haven’t got a Mum” – can add to these problems.

The Grandparents Group is an

Health For All has been working to help communities help themselves for 25 years in South Leeds.

Jeremy Morton talks to Chief Executive Pat McGeever about the journey and meets one of the newest groups supporting Grandparents who look after their grandchildren.

opportunity to get together and talk to other people in the same situation. The group has been meeting weekly since it was set up in March 2016. A crèche is provided for pre school children and the group have organised trips in the school holidays.

“It’s important for the children to get together too” says Paula who started the group. “Like us, they can feel they are the only ones in their situation. It’s so

Grandparents meet monthly in Middleton important to break the isolation for all of us.”

These Grandparents are, of course, supported individually by Social Workers, but the group has discovered that they’ve each had different experiences with the system. They can now share information about help and support that they have found.

“There are some things you feel you can’t tell your Social Worker in case they think you are not coping and take the children away from you” explains one member.

The group is a safe place where members can share their problems, anxieties and their triumphs. They clearly value this as they continue their second round of parenting.

To get in touch with the Grandparents Group please contact Health For All on (0113) 270 6903.

Bus fares & biscuits Today Health For All run numerous services from five centres across South Leeds, but it all started 25 years ago in an attic office Beeston.

Pat McGeever was the first member of staff for what was originally called South Leeds Health For All and worked out of the Asha Neighbouhood Project in Beeston. The plan was to follow up the World Health Organisation’s initiative to improve health through tackling the many issues that affect a person’s health.

“For example” she explains “a woman may take her baby to the doctor for a chest infection, but the problem is that they live in damp housing.

Or she may go with anxiety, but it’s being caused by domestic violence.”

The project started work by researching unmet needs in the area by talking to people about their problems. Pat reels off a list of early reports: the needs of homeless families living at Brett Gardens; older people in Holbeck; young people tackling bullying at Middleton Park High School; and reclaiming Cross Flatts Park.

“It’s interesting because you can trace back the services we run today to those early days.

For example we were asked to help set up a Clients Committee for the adults with learning difficulties using the Moor End Training Centre.

That led to SLATE who are now independent of us and to The Bridge project at Holbeck Community Centre.”

I ask her what she’s most proud of and she talks about

the organisation’s success in meeting needs through small community support groups.

“What people need is a place to go; people to meet;

“If a young mother gets advice about bedtime routines, or whatever from another young mum, she’s much more likely to listen to

Pat McGeever with Hilary Benn MP and things to do. It’s very simple really. But by breaking down isolation you can achieve so much. Happier people are healthier people.”

“I’m proud that we are can do organisation. A young Chinese woman knocked on the door of Beeston village Community Centre and asked if she could start a group there.Toshal, the manager said yes immediately. Now there are forty Chinese elders meeting every week doing calligraphy, cooking, singing, all sorts.”

Pat talks about peer support the importance of information.

it than if she’s told by a professional. It’s not a criticism of professionals it’s just the way it is. So a mum’s group works on different levels: breaking isolation, creating friendships, spreading information. It’s a virtuous circle.”

Health For all has always followed a community development approach “People within a situation are the real experts and you ignore them at your peril!

We’ve always tried to engage with people, respect them and their experiences.”

Pat comes back to the small group approach.

Groups are Aiming High

The Aiming High Network is linking up grass roots community groups across South Leeds for support and solidarity.

Health For All’s Rachel Vernelle is facilitating the group and helping to deliver the training they have requested.

Two more workshops are coming up in the new year.

‘Measuring Up’ poses the question; How do you know if things are working? It will look

at what sort of records you should keep (monitoring) and what funders want to know about how their money is spent (evaluation).

The second workshop is about getting new people involved. It will look at how you get new recruits, what are you offering people who get involved? How could you use social media more effectively and consider communications and marketing strategies. Plus

Facebook: facebook.com/southleedslife

how your group can improve what it does by learning from experience Each session will run twice, once in school time and once at tea time.The workshops are free and a free crèche is available for the daytime sessions.

For more information call Rachel on (0113) 272 5169 07958 474542; or book via email: raquel.greenwood @healthforall.org.uk

Health For All’s Middleton base

“Our groups run year after year on a pittance, but they don’t need much, they are very cost effective. They need a room, refreshments, maybe transport costs, maybe a tutor. Their strength is that they’re run by volunteers and that makes them sustainable.

I’ve always said Health For All runs on biscuits and bus tickets, if you can provide those the group can function.”

Health For All’s 25th anniversary celebrations will also be centred on the small groups that make up the organisation’s membership.

Pat also hopes that they might go back to there roots with some new research about unmet needs and new emerging communities of interest in the area.

Looking ahead to the future Pat talks about “challenging times” and cuts to funding just when people’s needs are getting greater.

“We need make best use of our resources and that brings me back to volunteer led groups.They have impacts way beyond there actual activity.

Think about Friends of Middleton Park and they’ve acted as a catalyst to turn the park around. In turn more people use it, benefit from it.”

“Health For All has achieved what it’s achieved by working with other people, other organisations, we haven’t done it by ourselves.”

“I can honestly say it’s been a privilege and honour to work in South Leeds. It’s such an exciting place, with so much going on. It’s kept me engaged for 25 years, there’s certainly not been a day when I’ve been bored!”

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December 2016 | South Leeds Life

Arts 13

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Sculptures set for Lone Twin spiral around Holbeck Dewsbury Road

Through autumn and winter 2016, artist Christoper Jarratt is working with community groups based around Dewsbury Road in Beeston, to develop a final design for two new public sculptures.

These will be situated on Dewsbury Road near to the One Stop Shop and also on the corner of Trentham Street.

Jarratt was selected as the artist to lead the project by a panel including representatives from Leeds City Council and the Dewsbury Road Town Team, which is a local traders group who are jointly funding the project, as well as community representatives.

The artworks are part of a wider regeneration scheme around Dewsbury Road, the Council’s Town and District Centre scheme. The art project is being delivered in conjunction with The Tetley, a centre for contemporary art based in the former brewery, which has a focus of engagement work with south Leeds.

Jarratt’s chosen idea was for two metal sculptures, one that is static

and one mobile, based on his interest and which sparks the imagination.” in the theories of colours and The final design from Jarratt’s symbols. Jarratt says “The kinetic initial concept is currently being sculpture is a triptych of 3 wind developed through a series of powered spinning signs that sit next workshops with groups and to each other. Each sign acts like a organisations based near Dewsbury simple animation. Using bold shapes Road including Hamara, ASHA, the and contrasting colour, as the sign Hunslet Club, St Francis of Assisi and spins in the wind the animation Hunslet Moor primary schools, comes to life, creating an artwork Health for All, the Craft Café at the and landmark that is in constant flux. Nazarine Church amongst others.

“Meanwhile, the other, static work An open workshop and exhibition is gives a nod to everyday directional also planned for 2017. After these signage and street furniture, the type workshops, Jarratt will complete a of items that might be found along final design, which will be installed in Dewsbury Road, for example, the 2017. spinning Oil/Change sign outside a garage or a road sign, helping to guide you to the city centre or local museum.

The work refers to these objects but elevates the everyday to something playful Getting hands on at the workshop

by Jeremy Morton

Two men attempted to walk around (and around) Holbeck following a spiral route marked on a map last month. As they went they collected items and built a structure of mementos of their journey.

Spiral was part of the Compass Arts Festival which took place in Leeds during November. Sticking exactly to the task was impossible – the route went through houses and across the motorway – but negotiating the best route closest to the line is what brings the project to life. It is a voyage of discovery: of places, people and things.

I met up with Lone Twin: artists Gregg Whelan and Gary Winters outside the Clayton Hotel on a blustery Sunday afternoon as they approached the end of their second revolution.

They talked me through their collection of objects. The wooden slats found by the river on the first morning that the turned into a frame, the plastic gemstone donated by a young girl, the ‘emergency supplies’ of chewing gum and ibuprofen given to them by a woman rummaging in her handbag as

Lone Twin with their collection she set off for a night out. I was delighted to see a copy of South Leeds Life, found at David Street Café and was able to donate two dog poo bags from my coat pocket.

The walk finished a few days later, having gradually spiralled inwards.to arrive at Slung Low’s HUB on Bath Road. Gary and Gregg then dismantled the collection of objects answering questions from the assembled audience and reviewing the week of encounters, sharing stories from their travels and the items they have collected along the way.

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South Leeds Life | December 2016

14 What’s On

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What’s On

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

Lunch Club 12:30pm Salvation Army, Hunslet Hall Road, Beeston Men’s games group 1-3pm Belle Isle WMC Triathlon Training 4:15-5:45pm Middleton Park Bike Hub Kickboxing 6-9pm Beeston Parish Centre, Town Street This Girl Can Run 6.15pm Middleton Bike Hub, Ring Road, Middleton St Matthew’s Youth Club 6:30-8:30pm St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck Zumba 7pm Middleton Parochial Hall Prize Bingo 7-9:30pm Beeston Parish Centre, Town Street Middle Tones Singing Group 7-9pm Tenants Hall Enterprise Centre, Acre Close, Middleton Every Tuesday Keep Fit for over 55’s 9:30am Trinity Network, Belle Isle, Nesfield church hall Tots, Tea and Toast 9:30-11:15am St Luke’s Church, Malvern Road, Beeston General fitness over 55's 10-11am St Anthony's church hall, Beeston South Leeds Life News Cafe 10am-12pm Brew Coffee Shop, Beeston Road Singing Group 10:30-11:30am St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck Knit & Natter 10:30am-12pm Middleton Park Visitor Centre Chair based mobility session 11.30am-1pm Cottingley

Community Centre Active mums, bumps & babes 11:45am-12:45pm Tenants Hall, Acre Close, Middleton Lunch Club 12:15-1:30pm St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck Lunch Club 12:30pm Salvation Army, Hunslet Hall Road, Beeston Rainbows, Brownies, Guides 4:30-9:15pm Beeston Parish Centre, Town Street Skate Light 6-8pm Middleton Community Centre South Leeds Lakers running 7pm from Beeston Co-op Every Wednesday Parents and Toddlers 9:15am-12pm Beeston Parish Centre, Town Street Pop Up Council Services 9:30am-2:30pm Cottingley Community Centre Chair mobility 10-10:45am Trinity Network, Belle Isle, Nesfield church hall Breaklfast Club & Foodbank 10am-12pm Hunslet Methodist Church, Telford Terrace Computer Club 10am-12pm Holbeck Elderly Aid, Balm Walk Shopping Trip 10am-1pm Holbeck Elderly Aid, Balm Walk 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 Free Zumba 12-12:45pm Middleton Leisure Centre Lunch Club 12:30pm Salvation Army, Hunslet Hall Road, Beeston Line Dancing 1:45pm Trinity Network,

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

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

Nesfield Road, Belle Isle Knit and Crochet Group 3-5pm Costa Coffee, Crown Point Retail Park Aerobics and Dance 3:30-4:30pm Cottingley Primary Academy DAZL Dance class (6-12yrs) 4:45-5:45pm Watsonian Pavilion Cross Flatts Park, Beeston DAZL Dance class 5-6pm Cottingley Community Centre Basic Bike Maintenance Class 6-8pm Middleton Bike Hub, Ring Road, Middleton General fitness 6:15-7:15pm Belle Isle Family Centre Cottingley Youth Club 6:30-8:30pm Cottingley Community Centre Zumba 6:30pm Middleton Parochial Hall, Town Street Martial Arts 7-9pm Beeston Juniors, Cardinal Square South Leeds Sisters running 7.15pm Improvers Middleton Park Bike Hub, Ring Road Clubbercise 7:30-8:30pm St John & St Barnabus Church Hall, Belle Isle Camera Club 8pm upstairs at St George’s Centre, Middleton Every Thursday Charity Shop 9:30am-3pm 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 Chair based mobility group 11:15am-12:30pm Beeston Village Community Ctr Lunch Club 12:30pm Salvation Army, Hunslet Hall Road, Beeston Line Dancing 1pm Trinity Network, Nesfield Road, Belle Isle Digital Photography Club 1-3pm Tenants Hall, Acre Close, Middleton Craft Group 1:30-3:30pm Cleveleys Court, Holbeck Mashed up fitness session aerobic dance 1:45-2:45pm Beeston Village Community Centre Women only running with South Leeds Sisters 5.45pm Intermediates Middleton Park Bike Hub Women’s Rounders 7pm Middleton Leisure Centre Indoor Bowls 7-10pm The Holbeck (WMC), Jenkinson Lawn Youth Drop In 7-9pm Watsonian Pavilion, Cross Flatts Park

Clubbercise 7:30-8:30pm Cottingley Community Centre Zumba 7:15pm Middleton Parochial Hall Every Friday Tea & Toast 9am Beeston Parish Centre, Town Street Charity Shop, Tea & Toast 9am-12pm Beeston Hill United Free Church, Malvern Road South Leeds Life News Cafe 9-11am 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 Luncheon Club 12-1:30pm Beeston Parish Centre, Town Street Fish & Chip Lunch Club 12:30-1:30pm St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck Krok Po Kroku (Polish Gp) 12:30-2:30pm Beeston Village Community Centre Games Afternoon 1:30-3pm St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck Urban Dance 4pm Cockburn School Holbeck Skate Park 5-6:30pm Holbeck Moor Martial Arts 6-7pm Beeston Parish Centre Friday Night Project 6-9pm Middleton Leisure Centre Every Saturday Breakfast Club 8:30-11am Vale Circles Centre, Tunstall Road, Beeston Cross Flatts parkrun 9am Watsonian Pavilion, Cross Flatts Park Coffee morning 9am-12pm Beeston Parish Centre, Town Street Police Contact Point 9:30-11:30am St George’s Centre, Middleton Kidz ‘n’ Co 10:30am-12:30pm Beeston Village Community Centre Middleton Railway 11am-4:30pm, Moor Road, Hunslet Every Sunday Cross Flatts junior parkrun 9am, top of Cross Flatts Park Middleton Railway 11am-4:30pm, Moor Road, Hunslet Thursday 1December Mountain Trikes 11am-3pm Middleton Park Club House, Ring Road Hunslet Carr Christmas Lights 5pm Bay Horse pub, Balm Rd Beeston Christmas Lights 5:30pm Beeston Co-op

Holbeck Lights | Photo: Lucy Potter Hunslet Carr Residents Ass 6:30pm Community Centre, Woodhouse Hill Avenue Beeston Community Forum 7:30pm Beeston Village Community Centre Saturday 3 December Middleton Elderly Aid Christmas Fair 10am-1pm St Cross Church Middleton St Mary’s Christmas Fair 11am-3pm Parocial Hall, North Lingwell Road, Middleton Holbeck Christmas Market 11am-3pm St Matthew’s Community Centre Live Wrestling 7pm The Holbeck Club, Jenkinson Lawn Sunday 4 December Indoor Car Boot Sale 9am-1pm Middleton Leisure Centre, Ring Road Middleton Slung Low Christmas Fayre 12-4pm 67-71 Bath Road, Holbeck Winter Wonderland 1:30-3pm New Craven Hall, LS11 5NF Vocologee Choir Concert 5-9pm New Craven Hall, LS11 5NF Holbeck Christmas Lights 5:30pm St Matthews Community Centre Monday 5 December Pop Up Council HUB 10am-3pm Crosby Road, Holbeck Tuesday 6 December Mostly Men 10am-12pm Northcotes Community Centre Belle Isle Christmas Lights 4pm Belle Isle Circus Friends of Stank Hall Barn 7:30pm The Broadway pub, Dewsbury Road Wednesday 7 December Stop Violence Against Women 10-2pm Asha Neighbourhood Project, 43 Stratford Street, Beeston Hunslet Memories 12-2pm Garden Gate pub, Whitfield Place, Hunslet Middleton Christmas Lights 4pm Middleton Circus Women’s Cycling 6-7pm Middleton Park Club

House, Ring Road Hunslet Tenants & Residents 6:30-8pm Church of the Nazarene, Grove Road Thursday 8 December Charity Coffee Morning 9am-1pm Church of the Nazarene, Grove Road, Hunslet Christmas Craft Event 4-6pm Middleton Family Centre 256-262 Sissons Road Friday 9 December Lantern Festival 5:45pm Cross Flatts Park Saturday 10 December Ramblers 9am St Mary’s Church, Town Street, Beeston Hunslet Club Beer Festival 4-11pm Hillidge Road Las Vegas Night 7pm South Leeds Golf Club, Gipsy Lane, Beeston Sunday 11 December Community Christmas Party 11am-3pm Manorfield Hall, Newhall Road, Belle Isle Dogs Christmas Party 12-3pm Middleton Park Equestrian Centre, Middleton Grove, Beeston Sunday Lunch 1-3pm Ingram Gardens Community Centre, Holbeck Christmas Cards & Carols 1-4pm Middleton Park Visitor Centre, off Town Street Tuesday 13 December Table Top Sale 2-5pm Beeston Village Community Centre Thursday 15 December Comics Club!

3:15-4:45pm Dewsbury Road Library Saturday 17 December Leeds Young Archaeologists Club 10am-12pm Middleton Park Visitor Centre Sunday 18 December Carols by Candlelight 7pm St Mary’s Church, Town Street, Beeston Friday 23 December Middleton Railway 11am-4:30pm, Moor Road, Hunslet Saturday 31 December Informal Party 8pm, Beeston Parish Centre, Town Street

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 Ring/text: 07894 583966

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What’s on 15

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Santa Specials steam ahead

What could be more exciting for children at this time of year than a ride on a steam train and a present from Santa?

Middleton Railway are running their ever popular Santa Specials starting on Saturday 3 December 2016.

Trains run each Saturday and Sunday plus Friday 23 December. Every child under 12 will receive a present from Santa during the journey, adults will get a warm drink and a mince pie at Moor Road station.

Prices are £8.75 for adults, £11.75 for children aged 3-12 and £7.75 for children under 3, whilst babes in arms not requiring a present travel free.

Discounts are available if you book in advance and to travel on Christmas Eve you

IN BRIEF Candlelighters Coffee

There will be a coffee morning in aid of Candlelighters, the children’s cancer charity, 9am1pm on Thursday 8 December, at Church of the Nazarene in Hunslet.

Domestic violence event

Ready to roll at Middleton Railway must buy your tickets min advance.

Steam trains have been running on the historic Middleton Railway for over 200 years. It was the first railway in the world to use steam locomotives commercially and was designed to bring coal from pits in Middleton to Leeds to power the industrial revolution. The museum in the engine house also reveals

the history of Hunslet as the centre of the locomotive manufacture for the world.

The railway has been run by the volunteers of the Middleton Railway Trust since 1960. If you would like to support their work, why not help them by “buying a brick” in their new building on site.

Full terms and conditions are set out on the Middleton Railway website: middletonrailway.org.uk

As part of the 16 Days of Action, Asha Neighbourhood Project in beeston is holding an event to highlight the issue of domestic violence.

The event runs from 10am2pm on Wednesday 7 December at their base at 43 Stratford Street.

Christmas Cards & Carols

Come and celebrate Christmas in the Park on Sunday 11 December from 1pm, with a Park Ranger running a Christmas Crafts workshop, wreaths and yule logs, Followed

Feel good at Green Gym If you don’t fancy exercise bikes and weights rooms, have you thought about getting your exercise by gardening at a ‘Green Gym’?

As well as (gentle) exercise, going to the Green Gym is a great way to learn new skills and meet new people. Working on an allotment plot you will be helping to grow fresh fruit and vegetables and creating wildlife habitats.

TCV run three Green Gyms across South Leeds: Skelton Grange Environmental Centre, Stourton on Mondays Old Cockburn Sports Hall, Primrose Lane, Beeston on

Working in the Green Gym allotment

Tuesdays Cockburn School, Gypsy Lane, Beeston on Wednesdays The half day sessions are free and open to anyone over 18 to

join.

For more information contact Sharon Bottomley on 07767 113137; or email: s.bottomley@tcv.org.uk

Xmas bin collections

Leeds City Council have announced changes to their bin service of Christmas and New Year.

Between Monday 26 December and Sunday 8 January your bin will be emptied one or two days later than normal.

December 2016 | South Leeds Life

Usual bin day:Your Christmas collection will be: Monday Tuesday 27 Dec and Tuesday 3 Jan Tuesday Wednesday 28 Dec and Wednesday 4 Jan Wednesday Thursday 29 Dec and Thursday 5 Jan Thursday Friday 30 Dec and Friday 6 jan Friday Saturday 31 Dec and Saturday 7 Jan Saturday Monday 2 Jan and Sunday 8 Jan

by a Christmas sing along with the help of a local choir.

The Waterside Cafe will be open all day for refreshments, and the Friends will be selling scrummy homemade cakes too.

Lynbar Majorettes

Lynbar Majorettes are looking for girls and boys from age 3 upwards to join the troupe in South Leeds.

Training is one night per week, either Wednesday or Thursday, subs are £5 per week. They teach both baton and pom routines and aim to build determination, confidence and teamwork.

Call 07494 361983 for more information.

Manorfield Party

We will have fun, dancing, games and party food, I have even had conformation that a special guy in a red suit will be coming to see the children and bringing his reindeer friends too.

Sunday 11 December 11am-

3pm. There is a small cost for this of £2.50 per child then £1.50 for any additional child after. A parent or carer must accompany the child or children.

For this your child will have a party with food and able to take home a picture of them with Santa when he gives them a small gift.

Christmas Crafts

Health For All are hosting a session for parents and children to make cards and decorations.Then relax with seasonal snacks and entertainment. Thursday 8 December 4-6pm at Middleton Family Centre, 256-262 Sissons Road.

Carols by Candlelight

On Sunday 18 December at 7pm. Come and sing traditional carols. Followed by mulled wine and mince pies. We promise a good sing in a beautiful building, And a very warm welcome at St Mary’s, Town Street, Beeston.

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South Leeds Life | December 2016

16 Sport

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Hunslet RLFC!to meet Junior runners Rhinos for new trophy

Hunslet RLFC have revealed that they will play Leeds Rhinos in the inaugural Harry Jepson OBE Memorial Cup match on Sunday 15 January at South Leeds Stadium.

The clubs will no longer compete for the historic Lazenby Cup. The annual fixture between Leeds' two professional Rugby League clubs will be now named in memory of Harry Jepson OBE who died earlier this year.

Harry played a big role at both clubs as well as teaching at Cottingley and Clapgate Primary Schools.

Supporters-owned Hunslet have dropped the ‘Hawks’ name as they look to regain past form and win promotion to the Championship in 2017.

The match against their city rivals follows another traditional fixture at Featherstone Rovers on Sunday 8 January for the Gareth Swift Memorial Trophy. Further pre-season matches are to be announced.

The club has announced two new main partners. Leeds-based internation freight

off to a flying start

by Ed Carlisle

Harry Jepson OBE company Clipper Logistics and Bartlett insurance brokers. Both companies share the club’s values and are committed to the South Leeds community. Their logos will adorn the new 2017 team shirt.

Branded leisureware and season tickets are now available through the club shop or check online at www.hunsletrlfc.com.

Get off the sofa with South Leeds Lakers

The South Leeds Lakers running club is inviting people who have never run before to come to a series of training sessions designed just for them.

The ‘Couch to 5K’ (C25K) programme is a 9-week course of 30minute exercise sessions which the Lakers is putting on free of charge to improve health in the community.

Aimed at people who are recovering from injury, have not run for a while or have never run, the programme will be taught by fully trained run leaders who understand what it’s like to start from scratch.

The plan is to start off with small changes, where you do a lot of walking with a bit of jogging, and gradually bring in more jogging than walking, until at the end of the sessions you can run continuously for 30 minutes. People will have to do three sessions a week, one with the Lakers and two in their own time, but full instructions will be given as well as a free

smartphone app from the NHS. You don’t need any special kit, just trainers and clothing you feel comfortable running in.

C25K has been proven

can sign up online at tinyurl.com/j7r5g5c or for more information pop along to South Leeds Lakers every Tuesday at the same time & place.

Lakers Phil Hodgson and Emma Chadwick with Dom Parry and Chloe Jones from Optimal Recovery

to work around the world so don’t be put off by thinking you’re not fast or fit enough, the Lakers will be supporting you all the way.

Run Leader Mike Wallis said “Running is a great way to improve your physical and mental health, and Couch to 5K will really help people get into the habit, learning how small changes make a huge difference.”

The programme will start on Tuesday 10 January from 6:45pm at the Co-Op on Beeston Road. Interested people

The Lakers are committed to providing free running to the community. To assist in this they are looking for sponsors to help cover the cost of run leader courses.

Rothwell based health and well being centre Optimal Recovery are the first local business to come onboard, sponsoring newly qualified leader Emma Chadwick. If you would like further details on this please contact Phil Hodgson on 07964 087910

Junior ‘parkrun’ – a new weekly running event for kids and young people – launched in style on Sunday 13 November in Beeston’s Cross Flatts Park. A mighty 57 youngsters took part in an event that organisers described as ‘amazing’ and ‘magical’.

The free 2km event will now take place every Sunday throughout the year, at 9am, at the top end of the park (just off Beeston Road). It’s open to anyone aged 4 to 14, of any ability: participants can sprint, run, jog, or walk. (To give newcomers an indication, participants completed the course last Sunday in times ranging from 7 minutes to 22 minutes.) But all attendees are urged to register online beforehand, to then get their official time each week.

Adults are welcome to run with the youngsters, but the kids can run unaccompanied too: the event is closely marshalled, to ensure safety.

(Under 11s do need an accompanying adult on site though.)

Jeni Sword-Williams, one of the organisers, commented: “It was an amazing first event, magical, such a pleasure to be part of: so many local children, many of them doing their first ever run, enjoying the park and enjoying sport. I thought the all-age parkrun was great, but seeing it in action for kids was a hundred times better!”

The coordinators are also making a special call-out for volunteers to help marshall the

Friday 4 November saw a busy night of boxing at the Hunslet Club, with the home club making a clean sweep of results, including Beeston’s Ismail Khan seeing off a strong challenge to retain his English flyweight title.

The night featured 14 bouts, in front of a lively and goodspirited crowd of 200+. The boxing featured a wide range of juniors (both girls and boys), as well as several senior bouts, with opponents coming from across the North.

Incredibly, of the nine bouts which were judged, the Hunslet Club boxers won all nine. Special mention is perhaps due to local lad Jack Briggs (12), who clocked up a big win after some difficult previous results. Also to Ismail, who faced a stern challenge from a high energy opponent from Middlesborough, but fought a good technical fight, and was given a unaminous

victory. And finally to another senior boxer Jacob Staten, who – in the last fight of the evening – staged a stirring comeback to win a tough bout, and also the Boxer of the Night award.

One of the visiting regional officials, Tommy Devanney, commented: “What a brilliant show you staged last night. If any club would like to visit a boxing show, I’d say: ‘Go along to Hunslet, we can all learn a thing or two.’ And I’ve been in this game a very long time, but never have I ever seen a team work together so well, with 9 wins from 9 bouts. Well done once again to all concerned at Hunslet Boxing.”

And Dennis

Youngsters line up for the first Cross Flatts junior parkrun Photo: Rich Harrison events, any Sunday, to ensure the safety of the young participants. To find out more, get in touch via the links below.

The event is one of 130+ junior parkruns throughout the UK and beyond, and part of the international parkrun movement which features 850+ runs in 14 countries.

For full info on the Junior Cross Flatts parkrun go to: http://www.parkrun.org.uk/ crossflatts-juniors/ The event is an off-shoot from the all-age, 5km Cross Flatts parkrun, running every Saturday at 9am since 2013.

A clean sweep for Hunslet Club boxers

Robbins, CEO at the Hunslet Club, added: “Our team were up against it, but we’ve never had a clean sweep of results ever before – that’s quite an achievement.

Thanks to the staff, the club members, the local community, but – most of all – the volunteers. Without them, events and programmes like this – and also the fireworks display (the following night, attended by about 1,000 people) – would never happen.”