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Issue 61 | April 2020
What’s happening in Beeston, Belle Isle, Cottingley, Holbeck, Hunslet, Middleton & Stourton
CORONAVIRUS: SOUTH LEEDS RESPONDS
C
oronavirus (also known as Covid-19) is very much upon us - and is having a huge impact on communities across the world, including our own. We are therefore dedicating a large proportion of this month's paper over to related coverage. We are also covering the normal wide range of stories of community life - at least until the lockdown brought everything to a halt. These are unique, and scary times - and we strongly urge all our readers to play their part, by following government guidance which is based on expert medical advice from around the world, to beat this crisis together. There is very clear evidence that this is a particularly easyto-transmit virus, and that there are simple ways to prevent its spread. By doing so, we'll all be helping to ensure the NHS isn't overwhelmed, and lives are not lost unnecessarily. It's also important to recognise - like with any crisis the many inspiring ways in which people are coming
together to support one another, to get through this together. True to form, South Leeds has seen an astounding upsurge in people coming forward to help others in the past few weeks, especially those most isolated and in need. There is much still to do - but much also to celebrate. More on this, including how to volunteer or how to access help, on pages 2-4. And it's also important to note that the lockdown, which looks to stretch at least until June, presents golden opportunities. Opportunities to connect with one another (online or on the phone please!), learn a new skill, catch up with home maintenance and decorating, start growing, vegetables or learning to sew. We have pulled together more on these ideas, a list of online resources, together with important phone numbers for sources of help in a pull out supplement on pages 9-12. None of us know what's
In this issue:
Key information supplement
page 9-12
Police drugs dog Max in action page 4
Sharp Lane’s Super Veg Heroes page 12
Responsible running challenge
page 24
NEWS Staff and volunteers at Holbeck Together are getting meals out to people at home going to happen, and for how long - but undoubtedly many of us have a long stretch of free time ahead of us (likely to be until June at the earliest), so we might as well make the best of it. Quite apart from the opportunites above, this
presents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, to stop and think, then maybe reset society and economy for the better. And maybe, just maybe, we'll emerge out of the other side with a healthier and cleaner and better-connected set of
local communities. Can we? Finally a note of reassurance that South Leeds Life has followed government guidelines and taken appropriate precations in producing and distributing this newspaper.
2-9
SCHOOL LIFE
8
SUPPLEMENT
9-12
COMMENT
14-15
CULTURAL LIFE
16
SPORTING LIFE 22-4
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