South Leeds Life 50 April 2019

Your FREE community newspaper

Issue 50 | April 2019

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

CLIMATE EMERGENCY One of the 5,000 protesting on the Town Hall steps makes her point

L

by Jeremy Morton

eeds City Council is set to declare a 'Climate Emergency' as we go to press.

This recognition of the grave threat of climate change comes against the backdrop of international school strikes (see below) and reports of species extinctions. Cllr Judith Blake (Middleton councillor and leader of the Council) has said:“The climate emergency is real” and called for “radical action.”

The past 6 months have seen a considerable surge in environmental campaigning globally, with figures including Swedish teenager Greta Thunberg calling upon global and government bodies to take serious action to curb runaway

Greta Thunberg

climate change.

Groups including Extinction Rebellion have taken direct action in London and other cities, and the Schools Strike - originated

by Greta Thunberg - has grown to see 100,000s of school pupils and students leaving their studies to protest around the globe.

15 March saw the second organised School Strike in Leeds, with thousands of young people joining the 5,000-strong demonstration outside the Town Hall.

In sa statement, Cllr Judith Blake, Leader of Leeds City Council, said: “The climate emergency is real. If we don’t take radical action much sooner than previously thought it will be too late to avert climate disaster and all the extreme consequences that will bring.

Many young people including from South Leeds have expressed their understandable concern about this and its right they are listened to.

“Leeds is one of the leading councils in the country with

Photo: Brannoc Stevenson work in this area, as shown by the level of resources we have invested in innovative schemes such as Leeds Pipes District Heating which will be extended into South Leeds. Investment in insulation and energy efficiency improvements in council housing also helps reduce tenant’s energy bills and has an impact on health by reducing illnesses such as asthma associated with damp.

Improving walking and cycling links from the South of the city into the city centre can also make a big difference.

“We need businesses to increase their investment in energy efficiency and low carbon measures. It is worth their while as we know that in Leeds by 2030 they can save over £277m annually if they invest in all available profitable measures available in this area.

“However, we recognise more action is needed so we are bringing the motion to Full Council and calling for all political parties on the council to support it.

“If the motion is agreed we

will bring forward proposals for little commitment to real a conversation with everyone in action, and it mainly passes the the city on what practical buck to national government. measures are needed as part We can and should act now: of an emergency plan to an stop the airport expansion, Executive Board meeting in curb major road building, block April. However, it is absolutely all local fracking activity (like key that the Government then waste fluids coming to gives us the funding and Knostrop), as a start. We can powers to implement many of make a better greener city - but the radical actions needed. We we need to be bold." remain concerned that the What do you think? Are you current Government isn’t or young people you know taking this seriously enough striking? Join the debate at and we will do everything we southleedslife.com and turn to can with partners across the page 2, to read Hilary Benn country to lobby for the powers MP's comments. and funding needed to make • 18 of the world’s 19 hottest years have the difference.” occurred since 2001. The last five years But Ed Carlisle, have been the hottest five in the last 140 lead Green Party years. candidate for south • Thousands of species of plant, animal, and central Leeds, says it doesn’t go invertebrate and insect are becoming extinct each year. far enough: "It's great that the • Extreme weather events such as Cyclone Council are at last Idai which hit Mozambique and Malawi this waking up to month, are becoming more frequent. climate change. I • Polar ice is melting at an accelerating hope this makes an speed and glaciers are retreating across impact, but I've the globe serious concerns.

Nice words, but

In this issue:

£1m to survey Temple Works

page 3

Middleton’s newest Champion

page 4

Cockburn ‘Ignite’s dance festival

page 16

Lakers stride out with junior section

page 20

NEWS SCHOOLS

2-9 10-11

FEEDBACK

12

PEOPLE

13

SLC AWARDS

14-15

WHAT’S ON

16-18

SPORT

19-20

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

www.southleedslife.com

South Leeds Life | April 2019

2 News

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

The website and newspaper are produced by South Leeds Life CIC, a social enterprise registered with Companies House, No 9998695.

South Leeds Life is a member of the Independent Community News Network.

Our aims To inform people of events, activities, issues and opportunities taking place in the South Leeds community; To encourage the involvement of the wider community in communicating their experiences; To foster community spirit and involvement; and To provide a platform for local people to contribute and respond to community life more fully.

Contact us South Leeds Life CIC 224 Cross Flatts Grove, Leeds, LS11 7BW Email: info@southleedslife.com Facebook & Twitter: @SouthLeedsLife Phone: 07894 583966

Complaints South Leeds Life is committed to working within and adhering strictly to the Editors Code of Practice.

However, if you feel we have breached the code in any way and wish to make a complaint, please submit your complaint, in writing to the editor.

A copy of our complaints procedure is available via our website or on request.

Twitter: @SouthLeedsLife

Facebook: facebook.com/southleedslife

MP’s notebook A

by Hilary Benn MP

couple of weeks ago, I attended the climate emergency rally on the steps of Leeds Town Hall. There were hundreds of school students there from across our city.

They had decided to come together to speak as the next generation about the huge risks of dangerous climate change.

Ever since the global economic crash, governments have paid less attention to how we must reduce CO2 emissions than they should have, and in the intervening decade, the bad news is that global emissions have continued to rise.

According to the Met Office the level of climate-warming carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere is forecast to reach a near-record amount in 2019. This is because of the continued burning of fossil fuels and the destruction of forests (which soak up CO2). Action to do something about this has to increase significantly to limit warming to the 1.5C rise above preindustrial levels that scientists advise is what we need to do.

The good news is that UK emissions in 2017 were 43% below the level they were in 1990. How have we done this? By burning a lot

less coal, producing more renewable energy from wind turbines and using energy more efficiently. While we still have a long way to go to reduce emissions from transport and heating our homes, the UK’s experience shows that it is possible to make real progress.

The thing about climate change is that without dramatic progress in all countries we will all be affected by the rise in temperatures and the impact this will have on weather patterns. The past four years have been the hottest on record.

This is why international agreements between nations are so important to hold us to account for the commitments we make and for the progress we demonstrate. And that progress is actually made up of lots of decisions taken by businesses, communities and families.

Changing over to LED light bulbs is a good example. When the old incandescent light bulbs were banned in 2009 there was a lot of criticism, but one of the consequences of doing this was to force the pace of technological change. As a result, the latest generation of LED light bulbs are just as good but save us money because they last longer and use less

electricity so producing less CO2.

The move towards electric and hybrid cars is another. The Government has pledged that half of all new car sales will be hybrid or electric by 2030, and by 2040 the aim is to end the sale of “conventional” petrol and diesel cars and vans altogether.

Other countries are doing the same thing, and as a result more and more low and zero emission models are being developed by the car manufacturers.

What these two Hilary Benn MP examples show is how change can happen, but our city, our country and our world need to do much more.

And that was the message from the enthusiastic and committed young people I met on that day. Some criticised them for missing school but I applaud them for showing their commitment to our future, and anyone listening to their impassioned speeches on the steps

of the Town Hall could not have failed to be moved and impressed.

Leeds City Council has now agreed to declare a climate emergency which is a welcome expression of commitment. But what will really make a difference is each one of us committing to do something that will ensure that we can pass on to the next generation a safe, secure and temperate world.

Flooding avoided by lowering new weir H

by Ed Carlisle

eavy rainfall on Saturday 16 March in Leeds and across the region saw the River Aire full to the brim in Leeds city centre and along the Hunslet riverfront – but the communities along the river escaped serious flooding.

From 2.30pm onwards, the river was recorded to be outside its typical range at Crown Point Bridge. Sections of towpath, especially between Leeds Dock (formerly known as Clarence Dock) and the H2010 community halfway to Thwaite Mills, were reported as flooded. Water was lapping around the base of the Royal Armouries building, and Fearns Island outside the Armouries was partially submerged.

However, no residential properties were affected – and Knostrop Weir, part of the Flood Alleviation Scheme, was lowered this evening, to speed the release of water out of the city.

By lowering the weir, the on call Leeds Flood Alleviation Scheme incident team from Leeds City Council supported by the

Flooding last month at Fearn Island by the Royal Armouries Museum Environment Agency were within approximately 70mm scheme proved successful able to control the flow of of needing to be lowered, in preventing properties in the River Aire in order to before the river level slowly the city centre from flooding. effectively protect city centre stabilised as conditions Some low lying riverside properties from the threat of improved. footpaths were flooded as flooding.

Together with additional these areas are not As river levels continued to flood defence measures protected by the scheme, rise, the team considered recently put in place to which focuses on protection also activating the second protect homes and to properties and weir at Crown Point, with the businesses along the infrastructure. trigger level there coming riverside at Stourton, the You can sign up to receive

flood warnings at: gov.uk/ sign-up-for-flood-warnings To get involved with riverside community clearups – which particularly tackle the debris generated by flooding – visit the River Stewardship Company here: the-rsc.co.uk/projects/ leeds-flood-alleviationscheme-leeds-city-council

www.southleedslife.com

Website: www.southleedslife.com

News 3

Email: info@southleedslife.com

Temple Works: iconic building seeks iconic user A

April 2019 | South Leeds Life

Please support your community newspaper

by Jeremy Morton

year after buying the iconic Temple Works in Holbeck, developer CEG now have a detailed understanding of the building, but are still working out exactly how to renovate it.

Temple Works has been described as a “bumble bee building.” Just as bumble bees don’t appear to obey the laws of aerodynamics and therefore shouldn’t be able to fly, no one’s quite sure how Temple Works is still standing after 200 years – but it is.

It doesn’t have proper foundations, its roof has been 170% overloaded since the 1930s and its walls are bound with brittle cast iron rods that could snap at any moment.

We spoke to David Hodgson, CEG’s Regional Head of Strategic Development at this week’s information events in Holbeck.

“We see ourselves as the custodians of Temple Works” he told us. “It is such an important building for Holbeck, for Leeds and for the UK. We are now looking for an iconic end user to breathe new life into this iconic building.”

Looking around a packed room in The Holbeck club he added: “The building has suffered from neglect, rumours and mystery so we are keen to get the story out to the widest audience.”

Food for thought

Holbeck’s Temple Works built in the style of the Egyptian Temple at Edfu CEG have spent £1m so far with a team including engineers, archaeologists and many other experts surveying the building.

They now estimate that it will cost £30-35m to renovate the building to create a stable shell and core. Fitting it out for the new users will cost further millions.

Temple Works was built as a flax spinning mill by John Marshall in the 1840s. It was a revolutionary building – the largest single room in the world at that time; climate controlled thanks to grass on the roof; with an infant school on site for the mill hands forty years

before universal education was brought in.

What was a cutting edge, high tech building in its day is now being saved by today’s cutting edge technology. The building has become so fragile it now unsafe to work in, but a complete survey has been undertaken by drones. And the building is constantly monitored remotely.

Given the issues with Temple Works David has asked the team whether it’s the best or worst building in the world.

“Everyone agrees – it’s the best building in the world.”

CEG are now on site with their large mixed use

development on Water Lane and Globe Road and work is also proceeding at nearby Tower Works.

“The building works help to focus minds on the area as an area where things are happening, and that can only be good for the Temple” concludes David.

There is a chance to take a virtual tour of Temple Works when consultants Arup host an event called Immersive Tech in the Built Environment as part of the Leeds Digital Festival. The drop-in event takes place at Northern Monk Brewery, Marshall’s Mill on Thursday 25 April between 2-8pm.

Youngsters from the Space youth project in Beeston served up over fifty meals to members of the local community over two nights in March. Middle Eastern food including 'mahalabia' was on the menu, a lot of fun was had and the young people got plenty of positive feedback.

We have reached our 50th edition of the South Leeds Life newspaper, but we are not a rich organisation. We run on a shoestring budget of about £16,000 per year.

We raise that through advertising, grants and sponsorship.

Could you gift us £4 per month (just £1 a week) via a Standing Order?

We will then deliver you a personal copy of the paper each month to your home.

And you will know that you are helping to keep the local news independent and accessible to all.

If you have internet banking you can up a standing order online. Our bank details are: South Leeds Life Group Sort code: 08-92-99 Account no: 65591910 Please let us know that you’ve set up the order and where you would like your paper delivered.

If you don’t have internet banking please ring us for a form.

If your organisation would like to become a sponsor please get in touch.

We have a range of packages starting at £60 per year, through to our Platinum package at £3,600 per year.

Call 07894 583966 or email info@southleedslife .com for full details.

Thank you to all our sponsors including our main sponsors below.

Thanks to our subscribers: Vivienne Bate Karen Beckford Pat Benatmane Hilary Benn Amanda Binns Elaine Bower Asa Britton Andy Brown AD Brown David Bushell Ed Carlisle SJ Carlisle Barbara Cavell Rachel Darton Bruce & Debs Davies Mark Day Audrey Dickinson C Fletcher Cath Formby Angela Gabriel Al Garthwaite Julie Gill Keith Hitchiner Becky Howcroft Ken Ingram Pat Jackson Frances Jones Rosalinda Kincaid Toby Lloyd Alys Marsh Adam Ogilvie Mark Parry Lindsey & Alan Pearson AR Price Andrew Scopes Alan Shaw Bob Shaw Scott Smith Linda Stanley Steve Thompson Sarah & Jackson Turner Andrew Wilson Peter Wood Paul Wray

www.southleedslife.com

South Leeds Life | April 2019

4 News NEWS IN BRIEF Middleton Park surgery A new provider is taking over at Middleton Park Surgery. A spokesperson commented: “Middleton Park NHS GP Surgery is delighted to confirm that from 1 April 2019 the service will be run by Leeds based ‘Fuller & Forbes Partnership’, who are recognised for their community and patient centric approach to health care.

“The partnership has been awarded a permanent contract which is great news for the current and future patients of the surgery.”

Register now for May elections If you’ve never voted before, or recently moved house you need to register to vote to take part in the local council elections on 2 May. You must register by Friday 12 April. Go to www.gov.uk/register-to-vote and have your national insurance number handy.

We will publish details of all the candidates in next month’s paper.

Twitter: @SouthLeedsLife

Takeaway prosecuted after worker suffers burns A

takeaway in Beeston has been hit with a £10,000 fine after a worker suffered horrific burns when he was covered with scalding oil from a deep fat fryer.

Yorkshire Fried Chicken on Beeston Road was prosecuted

by Leeds City Council’s environmental health team after the man was left with injuries so severe, he spent four weeks in a burns unit and needed extensive skin grafts to the left side of his body.

A hearing Leeds Magistrates’ Court last month heard that following the incident, shop owner Shazad Bashir told staff not to call an ambulance and tried to convince his employee to say he had sustained his extremely painful injuries at home.

Mr Bashir, who ran the shop on Beeston Road, admitted breaching health and safety regulations and was sentenced to 26 weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months.

As well as the £10,000 fine, his company will also have to pay £5,000 costs plus a £150 victim surcharge.

Beeston resident Mark Wilson, who lives with Parkinsons Disease, is approaching another fundraising milestone with his latest comedy night. The 10th Laughter Lounge was held on 10 March at the Marriott Hotel and raised £2,260 for Parkinsons UK, taking his total in four years to £29,700.

Mark found comedy was one thing that took his mind off his health problems and wants to share that with others.

Yorkshire Fried Chicken on Beeston Road The court heard that on 24 August 2017, the victim had been draining the chip fryer by switching the machine on before emptying the oil into a plastic container, which was normal practice at the shop.

He then took the oil down into a cellar with no working light to pour it into a large drum. Because the cellar was unlit, the victim said he had to carry the container with one hand, using the light from his mobile phone to guide him.

Photo: Google Streetview

The court heard as he attempted to empty the container, he slipped on the floor, covering himself with hot oil causing severe burns. He then collapsed to the floor where he suffered further injuries from the oil that had been spilled there.

Recovering enough to make his way back up the stairs, he alerted a co-worker, who contacted Mr Bashir. But the court heard that Mr Bashir told him not to call an ambulance

and to wait for him to arrive.

He then took the victim to the hospital in a taxi and told him to tell hospital staff he had sustained his injuries at home rather than at work.

The court heard the victim spent four weeks in the burns unit at Pinderfields Hospital in Wakefield and will continue receiving treatment for the foreseeable future which could include further surgery.

After the incident was reported to them, Leeds City Council’s environmental health team carried out a number of inspections of Yorkshire Fried Chicken where they found serious breaches of health and safety regulations.

Among them were the slippery floors in the cellar and on the steps leading down to it, and a lack of adequate lighting.

They also found there was no risk assessment or safe system of work for the emptying of fat fryers.

John Mulcahy, Leeds City Council’s chief officer with responsibility for environmental health, said: “This was a terrible incident

that has left a man with lifechanging injuries and which should never have happened.

“Everyone working in Leeds has the right to go about their jobs in an environment which is safe and where their employers have taken every precaution to ensure they are not at risk.

“I hope this sentence passed down by the courts sends a strong message to businesses in Leeds that we will not tolerate employers who flout regulations put in place for the safety of their staff and we will prosecute those who put employees in danger.”

The company have been required to review their operating procedures and have put significant changes in place to ensure they comply with regulations. Yorkshire Fried Chicken has a 5 (Very Good) Food Hygene Rating.

Following this and other similar incidents involving the handling of hot oil, Leeds City Council’s environmental health team has also launched an awareness and education campaign targeting food businesses across Leeds.

Middleton’s newest, oldest digital champions L

Laughter Lounge

Facebook: facebook.com/southleedslife

by Paul Wilkes

eeds Libraries and Halifax have teamed up to bring digital skills training to over65s at Middleton Elderly Aid in another example of how different organisations are collaborating as part of the 100% Digital Leeds movement to fight the digital divide.

In late 2018 we wrote about how this relationship came about and the goals that we shared to promote independence, reduce social isolation and improve health and wellbeing for MEA’s members.

As part of their commitment to improving the lives of their service users MEA joined the Online Centres Network as well as using our tablet lending scheme to fantastic effect – borrowing four iPads to use for digital skills classes before successfully applying for a £1,500 activation grant, through 100% Digital Leeds and Good Things Foundation‘s Join the Movement funding scheme, which they used to buy their own iPads.

Our Digital Inclusion Coordinators met with Halifax who offered to provide some of

their banking staff as volunteers to help with digital skills training and in January 2019 we combined to start a Beginners ICT course every Friday at MEA. A variety of people attended at different skill levels and in nine hours learning across six sessions the course covered a large number of subjects such as messaging, taking photos, downloading apps, internet safety and getting in touch with family.

Here’s what some of the attendees said about the course: “Before this course I had never used a computer or a tablet at all and I had to learn from scratch. We started right from the beginning and before long I was using Google and Youtube and listened to some Roy Orbison songs. I didn’t have my own device like some of the others and I was able to borrow one to take home with me to practice through the week where my granddaughter can help me. We downloaded some apps and the guys helped me to set up an email address and send my first email. I have nephews in Vienna and Australia that I would like to talk with so what

I’ve learned will be great for me.”

– George “Firstly it’s given me confidence to use my iPad, I’m not afraid of it anymore.

I know now the answers are in front of me I just needed the confidence to play with it. It was daunting at first and we all needed to ask a lot of questions but the lads were so patient and it’s been Digital Champion George with Paul Wilkes really fun. I’ve learned so much was fantastic.

Each attendee received a like how to use Sat Nav, I’ve signed up for Facebook to see 100% Digital Leeds pin badge family photos, and I can get bus and a Digital Champion times at home now instead of certificate and were delighted hanging around at a cold bus when Halifax announced that they would be continuing the stop.” – Mary The group came on in leaps course for a further six weeks and bounds; from the first with the aim of making the session when there was a group self-sustainable so that palpable sense of trepidation in the members can continue to the room to a few weeks later learn from each other.

If your organisation would where all the attendees were learning quickly and helping to like to learn how to embed teach each other, the change digital into the work you’re

doing with Leeds residents please get in touch. There are more funding opportunities on the horizon and we’re always looking at new ways to help organisations across Leeds to assist their service users with digital.

Middleton Elderly Aid are also looking for volunteers and if you’d like to help out or learn more about the organisation you can contact them on info@middletonelderlyaid .org.uk

www.southleedslife.com

Website: www.southleedslife.com

April 2019 | South Leeds Life

News 5

Email: info@southleedslife.com

Lord Mayor Councillor gets wowed at The hands on with bins O

by Cllr Andrew Scopes

n Monday 4 March I got the chance to spend some time with the team that collects Cottingley’s black bins. I was really impressed with how hard they work, how quickly they get round and their ‘can-do’ attitude.

I arrived keen and ready to go at the end of Cottingley Approach, just after 7am the team leader arrives and gives me an overview of the route, and the different types of collection, he also explains that the usual driver has called in sick, so an replacement driver has been arranged, hence them running a little bit late.

negotiated the wagon up the small close with what seemed to me like remarkable ease!

It wasn’t until the top of the Approach did the real bag collections get going, collecting from a number of houses and piling them up in one place, which is really heavy work! Not only have you got a number of bags, you are worried that they might break open, which would cause a mess, you also want to limit your trips as the amount of time to do the round is limited.

Once the wagon caught up, it was a matter of throwing these bin bags into the back of the lorry.

The bin bag collections cause a particular challenge, and

I go with him. It goes on like this.

I know there are frustrations with the community that not all bags are collected, or that a bag has split and there is a mess on the road. I recognise these challenges, but also think we need to be more mindful of the bin men when we’re putting out our rubbish.

This means ensuring bin bags are not overly full and tied at the top so rubbish doesn’t fall out. It also means only leaving rubbish at the right time and in right location. Rubbish left at other times is fly tipping and you can report it here: www.leeds.gov.uk /residents/environmentalhealth/flytipping-and-wasteissues

Collecting rubbish on the Cottingley Hall estate When they arrive, the speed of their work is remarkable! They are consistently moving two wheelie bins at once and directing them directly onto the back of the wagon, which has a sensor and automatically lifts when the wheelie bin is in place (unfortunately they won’t let me have a go at the back of the wagon). We move up the road very quickly.

I’d asked to visit the Cottingley bin round to see how the bin collections work where there are no wheelie bins, usually because there are steps between the front door and the road and residents have had issues with rubbish not being collected (as raised at a local action day back in November).

As we go up Cottingley Approach, every now and then, one of the lads would call to me and we’d dash up a path and get some bin bags out of someone’s bin cupboard – this knowledge of the route was essential.

We were quickly at the Beechcrofts, and the driver

shows to me one of the challenges of the layout of the estate. Some bags are not tied up, some seem to be about to split and one or two bin cupboards are in a pretty poor state, with rubbish seemingly left to fester in the cupboard not bagged up at all. The team collect the bags they can and move on. A good number of the houses have left their bin bags out from the night before, probably with the best intentions, but the team leader explains to me that sometimes a fox or a cat gets to the bag overnight and makes a mess.

Next, to the sheltered accommodation, but the code had been changed and the team didn’t know! After a few minutes someone lets us in, and there bins are collected from the ground floor, 1st floor and 2nd floor (using the lift)!

The team splits up and the wagon with a couple of lads goes around the estate while one of the lads goes the other way to accumulate more bags –

Talking to the team, they recognise that they do, sometimes, miss a house which they should have collected from and that the route is one that really needs to be learnt through experience, so having a stable team is critical to minimising the number of houses missed.

Going forward, I’ll be looking at ways of ensuring any residual waste left, due to broken bags or missed collections, is picked up and processes to ensure the bin men get access codes when they are changed.

Another common issue, not just in Cottingley, is around access for the wagons. Leeds City Council is currently planning to update its fleet and from September, the new wagons will have a narrower wheel base (so as to improve access). They will also have cleaner engines.

I would welcome any other suggestions, particularly from those who live in Cottingley.

Please email me at: andrew.scopes@leeds.gov.uk

Hunslet Club

NEWS IN BRIEF Care home praised Staff at Anchor’s Larchfield care home on Joseph Street in Hunslet are celebrating after it was classed as ‘Good’ in all areas after being inspected by regulator the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

One person said, “I feel loved and supported here.”

A staff member commented, “I am so proud to work here.”

A resident advised, “Staff are great with us; kind and helpful.”

The Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress meet a ballet class

T

he Lord Mayor of Leeds Cllr Graham Latty paid a formal visit to the Hunslet Club on Wednesday 13 March with the Lady Mayoress Cllr Pat Latty – and couldn’t quite believe his eyes.

Following a tour of the site – which was heaving with after-school classes and activities – Cllr Latty commented: “Ten years ago, my wife came home from a visit to this Club, and she’s never stopped going on about it to this day. Now I’ve seen it with my own eyes, and I’m amazed. I never dreamt there would be so much going on.

It’s wonderful.”

During the visit, the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress got to see and hear about the wide-ranging life and work of the club – including the garage, the many sports and dance programmes, the hair and beauty facilities, the catering courses, the music and IT suites, the building workshops, and more. They also got to meet club members, staff, volunteers, and some of the many youngsters who are part of it.

One of the youth people even gave the Lady Mayoress a giant hug, mistaking her for

the Queen!

Dennis Robbins, the Club CEO, added: “This is what it’s like every single day, every single evening: the Club pretty much never closes. We’re working hard to give all the youngsters and adults who come here opportunities, that bring something out of them.

“Looking back 20 years, we never dreamt we’d get to where we are now – but here we are, it’s a great place, and I think we’re making a real difference.”

The Hunslet Club (formerly known as the Hunslet Boys Club) was established in 1940, and currently runs 98 regular activities, engaging thousands of people of all ages. As well as their afterschools activities, they also run an acclaimed alternative education scheme, community events, sports teams, social enterprise projects, and more. They have over 1600 active members, 43 members of staff, and dozens of volunteers. For full info, visit their website at: www.hunsletclub.org.uk The Lord Mayor of Leeds is a ceremonial role, rotated amongst the elected councillors each year.

Advertise with South Leeds Life and reach 18,000 people in the LS10 and LS11 area.

This space costs just £40 Ring 07894 583966 Email: info@southleedslife.com

Services Guide Residents in Beeston Hill told the Council they wanted to know more about services being delivered in their area and details of how to access them. Whilst they appreciate the Council’s ambition to get more people accessing information online, it’s not always possible for some members of our community.

As a result a booklet has been produced for the area and will be delivered to households in the Beeston Hill area in the coming months.

Play improvements The Church Street Playground, located opposite the Penny Hill Centre in Hunslet, is to receive a £50,000 investment thanks to the Housing Advisory Panel, Ward Councillors and government funding. Plans include making the playground bigger with more equipment.

www.southleedslife.com

South Leeds Life | April 2019

6 News

Twitter: @SouthLeedsLife

Councillors and community act against dog mess T

houghtless and irresponsible dog owners are the target of a campaign in South Leeds as local councillors in all three wards (Beeston & Holbeck, Hunslet & Riverside and Middleton Park) paid for new signs to be displayed in problem areas.

Following a trial by Keep Britain Tidy, the Councillors have invested in the signs, as they and local residents, are increasingly frustrated at the numbers of dog owners who refuse to clean up after their pets.

Keep Britain Tidy have seen big reductions in dog dirt using similar signs in Portsmouth.It is hoped that the new signs will remind dog owners both of the fines they could be facing but also the responsibility they took on when they bought their pet.

Dog faeces can have serious health consequences and can even cause blindness, particularly among young children who can come into contact with it while playing.

The new signs are just starting to appear and are in place at Cross Flatts Park and outside Beeston Primary School amongst other locations.

Councillor Andrew Scopes (Beeston & Holbeck) said:“There is absolutely no excuse not to clear up after your dog and it really frustrates me that people still seem to think this is an acceptable thing to do.

“Local residents do not want to be dodging piles of dog dirt when they go for a walk and children and their parents

Disability charity is going the extra mile A

should not have to worry about it when they are playing. – Let’s hope these signs have an impact, and if they are as successful as Keep Britain Tidy have seen in Portsmouth we should see a positive change.”

Councillor Paul Wray (Hunslet & Riverside) added: "We've invested in an initial batch of 40 for Hunslet and Riverside Wards public greenspaces.

We're hopefully these will make an a big impact, and if successful, we'll look to purchase more for other areas of the ward."

And Councillor Paul Truswell commented: "Dog fouling is literally one of our residents' pet hates. Failing to collect a dog's faeces is not just a filthy and disgusting act of anti social behaviour.

“It also puts the whole community at risk from infections, ranging from stomach upsets to toxocariasis, which in extreme cases can cause blindness. Children and pregnant women are especially vulnerable.

A moment's irresponsibility can have huge consequences."

As we reported last December dog owners are required to carry the means to clear up their dog's mess (eg a plastic bag) or risk being fined £100.

Meanwhile residents in Beeston and Holbeck have started their own initiative putting up poo bag dispensers for dog owners who forget to bring their own bag.

The dispensers are made from repurposed plastic bottles and attached to lamposts. Each dispenser is monitored by a volunteer resident.

Facebook: facebook.com/southleedslife

by Ed Carlisle

cclaimed south Leeds charity SLATE held a grand opening to launch a new ‘Impact Centre’ at their Hunslet HQ on 1 March.

The centre – made up of a series of refurbished rooms within their HQ – will enable them to increase their programme of activities and pastoral support for their dozens of volunteers, many of whom have learning disabilities.

Current and forthcoming projects include a poetry scheme, arts and craft, skills workshops, sessions to repair furniture and electric items – as well as the ongoing work organising and preparing stock for their two shops. The centre also features a new quiet room, for the team to relax, get online, and eat together.

Friday’s event was a characteristically friendly event, with dozens of volunteers, piles of cake and gallons of tea, guests from across the city, and local MP Hilary Benn – who officially cut the ribbon and the cake.

Dave Firth, the SLATE

Hilary Benn MP cuts the ribbon on SLATE’s new Impact Centre Operations Manager, commented: “Slate has grown from an idea into a thriving Leeds organisation. This centre isn’t just a building extension, but an extension of the possibilities we can create together; we’ve always done this work, but now we can do it better.

“Above and beyond the money we make, and the tons of furniture we divert from landfill, SLATE has always been

about its people: they are the lifeblood that makes it all work.

Thank you so much to everyone who’s part of it.”

The Impact Centre is based at the SLATE HQ, on the Balm Road Industrial Estate in Hunslet. SLATE (South Leeds Alternative Trading Enterprise) has been running since 2004, and has ‘saved’ and restored over 800 tons of furniture since 2010 – the equivalent of over 100 double decker buses!

They currently have about 50 volunteers onboard, the majority of whom have learning or mental health disabilities, together fulfilling nearly 500 hours per week.

They run shops in Hunslet and Armley, a cafe in Gipton, and are core partners within the Revive shops based at Kirkstall and Seacroft waste sites.

Railway gets Asda assistance W

presented with a cheque for £500 by Asda Community Champion, Charlotte Banks.

Charlotte said Middleton Railway was: “A worthy charity who are a vital part of the South Leeds community”.

Vice President Ian Smith said: “We feel very privileged to have been the most popular charity for this quarter and the money will be put to good use improving our visitor facilities over the winter period. We look forward to welcoming Asda customers once we reopen on Wednesday 3 April.”

The Railway has also had success in two local Asda Community Champion Charlotte Banks handing the cheque over to Ian Smith competitions.

The railway (Vice President) and Janet Auckland (Commercial Manager) from Middleton Railway

ell known Supermarket chain, Asda, presented Middleton Railway with a cheque for £500 on Tuesday 26 February at their Middleton store.

Along with two other local charities, Middleton Railway was part of Asda’s Green Token

Scheme, whereby customers get tokens to place in one of three slots, each of which is a nominated charity or local cause such as a youth club.

Middleton Railway was delighted to learn that we were the most popular of the three charities and as a result were

was nominated in the Child Friendly Leeds Awards 2019.

These awards encourage tourist attractions to be as child friendly as possible and Middleton is delighted that we are considered to be in this category.

The second recognition is from the Day Out With The Kids Family Favourites. Middleton Railway was a finalist in these awards and we are very pleased to be recognised by Day Out With The Kids.

Middleton Railway Trust’s Chairman, Charles Milner, said: “These awards reflect the efforts of our volunteers who have worked so hard to make the railway such a family friendly attraction and we are delighted to have been recognised.

“For 2019, we are reintroducing a “Kids for a Quid” train fare to make our railway even better value for families and plan to hold a Childrens Day in August featuring children’s favourite characters in costume, face painting and other attractions.”

www.southleedslife.com

Website: www.southleedslife.com

April 2019 | South Leeds Life

News 7

Email: info@southleedslife.com

Stopping missed bin collections F

by Cllr Paul Wray

or many years, missed bin collections on some of the terrace streets on Beeston Hill and elsewhere has been an ongoing issue.

There are three main reasons driving most of these missed collections: • Population growth has increased the amount of waste produced • Cars parked on street entry points, blocking access • An ageing bin wagon fleet breaking down more

Leeds bin lorry

times, to avoid wagons having access blocked to streets due to parked cars. Once done, the new routes will be more logical and efficient to complete.

Thirdly, after significant pressure from Councillors from across Leeds, including here in the South, the Council will now look to put in place ways to stop anti-social parking, which blocks the bin wagons. As our communities have grown, so has the number of cars households own. In our most densely populated communities, this means more

Photo: Stephen Craven via Creative Commons

These missed collections not only annoy residents but make our streets less attractive and healthy. The Council is now in the process of reaching solutions to these issues after significant pressure from Councillors and Council Officers behind the scenes.

Firstly, the Leeds bin wagon fleet is due to be renewed.

Once the results of the Councils and the Governments separate waste reviews are complete, the Council will know what wagons it needs to meet current and future demand.

Modern wagons will be more efficient and less likely to breakdown, reducing missed collections. Smaller wagons for harder to access streets will also be considered.

Secondly, the Council is undertaking a review of the bin collection routes. The last review took place ten years ago, and since then, many of our communities have grown, and newer developments were added to existing routes adhoc.

This has created inefficient routes.

The route review will also consider local issues, for example, streets near religious or sports institutions, which generate significant volumes of car parking on certain days or

people parking in whatever space they can, including the back streets and at road junctions. This parking isn’t illegal, but it means the bin collections, sometimes week after week, are being prevented as the bin wagons can’t get in or out of certain streets.

To stop this, the Leeds Waste Management Team will now be applying for an Emergency Traffic Regulation Order. This will give Leeds Highways the power to add yellow lines across the city, in bulk, to all problem parking hotspots which have been highlighted, making them illegal to park at.

This will reduce some parking spaces, but the health and wellbeing benefits to the impacted streets have been deemed more important. Once the lines have been painted on to the streets and junctions requested, ad-hoc parking enforcement work will begin in partnership with Leeds Parking Services and the Police to police these new restrictions.

The decision to implement parking restrictions has not been taken lightly, but the health of residents must come first. The implementation of the new lines should happen later this year, after a period of statutory public consultation

takes place on those streets affected.

In the long-term, we will all need to use less and waste less. Not only to keep our streets clean but to reduce the impact we have on the wider environment. The Council has listened to your request to act on missed bin collections and is.

Litter Bins One of the other blights on our communities is litter. Not only does it make our streets messy, but it takes up a significant amount of staff time to collect, taking them away from complex and hard to deal with environmental work.

We’re now investing in a programme of new litter bins, being deployed throughout Hunslet and Riverside Ward to help tackle this blight. Evidence shows people do use letter bins when they are there, and there is a significant amount of “polite” littering, as people use flowerbeds, behind communication boxes, or other out of sight locations to dispose of their waste if there is no local litter bin nearby.

The first batch of 22 new litter bins, identified as the most problematic areas by staff are being installed now. The next batch, planned for after May, will focus on our inner housing estates and parks, with a third batch towards the end of the year looking to tackle litter along the riverside towpaths, in partnership with the Canal and Riverside Trust.

Reducing the density of litter will keep our communities cleaner, mean regular community litter picks can make a sustained impact, and allow Council staff to focus on bigger and more complex environmental cleaning challenges.

New litter bins

Remembering Bessie

A fitting memorial has created for Bessie the dog that died after being hit by a motorbike in Cross Flatts Park in February. Local artist Claire Bentley-Smith added Bessie to the Stronger Together mural on the Watsonian Pavilion in the park.

Marching On Together?

F

ootball fans from Leeds and beyond are being encouraged to put their best boot forward after local Councillors Andrew Scopes, Gohar Almass and Angela Gabriel supported proposals to improve walking routes from Leeds City Centre to Elland Road Stadium, home Leeds United.

Holbeck Moor subway is set to feature an innovative artistic design reflecting community identity, after local residents had the opportunity to have their say by entering a community art competition.

The winning design will soon be brought to life by Leeds-based artist Andy Sykes.

The artwork will be a welcome addition and it is anticipated that it will give the area a new lease of life and improve the experience of pedestrians using the subway.

Contributing to the City’s drive for a pedestrian-friendly South Bank and supporting the Transport Strategy for Leeds by promoting sustainable modes of transport, the project aims to encourage residents and visitors to make the journey to support their favourite team on foot.

The project forms part of a major regeneration scheme in Leeds which intends to double the size of the city centre through attracting investment and providing increased opportunities for employment, education, living and innovation.

Councillor Andrew Scopes (Beeston and Holbeck) said: “My colleagues Angela Gabriel, Gohar Almass and I are really excited about the project and hopeful that the muchneeded facelift will liven up the subway for crossing on and off Holbeck Moor.

“Having clearly signposted, animated walking routes between the city centre and Elland Road will not only encourage people to lead healthier, more active lifestyles – it will benefit local residents and businesses by connecting employment, education and leisure opportunities along with providing valuable links to other communities across Leeds.”

But the designs are not universally popular. Dennis Kitchen, Chair of the Holbeck Neighbourhood Plan told South Leeds Life: “The artwork is good and Andy is to be commended for

his graphics. Our concern is that seemingly the authorities are either unwilling to consult with locals, or are just oblivious for the need to share ideas and plans.

“A wider push by LCC to improve the pedestrian experience in South Leeds is welcome, but has again been dropped in from on high without local involvement “Holbeck is separate from Elland Rd and I can understand artwork associated with football is appropriate for areas around the ground but not necessarily in Holbeck.

“Assumptions have been made that the locals would welcome this particular piece of artwork.

“We want Holbeck to be an entity on its own with its own identity history and heritage.

Football is not one of them.

“Many in Holbeck are resentful towards LUFC and its fans. We were promised Match Day parking restrictions which were not delivered.

“Fans walking to the matches are regularly seen urinating in the area, some of them cause litter and engage in anti-social behaviour.”

Image shows Andy Sykes’ designs for the Fisheries side of the underpass (top) and the park side (bottom)

www.southleedslife.com

South Leeds Life | April 2019

8 News

Twitter: @SouthLeedsLife

Facebook: facebook.com/southleedslife

Businesses invited to apply for Clean Air Zone grants L

eeds City Council is inviting businesses to apply for £23 million worth of financial support being made available to owners, leaseholders, and operators of affected vehicles (taxis, private hire vehicles, buses, coaches and HGVs) to help them prepare for the Clean Air Charging Zone (CAZ).

Grants and interest-free loans are being made available to assist vehicle owners with the costs of switching to less polluting vehicles that won’t be charged for driving within the zone.

single vehicle from 1 April 2019 and to owners and operators of multiple vehicles from 1 June.

Applications are open now for owners of non-scheduled buses and coaches based in or operating within Leeds to apply for grants of up to £16,000 to upgrade or retrofit their noncompliant vehicles.

Operators of heavy goods vehicles will be able to apply for similar £16,000 grants from 18 March.

Cllr James Lewis, executive member with responsibility for sustainability and resouces,

government funding available, we are prioritising support for owners of taxi and private hire vehicles licensed by Leeds City Council.

“I encourage those directly affected to visit our website leeds.gov.uk/cleanairzone to find out more about how the CAZ will work and the financial support packages available.”

Evidence shows that exposure to air pollution is linked to a range of health effects: worsening symptoms of asthma, damaging our lungs and reducing our life

The sky’s the limit

15 school children from across the diverse African communities within Leeds visited RAF Cosford Air Museum.

The excursion was organised by Beeston resident Yanks Sawo (Royal Air Force BAME Ambassador) stationed at Royal Air Force Leeming.

We encourage anyone living or working in South Leeds to use this website to tell their news. You can either use the Create an article for South Leeds Life page on our website, or email your stories and photos to: info@southleedslife.com

Photo: M Taylor via Creative Commons The grants and loans are available to businesses in South Leeds even though the Clean Air Charging Zone does not cover the area. Owners and leaseholders of taxi and private hire vehicles that have been licensed with Leeds City Council for one year or longer will be able to choose between applying for either a £10,000 interest-free loan per vehicle (which can be used towards switching to a compliant model or retrofitting to LPG) or a £1,500 grant per vehicle to cover transitional costs.

Taxi and private hire applications will open to owners and leaseholders of a

said: “Having received the green light for it in January, Leeds City Council are working hard to ensure the successful delivery of the Clean Air Charging Zone by 6 January.

“Like most resident in Leeds, we believe that tackling air pollution to protect the health of everyone in the city is a priority.

“We recognise that this transition will be difficult for some businesses to make.

However, we are pleased to confirm that £23 million of financial support is being made available to directly help those affected.

“With a finite amount of

expectancy.

The Clean Air Charging Zone will reduce air pollution in Leeds by encouraging businesses to transition to cleaner, less polluting vehicles that are not subject to charges for driving within the zone boundary. Private cars, vans or motorcycles will not be charged.

Money from charges will only be used to cover the costs of operating the zone, to support owners of affected vehicles, and for other schemes that will improve air quality in the city.

The Clean Air Charging Zone will come into effect from 6 January next year.

The Beeston and Holbeck Scouts and Cubs have - in conjunction with local community campaigner Ed Carlisle been working on an anti-littering poster project for LS11. To request a set of (quirky!) laminated posters to put up in your neighbourhood, contact Ed at fb.com/edgreenleeds, or text 07738 921 277.

www.southleedslife.com

Website: www.southleedslife.com

April 2019 | South Leeds Life

News 9

Email: info@southleedslife.com

South Leeds Slimmers love Keeping the riverbank clean being Greatest Losers!

V B

Sponsored content

eing the best at losing wouldn’t normally help you scoop an award - but slimmers’ in South Leeds has done just that after being named the area’s ‘Greatest Loser’ 2019.

Members of Slimming Worlds South Leeds groups have lost a life changing 122 stones, 5.5 pounds between them to take the title in their individual groups which is awarded to the member who has lost the most weight and are feeling amazing!

Ladies and Gents who have lost an average of 5 stones, 4.5 pounds each say: “there’s absolutely nothing wrong with being a loser when it feels this good”. These members not only feel happier but have improved their health too. Improvements have been noticed by these members to their high blood pressure, diabetes, back pain and arthritis. They also have

more energy and are enjoying all the changes that losing weight has brought them. “we’ve made so many friends in group and don’t believe we could have done it without their support each week. They’ve helped me with recipes and tips and if we ever struggled, they were there to remind me why I wanted to lose weight in the first place and how far I’d come since stepping though the doors on the first week!”

The winners follow Slimming World’s healthy eating plan, eating a variety of foods with no weighing or measuring and never going hungry. “I can still cook the meals I love, says one winner, “and feed all the family without having to make different meals. It fits so easily into everyday life” “Everyone is welcome at our Slimming World groups” says Hunslet Consultant Vicky Sampson, “no matter how

olunteers, supported by the River Stewardship Company and Groundwork, have carried out two litter picks this month along the river next to the H2010 development in Hunslet.

Cllr Paul Wray who took part tols South leeds Life: “It was tragic to see so much waste in our wonderful waterway but reassuring to see so many people get stuck in and make a difference to the environment and the wildlife which makes it home. For many residents who live on the waterfront, this is

much or how little weight you want to lose, we are ready to welcome you and help you achieve your dreams!”

Groups are held throughout

South Leeds at various dates and times, see SlimmingWorld.co.uk for details or contact your local consultant.

their back garden and we must do more to protect it.

“I would encourage Leeds Riverside residents (or anyone who loves the river) to get involved with the regular volunteer clean-up days. You can sign up to get alerts about actions days at: the-rsc.co.uk /riverlution/get_involved Sarah from RSC commented: “It was fantastic to see such a big turnout and be able to achieve so much. There is still a lot of rubbish to collect from this area so we will be back for another volunteer day soon.”

www.southleedslife.com

South Leeds Life | April 2019

10 School Life

Twitter: @SouthLeedsLife

Facebook: facebook.com/southleedslife

Cockburn MAT students link Parents fundraising tr up with tech giant IBM playground at Beeston T

he launch of the Pathways to Technology project, known as PTECH, took place at the Civic Hall on Monday 18 March.

IBM has developed the P-TECH programme to prepare young people for the future and to give them the technical and employability skills they need to secure good quality jobs or continue their studies.

The project has been successfully implemented in the USA and across over 100 schools worldwide. It supports students who are interested in pursuing careers in technology and digital media to develop their skills and realise their ambitions.

It brings together the best elements of school, further and higher education and work experience to give young people better access to jobs and university.

The programme will run in Leeds alongside traditional GCSEs and ALevels, with graduating students gaining a qualification such as a BTEC or HNC through a combination of classroom learning, work experience and paid internship opportunities.

The UK pilot of the project is taking place exclusively in Leeds as a partnership between IBM, Cockburn MAT, Leeds City College and Leeds Beckett University.

The students in attendance listened to illuminating key note speeches and participated in practical sessions to explore the future of technology and their future roles in a constantly changing employment landscape.

David Gurney, Executive Headteacher of Cockburn Multi-

academy Trust said “I am extremely proud to be a partner in this programme - ‘Working in the spirit of partnership’ is key to the success of the Cockburn Multi-academy Trust.

“We seek to widen our students’ aspirations so they can reach destinations that are attainable and fulfilling. P-Tech fits perfectly with our vision of 'Transformation to Excellence' that focuses on a relentless drive to continue to improve and excel in all areas.”

There was also a lot of positive feedback from the students involved.

“We had to be very imaginative” said Charlie in Year 9 “it was exciting to try to predict the future.”

Zayn, also in Year 9, said “It is amazing how much technology can do for us – from making a sandwich to diagnosing illness.”

Children enjoy the new playground equipment at Beeston Primary School

A Cockburn MAT students, Cockburn MAT Senior Staff, Senior IBM staff including the UK and Ireland Chief Executive, Bill Kelleher

Primary pupils enjoy hard-fought football cup B

by Ed Carlisle

eeston Primary emerged victorious from the inaugural Under 8s Football Cup in Beeston this week, after a nail-biting 2-1 final against Holbeck’s finest from Ingram Road Primary.

Following a visit and a pep talk from Leeds United player Kemar Roofe, the final took off at pace.

The end-to-end match saw Ingram Road demonstrate some energetic play early on, and come close to scoring, but the well-drilled Beeston Primary started to control the game with some intelligent and skillful play as the half ran on. Ingram Road did look dangerous on the counter-attack – but Beeston eventually broke the deadlock just before halftime, when one of their players danced all the way out of defence before placing a long-range looping shot into the far corner (1-0).

The second half continued much the same, with Ingram Road breaking hard, but unlucky to see a clutch of

chances pass them by. Then another moment of class from Beeston saw them double their lead, with a well-placed longrange volley sailing into the far corner of the Ingram Road goal (2-0).

Just as Beeston seemed to be growing in assurance, Ingram Road seized the initiative with a thunderous volley Cup winners: Beeston Primary Earlier in the afternoon, St Luke’s past the Beeston keeper (2-1) – and they proceeded to maintain the Primary and Lane End Primary fought pressure with a series of probing out a nervy 0-0 Third Place Play-Off. attacks and chances. But it was too The resulting penalty shoot-out saw little too late, and Beeston hung on to St Luke’s edge it 3-2, with their keeper the hero – saving three claim victory.

Following the cup presentation and penalties, then scoring one himself.

The cup is the brainchild of Fred celebrations, Deacon – Beeston’s captain – told us: “It’s amazing to win Francis and his team at Lane End this trophy – but credit to Ingram Primary, and they hope to develop Road too, it was a great match. We and expand it to include other local schools in the near future. wish them better luck next time.”

by Lucy Halloway

bout 24 long months ago, Friends of Beeston (Beeston Primary School’s PTA) were asked to help with raising funds for the refurbishment of the Key Stage 1 playground (Years 1 and 2).

It was a big job; there was little in the playground for the children to play with, and what was there was at the end of its active life.

Nevertheless, Friends of Beeston embraced the challenge and set about fundraising. Our events included The Great Beeston Bake Off, a stall at Beeston Festival, a summer fun-day, a

Fundraising

Congratulations to the parents, kids, and staff at St Francis of Assisi Primary School in Beeston Hill, who have now topped £6,000 in their fundraising push for a much-needed new playground. They have held table-top sales, discos, film nights, and bucket collections, and local staff member Donna Daniels recently shaved her head - but they also unluckily missed out on a Radio Aire's Cash for Kids prize this month. They are pressing ahead towards their £10,000 goal; to find out more or support, visit fb.com/friendsofstfrancispta.

Christmas card scheme, a Christmas raffle and several bake sales.

Not a lot of people realised (the PTA included, initially) just how much playground equipment costs. Quotes were in excess of £17,000, so the installation of this new equipment is a massive achievement, even if it has taken 2 years.

Friends of Beeston didn’t achieve this alone, and the children wouldn’t be enjoying their new playground had it not been for support from not only the fantastic PTA team, but also from the teachers at the school,

The Whistlestop Pu Beeston, the m businesses who do prizes and the scho grants from John Barclays Bank.

As you can see photos, the children great fun in playground, and completed will bene moving through the many years to come Of course, the h never over and now raising to improve corner of the playgr is still in need of im so Friends of Beesto

April 2019 | South Leeds Life

Website: www.southleedslife.com

ransforms n Primary

b, Save Our many local nated raffle ool securing Lewis and

e from the n are having their new the work efit children e school for . ard work is w funds need e the final round, which mprovement, on can’t rest

on their laurels just yet. However, a fantastic boost to the project is that Friends of Beeston have been selected as one of Beeston Co-op’s community causes, so anyone who shops there can help with the fundraising by getting a Co-op members card and selecting Friends of Beeston as their chosen community project. We will also be looking to ask local businesses whether they can help in any way, so if you feel you can offer help of any kind please get in touch with us at FOBPTA@outlook.com to help children of all ages at Beeston Primary School make the most of their breaktimes.

School Life 11

Email: info@southleedslife.com

Low Road musicians perform première T

wenty In Harmony Opera North pupils from Low Road Primary School headed to Liverpool recently with their teacher, Mr Evans, for a very special concert in the city’s Philharmonic Hall.

The concert was the first time the young musicians of In Harmony Opera North, In Harmony Liverpool and In Harmony Newcastle had played Stephen Deazley’s The Wonder Files, which was commissioned as part of the Great Exhibition of the North, in its entirety. The event also featured 2016 BBC Young Musician of the Year, 19year-old Sheku Kanneh-Mason.

Here’s what the young instrumentalists told us about the experience.

The day began with the bus journey to Liverpool, a city which most of the children were visiting for the first time: “It’s been really good on the bus. Mr Evans is from Liverpool and he remembers lots of places. It was like a mini tour – he showed us the towers and famous building and stuff.”

“I liked the bus drive, especially when we went through the snowy part, because there were lots of mountains

next to the motorway and, when it had snow, it looked mystical.”

“It was a long drive but it was worth it!”

On arrival in the city, it was straight into the final rehearsal where the children got the opportunity to play alongside Sheku Kanneh-Mason.

“I enjoyed playing Mermaid most, because we got to play with Sheku and it was really fun.”

“My favourite was Mermaids on the Moon because I like the party poppers at the end and the amazing confetti cannon!”

“The rehearsal was challenging, but we’re up for it!”

The first half of the concert saw children from Everton Junior Philharmonic performing alongside Resonate Youth Philharmonic, and also featured an inspirational solo from Sheku.

“I liked Sheku’s instrument – and his hairstyle! He’s amazing. I know he played something at the Royal Wedding as well. And he’s only nineteen!”

“I enjoyed the bit when he played Bob Marley. That was cool.”

Pupils practising their instruments at Low Road Primary After the interval, it was the turn of the In Harmony Opera North musicians to make their Liverpool Philharmonic Hall debut. As the young musicians left the stage, they were buzzing with the experience describing it as “magnificent”, “incredible”, “fantastic”, “fun”, “mind-blowing” and “staggering”.

Mr Evans summed it all up:

Photo: Tom Arber

“Superb, outstanding, inspiring. All the hyperbole in the world would not do the performance justice.”

Thank you to Aaron, Andre, Anirudh, Anshula, Daline, Daniella, Focira, Harshath, Harvey, Hayden, Joshua, Kenny, Michelle, Miller, Millie, Soumyaa, Suvir, Thomas, Venkat and Zia for sharing their thoughts on the day.

Cockburn ‘Ignites’ Show time at Leeds Dance Festival Cockburn John I Charles t has been a busy term for dancers at Cockburn School.

On Saturday 16 March their elite dance company ‘Ignite’ performed at the Northern School of Contemporary Dance as part of their Community Platform.

Students performed a contemporary piece entitled ‘Ignorance is Bliss’, which explores how people can turn a blind eye to the

hardships and suffering within today’s society. Ignite will also be performing at the prestigious dance event ‘FRESH’ in April, at Doncaster CAST. On Wednesday 20 March Year 9 students who are studying BTEC and GCSE Dance competed in the annual Leeds Dance Festival, held at Temple Moor High School.

Both groups gave incredible performances

and the GCSE group was awarded First Place for their piece entitled ‘The House of Romanov’.

Cockburn School will also be holding its first ‘Dance Spectacular’ in April, which will be a showcase of many more amazing dance performances.

Staff working in the Dance Department are very proud of the students’ commitment and hard work this term.

Take a bow: the cast of A Little Shop Of Horrors

S

Cockburn School’s Ignite dance company perfotm at the Northern School of Contemporary Dance

tudents from Cockburn John Charles Academy wowed audiences with an accomplished production of Little Shop Of Horrors, taking place on 27 and 28 February.

The performance featured some stellar singing and acting with the audience taken through a roller-coaster of emotions as the academy theatre was transformed into the fictional environs of Skid Row. In addition, Year 5 students from local partner primary schools were invited to a matinee performance on the

afternoon of the 28 February.

Head of School Siobhan Roberts said: “This was a very confident and professional performance from our students, which again bears testament to the fantastic direction and leadership of the Performing Arts team.

“It was also wonderful to see our theatre packed to the rafters with students from our partner primary schools as we are always keen to open our doors to the local community and share the talents of our brilliant students.”

www.southleedslife.com

South Leeds Life | April 2019

12 Opinion

Twitter: @SouthLeedsLife

In our view Climate Emergency

There is no doubt amongst scientists that climate change is real and needs addressing urgently.

We need our leaders to take bold steps and Leeds City Council’s declaration is is a good start. We also need to do more ourselves. As Hilary Benn says, we’ve moved on from changing lightbulbs. Let’s now change electricity supplier, change our car, or buy a bike. And keep pushing our leaders, as the school students are doing.

Preserving the Temple

It’s not every neighbourhood that has an Egyptian Temple in it, but Holbeck is one. The iconic flax mill is a historical masterpiece at risk of collapse. A year ago it was nearly sold to cowboys and that would have probably sealed its future, but CEG stepped in and the fact they describe themselves as custodians and haven’t been afraid to spend £1m on surveying the building should give us hope that our Temple is now in safe hands. We just need a tenant with vision to move in and bring it back to life.

What you got cookin’?

Lucy Potters project to collect and share recipes in Mrs Beeston’s Everyday Cookbook is inspired.

What’s your favourite dish, what’s your comfort food? Whether it’s a British staple or something that reminds you of home far away, please get in touch and share and together lets create this global, local cookbook.

Your letters and comments Memories of the trams in Middleton Woods

A great piece, really informative and evocative, so thank you Eric and keep ’em coming! I never rode that route but during walks with my dad rememer the incongruity of trams gliding through dense woodland.

Middleton Wood itself was (is?) a fabulous place, an underrated gem.

I also rememer the packhorse trail that ran from Gypsy Lane past the golf house for the private course, and my anger and sadness when they ‘developed’ it, filled in the great little tadpole pond and broke most of the medieval stones by running caterpillar diggers over them. Sheer inexcusable vandalism, but the memories are still fresh..

Graham Barker What a fascinating piece. I live in Manchester now, but I was born in Holbeck in 1950 and brought up in Middleton from 1954, and I remember the trams climbing that hill through ‘Miggy Woods’. I also remember them struggling on icy rails during the winters.

A point of interest about the ‘Anchor crowd.’ As an 18-year-old, I was working on the buses, and I worked the number 3 route (Moortown to Middleton) and that lot coming out of the Anchor on Saturday and Sunday night were an absolute nightmare.

I don’t know how many of them got away without paying.

David Fantastic read Eric, I just about remember trams running up to Middleton (I was born in 1951).

Another memory was as a pupil at Belle Isle Secondry School. The old tram track was used as part of the cross country run.

Half way up were two painted trees known

A tram approaches Bulkcliffe Lane at the top of Middleton Woods as “the white trees� this is where 1st and 2nd year boys turned left up the embankment and on to The Clearings then back to school. 3rd, 4th and 5th year boys continued up the tram track and on to the water tower, then back through the park to school. O happy days.

Pete Blower Great article Eric. My mum was District Nurse to Middleton Estate and I used this route to get up there from our home in Beeston. We would wait for a Bluebird at the Corn Exchange as it made the journey much mor special. Thanks for the memories.

Peter Spawforth

I remember it well. At 10 years old I helped my cousin with his paper round, he gave me a couple of bob. I could not wait for Saturday to jump on the tram to town through the Miggy woods. I would stop in town until dark so I could ride the tram back. It was a different world riding through the woods at night.

Good days. Bring the trams back!

Another good thing was if there Beeston & Holbeck ward was 4″ of snow they got you home Includes Beeston from Cross Flatts Park up to the Co-op, Cottingley, old Holbeck. no matter what the weather slung The three councillors are: at you. Good memories.

Gohar Almass 07445 878 333 gohar.almass@leeds.gov.uk Kevin Bradley

Your Councillors and MP

Angela Gabriel 07946 632 468 angela.gabriel@leeds.gov.uk Andrew Scopes 07860 400 645 andrew.scopes@leeds.gov.uk

Hunslet & Riverside ward Includes the city centre, Beeston Hill and Hunslet. The three councillors are:

Mohammed Iqbal 0113 226 8796 mohammed.iqbal@leeds.gov.uk Elizabeth Nash 0113 275 8594 elizabeth.nash@leeds.gov.uk Paul Wray 07528 512 649 paul.wray@leeds.gov.uk

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

Judith Blake Kim Groves Paul Truswell

0113 378 9000 judith.blake@leeds.gov.uk 07891 741 832 kim.groves@leeds.gov.uk 0113 378 8811 paul.truswell@leeds.gov.uk

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

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

The Hunslet Club My son loves doing ballet. Silas is the one in the photo in between the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress. He enjoys going to The Hunslet Club and doing ballet. The

Š Travel Lens Photographic

staff there are very polite and friendly and I would like to mention the young lady who works in the canteen part, she is so lovely and friendly.

Natalie Howarth

Security in Cross Flatts Park It’s all well and good the police putting cameras up in Cross Flatts Park, but I’ve phoned the police asking if they can check the CCTV footage (of my dog being hit by a motorbike) but they don’t want to know, so why bother putting the cameras up?

Would they be as bothered if it was a child who was hit or would it be a different story? If it was a police dog that was hit they would have had a national manhunt for the rider and they’d have done him for killing the police dog.

Chris Lightowler

Chicken Shop accident The injured bloke has to live with the consequences, but yet the owner gets a slap on the wrist. This is disgusting.

Rowena Brewer

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.

Corrections & clarifications

Wrong tram stop In our March edition (Riding the last tram through Miggy Woods, p13) we wrongly stated the first and last tram were photographed at Lingwell Road. It was in fact Sharp Lane. We also mis-spelled Tervuren in Brussells. We apologise for the errors.

Keep up to date with planning issues in LS10 and LS11 We publish a weekly list of all new planning applications online at: www.southleedslife.com

Facebook: facebook.com/southleedslife

Top Tweets 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: @gorse_ruth Following a busy but successful filming day on location at @LeedsTownHall, @The_Tetley and @gorse_ruth on Monday and some careful editing on Tuesday, the short films from our three Year 9 crews for #BurberryInspire are ready to watch! Stay tuned for the premiere later this year! @parkrunUK How does #parkrun work? ✅ Register & print your barcode ✅ Arrive before 9:00am (09:30 in Scot & NI) ✅ Listen to the briefing ✅ Walk, jog, run ✅ Scan barcode & token ✅ Hand token back ✅ Feel amazing! ✅ Grab a drink ☕ @MikiVyse Today I did am assembly in a primary school in Beeston, Leeds with representatives of 5 different faith groups. An amazing experience w/ fab young people. Particularly 1 lad was adamant that it didn’t matter what religion you were, it only mattered that you support Leeds United. @HelenHlclark @cockburnschool The behaviour of your students this morning who were running through Middleton Woods was fantastic. Special mention to the lovely girl who said good morning to me with a big smile whilst I was there walking my dog. As an ex-pupil of Cockburn, it’s lovely to see đ&#x;˜Š @BeestoninbloomL Morning out litter picking, getting ready for judging on 2 April 2019

www.southleedslife.com

Website: www.southleedslife.com

Shane Telford

I

t is with great sadness that I report that The Hunslet Club has lost one of our longest serving volunteer coaches.

Shane Telford lost his short battle with cancer on Sunday 10 February, aged just 36.

Shane Telford was "Mr Hunslet" he had been coaching for around 10 years with us and he's worked with lots of young people helping them to develop their skills on and off the pitch. He was an absolute gentleman who was selfless and an all round great person.

Shane grew up in Hunlet, studying at Rodillian School (now Academy) and Leeds

College of Building, he worked for a local building firm, KW Builders Ltd. Over the years Shane helped out with lots of teams, not only the teams he was directly involved with. Up until recently Shane was involved with our open age reserves team as a player/coach, as well as coaching our u12 boys team. Shane had a real passion for football and helping people, he will be sadly missed by his Hunslet family.

We offer our most heartfelt sympathies and condolences to Joanne, Kieran, Darcy and Harley at this difficult time. Shane will forever remain in our thoughts.

Mental Health help S

tewart Walton and Julie Pluck facilitate a mental health support group with a difference.

This is a peer support group where members help each other using our own experiences. They offer coping strategies and techniques, useful games, mindfulness and meditation skills.

Being part of a group can boost confidence, self-esteem and aid comaradery - feeling

People 13

Email: info@southleedslife.com

Obituary: Shane Telford

by Craig Gilmore

April 2019 | South Leeds Life

part of something.

The group meets every Wednesday 1-3pm at the Salvation Army on Hunslet Hall Road in Beeston.

Sessions will start promptly at 1pm although the doors open at 12.45, if you want to grab a cuppa and say hi to everyone else before the start.

New members are asked to contact Stewart before attending their first session by ringing 07771 497127.

Mrs Beeston’s cookbook I

t is often said that the best food in Beeston is the food which is cooked at home – a hidden wealth and treasure conjured daily behind closed doors, but hinted at by the amazing smells which fill the traditional terraced streets.

Mrs. Beeston’s Cookbook project sets out to reveal and share the incredible diversity and tapestry of cultures and cuisines that exist in South Leeds, in a format inspired by the original ‘Mrs Beeton’ – the Victorian icon who defined the cooking of her age.

The thinking behind this project is from local Beeston resident and South Leeds Life community reporter Lucy Potter, who has worked within Beeston and Holbeck for almost a decade.

“As a family support worker at Hunslet Moor school I would visit families in their homes, and would always be offered a delicious small dish, or a plate of chopped pear and dates.

Food was an inseparable part of their hospitality.

“Later I researched community engagement as part of a Churchill Travelling Fellowship, and every country and place I went to asked if we provided food at groups in the UK, not snacks, but real food?

The answer was always ‘er no…

But for years since then I’ve asked myself why not?

“One Sunday morning I was sipping my tea, and my partner

Delton was reading one of Patrick O’Brian’s books.

Intrigued by a reference to ‘portable soup’, he looked it up and found it to be an ancestor of modern bouillon stock cubes, and read that even Mrs. Beeton had had a recipe.

“Remembering my ongoing interest in food and community, he wondered out loud what kind of recipes she’d be writing about if she were alive today and living in South Leeds…

She’d be ‘Mrs. Beeston’ instead!”

“By the time he looked around I was already starting to write an introduction to ‘Mrs. Beeston’s Cookbook’, and by 10am I’d created Twitter, blog,

Facebook and email accounts as well. By 11:30 Delton had done some photo editing to update one of Mrs. Beeton’s original cookbook covers to create a logo, and by 11.38 Poshfruit Creative had already submitted the first recipe. By 2pm we had 10 followers!

“Outside perceptions of South Leeds aren’t always the most positive, but people really don’t know what they’re missing. I currently teach a retailing course at St. Luke’s CARES charity shop, where the people I teach and work with often bring amazing foods to share, dishes I’ve never seen or even heard of before – Syrian bread with swirling patterns;

Egyptian pastries with dates or sesame-covered biscuits; mouth-watering, spicy Bengali chickpea dishes – things that would be the envy of a professional chef, and all of it homemade and delicious.”

So what next?

Family-favourite recipes are invited from all those who call South Leeds home, together with the stories that make this food special for them!

Traditional cookbooks provide a well-established format to capture and share not only recipes, but also to highlight how many definitions there can be for home cooking, and just how good they can be and the people behind them.

Mrs. Beeston’s Cookbook will not only create a written and visual celebration of diverse communities and cuisines, but will also offer them a common meeting ground – a shared love of food, and the memories it helps to create – and a perfect way to bring people and communities together.

If you’d like to share your favourite recipe and to read what the first recipe suggested was, please visit the Mrs Beeston’s Cookbook Facebook page, or email your recipe and story to mrsbeestonscookbook @gmail.com Mrs. Beeston looks forward to working with schools, community organisations, and all those who share a love of good food and South Leeds!

‘Hamlet’ at Leeds Playhouse I

by Jan Baxter

t had been a while since I watched an entire Shakespeare play, and I’d never seen Hamlet before so I was curious to see a modern take on this classic tragedy.

The Leeds Playhouse Pop-up theatre has the intriguing atmosphere of an arena in stripped-down form which provides a terrific blank canvas for the play.

We took our seats in front of an imposing stage that felt huge and dominated the arena with its intense darkness. Tall mast structures reached up from the stage, framing the space.

The atmosphere crackled with intent.

As the performance began, we saw Hamlet fencing alone before the arrival of Horatio.

Two key characters, both female, playing at swordfighting, so far, so new. The decision to cast female actors into traditionally male parts was provocative and stimulating. It both enhanced

and challenged the accepted power structure and dynamics between the various characters.

If I said it didn’t matter that Hamlet was played by a woman, it would only be to emphasise that a talented actress can bring out a richness and subtlety to the part of the doomed Prince. It breathed freshness into tradition without missing a beat of the play’s rhythm.

The script was indeed Shakespearean English, so it took a moment for my ears to adjust but honestly it was no impediment to understanding the play in every respect.

The action scenes fizzed with excitement, and were well balanced with the more sombre soliloquies. This was a confident and thrilling ride across a range of emotions.

I finally understood why Hamlet has the reputation it does and why actors regard it as a test of their expertise. For one play to encompass tragedy, humour, treachery, romance

Tessa Parr (Hamlet) and Jo Mousley (Gertrude) and doom without diluting any of them is quite a feat; to produce such a play so skilfully is an achievement.

In an age when many of us struggle with a decreasing attention span I was delighted with a production that kept my attention right the way through.

Not once did I feel the need to check my phone or find my attention wandering, I was gripped!

My highlights: • I really enjoyed the clever use of sound and illumination to make the set meaningful in every act.

• The credibility of the

Photo: David Lindsay

relationships between the actors.

• The sheer number of well known phrases and epithets that come from this play alone.

• The grave digger provided a welcome change of pace and humour.

• Ophelia’s last scene was heartbreakingly beautiful.

To conclude: this is a stunning production, it doesn’t matter if you’ve never seen any Shakespeare, and there’s plenty of new perspectives to engage an enthusiast.

Hamelt runs at Leeds Playhouse until Saturday 30 March.

www.southleedslife.com

South Leeds Life | April 2019

14 News

Twitter: @SouthLeedsLife

Facebook: facebook.com/southleedslife

1 Arm in Arm Middleton Elderly Aid Walking Group I

This Girl Can

Women attending a painting & decorating taster session at Leeds College of Building in Hunslet to celebrate International Women’s Day. The college has seen a 30% increase in women studying technician courses.

A life changing two weeks in West Africa O

by Jo Sunderland

n 2 March nine of us, predominately from south Leeds, arrived home from our expedition to Sierra Leone.

It’s one of the poorest countries in the world and we had been working there in partnership with a fantastic education charity there called Transform Salone.

Whilst away we also had the opportunity to meet, work with and visit many inspiring people and projects: schools, homes for street kids, Home Salone, projects for kids with disabilities, the elderly and those wrestling with addiction and/or their mental health.

One young woman (15) said: “I really enjoyed working with the children and old women and listening to people’s stories. They had such different lives, personalities and experiences.

“I loved learning about the differences in our lives and the similarities. We have running water and they don’t, we have free school and they don’t, we

School work African style

by Ken Ingram

was asked about a year ago

by Sam, the Manager of Middleton Elderly Aid, after learning that I host a walking group in Belle Isle, would I like to host one from Middleton Elderly Aid. Of course I said yes.

Sam, me and others had already started a memory cafe from the centre, called Arm in Arm. I suggested we use the same name for the walking group.

The Middleton walking group is for the over 60s and their carers.

So in February last year, Sam asked that me and Leanne a member of staff at Middleton Elderly Aid go on a First Aid course, before I actually starting the walking group.

Me and Leanne passed the First Aid course and shortly afterwords I started the Walking Group.

The benefit of the MEA walking group, is to get the elderly mobile which can only help with their cardiovascular health.

At this time of the year it’s important that the elderly don’t

Best foot forward: Arm-in-Arm walking group prepare to set off hibernate, and this is why we as a group encourage the elderly to get out walking.

The group walk into Middleton Park and on alternative weeks walk to the Rose Garden, or walk to the Lakeside Cafe, when we get the chance of a rest and hot drinks.

Depending on which route we take , the group walk between 3 and 4 miles, for the elderly that is fantastic achievement.

The Walking Group meets every Wednesday at the centre at 11am. The group and others, gets the chance to have a bacon sandwich and hot drinks

before we set off on our walk.

We return to the centre about two hours later when again drinks are available. The group has gone from strength to strength and recently had a record 14 of us on the walk. But there are usually no fewer than six out on the walk.

The grant, if we won, would pay for Pedometers so we can have a record of how many miles and steps we walked on the day. It would also allow the group to hire a minibus from time to time so that we can visit other parks and have a walk around from there.

2 Friends of Trentham Park A Helping people with disabilities in Sierra Leone have electricity in a way that they don’t.

“They don’t have stuff like we do, but they are so kind, loving and grateful. They are amazing people to be around.

It changed my perspective on life and how I think – it made me think more about my education and not taking the life and opportunities I have ahead of me for granted.”

A young man (16) refelected: “Whilst in Sierra Leone we did many things, teaching kids, giving them the opportunity to have fun in the midst of huge challenges.

“I learnt a lot – I now think about school and I go everyday. I most enjoyed spending time at the home for kids with disabilities.

My

most precious moment was spending time with a girl who lived on the floor because her spine was so twisted – it made me value so many things.

“I would really recommend this experience as it changes how you see the world in a way that you wouldn’t understand until you actually go and see with your own eyes.”

So far 42 teenagers, have come on expedition with us through our Phocus project, that combines locally based youth work in South Leeds with international expedition.

If you would like any more information about this project please watch our short video at www.reestablish.org.uk/video For more details thereafter or if you are interested in helping us to enable other local Leeds young people to have this life changing opportunity, please email me at reestablish.info@gmail.com

by Brendan Devereux

fter successful events run at Trentham Park by Playbox and then Touchstone in 2017 and 2018 a new local group was formed that wished to continue the great strides already made within the park.

A few meetings took place with various members of the community and then on 19 January this year we became a constituted organisation. Since then we have worked with the Parks & Community department and are pleased to announce we will be getting some new playground

equipment over the Spring.

So far we have helped clean the park with regular litter picking & dog poo removal sessions. We have also installed four planters which contain a wide variety of plants and even herbs and veggies for the local community to enjoy.

In the upcoming year there is a relaunch event planned once the new equipment is installed, families in the area would really benefit from some events in the park over the summer. As a new group we have not been able to raise funds yet and help from this pot of money would help us to achieve this. As well

Volunteers in Beeston Hill’s Trentham Park in the rain

as the installation of a community notice board and a free little lending library.

The park events have been a highlight for my children and myself as it’s often a struggle to find anything local to do the park is at the back of my house and they have all developed green fingers.

A vote for us would mean the absolute world to us as we continue to strive towards our own little oasis in the middle of Beeston. We welcome your vote to be able to buy equipment, seeds and plants to maintain our park and keep it nice and welcoming for our community.

www.southleedslife.com

Website: www.southleedslife.com

April 2019 | South Leeds Life

St Luke’s CARES Community Awards 15

Email: info@southleedslife.com

4 Plants For The People A

The shortlist From all thegroups that applied for an award we asked an independent panel to come up with a shortlist of five, which we have profiled on these pages.

The panel members were: Corrina St Luke’s CARES’ manager at the Dewsbury Road shop,

Linda the shop manager from Middleton, Rafi a volunteer, Brenda from Hunslet, Dennis from Holbeck WMC, and Cat a customer.

“It was a really hard job, as all entrants were fantastic. We will watch with interest as the public choose their favourite three. Well

done to St Luke’s Cares and South Leeds Life for making this possible.”

Now it’s over to you, the public. Voting takes place throughout April at St Luke’s CARES charity shops: 246 Dewsbury Road, Beeston and 97 Throstle Lane, Middleton.

3 Men’s Corner social group

a baby or child. It works with families from every area of Leeds as well as other areas of the country and has their office near Leeds City Centre.

The charity was set up by a Middleton family that went through the loss of a baby with very little help and support, which inspired them to fight for improvements to bereavement provisions across the UK.

by Katrine Bay Madsen

ir quality has a massive impact on us all. Here in south Leeds, we experience particularly high levels of air pollution – and suffer the consequences.

In the Hunslet & Riverside council ward, rates of respiratory (breathing) illness are higher than anywhere – and Beeston & Holbeck and Middleton Park wards aren’t far behind. It is also undoubtedly a factor in the life expectancy of residents of south Leeds: here in the south, we live on average 10+ years less than people in far north Leeds.

In the past few months, a wide range of local people have come together to start to campaign and take action for cleaner air in our communities – under the banner of the South Leeds Alliance for Clean Air. This is set to take many forms, including independent air monitoring, tree planting, local awareness raising, and more. However, the first major project we plan to run – and need your support for – is the South Leeds Plant Project.

We each spend on average 90% of our time indoors. So, whilst there’s much work to be done to improve air quality on our streets, we want to focus first of all on improving the air inside – and we will start with

Rubber Plant via Wikimedia Commons some of the youngest members of our community. Plants not only look nice – but certain varieties are also well known for their air-cleansing qualities, giving us not only oxygen, but removing dangerous pollutants from the air at the same time.

We’re therefore talking with local primary schools across LS10 and LS11, and aim to work with them to see aircleansing plants in every one of the roughly 250 primary school classrooms within a year. We will also work with 100+ school pupils to teach them how to care for and propagate (ie reproduce) these plants. In time, we anticipate pupils will be able to take plants home for their families, friends and neighbours to benefit from – and also see the plants heading into secondary schools, workplaces, and elsewhere. We hope to start a plant revolution, and see these

fantastic plants in homes across south Leeds!

The £1000 top prize would enable us to buy 150 ready-togo air-cleansing plants, at £5 each. (This wouldn’t cover every classroom in the first instance, but would offer a solid start.) Plus seeds and compost, to start growing more – £200. Plus a further £50 to cover costs like printing (we aim to run a competition in the schools for kids to design branded stickers to stick on their plant pots). We don’t foresee any volunteer costs, as we are all happy to do this in a free capacity.

This project sits within the newly-named South Leeds Alliance for Clean Air, which isn’t yet its own constituted group, but which is run by local residents who collectively have a long track record over 15+ years of community development work.

5 Supreme Starlets majorette troupe C

by Ruth Curtis

harlies-Angel-Centre Foundation have been running a support group for bereaved families for a couple of years and through this have found that men grieve very differently.

Some are happy to come along with their partner but they find it difficult to engage with the chat. They have also found that there are very few support services out there that are aimed just at men. They know that men are just as equally affected by grief but deal with it differently.

They have decided that they want to start a group specifically for male members of a bereaved family. This can be the father, grandparent, brother, uncle or nephew. The group is going to be run on a social basis and the activities that happen will be ones that the group has decided upon to do.

The first meeting took place at Middleton Park cafe on Sunday 3 February. It will then

be held on the first Sunday of every month at the same time but in different locations depending on what the men have decided they would like to do.

This first group was about making those first important contacts and getting to know each other. A warm drink, especially in the current cold weather, and a chilly walk around the woods was the order of the day. Charlie’s two grandads, Clive Key and Gary Curtis, are the hosts for the group and totally understand the difficulties men encounter during bereavement/grief.

The grant would enable them to ensure that any activities that are undertaken are not funded by the men attending the group. The charity has always prided itself on the fact that every service they provide is free. The charity works tirelessly to raise funds to keep their services free to all.

Charlies-Angel-Centre itself is a Leeds based charity that provides help and support to anyone effected by the loss of

S

by Hayley Chalders

upreme Starlets is a majorette troupe which is based in Belle Isle /Middleton.

We train twice weekly at Middleton Primary School.

We were established in 2009 and have recently celebrated our 10 year anniversary. We are a not for profit organisation and are run by troupe leaders Hayley Chalders and Lisa Caley.

We provide children and young adults between the ages 3 and 21 years a safe environment to practice their much loved hobby of majorettes. Supreme starlets also works with children with learning difficulties which makes it even more important for the children to get the chance to interact with other children and be given the chance to have fun whilst learning majorettes.

We believe that it is important for the young people from our community a chance to learn a sport, keep fit, be healthy and teach them focus and discipline. We also provide support for the parents of our members with advice and

sometimes financial help linked to the children attending the group.

We keep the cost of training to a bare minimum and just cover the hall hire to allow us to reach the most vulnerable children from our community. This also means we are a popular choice within the community and have a high retention rate with people Supreme Starlets accessing our group. equipment so that they feel as Supreme Starlets are hoping professional as some of the to compete in the Great British more established troupes.

Baton Twirling Association This event is a major event Nationals in Blackpool 2019, run by the leading association however we are struggling to of its kind in the UK. We are provide accommodation costs passionate in trying to provide for our members. our members with the best We are hoping to raise possible experiences that are enough funds for our members available to them and to allow to stay and eat over the them opportunities that they weekend as well as paying the would not be able to usually association fee for our access. members to enter the event.

This is a fantastic chance for We are also wanting to raise our members to get a real funds for uniforms for the insight into different styles, members to compete in and cultures, celebrate diversity provide them with some new and encourage life long

friendships. It will allow them to feel a real sense of pride and are hoping it will also bring the team closer together through this amazing shared experience. Due to the location of our troupe many of our members have not had the opportunity to leave the city so this potential experience would give them the ambition to seek out other places and increase their awareness of other geographical locations.

The members of Supreme Starlets would be benefited in so many ways if we were to be successful.

www.southleedslife.com

South Leeds Life | April 2019

16 What’s On

Twitter: @SouthLeedsLife

What’s On

Camera Club 8pm upstairs at St George’s Centre, Middleton

Every Thursday

Your guide to events and activities across South Leeds in April Please check that regular events are not affected by school holidays, 29 March -15 April Full contact details can be found in our online What’s On guide at www.southleedslife.com/events Every Monday GTT: Digital Access Holbeck 9am-12pm St Luke’s Church, Malvern Road, Beeston Hill Women & Girls’ Drop In 9:30am-12pm Asha Neighbourhood Project 43 Stratford Street, Beeston Hobbies2gether craft group 9:30-11:30am St George’s Centre Middleton Computers with Digital Angels 10-11:30am Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Midd. Park Ave Lychee Red – Chinese Elders Gp 10am-12pm Parocial Hall, North Lingwell Road, Middleton SLLAH Drop In Coffee morning 10-11am Assissi Place, Belinda Street, Hunslet Julie’s Ancestry Group 10am & 1pm BITMO’s GATE Aberfield Gate, Belle Isle Road Crafts 10-11:30am Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Midd. Park Avenue Breastfeeding Support 10:30am-12pm Hamara Centre, Tempest Road, Beeston Walk and Talk 11am-12pm BITMOs GATE, Aberfield Gate, Belle Isle SLLAH Mixed Exercise 11:30am-12:30pm St Andrew’s Community Centre, Beeston.

MEA Lunch Club 11:30am-1pm Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Midd. Park Ave SLLAH Lunch Club 12-1:30pm Cottingley Community Centre Bowling 12:30-4pm Cross Flatts Park Women’s Wellbeing Group 1-3pm Middleton Family Centre, 256-262 Sissons Road Learning Disability Advice 1-3pm Connect In The North, Office 42, Sugar Mill Business Park, Oakhurst Road, Beeston Dance 2-3pm Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Midd. Park Avenue Triathlon Training 4:15-5:45pm Middleton Cycle Hub Blossom Kinship Group 4-5:30pm Middleton Parochial Hall, North Lingwell Road Connected 4-5:30pm Middleton Family Centre, 256-262 Sissons Road Kickboxing 6-8:30pm Beeston Parish Centre, Town Street Hunslet Warriors Juniors 6-7pm Warrior Park, The Oval South Leeds Spartans Girls Rugby 6-7pm Corinthians RUFC, Ring Road Middleton, by Leisure Centre DAZL DanceFit (women 16+) 6-7pm Middleton Community Centre, Acre Road South Leeds Sisters running 6.15pm South Leeds Stadium St Matthew’s Youth Club 6:30-8:30pm St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck Girls Group 7-9pm South Leeds Youth Hub, Middleton Road, Belle Isle DanceFit 7pm Middleton Parochial Hall

Middle Tones Singing Group 7-9pm Tenants Hall Enterprise Centre, Acre Close, Middleton Adult Jazz & Tap Dance 7-8pm Cottingley Community Centre Zumba 7-8pm Hamara Centre, Tempest Road, Beeston Yoga 6:30-7:30pm; 7:30-8:30pm St Anthony’s Church Hall, Old Lane, Beeston

Every Tuesday Mums & Tots 9-11am Manorfield Hall, Newhall Road, Belle Isle 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 Heart to Heart Breakfast 9:30am Asha Neighbourhood Project, 43 Stratford Street SLLAH Breakfast Buddies 9:30-11:30am St Andrew’s Community Centre, Beeston HEA’s Tea & Toast breakfast 10am-12pm St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck Muslim Pensioners Group 10am-12pm Vale Circles Centre, Tunstall Road, Beeston Baking 10-11am Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Midd. Park Ave Breastfeeding Support 10am-12pm Middleton Family Centre, 252-262 Sissons Road Women’s Friendship Group 10am-12pm Hunslet Methodist Church, Telford Terrace, Balm Rd SLLAH Mixed Exercise 10-11am St Anthony's church hall, Old Lane, Beeston Community Coffee Morning 10-11:30am Beeston Library Knit & Natter 10:30am-12pm Middleton Park Visitor Centre SLLAH Chair Based Exercise 11.30am-12:30pm Cottingley Community Centre MEA Lunch Club 11:30am-1pm Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Midd. Park Ave SLLAH Lunch Club 12pm Arthington Court, Hunslet HEA’s Community Lunch 12-1:30pm Afternoon Social 1:45-3pm St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck Lunch Club 12:30pm Salvation Army, Hunslet Hall Road, Beeston Bowling 12:30-4pm Cross Flatts Park Stay & Play 1:30-3pm Building Blocks Nursery, Maud Avenue, Beeston SLLAH Line Dancing 1:30-2:30pm St Andrew’s Community Centre, Beeston SLLAH Social Afternoon 1:30-3pm Arthington Ct, Hunslet HEA Afternoon Social 1:45-3pm St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck Line Dancing

2-3:30pm Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Midd. Park Ave Teen Spirit Boys Group 4-6pm Middleton Family Centre, 256-262 Sissons Road Rainbows, Brownies, Guides 4:30-9:15pm Beeston Parish Centre, Town Street Girls Group 4:30-6:30pm Hamara Centre, Tempest Road, Beeston Inside Out wellbeing group 6-8pm Middleton Parochial Hall, North Lingwell Road Women’s Fitness Boot Camp 6-7pm Leeds Urban Bike Park, Ring Road, Middleton, LS10 3TN Hunslet Nelson Rounders Team 6:30pm Hunslet Nelson Cricket Club, Gipsy Lane, Beeston DAZL DanceFit (women 16+) 6:30-7:30pm Middleton Community Centre, Acre Road Craft & Social Evening 6:30pm Woodhouse Hill Community Centre, Hunslet Carr Free Football Sessions 6:30-7:30pm 8-12 year olds 7:30-8:30pm 13-16 year olds Holbeck Community Centre, Elland Road, LS11 0AB Fitness Boot Camp 6:45-7:45 Middleton Park Visitor Centre, off Town Street South Leeds Lakers running 7pm from Beeston Co-op

Every Wednesday Bacon Butty Breakfast and Wednesday Weigh In 9-11am Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Midd. Park Ave Welfare Rights Advice Surgery 9am-12pm St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck Messy Time 9:15-11am Middleton Play & Learning Centre, Throstle Lane Parents and Toddlers 9:15-11:15am Beeston Parish Centre, Town Street Get Fit Where You Sit 9:15-10:15 Lane End Primary School, Beeston Road City Tots 9:30-11am City Evangelical Church, Cemetery Road Pop Up Council Services 9:30am-12:30pm Cottingley Towers HEA Tea & Toast Morning 10am-12pm St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck Chair mobility 10-10:45am Trinity Network, Belle Isle, Nesfield church hall Breaklfast Club & Foodbank 10am-12pm Hunslet Methodist Church, Telford Terrace Rags to Riches Sewing Group 10am-12pm Tenants Hall Ent. Centre, Acre Close, Middleton Women’s Walking Group 10-11am BITMOs GATE, Aberfield Gate, Belle Isle HEA’s Shopping Trip to Morrisons 10am-1pm Holbeck Elderly Aid, Domestic Street HEA Coffee Morning 10am-12pm Ingram Court, Holbeck CAP Job Club

10am-12pm Two Willows Children’s Centre, Cardinal Sq Money Advice 10:15am-3pm St George’s Centre, Middleton Dancing In Time 10:30am-12pm St John & St Barnabas Church, Belle Isle Road Walk &Talk Walking Group 11am-1pm MEA Social Centre, Middleton Park Avenue Free Zumba 12-12:45pm Middleton Leisure Centre HEA’s 2 course Community Lunch 12:15-3pm Ingram Court, Holbeck Grandparents’ Support Group 12:30-2:30pm Tenants Hall Ent. Centre, Acre Close, Middleton Bumps & Buggy Fit 1-2pm Watsonian Pavilion, Cross Flatts Park Ladies Group 1-3pm St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck Line Dancing 1:45pm Trinity Network, Nesfield Road, Belle Isle At Home In Holbeck 2-3pm Ingram Road Primary School Walk and Talk 2-3pm meet outside Greggs, Middleton Park Circus 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 Free Food for the Homeless 5-8pm Christine’s Cafe, 71 Domestic Street, Holbeck DAZL Dance class 5-6pm Cottingley Community Centre 1st Beeston Beaver Scouts 6-7:30pm St Andrews Community Centre, Cardinal Road, Beeston Hunslet Warriors Juniors 6-7pm Warrior Park, The Oval South Leeds Spartans Girls Rugby 6-7pm Corinthians RUFC, Ring Road Middleton, by Leisure Centre City Kids (R-Y6) 6-7:15pm City Evangelical Church, Cemetery Road HITT Training Class 6-7pm Belle Isle Family Centre Cottingley Youth Club 6:30-8:30pm Cottingley Community Centre DanceFit 6:30pm Middleton Parochial Hall, Town Street Zumba 7-8pm Hamara Centre, Tempest Road, Beeston Middleton Mavericks running 7pm South Leeds Stadium Youth Group 7-9pm South Leeds Youth Hub, Middleton Road, Belle Isle Martial Arts 7-9pm Beeston Juniors, Cardinal Square Clubbercise 7:30-8:30pm St John & St Barnabas Church Hall, Belle Isle

Mums & Tots 9-11am Manorfield Hall, Newhall Road, Belle Isle Stay & Play 9-11am St Anthony’s Church Hall, Old Lane, Beeston Charity Shop 9:30am-3pm Beeston Parish Centre, Town Street Table Tennis 9:45-11:15am St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck HEA’s Community Cafe 10-11:30am St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck Ping Pong / Model Making 10-11:30am Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Midd. Park Ave Little Explorers Baby Group 10-11:30am Middleton Play & Learning Centre, Throstle Lane Community Craft Cafe 10am-12pm Church of the Nazarene, Hunslet Hall Road Middleton Park Estate Volunteers 10am-3pm Middleton Park Visitor Centre New Lives Group 10-11:30am Cottingley Children’s Centre Storytime (under 5s) 10:15-10:45am St George’s Community Hub, Middleton SLLAH Yoga 10:15-11:15am St Andrew’s Community Centre, Beeston Storytime (under 5s) 11-11:30am Dewsbury Road Community Hub, Beeston Bumps & Buggy Fit 11:15am-12:15pm Middleton Park Visitor Centre HEA Line Dancing 11:30am-12:30pm St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck MEA Lunch Club 11:30am-1pm Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Midd. Park Ave SLLAH Lunch Club 12-1:30pm St Andrew’s Community Centre, Beeston Line Dancing 1pm Trinity Network, Nesfield Road, Belle Isle New Lives Group 1-2:30pm Two Willows Children’s Centre, Cardinal Square Muslim Ladies Group 1-3pm Vale Circles Centre, Tunstall Road, Beeston Digital Image Online Photography 1:15-3:15pm Cockburn Skills Hub, Gipsy Lane Breathe Easy gentle exercise 1:30pm Hunslet Methodist Church Telford Terrace, off Balm Road BAFF Dancercize 1:30-2:30pm Beeston Parish Centre, Town Street SLLAH Social Afternoon 1:30-3pm St Andrew’s Community Centre, Beeston Activites with Rocky 1:30-2:30pm Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Midd. Park Ave

Facebook: facebook.com/southleedslife HEA Craft Group 1:30-3:30pm Cleveleys Court, Holbeck Vale Circles Autism Hub 2-7pm Vale Circles Centre, Tunstall Road, Beeston Footbal sessions 5-8pm Old Cockburn Sports Hall, Primrose Lane, Beeston Community Choir 5pm Cockburn School, Gipsy Lane Kidz Klub Middleton 5:05-6:15pm Middleton Primary School, Middleton Park Avenue Mini & Junior Rugby 6-7pm Leeds Corinthians, Ring Road, Middleton General Fitness 6-7pm Beeston Parish Centre, Town Street Hunslet Nelson Rounders Team 6:30pm Hunslet Nelson Cricket Club, Gipsy Lane, Beeston Ballet Burn 7-8pm South Leeds Conservative Club, Wooler Street, Beeston Indoor Bowls 7-10pm The Holbeck (WMC), Jenkinson Lawn Youth Group 7-8:30pm Middleton Community Centre, Acre Road Yoga class 7:30-8:30pm Beeston Parish Centre, Town Street

Every Friday Tea & Toast 9am Beeston Parish Centre, Town Street Charity Shop, Tea & Toast 9am-12pm Beeston Hill United Free Church, Malvern Road Welfare Rights Advice Surgery 9am-12pm St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck Breastfeeding Support Group 9:45-11:15am Mothercare cafe, Crown Point Retail Park SLLAH Stretch and Tone 9:45-10:30 St Andrew’s Community Centre, Beeston Under 5s Storytime 10-11am Dewsbury Road Library HEA’s Tea & Toast Breakfast 10am-12pm St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck HEA’s Shopping Trip to Morrisons 10am-1pm Holbeck Elderly Aid, Domestic Street Cuppa, Toast and Games 10am-12pm Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Midd. Park Ave Computers with Digital Angels 10-11:30am Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Midd. Park Ave Middleton Minstrels Women’s Choir 10:30am-12:30pm Tenant Hall, Acre Close, Middleton Dancing In Time 10:30am-12pm St John & St Barnabas Church, Belle Isle Road Breathe Easy gentle exercise 11:30 Parochial Hall, North Lingwell Road, Middleton MEA Lunch Club 11:30am-1pm Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Midd. Park Ave

Full details of every event including map and contact details are available at www.southleedslife.com/events

www.southleedslife.com

Website: www.southleedslife.com

Email: info@southleedslife.com

Every Friday (cont)

9am Leeds Urban Bike Park, Ring Road, Middleton Breakfast Club 9-11am Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Midd. Park Ave Police Contact Point 9:30-11:30am St George’s Centre, Middleton Zumba 10-11am Beeston Parish Centre, Town Street Hunslet Nelson Rounders Team 10am Hunslet Nelson Cricket Club, Gipsy Lane, Beeston Kidz ‘n’ Co 10:30am-12:30pm Cottingley Community Centre Yoga 11am-12pm Hillside Enterprise Centre, Beeston Road Middleton Railway 11am-4pm Moor Road, Hunslet Bingo Afternoon 12:30-3:30pm Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Midd. Park Ave Tennis For Free 2-3:30pm Cross Flatts Park

SLLAH Luncheon Club 12-1:30pm Beeston Parish Centre, Town Street HEA’s 2 course Community unch 12-1:30pm St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck Bowling 12:30-4pm Cross Flatts Park Krok Po Kroku (Polish Group) 12:30-2:30pm Tenants Hall Enterprise Centre, Acre Close, Middleton SLLAH Ballroom Dancing 1-2:30pm St Andrew’s Community Centre, Beeston The GATE Men’s Group 1-3pm BITMO’s GATE, Aberfield Gate, Belle Isle Road HEA’s Walking Football 1:30-3pm Holbeck Elderly Aid, Domestic Street HEA’s Afternoon Social 1:30-3pm St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck Gentle Chair Exercise Class 1.45-2.45pm Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Midd. Park Ave Rhymetime 2pm Beeston Library, Town St Girls Football 6-7pm Beeston Juniors, Cardinal Square Church Lads’ & Girls Brigade 6-8pm St John & St Barnabas Church, Belle Isle Road Friday Night Project 6-9pm Middleton Leisure Centre 5th Middleton Brownies 6-7:30pm United Reformed Church, Nesfield Road, Belle Isle 1st Beeston Cub Scouts 6:15-7:45pm St Andrews Community Centre, Cardinal Road Youth Group 7-9pm South Leeds Youth Hub, Middleton Road, Belle Isle 5th Middleton Guides 7:30-9pm United Reformed Church, Nesfield Road, Belle Isle 1st Beeston Scouts 8-9:30pm St Andrews Community Centre, Cardinal Road, Beeston

Every Saturday Breakfast Club 8:30-11am Vale Circles Centre, Tunstall Road, Beeston Cross Flatts parkrun 9am Watsonian Pavilion, Cross Flatts Park, Beeston Middleton Woods parkrun

Every Sunday Cross Flatts junior parkrun 9am, top of Cross Flatts Park Middleton Railway 11am-4pm Moor Road, Hunslet Saturday 30 March South Leeds Community Orchestra 10am-12pm St Cross Church, Acre Road, Middleton Hunslet Moor Litter Pick 12-1pm meet bottom of Moor Rd Teens Club 1-5pm Vale Circles centre, Tunstall Road, Beeston Buskers Night 7:30-11pm The Holbeck club, Jenkinson Lawn Sunday 31 March Hunslet RLFC v Halifax RLFC 3pm South Leeds Stadium, Middleton Grove Monday 1 April Nature visits for Families and Childminders 10am-1pm Skelton Grange Environment Centre, Stourton Mostly Men 10am-12pm St Andrew’s community centre, Beeston Carers Group 12:30-2:30pm Ingram Gardens Community Centre, Holbeck Cinema Club

What’s On 17 1-3pm Hamara Centre, Tempest Road, Beeston Creative Writing Workshop (4-14) 2-3pm Beeston Library, Town St Middleton Swimming Pool Campaign 7pm St Cross Church, Acre Road Tuesday 2 April Yorkshire Ambulance recruitment 10am-3pm St George’s Centre, Great George Street, Leeds Free play activities 1-3pm Middleton Park Visitor Centre, off Town Street Amazing Lego Mazes 2-4pm St George’s Community Hub, Middleton Friends of Stank Hall 7:30pm The Broadway pub, Dewsbury Road, Beeston Wednesday 3 April Bushcraft Day 10am-4pm Skelton Grange Environment Centre, Stourton Middleton Railway 11am-4pm Moor Road, Hunslet Hunslet Rugby Memories 12-2pm The Prospect pub, Moor Road, Hunslet Free play activities 1-3pm Middleton Park Visitor Centre, off Town Street Pot-a-Tea Dementia Café 1:30-3:30pm St Andrew’s Community Centre, Beeston Lego Club 3:30-4:30pm Beeston Library, Town Street Thursday 4 April Adult Social Care Marketplace 10am-3pm White Rose Shopping Centre Easter Intergenerational Activity 1-3pm St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck Hunslet Carr Residents Assc 6:30pm Community Centre, Woodhouse Hill Avenue Beeston Community Forum 7:30pm St Anthony’s church hall, Old Lane, Beeston Saturday 6 April Coffee Morning 10am-12pm St Andrew’s Comm Centre, Cardinal Road, Beeston Coffee Morning 10am-12pm Beeston Parish Centre Family Art Workshop 11am-3pm The Tetley, Hunslet Rd Bingo and Disco Night 7-11pm St Anthony’s church hall, Old Lane, Beeston Sunday 7 April

Men’s Corner 12-2pm Middleton Park Visitor Centre, off Town Street Monday 8 April Second Hand Jumble Sale 10am-2pm Hamara Centre, Tempest Road, Beeston Tea, Cake and Conversation 12:30-2:30pm Ingram Gardens Community Centre, Holbeck Tuesday 9 April Storytime & Sunflower planting 10:45am-12pm Beeston Library, Town Street Leeds Aphasia Cafe 1-3pm BITMOs GATE, Aberfield Gate, Belle Isle Free play activities 1-3pm Middleton Park Visitor Centre, off Town Street Camera Club 3-4:30pm Dewsbury Road Community Hub, Beeston Beeston Local History Group 8pm Beeston Parish Centre (small hall), Town Street Wednesday 10 April Kurling 10:30-11:30am St Andrew’s Community Centre, Beeston Middleton Railway 11am-4pm Moor Road, Hunslet Generation 55 12-2:30pm The Broadway pub, Dewsbury Road, Beeston Free play activities 1-3pm Middleton Park Visitor Centre, off Town Street Code Club 3:30-4:30pm Dewsbury Road Community Hub, Beeston Thursday 11 April Jackie & The Beanstalk 10:30-11:30am Beeston Library, Town Street Saturday 13 April South Leeds Community Orchestra 10am-12pm St Cross Church, Acre Road, Middleton Teens Club 1-5pm Vale Circles centre, Tunstall Road, Beeston Tom ‘The Viking’ Crosby MMA 5pm John Charles Centre for Sport, Middleton Grove Sunday 14 April Sunday Lunch Club 1-3pm Vale Circles Centre, Tunstall Road, Beeston Monday 15 April HEA Morley Shop or Swim 9am-12pm Transport frm Holbeck SLLAH Generation 55

Lego & literature at the Library L

eeds Libraries have a range of special events lined up for the school holidays.

First up there is a creative writing workshop at Beeston Library (Town Street) on Monday 1 Apri, 2-3pml.

Explore Learning have an exciting national competition for children aged between 4-14 This workshop will give you a chance to plan a story based on “A chance to change the world” - will you win one of this year’s prizes?

Youngsters are invited to enjoy some Lego fun and build an Amazing Lego Maze with an Easter twist. The fun starts at 2pm on Tuesday 2 April at St George’s Community Hub in Middleton. Duplo and Easter craft fun will be available for

younger children.

On Tuesday 9 April the regular Storytime session at Beeston Library will be joined

by Beeston in Bloom for sunflower planting and craft activities.

Wednesday 10 April see’s a special session of the fortnightly Code Club at Dewsbury Road Community Hub from 3:30pm with practical computer projects.

A familiar tale is retold on Thursday 11 April when Curly Tales theatre group present Jackie & The Beanstalk at Beeston Library. Aimed at 3-8 year olds (and their parents and carers, of course).

Finally a reminder that the Mobile Library is visiting Morrison’s car park, whilst work

April 2019 | South Leeds Life

Sunflower fun at Beeston Library carries on to convert Hunslet Library into a Community Hub: Mondays 10am-2pm Tuesdays 10am-4pm*

Wednesdays 10am-1pm Thursdays 10am-4pm* Saturdays 10am-1pm * closed 12:30-1:15pm

12:30-2:30pm Whistlestop pub, Town Street, Beeston Tuesday 16 April HEA Easter Community Lunch 12-2pm St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck The Writers Club 1-2:30pm Beeston Library, Town Street Thursday 18 April Jobs Day 9:30am-4pm BITMO’s GATE, Aberfield Gate, Belle Isle Road St Luke’s Tenants & Residents 6pm St Luke’s Church, Malvern Road, Beeston Hill Leeds Film Club 6pm Cineworld, White Rose Shopping Centre Friday 19 April Easter Egg Hunt 11am-1pm Watsonian Pavilion, Cross Flatts Park, Beeston Easter Egg Trail 11am-12:30pm Skelton Grange Environment Centre, Stourton HEA Indoor Bowls at JCCS 1:30-4pm Transport from Holbeck Saturday 20 April Ramblers Meet 9am Beeston Parish Centre, Town Street Coffee Morning 10am-12pm Beeston Parish Centre Young Archaeologists Club 10am-12pm Middleton Park Visitor Centre, off Town Street Family Art Workshop 11am-3pm The Tetley, Hunslet Rd Easter Egg Hunt 11am Trentham Park, Beeston Hill Sunday 21 April Sunday Lunch Club 1-3pm Vale Circles Centre, Tunstall Road, Beeston Leeds Dads 2-4pm The Tetley, Hunslet Road Wednesday 24 April Singing Sensations 10am-12pm St Andrew’s Comm Centre, Cardinal Road, Beeston Tiny Tetley 10:30-11:30am; 11:45-12:45pm The Tetley, Hunslet Road

Kurling 10:30-11:30am St Andrew’s Community Centre, Beeston Scams and Frauds Workshop 11am-12pm Dewsbury Road Community Hub, Beeston Cop Shop Memory Cafe 1-3pm Elland Road Police Station Code Club 3:30-4:30pm Dewsbury Road Community Hub, Beeston Drink and Draw 6-8pm The Tetley, Hunslet Road Thursday 25 April HEA Free Healthy Breakfast 10am-12pm St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck Hunslet Remembered 10am-12pm Community Centre, Woodhouse Hill Avenue Virtual tour of Temple Works 2-8pm Northern Monk Brewery, Marshall’s Mill, Holbeck Saturday 27 April South Leeds Community Orchestra 10am-12pm St Cross Church, Acre Road, Middleton Hunslet Moor Litter Pick 12-1pm meet bottom of Moor Rd Teens Club 1-5pm Vale Circles centre, Tunstall Road, Beeston St Luke’s Area Spring Clean 2-4pm meet St Luke’s Church, Malvern Road, Beeston Hill Sunday 28 April Sunday Lunch 12-2pm St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck Sunday Lunch Club 1-3pm Vale Circles Centre, Tunstall Road, Beeston Hunslet RLFC v London Skolars 3pm South Leeds Stadium, Middleton Grove T’other 5pm Slung Low at The Holbeck, Jenkinson Lawn, Holbeck Monday 29 April Wellness Space Afternoon 12:30-2:30pm Ingram Gardens Community Centre, Holbeck Middleton Community Group 7pm St Cross Church, Acre Road

www.southleedslife.com

South Leeds Life | April 2019

18 What’s On IN BRIEF Open mic night at The Holbeck Buskers is back. Come and enjoy a mixture of music, comedy and spoken word on Saturday 30 March, 7:30-11pm at The Holbeck club, Jenkinson Lawn. It's free and the drinks are cheap!

Twitter: @SouthLeedsLife

Facebook: facebook.com/southleedslife

Yorkshire Ambulance recruitment

Middleton Swimming Pool Following the announcement of a new gym at Middleton Leisure Centre, a campaign has started for a community swimming pool. A Public meeting will be held at St Cross Church for those who want to support the idea on Monday 1 April 2019, 7-8pm.

Bingo and Disco at St Anthony’s A family friendly evening of bingo and dancing has been organised for Saturday 6 April from 711pm at St Anthony’s Parish Hall on Old Lane in Beeston. Tickets cost £2 for adults, 50p for children.

Activity Camp at The Hunslet Club As usual, The Hunslet Club witll be running their popular Activity Camp through the school holidays. Activities for boys and girls in Key Stage 1 and above include football, crafts, baking, movies and dance.

The Camp runs Monday to Friday 1-12 April from 8:45am-3pm. Sessions cost £4 per half day if booked in advance. Email: dhall@hunsletclub.org.uk or call the club on (0113) 271 6489 .

Free play activities Once again the Friends of Middleton Park have organised free play activities in the park during the school holidays. The sessions take place each Tuesday and Wednesday 2, 3, 9 & 10 April, 1-3pm at the Visitor Centre by the lake. No need to book, just turn up.

Adult’s and Health Marketplace White Rose Shopping Centre is hosting an event on Thursday 4 April, 10am-3pm for people with care and support needs as well as their carers and families. Advice and information to help maintain independence at all stages of life will be available.

Cinema Club at the Hamara Centre Beeston’s Hamara Centre will be hosting another film screening on Monday 1 April at 1pm. Entry is free with juice and popcorn available per child at 50p.

A week later the centre hosts a second hand jumble sale on Monday 8 April from 10am-2pm, tables are free, go and bag yourself a bargain!

St Luke’s Spring Clean The St Luke’s Tenants and Residents Association have organised their annual Spring Clean for Saturday 27 April. Meet at St Luke’s Church on Malvern Road, Beeston Hill from 2pm for litterpicking in the surrounding streets, followed by well-earned tea and cake back at the church from 4pm.

Easter Egg Hunts City Evangelical Church will be organising their annual Egg Hunt in Cross Flatts Park on Good Friday (19 April) from 11am-1pm.

On the same day Skelton Grange Environment Centre have their Easter Egg Trail from 11am12:30pm.

The Friends of Trentham Park host an Egg Hunt on Saturday 20 April in the pocket park on Trentham Street, Beeston Hill.

H

ave you ever thought about working for your local ambulance service?

If so, this event is for you.

PATH Yorkshire has been working to provide opportunities for Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) people for over thirty years. We help people to develop their potential through quality vocational training, education and career guidance in all areas of employment, especially where BAME people have been underrepresented.

Every year, over 400 disadvantaged young people and adults are supported

by PATH Yorkshire, which provides information, advice, guidance, mentoring, training and access to apprenticeships/train eeships and employment.

Working in partnership with the Yorkshire Ambulance Service, one of the biggest NHS employers in Yorkshire with nearly 5000 staff, PATH proudly invites you to take part in Yorkshire Ambulance Service Recruitment Day. This event takes place on

Tuesday 2 April 2019 at St George’s Centre, in Leeds city centre (LS1 3DL).

Find out what it is like to work for Yorkshire Ambulance Service and learn about the many opening positions currently available, especially for BAME candidates.

PATH Yorkshire will be there to help you with your CV and interview techniques, and to maximise your chance of being hired.

Yorkshire Ambulance Service is committed to embracing diversity and promoting inclusivity, and believes everyone has the right to be treated fairly regardless of their race, religion, sex or gender, sexual orientation, disability, socio-economic background, age or any other distinction.

Start your career with the NHS today by contacting PATH Yorkshire to book your FREE place in advance. Tel: (0113) 262 4600, email: info@pathyorkshire .co.uk and follow PATH Yorkshire on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ path.yorkshire

Best foot forward

The South Leeds Community Hiking Group are gearing up for 2019, with trips booked for Saturday 13 April (Malham in North Yorkshire), Saturday 20 July (Wales), and Saturday 28 and/or Sunday 29 September (Cumbria or Scotland); more frequent local walks are also on the cards. Find the group on Facebook, or email southleedswalkers@gmail.com, for more information or to book in. The trips are open to all local residents and cost just £3-4 for day trips (more for overnighters), with free spaces available if money is a barrier.

Free pre-employment training courses in April I

t’s great news for jobseekers as a Leeds training provider are offering nine fully-funded training courses in April.

Established training provider Think Employment, based in Holbeck, deliver a range of week-long pre-employment courses every month to people who wanted to upskill and find a new career, are offering them for free to jobseekers, providing they meet certain criteria stipulated by the government.

Throughout April, they will be deliver nine unique training courses to people who want to get an introduction to life working in different sectors.

Starting on Monday 1 April are two courses: one delivering the skills required to work in Customer Service and the other an Employment Pathways programme that helps people breakdown barriers to employment.

The following week, Think Employment will be delivering a two-week Basic ICT workshop that equips people with basic digital skills needed to use a computer or the internet in everyday life as well and the modern workplace.

The same week there’s also a Warehousing & Storage workshop that provides important skills and knowledge

to assist people in their attempt to find work in one of the UK’s fastest-growing sectors.

The week before Good Friday, jobseekers can book onto the four-day Customer Service Plus training course that will build on people’s existing customer service skills and qualifications and introduce others to aspects of both sales and marketing.

Then after the Easter Bank Holiday weekend, people can give their Hospitality skills a boost and receive specialist Barista training through 200 Degrees Coffee or they will have another chance to enrol on the Customer Service workshop.

Finally, starting Monday 29 April, there’s a Retail course that comes with a Health & Safety in the workplace qualification and a Care workshop which includes a standard DBS check - both of which are highly sought after by

employers and will add real value to a jobseeker’s CV. “People who do our training say that they feel better supported in taking the next steps towards a new career,” said Sabrina Leathley, Think Employment’s Learner Recruiter.

“But on top of that they also tell us how coming to us helps to build their confidence and social skills as well.”

These five day courses are free to people over 19 who have lived in the UK or EU for the last three years and are either in receipt of a workrelated benefit or are employed and earning less than £15,736 a year.

For more information about the workshops that Think Employment offer and eligibility criteria go to thinkemployment.com, call (0113) 880 0626 or find them on either Facebook or Twitter.

www.southleedslife.com

Website: www.southleedslife.com

Sport 19

Email: info@southleedslife.com

Riding high in Middleton L

by Jeremy Morton

eeds Urban Bike Park opened its doors on 1 December 2017.

Since then it’s been used over 300,000 times by riders using its bump track, BMX track and MTB (Multi Terrain Bike or Mountain Bike) trail through the woods.

We spoke to Jeremy Hayes of Cycle Pathway CIC, the company that runs the facility.

He’s very excited about the bridge that is nearing completion on the newest section of trail.

“This section will link the Phase One Red & Blue trail near the Hub café and car park to the Woodland Trail in the woods, avoiding the need to go via the Rose Garden before dropping in to a temporary start point .

“As you ride up the bridge near the start you will see the city laid out before you, it’s quite a view!”

The Bike Park is popular within the MTB community having received rave reviews in

Cycling is for all ages the MTB magazines.

“When we opened, it was the MTB community that first latched on and made use of the track. It’s pleasing to see more families using it in recent months. We’ll also be starting balance bike and learn to ride sessions for younger children soon.”

As a former national coach, Jeremy is obviously passionate about cycling, but he is also passionate about how cycling can give young people confidence and life skills too.

“I’m keen to see a club develop here with local youngsters, not just to use this facility, but maybe take a ride to Temple Newsam or Castleford.

It would be great to see South Leeds competing against other clubs eventually.”

The Bike Park already works with many schools in Leeds having run over 300 sessions in the last year.

They’ve come in for some flak over bike hire charges, but Jeremy is unrepentant: “First of all you don’t have to

hire our bikes. The tracks are free to use if you bring your own bike. Secondly you have to understand that we are a notfor-profit company, we have to cover our costs to be sustainable in the long term.

The same goes for the café, we’re keen to have such a great social space, for all park users, not just cyclists, but it has to pay its way – so please come and use it!”

As to conflicts between cyclists and other park users Jeremy says he thinks it’s mostly perception. “Apart from the cycle tracks themselves everywhere in the park is negotiated space, no one has right of way over others.

Everyone using the park needs to respect each other.”

It’s clear we have a first class facility on our doorstep, which many local councils are queuing up to replicate and the nearest comparable trail to the new bridge section is in North Wales and you have to pay to use it – let’s make sure our community can make the most of it.

‘Viking’ to fight at JCCS M

iddleton’s Tom ‘The Viking’ Crosby will be competing in a professional Mixed Martial Arts fight against Jacek Rolinski in an 84kg Middleweight bout.

The fight takes place on Saturday 13 April at the John Charles Centre For Sport, with all proceeds going to the Cancer Research charity.

As we reported last June, Tom is a childminder by day and took up MMA to help with his strength and fitness for playing rugby. He turned professional last year after achieving success in the cage.

He receives great support from his family and his pre-fight ritual includes writing his wife and kids names on his hand wraps.

Tickets are available via www.ultratickets.co.uk

South Leeds Lakers Junior section Continued from back page How have you gone about training Run Leaders to look after the kids?

We were lucky to secure funding from England Athletics, which has enabled five of our current club run leaders to take a course in leading athletics. Two have since gone on to the next level and taken the ‘Assistant coaching course’, and are now on a pathway to become full coaches in the near future.

In addition to this, all our leaders are fully DBS checked and three are first aid qualified. We

April 2019 | South Leeds Life

appreciate when working with young people, safeguarding, along with health and safety are our top priorites. We have worked hard to put policies and processes in place to ensure this is organised, enjoyable, fun, and a safe environment.

Will it just be learning to Run? The focus will be running, we are a running club after all. However, during this development age of 8-14 years, it is recommended that children should ideally be engaged in multi sports and across as many event groups as possible.

Therefore, there will be

running, jumping and throwing activities involved.

How can the parents help out?

We are requesting that at least one adult accompanies each child, and it would be lovely to see parents actively take part. We have seen this before at our adult club sessions where parents who have turned up with their children have joined in our Couch to 5k programme, and despite never running before have successfully completed 5k. We are a family club and would like to see this continue with our juniors.

It sounds great! How do

I go about getting my kids involved?

It is important to note that the Lakers are an inclusive club and we want to welcome all young people, whether you have run before or not. The sessions are free and we would encourage anyone who wants to give athletics and running a go, to sign up.

The sessions start on Thursday 18 April, and then every Thursday between 6-7pm at Cockburn School, Gypsy Lane, Beeston, Leeds LS11 5TT. If you are interested then you can sign up at: runtogether.co.uk

Hunslet top the league Continued from back page “This is a tough division and I think results have already shown anyone is capable of beating anyone in this league.

Yes we have some tough games coming up, but it’s about building confidence and momentum going into those games, and trying to pick them off one by one.

“First we have Halifax to deal with in the Challenge Cup before we start thinking about Whitehaven or Oldham. But I’m sure those teams will be worried about facing us in our current form.”

It's very sad that Richard Moore has had to retire, how will he be missed at Hunslet?

“It is always sad when a player has to retire through injury. Richie was a huge signing for us and we were hoping he could take us to the next level with his experience and quality.

“He was a brilliant guy to have around the place and was a big voice in our changing rooms, and a great help to the younger guys passing on his knowledge and experience. So obviously he is going to missed.

“But his health and wellbeing have to come first and we wish him a speedy recovery so he can get on with the other things in his life that he enjoys doing.

“He has been a terrific servant to the game he loves, and it’s a shame he wasn’t a bigger part of our season. But we have to move on and someone else has to step up and fill those shoes.

“Luckily we have some other experienced players in Robbo and Emmett who have stepped up in terms of leadership in the front row, and we have a brilliant captain in Straff who keeps everyone together and leads by example on and off the field.

“People like Richie are very hard to replace but I know he wants us to do well and succeed and will be following us I’m sure.”

Hunslet v Halifax Sunday 31 March 3pm South Leeds Stadium £15, £10 (conc) Under 16’s are FREE

www.southleedslife.com

South Leeds Life | April 2019

20 Sport

Twitter: @SouthLeedsLife

Hunslet top the league

Six years on runners take another stride forward S

Josh Tonks crashes over for Hunslet against Coventry

H

by Jeremy Morton

unslet RLFC have made a winning start to their season and as March draws to a close they sit on top of the Betfred League 1 with a game in hand over their closest rivals.

Having come from behind to beat Doncaster in their first match last month, March has seen wins against West Wales Raiders (58-4), North Wales Crusaders (12-22) and Coventry Bears (44-10).

In the Challenge Cup,

Hunslet saw off community club West Bowling ARLFC 5610, but will face a stern test against Chamionship side Halifax in the next round on Sunday 31 March.

Leegue matches in April see the Parksiders travel to Whitehaven and Oldham before entertaining London Skolars on 28 April.

We asked Hunslet’s Coach, Gary Thornton about the season so far: “Obviously winning games regularly is very pleasing for all the players and coaching staff.

Photo: Paul Johnson / Phoenix Photgraphy But what has pleased me most as a coach, is the improvements we are making week by week.

“We knew we had weaknesses last season in our goal line defence, and we have worked hard to address that this season, and I think that has been our biggest improvement area. We have only conceded on average just over 10 points per game so far, and if you can keep teams to within 10 points you are always in with a chance of winning games.

“We must stay level headed though, and realise everyone wants to knock us off top spot now. We will be a target for all our opposition, but that’s a great place to be!”

Has it been an easy start to the season?

“Doncaster away is never easy (they beat Workington at home), and Coventry have beaten Newcastle, so I think that’s a bit of flippant statement. You can only beat what’s in front of you, and we are taking it game by game.”

Contined on page 19

Facebook: facebook.com/southleedslife

by Ian Pickles

omething very special started six years ago when a small group of runners decided to set up a ‘parkrun’ in Beeston.

Having passed the 300 mark at the beginning of March Cross Flatts parkrun is celebrating its sixth birthday on Saturday 30 March. Fancy dress is encouraged and inevitably there will be cake and chocolate at the finish.

Organising a free, weekly 5k walk, jog or run event attracting well over 100 people is an achievement in itself. But organisers pushed forward to form the South Leeds Lakers social running club; started a Sunday morning junior parkrun and now starting Lakers’ Junior section.

often tell us what a positive impact running with us has had, and is some cases life changing.

We wanted to extend this positive impact to the young people in our area too, help them get active and achieve their goals in a supporting and friendly environment.

Has this come from the inexorable rise of junior parkrun at Cross Flatts?

The junior parkrun has proved very popular with young people in our area, and has taken off very well. We would like to add to this by providing more opportunity to participate, and get involved with other people their age. Who knows there may be a chance to improve on your parkrun PB (personal best), or through the Lakers juniors be able to take

Everyone’s welcome at Cross Flatts junior parkrun

The Hunslet Club hosted a night of amateur boxing on Friday 22 March, featuring top young boxers from the club and across the region in 14 hardfought bouts. All the competitors deserve credit for their energy, and their gallantry - but special mention to young Hunslet boxers Reggie Ward and Levienio Ahmed for battling to victory in their bouts.

South Leeds Lakers is now affiliated to England Athletics and has over 70 affiliated athletes and regularly attracts 90+ runners to Beeston Co-op on a Tuesday evening at 7pm for free organised runs.

We spoke to Chairman Martin Lee about the challenge of organising a Junior Section for 8-14 year olds.

Why did South Leeds Lakers decide to form a Junior Section?

We have seen the impact that running, particularly running within a club environment has on people in our local area. Not just the physical benefits of improved health and fitness, but improvements in mental health and self-esteem. Our members

part in a Parkrun for the first time.

Have you found a safe environment for the club to take place?

Yes, we are very lucky to have secured the outside playing fields at the rear of Cockburn School, which provides a totally enclosed area with lots of room to work in. It also provides great access to the trails in Middleton woods.

There is also plenty of parking for parents who may have to travel. The school have been very supportive by sharing their school facilities with us, and a space which is perfect especially with the summer months approaching. continued on page 19