South Leeds Life 85 April 2022

Your FREE community newspaper

Issue 85 | April 2022

Covering Beeston, Belle Isle, Cottingley, Holbeck, Hunslet, Middleton, Riverside & Stourton

A SUITABLE POLICY? P

rivate hire drivers have been holding protests, including a go-slow drive through Leeds city centre on Friday 18 March, about alleged unfair treatment from Leeds City Council.

Leeds is introducing a new Suitability and Convictions Policy for taxi and private hire drivers as part of a government initiative to improve passenger safety.

It is also trying to harmonise policies with the four other West Yorkshire councils and York.

The new policy could see drivers losing their private hire licence if they clock up too many points on their driving licence. It also introduces a revised policy for complaints against drivers.

Drivers we spoke to ahead of the demonstration told us they were concerned that they could lose their livelihood because a few minor infractions. They also told us this was the culmination of years of unfair treatment and petty regulations.

Salik Miah, of Beeston, speaking on behalf of Leeds Private Hire Drivers Organisation (LPHDO) said:

"We love this city, and we are happy to play our part helping keep everyone moving. We always aim to serve and keep the public safe, but we are not perfect, and we agree that improvements could be made to our trade.

“We don't want special treatment, we want to work with the Council and be treated fairly and reasonably. But the Council are treating us with arrogance, not listening to us.

These rules and regulations are unclear, over the top, draconian - like trying to break a nut with a sledgehammer."

Introduction of the new policy is still under discussion and the Council has set up a working group with trade representatives to address concerns raised by drivers.

If implemented the changes would mean new applicants with 7 or more points would be refused a licence and existing licence holders reaching 9 points could lose their licence, although the Council says this would be a last resort.

Other issues include how complaints against drivers are handled and vehicles failing inspections for minor cosmetic issues.

Any suspension of their licence to operate means they

Campaigning to save Hunslet’s spire

page 5

Strictly win for Lindsey

page 7

Private Hire drivers protest against new Suitability & Convictions Policy

by Jeremy Morton

In this issue:

Organising award for Innocent

page 10

Sharp Lane raise funds for Diabetes

page 12

Alan Lane’s ‘Pandemic Memoir’

Private Hire drivers assemble at Elland Road ahead of their protest can’t earn and the longer they are off the road, the more income they lose.

Many have also financed new electric or hybrid vehicles as they were encouraged to do as part of the Clean Air Zone proposals. This affects scores of drivers living in South Leeds and their families.

Drivers we spoke to have clearly lost trust in the Council and the Licencing department and want to see complaints dealt with by an independent body.

Leeds City Council told us that the new policy is based on a national template developed

by UK legal experts and endorsed by the Department for Transport.

Furthermore, they are working with the Trade to address concerns they have raised such as vehicle conditions and have taken steps to ensure no cosmetic only issues result in vehicles failing inspections.

In a statement Councillor Debra Coupar, Leeds City

Council's Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Resources said: “The taxi and private hire licensing trade raised some concerns regarding the proposals for how minor motoring convictions such as speeding would be considered, and councillors in Leeds agreed to pause the implementation of that part of the suitability policy to review the proposals and agree a further period of consultation.

Continued on page 3

page 18

NEWS

2-10

SCHOOL LIFE

11-13

COMMENT

14-15

LIVES

16-17 18

ART LIFE WHAT’S ON

19-22

SPORTING LIFE

23-24

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

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South Leeds Life | April 2022

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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.

South Leeds Life is pleased to publish views from across the political spectrum, provided they comply with our editorial guidelines.

We remain a neutral publication with a diverse readership, as such we do not endorse any particular political party.

Developer wins planning permission to convert shop unit into more flats

by Jeremy Morton

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ouncillors have approved a change in planning permission for JM Construction to convert a retail unit into five flats at the Victoria Riverside development in Hunslet.

As we reported in October, the development of historic mill buildings into 350 flats was due to include a retail unit. JM Construction say they’ve marketed the opportunity for two years, but have been unable to secure a tenant for the unit.

Residents at the nearby H2010 say they’ve seen it before with their developer, Miller Homes, converting the planned retail unit into flats. One resident, Stephen, addressed the South & West Plans Panel which considered the change on Thursday (17 March 2022).

He told the meeting that existing shops – Tesco at Leeds Dock, Hunslet Morrisons, etc – were not easy to get to, lying across busy major roads. He said a car was almost essential to access them,

but the Council’s policy is to discourage such short car journeys which cause the greatest level of pollution.

Cllr Paul Wray (Hunslet & Riverside) who referred the decision to Panel also spoke against the application. He said the developer's marketing of the retail unit had been half-hearted and hadn’t accurately described the potential footfall of nearby developments and the busy riverside path.

Planning officers recommended approving the change and said the Council would have a very weak case if the developer appealed against a refusal.

Cllr Colin Campbell (Otley & Yeadon) summed up the position of most of the Councillors on the panel, saying: “We are between a rock and a hard place … whatever we might want, we can’t say no because they’d get it on appeal.”

Commenting on the decision Cllr Wray told South Leeds Life: “Cllr Nash, Iqbal, and I are deeply disappointed this application has

The empty shop unit on the corner of Goodman Street been approved due to a technicality related to the original permission for the site.

“It is clear the developer knew they needed to offer a retail until to obtain the original planning permission and no largescale developer offers something unless they feel they must. But as the developer was not conditioned at the time to ensure this happened,

Hunslet’s new Aire Park passes two milestones

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Aire Park is being created on the Tetley brewery site

A

n exciting double milestone has been reached in the development of Aire Park – the urban oasis that will change the face of Leeds city centre and strengthen its reputation as a world-class place to work, rest and play.

The largest new city centre green space in the UK, Aire Park will be made up of a series of attractive, diverse and interconnected public areas stretching across eight acres of land – from reclaimed roadway at Meadow Lane to tree-lined lawns and gardens on the former Tetley Brewery site in Hunslet.

The green space will sit at the

heart of a new mixed-use district which will provide much-needed homes, offices and retail space for the centre of Leeds.

Leeds City Council has confirmed that the Meadow Lane part of the park – delivered for the local authority by contractor John Sisk & Son Ltd – is nearing completion, with a public opening date set for mid-April.

In a second milestone, developer Vastint UK has begun construction work on the five-acre section of Aire Park that will stretch east towards Crown Point Road.

This phase of construction includes a large public events space

and the first of the commercial buildings, both of which will open for use in 2023.

A new animation has been released that brings to life the plans for the park and the part it will play in weaving better connections between local neighbourhoods while also adding a flavour of rural Leeds to the city centre.

Starting out from Sovereign Square and its existing green space, the fly-through heads south-east via the new David Oluwale Bridge, which was moved into position over the River Aire at the end of March.

Other elements featured in the animation include:

they cannot be bound by it. If not for this technicality and the risk of costs to the council should the developer appeal due to it – we feel the panel would have declined the application.

“The need for a retail unit here is clear and the demand will only grow.

But the developer has chosen quicker profits over helping to build a more sustainable community. This is deeply disappointing.”

• Meadow Lane, where the initial phase of work on Aire Park has seen the narrowing of the highway, the removal of the old Hunslet Lane surface car park and the creation of new green space; • The five-acre phase of the park that is set to occupy much of the Vastint UK-owned former Tetley Brewery site and will include features such as a playground, café and public events area; • Crown Point Road, where work has started on changes – such as a new cycleway, wider footpaths and green landscaping – that will make the route more suitable for active travel. The road will remain open to traffic, but is being reduced from two lanes to one.

A further phase of Aire Park will, subject to the future award of planning permission to Vastint UK, eventually take shape on the other side of Crown Point Road.

You can view the fly through at: bit.ly/AirePark The traffic-free David Oluwale Bridge linking Sovereign Street and Water Lane will provide an additional walking and cycling route between Aire Park and the rest of the city centre, tying in neatly with the council’s aim of reducing reliance on the car, cutting carbon emissions, bringing neighbourhoods closer together and improving access to jobs and other opportunities for people from all backgrounds.

As part of this, the Leeds Public Transport Investment Programme has seen significant improvements in public transport priorities, cycling and walking measures and public realm over the last four years.

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News 3

Holbeck Together welcomes Mobile Hub and Storybus

O

n Thursday 3 March Holbeck Together officially welcomed the Mobile Community Hub and Storybus to Holbeck.

By joining in partnership with Leeds City Council to bring these services to Holbeck, Holbeck Together is continuing to be a community anchor for the area and striving towards making Holbeck a great place to live, work and thrive.

In one of her last final acts before retirement, Councillor for Holbeck and Beeston

April 2022 | South Leeds Life

Angela Gabriel did the honours and cut the ribbon to officially open the Community Hub Bus. Councillor Gabriel was joined at the opening by her colleagues Councillor Mary Harland (Executive Board member for communities at Leeds City Council), James Roger (Director of Communities, Housing and Environment) and Susan Murray (Hub Manager).

The Mobile Community Hub can deliver the same services as a building-based community hub. By placing the Mobile Hub

outside St Matthew’s twice a week it means local residents can access advice and support without having to travel too far.

Holbeck residents can speak with an advisor about council services such as council tax, housing, benefits and can also get assistance with job searches, job applications, interview skills, and CV writing.

The Mobile Community Hub has computers and free WiFI too.

Leeds Library’s Storybus also hosted a special World Book

Day storytelling session to mark the official opening of the service in Holbeck. Local children came dressed up as their favourite book characters and were treated to some special goodie bags, filled with books and stationery.

The Mobile Community Hub will be in Holbeck, outside St Matthew’s Community Centre on Tuesdays (10am-3:30pm) and Thursdays (9:30am3:30pm).

Already Holbeck Together have been welcoming members of the community to the bus, many who need support and guidance to access the services which will best support them.

Visitors don’t need to make an appointment to either service and can just drop-in, but if there’s a short wait, Holbeck Together’s community cafe is open for visitors to have a cup of tea while they wait.

Storybus will be in Holbeck on Thursdays, 10–11:30am.

Perfect for little ones under 5, inside this special bus is a treasure trove of lovely books and fun activities – and the Storybus’s friendly storytellers can help you choose books to borrow that will tickle every taste.

Local elections in South Leeds on 5 May

by Jeremy Morton

E

lections for Leeds City Councillors will take place on Thursday 5 May 2022.

A third of Councillors will be up for election, one in each ward in the city.

Cllr Elizabeth Nash will be contesting her seat in Hunslet & Riverside ward, whilst new Councillors will be elected in Beeston & Holbeck and Middleton Park wards following the deselection of Angela Gabriel and retirement of Kim Groves.

As usual South Leeds Life will be covering the elections and bringing you details of all the candidates. We will post these online once nominations close on Wednesday 6 April and in next month’s newspaper.

We will also be holding online hustings for the three wards in South Leeds in the week before the election. These will give you the opportunity to put your questions directly to the

candidates. Watch out for further details on our website.

If you wish to register for a postal vote the deadline to apply is 5pm on Tuesday 19 April 2022. Find out more at: www.leeds.gov.uk/your-council /elections/postal-voting If you’ve moved house in the last two years or haven’t voted in the past you may not be on the electoral register, you can check online at: www.leeds.gov.uk/your-council /elections/register-to-vote.

If you need to register it’s very quick, go to www.gov.uk/register-to-vote, you will need your National Insurance number.

We expect that votes will be varified on Friday 6 May and counted on Saturday 7 May. We will bring you the results online as soon as they are announced.

South Leeds Life does not support any political party, but we do encourage all our readers to use their vote.

A suitable policy?

Compassion in South Leeds rewarded Holbeck Moor FC won the Sport Project of the Year at the Leeds Compassionate City Awards. The club has an open access policy to all adults regardelss of age or ability. Mark Catley and Ewan Speck received the award from Cllr Mary Harland. Leeds Let’s Do More Basketball who run a Beeston team, were highly commended in this category.

Other winners from South Leeds were: Leeds Asylum Seekers Support Network (LASSN), based on Dewsbury Road who won Diversity Project of the Year; BAHAR Women’s Association, who’s founder lives in Beeston, highly commended for the Jo Cox Award; and Battle Scars the survivor led self harm charity which runs an adult support group at Vale Circles in Beeston won the Health & Wellbeing Award.

Continued from page 1 “Throughout the consultation, the council has met with trade representatives to listen to their views and ensure they are kept informed of progress.

“A working group of councillors and trade representatives has been arranged to continue to discuss the Convictions and Suitability Policy and other matters of concern to the taxi and private

hire trade.

“We are pleased to say some significant progress has been made recently.

“The council would ask LPHDO to return to meaningful discussions as part of the new working group.

“The council is committed to consultation at all levels and will always be prepared to listen and reply to any areas of concern raised by the trade in a constructive manner.”

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South Leeds Life | April 2022

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4 News

Leeds locksmith won’t see refugees locked out

On the beat with Insp Tom Perry

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T

his month saw International Women’s Day on 8 March. As part of a focus on Women’s empowerment within the community, Sergeant Williams and Sergeant Jones attended a self-defence class in Holbeck Moor Park.

These classes are open to the public, and are focussed around increasing women’s confidence through selfdefence. Violence against women and girls is a key priority for my team and for the wider Police Service.

Your Neighbourhood Policing Team are committed to creating safer spaces in the community, and supporting groups that make positive contributions towards women’s safety.

More information around International Women’s day can be found at www.international womensday.com. The theme this year was around breaking gender bias, and the website offers resources and other information aimed at celebrating women’s achievement, raising awareness against bias and taking action for equality.

Last month I briefly wrote about bike safety. Staff from your Neighbourhood Policing Team continued their bike safety initiative, where advice and resources were available for security and crime prevention, including free bike security marking. Officers and PCSOs from the team held an event at Leeds Urban Bike Park in Middleton, in partnership with Bike Register. These events represent a great opportunity for the team to be visible and available for members of the South Leeds Community. Please look out on our Social Media sites for information around future events.

One of the team’s PCSOs

Sgt Williams joined a women’s self defence class on Holbeck Moor recently attended the Hunslet Youth Club to deliver a weapons and violence awareness workshop with local children. Steering children away from carrying a weapon and/or using violence is really important work, and pivotal in keeping children in the community safe.

Statistically, you remain more likely to be harmed by a weapon if you carry one yourself. My team carry out weapons sweeps in public areas such as play parks in order to recover any hidden weapons. I would always encourage anyone carrying a knife or other weapon to hand it in at a Police Station.

The local community will likely be aware of lots of operational policing presence in the Beeston and surrounding areas over the last few weeks, following reports of a firearms discharge. Please be assured that there has been a significant policing response in order to keep the local community safe. There has been an uplift in resources in the area to provide you with high visibility patrols for reassurance throughout the day and night.

Some members of the team are travelling to Northamptonshire Police to

Bike safety and security marking sessions are being held throughout April

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review their processes around exploitation of people within their own homes. This is sometimes referred to as Cuckooing, and can be a trigger for widespread Anti-Social Behaviour.

Indeed, the Leeds South community has experienced this kind of offending and subsequent ASB. My team are proactively improving the way in which we respond to this form of exploitation and the harm that it causes the wider community.

A final word from me around updates for victims of crime.

This is always an area that the force is looking to improve upon. West Yorkshire Police have developed a Crime Tracker, which provides the chance to monitor your crime by direct access through the internet, twenty four hours a day.

The tracker can keep you updated with the status of the crime, and the details of the officer dealing with your case.

It also allows for you to leave the officer a message in a contact form. The tracker is part of the force’s victim care and support programme, and something that I recommend for victims. The tracker is available via www.westyork shire.police.uk/crimetracker.

eeds Locksmith Andrew Dunn pledged to donate 2 weeks income from late-night lock-outs to support Leeds Asylum Seeker Support Network (LASSN) and their work with asylum seekers and refugees in Leeds.

Andy says: “I often come to work at properties that need securing or need locks changing etc. Often I come across properties which house Asylum Seekers. Many times these residents treat me well, even brining me food and drink whilst I work. I felt it would be good to give something back.”

After 2 weeks, Andy has raised £450 – which will help to fund LASSN’s work to provide housing for asylum seekers who have nowhere to live, no income, no right to work, and no right to rent a

Andrew Dunn of Lemon Locksmiths place of their own.

Jon Beech, Director of LASSN said: “Andy appreciates the importance of security, and the importance of having a safe place to live. And like many people in Leeds – he’s not willing to see people go without, when there’s something he can do about it.”

“If other people want to follow Andy’s lead, helpinleeds.com lists all groups supporting refugees and

Screening for Bowel Cancer

by Alex Cocker

I

am a community Screening and Awareness coordinator for the Cancer Wise Leeds project.

I work alongside GP Practices and organisations in different communities of south Leeds to raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of cancer and to help improve the uptake of bowel, breast and cervical screenings.

Screening programmes are an extremely important and vital way of detecting the early signs of cancer. We want to ensure that every single person who may be eligible for a cancer screening in south Leeds gets their screening at the earliest possible opportunity.

April is Bowel Cancer Awareness Month, so I am going to focus specifically on bowel screenings.

As background, bowel cancer is the fourth most common cancer in the UK, accounting for 11% of all new cancer cases. Signs and symptoms of bowel cancer do vary, but can include a persistent change in bowel habits, abdominal (tummy) pain, bloating or discomfort. To find out more about signs and symptoms, please see: www.nhs.uk/ conditions/bowel-cancer/ symptoms Bowel screening is offered

every two years to people aged 60 to 74 that are registered with a GP practice. Some people aged 56 are also being invited. This is because NHS England is expanding this programme over the coming years. Eventually, everyone aged between 50 to 74 will be invited.

The bowel screening test can detect signs before a cancer has even developed, allowing treatment to take place immediately. The screening is undertaken through a home test that is sent to patients of eligible age through the post.

You will receive information in advance of the kit being sent

asylum seekers in Leeds, and most of them could use volunteers or donations like this. We can’t always change what we see happening in the news, but there are many ways to make Leeds a kinder and more welcoming place.

“Massive thanks to Andy of at lemonlocksmith.co.uk for this brilliant idea, for this donation, and to everyone who locked themselves out over the last fortnight.” out which will provide more details about the test and how to complete it. There is also a video available on how to do the test by the NHS which can be seen here: vimeo.com/ showcase/6663813 If you do not receive your bowel screening letter or if you need a new kit, please contact 0800 707 6069. Alternatively, you can speak to your GP surgery who can order a kit for you.

If you experience any signs or symptoms that are not normal, please get in touch with your GP to discuss further as soon as possible.

For more information regarding Cancer Wise Leeds, which is funded by Yorkshire Cancer Research and delivered in partnership by Leeds City Council and the Leeds Cancer programme partnership, see: yorkshirecancerresearch.org. uk/cancer-wise-leeds/

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News 5

Campaign continues to save Hunslet’s iconic spire S

ince the demolition of St Mary’s Church building in 2015 the residents of Hunslet have campaigned to save the adjoining spire, an iconic Hunslet landmark.

On 23 March Hunslet Carr Residents Association made a deputation to the full council at their monthly meeting to make them aware of the condition of the spire and the failings of the Church of England Diocese.

This is what Kenny Saunders, Chair of Hunslet Carr Residents Association, told the council: The Spire of Hunslet`s St Mary’s Church is grade II listed and is the tallest church Spire in Leeds. Sadly the adjoining replacement modern church was demolished in 2015 due to subsidence but the Spire has stood since 1864 and this date can be prominently seen above the bricked up original entrance to the church.

It is very distressing and concerning to see the state of the Spire. One of the Tower Buttresses has been removed at some point and needs replacing to comply with its listed status. Vegetation is growing out of the stonework, windows have been broken and there is now water ingress.

There is significant local support for saving and restoring the Spire. Residents

Kenny Saunders addressing the full Council are very angry about the deterioration and the mess of the land immediately adjacent to the Spire including the War memorial.

Although concerns regarding the current condition of the Spire and surrounding land has been acknowledged by the Church of England Diocese, it is their responsibility to provide the necessary maintenance to secure its future.

However no remedial action has taken place since 2015.

The Potts clock which I used to wind and maintain has not worked for the last 6 years as access to the Tower is denied.

Our three councillors have ringfenced funds to automate the clock and reinstate the chiming bells when the structure is sound and we

thank them for their continued support. However the water ingress may have further damaged the mechanism.

The Spire and surrounding land including the War memorials containing the names of 360 Hunslet men who gave their lives in both wars are surrounded by high metal fencing and are inaccessible. The grass around the site is overgrown obscuring the memorial tablets. This is an insult to these men as we are unable to hold our Remembrance Services in a dignified manner. For the last few years, we had to resort to tying our memorial wreaths to the fencing. We asked the Diocese for permission to tidy the site and cut the grass. This was refused.

As the years go by time will not be on our side. Leeds City Council has investigated the possibility of buying the land from the Diocese to build retirement flats on the site which would incorporate the Spire. A portion of the rents would fund the upkeep of the Spire once it is fully restored.

This would provide much needed housing for older residents which may then allow family houses to be freed up.

We strongly support this vision but our priority is the Spire.

Six years is long enough and action is needed now. We do not want the structure to deteriorate to such a point that the Diocese come back and say it is not economically viable to repair and needs to be demolished and consequently another historic Hunslet landmark is taken away from our proud community.

We request that Leeds City Council endeavour to put significant pressure on the Diocese to carry out its obligation to maintain and repair this Grade II listed Tower and Spire and its immediate area.

Hunslet without its Spire would be like Blackpool without its Tower!

We ask the Council to urgently consider this.

Protest demands ‘rate for the job’ on waste to energy construction project

Protesters call on Councillors to pressure HZI to honoutr the national agreement

C

onstruction workers protested on 23 March at Leeds Civic Hall to ensure workers employed on a new waste-to-energy plant at Skelton Grange should be paid the rate for the job.

Leeds City Council has

granted planning permission for the project but has failed to stipulate that it should be built using the National Agreement for the Engineering Industry (NAECI), the appropriate national agreement for this type of construction work.

April 2022 | South Leeds Life

The protesting workers, who are members of Unite and the GMB, fear that unless the council ensures that the NAECI agreement is utilised, undercutting will occur on the project and the rate for the job will not be honoured.

Over 500 construction workers will be employed on the £250 million project, which will eventually provide power for 100,000 homes. The project is being built for Enfinium by principal contractor Hitachi Zosen Inova (HZI), who have stated that they do not intend to use the NAECI agreement.

There are growing fears that local labour will not be employed on the site, nor local skills training provided. This would be particularly shortsighted as construction apprenticeships in the area are few and far between and the Skelton Grange project is a prime opportunity for employers to help plug the skills gap the UK construction sector is facing.

The unions have launched an online petition in support of their campaign and are urging councillors and the public to sign it in support of their campaign. Go to bit.ly/3JJEKcA

Your Climate Change pledges

Pat McGeever, Chief Executive of Health for All: “Our pledge includes hosting the Our Future Beeston worker, James Latham, who’ll support local groups and organisations to play their part in the Climate Change movement and reducing food waste through our five Community Food Pantries. Our HFA Community Transport service helps local groups and schools reduce their carbon footprint. At home, we re buying local and less, recycling more, travelling less, reducing waste.”

Space LS11 youth project: “We're really trying to step up our climate commitments this year.

We're looking to develop a climate awareness and action project with our youngsters. We already use surplus 'junk' food for our groups, but will use it for our community meals too. We're committing to 100% walking or cycling for our local outreach work and home visits. And we'll offset the unavoidable carbon emissions of our minibus use (transporting the youngsters to our sessions and trips).”

Marianna Roncone and Adalberto Arrigoni, Friends of the Aire: “We’re trying to make a difference with our everyday lives: having a plant-based diet, buying food with zero packaging, drinking tap water, and never throwing food away (don't trust Best Before labels!). We’re using the car as little as possible, and commuting by foot or bicycle.

We’re avoiding ‘fast-fashion’, instead buying quality clothes which will last, or from thrift stores. In our free time, we volunteer with amazing people cleaning up our community and the river: it’s great!”

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6 News

Money matters with Leeds Credit Union

Saving energy in your home C

harlie, Member Service Advisor at Leeds Credit Union's Middleton branch, takes a look at the ways in which households can reduce energy consumption and save money.

Most people will already be aware that, from 1 April, the energy price cap is increasing by 54%.

This means households in the UK will be facing record high energy prices and bills, with millions of Brits predicted to see their bills increasing by approximately £693 over the next 12 months, from £1,277 to £1,971.

Clearly, this is a huge concern for families and especially those who are already struggling to make ends meet. However, there are some proactive steps people can take to reduce their energy usage - these simple but effective tips will help keep energy bills as low as possible.

No more long showers By reducing the amount of time each person in your household spends in the shower to four minutes per day, a typical household will save around £65 a year on their energy bills.

Turn the central heating off Make the most of your timers and thermostats to ensure you only heat your house when absolutely necessary - it will save the average household around £70 per year. If you find

yourself cold at other times, put on extra clothing or get up and move around for a couple of minutes to get warm. Try to use the heating as a last resort.

Switch to LED lights Although LED lights are more expensive than traditional light bulbs, they last 40-times longer and are 90% more energy efficient, so investing in some is a great idea with long-term benefits.

Turn lights off in empty rooms Leave post-it notes on your light switches to remind you to turn your lights off whenever you leave a room unattended.

You'll be surprised how much energy you save each month.

Wash clothes at a lower temperature Setting your machine to wash at 30 degrees rather than higher temperatures will reduce the amount of energy

your washing machine uses by approximately 40% per year.

Waiting until you have enough washing to do a full load is a good idea too, as doing a full cycle with the drum half-empty only wastes water.

The same goes for dishwashers.

Don't overfill the kettle We Brits may use our kettles more than almost any other kitchen appliance but we don't necessarily use them wisely, with most of us overfilling them and boiling more water than we need on a regular basis. By ensuring you only boil the exact amount of water you require, you'll knock approximately £11 off your annual electricity bill.

Don't forget about the microwave Microwaves cook food far quicker than ovens, grills and hobs and don't require preheating. Using yours as much as possible is an easy way to reduce energy consumption.

Leeds Credit Union provides straightforward and affordable financial services to people in Leeds, Wakefield, Harrogate and Craven.

Photo: Shutterstock

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Call 07710 790379 or visit RobDochertyMassage.com

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Cockburn School submits sports pitches planning application C

ockburn School submitted its application for planning permission for a new 3G pitch and tennis courts last month.

As we have previously reported the plans are for a full size artificial football/rugby pitch and three tennis courts on a small portion of the land that was part of South Leeds Golf Club until it closed in 2019. The plans would cause a ancient footpath and bridleway to be diverted, but do not include floodlighting.

The need for the new facilities go back to the crisis in secondary school places for children in South Leeds, caused by delays to the building of the Cockburn Laurence Calvert Academy in Middleton. Cockburn School was approached to take a ‘bulge cohort’ – a year group with an extra 60 places.

In return for the extra places Cockburn asked Leeds City Council to make up a historic shortage of teaching accommodation and playing

field space at the Gipsy Lane site.

The Department of Education lays down minimum space standards for school buildings and Cockburn are currently 65% below the required outdoor provision.

The deal was agreed by the Council’s Executive Board in June 2020. The decision was ‘called in’ by opposition Councillors, but approved by the Children & Families Scrutiny Board.

But local Councillors criticised the agreement at a meeting of the Inner South Community Committee on 2 March when the subject was raised by local residents in the Open Forum section of the meeting.

Cllr Paul Truswell (Middleton Park Ward) said: “The school had the Council over a barrel and demanded the extra playing fields space.”

Cllr Kim Groves (Middleton Park Ward) who retires in May, went further saying she was

against the extra pitch being built: “The existing pitches at the school and John Charles Centre for Sport are adequate for the school’s needs and will be supplemented by the Parklife facility soon.

“The Council is giving land to a private Academy Trust. This wouldn’t happen in other parts of the city.”

Cllr Andrew Scopes (Beeston & Holbeck Ward) said he wanted to see the land transferred on a long lease rather than freehold so that the Council could enforce terms and conditions of use, for instance a traffic management plan.

You can read more about the school’s plans here: www.cockburnschool.org/new sportsfacilities You can read the full planning application on the Council’s Planning Portal ref: 22/01376/FU. You can comment, in favour or against, until Friday 1 April.

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News 7

Strictly dancefloor success I saw a mouse!

C for Beeston woman

Lindsey Hegarty and Lydia Clayton won the Martin House Children’s Hospice dance competition

T

he magic of the movies hit the dance floor in Leeds on Saturday 12 March as Martin House Children’s Hospice staged its Strictly Get Dancing competition and raised £30,000.

Colleagues Lindsey Hegarty and Lydia Clayton danced their way to victory in the event at Aspire, beating seven other couples to take the glitter ball trophy after dancing an Argentine tango, the foxtrot and cha-cha-cha.

For Lindsey, 42, from Beeston, the win was particularly special as Martin House cared for her sister Rachel Love, when her son Harrison Phillips died aged just one week. She said: “It was an absolutely amazing experience, and when we won it was quite emotional for me, because my nephew was at Martin House. When I was going to the dance rehearsals each week, my

niece would say ‘you’re going to dance for Harrison’.

“It means so much more because I was doing it for my sister and nephew, and I’m so proud of everyone who took part, and proud to have done it, it was brilliant.

“I’m also eternally grateful to Lydia, who stepped in when I said I wanted to do Strictly, and agreed to dance with me.”

Eight couples performed in front of celebrity judges Emmerdale’s Katherine Dow Blyton, Hollyoaks’ Bethannie Hare and Married at First Sight’s Daniel McKee – with his husband Matt Jameson hosting the event.

As well as the top prize, couple Zoe and Paul Bojelian – who danced in memory of their son Adam, who died at Martin House in 2015 – were named top fundraisers, raising over £4,000, and Tracey and Andy Hobbs won the most improved dancers award.

The money raised will help Martin House to care for babies, children and young people with life-limiting conditions from across West, North and East Yorkshire, including planned respite, emergency and symptom control stays, end of life care and bereavement support.

Nikki Denton, events fundraising manager at Martin House, said: “All of our dancers were amazing and put on a wonderful show, and helped to make it a fantastic night. I’d like to say a special thanks to our dance teachers Jean Harvey and Andy Gant, who did an incredible job of coaching our contestants for six weeks to turn them into dancers.”

You can donate to Lindsey and Lydia’s fundraising page at www.justgiving.com/fundraisi ng/lindseylydia, and to find out more about Martin House, visit www.martinhouse.org.uk.

ould you help more people discover St. Mary’s church mice?

The members of St. Mary’s Beeston have long known that we have a lovely jewel of a church – one of the few heritage buildings in Beeston.

When anyone comes in they always tell us how lovely it is – and how peaceful.

As a Parish Church we know our church is there for everyone in our parish – whether they consider themselves to be a Christian or not. But at the moment it’s only open for services and occasionally at other times – like the National Day of Reflection last month.

We have a vision that sees our church at the heart of our community – everyday and for everyone.

We’ve got a little grant from

the National Lottery Awards for All to help us explore this vision, and we’re looking for someone to develop this with us. Could that be you? Or someone you know?

We are recruiting for a paid Community and Volunteer Developer for a few hours a week to help us make sure our buildings are places where people can connect with each other.

We’re looking for someone with passion and creativity who can find volunteers to run sessions where people can come together and be inspired.

Maybe to write, to draw, to sing, or perhaps to explore our history - learning about our medieval anchorites and anchoresses? Maybe to play games, knit and natter, drink coffee, or maybe simply to sit in

the stillness of our lovely building and soak up its peace?

We’re looking for someone who can see the potential and make it happen.

Could this someone be you?

You don’t have to be a Christian – just respectful of our Church tradition.

You don’t even have to love mice – though we’re rather fond of ours. And when the children from our local schools visit they enjoy going on a mouse hunt!

It will be for a few hours a week for up to a year (paid!). It is a really exciting opportunity to make a difference and make a community that is caring, connected and stronger.

If you’d like to know more contact: Rev Lindsey Pearson, revlcp@btinternet.com 07961 016052, or go to our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/ BeestonParishCentre/ And come and see our Church mice – we’ve got 17!

A church mouse at St Mary’s, Beeston

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Street art at the Crown Point Roadside Gallery In Good Company, the people behind the NHS Heroes billboards and colour in designs, have curated a gallery on hoardings along Crown Point Road in Hunslet. The gallery, which is within the site of the new Aire Park and has been supported by Leeds City Centre Management, features the work of (L-R) Rajvi, Mary & Janice and Kate Prior as well another work by Olly Fathers

08009 596734 07974 054114 and ask for Kevin

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Cottingley Crematorium clean up

NEWS IN BRIEF Big Bike Fix is back The Big Bike Fix are restarting their weekly drop-in workshops at Harlech Terrace in Beeston this month. The sessions run every Sunday 124pm, no need to book.

Volunteer fixers are on hand to get your bike back on the road. For more information go to: bit.ly/BigBikeFix

by Heather Wagstaff

W

onderful weather, great camaraderie, and a good cause brought out the best in people when volunteers got together at Cottingley Crematorium on Saturday 12 March.

Thirty people collected twenty-five bags of litter from the site. Everyone was raring to get started and it was lovely to have some very young helpers

too.

I want to thank the organisers, Mahbub Nazir, who runs Gooddeeds, Cllr Iqbal Mohammed and Amjid Hussain who is responsible for the Mosque volunteers, and thank you to Cllr Gohar Almass and the members of the KMWA (Kashmir Muslim Welfare Association) and all the Friends and families that came along to clean up.

These wonderful people

regularly do good in the community and are always on hand to help when needed.

They are always so enthusiastic it brightens my day when they get together.

If you want to help volunteer in the parks or cemeteries then you can contact countrysiderangers@leeds.gov. uk or to be involved with the mosque and their community work contact gooddeeds@live .co.uk. All faiths are welcome.

Street lighting LED conversion programme A significant rollout of LED street lighting across Hunslet & Riverside ward started on 21 March. The overwhelming majority of residential streets will be converted over a fourweek period but the teams installing the lights will be unable to confirm what date teams will be in each street as it will depend on how quickly they complete the work. Cllr Elixzabeth Nash commented: “Not only will these new LED lights save taxpayers a significant amount of money at a time of rising energy bills – but it will also mean we have crisp and clear lighting to improve safety for those walking around the wards streets at night.”

Prospect of gigs and food at Hunslet pub The Prospect pub on Moor Road in Hunslet are looking to kickstart things as we (seem to) move beyond COVID-19 with a series of gigs, and a new food menu. They are hosting live music on 8th, 9th, 15th and 16th April, and also over the May-June bank holidays: full details at the pub, or on Facebook. As a new venture, they are also serving a full food menu Monday to Friday between 12pm and 8pm, with dishes priced between £2-£6.

Church collection for Ukraine Pastor Jenna Jones writes: We collected two van loads of donations for the refugees fleeing Ukraine at the Hunslet Hall Road Church of the Nazarene on Saturday 6 March. Warm coats, jumpers, nappies, wipes, sanitary products, first aid, and cash donations were driven to Polish border by a haulage company in Halifax via a charity called the Good Shepherd. The amount of genoursty from the people in our community is overwhelming and really shows that together we can make a difference no matter how little our contribution is. Thank you to everyone who came.

Good Deeds: volunteers litter-picking at Cottingley Crematorium

Rise and Shine with St Luke’s CARES

by Kate Singleton

A

s the days are getting lighter and flowers are starting to pop up we wanted to take the chance to give a bit of an update on some of the exciting things happening at St Luke’s CARES at the moment.

Down at the St Luke’s CARES Reuse Shop & Furniture/ Electrical Warehouse we’re well into the swing of things with a brand new bright side, Saturday openings and our First Steps project funded by The National Lottery.

Each week we run ESOL Classes, Retail & Warehouse Training courses, work experience and supported volunteering, all with the view to upskill our local community and create a supportive network. We have a fantastic team of volunteers who are just as important as the staff team who work at the shop and it’s such a brilliant diverse community.

We’ve recently been able to appoint two longstanding volunteers to open the shop on Saturdays who are doing a great job. It’s fantastic to be open on Saturday’s again so please do pop down for a browse. We’ve also started

selling clothes again so are open to donations of good quality clothing to sell and always keen for more donations of furniture, bric a brac, electricals and white goods.

All money raised at the shop goes back into supporting projects like First Steps and also our other youth and community projects like RISE and The Shine Project.

At RISE each week we’ve been running in school courses at Cockburn Laurence Calvert, mentoring lads in Cockburn John Charles, Cockburn, Ruth Gorse and out in the community working with boys who have left school or been excluded. We have our weekly Thursday group down in Hunslet and have been running bike sessions at LS-TEN with a group of boys from Holbeck.

We also have our hugely popular Friday Football Sessions which will be moving back to Holbeck Moor after Easter (4-5:30pm turn up and play) supported by some Leeds United Foundation coaches. A group of the lads from the football group are completing a Youth Sports Leadership Award which we’ve been running this term and has been going great.

Lots going on!

The Shine Project team have been equally busy with four after school girls groups each week around the community, mentoring girls in all the local high schools, running groups and courses, partnership work with Leeds GATE as well as our complex needs workers supporting some of the girls in our community who need the most support.

We have enjoyed getting involved with International Women’s Day Events at Getaway Girls and LS14 trust joining with other young women across the city.

Another exciting thing that

The RISE boys group

we’ve started recently is our young mums groups; Baby Shine.

Every Wednesday morning 10:30am-12pm we have a group at Beeston Hill United Free Church for mums under 21 from the local community. The uptake for the group has been amazing, connecting with lots of girls we supported years ago at Shine and it has been a real highlight of the Shine week!

Finally our ABCD workers Jo and Tania have been doing great things out and about in the Beeston Hill area, they have helped facilitate and start lots of great community initiatives including the Leeds Valkyries

women’s basketball team, the school uniform swap shop in Cross Flatts Park and work with the Brickfield Park developments. If you have ideas of things you’d like to see start up in the community Jo and Tania are your people to talk to!

At St Luke’s CARES the team are always working away behind the scenes, investing in the local community and are so committed to helping see South Leeds and the people who live here thrive!

For more information about any of the above please don’t hesitate to get in touch at info@stlukescares.org.uk

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News 9

Leeds Kurds remember Halabja Massacre

1

April 2022 | South Leeds Life

6 March marked the 34th Anniversary of the Halabja Massacre.

This day witnessed a crime against humanity and a genocidal act against the Kurdish People: killing over 5,000 and injuring 10,000 innocent civilians including women and children. The UN medical investigation later confirmed the use of Mustard

Gas and unidentifiable nerve gases.

To commemorate this occasion the Kurdish House of Leeds, Nawruz School and the Kurdish Community held an event in which school children delivered a special performance to remember this day. Candles were lit to remember the victims of this massacre. Apples were a

symbolic part of the stage decorations and display as according to some survivors of the attack, the gas shells on that day smelled just like Fresh Apples.

Rebwar Sharazure of the Kurdish House Leeds and organiser of the event said: “We will never forget this Genocide and we wish it does not happen to anyone ever again. The Kurdish people expect that the world supports their demand for an Independent Kurdistan.

“I would like to thank Leeds City Council and our local councillors for their continued support and also for helping us to plant a tree couple of years ago in the city centre remembering the victims of Halabja Genocide.”

It was a very well attended event. People from all walks of life participated and expressed their solidarity with the Kurdish people .

35 million Kurds, the majority

of whom live in Kurdistan (an area divided between Iran, Iraq Syria and Turkey), are one of the largest stateless ethnic groups and nations in the world.

Councillor Paul Wray, representing Hunslet & Riverside Ward, said: “It was very humbling to join the Kurdish community in Leeds to remember the horrific genocide of 1988 and to share in their pain and sorrow at this widely forgotten crime – a crime where over 5,000 of their fellow Kurds were murdered.

The Kurdish people are a vibrant part of our city and do so much good locally – long may that last.”

Councillor Gohar Almass who represents Beeston & Holbeck Ward said: ”It was extremely emotional to watch the children’s performance, I’ve come along today with my daughters to express our solidarity with the oppressed Kurdish people.

They truly deserve nationhood and to have their own independent state.

“Leeds is diverse city, a compassionate city, a city of sanctuary for all and it belongs to all its residents regardless of their faith, colour or ethnicity.”

Winning in style Congratulations to Doris Ofori from Beeston, seen here on her way to winning the Level 1 styling event at the national finals of the Concept Hair Magazine hair-styling competition in Birmingham on 24 March.

Doris, a student at Leeds City College commented: “All the staff and the contestants were very nice and welcoming as a result of this I was able to feel comfortable where I was and with no pressure at all, display what I can do to the judges.”

White Rose donates tech supplies to foodbank W

Still open all hours The dilapidated Hunslet Hall Road Shopping Centre in Beeston is now being decommissioned and demolished to make way for a new development of independent living flats, an extension of the Pennington Court residential home. But local iconic shopkeeper Zab (the sole remaining trader there) is still very much open for business, in a temporary building on the site - before transferring to a permanent space in the forthcoming development, in 2023: please continue to give him your business!

Advertise with South Leeds Life and reach 15,000 people in LS10 and LS11 This space is 1/8 page and costs just £75 or £200 for 3 inserts Ring: 07894 583966 Email: info@southleedslife.com

hite Rose Shopping Centre has donated a number of gently used laptops to its charity partner, Leeds South & East Foodbank, in order to help the foodbank support its users.

The donation comes as part of a series of contributions from Landsec, which operates White Rose, and has a longstanding commitment to its community partners.

One of the main issues arising from the pandemic has been tech-poverty, resulting in inequality affecting communities throughout the UK. The centre’s aim is to assist food bank users wherever possible, and the laptop donations will be used to support: • Young people who have been out of education for extended periods • Those experiencing barriers such as homelessness, unemployment, and poverty • Staff within the Foodbank with muchneeded resources for the charity itself The refurbished IT devices will allow the Foodbank to become a digital hub for its clients

experiencing the negative effects of the pandemic. The community will be able to access online services such as job searches and benefit checks when they attend to collect food parcels.

Steven Foster, Centre Director at White Rose, said: “Our Tech and Sustainability teams at Landsec have worked together to identify where the need for donations is greatest among our community partners, and as a result we were delighted to make the donation to Leeds South & East Foodbank to support our local community.”

Nathanya Laurent, Development Manager at Leeds South & East Foodbank, said: “The idea that our distribution centres could double as client digital access points was something we had dreamed about, and it promises to greatly assist our clients’ return to financial inclusion. The generous gift of these laptops has significantly brought forward the roll-out of these exciting plans” For more information on White Rose and its charity partners visit www.white– rose.co.uk

Staff at Leeds South & East Foodbank with donated laptops

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Free sports activities launch for children in Hunslet & Belle Isle

by Ben Hutchinson

A

Part of the union Congratulations to Innnocent Igiehon who won the Regional and National Equalities Awards at the USDAW Organising Awards in March.

USDAW is the shop workers union and the citation said that Innocent was a highly regarded activist who “promotes the equality agenda in a fun and inclusive way.” It went on todescribe Innocent as an excellent example of “how to effectively use campaigning for recruiting and organising.”

s the days become longer and temperatures increase there is no better time to get outdoors and be active.

The Hunslet Initiative is launching two free weekly sports sessions for local children and teenagers. The activities will give young people of all ages, abilities and experiences a chance to take part in fun sports activities in the heart of their community.

We are using public spaces within walking distance of local homes making them accessible as possible. There is no cost to take part.

Please drop in any time and give it a go!

Activities will take place on a Tuesday evening across two locations, starting on Tuesday 26 April: 3:30-4:30pm Grove Road Field, Hunslet (opposite the Penny Hill Centre on the field where Hunslet Gala is hosted).

5-6pm West Grange Courts, Belle Isle (between the corner of West Grange Road-Winrose Crescent and Jenkinson Place).

These activities will give youngsters a chance to get active, make new friends, improve their mental health and hopefully inspire ongoing sporting participants!

We will provide a wide range of sports encouraging participants to develop their skills in sports they know but also experiment with trying new sports.

Sports available throughout the summer will include football, rugby, basketball, netball, cricket, rounders, volleyball, tennis, badminton, skipping and athletics.

Who knows, perhaps we will discover a future sporting champion?

This project is made possible by the support of both Pears Youth Trust and Flint Family Fund managed by Leeds Community Foundation. We are grateful for the generousity of both funders and the ongoing

supppot of Leeds Community Foundation.

The Hunslet Initiative has over 15 years experience delivering a range of activities and events for children and young people across Hunslet and Belle Isle and are excited for this new project.

To find out more about this project or the ongoing work of the Hunslet Initative please contact me, Ben Hutchinson, on 07419 366058 or visit our Facebook page at: fb.com/thehunsletinitiative.

Soccer in the sunshine in 2018

#IWD marked in Beeston

by Tahena Ahmed

I

nternational Women’s Day (8 March) is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women.

The day also marks a call to action for accelerating women’s equality.

Over 40 local women came together in Cross Flatts Park, Beeston to celebrate at an International Women’s Day event hosted by the Asha

Neighbourhood Project and Health for All and partly funded

by Women’s Lives Leeds.

Women wore green, white and purple, the colours of the suffragette movement, the Women’s Social and Political Union, that fought for women’s right to vote in the early years of the twentieth century.

Women took part in physical activities, a group dance and joined conversations about inspiring females in their lives.

The event finished with a buffet.

Spring cleaning with Lychee Red

A group dance to celebrate International Women’s Day

Lychee Red, the Chinese elders group that meets at Beeston Village Community Centre, have been busy this Spring and on 21 March they picked 23 bags of litter in the area around the centre, the school and the allotments.

Organiser Huazhu Liu explained that the group has grown since the pandemic when members felt very isolated despite the outreach work the group did to keep in contact. Members really value eing able to meet together again and were keen to show their appreciation to the Beeston community who host them. Lychee Red borrowed the equipment from the Beeston Womblers litter group.

In the coming weeks they intend to planting more flowers around the centre and work with Beeston In Bloom in Cross Flatts Park.

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School Life 11

Cockburn stands together for Ukraine: over £3,600 raised

S

tudents and staff from the three Cockburn Multiacademy Trust secondary schools have been busy raising funds for Ukraine.

Students at Cockburn School, Cockburn John Charles Academy and Cockburn Laurence Calvert Academy wanted to do something to raise funds for children in Ukraine and had a non-uniform day where many students wore yellow and blue in support of Ukraine. This comes less than three months after the schools raised over £1,500 for children in Afghanistan.

Having seen on the news the issues in Ukraine, they decided to raise funds for the Save the Children Ukraine Appeal.

According to the Save the Children charity, Ukraine's children and families are being forced to shelter in basements and bomb shelters to escape explosions.

7.5 million Ukraine children are now in danger. Amid freezing temperatures, power cuts and food shortages, every day is a struggle to survive.

Families are forced to flee their homes. They need urgent help accessing water, shelter and

April 2022 | South Leeds Life

food.

The total raised was £2,196.49. According to the Save the Children charity, this would be enough to fund: • 200 school-in-a-bag kits • 30 months food for a family, or • 120 family hygiene packs.

Tammy Hoskins, Community Fundraising & Engagement Manager for Save the Children says “Save the Children are extremely grateful for the quick response and support shown

by Cockburn Multi-academy Trust in raising much needed funds for children and their families affected by the conflict in Ukraine.

“We're aiming to deliver lifesaving aid to 3.5 million vulnerable children and their families but we can only achieve this with the generous support of individuals and organisations like the incredible Cockburn Multi Academy Trust.” For more information on Save the Children, visit www.savethe children.org.uk Middleton Primary also had a non-uniform day and sold buns in support of the Unicef Ukraine appeal. They raised an

incredible £1,415.82. One pupil, Laurence J in Year 3, raised £770.21 of this total with a huge effort in grabbing a tub and going door to door in the community (with help from his mum) and collecting money.

Laurence said that he felt really bad for the way the people in the Ukraine were losing their homes and he wanted to help them.

He had learned about some of the devastation at school but had also seen the news reports with his dad. Laurence and his mum had an idea to decorate a collection bucket and his mum posted on social media to help him raise money.

Laurence decorated the tub

and set to work. People contacted his mum and said they would like to donate and she drove Laurence to collect the money. Laurence also asked his family to donate, which they did, and he donated his own money which he had saved (£10).

David Gurney, Executive Headteacher, said “I am yet again extremely proud of the students and staff across our schools for raising these huge sums of money. We aim for all of our students to become confident, independent and successful citizens and they showed great pride in supporting children in Ukraine.”

Celebrating sporting achievements at CJCA Y ear 8 student Neithan B’s incredible ability on the football pitch has been recognised outside of Cockburn John Charles Academy.

He has been successful in signing for Manchester United’s under-13 academy and we look forward to following his progress.

In addition, Year 9 student Grace O has been selected to become a Game Changer student ambassador for the South Leeds FA Girls Football

Partnership, following a highly professional application.

Head of School, Siobhan Roberts said: “I am incredibly proud that the skill and aspirations of our students are being recognised on a national level, and that they are being given these fantastic opportunities to develop and excel.”

Pictured with Neithan are Dave Bushell, Manchester United Academy Player Liaison Officer and Adam Burnell PE Teacher

Dazzling performances across Cockburn MAT P

Laurence raised an amazing £770

acked audiences were treated to some amazing performances as part of Cockburn School’s MADDFest (Music, Art, Dance and Drama).

On the first night, there was an art exhibition, a showcase of Dance and Music with performers from all three secondary schools. The second night had drama performances from across the MAT and one

from the Year 5 revolution ensemble.

The main performance on this night was part of the National Connections festival where schools from across the UK perform plays written specially for the National Theatre project.

“Remote”, was watched by a director from the National Theatre, the cast will perform next at the York Theatre in April.

Beeston Primary supports ‘Freedom for Ukraine’ O

n Friday 18 March staff, parents and pupils at Beeston Primary School donated an overwhelming amount of goods and funds for ‘Freedom for Ukraine’.

They also held a non-uniform day where staff and pupils wore yellow and blue to show their support to the people of Ukraine.

Mr Nicholson (Deputy Headteacher), Mrs Wilkinson (Senior Inclusion Support Worker), Mrs Layton (Superintendent) and some of their Year 5 and 6 pupils travelled to Halifax in their school minibus and were greeted by volunteers at Dean Clough Mill.

The children and staff met Ivan (a Ukrainian national), who helped them unpack their minibus and take all of their

donations inside. Over 50 volunteers were sorting donated goods into boxes for the next lorry to leave for Poland.

The staff and pupils met Christa Ackroyd, (journalist and presenter) who took them on a tour of the mill so that they could see first-hand how their donations were being sorted and packed.

Maxwell Brown (Year 6 pupil) said: “We even got to see our donations of nappies, clothes, toys, toiletries, bedding and Minnie Mouse being packed up, ready for the long journey to Poland!”

Through monetary donations, the school collected over £700 which they have also donated to the ‘Freedom for Ukraine’ fund

and this money will be used to buy food for refugees at the Ukrainian/Polish border.

Mr Nicholson (Deputy Headteacher) said: “The support and generosity that we have received from staff, parents and pupils has been absolutely overwhelming.

“We wanted to show our support to the Ukrainian community and we were so pleased when we were offered the chance to visit the depot at Dean Clough in Halifax.

“Christa Ackroyd was very welcoming and took time out from her busy schedule to show our pupils around the mill, giving them an experience that they will never forget. The pupils haven’t talked about anything else since!”

Christa Ackroyd showed pupils and staff around the mill

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12 School Life

Cockburn School student Tian elected to UK Youth Parliament Y

ear 11 student, Tian C, has successfully been elected to represent Leeds at the UK Youth Parliament.

The UK Youth Parliament is a youth version of parliament and is a platform given to young people between the ages of 11– 18 to represent their constituency at a local, regional, and national level. Elected Members of Youth Parliament (MYPs) are also given the opportunity to work alongside politicians.

Elections for the UK Youth Parliament take place every 2 years. Tian completed a written application which included submitting her campaign manifesto.

Following a shortlisting process, 6 candidates were selected to stand for election and the campaign began. Tian campaigned across the community and via social media.

More than 2,000 votes were cast and Tian is one of three new Members of Youth Parliament for Leeds.

This is not the first time Tian has won an election. Last year, she ran for Head Girl at

Cockburn School and was voted into this position by the majority of students and staff at the school. She is currently working hard towards her upcoming GCSE exams and hopes to go on to study A-Levels.

Tian with Shamim Miah and Rob Dixon

Tian said: “In my manifesto, I discussed problems that I believe affect young people the most: their homes, mental health, environment, and education. We should improve housing, increase versatility in

education, tackle the stigma of 'not seeking help' and embrace mental health rather than be seen as a hindrance. It is a great honour to have been elected onto the UK Youth Parliament.”

Part of her role will require

Tian to work closely with councillors and MPs which will sometimes require trips to the House of Commons, which she is extremely excited about.

To celebrate her success, Cockburn invited former student Shamim Miah to meet with Tian.

Shamim is now a Community Governor for the school. Shamim was previously a Member of the Youth Parliament for Leeds and is now pursuing a career in law.

Shamim said: “Congratulations to Tian on becoming the new Member of Youth Parliament for Leeds. As a former member, it is a proud moment to see another Cockburn student at the forefront of youth engagement, who is looking to make the ultimate difference.

“Having spoken to Tian about her ambition and plans over the next two years, I know she will not only represent herself well, but Cockburn, her peers and all of the young people in Leeds.

Tian’s enthusiasm for amplifying change has ultimately won over the young people of Leeds and I look forward to seeing her progress.”

Rob Dixon, Head of School said: “We are extremely proud of Tian and her achievements. Her energy and drive have led her to great success and I am sure that she will have much to offer to the Youth Parliament over the next 2 years.”

Middleton Primary School art exhibition A

t Middleton Primary School, all classes from Reception to Year 6 are part of the exhibition at Middleton Park Baptist Church.

Various other local community organisations such as Middleton Elderly Aid have contributed to the exhibition. Each class will visit to see the exhibition and whilst there they are making

calendars, with mirrors and designing these around the theme of 'Amazing Me'.

The exhibition is open to the public every Saturday and Thursday from 1-4pm and runs until 7 April.

Middleton Park Baptist Church is located on Middleton Park Avenue opposite Middleton Primary School.

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Sharp La and awa

Ryly Dabill-Haigh gives Tyler Anderson

by Jeremy Morton

C

hildren in Year 3 at Sharp Lane Primary School have raised almost £3,000 for Diabetes UK after learning that one of their number lives with the condition.

Ryly Dabill-Haigh was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes, an incurable condition in which the body attacks its own immune system, when he was five. With his body unable to make insulin, he has to make sure his blood sugar levels don’t get too high or too low. This involves having several injections each day.

“When I was five I had

College female P L

eeds College of Building chose International Women’s Day to announce Nikki Davis as the next Principal & CEO and the first woman to hold the post in the 60-year history of the institution.

Nikki is currently the College’s Vice Principal for Teaching, Learning & Quality and will take up the position on 1st August.

Incumbent Principal & CEO, Derek Whitehead, will continue in the role until the end of the current academic year to oversee the transition period.

Nikki said: “I’m delighted to be

April 2022 | South Leeds Life

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School Life 13

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ane pupils raise funds areness for Diabetes UK

Mayor supports diversity in construction initiative A

n a cheque for Diabetes UK with pupils and staff from Year 3 absolutely no idea what I had and was really scared, but at six I got a bit more confident, right now at age seven I feel really confident about it” he said.

Year 3 pupils learned about Diabetes with Ryly’s help and held a sponsored run to support Diabetes UK. Insulin was discovered 100 years ago and so the school targeted a combined total of 100 miles for the run, which they achieved raising a staggering £2,813.85.

“The fundraising made me feel really excited when we finished it because I thought we were going to get a cure because I don’t

want diabetes any more” said Ryly.

I spoke to some of the pupils who told me about they know about the two types of diabetes, that its about the blood sugar levels, that it isn’t transmissible, that Ryly has to have injections, but it doesn’t stop him joining in all their activities. Ryly explained how this has helped him: “If I tell them I’m shaky then they’ll tell a teacher to help me.”

He certainly doesn’t let his diabetes get in the way of being active and enjoys his football at The Hunslet Club where he’s recently made the Under 8s team.

appoints first Principal & CEO

Derek Whitehead, Nikki Davis and Peter Norris (Chair of the College Governing Body). Photo: philjacksonphotography.co.uk

Tyler Anderson, Diabetes UK’s regional fundraiser, came into school to meet the children. She commented: “It was really impressive how kind they were and supportive towards Ryly. It’s changed a lot since I was a child, because I have Type 1 Diabetes myself, so it’s really encouraging to see the awareness grow and also the support.”

“I want to say a huge ‘thank you’ to all the children at Sharp Lane Primary School. It’s a massive amount of money and it will go a long way towards helping people who are affected by diabetes.” appointed to the role of Principal & CEO at Leeds College of Building and to build on its previous successes and first-rate tradition of delivering exceptional training to learners from across the UK. “This is an exciting time for the College, and I very much look forward to working with students, staff, employers, and partners to ensure that Leeds College of Building delivers on its potential.”

Derek Whitehead will be retiring from the role after 37 years of working in Further Education and vocational skills training. He was appointed Deputy Principal at Leeds College of Building (the UK’s only specialist Further Education construction college) in 2004, before becoming Principal & CEO.

group of Year 10 girls from Beeston sampled hands-on construction taster sessions to mark International Women’s Day 2022 on Tuesday 8 March.

Hosted at Leeds College of Building’s Southbank Campus, the pilot event gave female pupils aged 14 and 15 the opportunity to sample construction-related training.

These sessions are ideal for those considering a career in the industry.

Mayor of West Yorkshire, Tracy Brabin, joined the cohort from Cockburn School as they learned more about Transport Planning, Architecture, and Painting & Decorating professions. The students listened to talks by female lecturers and then experienced trade skills firsthand.

More than 70,000 people in West Yorkshire alone work in construction. However, many employers struggle to recruit people with the right skills.

Currently, women only make up around 14% of construction industry professionals in the UK. According to the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), it is estimated that the sector needs to recruit more than 217,000 new workers by 2025 to support its current activity.

The issue is worsened by an ageing workforce, with 22% of the UK’s construction workforce aged over 50.

Nikki Davis, Vice Principal –

Teaching, Learning & Quality at Leeds College of Building, said: “The theme for International Women’s Day 2022 is #BreakTheBias. At the College, we are passionate about being inclusive, challenging stereotypes, and responding to the inadequate number of women employed in construction in the UK. “These free taster sessions are designed to open the eyes of young women to the exciting and fulfilling careers available in this industry. Skilled specialists are highly sought after for varied construction roles, which are very rewarding and can offer excellent progression, development, and pay.

“Our past female students have an excellent track record of high achievement. Many have gained managerial posts, worked on big construction projects with global firms in areas such as civil engineering or architecture, or won industry accolades. Perhaps some of the girls here today may join their ranks.”

Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, said: “For us to deliver that fair and ambitious recovery our region needs, it’s vital that we narrow the skills gap many employers are facing today, and showcase the well-paid, skilled jobs on offer in the construction industry.

On International Women’s Day, this event is a fantastic opportunity for young West

Tracy Brabin, the Mayor of West Yorkshire with students from Cockburn School

Yorkshire women to try something new, build their confidence and learn about an exciting new career.

“We know that the most diverse businesses are also the most successful. That’s why it’s so important that we empower women across all our sectors – not only to fulfil their potential, but to fulfil the ambitions and promise of our entire region.”

The Construction Skills Network (CSN) 2021-25 forecast reported that the construction industry’s annual average recruitment requirement is 4.4% a year between now and 2025 – far outstripping the prediction of an annual growth rate of just 1% over the same period. It is expected that construction professionals, technical staff, and construction managers will all become even more highly sought after in the future.

To celebrate International Women’s Day, Leeds College of Building is also offered women over the age of 19 the opportunity to sample a Painting & Decorating programme free of charge. The female-only event, covered basic application of paint effects using rollers and brushes.

Find out more about the college’s International Women’s Day Virtual Event, covering construction careers and training for women, by visiting the college’s Open Events page: www.lcb.ac.uk

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South Leeds Life | April 2022

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14 Comment

In our view A suitable agreement The introduction of a new code to make sure passengers are safe is something that both the Council and the Private Hire drivers support.

So the protests by drivers point to a breakdown in communication and in trust between the two sides.

No one takes part in a protest unless they feel aggrieved, those grievances need to be listened to.

Passengers rightly need to safe in a txi, but the drivers need to feel safe too. Safe from stone throwing youths and safe from vexatious complaints that can keep them off the road and stop them earning.

Lets hope both sides can get round a table and talk this through so that we are all winners.

Winners are grinners On the subject of winners, we are celebrating a lot of winners in this month’s edition of South Leeds Life.

They range from hair stylists and trade union activists to an open access football club and a under 11s football team and from ballroom dancers to rugby league teams. Despite their differences, and in common with the competitors they beat, they all have something in common. They took part. They stepped up and said I’ll have a go.

That spirit of participation is really worth celebrating.

Solidarity with Ukraine The images coming out of Ukraine, especially of refugee women and children, are heartbreaking and it’s no surpirise to us that they have sparked a wave of solidarity across South Leeds. The collections in schools and churches, of both cash and supplies has been outstanding.

It is particularly noticeable how children have stepped up. Children like Laurence from Middleton Primary and Dorothy from St Luke’s Primary who have taken the initiative and gone the extra mile to support the Ukranian refugees.

Your letters and comments Save Hunslet’s spire

responsible when taking on contractors.

Eve Tidswell

Too many Hunslet landmarks such as the chimney at Alf Cooke have disappeared.

This one really must be saved.

David Spencer I would like to point out that the responsibility of the upkeep of the surrounding grounds around the tower, including grass cutting, is the PCC situated at St John and St Barnabas Church, Belle Isle; whereas the maintenance of the tower remains the responsibility of the Diocese. I was given this information from Father Chris at Belle Isle when I told him I was going to contact the Diocese about the overgrown state of the church grounds and how the lack of care was shaming the area.

As the ex treasurer of St Mary’s Church I can assure you the clock had an annual service by a reputable company who were called in when repairs were required.

Everyone who lives in the Hunslet area wants the tower to remain so let the Diocese know your views.

Pamela Clark

Cockburn sports pitches The fact that the school, as stated in the article, is 65% below the required outdoor space for schools puts the lie to the cynical comment from Cllr Groves that there will be sufficient in the way of facilities if the school were to use the John Charles Centre. Time and again this nonsensical argument is brought up. School lessons last for 50 minutes – it takes 15 minutes to walk to John Charles, 15 minutes to walk back and changing time has to be built in.

Perhaps the good councillor – with her wide experience of the educational world – could explain to the school how meaningful sports activities can be carried out in that timescale, when only ten minutes of the lesson would be left.

The school, in good faith and to the advantage of the council, took an extra 60 pupils who had no school place in south Leeds and for Truswell to say that the school had the council over a barrel is contemptible – in fact the council has reneged in the most egregious fashion on its agreement with the school – Truswell and other councillors should be supporting these facilities for the local children, not trying to obstruct them. Has Covid not done

NB: The incinerator is a private venture, not a Council project Editor How about a community picket of the site? I’d be happy to join anything that Unite organise. We all – employed, self-employed, freelance or unemployed, need to start fighting back against an economy that keeps bosses and shareholders in mansions while others struggle to heat, feed, clothe and keep a home for themselves and their families.

Surely enough is enough?

Sue Talbot

Cranbrook House Hunslet’s iconic spire enough damage without inept councillors jumping on the bandwagon?

Henry Wood Councillors are making politics out of this at the expense of children from our community. The school is short of space for sport compared to other schools. They were promised more space. The students will be really excited to see this news, I know my daughter is. Why would anyone try to block this? Covid has been cruel to our children so it is time to get behind them and be kind.

Mike Denim The councillors are only expressing the views of much of the community who object to the loss of the parkland and the way the land swap was done without prior consultation with the community.

There are perfectly serviceable pitches that just need proper drainage built in. The land transfer is from the Middleton Park Estate as this land was added to the park following the closure of the golf club. The land has developed into a lovely biodiverse meadow that is already well used by the local community. Putting a plastic pitch into the Middleton Park Estate is not something that is supported by many, especially as we move towards a greener, carbon neutral future.

Alan Shaw

Your Leeds City Councillors

Beeston & Holbeck ward Includes Beeston from Cross Flatts Park to the Ring Road, Cottingley and Holbeck. The three councillors are:

Gohar Almass Angela Gabriel Andrew Scopes

07445 878 333 gohar.almass@leeds.gov.uk 07946 632 468 angela.gabriel@leeds.gov.uk 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: Sharon Burke Kim Groves Paul Truswell

0113 378 8814 sharon.burke@leeds.gov.uk 07891 741 832 kim.groves@leeds.gov.uk 0113 378 8811 paul.truswell@leeds.gov.uk

Incinerator union rights After all the news about P&O workers getting a raw deal because companies try and get around the law Leeds City Council needs to ensure that NAECI rules are in place.

Well done to the protesters for letting us know what is happening. Well done to the unions for looking after their members too. LCC need to be seen to be

I remember that house well. My grandmother lived next door at 217 Beeston Road. As a child I would occasionally wander next door to explore the the yard as it was a quick way into Cross Flatts Park.

The Duffey family lived lived at 215. I often I watched gramps and Mr Duffy play loud games of chess.

During the war years my grandmother’s house was always full with temporary wartime lodgers. I recall it was a lovely place with close access to the park. Fond memories indeed!

John Daniels

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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: @SharpLaneLeeds Congratulations to Donaldson Class who have won the Leeds City Council Poetry Competition! The certificate was awarded by Khadijah Ibrahiim. Our students are thrilled to be the 2022 KS1 winners & will enjoy spending their tokens! @HunsletYouth WE LOVE MONDAYS! Both youth clubs are on tonight, so make sure you get down to the club and get involved in some free activities. As always, we will be starting off with our juniors (age 8 to 12) at 4:30PM and our senior session starts at 6:00PM. See you soon!

30mph on Ring Road Margaret Cook’s letter about the lack of 30mph speed limit signs on Middleton Ring Road reminded me of an email I sent to Mr Hunt of Leeds City Highways department in June 2015 when a speed limit of 30mph was first imposed, which raised the very same problem.

Unfortunately the reply put forward by highways was that after entering into a 30mph speed area it was not possible to install any further 30mph signs while in that speed zone, yet had it have been a 40mph zone further signs would have been allowed. I sympathise with Margaret Cook and all the people who on a daily basis have to endure the sight of car bonnets in their rear view mirrors, trying to bully them to break the speed limit, caused mainly by the lack of signage.

Terry Breeze

Aire Park Great to have a park in the city centre.

Leeds is very lucky to have so many wonderful parks, and the new Aire Park will be a valuable addition, especially as the trees mature.

Vivienne Bate

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.

@TARAChair It was a fab meeting today between #HunsletTARA and Hunslet Gala. Let’s continue working together for the community of Hunslet.

@WYP_Contact Have you signed up yet for our WY Community Alert messaging system?

Sign up for local updates from their NPT or Neighbourhood Watch contacts, or join a number of specialised community interest groups wypcommunityalert.co.uk @mhasouthleeds Yesterday we enjoyed our Afternoon tea with entertainment provided by Richard Stirland Music! The sun was shining and a fantastic time was had by all who attended. For more information on any of our activities contact southleeds@mha.org.uk or call 0113 271 6201

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Comment 15 about those on pre-payment meters which is what the companies traditionally fit when customers are behind with their bills. We cannot have a situation in which people are in effect cut off from heat and light because they don't have enough money.

MP’s notebook with Hilary Benn MP

T

he war in Ukraine continues to dominate our television screens and newspapers.

It is still hard to believe that in a modern European country people are being bombed, shelled, starved and displaced by another country that has decided to invade them. As I write, the situation in Mariupol is particularly shocking.

The Russians are trying to destroy it – it is reported that 90% of buildings have been damaged in some way - and there is no running water or electricity. No wonder the conditions there have been described as medieval.

The Ukrainian people continue to need our support and recently I met four Ukrainian women MPs who had travelled for three days to reach the House of Commons to tell us the story of what is happening.

They were very straightforward. They said they need humanitarian aid, fighter jets, anti-tank weapons, body armour and a no-fly zone. They also revealed that the Ukrainian Parliament had met three times in Kiev since the

invasion began, despite the risks.

And as the Ukrainian armed forces bravely fight to stop the Russian advance, about 10 million Ukrainians have now been internally displaced or have fled the country across the border into Poland, Hungary and elsewhere. In Britain, including Leeds, we have a long and proud tradition of offering shelter to those fleeing war and persecution, and so we should extend a warm welcome to those fleeing Ukraine who want to come here to be with family members or to seek shelter.

The best way to do this would be to offer emergency protection visas. These would lift normal visa conditions other than biometrics and security checks, which can be swiftly done en route, and so provide a quick, simple and safe route to sanctuary for all who need it.

Meanwhile at home, workers at P&O Ferries were stunned recently when the company announced that they were sacking 800 staff so as to replace them with cheaper

workers from overseas paid far below the minimum wage. This scandalous action shows sheer contempt for the workforce.

Unscrupulous employers must not be given free rein to sack long-standing and loyal workers and replace them with agency staff. We held an emergency vote in Parliament on 21 March demanding that the company reinstate the workforce and calling on the Government to force the company to think again, outlaw fire and rehire and strengthen workers’ rights so this can never happen again.

There is growing concern about the impact that rapidly rising energy bills are going to have on many families in our community. We're talking about increases that will be simply unaffordable for some households. They will be left in the position of having to choose between heating or eating or paying other bills.

What will the energy companies do come this autumn and winter when there are large arrears on energy bills? I'm particularly worried

I recently had an email from someone about the menace of quad bikes in South Leeds. It's not the first complaint I've had, but the sight of these bikes racing around at high and dangerous speeds and churning up the grass is both alarming and depressing.

The police are well aware of the problem, and they had a recent success, after a painstaking investigation by the Leeds South Neighbourhood Policing Team, when six men who took part in two illegal motorbike ‘ride outs’ across Leeds and Wakefield were sentenced.

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As South Leeds Life reported “they were seen pulling wheelies in the middle of the road, riding on footpaths, jumping red lights, weaving among traffic, and deliberately wheel-spinning on grassed areas making mud fly and damaging verges.”

But it does raise the question of how we deal with anti-social behaviour of all sorts. Quad bikes are one example; noisy neighbours are another. Over the years, many people have contacted me because their life is being made a misery by their neighbours who don't seem to know how to behave with consideration for others.

I recently met the noise nuisance team at the Council to talk about how they are trying to deal with the problem and what new powers might be required to assist them in their work. I now intend to raise the matter in Parliament.

And finally, to end on a happy note, it was a very special day in the House of Commons recently when we looked up at the visitors’ gallery and saw Richard Ratcliffe and his daughter Gabriella smiling down on us as the Foreign Secretary announced that Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and Anoosheh Ashoori had been freed from detention and the plane bringing them home had taken off.

It is shocking that the Iranian regime used these British subjects as ransom hostages, but what really impressed me at the press conference Nazanin gave was her grace and her determination not to let those six dark years separated from her husband and her daughter dominate the rest of her life.

It is a lesson to all of us in trying to find something positive from the darkest of days.

Hilary Benn is our Member of Parliament.

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: Unity Business Centre, 26 Roundhay Road, Leeds LS7 1AB; Tel: 0113 244 1097

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April 2022 | South Leeds Life

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South Leeds Life | April 2022

16 South Leeds Lives

Pathways for positivity with Shannon Humphrey

Dealing with anger W

e were happily driving along, mid conversation when a car with two young men travelling towards us, deliberately swerved into our lane to scare us.

Thankfully my reactions were quick, I managed to avoid a collision.

My mum was a little shaken and I was less than impressed, but we continued our

conversation and our journey with no other issues and the incident wasn’t mentioned again.

Now imagine what could have happened if my reaction to the same incident had been handled differently.

Instead of continuing with our conversation and journey I felt triggered by their stupidity, and I spun the car around.

Followed the men in question, chased them down, demanding an explanation for their recklessness. I would have had to drive faster to catch them up in a built-in residential area putting myself and others at risk of an accident.

Then what? Honking the horn to get their attention, shouting, becoming

Photo: Shutterstock

increasingly annoyed as my heart rate pumps, my palms become sweaty with anticipation and my breathing becomes shallow as the hormones, adrenaline and cortisol rush through my body.

I catch them, they stop their car, we all get out of our vehicles, have a blazing argument, angry words are exchanged, and let’s hope it doesn’t become physical.

I get back in my car, I'm shaking, I’m probably crying with anger and frustration by now.

My day feels like it’s been spoiled, my body is fizzing with rage, I’m hot, my heart is pounding out of my chest.

Meanwhile the two lads have driven off laughing and got on with their day, and mine has been spoiled.

I can’t help thinking about what happened. I talk about it constantly, what else I should have said, or done or what if I see them again ... and so, it goes on.

What could have been over and done within seconds has been allowed to ruin an entire day and beyond.

It might sound extreme, but situations like this occur all the time. I remember years ago, a

Cranbrook House remembered

by Eric Smith

A

big ‘thank you’ to Ken Burton for his artle about Cranbrook House, 219 Beeston Road last month. I was immediately reminded of my parents’ life before I was born.

I have a box stuffed with old photgraphs.

It’s marked ‘Cranbrook Terrace / 217 Beeston Road / Leeds’ – Mam and Dad lived there for a short time around 1931.

My Dad was born in the Cumbrian village of Lazonby in the Eden Valley. His father, a quarryman on the fells, died in 1907 of a dust-related illness.Dad was 9, his sister 6 and his brother 3. His Mum had to take in washing, clean the church, etc to survive.

In December 1915, on his 18th birthday my Dad started working for the Midland Railway in Carlisle. Soon he was transferred to Leeds to the sheds at Nineveh Road. He lived in digs in Willoughby Avenue near Domestic Street.

When he married Mam in

1921 they had to live near (pre-1914) their maid when enough the sheds for a they wanted her services. ‘knocker-up’ to tap on their My grandmother didn’t like window during the night to 217 after all and soon went off make sure that railwaymen with my cousin to 5 Cross Flatts were ready to go to work. To Drive. start with they lived ‘in rooms’ Then, at last, the LMS on South Mount Street allowed its engine drivers and (imagine the steep street firemen to live beyond Cross alongside the health centre), Flatts Park and by May 1933, then in ‘over the shop’ my parents, like many others accommodation on Beeston Road, just down from Tempest Road.

In about 1930 my maternal grandfather died at home in Shadwell. His widow wanted to live with my parents. A house had to be found, then, within the area permitted by the now renamed London, Midland & Scottish Railway (LMS).

So they bought No 217.

Mam and Dad often spoke about their time at 217. For example, Dad had restored the bell system by which the residents called Cranbrook House, Beeston Road

had moved further afield.

They also told me about the folks at No 219. They were called Verity and were the owners of ‘Verity & Son’ regarded as one of the best fireplace makers in the city and were based at the very bottom of Briggate, opposite the Golden Lion (now Cosmopolitan) Hotel.

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friend jumping out of their car after someone cut us up in traffic. I was mortified as I sat in the car while they shouted and screamed at the person who was oblivious to what they had done.

I realise that my friend's reaction was from a place of being scared, the incident had given them a shock and they reacted angrily propelled by the sudden rush of adrenaline.

The better response would have been to pull over for a moment, take a breath, let go of the anger and carry on thankful that we had escaped incident or accident. Although I wasn’t going to say it at the time for fear of being shouted at too.

Anger is a natural and healthy emotion to recognise but acknowledging anger and frequently becoming consumed by anger are worlds apart.

It would be hard not to watch the news or read a paper without feeling anger and frustration at what’s going on in the world. The humanitarian crisis, the rise in fuel, inflation, Covid-19, but if we became angry at everything upsetting thing, we’d be physically and emotionally exhausted.

Here are some very simple ideas to help you if you’re feeling triggered by anger and you’d like to implement some ways to manage it: 1 Understand why you’re angry. Anger is often there to hide what’s going on beneath the surface. Are you angry or

are you sad, frustrated, embarrassed, or something else? Find the root of your anger and work on that by being honest with yourself 2 When you feel the first signs of anger, fizzy tummy, or tingly sensation in your bodyremove yourself from the situation if you can.

Try breathing deeply and slowly, in through your nose and out through your mouth will help to calm you down 3 If you are with someone who is angry, try and remove yourself from the situation when/ if it is safe to do so.

Don’t tell the person to calm down, it rarely works. Instead speak in a calm, nonpatronising, tone of voice, listen to what they have to say without shouting.

4 Are you holding onto something that has happened in the past that is causing you pain and anger? Can you confide in someone about the way you are feeling, processing what happened might be difficult, but it could be what you need to move forward 5 Release anger and tension by doing something fun, watching a film you like, listen to some comedy, go for a walk, dance to some music, do what you need to do to safely burn off the anger without hurting yourself or someone else Shannon Humphrey is a First Aid for Mental Health Instructor Youth and Adult, for more information visit www. pathwaysforpositivity.com

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South Leeds Lives 17

Local history with Ken Burton

Kitson and Company: a model of self-help

No2 ‘Lion’ photographed in 1961

K

itson was one of the great names in industrial Hunslet and Leeds.

For over a century locomotives bearing the name were exported all over the world covering the new railways which fed growth and development and one of the men at the heart of this was James Kitson.

James Kitson was born on 2 October 1807. The son of William Kitson, a publican, he was born in the Brunswick Tavern Camp Road, Leeds, an area now behind the Leeds Arena, he was the oldest of six children. He was educated firstly at a school in Woodhouse Carr and then at James Sigston’s School in Woodhouse

Lane. He was known to have helped out in the family pub and slept under the bar. At the age of 14 he became apprenticed to a local Dyeworks to learn the trade and here he acquired a bad injury. Two years later his father died from drink and he had to help his mother sort out the tangled affairs, run the business, and look after the five younger children.

In spite of his injury he was determined to improve himself so he joined the newly opened Mechanics Institute where he studied chemistry, mathematics, and mechanics, proving to be a diligent student.

He also became fascinated with the new railway

April 2022 | South Leeds Life

technology. James decided to undertake an apprenticeship at Fenton, Murray & Wood in Holbeck at the Round Foundry works, a path well-known to be followed by other Leeds engineers.

He then went to work under Robert Stephenson at the Robert Stephenson & Company factory in Newcastle-upon-Tyne; it was from this time that he came to count the elder George Stephenson as one of his closest friends.

James ran the Inn and just before his 21st Birthday in 1828 he married Ann Newton.

The couple would have eleven children, though only six survived into adulthood: Frederick William (1829-1877);

James Junior (1835-1911); Mary Ann (1838); Emily (1842); James Hawthorn (1843-1899); Arthur (1849). One of the surviving sons James (Junior) was to follow in his father’s footsteps as a locomotive builder and a politician.

Having decided on engineering for his future career James decided to move to Hunslet where other locomotive works had been established to feed the railway boom. In 1835 James Kitson started a Company at a Foundry off Pearson Street, and formed a partnership with Charles Todd, an ex-Matthew Murray apprentice. Initially they made parts for other builders, then in 1838 they brought in David Laird, a farmer looking for a good investment for his money thus providing the finance for the project and forming Todd, Kitson & Laird, Railway Foundry, Hunslet Lane.

In 1838 their first locomotive, 'The 'Lion' was rolled out through a hole knocked in the mill wall, The Lion still exists and anyone old enough would see her in the film 'The Titfield Thunderbolt'.

However, shortly after this Todd left to form Shepherd & Todd, of the Railway Foundry which later became known as EB Wilson & Company leaving the firm to become Kitson & Laird.

Together with Laird they started a new works at or near the site of what was to became the Airedale Foundry (possibly the old Airedale Brewery site) under the name Laird, Kitson & Company with the first wage sheet amounting to £3.1s.8d (£3.8½ p) being paid on 18 May 1839 to five men who had worked two to five days. These early wage records were made out in an Account Book that had belonged to a certain Portuguese wool merchant, whose warehouse, contents included, appears to have been taken over.

In 1840 they built their first locomotives, No1 and No2 for the North Midland Railway and this led to a long connection between Kitson and this railway. Locomotives No3 and No4 were built for the

Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway while No7 and No8 were built for the York & North Midland Railway but things were not working out. David Laird left the Company because he was not getting a good return for his money and this led to the Company reconstituting on 10 June 1842 with new partners.

The new name for the Company was now Kitson, Thompson & Hewitson. Isaac Thompson was born in Northallerton in 1795 and in 1851 he was living with his wife Hannah, a Skipton born woman, at Govemor Lodge, Headingley with their two sons while William Watson Hewitson who was born in Allendale, Northumberland in 1814 was, in 1861, living at Woodlands, Otley Road.

The Company made locomotives for many of the UK railway Companies as well as some of the major Continental railways and from 1856 many Indian railways became major customers. In 1851 they won an Award at the Great Exhibition and in this year there was a strike of the mechanics at the works. Isaac Thompson left the partnership in 1858 and the Company now traded as Kitson & Hewitson.

Hewitson was a Manager and the principle Draughtsman and continued thus until his death on 7 May 1863 aged 48. He had made the locomotive engine his special study from his first connection with the company, but during the last two years of his life he worked on the development of the steam plough with John Fowler.

He built some of the steam plough engines for John Fowler & Company until their factory (Steam Plough Works) was ready. On the death of Hewitson the firm became Kitson & Company.

In 1854 he bought the Monkbridge Ironworks in Whitehall Road to ensure a good supply of quality iron placing his two eldest sons, James Kitson (Junior) and Frederick William Kitson in charge of the works, which in 1858 were incorporated with the Airedale Foundry. In 1853

he is shown as age 43 living at 18 Blenheim Terrace having moved from Hunslet Lane and in 1861 as living at 1 Little Woodhouse aged 55. He was also active in public life: Chairman of the first Leeds Musical Festival in 1857, a JP, Alderman, and Mayor in 1860 and 1861. He became President of the Mechanical Institute which had helped him to set out on the road to success. As well as being involved in banking and railways he belonged to all the

James Kitson elite Leeds societies.

He was now distant from his early Trade Union links and was a tough employer, ready to break a strike among his workers. In 1877 he brought James (Junior) to help him manage the engineering factory in Hunslet.

In 1868 after the death of his first wife, Ann, he bought Elmete Hall in Roundhay, this was set in 65 acres with spectacular views. The old hall was demolished and a huge Italianate mansion was built and fitted out regardless of cost and it was to here that he brought his second wife, Elizabeth, 26 years his junior and with who he had four children, two girls, Frances R and Eva M, and two boys (names not known) to live in luxury. When the creation of Roundhay Park was proposed because it adjoined his land Kitson objected. It was at Elmete Hall a far cry from the old tavern in Camp Road that James Kitson (Senior) died in 1885 aged 78.

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18 Art Life

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Free contemporary art Book review: The Club exhibitions at The Tetley On The Edge Of Town T

he Tetley, Hunslet’s own art gallery, housed in the former brewery headquarters building on Hunslet Road is hosting three exhibitions this Spring.

In this solo exhibition, Alpha Salad, artist Justin Fitzpatrick explores ideas around taste, decadence and bodily transformation.

The exhibition presents a chronological narrative from soil to table. Beginning with seed germination and photosynthesis, moving through to consider agricultural and industrial labour, food preparation and fine dining, the exhibition culminates in a reflection on taste, class, objectification and spirituality.

As well as Fitzpatrick’s own painting and sculpture, Alpha Salad includes the artist’s curated selection of works from Leeds University Library Galleries and Special

Collections, including work by Wendy Abbott, Duncan Grant and Käthe Kollwitz, in addition to photographs from the Leeds Archive of Vernacular Culture.

Alpha Salad runs to 8 May. Nigerian artist Bubu Ogisi presents new work produced during her 2022 residency, made in collaboration with young creatives in Leeds.

Ogisi’s work crosses traditional boundaries of art, design and fashion. She is particularly interested in the social and environmental impact of textile production.

The exhibition is the culmination of The Tetley’s Here, There & Everywhere partnership with New Art Exchange and opens on Saturday 7 May. Emily Hesse presents The Witches’ Institution (WI) in collaboration with Professor Andrea Phillips.

In this current moment of

hypocritical political structures, this exhibition features a series of experimental works, discussions and experiences that aim to think about what a cultural institution run by historically defined ‘witchcraft’ and alternative magic could manifest as on a planet in turmoil.

Discover Tiny Tetley Studio, a new artist-designed free play space for children under 5 at The Tetley.

Artist and early years specialist Stephanie Jefferies invites you to get creative and spend time together in this immersive environment, where you can touch, climb and slide!

Tiny Tetley is open Wednesday-Sunday, 10am5pm.

The Tetley Barand Kitchen serves food and drink throughout the day, Wednesday-Sunday. For more information go to thetetley.org

Image Courtesy Julia Pomeroy

Alan Lane with his Panedmic Memoir: ‘The Club On The Edge Of Town’

by Jeremy Morton

A

lan Lane, the Artistic Director of Slung Low, has written a ‘Pandemic Memoir’ about the tumultuous year of 2020.

Slung Low started the year as a theatre company, albeit one that had recently done a deal with the oldest* working men’s club in the country to clear the club’s debts and take over management of The Holbeck in return for use of the club as a base and performance space.

It ended the year as non means testing free foodbank supporting the families of Holbeck and beyond.

As Covid struck Slung Low followed their motto: ”Be kind.

Be useful. Everyone gets what they want, but no one else gets to stop others getting what they want.” What could possibly go

wrong?

The book weaves the story of running the club and the foodbank with illuminating chapters from Alan and Slung Low’s history. It starts with being denied a piano by the British Army because his dad was ‘only’ an NCO, an incident that clearly drove him towards making art accessible to everyone.

The book is full of great stories. Of course it is - it’s about Holbeck. Some of the stories are laugh out loud funny, some are tragically sad.

All are told with wit. Alan paints a very recognisable picture of Holbeck and its residents.

Sometimes impoverished, battered by events, funny, resilient, diverse, often down, but never out.

It’s a terrific read, at turns a thriller, as Slung Low takes on

local bureaucracy on one side and club members on the other. It’s full of 'small p' philosophy, politics and most of all compassion.

This isn’t a book about individual heroes, although the feats achieved are heroic – 15,000 food parcels delivered in 12 months. It’s a book about leadership and mobilising networks and partnerships and it points to how difficult that can often be.

As Hilary Benn MP says in his foreward: “I urge you to read this book; you will not be disappointed. On the contrary, you will be uplifted, amused, frustrated, informed and then uplifted again.”

The Club On The Edge Of Town is published by Salamander Street on 6 April £12.99, or free from your local library.

Free tickets as South Leeds goes to the Playhouse S

outh Leeds Life’s partnership with Leeds Playhouse continues, offering readers two free* tickets to see a show this spring.

“This season is a thrilling culmination of all the work we do, both on stage and off. We have worked hard to present a season that reflects, inspires and entertains the communities we serve,” said Artistic Director James Brining.

After being brought to an untimely close by the pandemic in 2020, Leeds audiences are now being given an opportunity to see the new play – Maggie May (7–21 May).

This extraordinary play is about an ordinary Leeds family

balancing the challenges of daily life while living with dementia.

I Wanna Be Yours is a tender, funny and vibrant play by award-winning slam poet Zia Ahmed. It explores the knotty intricacies of sustaining a relationship across contemporary cultural divides through intimate fleeting moments, awkwardly comedic family encounters and achingly familiar arguments.

A Little Night Music (1–16 July) is a co-production with Opera North. Fuelled by a strong on-going partnership between the two Leeds organisations, this heartfelt, witty and romantic production features music and lyrics by the late great

Stephen Sondheim.

The Playhouse also hosts touring productions: Join Mouse on a daring adventure through the deep, dark wood in Tall Stories’ magical, musical adaptation of The Gruffalo, the classic picture book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler (29-30 April).

I Wanna Be Yours (29 April - 14 May) is awardwinning slam poet Zia Ahmed’s funny, vibrant and tender love story explores the knotty intricacies of building a relationship across contemporary cultural divides.

Through intimate fleeting moments, awkwardly comedic family encounters and achingly familiar

arguments, this lyrical romance reveals how love is more than a game for two.

In their 30th anniversary production, Northern Broadsides bring their bold, refreshing style to Shakespeare’s most musical and much-loved comedy for the very first time. As You Like It runs from 17-21 May. For full details of the shows on at Leeds Playhouse go to: leedsplayhouse.org.uk * In return for your tickets we ask that you write a review of the show that you’ve seen. To apply for tickets please email info@ southleedslife.com telling us why you would like to see The original cast of Maggie May. Photo Ellie Kurttz the show.

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Theatre in the community T

wo touring theatre companies, Wrongsemble and Mikron are bringing shows to South Leeds this month.

Family-friendly troupe Wrongsemble are back with a retelling of the Cinderella tale: The Not So Ugly Sisters.

You’ve heard the fairytale, now here’s the whole hairraising truth!

Dolly rests on her broom counting the passers-by outside the salon window, whilst her sister Barb watches the phone that never rings. It’s the morning of Cindy and Prince Smarming’s big royal wedding – but Dolly and Barb are not invited! Hell hath no fury like a hairdresser scorned…

Writer and director Elvi Piper explained more about the show: “In the original story the

sisters are vilified as being ugly, jealous and cruel.

“In this version we are reminded of the original story, then see how the story is reported, and finally get the sisters’ version as they reclaim it with the phrase ‘We’re not the baddies in someone else’s story – we’re the heroes of our own!”

You can catch The Not So Ugly Sisters at BITMO’s GATE in Belle Isle on Tuesday 5 April and at Hunslet RLFC, South Leeds Stadium, on Sunday 24 April. Both shows are at 2pm tickets are £5 each. Book at bit.ly/WrongNSUS For its 50th anniversary tour, Mikron Theatre is remounting its 2015 production Raising Agents.

The play tells the story of Bunnington Women’s Institute.

What’s On 19 A bit down-at-heel, with memberships dwindling, it means they can barely afford the hall, let alone a decent speaker. So, when a PR guru becomes a member, the women are glad of new blood.

Initially, the milk of WI kindness begins to sour when she re-brands them as the Bunnington Bunnies. They are hopping.

With stakes higher than a five-tiered cake stand, a battle ensues for the very soul of Bunnington, perhaps the WI itself!

On the threshold of one century into the next, this tale of hobbyists and lobbyists asks how much we should know our past or how much we should let go of it.

Mikron Theatre, based in Marsden near Huddersfield tour by canal boat. They’ll be tying up on the Leeds-Liverpool and popping into The Holbeck (Jenkinson Lawn, LS11 9QX) on Saturday 16 April at 7:30pm. as with all shows at The Holbeck, it’s pay what you decide.

The Not So Ugly Sisters. Photo: Lian Furness

Crafting for Ukraine A

n arts and crafts fundraising afternoon is being held on Sunday 3 April at St Luke’s Church on Malvern Road in Beeston.

The event is the brainchild of

April 2022 | South Leeds Life

8 year old Dorothy Brewer, who is in Year 4 at St Luke’s Primary School.

Having seen and heard about the situation facing refugees fleeing Ukraine she came up

with the idea of a fundraising event at her church.

The afternoon will feature: • Sunflower planting • Card making • Facepainting • Biscuit decoration • Refreshments Donations of 50p per activity are suggested and £1 for tea and cake.

Mum Rowena is helping, but all the ideas have come from Dorothy. They talked ideas through and came up with things Dorothy wanted to do and could be moulded to a Ukrainian theme such as the sunflowers.

“She’s a busy girl, always on the go, but this the first time she planned and organised an event like this” she explained.

Volunteers Day at Middleton Railway T

he Middleton Railway Trust will launch its 2022 season on Saturday 2 April with a Community and Volunteer day.

On this day the Trust will unashamedly try and attract new volunteers, but many other local Community Groups will be taking part and pitch for volunteers and helpers and to tell the community what they offer.

Middleton Railway is always looking for people with an engineering background to help in the workshops and on the track, but are also looking for people to help in the shop and cafe.

Together they will present a wide range of volunteering opportunities, in terms of time commitments, skills required and learning opportunities; but all sharing a chance to meet new people and make new friends.

As an added inducement for visitors to attend the Trust will not be charging for travel on the Railway at this event.

The following groups will be present: • Friends of Middleton Park • Middleton Park Equestrian Centre - Riding for the Disabled • The Hunslet Tenants & Residents Association (Hunslet TARA)

• Middleton Life History Group • South Leeds Life A Fire Engine and crew from Hunslet Fire Station will be present - operational demands permitting - and we are hoping that West Yorkshire Police might be represented.

Charles Milner, Chair of Middleton Railway Trust said: "The Trust really would like to use this day not just to help the recruitment of volunteers to work on our Railway but also to help other South Leeds groups recruit volunteers and tell visitors what they are about. A robust and resilient South Leeds Community is very much to the Railway's benefit and we want to do what we can to assist in that objective."

The event runs from 10am4pm on Saturday 2 April at Middleton Railway, Moor Road, Hunslet.

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South Leeds Life | April 2022

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20 What’s On

What’s On

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

Your guide to events and activities across South Leeds in April All events listed here have been planned around current Covid-19 restrictions and booking is often required, please contact the organisers to make sure the events are going ahead as the situation changes Please check that regular events are not affected by school holidays, 4-18 April Full contact details can be found in our online What’s On guide at www.southleedslife.com/events

Every Monday Mums & Tots, Tea & Toast 9-10:30am Beeston Parish Centre, Town Street Community Play Group 9-11:30am Little Angels Playzone, The Sugar Mill, Beeston ESOL Beginners class 9:30am-12pm Asha Neighbourhood Project, Beeston Book: 0113 270 4600 Crafts Group 9:30-10:45am Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Acre Road Over 65s Group @ Hunslet RLFC 9:45-11:45am Phoennix Bar, South Leeds Stadium Holbeck Together coffee morning 10am-12pm St Matthew’s Community Centre Mindfulmess (online) 10:30am Cranmore & Raylands Community Centre, Belle Isle Book: 07305 167629 Chair Based Exercise 10:30am-12pm BISA 59 Club, 59 Belle Isle Circus Bingo and Hoy 11am-12pm Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Acre Road MHA Soup & a Sandwich and Digital Health Hub 11:30am-1pm St Andrew’s Community Centre, Old Lane, Beeston Dinner Jackets (baked potato) 12-1pm St Matthew’s Community Centre Lunch Club 12-1:30pm Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Acre Road MHA Lunch Club 12-1:30pm Cottingley Community Centre Dance class 12:30-1:30pm Tenants Hall, Acre Close, Middleton Gentle Exercise 12:30pm Cranmore & Raylands Community Centre, Belle Isle Lunchtime meditation 12:30-1pm Over Zoom. Book: jamyangleeds.co.uk/wellbeing Drop In Technology Support 1-3pm St Luke’s Church, Malvern Road, Beeston Hill 50+ Women’s Group 1-2:30pm Asha Neighbourhood Project, Beeston Book: 0113 270 4600 Baking Together (online) 1:30-2:30pm Cranmore & Raylands Community Centre Book: 07305 167629 Beeston Hillers’ Book Club 1:30-2:30pm Dewsbury Road Community Hub & Library Beeston Digital Inclusion Classes 1:30-3:30pm BISA 59 Club, 59 Belle Isle Circus Reiki 1:45pm &3:30pm Cranmore & Raylands Community Centre, Belle Isle Book: 07305 167629 Dance On 2-3pm Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Acre Road.

Multi Sports for kids 5pm Cranmore & Raylands Community Centre Gateway 2 Sport 5-7pm Manorfield Hall, Newhall Road, Belle Isle Yoga with Amelia 6-7pm Jamyang Buddhist Centre, Ingram Road, Holbeck Illuminate Dance 6 & 7pm Cranmore & Raylands Community Centre Kickboxing 6:30-8:30pm Beeston Parish Centre, Town Street Be Creative 7-8:30pm over Zoom.

Book: fb.com/YourSpaceLeeds Drop In Mediatation for Beginners 7-8pm Jamyang Buddhist Centre, Ingram Road, Holbeck

Every Tuesday Tots Group 9-11am Manorfield Hall, Newhall Road, Belle Isle Book: 07794 577586 Community Play Group 9-11:30am Little Angels Playzone, The Sugar Mill, Beeston MHA Breakfast Buddies 9-11am St Andrew’s Community Centre, Old Lane, Beeston Advice & Advocacy 9:30am-2:30pm Asha Neighbourhood Project, Beeston Book: 0113 270 4600 Active Tots 9:30am Cranmore & Raylands Community Centre, Belle Isle ESOL Entry 1 class 9:30am-12pm Asha Neighbourhood Project, Beeston Book: 0113 270 4600 Computer class 9:30am-12pm Asha Neighbourhood Project, Beeston Book: 0113 270 4600 Holbeck Together shopping trip 9:30am-12:30pm Book: 0113 245 5553 Coffee and Connect 10-11:30am St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck Holbeck Together Charity Shop 10am-12pm St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck Grandparents Kinship Support Group 10am-12pm St George’s Centre, Middleton Bosom Buddies breastfeeding support 10am-12pm Tenants Hall Enterprise Centre, Acre Close, Middleton Book: (0113) 270 6903 Woodwork 10am Cranmore & Raylands Community Centre, Belle Isle MHA Exercise 10-11am Beeston Village Community Centre, off Town St Hunslet TARA Litterpicking 10am meet Church of the Nazarene, Grove Road Gardening Group

10:30am-12:30pm Asha Neighbourhood Project, Beeston Book: 0113 270 4600 Affordable Breakfast 10:30am Cranmore & Raylands Community Centre, Belle Isle Belle Isle and Middleton Craft & Chat 10:30am-12:30pm St George’s Centre, Middleton Zumba / Pilates 11am-12pm Asha Neighbourhood Project, Beeston via Zoom Book: 0113 270 4600 Job Search Club 11am-12pm Hamara Centre, Tempest Road, Beeston Bingo and Hoy 11am-12pm Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Acre Road Quiz Time (online) 11am Cranmore & Raylands Community Centre, Belle Isle Book: 07305 167629 MEA Lunch Club 12-1:30pm Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Acre Road Holbeck Together Lunch Club 12-1:30pm St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck MHA Lunch and Social 12-2:30pm Parnaby Tavern, Middleton Road, Hunslet Lunch Club and Social 12-3pm BISA 59 Club, 59 Belle Isle Circus Bingo 12pm Cranmore & Raylands Community Centre, Belle Isle Lunchtime meditation 12:30-1pm Over Zoom. Book: jamyangleeds.co.uk/wellbeing ESOL class 12:30-3pm Asha Neighbourhood Project, Beeston Book: 0113 270 4600 Line Dancing 1-3pm St Anthony’s Church Hall, Old Lane, Beeston Line Dancing 1-3pm St Andrew’s Community Centre, Old Lane, Beeston Walking Group 1:30-3:30pm Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Acre Road.

Women’s Peer Support Group 1:30pm Cranmore & Raylands Community Centre Games Afternoon / Singing Group 2-3pm St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck Line Dancing 2-3:30pm Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Acre Road.

Yoga 2-3pm Asha Neighbourhood Project, Beeston via Zoom Book: 0113 270 4600 Digital Skills Workshop 4-5pm Dewsbury Road Community Hub & Library Book: 07435 914350 Illuminate Dance 4:30pm Cranmore & Raylands Community Centre Rainbows and Brownies 4:30-7:15pm Beeston Parish

Centre, Town Street Cockburn Community Choir 5-6pm Cockburn School, Gipsy Lane, Beeston DAZL Dance 5:30-6:30pm Cottingley Community Centre Dance Fitness (14+) 6-7pm Middleton Community Centre, Acre Road Book: 07519 018675 Outdoor Yoga 6pm Top of Cross Flatts Park Book: 07576 113269 Inside Out exercise class 6-7pm Tenants Hall, Acre Close, Middleton 51st Leeds (Hunslet) Guides 6:15-7:15pm Rainbows; 6:157:30pm Brownies; 7:15-8:30pm Guides St Mary’s CofE Primary Academy, Church Street, Hunslet Free Football sessions (8-18 yrs) 6:30-8:30pm Holbeck Community Centre, Old Elland Road. Book: richard.foye@leedsunited.com South Leeds Lakers Running Club 6:55pm Beeston Village Community Centre. Book: bit.ly/LakersRunning Yoga 7pm Cranmore & Raylands Community Centre, Belle Isle Hunslet Nelson Women’s Rounders 7-8pm Middleton Leisure Centre

Every Wednesday One You Weight Management 8:30am-12:30pm Manorfield Hall, Newhall Road, Belle Isle Everyday Life coffee morning 9-11am Beeston Village Community Centre, Beeston Park Place, off Town Street Advice & Advocacy 9:30am-2:30pm Asha Neighbourhood Project, Beeston Book: 0113 270 4600 Open doors 9:30-10:30am St Andrew’s Methodist Church, Old Lane, Beeston ESOL Enty 1 class 9:30am-12pm Asha Neighbourhood Project, Beeston Book: 0113 270 4600 Mums & Tots 9:30am Cranmore & Raylands Community Centre, Belle Isle Bacon Butty morning / News Cafe / Pop Up Shop / Textile & Painting / Bereavement Group 9:30-11:30am Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Acre Road.

Holbeck Together coffee morning 10am-12pm Ingram Court Community Room, Holbeck Holbeck Together Charity Shop 10am-12pm St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck Woodwork 10am Cranmore & Raylands Community Centre, Belle Isle Beeston In Bloom Gardening Group

10am-12pm Millennium Garden, Cross Flatts Park Confidence Building course 10:30am-12pm Tenants Hall, Acre Close, Middleton Singing 11am Cranmore & Raylands Community Centre, Belle Isle Holbeck Together Lunch Club 12-1:30pm Ingram Court Community Room, Holbeck Community Cafe 12:30-2pm Cranmore & Raylands Community Centre, Belle Isle Lunchtime meditation 12:30-1pm Over Zoom. Book: jamyangleeds.co.uk/wellbeing Peer Support Group 1-2:30pm Asha Neighbourhood Project, Beeston via Zoom Book: 0113 270 4600 Parents & Tots 1:30-2:30pm Ingram Court Community Room, Holbeck Parents & Tots Social 1:30-2:30pm Hamara Centre, Tempest Road, Beeston Walk and Talk 2-3pm meet at Middleton Park main gates on Town Street Tai Chi 2pm Cranmore & Raylands Community Centre, Belle Isle Slimming World 2-9pm Beeston Parish Centre, Town Street. Book: 07841 488658 Skate Mates 3:30-5pm LS-TEN, Kitson Road Book: ls-ten.org/skatemates Family Cooking 4pm Cranmore & Raylands Community Centre, Belle Isle Women’s Wellbeing Group 4:30-6pm Dewsbury Road Community Hub & Library Free Football sessions (8-18 yrs) 5-7pm South Leeds Youth Hub, Belle Isle. Book: richard.foye@leedsunited.com Bat & Chat Table Tennis 5-7pm Dewsbury Road Community Hub & Library

Yoga 5-6pm Asha Neighbourhood Project, Beeston via Zoom Book: 0113 270 4600 1st SLAM Beavers (6-8 yrs) 6-7:30pm St Andrew’s Community Centre, Cardinal Road, Beeston Illuminate Dance 6 & 8pm Cranmore & Raylands Community Centre, Belle Isle Holbeck Chat & Chill 6-7:30pm St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck Touch & Pass Rugby for over 40s 6:30-7:30pm Hunslet Warriors Holbeck Moor FC: Inclusive adult football training 6:30pm Holbeck Moor Line Dancing 6:45-9pm Manorfield Hall, Newhall Road, Belle Isle Dru Yoga 7-8:15pm Jamyang Buddhist Centre, Ingram Road, Holbeck Yoga 7-8pm Beeston Parish Centre, Town Street Book: 07576 113269 SO! Choir 7:30-9:30pm The Tetley art gallery, Hunslet Road

Every Thursday Tots Group 9-11am Manorfield Hall, Newhall Road, Belle Isle Book: 07794 577586 Music & Movement 9am-1pm Little Angels Playzone, The Sugar Mill, Beeston Advice & Advocacy 9:30am-2:30pm Asha Neighbourhood Project, Beeston Book: 0113 270 4600 Computer class / ESOL 2/3 class 9:30am-12pm Asha Neighbourhood Project, Beeston Book: 0113 270 4600 Affordable Breakfast 9:30am Cranmore & Raylands Community Centre, Belle Isle Holbeck Together shopping trip 9:30am-12:30pm Book: 0113 245 5553

Publicise your event with South Leeds Life’s FREE listings Call/text: 07894 583966 Email: info@southleedslife.com Post: 224 Cross Flatts Grove, Leeds, LS11 7BW

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Ping Pong 9:30-10:30am Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Acre Road Library Story Bus 10-11:30am St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck Walk in Cross Flatts Park Meet 10am Hamara Centre, Tempest Road, Beeston Woodwork / Knit & Natter / Beauty Treatments 10am Cranmore & Raylands Community Centre, Belle Isle Holbeck Together Community Cafe / Community Supermarket 10:30am-2pm St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck Craft Group / Digital Inclusion 10:30am-12pm BISA 59 Club, 59 Belle Isle Circus Inclusive dance 11am-12pm Watsonian Pavilion, Cross Flatts Park Walking Football 11am-12pm The Hunslet Club, Hillidge Road Bingo and Hoy 11am-12pm Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Acre Road Hunslet TARA Estate Walkabout 11am meet Best One shop, Rocheford Walk CV Writing 11am-12pm Hamara Centre, Tempest Road, Beeston Line Dancing 11:30am-12:30pm St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck Lunch Club 12-1:30pm Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Acre Road MHA Lunch Club & Social 12-2:30pm St Andrew’s Community Centre, Old Lane, Beeston Lunchtime meditation 12:30-1pm Over Zoom. Book: jamyangleeds.co.uk/wellbeing Tea Dance 1pm Cranmore & Raylands Community Centre, Belle Isle Draw with Celia 1-3pm Jamyang Buddhist Centre, Ingram Road, Holbeck Be Friends Group 1-2:30pm Watsonian Pavilion, Cross Flatts Park Online help class 1:30-3pm Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Acre Road.

Table Tennis 1-2:30pm St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck Walking Group 1:30-3:30pm Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Acre Road Digital Inclusion / Social Group 1:30-3pm BISA 59 Club, 59 Belle Isle Circus Camera Club 1:30pm Cranmore & Raylands Community Centre, Belle Isle Illuminate Dance 4pm Cranmore & Raylands Community Centre, Belle Isle Elevate Women’s Wellbeing Group 4-5:30pm over Zoom.

Book: fb.com/YourSpaceLeeds Women’s Chat & Chill Evening 4:30-6pm BITMO’s GATE, Aberfield Gate, Belle Isle Middleton Scout Group 5:30-7:30pm Manorfield Hall, Newhall Road, Belle Isle Book: scoutsmiddleton@gmail.com Zumba / Pilates 6-7pm Asha Neighbourhood Project, Beeston via Zoom Book: 0113 270 4600 Yoga 6:30pm St Andrew’s Methodist Church, Cardinal Road, Beeston Book: 07512 393228

Every Friday Charity Shop 8:30-11:30am United Free Church, Malvern Road, Beeston Happy Global Families 9-10:30am Beeston Village Community Centre, Beeston Park Place, off Town Street Stay & Play 9-11am St Anthony’s Church Hall, Old Lane, Beeston Stay & Play 9am-6pm Little Angels Playzone, The Sugar Mill, Beeston Food Bank 9-11am Manorfield Hall, Newhall Road, Belle Isle Affordable Breakfast 9:30am Cranmore & Raylands Community Centre, Belle Isle ESOL 2/3 class 9:30am-12pm Asha Neighbourhood Project, Beeston Book: 0113 270 4600 Toast, Cuppa & Games 9:30-11am Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Acre Road.

Hunslet RLFC Breakfast Club 10am-12pm Phoenix Suite, South Leeds Stadium Holbeck Together coffee morning 10am-12pm St Matthew’s Community Centre Holbeck Together Dance On 10-11am Holbeck Moor Gardening Group 10am-12pm BISA 59 Club, 59 Belle Isle Circus MHA Stretch & Tone 10-11am St Andrew’s Community Centre, Old Lane, Beeston Hunslet TARA Gardening 10am meet Church of the Nazarene, Grove Road Digital Hub IT Support 10-12pm Cranmore & Raylands Community Centre, Belle Isle Arts & Crafts 11am Cranmore & Raylands Community Centre, Belle Isle Bingo and Hoy 11am-12pm Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Acre Road MHA Lunch Club 12-1:30pm Beeston Parish Centre, Town Street Lunch Club 12-1:30pm Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Acre Road Fish & Chip Lunch Club 12-1:30pm St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck Lunchtime meditation 12:30-1pm Over Zoom. Book: jamyangleeds.co.uk/wellbeing Ballroom & Sequence Dancing 1-3pm St Andrew’s Community Centre, Old Lane, Beeston Little Legs Rugby 1-3pm Manorfield Hall, Newhall Road, Belle Isle Line Dancing 1:30pm Cranmore & Raylands Community Centre, Belle Isle Bingo Afternoon 1:30-3pm St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck Friday Social Club 1:30-3:30pm BISA 59 Club, 59 Belle Isle Circus Chair-based Exercise 1:45-2:45pm Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Acre Road.

Book: 0113 272 1050 Poetry (online) 3pm Cranmore & Raylands Community Centre, Belle Isle Book: 07305 167629 Free Football sessions (8-18 yrs) 4-5:30pm Holbeck Moor. Book: richard.foye@leedsunited.com Table Tennis 4:45-5:25pm (7-11yrs) 5:306:15pm (12-15yrs) St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck

April 2022 | South Leeds Life

What’s On 21 Illuminate Dance 5pm Cranmore & Raylands Community Centre, Belle Isle South Leeds Lakers Juniors (Athletics) 6-7pm South Leeds Stadium Book: fb.com/juniorlakersleeds 1st SLAM Cubs (8-10½ yrs) 6:15-7:45pm St Andrew’s Community Centre, Cardinal Road, Beeston 1st SLAM Scouts (10½-14 yrs) 8-9:30pm St Andrew’s Community Centre, Cardinal Road, Beeston

Every Saturday Cross Flatts parkrun 9am Top of Cross Flatts Park Middleton Woods parkrun 9am Leeds Urban Bike Park Debbie Heart Theatre School 9am-1pm Manorfield Hall, Newhall Road, Belle Isle Saturday Breakfast 9:30-11am Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Acre Road Park Roll rollerskating 10am-12pm Sports Courts, Cross Flatts Park, Beeston Book: ls-ten.org Middleton Railway 10am-4pm Moor Road, Hunslet ParkPlay 10:30am Brickfield Park, Lady Pit Lane, Beeston Yoga 12-1pm Beeston Parish Centre, Town Street Book: 07576 113269 Bingo 12-3pm Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Acre Road

Every Sunday Junior parkrun (4-14 yrs) 9am Top of Cross Flatts Park Recovery Runners 10am The Glass Box, Leeds Dock Indoor Children’s Exercise 10am-12pm Hillside, Beeston Rd Healthy Minds Cycling Skills 10-11am Watsonian Pavilion, Cross Flatts Park Middleton Railway 10am-4pm Moor Road, Hunslet Hunslet TARA Litterpick 12pm meet Church of the Nazarene, Grove Road Big Bike Fix drop in workshop 12-4pm Harlech Avenue, Beeston Toning & Stretching with Julie 6:30-7:30pm DAZL HQ, Middleton Community Centre, Acre Road.

Book: 07783 786776 Friday 1 April Bike Security drop-in 2-5pm Cockburn John Charles Academy, Old Run View, Belle Isle Saturday 2 April Holbeck & Beeston Cemetery Volunteers 10am-1pm Meet centre of Holbeck Cemetery, Beeston Road Coffee morning 10am-12pm Beeston Parish Centre, Town Street Coffee morning 10am-12pm Church of the Nazarene, Grove Road, Hunslet Saturday Family Film Club 11am-1pm St George’s Middleton Community Hub & Library Energy Saving Advice 11am-1pm Beeston Community Hub & Library, Town Street Bike Security drop-in 11am-3pm Leeds Urban Bike Park, Ring Road, Middleton School Uniform Swap Shop 11am-1pm Bridge Cafe, Cross Flatts Park, Beeston High Hopes 7:30pm The Holbeck, Jenkinson

Lawn Book: slunglow.org Sunday 3 April Leeds Dads and Kids Walk 10:45am-12pm Middleton Park Visitor Centre, off Town Street Book: leedsdads.org/events Fundraising Crafts Afternoon 2-4pm St Luke’s Church, Malvern Road, Beeston Hill Hunslet RLFC v Oldham 3pm South Leeds Stadium, Middleton Grove Artists With Ukraine 7pm The Holbeck, Jenkinson Lawn Book: slunglow.org Monday 4 April Middleton Community Group 6-7pm Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Acre Road Men’s Corner 7-8:30pm Charlies-Angel-Centre, 6B Ashbrooke Park, LS11 5SF Tuesday 5 April Free Children’s Play Activities 1-3pm Middleton Park Visitor Centre, off Town Street The Not So Ugly Sisters 2pm BITMO’s GATE, Aberfield Gate, Belle Isle Wheels On The Moor 3-5pm Holbeck Moor Wednesday 6 April MHA Rambling Group Book: (0113) 271 6201 Leeds Irish Health Group 10am-12pm Beeston Parish Centre, Town Street Free Children’s Play Activities 1-3pm Middleton Park Visitor Centre, off Town Street MHA Pot of Tea Dementia Cafe 1-3pm St Andrew’s Community Centre, Old Lane, Beeston Energy Saving Advice 5:30-7pm Dewsbury Road Community Hub & Library Hunslet Tenants & Residents 6:30-8pm Church of the Nazarene, Grove Road Miscarriage Support Group 7-8:30pm Charlies-Angel-Centre, 6B Ashbrooke Park, LS11 5SF Thursday 7 April Hunslet Carr Residents Assoc 6:30-8pm Woodhouse Hill Community Centre Community Support Group 7-8:30pm Charlies-Angel-Centre, 6B Ashbrooke Park, LS11 5SF Beeston Community Forum 7:30-9pm Beeston Village Community Centre, Beeston Park Place, off Town Street Saturday 9 April Leeds Dads Soft Play 10am-12pm Little Angels Playzone, The Sugar Refinery, Dewsbury Road, Beeston Book: leedsdads.org/events Hunslet TARA Information Desk 11am Church Street The Oracle free family event 1:30pm The Holbeck, Jenkinson Lawn Book: slunglow.org Sunday 10 April Easter Dock Dash 5k run 9am Glass Box, Leeds Dock Hunslet TARA Litter pick 12pm meet at Church of the Nazarene, Grove Road Palm Sunday Parade 2-4pm Church Street, Hunslet Monday 11 April The Chris Arnold Experience 7:30pm The Holbeck, Jenkinson Lawn Book: slunglow.org Tuesday 12 April Hunslet TARA Litterpick 10am meet Church of the Nazarene, Grove Road Hearing Aid Clinic 10am-12pm Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Acre Road Book: (0113) 272 1050 Free Children’s Play Activities

1-3pm Middleton Park Visitor Centre, off Town Street Wednesday 13 April MHA Kurling 10-11am St Andrew’s Community Centre, Old Lane, Beeston Free Children’s Play Activities 1-3pm Middleton Park Visitor Centre, off Town Street MEA Film Club - Grease 1:30-3:30pm Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Acre Road MEA Pie & Peas evening 5-7pm Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Acre Road White Rose Speakers 7pm Jury’s Inn hotel, Brewery Wharf Friday 15 April Easter Egg Hunt 11am-1pm Watsonian Pavilion, Cross Flatts Park, Beeston Easter Egg Hunt & Crafts 12-3pm Hunslet Common, off Church Street Hunslet RLFC v Keighley Cougars 7:30pm South Leeds Stadium, Middleton Grove Saturday 16 April Coffee morning 10am-12pm Beeston Parish Centre, Town Street School Uniform Swap Shop 11am-1pm Bridge Cafe, Cross Flatts Park, Beeston Raising Agents 7:30pm The Holbeck, Jenkinson Lawn Book: slunglow.org Monday 18 April Middleton Railway 10am-4pm Moor Road, Hunslet Tuesday 19 April Hunslet TARA Coffee & PCSOs 10am Hunslet Community Hub and Library, Church Street Wednesday 20 April Leeds Irish Health Group 10am-12pm Beeston Parish Centre, Town Street Police Contact Point Holbeck 10:30am-12pm Top Moor Side Energy Saving Advice 5:30-7pm Dewsbury Road Community Hub & Library Thursday 21 April Leeds Baby Bank 10am-12pm Dewsbury Road Community Hub & Library Friday 22 April Beeston & Holbeck Councillors’ Surgeries 4pm Beeston Community Hub & Library, Town Street, Beeston 5pm St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck 6pm Cottingley Community Centre Saturday 23 April Hunslet TARA Information Desk 11am Church Street

Hunslet & Riverside Councillors’ Surgeries 10am Hunslet Hub & Library 11am Dewsbury Rd Hub & Library 12pm The Hunslet Club 1pm Hamara Centre 2pm Lock Keeper’s House 3pm Middleton Railway 4pm Woodhouse Hill Com Centre 6pm Facebook Live: fb.com/PaulWrayUK Sunday 24 April Holbeck Together Sunday Lunch 12-2pm St Matthew’s Community Centre Book: 0113 245 5553 Leeds Dads meet up 2-4pm The Holbeck, Jenkinson Lawn Book: leedsdads.org/events The Not So Ugly Sisters 2pm Hunslet RLFC, South Leeds Stadium, Middleton Grove Monday 25 April Bike Security drop-in 5-8pm The Hunslet Club, Hillidge Road Tuesday 26 April Hunslet TARA Litterpick 10am meet Church of the Nazarene, Grove Road Mostly Men 9:30am-12pm St Andrew’s Community Centre, Old Lane, Beeston Wednesday 27 April MHA Kurling 10-11am St Andrew’s Community Centre, Old Lane, Beeston MEA Pie & Peas evening 5-7pm Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Acre Road Drink & Draw 6:30-8pm The Tetley, Hunslet Rd Book: thetetley.org/whats-on Saturday 30 April Cross Flatts Craft Market 9:30am-2pm Watsonian Pavilion, Cross Flatts Park, Beeston Tetley Makers Market 10am-5pm The Tetley art gallery, Hunslet Road School Uniform Swap Shop 11am-1pm Bridge Cafe, Cross Flatts Park, Beeston Energy Saving Advice 11am-1pm Beeston Community Hub & Library, Town Street Sunday 1 May Tetley Makers Market 10am-4pm The Tetley art gallery, Hunslet Road Bluebell Walks 11am-4pm from Park Halt station, Middleton Park Monday 2 May Bluebell Walks 11am-4pm from Park Halt station, Middleton Park

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22 What’s On

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Donkeys come to Hunslet for Palm Sunday Parade

by Ben Hutchinson

O

n Sunday 10 April two donkeys will journey through the streets of Hunslet as part of an Easter Celebration with a difference and you have chance to be part of it!

The event has been arranged

by Hunslet Gathering - a new Anglican church in Hunslet.

Throughout the journey we will retell the story of Palm Sunday when crowds - inspired by Jesus ministry of miracles,

healings and hope – flocked out to celebrate as Jesus entered Jerusalem on a donkey.

The Parade will begin on Church Street at 2pm, travel between the Hemingway flats, through the common/green space then stopping at the shop on Pepper Lane.

The return leg meanders through Rocheford Close, Balmoral Chase and Belinda Street with a stop off at Assisi Place.

The celebration concludes with refreshments

next to St Mary’s Spire between 3:15-4pm.

Each stop will include a Bible reading relating to the Easter story retold by an all-star cast of local children and adults. Music will also be played throughout the walks between the stops.

The entourage will be decorated by a variety of eyecatching flags and palm leaves.

We would love you and your loved ones to be part of the fun this Eastertime by either joining in all or part of the journey or meeting us at one (or more!) of

the stops.

There will also be opportunities to stroke and feed the donkeys.

Everyone is invited to the finale of the parade on the grass area next to St Mary’s Spire (in front of the Primary School) between 315-4pm for hot drinks, refreshments, crafts and to meet the donkeys.

For more information go to our Facebook page fb.com/hunsletgathering or contact me, Ben Hutchinson on 07419 366058.

South Bank Social

by Lisa Ellen Riley

S

peaking to people in the local community, it became apparent that some still felt isolated from the effects of Covid on their social and working lives.

They talked of going home to empty apartments and working from home for days on end without seeing anyone.

In response to this need for further opportunities to socialise again, I am pleased to announce I have started a

‘South Bank Social’. We meet every Thursday at 5pm at ‘The Cross Keys’ on Water Lane, Holbeck.

We have started by simply getting together for a drink and a chat and are excited to see how our new group develops.

Everyone is welcome so please feel free to come along, for as long a time as you feel comfortable, either alone or with friends. The more the merrier!

We would be delighted to have your company.

IN BRIEF Energy Saving Advice James Latham from Our Future Beeston has organised four drop-in sessions where you can get advice from him on saving energy. These can help you save money on your bills and reduce your environmental impact.

There are two sessions at Beeston Community Hub & Library on Town Street on Saturday 2 April and Saturday 30 April, both 11am-1pm.

There are also two sessions at Dewsbury Road Community Hub & Library on Wednesday 6 April and Wednesday 20 April, both at 5:30-7pm.

Tetley Makers Market Join The Tetley, Hunslet’s own art gallery, for a weekend of art, food, live music and more as they celebrate 200 years of Tetley.

There will be a range of fantastic independent artists and makers to shop from, family activities and great food and drink.

They will also be celebrating the building’s anniversary with a range of events across the weekend commemorating their Leeds heritage, from brewery to gallery.

It all takes place on Saturday 30 April, 10am-5pm and Sunday 1 May, 10am-4pm. Hunslet Road, LS10 1JQ

Skelton Grange Easter Trail

Licensing Act 2003 Notice is hereby given that I, Edna Marta, have made an application under section 17 of part 3 of the Licensing Act 2003 for the grant of a premises licence for the premises known as: PDS Convenience Store, 159A Dewsbury Road, Beeston, Leeds, LS11 5NW I intend to conduct the following licensable activities on or from the premises: Sale of alcohol and late night refreshment Monday to Sunday 08:00am - 12:00am Subject to the following terms: CCTV, Challenge 21, incident register, litter clearance Responsible authorities or any other person may make written representations to Leeds City Council about this application until 22nd April 2022 which should be sent to Entertainment Licensing, Leeds City Council, Civic Hall, Leeds, LS1 1UR For full details and to view a copy of the application please contact Entertainment Licensing on 0113 378 5029 or email entertainment.licensing@leeds.gov.uk It is an offence to knowingly or recklessly make a false statement in connection with an application and the maximum fine for which a person is liable on conviction for this offence is an unlimited fine.

Join the South Bank social in the Cross Keys

TCV Skelton Grange’s annual Easter fundraising event on Friday 15 April is a glorious outdoor trail wandering through the woods and gardens at Skelton Grange. Complete a treasure hunt along the way and trade in your trove for a chocolatey Easter surprise at the end! The Skelton Café will be open to purchase hot beverages and sweet treats at the end. There will be a campfire along the trail and crafts/activities to be announced.

Tickets are required for all adults and children attending the event, but babies (18 months or under) are welcome free. Book via www.tcv.org.uk/skeltongrange/courses-events

Free bike security marking The Neighbourhood Policing Team are carrying out more bike security marking with Bike Register at various locations in South Leeds this month. Please come and see us!

1 April - Cockburn John Charles High School - 2-5pm 2 April – Leeds Urban Bike Park, Middleton – 11am-3pm 5 April – Holbeck Moor Active Leeds event – 3-5pm 25 April – The Hunslet Club 5-8pm

Join the Holbeck Choir Everyone is welcome! Come down to The Holbeck club: sing, meet new people, and share food. The brilliant Tessa Smith will lead you through a selection of songs and teach you the individual harmonies to beautifully blend as a choir.

The Holbeck Choir is part of Slung Low’s Cultural Community College,a place to come and learn, free at the point of use, a wide array of classes and courses for adults aged 18+.

There are six, weekly sessions starting on Tuesday 19 April at 6:30pm. You pay-what-you-decide after the event. Book at: www. slunglow.org. The Holbeck is on Jenkinson Lawn, LS11 9QX. Other courses this term include: cooking vegetarian Indian food, available online; conducting, navigation and physical theatre. Hurry, courses always sell out fast!

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April 2022 | South Leeds Life

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Sporting Life 23

Spring into activity with Hunslet Club u11s win Get Set Leeds Local Leeds & District Cup

by Karen Peck

S

pring and Summer promise to be busy for Get Set Leeds Local within Beeston Hill and Holbeck.

With events being planned, and new group ideas developing there’s going to be lots going on. Get Set Leeds Local looks at how collectively together we can build a more active community, to help make being active an easier choice for people.

On Tuesday 5 April 3–5pm we’re bringing partners together for a “Wheels on the Moor” event at Holbeck Moor.

There will be rollerskating and skateboarding with LS-TEN, A Bike zone for kids, Bike tagging for anyone with a bike to get it security tagged and bike fixing as well as information.

We’re looking forward to more opportunities over the summer to bring groups together to share the good stuff that’s going on in their community.

ParkPlay launched at Brickfield Park in Beeston Hill

this winter. Now as Spring and better weather comes it continues to grow. A free weekly session for all ages, giving local families something on their doorstep every Saturday at 10:30am. You can find out more or register online at park-play.com/parks /brickfield After moving indoors for winter, Cross Flatts Park sees the return of sessions supported in some way by Get Set Leeds Local. ParkRoll (rollerskating) and Women’s Basketball will utilise the park once again for weekly activities.

Check out Leeds Saturday Park Roll on Facebook and southleedsvalkyries on Instagram (basketball) for more information.

The popularity of the rollerskating, led by LS-TEN but the idea of a resident, would really value some volunteer support, so if you’d be interested in helping this fantastic community session then get in touch.

At Cross Flatts Park we’re also looking ahead at the cycle offer once again growing over summer. Cycle North deliver friendly free adult learn to ride sessions available to anyone Wednesdays 6–8pm, Fridays 10am–12noon and Saturdays

10am–12noon.

You don’t need a bike, one can be provided www.cyclenorth.co.uk /adults.

A 12 week cycle for health programme launches from the start of April, Cycle for Health | Cycling UK with Cross Flatts being the venue for Leeds. Any group with training and insurance can access our fleet of bikes for a group activity.

Through our partnership with British Cycling we have 2 ride leader courses coming up in Leeds. If you’d be interested in becoming a ride leader, and supporting an existing group such as South Leeds Lakers, or delivering your own led ride sessions then get in touch.

A women’s only (Breeze) course is on Saturday 9 April and a Let’s Ride course on Saturday 7 May. If you’d like to help inspire more people to get fit, have fun and ride bikes with British Cycling Guided Rides then contact us (details below).

Full training, kit, insurance and support provided.

Our community chest pot is still available to support the seed of an idea from residents in Beeston Hill or Holbeck.

Over the last month we’ve been pleased to support projects which will help learning disability group People Matters enjoy games and activities on Holbeck Moor; support Good Deeds to access Streetgames training to upskill its volunteers which support young people to be active; and Recovery Runners to access Mental Health First Aid training. The Community Chest Pot is up to £300 for community good ideas which support people to move more, as well as providing training and upskilling opportunities.

Get Set Leeds Local is funded by Sport England and delivered

by Active Leeds (part of Leeds City Council).

Collectively we can develop a place where being active is an easier choice for more people. E-mail getset leedslocal@leeds.gov .uk. Follow us on Facebook @GSL Holbeck&BeestonHill; Instgram: @getset leedslocal; and Twitter: @getleeds and check out our recent Get Set Leeds Local newsletter.

Cup winners: The Hunslet Club under 11s football team

by Samantha Bailey

O

n Sunday 20 March, the Hunslet Club under 11s team lifted the Leeds and District Cup. A fantastic performance, encouraged by the support of the crowds from the sidelines, saw them defeating Pannal Ash at Whitkirk FC. with a brilliant 61 win.

On the morning of the 20th, the team got on a mini bus to the venue as excitement and nerves began to set in.

However, once they set foot on the pitch their sights were set on winning the Leeds and District Cup, making history for us all here at The Hunslet Club, as no other Hunslet junior football team have ever achieved this before!

Coach, Lee Maguire, had this to say: “It was just a brilliant day from start to finish and a cracking day weather wise for a cup final. We all traveled

together on the club minibus and when the boys started singing Sweet Caroline from the back of the bus, I knew it would be our day!

“It was a bit of a shock to the lads to see so many people there supporting and to be honest we started the game slowly (I’ll put it down to nerves !) going 1-0 down. We needn’t have worried though, as the lads showed the unbelievable ability and character they have to come back and run out 6-1 winners.

“Pannal Ash gave us a run for our money, especially in the first half before we pulled away in the second half. They were a good set of players and coaches and hopefully they still managed to enjoy their day out, as they did great to get to the final. To find out afterwards that we are the first ever Hunslet junior side to lift the Leeds and District makes the whole group massively proud.

We have the best group of parents/grandparents and most importantly the best group of kids you could wish for.

We all certainly enjoyed the celebrations together afterwards!”

Flying through the competition this season, the team has been developing and improving like no other junior football team has at The Hunslet Club before. The pace of their progress since their initial foundation in 2017 has been a great journey for everyone to follow and support.

Their focus shifted from simply joining a weekly sports session to playing for their team and making the club, family, friends, coaches and fellow players proud. We can't begin to explain how honored to have teams like this be a part of our club, as well as their coaches, volunteers and supporters who are with them every step of the way.

Tough start for Old Boys

by Phil Goodfield

A

fter a heroic run in the Challenge Cup, Hunslet Club Parkside have had a tough start to the eason in the National Conference Premier League.

Wins away at Egremont Rangers and Leigh Miners Rangers have been balanced by losses to top sides Thatto Heath Crusaders and Siddall.

Having beaten Egremont 028 in Round 1, Parkside, short of six players through injury and availability went down to an 180 defeat to reigning champions Thatto Heath Crusaders from St Helens on 12 March.

Jamie Fields, who captained in Ben Shulver’s absence commented: “It was a tough day at the office ... we were a few men down but we can’t

afford to make excuses. The better side won but we’ll dust ourselves down and go again.”

It was back to winning ways on 19 March for the Old Boys – a second half fight back earning a valuable 20–32 victory at Twist Lane, the home to Leigh Miners Rangers.

Jamie Fields picked out the

younger players saying “Three 17-year-olds playing in the amateur game’s flagship competition and doing more than asked for us. That’s priceless and it’s talent we’ve got to look after.”

Parkside finished March with a 22-16 loss away at Siddall and lie 6th in the table.

Hunslet Club Parkside in action against Thatto Heath Crusaders Photo: Paul Butterfield

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24 Sporting Life

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Hunslet’s second wind sees off London Skolars

by Ian Pickles

H

unslet’s Betfred League 1 campaign for 2022 got off to a winning start at a sunny New River Stadium in North London on 26 March as they saw off a spirited London Skolars side 10-28.

It was a game of two halves really for the Parksiders who were a bit ring-rusty after a month’s break since their last outing at North Wales Crusaders in the Challenge Cup. Missing Captain Duane Straugheir (out with a hernia injury) Hunslet had to soak up some early Skolars pressure, but took the lead on the 6th minute when a Jack Render kick was followed up by Joe

Aaron Small who raced 70 yards to score despite being tailed by three Hunslet defenders. 10-4 Although London didn’t threaten again in the half, Hunslet could not mount a serious attack and trailing 10-4 at the break Coach Alan Kilshaw would have had some harsh words for his men.

The second half was like a different game. Only one minute in and Jack Mallinson dummied his way close to the line. When it looked like he was tackled he wriggled free to score and all of a sudden we were all square. Mallinson converting his own try 10-10.

The large try areas nearly proved costly for Hunslet when a London grubber kick wasn’t

There was further woe for London on 70 minutes when Hunslet’s Jack Render, trying to get the ball away, was upended in a spear tackle and the home side were reduced to 11 men for ten minutes.

With the two man advantage Hunslet now threatened at every turn. Rian Rowley went close before David Gibbons dummied his way over under the sticks. 10-22 Coming off the bench Ethan O’Hanlon caused havoc in the Skolars defence, and after one of his breaks Harvey Whiteley found a huge gap to sprint through to score 10-28.

Jack Mallinson converted and could be happy with his day picking up a try and four conversions whilst Jimmy

Valkyries Ride On South Leeds Valkyries is a locally-led women's basketball club, who meet every Thursday 6pm-7pm, currently in Cross Flatts Park. It’s free to take part (but donations welcome), and open to all women. More information at instagram.com/southleedsvalkyries, or call 07735 490209.

Moving forward with the Hunslet Rugby Foundation

by Jeremy Morton

T

Harvey Whiteley scores for Hunslet. Photo: Paul Johnson Phoenix Photography Summers to score. 0-4 Hunslet looked livelier with the ball, but unforced errors gave London field position from which they were able to get at Hunslet’s line. Having blown a couple of chances London finally broke the Parksiders defence when Jonathon Bell snuck over from close range. 64 The problem for Hunslet was they hardly ever completed a set in the first half, so it was constant pressure from the strong running Skolars forwards. Having said that, Hunslet’s line defence was good, and on 25 minutes a fortunate chip kick would have led to an almost certain try had it not been for quick thinking by fullback Jimmy Watson who read the play and blocked a pass mid-flight.

On a rare foray into the Skolars half Hunslet got over ambitious and a loose pass was intercepted by London’s

cleared. But luckily the ball was faster than the man and went dead before a London hand could touch down.

Hunslet came again and only a poor pass stopped Kiedan Hartley going over, moments later a Jordan Syme break came close to a score, but he couldn’t get the final pass away.

Hunslet were now on top, but the tide turned more in their favour when London had a man sent off for a head tackle on Jason Mossop. The Rugby League have now clamped down on any tackles around the head this season after serious cases of concussion, and so far it has been fairly controversial.

No complaints on this occasion though, and happily Mossop continued and on 66 minutes sharp passing after a repeat set gave him the opportunity to score and put the Parksiders in front 10-16.

Watson and Jason Mossop had good games in the backs.

The Parkside Ex-players association Man of the Match chosen by the players went to Ethan O’Hanlon who always impresses off the bench, but Harvey Hallas was also a stand out in the pack.

Coach Alan Kilshaw was not happy with his side's retention in the first half, only completing one set, but conceded their line defence was good. He must have liked what he saw in the second period though and although there will be stiffer tests to come it’s a win away from home.

Hunslet play Oldham at the South Leeds Stadium on Sunday 3 April when they will officially open the Geoff Gunney Stand, kick off 3pm.

The next home match is on Good Friday, 15 April, when they face Keighley Cougars under the lights, kick off 7:30pm.

wo Belle Isle lads who first worked together collecting glasses at Hunslet Labour Club are now driving the Hunslet Rugby Foundation forwards.

Tyler Finister has recently been appointed as Development Officer, whilst Michael Nuttall has moved up to Foundation Manager. The pair are running a range of activities supporting rugby league in the South Leeds community.

A partnership with the Luke Gale Academy has enabled the Foundation to increase its activities. As well as working with schools and community clubs such as Hunslet Warriors, Hunslet Club Parkside and Beeston Broncos, they are running two clubs aimed at older members of the rugby fraternity and a Touch & Pass activity for the over 40s.

The Monday Club meets weekly, 9:45-11:45am in the Phoenix Bar at South Leeds Stadium. The table tennis table is always out as well as board games and cards.

Michael and Tyler are supporting a growing group and encouraging them to use technology with daily check in messages on WhatsApp. Touch & Pass takes place every Wednesday, 6:30-

7:30pm, at Hunslet Warriors, on the Oval opposite Morrisons.

It’s a great way to stay fit and keep in touch with rugby and is open to anyone over 40 to join.

The Friday Breakfast Club is back after taking a break due to the pandemic. It’s a social drop in at the Phoenix Bar, enjoy a bacon butty and a cup of tea between 10am-12pm.

Tyler Finister

Former players are often present so the conversation often turns to rugby down the years, but everyone is welcome.

The Foundation’s latest project is to work with secondary school students who got out of the habit of exercise during lockdown. Return to Play aims to help them get moving and join local community clubs.