South Leeds Life 96 April 2023

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

BUS CUTS HIT SOUTH LEEDS

First Bus to reduce timetables and cancel routes from 2 April

First Bus have announced a number of cuts to buses serving South Leeds ranging from reduced timetables to the cancellation of some routes.

The changes will come into force on Sunday 2 April and will see the cancellation of the 9, 48 and 87 services as well as reduced services on the 9A, 47, PR1 and PR3 routes (full details on page 4).

First Bus blame low passenger numbers and say that the Government’s Bus Recovery Grant does not enable them to keep every route open. The Bus Recovery Grant was introduced by the Government during Covid and had been due to stop in April, but has recently been extend by three months.

Kayleigh Ingham, Commercial Director of First West Yorkshire, said:

“We have worked closely with the (West Yorkshire) Combined Authority (WYCA) to maintain connectivity where possible. Unfortunately some of these journeys are no longer viable given low levels of utilisation and increased operating costs, whilst WYCA has chosen to revise or withdraw some of these expired contracts for the same reasons.”

Obituary: Patricia Jackson page 7

Friendship across the generations page 9

Gritters named by local children page 11

One woman told a Cottingley residents meeting:

“I don’t know how I’m going to get to work from April after these cuts. On top of that my son keeps getting detention for being late to school because the bus doesn’t come. Something needs to be done.”

Leeds City Councillors have reacted angrily too with Councillor Helen Hayden, Executive Member for Highways, saying:

“I can’t believe we are here again. We know that the situation for buses is difficult at this moment no matter who is running them.

“Whilst this list of routes is shorter than it could have been, for some further routes it is at best a temporary stay. We are seeing a wide raft of service reductions and withdrawals due to the Government’s continued dithering over funding.

“This is more short-term sticking plasters solutions at the 11th hour and the Government needs to get its finger out and put in place some long term funding for buses so we can all have some long term certainty, rather than facing this problem again in June.

“This comes on the back of

30 years of decline since deregulation of the bus sector put the power to choose routes into the hands of the operators. We may have made different choices to address this funding shortfall, helping protect those communities most in need, but private operators will always choose to focus on financially profitable routes.

“This is just one of the reasons we continue to support the Mayor’s pledge to bring buses back into public ownership.”

Cllr Peter Carlill, Lead

Member for Sustainable Transport, added:

“Buses form a crucial link for many of our communities and it is vital that we don’t see any reductions that will sever those connections. It’s the most frequently used form of public transport, is more sustainable, and often the most affordable for people.

“Leeds is losing vital community connections, with many of the routes pulled being orbital or inter-community. City centre routes are important, but we want to see companies

Carving on the corner page 19

investing more into these local routes between nearby communities such as Horsforth to Pudsey or Morley to East Ardsley.

“Now more than ever people need to know their bus is going to be able to get them to work so they don’t lose wages or, worse, their position.

“We’re calling on the Government to provide sustainable long term funding for buses in Leeds, as they receive in London, to allow us meet our ambitions to grow and improve the network.”

A football club of Sanctuary page 24

The 87 route is being axed

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.

Plans approved for major development on strategic Kays site in Holbeck

it as a pub.

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.

Contact us

South Leeds Life CIC 224 Cross Flatts Grove, Leeds, LS11 7BW

Email: info@southleedslife.com

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Phone: 07894 583966

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South Leeds Life is regulated by IMPRESS and adheres to its standards code.

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

A copy of our complaints policy is available via our website at southleedslife.com/complaintsprocedure, or on request.

Councillors

on the City Plans Panel have approved plans for the redevelopment of the former Kays warehouse site in Holbeck at their meeting on 23 March.

The site, bordered by Nineveh Road, Marshall Street and Sweet

Street and adjacent to the Holbeck rail depot, has lain derelict for many years. The site formerly housed the Kays Catalogue warehouse which was built in 1981 and deolished following closure in 2004.

The site includes the historic

Commerial Inn on the corner of Sweet Street and Marshall Street. The rail union ASLEF was founded here and the pub was run by Leeds United legend Peter Lorimer for many years. The plans are to refurbish the Commercial and retain

Phase 1 of the development, which has recieved full planning permission (subject to conditions) comprises 451 flats in a residential block of three linked towers of 10, 12 and 14 storeys running west along Sweet Street; an 8 storey office block facing Marshall Street; the renovation and extension of the Commerial pub on the corner of Sweet Street and Marshall Street; and a 4 storey ‘pavilion’ providing social spaces for the new residents.

As well as residential and office uses, ground floor accommodation across the scheme will be available retail, hospitality and other commercial uses.

Phase 2 of the development gained outline planning permission for up to 900 more flats in two 14 storey blocks and one 30 storey block; plus a second 6 storey office block.

Councillors accepted that the developers could not deliver all the usual planning requirements due to viability issues. However, the scheme will contribue £896,000 to improvements on Bath Road; pay for a pedestrian crossing over Ninevah Road close to the Marshall Street junction; and create some ‘afforable’ private rented flats.

Two options for the reduced planning obligations were put to the Panel with a different mix of elements. One would include 82 ‘affordable’ units, the other 44 units. The decision on which option to choose was deferred to consult with Beeston & Holbeck ward Councillors.

Local firm takes Council to court

Alocal business, Instaplanta (Yorkshire) Ltd has taken Leeds City Council to the Competition Appeal Tribunal claiming the local authority is using its position to block Instaplanta’s business unfairly.

The row has been going on for years as we reported back in September 2020, the firm based in Hunslet Moor and co-run by resident Malcolm Simpson, install and maintain wooden planters with floral displays along major roads and streets; these generate income by carrying advertising boards for local businesses.

They have 200 planters around West Yorkshire, but only 20 in Leeds – because, ever since starting out in 2015, they have struggled to get permission from Leeds City Council for their planters.

Their applications have repeatedly been turned down, for a variety of reasons – but Instaplanta insist that the Council’s underlying reason is to protect their own roadside advertising income (worth £200,000 per year).

Having gone through the Council’s internal complaints processes, Malcolm Simpson says he was left with no option but pursue the matter to the Competition Appeal Tribunal, with all the legal costs of

Solicitors and Barristers on both sides.

A preliminary hearing, called a Case Conference, took place in February in London. The full hearing is expected to be scheduled for the autumn.

“It’s a shame that it’s come to this because we’ve tried to bring this to an amicable resolution. The last place we wanted this to end up in a

court room. We’re both Leeds citizens, we both worked for the Council, but we had no other alternative. I just think it’s an absolute waste of taxpayers money defending this case.”

He said the Council operated one rule for Instaplanta and another for other planters.

Asked if Instaplanta were prepared to settle ‘out of court’

Malcolm Simpson said:

“We’ve always been open to negotiation, if the Council want to get in touch with our legal team, we’re always there to listen.”

A spokesperson for Leeds City Council said:

“We are not in a position to comment on this matter as it is the subject of an ongoing legal process.”

CGI of the development showing blocks with full approval and those (in white) with outline approval

Instaplanta’s Malcolm Simpson believes the case is waste of taxpayers money

Sponsor a tree on the ‘Old Nine’ in Middleton Park

The‘Old Nine’ Tree Trail at Middleton Park is a joint project between Wade’s Charity, The Friends of Middleton Park and Leeds City Council, where the old municipal golf couse is being planted with a collection of specimen trees native to Britain.

The aim is to create a ‘Tree Trail’ that can be enjoyed by generations to come, along with an avenue of spring flowing trees and wild flower meadows to encourage visitors to the park and to help them benefit from their interaction with the outdoors both in terms of physical and mental wellbeing.

The first 25 trees have been planted over the last two years, but we hope to plant another 60 trees over the coming years to complete the tree trail and avenue, with another batch of tree planting this coming winter.

There are a number of sponsorship opportunities where local businesses and members of the public can

help to complete the ‘Old Nine’ Tree Trail by sponsoring specimen trees, blossom trees or hardwood benches.

Many reasons exist to become involved with sponsoring a tree. Maybe individuals want a memorial to a lost loved one, or a tree they can watch flourish over the years as a celebration. For

businesses it is a great way to enhance their green credentials and take advantage of the benefits of carbon off-setting by planting trees.

Guide prices for trees are £600, but sponsors will receive a certificate, their name on a tree tag and a mention in publicity when the trail is

Book proposes vote for honesty in elections

With trust in politicians at an all time low, a new book proposes a way forward. The impact of dishonesty is far reaching. People sometimes vote for parties believing they stand for something they believe in, when the reality is the opposite. Rhetoric is confusing.

Local elections in South Leeds on 4 May

Author Ann Whitehead

Ann Whitehead’s book ‘Vote for Honesty and Get Democracy Done: Four Simple Steps to Change Politics’ describes an accessible, politically neutral plan of action to encourage political change which seeks solutions to the increasing problem of dishonest behaviour by some UK politicians.

Reviewing her book, Cllr Ed Carlisle (Green, Riverside and Hunslet) said:

“Ann’s book is a succinct single proposal for shaking up and improving politics in Britain. Likely to interest pretty much anyone engaged in politics – and maybe give hope, and an avenue for action, to those who’ve

previously been put off.”

The proposal in the book is setting up a Vote for Honesty Campaign for the 2024 General Election. The campaign will use public pressure to enforce political honesty through legal compliance. The public can then hugely reduce political dishonesty by simply ‘Lending their Vote in 2024’ and only voting for a candidate that has signed the Vote for Honesty Contract. Positive change is possible. A simple solution to a complex problem.

It is estimated that up to 9 million people are not registered to vote. Of those that are only 67% voted in the 2019 general election. Figures are even lower in local elections. Added together that means that only around half of British adults are choosing to get involved with voting.

The first step to improving this is make sure people are registered to vote.

The Vote for Honesty Contract does not exist yet – it will do before the 2024 General Election. Vote for Honesty makes ten

complete and the final 25 trees planted. The cost of sponsoring a Hardwood bench is £750 and would include a plaque with the sponsors name on the bench.

If you are interested in helping us, please contact the Middleton Park Estate Team on (0113) 378 6002 or email parks@leeds.gov.uk

suggestions on what the contract may contain.

Participating candidates will sign a Vote for Honesty contract which is not a manifesto pledge, but an actual contract. In the event of an individual being elected, and not voting for the Honesty Bill, there is a financial cost to the MP for breaking their contract and not doing what they say they will.

The Vote for Honesty campaign is politically neutral and cross party. It aims to counter the threats to our democratic rights by improving the quality of political information available to the electorate. Such a campaign can result in the public having more trust in our political system.

Join the author for a chat at the Dolce Vita Café, 287 Beeston Road, LS11 7HX on Monday 17 April at 11am and get help registering to vote. If you think voting is pointless come anyway and we can have a friendly chat about that too. Buy Vote for Honesty for what you can afford at this event.

Vote for Honesty and Get Democracy Done: Four Simple Steps to Change Politics by Ann Whitehead is published by Claret Press and available from Amazon, Waterstones and via any independent book shop. Further information votefor honesty2024@gmail.com

by Jeremy Morton

Elections for Leeds City Councillors will take place on Thursday 4 May 2022.

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

Cllrs Andrew Scopes and Paul Wray will be contesting their seats in Beeston & Holbeck and Hunslet & Riverside wards respectively, whilst a new Councillor will be elected in Middleton Park ward following the retirement of Paul Truswell.

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 Tuesday 4 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.

Full details with links to join the meeting and how to put your questions will be published on our website.

The dates will be as follows: Tuesday 25 April Hunslet & Riverside ward; Wednesday 26 April Middleton Park ward; and Thursday 27 April Beeston & Holbeck ward.

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/yourcouncil/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.

As we reported last month, if you wish to vote in person at a polling station, you will need to produce photo ID such as a passport or driving licence. If you do not have an acceptable form of ID you can apply for one for free online via electoral commission.org.uk/voterID or by completing a paper form. Inperson applications can also be taken at community hubs and libraries across Leeds. The deadline for applying for voting ID is 5pm on Tuesday 25 April.

Photo ID is not required for postal voting at this election. If you wish to register for a postal vote the deadline to apply is 5pm on Tuesday 18 April. Find out more at: www.leeds.gov.uk/yourcouncil/elections/postalvoting

If you wish someone to vote on your behalf, you can apply for vote by proxy. The person voting for you will need photo ID. You must apply by 5pm on Tuesday 18 April. Find out more at www.leeds.gov.uk/yourcouncil/elections/proxy-voting

We expect that votes will be counted and results declared on Friday 5 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.

One of the new specimen trees on the ‘Old Nine’

On the beat with

Insp Tom Perry

Thismonth I would like to discuss one of the force’s current campaigns and one of our own.

West Yorkshire Police has launched its new deployment strategy for road safety cameras. The West Yorkshire Police Camera Enforcement Unit deploys mobile and fixed speed cameras, as well as redlight safety cameras to make our roads safer. In 2022, 65 people were killed and over 5,000 injured on the roads of West Yorkshire. Many of these collisions were preventable.

Excessive or inappropriate speed is one of the most common factors in serious injury collisions. South Leeds is no different in this respect and has had a number of serious and fatal collisions.

The way safety cameras are being deployed in the county is changing as a result. Cameras will continue to be deployed to high risk areas with a history of fatal or serious injury collisions. Mobile cameras may be deployed at areas of concern, but significantly, before serious collisions have occurred.

High visibility enforcement will continue; however, some sites may be enforced without signage being present. This is intended to encourage safe speed across Leeds South and the rest of the city and force area. Speed limit signs will still be displayed where legally

required to do so. The use of average speed technology will be expanded as part of this scheme. This is a really positive step towards safer driving standards across South Leeds and beyond.

On Wednesday 12 April, your Neighbourhood Policing Team will be present at the White Rose Shopping Centre, staffing a number of community engagement stands.

Officers and PCSOs will be present to engage with members of the public around a variety of issues and concerns.

Members of the West Yorkshire Police Positive Action Team will be present to field questions and queries around a career in policing, how to join and any other questions you may have around police recruitment. Members of your Neighbourhood Policing Team will also be available to discuss local issues and concerns.

We will also be making available our mini-uniforms for children who can try on hats, helmets, jackets and harnesses, as well as trying out some riot shields. We also hope to have colleagues from our Crime Scene Investigation department, who can introduce children to some of their scientific techniques used to catch criminals.

This promises to be a fun, interactive and informative

Local children’s home rated ‘Outstanding’

opportunity to engage with some of your local Neighbourhood Police Team and I hope that you get the opportunity to come and engage with us.

Earlier this month I was proud to have attended the force training centre at Carr Gate to represent Leeds District at the Force Citizens in Policing Awards. These awards honoured Special Constables, Volunteers and Police Cadets who give their time to support Policing and by extension the wider local community.

There were some really inspiring stories of hundreds of hours of time being given by individuals and teams. I was proud to see that the Leeds South Cadet Leaders were runners up in Team of the Year, which was a fantastic achievement by some dedicated and passionate young people.

Policing is broader than the Officers and PCSOs that make up the bulk of our numbers. Special constables, Staff Volunteers and Cadets all have a really important part to play in the delivery of policing to communities. If you would like to volunteer in some capacity, or would like to find out more about the available opportunities, more information can be found at; www.westyorkshire.police.uk/ jobs-volunteer

Alocal South Leeds children’s home, Fountain House, has received an Outstanding Ofsted rating following a recent inspection.

The home, run by Five Rivers Child Care provides children with specialist care, education and therapy.

The home is a very specialised location for children who have experienced trauma, abuse or neglect and are unable to cope with a ‘normal’ family foster setting yet.

This report recognises the exceptional quality of work and dedication of the caring staff who help to give children brighter futures. The report also praises the Manager of the children’s home, describing them as “forward-thinking” and promoting “a learning culture”.

The report, published this week, recognised how Fountain

House:

“Is an exceptionally happy family home, with the children’s presence felt, seen and heard. Children love living here. They have fun and make phenomenal progress. The quality of children’s lives significantly improves because of their experience of living in the home.”

Five Rivers Child Care, a social enterprise, provides safe, homely environments and specialist trauma-informed care for children with complex needs. Care staff and psychologists work one to one with children to establish positive relationships, good communication and healthy routines.

The report highlights how the Manager “uses researchinformed practice to continually develop the staff’s skills and knowledge” and how “learning

is disseminated through meticulously planned team meetings.” This means that the staff continually update their practice so that the children are cared for by a highly skilled team.

Reflecting on the report, the home’s Manager Stacey Wagstaffe says,

“It shows the dedication and commitment of the team. The children are making great progress and we love our Fountain House Family. We are delighted with the inspection and will continue learning and improving.”

To find out more about Five Rivers Child Care, or if you would like to find out more about starting a career in residential care, visit: www.fiverivers.org

You can read the full report at: bit.ly/SC001452

South Leeds bus cuts in full

The following changes will come into effect on Sunday 2 April:

9 & 9A formerly ran from Horsforth and Pudsey via White Rose Shopping Centre and Middleton to Seacroft. The service will no longer serve Horsforth and Pudsey, but start at White Rose, except for one bus a day for students attending Elliott Hudson College. The Sunday service will reduce from hourly to two hourly.

47 runs from Leeds through Hunslet, Belle Isle, Middleton, Morley and Cottingley to White Rose Shopping Centre. This service will be rerouted to operate directly from Newhall Road to St George’s Road via

Sharp Lane, omitting Manor Farm, Middleton Park Circus and Middleton Park Road.

48 which ran from north Leeds through Hunslet, Belle Isle and Middleton to Morley will be withdrawn

48A will be renumbered 47A

51 & 52 which runs from Tingley and Morley via Cottingley to Leeds and then to Moor Allerton will now terminate in the city centre.

New services 38 and 39 will run on the northern section. There are significant changes to early morning and late evening services.

87 which ran from Bramley through Holbeck, Beeston Hill and Hunslet to Leeds and St James’s Hospital on evenings

and Sundays will be withdrawn.

PR1 the Elland Road Park & Ride. Journeys before 7am and after 6:30pm will be withdrawn. Off-peak frequency will be reduced from every 15 minutes to every 20 minutes. Saturday and Sunday services will be withdrawn.

PR3 the Stourton Park & Ride. Journeys after 7:30pm will be withdrawn. Off-peak and Saturday frequency will be reduced from every 15 minutes to every 20 minutes, and early morning / evening frequency will also be reduced. The Sunday service will be withdrawn.

For full details of the new schedules go to: www.wymetro.com/buses

Fountain House supports children who have suffered trauma, abuse or neglect

ICNN and Google deal is a game changer for community journalism

SouthLeeds Life is delighted to announce that we are one of forty-five independent community news outlets to sign up to the Google News Showcase in a deal brokered by the Independent Community News Network (ICNN).

In a deal that is one-of-a-kind for independent publishers in the UK, ICNN has partnered with Google via its public interest news gateway: Ping News.

The financial support provided by Google will help build much-needed sustainability and cements the sector within the wider journalism ecosystem.

For South Leeds Life the income is likely to meet the shortfall created by the dramatic rise in printing costs, which threatened the South Leeds Life newspaper.

We now have access to new ways to reach our audiences, grow our readership and generate additional income.

To date the majority of organisations that have

partnered with Google on the Showcase project have been traditional news publishers.

Access to trusted news is essential for a robust democracy, and nowhere is journalism more trusted and more valued than at the local and hyperlocal level.

Deputy Director of ICNN, Matt Abbott said:

“This is game-changing for independent journalism in the UK and we are delighted to expand our relationship with Google to bring this partnership together.

“Google News Showcase is an extremely important initiative that highlights the value of local news.

“By partnering with Ping News, Google is not only helping the independent sector become more sustainable but is acknowledging the enormous contribution hyperlocal journalism makes to public interest news in the UK.”

“Additionally, Google’s support of the Ping! platform –the Public Interest News Gateway – means regional and

Thank you

to our subscribers and sponsors for supporting South Leeds Life

national publishers will soon be able to access rich multimedia content from every region of the UK on demand, from hundreds of professional independent community journalists.”

Ping! developed and built in partnership with Bristol-based web app development company Omni Digital, is due to launch in May 2023.

Vice President of Google and Managing Director of Google UK & Ireland, Debbie Weinstein said:

“In uncertain times, having easy access to reliable information through trusted sources on the internet is more important than ever. That’s why for more than two decades we’ve focused on connecting people with facts and journalism they can trust.

“Today, we’re excited to extend Showcase licensing deals to 45 smaller independent news titles thanks to a partnership with Ping News, a new public interest news gateway set up by the team at ICNN.”

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Welaunched our funding appeal last September in the face of a huge rise in printing costs and we have been humbled by your response.

We were worried that we might have to stop printing the newspaper, but a grant from our local Councillors on the Innner South Community Committee and the deal ICNN has struck with Google (see above) mean we should be OK for the next 12 months or so.

However, for long term viability we still need to sign up more individual subscribers and more organisational sponsors.

The reason is that this income avoids us being ‘in hoc’ to any vested interest.

No one has tried to put pressure on us yet, but we

don’t want leave ourselves open to that happening in the future.

We know the whole country is suffering from the cost of living crisis and we know many of our readers are facing stark choices about heating and food.

We will never charge you to read the news, it’s very important to us that everyone in our community can access local community news.

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Development site released at Aire Park

Leeds City Council has released a plot of land for development. The plot just south of Leeds Bridge, has been created by the narrowing of Meadow Lane from four lanes and a car park, to two lanes. Cllr James Lewis, leader of Leeds City Council said:

“The council is committed to continuing to help unlock major commercial and residential development across the South Bank. This is one example of where we have been able to release a prime piece of land, for better use.”

Buy a bench for Beeston

New climate action funding pot launched

by Sarah Bradley-Adam

Apioneering grants fund

with £150,000 to give to local Leeds-based organisations and groups opened on 15 March.

by Linda Stanley

Itdoesn’t seem that long since we were celebrating the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee – hanging out bunting, painting everything purple and holding tea parties.

New CEO at Leeds Credit Union

Financial services provider

Leeds Credit Union (LCU) has made a key appointment to its senior management team.

Mark Fleet has joined as CEO, where he will continue to grow the credit union, strengthen support for the communities in which it operates and attempt to reach – and help –as many financially vulnerable people as possible.

Mr Fleet has more than 35 years’ experience in the financial services industry.

This year we are celebrating again and it’s something that many of you will not have experienced before – the coronation of a new monarch.

Beeston in Bloom would like to mark the occasion by installing a commemorative bench. We have chosen a design and are planning on installing it in a prominent position on Old Lane, outside St Andrews Church.

As our regular followers know, we have been successful in raising money from various sources, but at over £2,000,

this is a considerable purchase.

I often hear people say they would like to help our group, but are unable to due to health problems or work commitments.

Well, here is your opportunity to step up. We know that times are difficult at the moment, but any amount however small, would be great.

This will be a legacy for our area and show everyone how generous the people of Beeston can be.

We have set up a donation page on the Local Giving website and to make your donation all you have to do is log on to localgiving.org/ charity/beestoninbloom/ project/coronationbench

However, we will also accept cheques, postal orders or cash!

Book your stall at Beeston Festival

Harrison Spinks invest in US operation

Beeston bedmaker Harrison

Spinks has invested in a new distribution centre in Los Angeles – its first ever US facility – which will stock four of its most popular Britishmade mattresses for clients across North America.

The 180-year-old family business, has made a significant six-figure investment in the LA facility to benefit customers in the United States.

Book a stall in the Festival’s vibrant

The 2023 Beeston Festival will take place on Saturday 24 June in Cross Flatts Park and the festival are now taking bookings from individuals and organisations who would like a stall in their Bazaar.

The Bazaar is always a vibrant part of the festival site, with up to 100 stalls spread out along the paths at the top of the park. Food stalls will be organised in a central Food Court next to the spoken word and accoustic ‘Emerge’ stage.

The festival operates a sliding scale of charges depending what type of

In partnership with the National Lottery Climate Action Fund, Climate Action Leeds, Leeds Community Foundation and Together for Peace, the fund will award grants of up to £5,000 to local organisations, with an idea for new initiatives that encourage nature or reduce carbon.

Shahed Molvi of Leeds Community Foundation, who are partners in the scheme, said:

“Whether it’s a community composting scheme or a local clothing swap, any group that is based in Leeds, with an idea for taking climate action in their local area, can apply.”

Any Leeds-based group or organisation can apply, so long as they have an annual income

of less than £150,000.

Sue Hoey of Together For Peace said:

“Local groups all over the city have great ideas to reduce carbon, promote naturefriendly activity, or increase social justice. Helping people realise those ideas, and use their knowledge, is what this fund is all about.”

Anybody who is interested in applying to apply to Climate Action Leeds Community

Grants fund can find out more on the ‘Open Grants’ page of the Leeds Community Foundation website here: www.leedscf.org.uk/opengrants

The deadline for applications in this window is 12 noon on Monday 24 April 2023. The fund will also be open for applications twice more in 2023, with applications opening in mid June and early October.

Hamara marks year’s achievements at AGM

by Josie Binns

Hamara celebrated another successful year at its Annual General Meeting (AGM) on 23 February 2023.

Hamara is a community anchor within Leeds and is working on a number of city wide projects within Leeds.

organisation is booking are and what they are selling. Payments can now be made online to streamline the booking process.

To book a stall and make your payment use the online form at: bit.ly/BFstalls

Stall bookings will close on Friday 26 May 2023, or earlier if all available pitches sell out sooner, so make sure you place your booking in good time.

The festival has published answers to a list of Frequently Asked Questions here and their full Terms & Conditions online at beestonfestival.org.uk

Hamara has supported over 100,000 beneficiaries since the start of Covid and continues to deliver life changing programmes including social prescribing, Older Peoples network, Day Opportunity service for adults with learning disabilities, youth provision and a Saturday school for primary school young persons to name a few. They also run a city wide cultural food hub supporting 36 smaller organisations, a food bank service and is proposing to become an infrastructure provider to smaller organisations within Leeds to support with finance, governance, fundraising and HR.

The Chair of Hamara, Cllr Mohammed Iqbal (Labour, Hunslet & Riverside) paid tribute to the late Chair, Mohammed Farouk and vowed to continue to help the

communities of South Leeds. He also praised the staff team who have shown dedication and commitment to supporting the most vulnerable within South Leeds and beyond.

Hentons, who prepare and conduct a full statutory audit for Hamara, presented a very robust set of annual accounts and audit report for the year ending 31 March 2022. Details can be found on the Charities Commission website.

The Interim Director, Raheem Mohammed spoke about the many different strands of work Hamara currently undertakes and provided an update on The Cockburn Centre development which has recently been sent out for a full competitive

tendering exercise. For further information, please visit our website www.hamara.org.uk.

Raheem also spoke about renovations for Hamara’s gym and wellbeing hub, primarily funded by Sport England for the sum of £350k. These works have started now and are due to be completed by the end of June 2023. The new plans include a 3-story lift to improve accessibility, a steam room, new changing facilities with showers and includes a Disability Sports Activator role for 1 year funded by Sport England. We are very excited about this project and can’t wait to open the doors to a newly refurbished gym for all the community.

Bazaar

The Coronation Bench will be installed on Old Lane

Planting a community garden at Involve in Hunslet

Mamadi Fofana (Finance Officer), Cllr Paul Wray (local Councillor) Raheem Mohammed (Interim Director), Cllr Mohammed Iqbal (Chair of Hamara), Arnie Sajad (Project Lead, The Cockburn Centre), Najeen Rasool (Operations Manager)

Cottingley station to close Obituary: Patricia Jackson, community stalwart 1941-2023

by Stewart Walton

the community and wanted to make a difference.”

CGI of the new White Rose station

TheWest Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) has now confirmed that Cottingley station will close once the new White Rose station is completed and opened. The closure was approved by the the Office of Rail and Road in a letter dated 27 February 2023.

In light of the closure, local Councillors are demanding that proper, accessible walking routes are created, as well as better bus transport links to the surrounding area, that will allow residents affected by the Cottingley station closure to

access the benefits of the new White Rose station.

“A new, improved station and service is no good to our residents if they can’t reach it” said Cllr Andrew Scopes (Labour, Beeston & Holbeck).

“That’s why I am demanding that high quality, accessible routes between Cottingley and the new station are built so they aren’t left bereft of the public transport that many rely on.”

The £24 million White Rose station will open later this year at which point Cottingley station will be closed.

Patricia

(Pat) Marjory Jackson (Nee Gavins), 19 September 1941 – 24 February 2023, sadly passed away in hospital on 24 February aged 81.

Pat did a great deal for the community of Hunslet. The area has lost a great asset.

Pat’s daughter, Nicola said: “Mum was Chair of the Hunslet Tenants & Residents Association (TATA) for 10 years, she was part of South Leeds Carers, was a trustee with Voluntary Action Leeds (VAL), on the board of South Leeds Life and had been involved with three research groups, which included peer reviewing and supporting the delivery and treatment of mental health in Yorkshire and the Humber.

“She had been Women's Officer for the Labour Party and been involved in party work at the local level. She wanted to improve the lives of people in

Pat was a loving mother and devoted wife to the late Dennis and will be sadly missed by her children, Jacqueline, Louise, Dennis, Geoffrey, Nicola, Alan, Andrew and James; and by her many grandchildren and great grandchildren.

The funeral was held at Lawnswood crematorium on Friday 24 March.

Pat’s family didn’t want flowers, but donations would be appreciated for any of the following charities, Cerebra, Alzheimers Research, or Cancer Research in her memory.

Pat will be sadly missed, remember her by raising a glass.

Jeremy Morton adds: Pat was a great supporter of South Leeds Life, helping distribute editions of the newspaper around Hunslet as well as serving on the Board. She will be greatly missed.

Pat Jackson

Money matters with Leeds Credit Union

Advice on spring cleaning your finances

Witha new season just around the corner, now is the perfect time to give your finances a good spring clean and a boost for the rest of the year. Stephen Porter, Head of Member Experience at Leeds Credit Union, explains how. Spring is a time of renewal and rejuvenation and it's also the perfect time to take a look at your finances and give them a good tidy up. Whether you're trying to pay off debt, save for a big purchase or simply get a better handle on your finances, here are some tips to help you spruce them up this spring.

Review your budget: Start 1 by taking a look at your budget and reviewing your expenses from the past few months. Are there any areas where you can cut back? Are you overspending in certain categories? Make adjustments to your budget as needed to ensure that you're living within your means.

Pay off debt: If you have 2 any outstanding debt, now is the time to focus on paying it off. Start by prioritising your debts and paying off the ones with the highest interest rates first. Consider consolidating your debts with a debt consolidation loan that has a lower interest rate to make your repayments more manageable.

Bins boss quizzed by Cottingley residents

Check your credit report: 3 Your credit score is an important factor in determining your ability to obtain credit and the interest rate you'll be charged. Review your credit report and check for errors or inaccuracies that may be negatively affecting your score. Dispute any errors and work on improving your credit score by paying your bills on time and keeping your credit utilisation low.

Shop around for better 4 deals: Review your bills and subscriptions, such as your internet or mobile phone plan, and see if you can find a better deal by switching providers or negotiating with your current provider. Also, take a look at your insurance policies and compare rates to ensure you're

getting the best deal. Set financial goals: 5 Finally, set some financial goals for the year ahead. Whether it's paying off a credit card balance or building up an emergency savings fund, having clear goals can help you stay motivated and focused on achieving financial success.

In conclusion, spring is the perfect time to take a close look at your finances and make any necessary adjustments. By following these tips, you can tidy up your finances and set yourself on the path to financial success. Remember, a little effort now can pay off handsomely in the long run!

Leeds Credit Union provides straightforward and affordable financial services to people in Leeds.

Leeds City Council’s head of environmental services was quizzed about the poor performance of refuse collection on the Cottingley Hall estate by residents at a meeting on 15 March.

John Woolmer attended the meeting of Cottingley Hall TRAC at the community centre following questions being raised at the Inner South Community Committee back in November. Residents complained that bin and bag collections were regularly being missed.

John Woolmer said a number of factors was contributing to the problems, but he accepted that the service needed to improve.

Cottingley Hall estate was designed to segregate cars and people with homes opening onto footpaths rather than roads. The regular crews know their way around the estate, but replacement crews struggle with the layout. In addition, many properties cannot have wheelie bins due to steps, etc and crews who don’t know the area often mis bag collections.

Bin crews have amassed a lot of extra leave, covering colleagues’ sickness absence through the Covid pandemic. All leave had be taken by the end of March, or lost. This had resulted in far more replacement crews working on the estate,

but the problem should now improve. John Woolmer pledged to make sure at least one crew member on every collection was familiar with the estate.

Cllr Andrew Scopes (Labour, Beeston & Holbeck) suggested that crews should have a physical list of all bag collections and assisted bin collections which they would have to tick off. John Woolmer said this was impractical.

“Can you imagine the state of a sheet of paper that’s been in and out of a crew members pocket. This is hard physical work, these guys pull 10 tons of bins every day.”

Asked about moving to fortnightly green bin collections, John Woolmer said that this was going to be extended this year, but explained that such changes were very complex and have to be redesigned carefully and then introduced across the city. This is likely to happen later this year probably in the autumn.

The service redesign will also look at streets that are

regularly blocked. Possible solutions are to use a smaller wagon, restrict parking and improve road marking. He said he couldn’t instruct a driver to go down a street they weren’t confident they could get in and out of safely. Some drivers are more experienced and confident handling such a large (and expensive) vehicle.

The TRAC committee offered to work with managers on the ground to ensure that the locations residents bring their bins to were accessible to the crews.

Asked about the attitude of some staff, John Woolmer said he would not tolerate abusive behaviour, but he needed information – especially the date, time and location – of the incident so that managers could follow it up. Most lorries are fitted with CCTV which can be reviewed, and then staff can be challenged.

Finally, John Woolmer asked if he could come back to a future residents meeting later in the summer by which time he hoped the service would have improved significantly.

The meeting was held at Cottingley Community Centre

Photo: Shutterstock

by Jeremy Morton

Farnley Beck flood scheme finished

Workhas been completed on the Farnley Wood Beck flood alleviation scheme which reduces the flood risk to 15 properties and key infrastructure at the bottom of Churwell Hill.

Old Road, and properties on Old Close suffered two notable flooding events in 2000 and 2005. Prior to the completion of the scheme the risk of flooding to these properties was estimated to be greater than a 5% chance of flooding in any given year.

The £1m scheme was completed in February, and reduces the risk of flooding from Farnley Wood Beck in this area to a 1% chance in any given year (a 1-in-100-year standard of protection).

Celebrating friendships between generations

Residents rally round after charity break-ins

The Friends of Hunslet Moor (FoHM) community hub,the former bowling hut behind Crescent Towers on Hunslet Moor, was broken into early hours of 2 March.

The intruders emptied food cupboards and freezers. The food stolen was food used to feed Champion’s Soccer

Saturday football and Healthy Holidays Camp.

They also stole all 150 Easter eggs, Easter prizes and a big tub of chocolate for our chocolate tombola which was all bought for our upcoming Easter Sunday event.

Lots more items were stolen including donated Christmas

presents, a microwave, a bicycle and the FoHM debit card. The card was then used at the Jet garage on Dewsbury Road at 2:25am on Thursday.

Brenda Barlow, Chair of FoHM said:

“The heartbreaking thing is most of the items stolen were for our future events planned for Easter, coronation day and an afternoon cream tea for the elderly. It’s all stuff we give to our community.

“Our Easter event will still happen, we will not let this get us down.”

The community responded asking how they could help replace the stolen items and a Go Fund Me page was been set up.

The £500 target was quickly smashed and to

date £1,200 has been raised for the group.

Brenda Barlow said she was overwhelmed by people’s generosity and thanked South Leeds Life for publishing the story online.

However, a second charity, the Salvation Army, which runs a food bank on nearby Hunslet Hall Road also suffered a break in.

Dean Smith from the Recovery Runners group explains:

“At Christmas 2022 Recovery Runners in Leeds helped raise and collect donations for this South Leeds food bank. Little did we know at the time that their stocks were running incredibly low. Move forward to this week and burglars have broken in, stolen their safe, donation boxes and all the food. We urgently need to restock this community saving food bank.”

Dean’s response was to set set up a Just Giving page which you can support by going to: bit.ly/SallyArmyFoodBank

Dean continued: “Please give whatever you can big or small to help those in the community that need this service. Let's show the world what Leeds can do when we all pull together for a good cause.”

The scheme involved the removal of a redundant mill chase structure in the channel and vegetation management to reduce the risk of woody debris causing blockages downstream. The mill chase no longer provided any useful function and was in poor condition with risk of collapse leading to increased flood risk in the area.

The vegetation management undertaken has also improved the aesthetics of the area by revealing a greenspace that was previously overgrown and collecting debris.

The area has been reinstated using a low-maintenance seed mix that will provide benefits for a variety of wildlife once it has established.

Virtual Everest climb to help the homeless

TheChief Executive of a South Leeds charity is quite literally scaling new heights in his bid to raise funds to help those at risk of homelessness.

Combining his day job as CEO of Turning Lives Around (TLA) with his out of hours passion for climbing, Steve Hoey is aiming to virtually take on the slopes of Everest in the next few months.

Steve has pledged to climb some 8,848.86 metres, the height of Everest, to raise money for TLA which works to prevent homelessness amongst some of the vulnerable, single people, couples and families in West

Yorkshire’s communities.

So far Steve, who took on the role of CEO at TLA in September, has notched up 4,658 metres against his target, taking on such climbs as High Crag, Red Pike, High Stile and Little Gowder Crag plus various hills in the Lake District in the last few months.

Hoping others will sign up to join him in his fundraising quest, Steve said he caught the mountain climbing bug while at school with teenage trips away to tackle Ben Nevis, Snowden and Scafell.

To support Steve’s fundraising quest just go to: bit.ly/TLAclimb

Climbing CEO Steve Hoey

Care home residents and pupils attended an event at Leeds Civic Hall on 21 March to share and celebrate friendships that have been nurtured between primary schools and care homes across the city. Leeds DEC, an educational charity has been funded by the iwill Foundation, Dunhill Medical Trust, the Lottery Community Fund and the Department for Digital, Culture Media and Sport to run a programme supporting links between schools and care homes for the last 18 months. A pupil from Greenmount Primary School is pictured helping a resident at Pennington Court in Beeston to make a wreath.

The circus is coming to Clapgate Primary School

Happy’s Circus will bring a fun packed comedy show for all the family to Clapgate Primary School on Tuesday 20

June.

Supported by amazing international circus artists, the gates open at 4:30pm and the

Local winners of ‘Name The Gritter’ competition unveiled

Twopupils from South Leeds were amongst the winners of a competition to name 12 gritting lorries from the Leeds City Council fleet.

show starts at 6pm.

Earlybird tickets priced at £32 family; £10 adult; £8 child are available from the school office, or call (0113) 271 6700

Clapgate Primary School, Cranmore Drive, Belle Isle, LS10 4AW.

Local Councillor Andrew Scopes (Labour, Beeston & Holbeck) presented an award to Abena, one of the winners, at Ingram Road Primary School in Holbeck.

Another winner from South Leeds, at St Francis of Assisi Catholic Primary School, in Beeston will receive their prize shortly.

Cllr Scopes commented:

“A huge congratulations to Abena for her winning suggestion of ‘Annabell the Gritter’. I was really pleased to be able to award Abena with a certificate. It was a fun morning for everyone involved. The children got to meet some of the gritting team and have a look close up at one of the new machines.

“Seeing the children get engaged and excited about this was a real joy and I want to pass my congratulations on to Abena and all the other winners. Do watch out for Annabell the gritter in South Leeds, but I’m hoping it’ll be a while before it is cold enough for gritting again!”

vehicles to ensure Leeds’ main roads are safe for residents every winter. The vehicles are on call every 24 hours, seven days a week, from October to late spring, and on average, collectively drive 51,200 miles every winter period (which equates to driving around the worlds circumference twice). The gritter crews are working hard over the winter period and on standby for poor weather.

soon and residents will be able to see and track online the whereabouts of the gritters. These changes are helping raise awareness about the important work these teams do, to keep our roads safe and accessible, especially at this time of year.

Councillor Helen Hayden, Leeds City Council’s executive member for infrastructure and climate, said:

our winter service gritters.

“The council’s highways team ensure Leeds roads are safe and clear during the snow and freezing temperatures every year, and now looking forward to see some of the named gritters helping ensure residents can get around safely this winter.”

The list of winning names: Gertie

• Nicole Saltslinger

Tuesday 20th June, 6pm Clapgate Primary School Cranmore Drive, Belle Isle, LS10 4AW

The council is visiting all the eight schools that provided winning entries to reward the children with special gift prizes and the chance to see the gritters and how they work.

The council has 30 gritting

Last year the council launched a live gritter tracker map where residents can view gritting vehicles in real-time, the nearest grit bins, and recently gritted roads in the last 12 to 24 hours at Gritter Tracker (arcgis.com). The newly named vehicles will be added

Cockburn is one of the hardest schools to get into in Leeds

Children across south Leeds were informed of their secondary school place earlier this month, with a record 8,230 of pupils offered their first preference school, up from 7,825 last year.

Leeds City Council made a total of 9,877 place offers for September 2023; a decrease of 15 from the offers made last year.

However, some parents /carers and pupils did not get their first choice, with a total of 30 schools in the city refusing place preferences due to more first choice applications being made than places available.

Cockburn School in Beeston had the highest number of place refusals for September 2023 of all of the schools in

south Leeds and was the seventh highest in the city behind six schools all in north Leeds.

Cockburn School had 240 places available and 122 total preferences were refused.

However, despite the success of Cockburn School, many will not be as disappointed as they might have been if they will instead be joining one of the other Cockburn MAT secondary schools in south Leeds, both of which are also oversubscribed again this year.

Cockburn John Charles Academy celebrated excellent Year 11 exam results last summer and also an Ofsted inspection in 2022 that graded them as ‘Good’ overall and

‘Outstanding’ in two areas.

Cockburn Laurence Calvert Academy will move into their brand-new building in September 2023 as they welcome their third Year 7 cohort since they opened in September 2021.

Since Ofsted judged Cockburn School to be ‘Outstanding’ in all areas in February 2022, the school has continued to focus on its journey of ‘Transformation to Excellence’.

Students and staff at the school are driven by the desire and belief that they can continually improve – even after the Ofsted judgement, this remains a relentless pursuit.

Cockburn School continues

to strive for excellence within the Performing Arts. As part of this excellence agenda, they provide an admissions

“I’ve enjoyed presenting some of the winners of our ‘Name the Gritter’ competition. I particularly liked Bob and Nicole Saltslinger names suggested. I’d like to thank all the children from schools across Leeds, who provided some really creative names for

programme for students who have the talent and commitment to become part of the school community as a specialist in either Dance, Drama or Music.

The admissions process is detailed clearly in the school’s policy and 10% of each year group are considered as their elite students in the arts and are placed in a form group

• Bob

• Magical Mo

• Shellie

• Usain Salt

• Salter Clause

• Blizzer

• Greta

• Annabell

•

• Snow patrol

together.

Since National Offer Day on 1 March, nearly all of the 240 places at Cockburn School have now been accepted. Next steps for these families will be a build up towards the transition evening on Wednesday 5 July and the process of preparing uniform and equipment ready for September 2023!

Pupils at Ingram Road Primary School with Annabell the Gritter, Council staff and Cllr Andrew Scopes

Easter activities roundup

South Leeds Life has pulled together details of as many activities as we could find going on locally during the Easter holidays.

Many are free; some charge a fee, although this is often subsidised; some have age limits; some need parents to

The Not So Grimm Twins by Wrongsemble

A (f)un-expected family adventure, where fairytales really do come true…

Roll up one and all, to hear the fabulous Grimm Brother’s fairytales like never before, as world-famous twins Jake and Will Grimm (oh, and their little sister Lottie too!) tumble from their magical wagon brimful of famous fairytales collected from every inch of the world. But sometimes even familiar stories can take a turn for the (f)unexpected, and our heroes will need all the help they can get to defeat the creatures of their own creation!

Suitable for ages 4+

This is a Pay What You Decide performance meaning you pay after the performance in person with cash/card or online.

Performed on the outdoor stage Slung Low at Temple, 131 Water Lane, LS11 9UD so dress for the weather.

Friday 7 April, 1pm.

Book: www.slunglow.org/shows

Cross Flatts Park Easter Egg Hunt

Join a free morning of family fun on Cross Flatts Park, open to all the community, on Good Friday 7 April. 11:30: Egg Hunt for Reception, Year 1 & Year 2; 12:00: Egg Hunt for Year 3 & Year 4; 12:30: Egg Hunt for Year 5 & Year 6 (Register from 11am). Plus a slower paced Preschool Egg Hunt running throughout the whole event (No need to register for this one, just join the queue). Easter Quiz Hunt: Find the hidden pictures and answers to Easter jokes and quiz questions; Easter Craft: Inside the Pavilion and the Watsonia Cafe will be selling light refreshments.

stay; some have limits on numbers; many require you to book in advance; some may be fully booked up already; all will be great fun.

Take a look through the details on this page, follow up the contacts if you have more questions.

DAZL Activity Days

DAZL Dance are holding Healthy Holiday Activity Days at the headquarters on Acre Road in Middleton. Each day is packed with fun Easter crafts, dancing, multi-sports and entertainment. Tuesday 11 - Friday 14 April, 9am-3pm. Free breakfast and dinner, children on free school meals prioritised. Book: 07519 018675, email: community@dazl.org.uk

Middleton Railway

Middleton Railways opens its doors on Saturday 1 April for Community Day. Trains are free and there will be stalls staffed by many local voluntary groups. The Railway is open on weekends, and bank holidays, 10am-4pm. The museum is free, trains are £8 adult, £3 child, £20 family. Join an egg hunt over the Easter weekend. The railway is also open on Wednesdays in school holidays with kids for a quid. Full details at middletonrailway.org.uk

Free play in Middleton Park

The Friends of Middleton Park have organised free play sessions. Tuesday 4 and Tuesday 11 April Health for All’s ACE team will be running multi-sports and games from 13pm. On Wednesday 5 April you can enjoy Den Building from 12-3pm and on Wednesday 12 April DAZL will be running dance activities. All activities take place in or around the Visitor Centre by the lake.

Hop to it and discover eight hidden bunnies at White Rose

From Friday 31 March to Sunday 16 April, families are invited to find eight mischievous bunnies hiding around the White Rose Shopping Centre. Free trail maps are available to collect from the Customer Service Centre, on the Ground Floor near New Look, and can be returned and traded in for an Easter treat and a pair of adorable ears after each bunny has been located and ticked off the map.

Easter Trail and Wild Play days at Skelton Grange

The Easter Trail at Skelton Grange Environment Centre in Stourton, LS10 1RS, is a glorious outdoor trail through the woods and the perfect day out for families with young children. Good Friday, 7 April, 11am-2pm. Book at www.tcv.org.uk/skeltongrange/coursesevents

The centre is also running two days of Wild Play in the woods for 8-12 year olds on Tuesday 11 and Thursday 13 April, 10am-4pm. Sessions vary but may include bushcraft skills, open fire cooking, wide games, shelter building wild food walks and more. Each day costs £30, book at www.tcv.org.uk/skeltongrange/ courses-events

Youth Service activities and trips

Leeds Youth Services are running a range of activities and trips for children living Beeston & Holbeck, Hunslet & Riverside and Middleton Park wards. On Tuesday 4 April there is Sledging at Xscape for 11-17 year olds, £4; on Thursday 6 April they visit Flamingoland (11-17) £6; on Tuesday 11 April there is E Karting at Xscape (12-17) £4; and on Thursday 14 April they visit Blackpool Pleasure Beach (13-17) £6. Book: 07891 277407 or email allison.dixon @leeds.gov.uk more details at fb.com/youthservice123

Skating and boarding at LS-TEN

LS-TEN, the skateboard park at Kitson Road, Hunslet, LS10 1NT are holding two Get Active Extreme Camps on Monday 3 and Friday 14 April, 9am-4pm, £30. Includes games, arts and crafts and a coaching session.

Book: ls-ten.org/get-active-camps

And on Good Friday, 7 April they are hosting a Quad and Inline Skate Night Easter Special, 6:30-9:30pm. Win an Easter hamper for the best Fancy Dress.

Explore Mega Mini Beasts and Dinosaurs in our parks

Hunslet Foundation Rugby Camps

The Hunslet Foundation and the Luke Gale Academy are running two free rugby camps this Easter. The first is with Beeston Broncos at their base behind Lane End Primary School at the bottom of Beeston Road (LS11 8BB). The second is with Leeds Corinthians next to Middleton Leisure Centre, LS10 4AX. Both camps run from Monday 3 - Friday 14 April (excluding bank holidays), 9am-2pm. Lunch is provided and chiuldren will play a range of games as well as learning about healthy eating. Book: mickey.nuttall@gmail.com

A new “planet discovery” game has come to Cross Flatts Park via the Love Exploring App. The app utilises augmented reality via your smart phone to discover sights via a game, and quiz to provide some family fun whilst out on a walk. Its available via the Love Exploring App which is free to download. Click on games, and scroll to search the parks.

Currently you can hunt for Mega Mini Beasts on Holbeck Moor and at Brickfield Park; do a dinosaur safari or do a space walk at Cross Flatts Park; or complete the winter fairy trail at Middleton Park.

St Anthony’s Primary to represent Leeds United in tournament Elements Primar in first ever Ofst

LeedsUnited will be represented by St Anthony’s Primary School in the Yorkshire regional event of the Premier League Primary Stars Under-11 (U11) National Girls Football Tournament, in a bid to claim their place at the 2023 finals. Ten regional events will be staged at community facilities across the country, with hundreds of young people representing Premier League, English Football League and National League clubs hoping to win the opportunity to play at our very own Elland Road, in the playing kit of their respective professional football club.

Last year, more than 800 young people took part in the regional events, with Caerleon Lodge Primary School –representing Newport County, the current champions having won the tournament at Vicarage Road, Watford.

The U11 National Girls Football Tournament is one of the competition elements of the Premier League Primary Stars programme. Launched in 2017 and available to every primary school in England and Wales, Premier League Primary Stars uses the appeal of football to help children to be active and develop essential life skills.

Premier League Head of Community Nick Perchard said:

“The Premier League Primary Stars U11 National Girls Football Tournament creates an amazing opportunity for girls from across England and Wales to come together and represent their professional football clubs. The regional events help to get more girls into football and bring young people together from diverse backgrounds.”

Premier League Primary Stars enables teachers to use resources across English, Maths, PE and PSHE, to support children to develop skills and values that are crucial to

success in later life. Currently 103 professional football clubs from across the leagues run inclassroom Premier League Primary Stars sessions in local partner schools.

Kelly Jackson-Powell, Primary Stars Team Leader, added:

“This is a fantastic opportunity for the girls from St Anthony’s Primary School in Beeston. This team progressed from the local competition which had over 60 primary schools taking part to the girls Finals Day held at West Riding County FA where they finished in the top two meaning they qualified for the Yorkshire Regional Finals to representing Leeds United.”

Lisa Leonard, Headteacher at St Anthony’s said:

"I am delighted with the achievements of our Girl's Football Team. They are shining examples of sporting excellence and true role models to all the girls at St Anthony's and beyond. I wish them every success."

The free primary school programme provides teachers and parents with downloadable resources across a range of curriculum subjects at Key Stage 1 (age 5-7) and Key Stage 2 (age 7-11), developed by teachers for teachers, and in collaboration with subject experts such as the National Literacy Trust and the PSHE Association.

UTC Leeds rated ‘Good’ by Ofsted with an ‘Outstanding’ Sixth Form

Staff and students at University Technical College (UTC) Leeds have reason to celebrate after their latest Ofsted report was published.

The UTC was rated ‘Outstanding’ in two areas and ‘Good’ overall, a marked improvement from its last inspection in 2019.

UTC Leeds, based at the former Braime works on Hunslet Road, is one of less than 50 University Technical Colleges in the country. UTCs offer GCSE and A Level education specialising in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) to give young people a head start and handson experience in the sector.

Ofsted inspectors praised the quality of teaching and learning at UTC Leeds, stating that “Pupils work closely with employers on different projects, closely linked with each subject area. The curriculum is brought

to life as a result.”

Inspectors were particularly impressed with the college’s Sixth Form provision, awarding it ‘Outstanding’ status. The report praised the “many opportunities for pupils to engage with the world of work and to learn about the variety of careers that are available,” which “fuel pupils’ aspirations.”

The dedication of students

themselves was also highlighted in the report, which awarded UTC Leeds an ‘Outstanding’ for behaviour and attendance.

Inspectors noted that “pupils display a tangible and emerging professionalism as they grow in confidence and self-belief.” They say that pupils attend well “because of the value in which they hold their education and their relationships with staff.”

They added that “pupils know that they are genuinely cared about.”

Hannah Wilson, Principal of UTC Leeds, said, “We are absolutely delighted that the Ofsted inspection team recognised the ‘life changing’ opportunities we offer our community. We are always extremely proud of the exceptional destinations our young people achieve each year; they are phenomenal and again, we are delighted that Ofsted recognised this and that this is a result of our Outstanding Sixth Form provision.

“Ultimately, Ofsted recognised that UTC Leeds is driven by our dedicated team of staff, and their happiness creates a positive, reinforcing environment for young people to thrive.”

Leaders at UTC Leeds will continue to drive improvements over the coming months and years with the hope of securing

Aprimary school in Middleton, Leeds, which opened its doors to pupils in 2018 has been rated Good in all areas in its first Ofsted report.

In the report, released this week, inspectors praised Elements Primary School for its high ambitions for pupils, its strong curriculum and its highly effective teaching of reading.

Inspectors reported that:

“This is a school where leaders welcome and encourage pupils to be ‘world-changers’. Leaders want pupils to aim high. They have designed an ‘Elements’ curriculum to broaden pupils’ ambitions.”

They also commended the leadership with comments such as: “Senior leaders and those responsible for governance speak with passion about the school. They act to improve the educational and wider experiences on offer for all pupils.

‘Outstanding’ in all areas in their next Ofsted inspection.

Selected Quotes

“Leaders and staff are united in their vision to develop the next generation of engineers, scientists and innovators.”

“Pupils are well supported by kind staff who are determined to help them to achieve highly.”

“Pupils display a tangible and emerging professionalism as they grow in confidence and selfbelief.”

“Pupils work closely with

Early years provision was also singled out for praise with inspectors stating: “Leaders have planned the knowledge, skills and personal qualities that they want children to learn in the early years. Adults know their children well and adapt the curriculum to meet their needs… Leaders continue to enhance the learning environment.”

Carrie Green, Executive Principal at Elements, said:

“Any Ofsted inspection is an anxious time for a school but when it is the very first one, it is a particularly nerve wracking experience. I’m delighted with the way the team handled it and showcased brilliantly the excellent work that they do every day here at Elements.

“Since opening in 2018, we have worked tirelessly to develop a rich and exciting curriculum, a nurturing and supportive environment, and to embed the school firmly in the local

employers on different projects, closely linked with each subject

The St Anthony’s U11 girls team show off their Leeds United kits

Pupils celebrate with Elements Primary School’s Executive Principal, Carrie Gre

Future Focused Day at Elliott Hudson College ry rated ‘Good’ ted inspection

Elliott Hudson College (EHC), based at the White Rose Office Park, recently held their annual careers event, ‘Future Focused Day’.

Over 60 university and industry-partners were invited to set up stalls, give talks and introduce our Year 12 students to the opportunities available post-18.

It was a chance for our students to meet employers face to face, talk about what they do and ask questions about job roles and company culture.

“Our Future Focused Day is an opportunity for Year 12 students to discuss their future plans with potential employers and universities, and discover what jobs exists out there,” said Mrs Medlock, Careers Advisor. “The careers fair gives students the opportunity to network with local employers, learn about apprenticeships, explore career options, and get expert advice on their next steps.”

As well, as the careers fair stalls, students also selected two subject specific careers talks from over 50 options including Routes into Policing, Can I Afford University?, Becoming a Professional Accountant and Writing an Outstanding Personal Statement. We ran talks on a variety of subjects to ensure students have the best possible knowledge on what careers are out there for them and how to access them.

These sessions gave students valuable insights into career options and encouraged them to use their soft and transferable

skills as a springboard into a range of professions. The talks allowed students to meet employers and discuss the benefits of higher education vs apprenticeships or world of work and find out what pathway would be most appropriate for them.

“The variety of talks on offer is huge; we really try to cater for every opportunity our students would like to find out about,” said Miss Lucas, Head of Careers and Destinations.

In addition to the college’s university and industry-partners, Future Focused Day also welcomed Clade Engineering, who have recently become the

college’s first confirmed work placement partner for the new T Levels starting in September 2023.

Lastly, Elliott Hudson College was also excited to invite back five of our alumni to guest speak to students about their own student journeys after leaving college. Students heard from Katie Duck, Olivia Backhouse, Evie Wadkin, Oliwia Born and Ismail Saddique who all had different stories to tell on how they found their career destination.

“We’ve been doing this for so long now, which is why we know that finding out about the world of work and career prospects is vital to your success in everything you do,” says Miss Lucas. “Whether you’re studying or working. That’s why at EHC we want to make sure you get all the information you need to make the right career choice.”

community. We are thrilled that the inspectors saw what a fantastic school Elements is and acknowledged the way the team are creating a whole new generation of ‘world changers’ in our little corner of Leeds. The report is testimony to the efforts and talents of the whole Elements family and I’m incredibly proud of them.”

Mark Wilson, CEO of Wellspring Academy Trust which sponsors Elements, added: “Creating a successful new school from scratch is no easy feat. This report is welcome recognition of the superb job Carrie and the team have done, which has built on the important groundwork laid by Carrie’s predecessor Sarah Horsbrough. I am extremely pleased that the inspectors have recognised the quality of education on offer at Elements, alongside the high ambitions for all pupils and warm, supportive ethos.”

area. The curriculum is brought to life as a result.”

Elements opened in temporary facilities in 2018 before its £6m purpose-built school site opened in 2020. Operating a staggered opening, the Middleton free school is now home to children from reception level to year 4, and will be open to pupils in all years from September 2025.

Established in 2012, Wellspring Academy Trust is a family of mainstream primary and secondary schools, and SEND and Alternative Provision settings operating across Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. Wellspring’s mantra is ‘We Make A Difference’ and it is committed to providing the best possible education and improving life chances for all its students. By sharing best practice, resources, and expertise, the Trust supports schools to deliver exceptional education and serve the communities in which its academies operate.

“Pupils develop important workplace skills and start networking and building relationships with future employers.”

“Pupils know that they are genuinely cared about.”

“There are many opportunities for pupils to engage with the world of work and to learn about the variety of careers that are available to them. This fuels their aspirations.”

You can read the full report at: bit.ly/UTCLeeds23

“Speaking to students about their course interests and career aspirations face to face is, in my opinion, a lot more beneficial” said Amy Baulcombe from University of Law, who attended the event as a university-partner.

“When speaking to individuals I feel I can gain a better understanding of their unique skills and interests and offer them more in-depth advice about the options available to them. It’s also good for me to gain an understanding of what sort of questions students are asking and what courses are most popular.”

Students from across the Cockburn MAT were involved in the recording of a charity single 'Proud' by Heather Small as part of this year's Young Voices Concert, which took place at Sheffield Arena in January 2023.

Originally released in 2001, the pop classic features students from a number of schools singing the iconic chorus. All proceeds of the song will be donated to the children's mental health charity Place2Be. If you would like to show your support, you can

purchase the single on Amazon and iTunes, or by visiting the website: www.youngvoices.co.uk/ proud-charity-single Mrs Roberts, Head of School at Cockburn John Charles Academy, said, "Not only was it an amazing opportunity for students across the Cockburn MAT to see and perform with a pop legend, but it is also an incredible way to raise awareness of the topic. We understand the importance of mental health in the academy and this helped to reignite conversations about it."

In our view

For profit or for service?

The cuts to bus services starting this month are the latest, but not the last, in a long list of reduced services over recent years. The bus companies say the routes aren’t profitable, so they have to go. But this doesn’t make sense in a world facing a climate crisis.

As a society we need to end our reliance on cars. We need a reliable, cheap, bus service that serves the communities that need it. If the bus companies can’t do that let’s return the service, because it is a service, to public ownership ... just like London’s buses.

The isle of Cottingley

Covering the residents’ meeting about bin collections reminded us again how isolated Cottingley Hall estate is. The hilltop location is surrounded by major roads and a railway line. The meeting heard how the bus cuts will hit the residents, the station is closing, and residents feel forgotten with the Police not turning up for the meeting again. But change is in the air, Leeds Citizens are helping the community get organised to resolve their problems. Watch this space ...

South Leeds Lionesses

How heartening it is to see that our two football stories this month both focus on the women’s game. When Holbeck Moor FC was set up there were no adult sports clubs in the area. The aim was to encourage participation and make it as inclusive as possible, so obviously it had a women’s team from the start. Serving such a diverse community it’s great to see that commitment recognised as they are awarded Football Club of Sanctuary for welcoming refugees and asylum seekers. And our second story about the girls of St Anthony’s Primary School also shows the inspirational legacy created by the Lionesses of the England team.

Your letters and comments

Cottingley station closure

To quote Edmund Blackadder: ‘As predictable as a predictable thing can be predicted’ – yet another dump of the long suffering residents of the Cottingley estate. As for ‘The station’s improved frequency’, as far as I’m aware the projected level of service was due to remain exactly as it currently is, ie one train per hour in each direction with an odd addition at peak times which seems a pretty poor return for an investment of 24 million quid.

As for ‘accessible walking routes’ – I wouldn’t hold your breath!

Mac Hawk

Well done but Ofsted must go

I’m pleased to read the positive articles about local schools and children’s homes getting Good or Outstanding Ofsted reports. However, in the light of the terrible news of Headteacher Ruth Perry taking her own life following an Ofsted inspection at her school in Reading, we must recognise the terrible pressure the Ofsted regime puts on staff. It’s interesting to note that Finland has what most people consider the best education system in the world, but have no outside school inspections - they rely on the school community to highlight any remedy any problems. Surely that is the way forward, it’s time to get rid of Ofsted.

Sue Talbot

School closures for snow

I am just wondering if I am only person to find it incredulous that our local schools were closed yesterday owing to “severe” weather. I can’t imagine the disruption this would have caused to working parents. I read on Facebook that a popular Leeds coach company were up and ready to do their usual school run to find their efforts weren’t necessary.

I went to school in the 1950s and 60s when the winters were far more severe and not once did our schools close. I would be interested to hear who deemed it necessary to close the schools and the reasons why.

I do hope the children enjoyed their day off and were able to play in the snow.

Elaine Bower

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:

@ChampionsCSH

We had an amazing time at the Leeds Sports Awards last night. Delighted to receive our INSPIRATIONAL COMMUNITY CHAMPIONS Highly Commended Award @SportLeeds

Felling trees at Cockburn

Do you mean all the wildlife that was protected when the site was run by the golf course – you know the sort of thing –moles being killed because they spoilt the greens, weed killers everywhere to improve the course, trees and bushes cut back to improve the course, restricted access because it was private land and walkers spoilt the enjoyment of golf club members. And perhaps it should be remembered that the whole of the golf course is now available to the general public, with the exception of the small area used for the new pitch, and the much larger area used for the cycle park – not that I’ve heard any complaints from people about that land grab, which looking at weekly usage is likely to be much less useful in the general scheme of things than new playing fields for the young people of south Leeds.

I don’t recall these so-called environmental groups complaining about the golf course during that time. I can’t help feeling that although bats, badgers and environmentalists are always with us, sometimes they overlook the importance of children’s wellbeing and education. Children are the future of this society, not grey squirrels.

Henry Wood

Your Leeds City Councillors

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

The cobble path is rubbish, it’s very uneven and partly covered and dangerous in places. Hardly anyone uses it so won’t be missed (especially all the dog poo that the few people that use it leave behind).

Gohar Almass (Labour) 07445 878 333 gohar.almass@leeds.gov.uk

Annie Maloney (Labour) 07554 969236 annie.maloney@leeds.gov.uk

Andrew Scopes (Labour) 07860 400645 andrew.scopes@leeds.gov.uk

Hunslet & Riverside ward Includes the city centre, Beeston Hill and Hunslet.

The three councillors are:

Ed Carlisle (Green) 07738 921277 ed.carlisle@leeds.gov.uk

Mohammed Iqbal (Labour) 0113 226 8796 mohammed.iqbal@leeds.gov.uk

Paul Wray (Labour) 07528 512649 paul.wray@leeds.gov.uk

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

Sharon Burke (Labour) 0113 378 8814 sharon.burke@leeds.gov.uk

Wayne Dixon (SDP) 07852 311717 wayne.dixon@leeds.gov.uk

Paul Truswell (Labour) 0113 378 8811 paul.truswell@leeds.gov.uk

that it has been left un-maintained for years by Leeds City Council. There’s no need to fence it off. The children are hardly at risk walking 20 foot from one enclosure to another. Many of the children walk to and from school. School sends them running in the woods and parks. The school doesn’t think of the children’s safety then. As with the pitch the footpath is just another land grab.

Graham

Copper Works

I served my apprenticeship at the Copper Works and worked there in total for ten years. At ten years you were still considered to be a new lad. A lot of the guys had worked there longer than I had been alive so that says something about the sort of place it was. It was an unbelievably large site and the queues were massive at the pay booths on pay day. After you picked up your money it was straight in to the canteen bar for a couple of cheep pints. I can’t imagine any company allowing that now. I have very fond memories. Such a shame it has all gone.

Andy

A very Interesting reading for me. I started work there in January 1961 in the General Office. It employed people from all the surrounding towns and in those days had it’s own mini Bus Station. Also a rugby pitch, cricket pitch, netball pitch and brass band.

Ruth Hodges

Join the debate

Ian

What you mean by saying the cobbled path is very uneven and partly covered and dangerous is

LS11 7BW. Letters may be edited for publication.

@SlungLow

Did you know award-winning @NMBCo beer is brewed right here in #Holbeck? And not only are our neighbours mega talented, they’re also mega kind. So when you come to a show at #TheWarehouseInHolbeck buy a can of from José’s Bar and support our ace friends

@LeedsCC_News

Looking for free and low-cost things to do this weekend and beyond?

Our site has info on the latest exhibitions, interactive shows and creative workshops taking place soon.

Find out more orlo.uk/2Mzxn

@Gary_Bingham

A Winter Wonderland at Middleton Woods More wet than cold in shorts, the Swan couple stay on their island surrounded by bird friends Families sledge, participate in snowball fights and build snowmen Bliss. Point, click, move. #Leeds #snowday #Yorkshire

Cottingley station will close when White Rose station is completed.

Photo: Jeremy Morton

MP’s notebook

with Hilary Benn MP

Justunder two years ago a constituent called Rory Burke wrote to me. He revealed that he has a brain tumour and asked me to attend a meeting to discuss ways in which we could try to find a cure.

I went along and little did I know then that I would end up taking part in an inquiry into brain cancer.

A cancer diagnosis is a very worrying thing. Around one in two of us will develop some sort of cancer during our lifetime, and South Leeds has a higher incidence of all kinds of cancer than the average for England.

I think most of us, if we are honest, would say that we wince when we hear the word “cancer”, because those who have been through that experience, either ourselves or, in my case, when my first wife died of cancer at the age of 26 and my Mum died of breast cancer, we know exactly how that feels.

But our lives are not preordained, and we have seen real advances in the treatment of certain types of cancer in recent years. Breast cancer is a good example and, overall, cancer survival rates in the UK have doubled in the last 40 years.

But when it comes to brain tumours, the blunt truth is that we have seen almost no progress at all. The five-year survival rate for glioblastoma, the most aggressive form, is 6.8%, and the average length of survival is around 9 months.

Dr Matt Williams, a clinical oncologist, has said this:

“Every week I have to tell patients that there is nothing more we can offer. I have now been a consultant for 10 years and these conversations are the same now as when I started.”

That is why a brain tumour is such a dreadful diagnosis. As one patient put it:

“It’s devastating living with a

time bomb in your head.”

That is a very good description of what it must feel like.

In those circumstances, what do patients and loved ones wish for? We just want to do all we can to help, and the report of the MPs’ inquiry into brain tumours, that I was part of, is about trying to make sure that this happens.

There are good reasons why brain cancer is proving so difficult to treat. Drugs have been tried and failed, and patients with brain tumours are desperate to get on to trials that might just offer some chance, not of a cure, but of a few more months.

For someone who has received a diagnosis of a brain tumour, every second — let alone every minute, week or month — is extremely precious. It is particularly poignant when a child has a brain tumour.

So we are calling for patients with brain tumours to have

better access to trials of new anti-cancer drugs that currently may be available only to patients with other types of malignant cancers. There can be a fear that if other people are brought into the trial, it will somehow skew the result.

However, if a person is dying, that is understandably not their concern. Their concern is: “Might this possibly work to save or prolong my life or the life of the person I love?”

Not surprisingly, we have asked for greater investment, but not all the money that has already been made available for brain tumour research has been spent. This is because not enough research proposals are getting the go ahead and that’s why we want the research councils to look more widely at, and more favourably upon, proposals for brain tumour studies.

We also have a research system that needs to be better joined up, from basic science through to clinical trials. When we are dealing with any disease, but particularly this one, doesn’t it make sense to pool all of the information that we have available about what we have learned, what we still do not know, what may work and what may not?

Clearly, that is not happening enough, even though it is a simple thing to do so that anyone undertaking research can draw upon all the available material as they apply their mind, scientific skill and determination to finding a cure.

I know we will all want to thank the clinicians, scientists, doctors and others who are working their socks off to try and crack this problem and find treatments, and also all the staff in hospitals and in the community who care for and support people living with cancer.

It is a heavy burden to bear

on your own and the support of family, friends and NHS staff makes all the difference.

I hope that our cross-party report will have an impact as, collectively, we roll up our sleeves, redouble our efforts, and show even greater determination to find treatments and cures for this cruel disease that shortens the lives of so many people whom we have come to know or know already and love.

What keeps us going in difficult times is hope. As one patient said, “If you have hope, you have life.”

Hilary Benn is our Member of Parliament

He represents the Leeds Central constituency which covers South Leeds as well as other parts of the city

Contact: hilary.benn.mp@parliament.uk, www.hilarybennmp.com

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

Let’s talk about Council Tax rises

by Cllr Annie Maloney

We’veall noticed our bills rising. This year, council tax was no exception and I know we’ve all started getting those council tax letters through our doors.

I want to set out some of the background for that increase and the ongoing challenges the Council face.

Firstly, your council tax band is set nationally and based on the value of your house a long time ago, it is unrelated to household income and therefore low-income households are hit hardest.

organisation of local services which includes services we all see like bin collections, libraries and parks, but also less visible stuff like social care for older and disabled people, for vulnerable children and child protection officers.

Council tax is just one way the council gets money, significant amounts of funding comes from central government, which is raised through general taxation (like income tax and VAT).

Fifteen years ago, the proportion of funding that the council received through a ‘general grant’ from central

However, following the 2010 General election, the Liberal Democrat and Conservative coalition Government massively cut budgets for all government departments driven by an ideological desire to reduce the size of the public sector, this has commonly become known as austerity.

The levels of cuts were deep and fast, for Leeds our annual grant from government reduced by about £180 million per year over those five years and cuts have now amounted to about £2.5 billion since ‘austerity’ started. This is even before you start allowing for

demand.

Unsurprisingly the current cost of living crisis, exacerbated by the effects caused by Liz Truss in her short tenure as Prime Minister, has led to huge increases in demand for services, from things like ‘warm spaces’ to increased need for domestic violence support services and children’s services.

To bring this home, for next year’s budget (2023-24), even after the council tax increase, the council needed to find around £60 million of savings to balance the budget.

Understanding the level of cuts nationally is key to understanding why service cuts are still happening here in Leeds despite council tax rises.

The stark reality for the Council’s financial position is that the Council is about £200 million behind on road maintenance, but has fantastic Children’s services that are rated Outstanding by OFSTED. This is in part a result of decisions made by Leeds City Council to prioritise Children’s Services over roads for funding. I know that the Council doesn’t always get it right and doesn’t always spend money as well as it should or could. It is important to recognise that no organisation the size of Leeds City Council is ever going

to get everything right, but it is trying to!

Just in closing, I would like to thank all the amazing local community groups and

charities in South Leeds that have helped pick up the pieces since austerity started in 2010 and then upped their game during the Covid pandemic. We should be extremely proud of the strength and depth of the community across South Leeds!

Local history with

Ken Burton

Brewing in South Leeds

but all were close to becks, Kiln and Airedale Breweries by Dow Beck and Grove Brewery close to Balm Beck.

It seems appropriate at this point to bring in a brief snapshot of the start of the Tetley Brewery.

Joshua Tetley was the third son born to William Tetley (Maltster) and Elizabeth Tetley, the daughter of Isaac and Sarah Rimington of North Hall, Burley Road, Leeds, and Cripplegate, London. The couple were married about 1771 in London. William and Elizabeth lived at Armley Lodge which faced onto the Branch Road junction and was later to become the home of the Armley Liberal Club.

They had eight children, William, 1772 who died aged two; Isaac, 18 November 1774; a second William, 9 October 1776; Joshua (founder of the Brewery), 20 July 1778; James Rimington, 5 December1780; Richard, 3 March 1872; David Rimington, 24 October 1785; and Sarah, 27 June 1787 who died six months later. On Christmas Eve 1788 Elizabeth died aged just 36 years.

successful the family decided to move to Park Square and it was here they were blessed with their only son, Francis William who was born on 24 October 1817 and this was followed by another girl, Emma on 5 August 1820.

Louisa was born on 2 January 1824, of the family of seven girls and one boy only Frances William and Sarah married.

The public water supply was not really suitable for brewing beer until the 1860s when Leeds Corporation began to bring supplies from the Washburn Valley north of Otley, but beer was to remain a major item in most domestic budgets for at least the first half of the 19th century.

While it was true that the sulphur water of the Meadow Lane Spa by March Street on Dewsbury Road had a reputation for brewing a strong pot of tea, but in an area where engineering and foundry work was the main male occupation the sales of beer increased in line with population growth south of the River Aire.

The first reference to a common brewery being opened in Leeds was in the ‘Annals of Yorkshire’ which recorded that a public brew-house was built in Meadow Lane in 1756, it brewed about 50 Quarters of malt weekly which was enough to make 220 barrels of beer.

This brewery was later sold by Robert Denison in 1786 to a Thomas Jaques, a member of the Common Council of Leeds Corporation, it traded as Jaques & Company. In the 1830s TG Jaques retired from active life and although he was still listed as a partner in 1840 he had sold out to D W Nells in 1857 for £1,350.

The business then became Jaques & Nell, then it was owned by the Nell Family until it was sold to George Kitchen, a Maltster, in 1872. He then sold it to Tetley’s in 1899, they used

it as a maltings until 1964.

A second brewery opened in Leeds, it was owned by Robert Arthington and was not far from where Tetleys brewery was 50 years later. An invoice dated 13 September 1775 shows that Arthington had sold a Mr Rhodes one cask of 8¼ gallons of beer at 6d (2½p) a gallon, total 4s.1½d (21p in present day money).

William Sykes was a customer of the Tetley family for malt and he started his brewery in Salem Place in 1792. An invoice dated 28 July 1796 records that he sold to a Mr Robert Harrison 10½ gallons of beer at 9d (4p) a gallon, total 7s.10½d (39p) this showed that there had been a 50% increase in beer prices over the last 20 years.

There was a small brewery that was started in 1820 by Sarah Holmes on Ivory Street, Pottery Fields, which ran in close connection with an adjacent malt kiln and was known as the Kiln Brewery, but by the late 1850s it had ceased production. On Pepper Road was the Grove Brewery, which was also developed from an established malting and lasted until about 1875 when the site was acquired for redevelopment for housing. In 1827 Robert Arthington inherited the family brewery business, and around the same time a woollen merchant’s warehouse and dye shop in Hunslet Lane became empty and opened as William Spong’s Airedale Brewery, which lasted

until about 1848 when it was demolished to make way for extensions to Kitson's Airedale Foundry. These breweries were small and mainly operated from single storey or at the most two storey buildings with associated malt kilns and stabling for the dray horses. Apart from the malt of which there was a sufficient supply in the area they also needed a good supply of coal and water along with a good local market for the brew because beer travelled badly on wagons or drays.

Syke’s Brewery was opposite the Brandling coal staithes in Casson Close until the South Market was built there in 1823 when the railway was then pulled back to Kidacre Street. The Kiln Brewery was by the Middleton Railway while the Grove Brewery was close to the River Aire and the original Brandling tramway that used to carry coal to the river staithes.

Meadow Lane Brewery and the Airedale Brewery were a little further away from the supplies but near enough not to affect the cost of production.

The Moorside Brewery was further from the coal of Brandling’s pits but it was within half a mile of the coal pits in Beeston Township. There were few industrial sites in either Hunslet or Holbeck that were far from either a pithead or coal staithes. Sykes (Tetley’s) Brewery and Jaques & Nell Brewery had their own deep wells, but the water supplies for other breweries is uncertain

It was not until Joshua Tetley felt secure enough to marry that he took the plunge. When he was 29 he married Hannah Carbutt the daughter of Francis Carbutt, a linen and cloth merchant of Leeds. Hannah was six years Joshua’s junior having been born on the 13 June 1784; the couple for some reason not known were married at Sheffield Parish Church on 12 March 1808.

The first home for Joshua and Hannah Tetley was in Albion Street and it was here that they had five children, all girls: Elizabeth, born 11 April 1809; Lucy Ann, 23 November 1810; Francis, 5 August 1812; Sarah, 30 November 1813; and Ellen, 22 December 1814.

Male succession was particularly important in those days. With business being so

With the Tetley business as a Maltster being so successful Joshua was having a problem deciding whether to go into the brewing business. In 1822, at the age of 44, he had the chance to lease and buy the buildings and business of William Sykes at Salem Place, Hunslet Lane at a cost of £400. The deal was sealed on 31 October 1822 and the family moved to No.4 Salem Place and the start of the Tetley Brewery.

At the start of his brewing career only 12% of beer sold in Leeds and district was brewed by common brewers the rest being brewed by individual innkeepers. So Joshua kept his malt business going from the brewery, selling to the innkeepers and private houses that brewed their own beer and he also sold flour. It was here that their last child, Mary

Joshua Tetley was a successful man and in 1839 he moved from the house in the brewery to a large and imposing residence. Belmont House was in Little Woodhouse, north of Park Lane, one of the best residential areas in Leeds and on 1 October 1839 he created Joshua Tetley & Son when he took his son, Francis William in to the business when he was 22 years of age.

Hannah Tetley died on 13 May 1857 aged 72 and was buried at Hampsthwaite, North Yorkshire and she was followed two years later by Joshua, aged 81 who died on 26 August 1859 and was buried with his wife at Hampsthwaite.

Joshua Tetley & Son lasted until 2011. It was a very sad day when Carling closed it down and moved production to Northampton. Once again we find another business moving from Leeds to other parts of the country or maybe even the world.

A birds-eye view of Tetley’s brewery

Meadow Maltings

How Seigen gave Leeds outdoor chess

by Hon Ald Elizabeth Nash

After the Second World War, Leeds City Council was twinned with the cities of Lille in France and Dortmund in Germany and, on local government reorganisation when Morley joined Leeds in 1974, Leeds also adopted its German twin town of Siegen Germany was particularly keen on twinning arrangements to demonstrate that they were a civilised, democratic and caring country and wishing to extend peace and friendship.

Before the War, some of the first people in Germany who were rounded up were all opposition politicians and trade unionists. The Leader of Dortmund City Council, Gunter Samtlebe, who was a member of the German Democratic Socialist Party, was incarcerated for all of the War and beforehand in a labour camp.

In 1979, Dortmund was having a major celebration and it invited Leeds City councillors to attend. I was very lucky to be part of an all-party political group from Leeds with some

Council officers, to visit Dortmund which paid for our accommodation and hospitality. We were accompanied by the orchestra from the Leeds College of Music which delighted our German hosts with a concert.

Leeds resident and Austrianborn Hubert Eichingher, who had served with the RAF as a war-time pilot, was very keen on twinning and encouraged Leeds to participate in twinning visits. When one considers that 91% of Dortmund, originally a beautiful historic city, was flattened by the RAF, one can understand his enthusiasm for twinning and Leeds City Council engaged him on an ad hoc basis to co-ordinate the visit when he accompanied us.

Whilst we were in Dortmund we visited the nearby cathedral city of Munster, York’s twin city, and which was over 80% flattened. Fortunately for Munster, the town centre streets and the cathedral have been rebuilt as near as possible to the original.

We also had a day excursion to Morley`s twin town Siegen, fifty miles south of Dortmund which had somewhat, though

not entirely, escaped saturation bombing. Climbing up the hill to its castle in its main street, there was giant outdoor chess being played. Nowhere in the UK had outdoor chess and I was determined that Leeds should have it.

I got the opportunity in 1981 when I was fortunate to Chair the big Leisure Services Committee and I proposed that we have chess sets in the Victoria Gardens in front of the Central Library. I had to argue against Council officers who were convinced that the chess sets would not survive, that they would be vandalised or stolen. I asked how much a set cost and, at that time, it was £500. My response was, “Well if a big city like Leeds cannot afford it then it is coming to a pretty pass!”

I got my way and we ordered three sets which initially were played on black and white mats before chess boards were painted on the paving flags. Two of the sets had 100% use and the third set 80% use all the time, every day. The chess has been so popular that the Leeds City Council recently bought new chess pieces to

Disability not inability with Christine Smart

replace the sets which had become worn and scuffed from their years of use.

Today we see many outdoor chess sets throughout the UK but I have always been proud that Leeds was the first British city to have them. However, my pride was dented a couple of years ago when I was still a councillor and when at a Plans Panel meeting there was a discussion on the revamping of Victoria Gardens. I innocently asked a question about the chess and was told by a Council officer, almost in a reprimand, that the giant chess is so important for Leeds citizens and for tourists! It appears that no one now remembers how giant chess arrived in Leeds.

Sadly, because of cuts in local government funding and the austerity regime, we cannot now afford the hospitality to twinned city visitors as they have always afforded to us. There are now no more council twinning arrangements apart from an annual visit to one of the twin cities by the Lord Mayor and the Oberburgermeisters’ return visits to Leeds. No doubt some people will think that a twinning visit is a mere jolly, but there is a lot one can and does learn from not only visiting our twin cities, but also discussing ideas and how they are carried out with our council counterparts.

Misconceptions about autism

April is Autism Awareness

Month and although we push for acceptance in the community, there are still many things people misunderstand about autism. I’ve enlisted the help of my two neurodivergent children to breakdown what they feel the biggest misconceptions are.

Autistic people don't make eye contact - one of those true of some but not all. It totally depends on the sensory profile of the person and some enjoy eye contact, some can do it fleetingly and some lose eye contact when they feel overload coming.

Meltdowns or Overloads are aggressive and loud - not necessarily. When observing the siblings we see that disassociating and quiet are the first signs overload is going to happen and they recognise this themselves and ask to be

removed from whatever is causing it. When Amber was much younger she would vocally stim and then become

quiet way before an explosion happened and now she never explodes and neither does H. He experiences overload more

For example, I was particularly impressed by their system of advisory road speed limits. When one is driving it can be quite irritating to find that one is suddenly stopped by traffic lights. The Dortmund advisory speed signs advise how fast one can drive without being stopped by traffic lights ahead. I believed that Leeds was going to investigate installing these which would cut down on traffic pollution by vehicles stopping and starting, reduce vehicle speeds and ensure a continuous smooth flow of traffic. I have to report that sadly we did not, for whatever reason, take up this system.

We can learn what problems

our twin cities have had in the past and how they were solved. We can learn how they administer their city or town and what innovations have been introduced – giant chess being just a very small example. We can question mistakes which we made in the past. And more importantly, our visitors can learn about how we govern Leeds and hopefully learn how we do things better if, of course, we do!

Clearly it will be some while yet before any twinning arrangements can take place. But, hopefully, it will not be too long before twinning visits by councils can start again when experience gained may benefit all of our cities and towns.

frequently than his sister though and just because it's not loud and aggressive doesn't mean the impact is any less.

Autistic people don't have friends - absolutely not! Amber and H are very different in these respects but they both have friends. H has a set friend group at college that he speaks to when he's at home, whereas Amber prefers to keep her school friends at school and not cross over into homelife. Both are valid ways to friendship and both fulfil their social needs within their boundaries

Autistic people can't do drama - this misconception is based around the ‘not being able to put themselves in others shoes’ idea, but H smashes that theory as he's excelling in college - Anthony Hopkins also smashes this

idea into teeny tiny bits.

All Autistic people are geniuses - where there is a high percentage of autistic people who are geniuses and obviously so, this might not be the case for all. Or is it that some autistic people don't always communicate in a way that is understandable to the majority so their talents are hidden? Amber has a massive capacity for memory where music is concerned and memorised every song in 60 odd albums in their position on the iPod (remember them!). Whereas H is a brilliant actor, both are highly skilled in these things but wouldn't count as a genius.

Non verbal means doesn't understand - Amber was non verbal until 5 years, but she carried out every instruction given to her. One time we always remember is at a parents evening she was wandering around the room and her teacher said she wanted the tail on her "g" to be under the line.

When she got home she went in her room and wrote out a page full of ‘g’ as her teacher had requested without prompting from us. Trust us when we say they hear everything.

No eye contact means not

listening - this is a biggie for us as teachers would often ‘work on Amber's eye contact’ and it was repeatedly on her Individual Education Plan (IEP) despite us always requested it be removed. We put too much emphasis on this and it doesn't really make sense. ‘Look at me when I'm talking to you’ has been a phrase removed from our house for years. Remember hearing is all about the ears not the eyes and eye contact is processed as painful for some neurodivergent people.

All Autistic people eat brown food - true for some but not for all. Amber's diet is more varied than anyone in our house but H’s is extremely restricted because of his sensory. Which leads us nicely on to ...

They'll eat when they're hungry - we made this mistake and presumed H was fussy but that kid could hold off all day. Textures made him physically sick and we soon rectified our stance on what was a ‘healthy’ relationship with food.

It is not healthy to be made to feel sick for the sake of a vegetable.

During Autism Awareness month remember – platform Autistic Voices, campaign for us and keep learning!

This article was co-written by Halen Wood.

Playing chess in Victoria Gardens

Photo: Stephen Craven via Creative Commons

Chris Packham campaigns

Review: Lord of the Flies at Leeds Playhouse

Pathways for positivity with Shannon Humphrey April is Stress Awareness Month

Stressed?

You're not alone.

Everyone experiences stress at some point in their lives, and it can come from a variety of sources.

Whether it's a looming deadline at work or school, a relationship issue, financial worries, or just the everyday hustle and bustle of life, stress can rear its ugly head and make you feel like you're drowning in worry and overwhelm.

survival. This fight or flight response, also known as the stress trigger, helped our ancestors stay alive in a dangerous environment.

In modern times, our environment has changed, but our bodies' response to stress has not.

make us feel anxious or depressed. Therefore, it's important to find healthy ways to deal with stress and get help if we need it to prevent these negative health effects.

Here are a few tips to help you navigate those tough times:

energy levels.

It’sbeen many years since I first read this book. I wasn’t sure what to expect from a current day version, which was true to the actual book, but brought up-to-date by the director Amy Leach in many ways including the characters.

It is quite relevant to the present day, where children are fleeing war torn countries, hopefully to safety. The language used is true to the original and would provoke much discussion amongst today’s teenagers and others studying the text.

The first view of this stage set was quite eerie, the trees and vegetation were all black suggesting that the area was devastated by the war. The changes with lighting and sound effects creating the correct ambience throughout. The background sounds throughout echoed the sea and the thunderstorm and fire were particularly effective.

The cast were on stage at first with their belongings, indicating their backgrounds. The crash was very effective with items strewn across the set. As the cast came together, conflicts began to show almost immediately between Ralph

and Jack with Piggy trying to mediate. The black conch shell had an important part throughout the play as it did in the original book.

The boar, boar’s head, and the fires and smoke were created effectively to add to the reality of the play. The costume department fitted out the cast appropriately and effectively ‘aged’ the costumes as the play progressed. The whole play was well choreographed especially the beast scene.

The cast contained a very diverse range of abilities, with a great deal of acting credits under their belt. It was refreshing to see disabled actors especially Simon (Adam Fenton) whose role was performed perfectly. The use of sign language was also encompassed well into the play.

Jack (Patrick Dinesen) in his first professional role as choir prefect was imposing, which continued throughout as he led the wild tribe. Ralph (Sade Malone) and Piggy (Jason Connor) were effective in their roles especially when trying to get the whole group to stay together, despite the inevitable friction. All this young cast performed their roles confidently and credibly.

Stress is a small word, but it creates huge problems when not treated properly. Stress can manifest in many ways, such as a knot in your stomach, a pounding headache, aching shoulders, neck tension, or tightness in your chest. It can even cause digestive issues that have you running to the bathroom with no warning.

Stress can also trigger intense emotions, like anger or sadness, and leave you feeling like you can't sleep or eat properly.

But why do we experience stress in the first place?

In ancient times, stress was necessary for survival because our ancestors had to face physical threats such as predators or a scarcity of food, and their bodies needed to respond quickly to ensure their

Whether you have read the book or seen the film, this play encompasses the whole vision William Golding had when he wrote this nearly 70 years ago. If children were left to their own devices with no adult guidance what would be the outcome? Would they become wild and kill, or would they look towards rescue and conserving life?

If you are now wondering about the play, it’s well worth

We still experience stress when we perceive a threat or challenge, but these threats are often psychological in nature rather than life threatening, such as job insecurity, financial worries, or social pressures. Moving house, getting married, having a baby, caring for a sick relative and studying for exams are all high on the stress Richter Scale.

When we experience stress for long periods without finding ways to manage it, it can be bad for our health. It can increase the risk of problems like heart disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes. It can also make us more likely to get sick and affect our ability to think clearly.

Stress can also

going to see it. It has a 12+ rating due to the nature of the play. We thoroughly enjoyed it.

Lord of the Flies runs at Leeds Playhouse Quarry Theatre until 8 April 2023, then on tour. Full details at: leedsplayhouse.org.uk/event/ lord-of-the-flies

This post was written in return for two free* tickets, as part of South Leeds Goes To The Playhouse.

Ask for help. Whether it's 1 financial advice, legal guidance, or just a listening ear, don't be afraid to reach out to others for support. You'll be surprised at how much better you'll feel when you share your burden with someone else.

Take a break. Sometimes, 2

Limit caffeine and 4 alcohol. Caffeine and alcohol can both exacerbate feelings of stress and anxiety. Try to limit your intake and see if it makes a difference in how you feel. Stay positive. It's easy to 5 get bogged down in negative thoughts when you're stressed, but try to focus on the positive instead. Ask yourself how you can overcome the obstacle in front of you, rather than dwelling on the problem itself.

Remember, stress is a normal part of life, but it doesn't have to control you .By

the best thing you can do is step away from the situation causing your stress. Take a walk, listen to music, or do something that brings you joy. When you come back to the problem, you'll be refreshed and better able to handle it.

Exercise. Exercise is a 3 great way to burn off excess energy and reduce stress. Even just a short walk around the block can make a big difference in your mood and

taking steps to manage your stress, you can improve your overall wellbeing and feel more in control.

April is National Stress Awareness Month in the UK. Shannon Humphrey is a First Aid for Mental Health Instructor, helping schools and businesses create healthy conversations around wellbeing and mental health.

www.pathwaysforpositivity .com

Photo: Shutterstock

by Barbara Beck

Chloe Harris | Route Motif –place making through art

by Bruce Davies

Route Motif is the next exhibition at Basement Arts Project, Beeston’s own art gallery, opening on Thursday 20 April, 5:30-8:30pm.

Chloe Harris is something of an itinerant artist. Moving between cities as dictated by her practice. Chloe’s work as a

printmaker is generated by documenting and abstracting the cities of the UK.

The material she produces is drawn from the urban landscape then abstracted. In amongst the dynamic and dramatic gestural sweeps of her designs are recognisable monuments of whatever city she may be staying in at the

time.

I met Chloe (at a distance) in between pandemic lockdowns one and two. On a dark winter evening we sat at opposite ends of Bumpman’s log outside of the Henry Moore Institute and discussed her practice.

At that point Chloe’s work was in a different place to her regular output. During lockdown she had become one of the nations key workers in the Leeds Amazon Warehouse. It was this experience that led her to produce the Amazon Series in her very distinctive and

Leeds People’s Theatre Noah’s Flood workshops

Slung Low are hosting a series of costume workshops for Leeds People’s Theatre ahead of their next production.

These are skills workshops where members of the design team will teach you techniques and you will also get to work on costumes, designs and ideas from Slung Low’s new coproduction with Manchester Collective ‘Noah’s Flood’.

These are workshops for all levels of experience and skill; everyone is welcome!

You don’t need equipment, everything will be provided and even refreshments.

Tails

Thursday 20 April, 2-5pm and 6-9pm

An introduction to basic sewing and working with yarn. And also a chance to work on the many dozens of tails we need so experienced sewers also more than welcome!

Wings

Saturday 29 April, 2-5pm

An introduction to basic sewing skills and working in collage. And to see how those techniques can be used to make wings!

Masks

Thursday 4 May, 6-9pm

Paper craft, cardboard

singular style.

It is this work, presented via the BasementArtsProject website Studio Journal during the pandemic, that will form the basis of her exhibition that begins here on Thursday 20 April.

Coming forward to 2023 Chloe has already moved to Manchester chasing new work and a new view of the sky. But, that is not the end of her connection with Leeds / South Leeds. As part of her exhibition here at BasementArtsProject she will be setting in motion a public art project for the area.

We are currently negotiating a work to be designed by Chloe, which we will then be inviting a muralist to work with her and scale up the design for a gable end that faces onto Tunstall Road.

Anyone who is familiar with the Dewsbury Road / Tunstall Road junction over the last two years will have noticed the

public sculpture that we have already placed on the grassland at the back of Poundland. What was once overgrown and full of litter, and other much more unsavoury items, has become a place that people stop with their children and families over the summer months. It has remained clean ever since, even through the dark winter months. This year we will be starting the process of landscaping the ground around it.

The project was carried out entirely in view of the public, and many people from the community have joined in with

our Monday Carving Workshops to help us create a pair of stone benches with us. We will be working with Chloe in a similar way to get people involved in the process that will lead to the final design. More on this soon.

In the meantime, if you would like to come and learn some stone carving skills come and join us on a Monday afternoon.

You can book at: bit.ly/ CarveCorner or if you are passing on your way to the shops, just come over say hello and we can let you try your hand.

construction, painting and decoration. And how all these things can be used to make masks.

Tie dye

Saturday 20 May, 2-5pm Bring a t-shirt or two from home and you’ll get to take something away with you.

Make-up & Animals

Saturday 17 June, 2-5pm

An introduction to the tricks of the trade on theatre makeup and develop the skills needed to turn your family and friends into lions or penguins!

Video projection

Saturday 17 June 6–8pm

An introduction to video projection.

Choir

Wednesday 14 & 28 June & Monday 3 July, 6–8:30pm

The production of ‘Noah’s Flood’ with be staged at The Warehouse in Holbeck and will feature professional musicians and opera singers alongside hundreds of singing animals, otherwise known as the amazing children from Ingram Road Primary School.

Feeling left out? We need an adult choir for a key moment within the performance, providing the onstage opportunity for those of you who seek it.

Architectural Shopping - Chloe Harris

Join a cariving workshop on the corner in Beeston

The Warehouse in Holbeck, on Crosby Street

IN BRIEF

Leeds Urban Bike Park

Leeds Urban Bike Park, Ring Road Middleton, LS10 3TN, has a pump track, BMX circuit and woodland MTB trails that are free to use, 365 days of the year.

It is operated by Cycle Pathway CIC; a not for profit company that work to run a free but sustainable facility. They receive no operational support and therefore all of their running costs and staff wages are funded through the services provided on site: Café, Bike Shop, Coaching and Bike Hire.

The dog-friendly café is open 9am-4pm Tuesday-Sunday and offers high quality coffee food and cakes. It is open to all park users. For more details go to: www.leedsurbanbikepark.com

Community Iftar with Hamara and LS-TEN

LS-TEN Park Roll have teamed up with the Hamara Healthy Living Centre to bring the community together to celebrate Ramadan. The Iftar (breaking the fast) is being held at Old Cockburn sports hall on Primrose Lane in Hunslet Moor (LS11 5EW) on Monday 3 April, 7-9:30pm. As well as food, served after sunset, there will be rollerskating activities, space to pray and to socialise. Everyone is welcome.

Craft Markets

Beeston’s Handmade and Homemade Craft and Food Market is returning on Saturday 29 April, 11:30am-2:30pm, at Beeston Parish Centre on Town Street, opposite Nisa.

Meanwhile the Middleton Makers Market continues on the second Saturday of the month at Middleton Park Circus. The next market is on Saturday 8 April, 10am-2pm.

Yorkshire Market at White Rose

White Rose Shopping Centre will host its Yorkshire Market on Saturday 1 and Sunday 2 April, where a variety of local independent brands will have pop-up stalls. The market will feature local companies including Confetti Girls, Yorkshire Chocolatier, Fairburn Candles, and The Red Berry Co.

Friends of Middleton Park

As well as running the Free Play afternoons (see page 11) the Friends of Middleton Park have a busy April ahead of them. On sunday 16 April they host a Spring Woodland Walk, meet at the Visitor Centre at 1:30pm. Please wear suitable walking shoes as some of the walk will be on woodland paths. The route of the walk will depend on weather conditions at the time.

On Tuesday 18 April they are holding an Open Meeting at the Parochial Hall on North Lingwell Road at 7pm, everyone welcome.

Then at the end of the month it’s time for the annual Bluebell Walks on Sunday 30 April and Monday 1 May. Meet at the Middleton Railway Park Halt platform at 11:20am, 12:40pm and 2:20pm. Either walk down to Park Halt or come on the Train! Enjoy a guided stroll to the Park Visitor Centre and Cafe, through the splendour that is the carpet of Bluebells in Middleton woods. The walk will take aproximately 40 mins, and is up and down hill and could be on unsurfaced paths.

Mobile Hub & Library in Holbeck

Leeds City Council’s Mobile Hub & Library visits Holbeck twice a week, on Tuesdays 10am-3:30pm and Thursdays 9:30am3:30pm. Run in partnership with Holbeck Together, the Hub parks near St Matthew’s Community Centre and offers help with Housing, Council Tax and Benefits, Employment Support, Library services and Internet Access. Pop in and see how the staff can help you.

Advertise

South Leeds

This space is 1/16 page and costs just £50 or £120 for 3 inserts

Ring: 07894 583966

Chow Down is back in Holbeck, bigger and better for Easter

Chow Down, Leeds’ biggest outdoor food and drinking venue, is back for 2023.

The popular venue at Temple Arches, Globe Road in Holbeck, will host an array of food and drink events, music and new entertainment fo the whole spring and summer, it’s one big party, opening the doors on Thursday 6 April.

In 2023, a brand-new Urban Garden will open, making it the largest garden in the city centre. Chow Down will also feature an improved Tipple Cocktail Bar, a larger and tastier food selection, and new events like All Day Parties, Dog Social, and more.

One of Leeds’ most popular pop-up restaurant, Braizin’ Squad, are the first to be announced as Resdient Kitchen, taking over the pots and pans for the first half of Spring. These guys are bringing something new and different, along with the open fire cooking that earned them a mention in The Observer as serving one of the best Sunday Roasts. Chefs Jamie Marrion, Jordan Kaye, and Michal Marud have extensive experience in the Leeds hospitality scene, having previously worked at Ox Club, Stockdales of Yorkshire, and various locations in Japan.

Jamie Marrion, Braizin’ Squad says “Keep your eyes peeled for us at Chow Down this spring, expect Smokey flavours, braised meats all cooked over fire and regular

specials as we like to keep everything fresh.”

With the debut of the brand new Sunday Brunch event, the resident kitchens will be providing Leeds with its largest brunch service, complete with relaxing tunes, excellent coffee, and delicious brunch fare. From the Battle of the Burger to the Leeds Indie Food Wing Fest (May) to the summer's special Taco & Tequila event and beyond, the food festival season is officially kicking off.

Other food will come in the return of Bastards Bistro as resident after a successful Winter kitchen takeover, Archchi’s, Cluck n Dough, Colombo Street, Fire & Dough, Hoi Polloi Street Kitchen, Homeboy Pizza Co, Nasi Lemak, Nikos Comfort Kitchen, Little Bao Boy, Little Red Food Cluck, Shoot The Bull and Sri Non Thai.

Entertainment this year will be in the form of the instant sellout Camp Presents Drag Brunch and regular Bingo Lingo’s plus additional Floating Art events (food meets drawing classes) plus brand new Guilty

Pleasures and the return of Dog Social (one for the furry babies).

A blend of internationally known DJs and top class local talent will take over the decks at Chow Down throughout the summer once again. Keep an eye out for our brand new allday parties featuring some very special guests to be announced over summer.

Abi Whistance / Andy

Downtown Science / Aoife / Barry’s Here / Bay-Bush-Ka / Campo / Clandestino / Craig

Christon / Everton / Finnegan

/ Foz / Georgie Hall / Gip

Dammone / Harry Rock / Jidgy

B / Lisa Jane / Mezla / Musical

Metaphors / Ninety Nine / No

H / Release Records / Rufus / Sal / Seth Chohan / Scott

Broadhead / We Are Fierce Collective

Launching Thursday 6 April,

as the Easter bank holiday begins, Chow Down will run Thursday-Sunday throughout the year ‘til end of August.

Matt Long, Founder Chow Down and New Citizens, said:

“With the opening of our brand-new urban garden, which will be the ideal spot to soak up the sun this summer, I expect a very busy season. In addition to our own Taco & Tequila weekender, we will be hosting a number of new events this season, such as Guilty Pleasures, Floating Art, the Battle of the Burger, the Wings fest in collaboration with Leeds Indie Food, and the Wings fest.”

Bookings for Chow Down are on sale via the website. Chow Down is here till August but bookings will only be able to be made up and until May www.chowdownevents.co.uk

Mental health group returns

by Stewart Walton

Agroup led by and for people with lived experience of mental health problems is restating this month.

Back in 2019, I started a support group in West Hunslet, it was becoming successful when the pandemic hit, forcing the group to close in 2020.

Myself and a friend have decided to start it up again, the excitement of the two of us is building. We get just as much out of helping others as we put in. We are both knowledgeable of mental healthhave had difficulties in our own lives, having worked with various charities previously.

Major Cliff Allchin, Corps Officer at Leeds West Hunslet Salvation Army says: “Without a doubt the

problems associated with Mental Health are on the increase and we at Leeds West Hunslet Salvation Army are pleased to be able to sponsor the Mental Health Peer Support Group which will be meeting at our premises in Hunslet Hall Road every Tuesday afternoon from the 11

April.

“We see this as a valuable partnership to help and support those in need of someone to talk to, and supplements beautifully some of the work that The Salvation Army is able to do in South Leeds.”

Cllr Paul Wray (Labour,

Hunslet & Riverside) commented:

“Community based peer to peer mental health support groups play such a vital role in supporting people in a nonclinical environment. I wish this new group the best of success and I hope it provides support to those who need it.”

If you are struggling and need to talk to someone, we are here to listen, there is no need to deal with your situation alone.There may be someone in the group in a similar situation as you. We are friendly and support each other. There is no charge, however a donation is always welcome.

The group restarts on Tuesday 11 April, and weekly thereafter, 2:30-4pm at Salvation Army Church, Hunslet Hall Road, LS11 6QB.

The group meets at the Salvation Army Church on Hunslet Hall Road

Chow Down is back for 2023. Photo: Chapter 81

March brings league wins, but defeat in the cup for Hunslet

Continued from page 24

Morgan Punchard also had fine games.

Hunslet travelled to London to face the Skolars on artificial turf at the New River Stadium on Saturday 18 March.

Although the Skolars were winless Killer was taking no chances and prepared for a tough match with a training session at local community club Milford on their artificial pitch.

The preparation paid off as Hunslet effectively put the game to bed in the first quarter.

Leading 0-26 on 20 minutes the game was over and although the Skolars restored some pride in the second period Hunslet jumped to second in the Betfred League 1 table.

The visit to the capital got off to a great start as Hallas and Knowles combined to enable Josh Jordan-Roberts the room to score on only the 3rd minute 0-4.

Relentless Hunslet pressure after a Nathan Conroy bomb

and some quick passing meant Adam Ryder had space to run and on only the 9th minute Ryder’s try converted by Sweeting gave the Parksiders a 0-10 lead.

Rarely did Hunslet have to defend and when they did they wrapped up their opponents, and after another Adam Ryder run Michael Knowles added the third Hunslet try of the afternoon. 0-14

It looked as though it would be a landslide as Sam Hallas finished off a Nathan Conroy break to stretch the score to 020 on only the 16th minute.

Ryder is already a big presence in this Hunslet side and added two more tries before the half hour mark to complete a hattrick. The first came from a Sam Hallas / Jimmy Watson combination with Ryder steaming through the full-back, the other from a Nathan Conroy break and smart ball giving Ryder a simple run to the line. 0-32.

It shows how important Hunslet’s front row of Steve

Crossley, Sam Hallas and Harvey Hallas is as when they came off to recharge their batteries London managed a try from close in through Aaron Small (with Jack Ryan converting).

But a Hunslet penalty after the hooter had sounded stretched the Parksiders lead to 6-34 and it looked like a cricket score was on the cards.

Hunslet had only conceded 4 points in the second half of their last three games, but a renewed Skolars came out to give it their all.

Kicking out on the full from the off didn’t help, but on the Skolars last tackle the ball was thrown about close to the touch line with abandon before Christian Gale touched down even though there was a hint of a forward pass. 12-34

Hunslet hit back immediately as a Harvey Hallas ball sent Conroy through before Steve Crossley finished and then Conroy himself finished off an Aaron York break. 12-46

Adam Ryder notched up his

fourth after Jake Sweeting’s kick was spilt, but Skolars hit back with two tries from kicks that would have disappointed Coach Alan Kilshaw. Both came from unthreatening kicks not cleared up and both were scored by Louis O’Sullivan 2250 on 73 minutes.

With the shine taken off the performance Hunslet needed to finish strongly and did so with three tries in the final minutes. Harvey Hallas and Jake Sweeting combined to send Jamie Greenwood over before Sweeting himself finished off a move started by

a Joe Burton break.

Sweeting left himself an easy conversion after having an up and down afternoon with the boot. 22-60

Hunslet again scored after the hooter when quick passing to the right gave Adam Ryder a chance for a fifth try, but the big centre instead fed Jack Render who rounded on the posts to make the full time score 22-66.

Adam Ryder was voted the Hunslet Parkside Ex-players Association Man of the Match by his teammates, but there were also strong performances from Sam Hallas, Michael Knowles, Harvey Hallas and Nathan Conroy, as well as a lively debut by winger Alfie Goddard who put in a shift and took some stopping.

Coach Alan Kilshaw will be disappointed his side leaked a few sloppy tries in the second half but a 22-66 away win cannot be sniffed at, and although after Sunday’s games Hunslet have slipped to third in the league they look in good form for their next match, a big derby away at Dewsbury Rams on Good Friday (7 April).

Read full match reports online at southleedslife.com

the ball before scoring against Keighley. Photo: Craig Irvine

Adam Ryder shows great skill to control

WhenHolbeck Moor FC adults football teams launched two years ago there was no adults sports club in the area.

Supported by local theatre company Slung Low, a dedicated group of volunteers set out to create an inclusive club welcoming to everyone.

This week their women’s team officially became a ‘Football Club of Sanctuary’, a prestigious award run by the UK City of Sanctuary movement.

“We want to be welcoming to everyone,” explains head coach Claire Blue, “and we also recognise the additional barriers that people who are seeking asylum can face in taking part in sport.

“Add on the barriers that women face, the additional barriers mums face, and that means football can feel like quite an exclusive pursuit for many people.”

Holbeck Moor FC offers free football sessions to anyone who wants to play, and beyond that they also support players

with donated kit, reimburse bus fares and even provide a creche at women’s training.

The award is extra special because it will also make them the first ever women’s football

by Ian Pickles

team to receive the accolade.

“We are just delighted with this” said player and club ambassador Wan Abdullah.

“We have worked hard to make the club welcoming to all

women, especially those in the asylum system, to find out that we are the first ever women’s team to accomplish this award makes it extra special. And we hope it will inspire others.”

Holbeck Moor FC women’s team awarded Football Club of Sanctuary March brings league wins, but defeat in the cup for Hunslet

“We want to move away from all the negative health and crime statistics levelled at Holbeck and focus on the positives, we have loads of different community languages

spoken in the club, a huge mixture of people from different backgrounds, ethnicities, abilities and ages. Working towards this award has helped us reflect on how we can keep learning and improving as a team and a club.”

Rose McCarthy, spokesperson for Leeds City of Sanctuary and panel member who assessed the award commented:

“I am delighted to say that Holbeck Moor FC are the first ever women’s side to receive the award in the whole of the UK. I had the pleasure of assessing their application and was touched to see all the efforts they have made to enable women seeking sanctuary to not only play football but to be an integral part of the club.”

“We want to spread the word about City of Sanctuary to other football teams and encourage them to work towards the award,” Claire Blue tells us.

“We know there are lots of grass-roots football clubs out there doing great work, so we would certainly encourage people to look at how to apply, and think about how they can be more inclusive. We have learnt so much from the process.”

12 at the break there was nothing in it.

Coach

Alan ‘Killer’ Kilshaw will be satisfied with Hunslet’s performance in their three March matches, with promotion from League 1 a clear priority for the club.

After a tough first half Hunslet RLFC ground out a victory against a well-drilled North Wales Crusaders with a third consecutive second half clean sheet at the South Leeds Stadium on 5 March.

An injury to winger Keiron

Lawton in the early minutes upset the Parksiders, and uncharacteristic mistakes meant they were under the cosh from the Welsh visitors who scored on 6 minutes and added a penalty half way through the half.

Slowly though, the Hunslet forwards began to get on top and a period of sustained pressure on the Crusaders’ line created a few chances. Eventually on 33 minutes a gap opened up and Jake Sweeting was only too happy to nip through and score. Converting his own try. So 6-8 at the break.

The hour mark saw Harvey Hallas slip a lovely ball to Nathan Newbound who went over by the left upright. Sweeting converting to edge the Parksiders in front 12-8.

Former Hunslet man Jordan Andrade was sin-binned for a late tackle on the lively Harvey Whiteley and with a numerical advantage Hunslet put the game to bed.

On 68 minutes Sam Hallas found a gap and fed Harvey Hallas from close range, then on 72 minutes Josh JordanRoberts put a neat kick in for Joe Burton to follow up and score. Jake Sweeting had converted the first of these tries giving Hunslet a now unassailable 22-8 lead.

Sponsors’ Man of the Match Josh Jordan-Roberts and Steve Crossley were dominant going

forward. Whilst the supporters chose Harvey Hallas as their Man of the Match having been involved in match deciding moments. Harvey Whiteley and Sam Hallas were also impressive for the home side whose coach Alan ‘Killer’ Kilshaw was pleased at his sides defence in the second half.

A week later Hunslet faced Keighley Cougars, now of the Championship, in the Challenge Cup.

The Cougars ended any dreams of Wembley, but the game that was much closer than some had predicted.

In truth with the Cougars having a man sent off on the 50th minute, Hunslet would have hoped to have had enough to beat their rivals, but time was against them and the Cougars held on for victory.

Alix Stephenson scored for the visitors follwing a break by ex-Parksider Mo Agoro on 6 minutes.

Keighley doubled their lead on 36 minutes through Robbie Storey, whilst Sam Hallas was in the sin bin.

The game could have been over had Keighley scored again, but the 12 men of Hunslet had the half’s final say. Punchard’s deft kick was volleyed by Adam Ryder and then regained for the big centre to score a skilful try. Although there was no conversion at 4-

The second half started with both teams making unforced errors, but on 50 minutes the dynamic changed as former Hunslet man Lewis Young was sent off for punching, leaving the Cougars half an hour with only 12 men and a slim 8 point lead.

On 53 minutes Robbie Storey made a break on the right and only a Jimmy Watson tackle stopped him from scoring, but from the play the ball Aaron Levy was too strong for Hunslet and Keighley stretched their lead to 4-16.

Hunslet pressure eventually told when a superb Michael Knowles ball sent 18 year old Brad Wheeler over for a try. 816 with 20 minutes to go.

The veteran Knowles (playing at half back) was starting to control the game, and another superb ball to Joe Burton gave the ex-Bradford Bull a chance to show his strength close to the line. Wrestling his way over for a try. Knowles conversion made it 14-16 with 7 minutes to go.

Hunslet kept pushing but time was against them and Keighley held on for the win.

Michael Knowles won the Supporters Man of the Match with Adam Ryder getting the Sponsors vote, whilst Jimmy Watson, Joe Burton and Continued on Page

Inclusive: Holbeck Moor FC are the first women’s team to receive the award

Nathan Newbound scores for Hunslet against North Wales Crusaders. Photo: Craig Irvine