Issuu

Your FREE community newspaper

Issue 35 | December 2017

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

NEW SCHOOL FOR MIDDLETON

In this issue:

St Luke’s CARES grant scheme

page 3

Foodbank’s Christmas appeal

page 4

Elements Primary to be headed by South Leeds lass

A new Primary School is to be built in South Leeds in a partnership between Wellspring Academy Trust and Leeds City Council. The 420-place school, subject to planning approval and public consultation, will be located in the heart of Middleton on a currently undeveloped plot at Acre Mount. The planning proposal is expected to go before the council’s planning committee shortly, with the school set to open in September 2018. Elements Primary School, which will educate children aged four to 11, is being built in response to a shortage of school places in Leeds. Admissions through Leeds City Council are now open to children of Reception age in September 2018 and close mid January 2018. Parents and carers considering enrolling their child at Elements Primary will have an opportunity to meet the new Principal this month. Founding Principal Sarah Horsbrough will be hosting an consultation evening on Wednesday 14 December from 5pm to 7pm at Tenants Hall Enterprise Centre, Acre Close in Middleton. Further consultation events, parents evenings and a children’s day are planned and

will be announced shortly. Admissions to Elements Primary School through the Leeds City Council application process are now open to children of Reception age in September 2018. Applications close in mid January 2018. To apply for a place at Elements parents need to complete the form on Leeds City Council’s online admissions page: www.leeds .gov.uk/residents/Pages/ Admissions-PrimarySchool.aspx More information about the new Primary School in South Leeds available from www.elementsprimaryschool .co.uk Miss Horsbrough said: “I’m looking forward to meeting parents and community leaders. Elements Primary School will be an outstanding state-of-the-art school from the outset. We’ll have the very best facilities. Children will be provided with an iPad and they will learn essential skills for tomorrow’s world. “A brand new school provides the best opportunities for a fantastic education. This really is an opportunity to be part of something very special. And, if you apply for your child to be a part of our first reception year, they will stay in the oldest year group throughout their time at Elements.”

Meet Sarah Horsbrough Sarah Horsbrough has been appointed as founding Principal at Elements Primary School. She brings a wealth of educational expertise and is currently Executive Head of two schools in Bradford, but her roots are in South Leeds. Sarah was born in Hunslet and attended Hunslet Middle School, now Hunslet St Mary’s Primary School. She gained “a few O Levels” at high school and having stayed on an extra year to take resits, she decided to leave school and get a job. Through her work with church groups and as a young leader in the Church Lads & Church Girls Brigade it became clear to Sarah that teaching was her calling. She took up a teaching assistant job at Hunslet St Mary’s, and went back to night school to complete her A Levels. Sarah returned twice to Hunslet St Mary’s, firstly as a newly qualified Sarah Horsbrough, Principal of Elements Primary teacher after completing her university on an inclusive approach where all children studies and later as Key Stage 2 Leader. can have the same experiences and achieve We asked Sarah about coming back to to the same standard. My experience in both South Leeds as Principal of Elements sharing that I’m from South Leeds and that I Primary School. “Middleton as the location of Elements was currently work in Bradford is that people can have a preconceived idea about who and important to me. After ten years of working what you are. in Bradford I was keen to return to South “I hope I can continue to disprove those Leeds. Being able to be part of this fantastic misconceptions acting as a role model opportunity to bring a brand new school to through my work in Middleton. I’m very Middleton is very exciting. excited to be back!” “My whole educational philosophy is based

Brownlee brothers visit Cockburn

pages 10-11

Beeston’s world beater Kickboxers

page 20

NEWS SCHOOLS FEEDBACK PEOPLE ARTS WHAT’S ON SPORT

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

2-9 10-11 12 14-15 16 17-19 20

www.southleedslife.com

South Leeds Life | December 2017

2 News

Facebook: facebook.com/southleedslife

Twitter: @SouthLeedsLife

About us South Leeds Life is written by and for local people. People who live, work and play in the LS10 and LS11 areas of South Leeds. The website and newspaper are produced by South Leeds Life CIC, a social enterprise registered with Companies House, No 9998695. South Leeds Life is a member of the Independent Community News Network. Our aims are: To inform people of events, activities, issues and opportunities taking place in the South Leeds community; To encourage the involvement of the wider community in communicating their experiences; To foster community spirit and involvement; and To provide a platform for local people to contribute and respond to community life more fully.

MP’s notebook by Hilary Benn MP It is said that Christmas is the season of goodwill. So it was timely to find myself recently discussing with a senior clergyman and some parliamentary colleagues the way politics is debated and MPs are sometimes treated. What got the discussion started was Brexit and the way it has polarised opinion within political parties and across the country. Those who voted leave can't understand why it's taking so long, and anyone who tries to point out that it is slightly complicated can be attacked for being a mutineer, a traitor or worse. And those who voted remain are really angry at all those who say that Brexit will be wonderful when they think it will be an utter disaster. It's understandable that with strong feelings on both sides debate can be forthright, but there is a huge difference between that and the sort of social media abuse now regularly directed at people in public life about all sorts of issues.

I have looked back at some of the comments directed me in the past couple of years and it is astonishing how personal and offensive some people can be. But when you compare my experience with what many women MPs have gone through - vicious, violent and sexualised abuse - it seems almost mild by comparison. So why do some people think this in an acceptable way to behave? I suspect that most of those who do this online feel - wrongly - that they can 'hide' behind their Twitter handle. I also reckon that almost all of them would never dream of saying in person what they say online. It's the modern day equivalent of shouting something rude through the letter box and running away. I tested out my theory a few years ago when I got a particularly horrible letter from a man I didn't know. For some reason he had put his telephone number on it so I rang him up. I told him who I was and referred to his letter. I could tell by his voice that he had never expected in a million years that this might happen.

I didn't mention the abuse but addressed the substance of his complaint. He was as good as gold and even thanked me for calling him. My father had another way of Hilary Benn MP dealing with this problem. When he got an exceptionally offensive letter he would write back to the address and say "Dear Mr Smith, I feel obliged to point out that someone has clearly stolen your headed letter paper and is sending grossly abusive letters pretending to be you." He said it usually worked to bring it to an end! Don't get me wrong. This is not a plea for politicians, local or national, to be treated with kid gloves or to be afforded respect automatically. Not at all. Fair criticism is part of the job and it helps us to do it better. But that is not the same as vile abuse of those who serve the public. When I was growing up my Mum

used to read to us 'The Water Babies' by the Rev Charles Kingsley. It had a mysterious quality about it something to do with the illustrations and it being set under water. The character who made the biggest impression on me was Mrs Do-As-You-Would-Be-Done-By. She was a rather stern person but she was trying to teach the characters an important lesson about how to behave in life. Treat others as you would wish to be treated. So in that spirit, can I take this opportunity to wish you all and everyone at South Leeds Life a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Your Life is three years old

Our first regular monthly edition of South Leeds Life was published in December 2014. That makes this our third birthday, but the roots of the paper go back a further four years to 2010, when we posted our first

story on the South Leeds Life website. Keeping the news flowing has not always been easy, but we have had fantastic help from many, many volunteers. We have never charged for the

news, but it doesn’t come free. We are very grateful to our readers who have supported us personally through our pound-a-week scheme and to those community organisations that have joined our sponsorship scheme.

Please consider getting involved and contributing some of your time or money. We have only got this far with your support - we can only continue to deliver your local news with your support.

Payment by Standing Order

Phone: 07894 583966

To: The Manager,

We would love to hear from you!

Your bank: ________________________________________________

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

Address: _________________________________________________

Tell us about your local events

____________________________ Postcode: ____________________ Please pay a monthly payment of £4 (four pounds) until further notice starting on 1st January 2018 to: Co-operative Bank plc PO Box 250 Delf House, Southway Skelmersdale WN8 6WT

Keep up to date with the latest news everyday online at:

www. southleedslife .com

Thanks to our main sponsors:

to credit: South Leeds Life Group Sort code 08 – 92 – 99

Account no. 65591910

Your bank account details: Account name: _____________________________________________ Sort Code: ____-____-____ Account no: ________________________ Signature: ___________________________ Date: ________________ Your address (for newspaper delivery): _________________________________________________________ _______________________________ Postcode: _________________ Please return to: 224 Cross Flatts Grove, Leeds, LS11 7BW

www.southleedslife.com

Website: www.southleedslife.com

December 2017 | South Leeds Life

News 3

Email: info@southleedslife.com

Win £1,000 for your community South Leeds Life has teamed up with St Luke’s CARES to give community projects in South Leeds the chance to win up to £1,000 AND get some free publicity. St Luke’s CARES have committed £2,000 of money raised from their charity shop on Dewsbury Road to be given out in 3 awards to local community groups in South

Leeds. The charity will accept nominations from the beginning of January to the end of February, with a community panel choosing the best 5 in March which will then be put to the public vote at the charity shop in April 2018. To enter all you’ll need to do is write an article for South Leeds Life. Keep the article to

under 500 words and tell us: • About the project you want to nominate • What work it does in the local community • And how it would spend the cash! The charity’s manager Jackson Turner said: “We are really excited about the Community Awards. There are some great projects out there

which we need to celebrate. And the best bit is you can spend the money on what project want and need.” First place wins £1,000, second place £750 and third place £250. To enter the competition, all you need to do is send an article to South Leeds Life with a photo. All entries will have their stories published online. Shortlisted projects will be featured in our April newspaper. The winners will be chosen by people voting at the shop in April. With the winners presented their awards in May 2018. Get your articles at the ready!

St Luke's CARES charity shop on Dewsbury Road relies on donations from the public. If you want to donate furniture,

white goods or household items just call 0113 400 1182 or visit stlukescares.org.uk to find out more.

Jackson Turner, Manager of St luke’s CARES with South Leeds Life Editor Jeremy Morton

Middleton’s Urban Bike Park is Setback at Ice on track for December opening Rink site by Jeremy Morton Work on the first phase of the Leeds Urban Bike Park, on the site of the former Middleton Park Golf Course, is nearing completion and South Leeds Life can reveal that the centre will be opened on Friday 1 December 2017. We spoke to Jeremy Hayes from Cycle Pathways CIC, who will run the £1.2m facility, about what we can expect. “We are all about helping people develop their cycling skills, no matter what level they are at” he said. “If you’ve never ridden a bike we can help. If you want to compete in the Olympics we can help. Whatever stage on the journey you are, we can help.” Outside the centre, once the golf clubhouse, now converted into a swish café and shop, parents will be able to watch their younger children practice on the pump track. Here they literally pump their balance or small BMX bike over the bumps. Beyond that is the larger BMX skills track, which has been fitted with the latest technology 4 man electric start gate from

The classroom is craned in

Damage to the timber frame at Elland Road Ice Rink

The BMX course under construction France, for bmx & 4X racers to practice their starts, but is more about developing skills than racing. Then it’s on to the southern section of the mountain bike trail. In phases two and three, which are due to be completed by Easter 2018, the trail will be extended to the north and through the woods creating a 6km cross country loop. Routes are graded from Green – the current asphalt path/road around the park; Blue – requiring a bit more skill; through to Red, through the woods on newly constructed routes segregated from walking paths, where “your wheels will leave the ground” at various points. “We have designed this to be accessible” Jeremy explains. “You don’t need a £6,000 bike to ride here and to improve your skills.

In fact you don’t even need to cycle at all. Come and enjoy the café or use the new accessible path to the Rose Garden. “To start with we aim to get back to the level of activity we had before the work started. So that’s evening and weekend rides, running groups, cycle maintenance. We will be looking to develop the activity programme and our work with schools and community groups as we progress through the Spring.” The creation of the Middleton Bike Hub has been a partnership project between Leeds City Council and Cycle Pathways CIC, supported by British Cycling and Sport England. You can follow developments on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/pg/ leedsurbanbikepark

Part of the wooden structure for the new Ice Rink being constructed at Elland Road collapsed on Wednesday 22 November. It is not clear when the incident happened or whether it was a result of the strong winds, but Police have said that no one was hurt in the incident. Mark Johnson from The Ice Rink Company which is developing the site told South Leeds Life that a full assessment of the incident would take place.

Photos: Jeremy Morton

Until that assessment is made he was unwilling to comment on what had happened or how it might delay completion of the building. The rink, which is being built on land next to the Park & Ride and the railway embankment, has been beset with delays. It was originally set to open in autumn 2016. South Leeds Life understands that significant ground issues were encountered when the foundations were dug.

www.southleedslife.com

South Leeds Life | December 2017

4 News

Twitter: @SouthLeedsLife

Iconic Temple Works could be yours for just £1

Holbeck’s Temple Works

by Jeremy Morton Last month we wrote: “The future of the magnificent Grade 1 listed Temple Works in Holbeck remains in doubt following Burberry’s decision not to take ownership as part of their plans for a new factory nearby.” We have since learned that the building’s future is in even greater uncertainty as it has been put up for sale in a property auction to be held on 7 December at Elland Road. Listed simply as Lot 87 “Grade I listed former flax mill” with no minimum or maximum guide price and no reserve price. It could sell for just £1. Commenting on the sale, Martin Hamilton, Director Leeds Civic Trust, said: “This is considered by many – including English Heritage and Leeds City Council – to be one of the most important historical buildings in Leeds. Its architectural and historical significance are significant. “The news that the building is to

be auctioned off must therefore be received with some trepidation. We only hope that, if it is sold, the new owner will be able to bring the necessary imagination – and investment – to the table, to restore this magnificent mill, and to bring it back into use.” Built in the 1840s as a flax mill and designed as a copy of the ancient Temple of Edfu in Egypt, Temple Works was a state-of-the-art building. The main spinning room was the largest room in the world at that time. Unfortunately it’s structure relies on cast iron rods which have degraded. The cost of making the building usable again is estimated at £20m. It appears the current owners, understood to be the secretive Barclay Brothers, owners of the Daily Telegraph, have had enough of the delays in a permanent owner taking on the building and the associated ongoing maintenance costs. Their rush to sell means that it is unlikely any community or public-private group could get organised in time for the auction.

Lane End Primary School,

Beeston Road, Leeds, LS11 6AA is proposing to become a Foundation School (without Foundation). Proposed Implementation Date: [1 March 2018] Proposals are being published as required by regulation 4 of the School Organisation (Removal of Foundation, Reduction in Number of Foundation Governors and Ability of Foundation to Pay Debts (England) Regulations 2007 (the Regulations). If you would like further information, please see the proposal document on the school website. www.laneendprimary.org.uk

Facebook: facebook.com/southleedslife

Foodbank calls for Christmas donations by John Newbould

For most of us Christmas is a time to be merry, a time for presents and the clinking of glasses. But for many people on low incomes Christmas is a lonely and miserable time, made worse by the presumption that everyone is having a great time. So, we are appealing to your readers to HELP FEED A FAMILY this Christmas. The Leeds South and East Foodbank is part of The Trussell Trust’s 400-strong network of foodbanks which provide a minimum of three days’ emergency food and support to people experiencing crisis in the UK. In 2016/17, nationally, the foodbanks gave 1,182,954 three-day emergency food supplies to people in crisis. The Leeds South and East Foodbank, part of the Trussell Trust, is a thirdsector, non-profit making charity, staffed by non-waged volunteers. It provides and

Volunteers at the Foodbank need your support

We urgently need: • • • • • • • •

Cereals Tinned Tomatoes Tinned Vegetables Tinned Meat Tinned Fish Tinned Potatoes Rice Pasta Sauce

meets the needs of those in South and East Leeds in

• • • • • • •

Tinned Fruit Tinned Rice Pudding Tinned Custard Biscuits Juice Coffee UHT Milk

crisis by providing emergency food; providing a

listening, non-judgemental space to listen to people and their immediate issues; to sign-post them to those who can provide a long term solution to their problems. Since 1 April 2014, across South and East Leeds, the foodbank has fed directly, through our distribution centres, 22,998 people (13,743 adults and 9,255 children). We also supply school breakfast clubs and food for homeless charities. Food donations can be delivered to the foodbanks warehouse at Unit 16, Ashbrooke Business Park, Parkside Lane, Leeds LS11 5SF. Opening hours are Monday to Wednesday, 8:30am–2:30pm. There are also food collection points at: • Sainsbury’s Supermarket in the White Rose Shopping Centre. • Halifax Building Society Branches at Hunslet and Morley. • Morrison’s Supermarket, Rothwell

Order to tackle anti-social behaviour at Holbeck flats Unauthorised visitors have been It means that anyone who is not a banned from a Leeds tower block as resident or invited guest is banned from part of work by the police and council entering the premises and can face to tackle drug use and anti-social arrest and prosecution. behaviour. Officers from Operation Leodis – a team funded by Leeds City Council to tackle mainly housing-related antisocial behaviour – have secured a partial closure order for Meynell Heights, in Meynell Approach, Holbeck. Residents’ lives have been blighted by long-running issues with drug use and anti-social behaviour. Drug users have been seen injecting themselves in the communal areas and hypodermic needles and drugs paraphernalia have been left in stairwells and bin chutes. People have been found sleeping rough in bin chutes and stairwells have been used as toilets. The Operation Leodis team carried out a survey of residents and found Meynell Heights. Photo: Frederik van Zyl 65 per cent said they had Any breach of the order is a criminal experienced problems in the block and offence punishable with up to six were keen for action to tackle it. The order, which was granted under months in prison. Chief Inspector Chris Matthews, who the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 at a hearing at Leeds heads neighbourhood policing in the Magistrates Court on Friday 10 City and South Leeds, said: “Residents have been November applies to the common areas understandably appalled and disgusted of the block.

by the nature of the anti-social behaviour they have faced around their homes for some considerable time. “We will not tolerate behaviour that blights the lives of others, and this latest action should serve as a clear warning to those who think they can persist in making peoples’ lives a misery. “We will continue to monitor the situation and take appropriate action to make sure these issues are not just displaced elsewhere.” Councillor Debra Coupar, Leeds City Council’s executive member with responsibility for Safer Leeds said: “Through this step, anyone who does not have permission to be in this tower block could face prosecution and even a prison sentence if they ignore our warnings. I want to make it very clear that we will pursue further action against any individual who is found to be breaking any aspect of the court order.” Officers will be actively enforcing the order through regular patrols of the block. If residents see people involved in anti-social behaviour in the communal areas they should report it to the police on 101 or to Leeds Anti-Social Behaviour Team on (0113) 222 4402.

www.southleedslife.com

Website: www.southleedslife.com

December 2017 | South Leeds Life

News 5

Email: info@southleedslife.com

Your new local shop with a difference JAKS discount store on Cardinal Road in Beeston has been open six months. In that time owner Jaspal (Jazz) Gill says he’s built up a great relationship with the local community. This is a local shop with a difference specialising in clearance, convenience, off license and all things party. The shop specialises in selling in-date goods at discount prices. As Jazz and his wife, Aman, build the business new lines are added such as the recent addition of an off licence section. Jazz says he’s had problems in his life and knows what it’s like when money is short. As a child he suffered from Menigitis which left him in a coma. Then a series of operations on his back and ankle saw him in and out of hospital. Later on he suffered with a drink problem which he’s now beaten.

Now he’s on a mission to keep both the essentials and the celebratory goods affordable for everyone. You can save money on clearance items, from just 20p, or buy in bulk. Staples such as bread, eggs and milk sell for just 85p (including Warburtons). All alcohol products sell below the recommended retail price. The store features a party shop with everything for your special event: balloons, cards, gift boxes and much more. JAKS came to the rescue of mums organising a leaving party for children from Beeston Primary School in July, donating decorations for the room. Jazz and Aman take pride in providing excellent service. As parents of a young child themselves, they have ensured the shop is buggy-friendly with level access and wide aisles. Customers seem to agree judging by the 5 star reviews on their Facebook page.

Jaspal Gill in his shop on Cardinal Road, Beeston The shop is open seven days With Christmas approaching JAKS is taking bulk orders for a week: Monday to Friday 8amyour seasonal needs, which 8pm; Saturday and Sunday can be delivered to your door. 9am-8pm.

The shop will even be open on Christmas Day in case you forget or run out of something important.

A final message from JAKS, JAKS Wife & Baby JAK: “We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

www.southleedslife.com

South Leeds Life | December 2017

6 News

Facebook: facebook.com/southleedslife

Twitter: @SouthLeedsLife

Young carers enjoy a Build-A-Bear Workshop treat Children from Barnardo’s Willow young carers had the chance to make their very own festive furry friend and enjoy an evening of pre-Christmas cheer on Monday 13 November, thanks to the BuildA-Bear Workshop store at White Rose Shopping Centre. The group of 20 young carers, aged six to twelve, was invited to a special party at the nearby Build-A-Bear Workshop store in South Leeds for an evening of Christmas activities. Barnardo’s Willow is a support service for young

carers aged 5-18 years old living in Leeds. It supports children and young people who care for a family member affected by a physical or mental health illness, disability or substance misuse problem – around 400 children and young people per year across Leeds. Willow Support Worker, Jayne Wilson said: “The children all absolutely loved the experience! The staff at Build-Bear were lovely and made sure everyone had a great time, and the young people were able to customise

their bears and were all thrilled with them.” In the lead-up to Christmas, Build-A-Bear Workshop stores across the globe will also hold “Stuffed with Hugs” events Friday-Sunday 1-3 from December, where customers can make a bear at no charge to be donated to children and young people being supported by Barnardo’s. In total, Build-A-Bear Workshop will donate 6,000 bears to Barnardo’s this Christmas. From now until 10 December,

A young carer with her new bear

New kit for juniors

customers will also be able to donate any new, unwrapped toys in-store towards the charity and can make donations at till points from now until 26 December. Barnardo’s Chief Executive, Javed Khan said: “We are thrilled to be working with Build-A-Bear Workshop and are really grateful that they will also be helping to raising money towards our vital UKwide services this Christmas so we can continue to support those most in need every year.”

Cineworld and IMAX open at White Rose by Lucy Potter

Julie Hedley from Manning Stainton Beeston with Middleton Park FC Under 8’s and coach Joe Muddiman A South Leeds junior football team are onto a winner thanks to Manning Stainton. The Beeston branch of the estate agent has provided Middleton Park FC Under 8’s with an impressive new green and black playing strip as part of its on-going Community Support Programme. Team Manager Joe Muddiman said: “Last year we only had four players signed up and now we have as many as 14 boys regularly turning up for our weekly training sessions which is fantastic. “First and foremost it is about making sure they have fun in a safe

environment, as well as helping them appreciate the many health and social benefits of participating in recreational sport. “Like all amateur clubs money is extremely tight and we are responsible for our own fundraising which is why we are so grateful to Manning Stainton for their generous sponsorship.” Manning Stainton has donated in excess of £50,000 to over 50 clubs, groups, schools and other worthwhile organisations through its Community Support Programme over the last 12 months.

TRFC’s Diversity award Hunslet-based The Right Fuelcard Company’s (TRFC) focus on creating job opportunities for the disadvantaged and long-term unemployed has been acknowledged in a high-profile award. The independent distributor of Shell, Esso, Keyfuels and UK Fuels cards to UK businesses, has clinched the Diversity honour in The Yorkshire Post’s Excellence in Business Awards 2017, where it was also a finalist in the Outstanding Employer category. The accolade endorses TRFC’s unique recruitment and development

programme which taps into the skills of people including ex-offenders, longterm unemployed, young people with no work experience and ex-military personnel – all of whom struggle to reintegrate into society. TRFC business director, Adam Walsh, said: “Our pioneering approach to diversity in employment gives people from excluded groups the confidence, self-esteem, training and skills to achieve what they thought was unachievable. We always look beyond individuals’ situation to identify their inner talent.“

Cineworld and IMAX has now opened at the Leeds White Rose Centre with its spectacular 11 stateof-the-art screen cinema. The launch on Thursday 16 November, a day before the doors opened to the public, was the screening of Justice League. As a community reporter for South Leeds Life, I was one of the lucky people to experience this along with workers and families who have been involved, including the community organisation representatives. Entering the complex will appeal to all movie goers; strips of bright neon blue and red lights leads the eye over sharp contours of the theatre’s entrance hall, including screens of moving images of films yet to be released. Following the small crowds of people we go inside further past refreshments stalls where the sparkly midnight blue tiled floor turns into the comfortable carpeted area of sofa seated hall. It seems hard to think that only two weeks ago we visited here to eat at a local restaurant in the new village expansion at the White Rose centre and this was still being built! I met with Cineworld & IMAX spokespersons Steve Petersen; Cineworld Leeds General Manager and Justin Skinner; (SVP) Marketing, Cineworld. And Giovanni Dolci Managing Director Europe and Africa IMAX. They were enthusiastic to tell me more about it; Peter said, “This is a four year project that has actually delivered a week early to meet with the release date of Justice League. Everything has been purpose built which included raising the height of the roof to fit in the biggest IMAX screen in the country 24m x 30m. Usually IMAX’s are built on existing cinema sites, but this is the first one to be built from scratch with two laser projectors delivering superior picture and sound quality.” Giovanni commented saying “IMAX

Steve Petersen, Cineworld Leeds General Manager wants to deliver a totally immersive experience, coupled with IMAX’s customised theatre geometry and powerful digital audio create a unique environment that will make audiences feel as if they are in the movie.” Justin “Thanked the White Rose for helping accommodate both Cineworld and IMAX with over 4,800 car parking spaces and to deliver the best experience for the local community. Cineworld are the largest exhibitors of Bollywood films and first film to be shown, Tumhari Sulu, will open tonight at 8pm (at the time of writing). Usually you would travel at least 20 minutes to get to an IMAX cinema, now nearby residents can just walk down!” I was also interested as to whether their programming would include art house films. Justin reassured me that as well as Cineworld showing blockbusters it will also host Independent and European films. They will also deliver live theatre and opera performances too. Thinking environmentally I was interested in what happens to all the rubbish? Their recycling ethos is adhered to under the White Rose centres’ winning green policy. I think I’m yet to find a cinema where

everyone goes and takes their rubbish out, but I did notice big bins in the sofa area. Cineworld has £2.50 priced tickets on Saturday mornings and every day in the school holidays, showing films passed for families. There’s also an option to purchase and ‘Unlimted Card‘ – which lets you watch any film any time as many times as you like and get 10% off snacks and drinks. You also get exclusive premier screenings of upcoming releases. Cineworld is fully accessible with ramps and lifts and providing disability seating towards the back of the cinema rather than the front. They also have Autism Friendly Cinema screening on Sundays. And last but not least Cine Babies, you can bring your baby to experience films and meet other parents! Check out the program here. Excitedly everyone enters the auditorium with over 300 seats towering high but safely and comfortably, with enough leg room for people to walk past. IMAX lives up to everything that we’ve been expecting; and delivers a superhero film in a super setting. This women wonders whether it can get any better?!

www.southleedslife.com

Website: www.southleedslife.com

December 2017 | South Leeds Life

News 7

Email: info@southleedslife.com

Free English lessons to promote social cohesion English4All in Leeds (E4A), a new English language school, is breaking down barriers by providing free, nostrings education and social integration opportunities to local speakers of other languages. The voluntary led organisation, which relies on qualified and experienced teaching volunteers, has received a Leeds Fund #GiveLoveLeeds Grant to pay for classroom hire and other expenses incurred in providing Free English lessons with E4A free English classes. practice their English in a more relaxed Managed by Leeds Community setting. Foundation, The Leeds Fund creates E4A has seen more than 200 students positive change in the communities of from 47 countries pass through its doors Leeds that need it most by distributing since opening in October 2016. Nearly financial grants and support to community 1,000 student visits, over 100 hours of projects across the city. free classes, and 1,000s of hours of E4A’s free, weekly English classes at volunteers’ time have already been beginner, intermediate and advanced provided. Over 350 volunteers have levels take place every Saturday at LCI on applied to help E4A make Leeds a Central Road in Leeds city centre. The friendlier place for new arrivals, and to group also organises social and sports provide high-quality ESOL teaching at events where students are encouraged to absolutely no cost to students.

E4A Secretary, Steph MacWilliam, said: “Poor English skills are a barrier to employment, education and training opportunities, often leading to isolation, disillusionment, poverty and crime. “Our free English classes provide a safe and friendly learning space. Volunteers and funding are absolutely vital to enable us to deliver our free English classes. We are delighted to have received a Leeds Fund #GiveLoveLeeds Grant.” E4A provides an inclusive, welcoming environment where students can receive free English classes and meet new people every week. Yolanta, a student representative on E4A’s Governing Body, said: “The classes and social activities add self-confidence, because of the skills I’ve gained and the friends I’ve made. E4A has helped me feel part of the community” Email enquiries@english4allinleeds.com or call Nick on 07850 307 706.

Second armed robbery at Hunslet bingo hall Detectives in Leeds are investigating following a second armed robbery last month at Mecca Bingo in Hunslet. Officers were called at around 8:30pm on Thursday 9 November after four suspects entered the premises on Balm Road brandishing weapons including a knife. They made threats to staff before making off with an amount of cash. They are believed to have left the scene in a small dark colored vehicle.

Detective Inspector Simon Jessup, of Leeds District CID, said: “Extensive enquiries are underway following what has understandably been a terrifying experience for the staff and customers within the premises. “Officers have spoken to a number of people who were present at the time of the incident. However, we would ask anyone who has not yet come forward, who has any information, to speak to the police. Enquiries are

continuing.” The incident follows a similar attack in August this year when two men with axes were chased from the building by customers and staff having taken cash from the till. Anyone who was in the area or who may have any information is asked to contact Leeds District CID via 101 quoting 13170524216. Information can also be passed to the independent crime fighting charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Better security at Holbeck Cemetery

Holbeck cemetery is set to undergo a series of security improvements in an attempt to tackle anti-social behaviour in the area. Local residents have been working with Councillors to identify measures to help reduce anti-social behaviour, successfully negotiating new closing times at the cemetery. This will see the gates locked between dusk and dawn. Alongside this, further improvements will be made to the gates themselves to make them more secure. Beeston & Holbeck ward Councillors Angela Gabriel, Adam Ogilvie and David

Congreve have expressed their delight at the prospect of these improvements, whilst also reaffirming their commitment to ensuring safety to all residents in the community. Councillor Angela Gabriel said: “All residents have the right to feel safe in their local My ward communities. colleagues and I are delighted with the impending security improvements at Holbeck cemetery. It is a place of respect that means a great amount to our residents. We are confident that these steps will go a long way in reducing incidents of anti-social behaviour in the area.”

COMPETITION

Your chance to win a NEW Washing Machine, Fridge Freezer, or Cooker! Visit our facebook page: St Luke's CARES Charity Shops Like, share and name the unicorn. The winning name chosen by young people from The Shine Project gets a brand new white good as well as the unicorn! Closing date: 18th December 2017

Visit St Luke's CARES Charity Shop & Warehouse, 246252 Dewsbury Road LS11 6JQ and find great value items for your home. Or donate to our cause and support our community projects.

Mecca Bingo in Hunslet. Photo: Google Streetview

www.southleedslife.com

South Leeds Life | December 2017

8 News

Twitter: @SouthLeedsLife

Health staff go the extra mile by Ken Ingram

Managers at Leeds Community Healthcare NHS Trust said ‘Thanks a Bunch’ to two very special members of staff who demonstrated behaviour that was the epitome of dementia-friendly care. Middleton Health Centre receptionist Sheilagh Stirling and podiatrist Rhia Seers were on hand to help when a patient mistakenly turned up for a morning appointment two and a half hours early.

that all appropriate staff were made aware of the situation. The pair were nominated for our award by Quality Lead for Children’s Services Helen Rowland, who was hot desking at the Health Centre at the time. Helen Rowland said: “What I saw was staff going the extra mile and dementia-friendly in action.Incidentally the podiatrist even fitted another patient into the later appointment slot from the waiting list.” Interim Director of Workforce

Facebook: facebook.com/southleedslife

Dancers DAZL at Sharp Lane Centre Sharp Lane Community Group’s autumn event on was a great success raising over £500 for the group. A packed community centre was entertained by DAZL‘s various dance groups showing their skills. As well as a buffet, there was a tombola, cake and nearly new stall too The event was sponsored by Middleton Park Ward Councillors Paul Truswell, Judith Blake and Kim Groves, who also support DAZL through Community Committee funding. Speaking on behalf of the Councillors, Paul Truswell said: “Judith, Kim and I are absolutely delighted that our Community Committee and MICE funding enabled a wonderful event that brought the generations together in such a memorable way. “We want to pay particular tribute to Christine Thompson, Treasurer of Sharp Lane

The DAZL family with Cllr Judith Blake, Cllr Paul Truswell and Christine Thompson Group, who Community organised the event. Christine fundraises tirelessly and arranges many activities and trips for senior citizens. “It was great to see DAZL showcase how they’ve used Community Committee funding to provide a wonderful

experience for scores of young lads and lasses from Middleton and Belle Isle. We’re proud to support them.” The funds raised will allow Sharp Lane Community Group continue their work providing activities for elderly & local wider community to reduce

isolation, build social community ownership & spirit. Regular activities include bingo and a lunch club as well as trips out. For more information call 07927 000186, or look for Sharp Lane Community Group on Facebook.

Rhia Seers receives flowers from Ann Hobson Having come in from the pouring rain, the gentleman was made comfortable by Sheilagh who sat and talked with him. Rhia then saw him immediately, and before the clinic opened, providing the best possible care. They then saw that the gentleman got home safely and

Ann Hobson surprised both ladies with bouquets and certificates this week, commending them for displaying our core ‘How We Work’ behaviours of Caring. Ann Hobson said “It’s lovely – I think we all work as a team and try and do our best for them but it’s really nice to have this.”

Have your say on developing South Bank plans A new round of consultation has started on the latest version of planning guidance for the South Bank area of north Holbeck and north Hunslet. Redeveloping the South Bank will be the biggest change the city has seen in more than a hundred years and will have a major impact on the rest of the South Leeds community. Drop in events have been taking place where you can view the proposals, talk to staff and give your views. The final ones include: • Saturday 2 December, 11am– 2pm, Leeds Station Southern Concourse • Thursday 7 December, 3pm– 6pm, Leeds Station Footbridge • Saturday 9 December, 10:30am–1:30pm, Dock 29, Leeds

Looking south west across Holbeck Dock Since the previous consultation, the document has gone through a number of governance processes to become a Draft Supplementary Planning

Document (SPD), which now includes a vision for the future redevelopment of Leeds Station. The SPD will form planning guidance for the whole of South Bank. Once formally adopted by

Leeds City Council, the SPD will be a consideration in the determination of planning applications and the delivery of infrastructure in the area. The full SPD document can be downloaded here: southbankleeds.co.uk/assets/docum ents/171107-south-bank-leedsregeneration-framework-web.pdf Issues covered include: • Traffic movement: reducing traffic in the city centre and redirecting through traffic around the city centre. • Improving access beyond the Inner Ring Road, with seven new or improved pedestrian and cycle connections into South Bank and the city centre. These connections include the neighbourhoods of Holbeck, Beeston and Hunslet. • Creation of a green and blue

network consisting of streets, paths, urban spaces and parks that connect the South Bank, the city centre, the River Aire, and local neighbourhoods. • Adapting heritage and linking it with existing assets, strengthening the identity and character of the South Bank. The area will boast a heritage network linked clearly through the area. • Creating and expanding a series of walkable neighbourhoods which complement each other. This will build upon the existing strengths and clusters such as education around Leeds City College, digital at Leeds Dock, and creative at Holbeck. The feedback questionnaire is also available to complete online here. Consultation runs until Friday 20 December 2017.

www.southleedslife.com

Website: www.southleedslife.com

News 9

Email: info@southleedslife.com

Community Hub is now open for business

Cllr Debra Coupar cuts the ribbon with help from Cllr Elizabeth Nash and Cllr Mohammed Iqbal Cllr Debra Coupar was on City Council’s work on hand to cut the ribbon as the integrating services as a 20 Dewsbury Road Community year journey and welcomed Hub was officially opened some of the architects of the original One Stop Centres who today on 22 November. The Hub offers members of were present. The building has been the public face-to-face access to a range of Council services remodelled to create an open as well as those of partner and welcoming space. As well agencies such as Leeds City as customer service staff who can help with Council Tax, Credit Union. Cllr Coupar, who is the Housing Benefit and other Executive member for council services, there are Communities, described Leeds banks of public access

computers with Job Club staff on hand to help with job applications and CVs. The library area is a comfortable and inviting space and has already seen a significant growth in usage, especially from children. Cllr Coupar said: “Leeds is bucking a national trend that is seeing libraries and area offices closed. We are committed to maintaining faceto-face services in communities like Beeston.” Community Librarian Rachel Benn told South Leeds Life: “We’ve had great feedback from customers on the new Dewsbury Road Community Hub. Over 12 school classes have visited so far for fun interactive sessions using Lego storybuilding, book trails around the library and celebrating Takeover Day. The free weekly Under 5’s storytime on a Thursday has now reached over 20 attendees each week which is fantastic. “The children’s fiction book issues have doubled and children’s non-fiction is up 700% and computer usage up 192% since we opened on 4 September.

Help for Asylum Seekers and Refugees by Georgia Ellis RETAS is pleased to have received funding from the Leeds Community Foundation for the expansion of our Welcome to Leeds Drop-in services, which helps to facilitate the settlement of refugees and asylum seekers who have recently moved into the area. In order to reach out to a greater number of individuals who could benefit from the support that we provide, we have launched a new drop-in service at the Church of Nazarene in South Leeds with support from the church community. We offer a range of key support through the Welcome to Leeds Project such as: • Advising and supporting clients to access various services such as the Library, Doctors Surgery and Schools. • Enabling clients to find social/ leisure groups or events to help them feel increasingly settled and comfortable in

December 2017 | South Leeds Life

RETAS staff are waiting to welcome you Leeds. Our drop in session at The • Helping individuals find Church of Nazarene in their way around Leeds, partnership with RETAS, matching volunteers for those Monday 11am to 1pm, 2 who would like extra guidance. Hunslet Hall Road, Leeds, LS11 • Supporting clients to 6TT. access English classes either at In order to make a referral RETAS or other organisations please email and booking appointments with welcome@retasleeds.org.uk, advisers for any further support call Charlotte or Georgia on with education, employment or (0113) 380 5630. Feel free to get in touch with other matters. Come along and meet us at: us for more information.

Local anger over ‘disrespectful’ Travellers camps

Traveller encampment on Hunslet Moor

by Ed Carlisle Residents of south Leeds communities have expressed frustration at the actions of a group of Travellers encamped in various local sites in past weeks, and the perceived slowness of Leeds City Council to act. The group of Travellers broke onto Hunslet Moor on 31 October, and were evicted by court order on 20 November – but not before the group had inflicted considerable damage on the park. Waste included a burnt-out caravan, toilet refuse, and furniture – and there was significant (and allegedly willful) damage to the grass. The group then moved onto the Pepper Road park in Hunslet for a week, again forcing entry, and again creating some waste and damage – although both sites have now been cleared by the Council. The group have now moved to Brown Lane East in Holbeck, where an eviction order is again being sought by the Council. It’s unclear how much the policing, court costs, and clearup for the encampments cost, but similar encampments have

previously cost in the region of £3,000. Brenda Barlow, chair of the Friends of Hunslet Moor group, commented: “I cannot believe the mess left on the moor, and how long they were allowed to stay. Residents feel let down by the people who are supposed to help us. We constantly get

“I haven’t had issues with Travellers before – those previously occupying the moor were good people who tried their best to look after it. Not so this bunch, who treated our area like dirt and got away with it – because I think the authorities are scared of them. And I’m frustrated that groups like this do real damage to the

The group arriving at Brown Lane East. Photo: Shaun Foster ignored when we all work hard for our community. But we will continue to work with our community, with or without their help.” And local resident Lauran Warran – echoing the sentiments of many others – added:

Clearing up after an encampment on Holbeck Moor last year

reputation of decent Travellers, perpetuating common opinion that all Travellers are bad.” A spokesperson for the Council confirmed that they and partners remain committed to supporting both the needs of both local communities, and Travellers and Gypsies – for whom they are looking to create 62 new pitches across Leeds. This will include the development of an innovative new process known as ‘negotiated stopping’ which gives the opportunity better manage short-term encampments on predetermined sites. But there is a squeeze currently on provision for Travellers and Gypsies locally, with the semi-permanent Kidacre Street site closed for refurbishment; the site is due to reopen in the New Year.

South Leeds Life | December 2017

www.southleedslife.com

10 School Life

Twitter: @SouthLeedsLife

UTC launches Rockets Week project As we go to press UTC Leeds week, Dewsbury-born Tim Gregory, students have started an who recently took part in BBC innovative rocket-inspired Two’s Astronauts: Do You Have educational event supported by What It Takes? will talk to students about his experiences, current PhD world leading space scientists. work and career ambitions. Rockets Week is being held at Representatives from the UTC Leeds on Sayner Road in Association for Retired European Hunslet from 27 November to 1 Space Agency Staff (ARES) and December. It’s bringing space academic experts from Durham, rocket, technology and engineering Hull, Leeds, Leicester, Sheffield experts to the students for a series and York universities will also take of talks and hands-on workshops. part. Students will explore the dark Mark Kennedy, Principal, UTC side of the universe, solar Leeds, said: telescopes, the anatomy of a star, “Our students learn how to apply how to get a rocket into space and Skybolt 2 launches academic theory to solving the physics of Santa, and take part in propulsion, space vehicle design and Mars Rover technical problems in the real world. This exciting new initiative that we’ve put together will provide a workshops. Space exploration, and science, technology, fascinating insight into the contribution that engineering and maths experts are attending the science and engineering makes to our lives from event from the National Aeronautics and Space those directly involved. We are thrilled that so many Administration (NASA), International Space world-renowned experts are sharing their University (ISU) and CERN, the European knowledge with us, and providing an inspirational Organisation for Nuclear Research. During the and out-of-this-world experience for our students.”

Children takeover at Hunslet Carr Primary by Jeremy Morton Friday 10 November 2017 saw the Head Boy and Head Girl taking assembly and School Council members teaching classes across the school as Hunslet Carr Primary School enjoyed its annual Takeover Day. Members of the School Council plus other Year 6 children took on roles across the school. Abigail and Harley took over from Headteacher Mr Lumb, whilst Shumi and Brendan took the role of Deputy Head Miss Pashby. Harley described taking assembly as “Nerve wracking. It was difficult to read out children’s names, to hand out awards, and make sure you had pronounced them correctly.” Mr Lumb was very impressed: “The children have dressed smartly and arrived ready to go” he said. “When you see them play your role, it makes you realise what a role model you are and that what you do really makes a difference.” The children teaching classes had planned their lessons as a group and took the theme of the four school houses. These are named after Martin Luther King, the American Civil Rights leader; Malala Yousafzai the Pakistani campaigner for girls education rights; Ben Smith who runs marathons to campaign against homophobic bullying; and Helen Butters, a mum from York who

www.southleedslife.com

Headteacher Mr Lumb with Shumi, Harley, Abigail and Brendan rowed the Atlantic. In each class children discussed these four inspirational people in their house groups, made posters and presented facts about their hero champion icon [CHECK] to the rest of the class. The Takeover Challenge was originally launched in 2007 by the Children’s Commissioner’s Office as a fun, imaginative and exciting activity to encourage organisations across England to open their doors to children and young people to take over adult roles. The Takeover Challenge puts young people into decisionmaking positions and encourages organisations and businesses to hear their views.

Children gain a valuable insight into the adult world and gain experience of a workplace, while organisations benefit from a fresh perspective on their work. The children clearly enjoyed the day: “It’s fun to tell teachers what to do” one told me. Another said “It was hard, the children were not as well behaved as I expected.” Asked what jobs the children wanted to do when they grew up I got a range of responses: actor, Olympian, waiter, footballer, doctor, artist and, of course, teacher. Mr Lumb summed up the day: “I’m proud and a little surprised, but I always look forward to Takeover Day, it’s one of the best days of the year.”

Facebook: facebook.com/southleedslife

Website: www.southleedslife.com

Alistair Brownlee revealed that he was still making up his mind about defending his Olympic Triathlon title when he met students at Cockburn School on Friday 10 November. Alistair and his brother Jonny were there to answer questions put by a hall full of students from Cockburn and Cockburn John Charles who have excelled at sports. Double gold medal winning Alistair said he was considering moving fully to Iron Man Triathlons – a two mile swim, followed by a 112 mile bike ride and 26 mile run. Asked if they would compete in the 2020 Olympics, Jonny immediately said “yes, hopefully” explaining that qualification would be in 2019. He also pointed out that his next goal was the Commonwealth Games next year in Gold Coast and the World Championships the year after. The double Olympic medal winning brothers were in South Leeds to repay Cockburn’s Assistant Subject Leader of PE James Boxell, who supported the Brownlees’ Olympic training camps in 2012 and 2016 as their running pacer. Amongst an impressive range of questions from students we learned that the Brownlee brothers: • Eat a simple healthy diet • Were very competitive as children, but rarely raced against each other until they were adults • Would prefer to train every day – their “passion”, but “work” 30 days per year for sponsors (for which they are very grateful) • Recommend consistency in training – same effort every week – and working in a group to support each other There is prize money in Triathlon, but they are not in the same league as footballers We also learned that Jonny enjoys playing football, but daren’t risk any injuries and that his dream when he was young was to play for Leeds United. Alistair on the other hand when asked by a teacher said he wanted to be a professional triathlete (if that was possible). Asked about having doubts before a race, Jonny said everyone has doubts before a race. He said he goes through each doubt and counters it with his preparations. For example a doubt that he might get a puncture, but that he has the best tyres on his bike. “I think through and counter each doubt, it’s about attacking those doubts” he said. After the question session, Alistair and Jonny Brownlee added to the school’s poppy commemoration adding their own personal messages: “We will never forget” (Jonny) and “We all owe an endless sea of gratitude” (Alistair) Youngsters thinking of taking up Triathlon can join a weekly Triathlon training session which will be restating in December. The sessions run every Monday from 4 December 4:15-5:45pm at the new Middleton Bike Hub and are open to boys and girls of any ability. Bikes are provided.

School Life 11

Email: info@southleedslife.com

Triathlon champions inspire Cockburn School athletes

by Jeremy Morton

December 2017 | South Leeds Life

Bridge across the Atlantic

Two young people from South Leeds have just returned from Washington DC where they have been representing the UK as student ambassadors. Krissie Murray from Belle Isle and Rabbi Mbata from Hunslet are part of the Bridge To Employment project. They applied for the three year scheme when they were in Year 11 at The South Leeds Academy. Krissie now studies at Elliott Hudson College and Rabbi at Notre Dame Krissie with a policeman Sixth Form College. outside The White House In America they Another exercise looked at joined up with eight other students from around the globe identities and how we think, feel, for a three day alliance building see, etc. This involved colouring and training session. Amongst in a ‘Flat Stan’ cut out, Krissie the activities they undertook was and Rabbi naturally put their the Escape Room where each Stan in a Leeds United tracksuit

Jonny and Alistair Brownlee take questions from the students at Cockburn School Rabbi with the 4x4 limo at the airport group had one hour to finish five challenges in order to win the key and escape from the room. Krissie’s group managed it with just 1 minute 36 seconds left on the clock.

and before the session was over Rabbi had taught the song Marching On Together to the whole group. “It was an amazing opportunity” said Krissie “and

The Washington Monument I’ve made friends for life. It was partnership with Johnson & nice to see how easily we all got Johnson companies such as along, we clicked straight away.” DePuy Synthes. Rabbi said he had learned Rabbi is studying for a BTEC in professionalism from the business studies and hopes to experience. “I used to slouch and train as an architect. Krissie is use a limited vocabulary. Now studying Music Technology, I’ve learned how to present Psychology and Sociology and myself in interview situations.” hopes to become a music There was time for some teacher or music therapist. sightseeing too. Rabbi was very They both hope to go back to impressed with the Washington America, to see their new Monument, which is lit up every friends, explore new cities, or night. They also visited the help on future Bridge To Smithsonian Museum where Employment projects as Krissie bought NASA’s astronaut experienced alumni. ice cream. This trip was just a small part of the Bridge to Employment programme. As we reported in October 2016, the project gives students the opportunity to experience a range of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects, in Sightseeing with the group

Donate an old bike this Christmas

Alistair and Jonny Brownlee add their poppies to the Wall of Remembrance

It’s that time of the year again when we start thinking about Christmas. It’s difficult to imagine some children and young people won’t get a gift at Christmas. The truth is that some areas in Leeds have families that don’t have enough resources to buy presents. As a charity, we have asked, ‘What can we do?’ One answer was The Christmas Bike campaign. Now in its third year, we fix up old, forgotten and outgrown bikes and give them to children and young people who are from disadvantaged backgrounds in Leeds. Would you or your business like to help donate a bike (or bikes) for Christmas? We can recycle and reuse discarded bikes (of all sizes). As long as they are in fixable condition, we give them refurbished bike to children and young people at Christmas who don’t already have a bike. Recipients of the recycled bikes are also offered free bike maintenance, cycling tuition and free membership

to The Works Skatepark. We hope the children can access the skatepark on their ‘new’ bikes and see how we can help them further within our provision. Donations are open now. The Works Skatepark CEO Elliott Turnbull said: “Bikes not only help with a child’s confidence, selfesteem and independence, but also encourage children to keep active and are a great mode of transport. It’s about giving children and young people better life chances and showing them that people in Leeds care. What better time to do this than at Christmas.” The Works Skate Park is based at Kitson Road, near Costco in Hunslet. Call (0113) 244 6015 or email: info@theworksskatepark.com. The Works also run free courses for young people (16-19) who are not in education, employment or training. The courses are 16 hours a week over three days. They include free breakfast and lunch each day; free climbing and skate park each day; and free bus fare.

South Leeds Life | December 2017

www.southleedslife.com

10 School Life

Twitter: @SouthLeedsLife

www.southleedslife.com

Facebook: facebook.com/southleedslife

Website: www.southleedslife.com

School Life 11

Email: info@southleedslife.com

Triathlon champions inspire Cockburn School athletes

by Jeremy Morton

December 2017 | South Leeds Life

Bridge across the Atlantic

and before the session was over Rabbi had taught the song Marching On Together to the whole group. “It was an amazing opportunity” said Krissie “and

Donate an old bike this Christmas

Alistair and Jonny Brownlee add their poppies to the Wall of Remembrance

www.southleedslife.com

South Leeds Life | December 2017

12 Opinion

Twitter: @SouthLeedsLife

In our view Local connection We have many skilled and committed professionals working in South Leeds. They come and they go, that’s the nature of work these days. Without criticisning anyone, it is a bit different if you live here. There is an extra edge to your commitment, it matters a little but more. So when someone like Sarah Horsbrough takes an important leadership role in a new school, we think it’s something to celebrate. You don’t have to be a local to work here, but it helps.

Support our Foodbank Christmas is a time of giving. This year please think about giving to those less fortunate than yourself. Leeds South & East Foodbank supports hundreds of families who are at risk of going hungry through no fault of their own. That’s hard enough at any time, but especially at Christmas. Put an extra tin in your trolley and donate it today.

Inspiring the next generation

What is the Olympic legacy of 2012? We saw something of it in the faces of students at Cockburn, putting their questions to Alistair and Jonny Brownlee. It would be great if someone in that audience could become an Olympic champion themselves. But wouldn’t it be even better if everyone in that audience kept active - for health, or pleasure, or both - for the rest of their lives. Now that’s a legacy.

Your letters and comments Holbeck Managed Area

None of the councillors live in the area they are what’s known as “NIMBYS”. It’s the same in the Hunslet Moor area of the city. What was once a family orientated area has now become a dumping ground for everything and anything you wouldn’t want living next door to you. Ask Councillors Nash, Iqbal and Davy if they would want to live next door to a brothel or drugs den? People who have lived there and brought their families up for decades are leaving in their droves, having to start again while private landlords are snapping the houses up for peanuts from desperate people. The councillors don’t care because the people who are now living in the private rented houses are either ineligible to vote or too lazy to, so they get the vote anyway! Judith Tempest

Urban Bike Park It would have been a better idea to use the money to teach youths to play golf, have local competitions. Make a nice new coffee shop with low priced butties etc, rather than create this pile of mess that’s just going to create increased admissions via A&E and encourage the use of illegal motor bikes/quads onsite off peak. Lyndsay Savery This looks a little too safe to me. Don’t kids hurl themselves and their 3 speed racing bikes down the ‘Big Dipper’ any more? Darren Wilson Young people (and some older people) need excitement and risk in their lives. Leeds has plenty of golf courses for those that want them, but precious little for younger people. This new bike park will be

Your Councillors and MP

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: @rachalate Betty completed #HourofCode in less than an hour!You’re amazing! #Hunslet #Leeds @leedslibraries @SouthLeedsLaH #coding

A sex worker plies her trade on a residential street in Holbeck brilliant. Sure there will be some broken for some water “for the baby’s bottle” by collar bones but that’s life. I’m sure you one of the camp members. Upon spotting know the gargantuan cost that sitting her outside tap the request for a larger around being idle has on the NHS - this volume of water was made where a large new facility will *save* money. 10 gallon drum was brought out from the Will Crocombe car. My neighbour advised she was on a water meter and that it would not be Couldn't afford the Golf Course but can possible to offer any more water. this? I'll give it three months before it's Unfortunately both our front gardens were wrecked. visited during small hours – could be a coSean Caden incidence, however, for peace of mind our outside taps are now closed off. Gerald R Tetley’s memories In one of the cut throughs from one building to another there was a place called Saville Row. It was so-called because the early Tetleys Sales Reps used to gather early in a morning to have their shoes and suit inspected to make sure they were smart enough to represent the company. There was a plaque on the wall. Gavin Shoesmith

Beeston & Holbeck ward Includes Beeston from Cross Flatts Park up to the Co-op, Cottingley, old Holbeck. The three councillors are:

David Congreve 0113 257 1679 david.congreve@leeds.gov.uk Angela Gabriel 07946 632 468 angela.gabriel@leeds.gov.uk Adam Ogilvie 07969 680 024 adam.ogilvie@leeds.gov.uk

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

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

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

Judith Blake Kim Groves Paul Truswell

Facebook: facebook.com/southleedslife

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

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

Contact: hilary.benn.mp@parliament.uk, www.hilarybennmp.com Constituency office: Suite 7, Unity Business Centre, 26 Roundhay Road, Leeds LS7 1AB; phone: 0113 244 1097

Travellers I say allow them to stay. We need to further develop sites with facilities for anyone travelling. They are a recognised ethnic minority. Let’s oppose any racism against them. Liz Kitching It’s difficult to have anything but absolute contempt for the particular group that saw fit to burn one caravan to the ground. The state of the field is a disgrace, despite them being furnished with a skip. Our council tax payments will clear that mess up. Next time a group turn up I will be registering a complaint immediately. I am against racism in any form, but its extremely hard to think this particular group are anything but the stereotype. A neighbour of mine was asked

Temple Works With the plans for the south side of Leeds aiming to double the size of the city centre, Temple Works would make an ideal music/entertainment venue to rival the FD Arena and Manchester. Max

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

@RunLeeds Dont fancy running the Leeds Christmas 10k ? Why not help out and volunteer!! @TouchstoneMAPP Thanks to Ingram Rd Primary in Holbeck for hosting us again this afternoon, 24pm for our MAP+ drop in. Great to have support from such enthusiastic staff who love playing a big part in #Holbeck community life. If you live locally pop in - we'd love to see you! @whiteroseleeds Our annual Giving Tree is back and this year we're proud to be supporting @CandlelightersT. You can take gifts of any shape or size to the tree, where they will be given to children who deserve an extra sprinkle of magic this Christmas. @groves_kim Thank you to the brilliant young people from Cockburn School who helped to improve their community

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

Corrections & clarifications

Topping Out at the wrong school In our November edition (Building milestone for Belle Isle special school, p9) we said the topping out ceremony took place at the Belle Isle site, in fact it was at Tinshill. The Springwell Leeds Specialist Academy is a multi-site school, one of the four sites is on Belle Isle Road. We apologise for the confusion.

@WYP_RPU Beeston, Leeds. Driver trusted a ‘friend’ to sort his insurance out. His friend didn’t. Driver reported and vehicle seized. @IngramRoad This week is National AntiBullying Week - ‘All Different, All Equal’. We are celebrating what makes us unique & understanding why it’s important that everyone feels included & able to be themselves.

www.southleedslife.com

South Leeds Life | December 2017

14 News

Twitter: @SouthLeedsLife

Linking up neighbours in Beeston and Holbeck A project to bring communities together and help people connect with their neighbours has been launched in South Leeds. Local people will be put at the heart of the project, Migrant Access Project Plus (MAP+), which has started in Holbeck before being rolled out to other parts of Leeds next year. Local residents are invited to help shape their community and will be given training and tools to help them work together to make their areas great places to live. The project aims to enhance community capacity and resilience, and reduce transitional pressures of migration on local public services. People can get involved in a variety of ways including attending weekly friendly drop-ins at local venues to meet their neighbours, share ideas and information about their area; and buddying up or befriending a migrant who is new to the area, to help them settle into life in Leeds and find their way around local services. There are also two initiatives

open to residents who have settled in the area from other countries and can speak another language, to help migrants in the area use services appropriately. Migrant Community Networkers will play an active role in the community, bringing people together and helping them have a voice, for example by helping set up social groups or by feeding back issues affecting local people

to relevant authorities. Migrant Community Health Educators will work with GP practices to help new migrants use health services, for example by providing support around appointments or raising awareness on key health issues. MAP+ is being delivered by Beeston-based charity Touchstone

in partnership with Feel Good Factor and Leeds Asylum Seekers Support Network. The project is commissioned by Leeds City Council with funding from the Department for Communities and Local Government. Alison Lowe, Chief Executive of Touchstone, said: “We are really excited to be working on this project with people in Holbeck, Beeston Hill, Armley and New Wortley. We know there are lots of people – whether they have lived in the area for a long time or are new – who have a wide range of experience, skills, passions and interests. By bringing people together to share these, we hope communities will become stronger and more connected, and people will be able to live happier and healthier lives. If you’re interested to find out more or get involved we’d love to hear from you.” To find out more, visit www.touchstonesupport.org.uk, call the MAP+ team on (0113) 248 4880 and ask to speak to the MAP+ team or email mapp@touchstonesupport.org.uk.

Co-op community winners

by Jeremy Morton Members of three local groups were handed giant cheques at Beeston Co-op last month. The three: Better Action For Families, St Mary’s Church Beeston and Crossroads Youth Club had all applied for a share of the £5,660.82 raised by Co-op members in the store over the last six months. Food store managers Gary and Malcolm, plus Kelly from Co-op Funeralcare were on hand to award the cheques and pass round the seasonal mince pies. Kelly explained that when members buy Co-op brands in store they recive a 5% ‘divi’ and a further 1% goes towards funding good causes locally. “We are delighted, that with the

help of our members, we have been able to hand out over £5,000 today. These groups do fantastic work for our community and we are delighted to be able to help them do more.” she said Better Action For Families (BAFF) run activities for people with learning disabilities and their families. Sessions include special exercise classes, social, walking and gardening groups. Their grant of £1,863.05 will help run more trips and support their work in breaking down stigma and the issues that flow from that: poor physical and mental health, unemployment and poverty. St Mary’s Church in Beeston originally applied as part of their fundraising to repair the church clock. When Save Our Beeston

helped them reach their clock target, they asked the Co-op if their grant of £1,937.31 could be used for other similar projects to improve the appearance of what is a community building - Beeston’s Parish Church. The third group to receive funds was Crossroads Youth Club which runs every Monday in Middleton. Father Andy Myers explained how they will use their £1,860.46: “We teach children between the ages of 8 and 13 how to cook, in a clean, safe, and healthy way. Pressures on families can lead to a poor diet. All our cooking sessions are "hands on" that is the children themselves handle hot burners, scalding liquids and sharp knives, rather than watch someone else show them. Paid staff lead the session.”

Facebook: facebook.com/southleedslife

Slung Low’s refugee appeal to Fayre goers by Sally Proctor Last month we at Slung Low were shocked to come to work one morning to discover that the HUB, under the viaduct arches on Bath Road had been burgled during the night. Much of our equipment had been stolen or damaged and our HUB home was in a state of disarray. We knew that we would be able to put things back together, and that with the overwhelming support from our friends and a bit of hard work we would be able to get things back in order fairly quickly. The real sadness though, was that we had been providing storage for the ever-brilliant charity Yorkshire Aid. This group of individuals and organisations work together to provide aid for refugees and asylum seekers in Leeds, Yorkshire and Europe. Everything that had been donated ready for their winter trip to Calais had been needlessly ruined through an act of vandalism during the burglary.

We hope to make this better and so this year we are showing our support to Yorkshire Aid via our Christmas Fayre. Every year we hold this festive event with our friends as a way to be able

Snug Pack (pictured) to donate to Yorkshire Aid. If you’d rather donate money or would like to see what else Yorkshire Aid are in need of then you can do so via their facebook page, or this website www.refugees-

to come together and celebrate. It’s always an enchanting day filled with stalls selling everything you could imagine, live music, carol singing, festivestorytelling, a whole load of Yule-tide activities, mulled wine, boozy hot chocolate, hot food, tailor made entertainment and more. At this year’s Christmas Fayre it would be wonderful if those of you that can, could bring along a Mens

start.co.uk We always hope to make the Christmas Fayre the biggest, cosiest and most festive-full yet so please spread the word and we’ll look forward to welcoming old friends and new faces at this year’s Christmas Fayre on Saturday 2 December from 12–4pm at The HUB, 67-71 Bath Road, Holbeck, Leeds, LS11 9UA.

BITMO walk supports Children In Need by Ken Ingram

I was asked by Carla of BITMOs GATE if I would like to combine the Walk and Talk group, and host a special 7k walk, and raise money for Children in Need. Of course on behalf of the group I said yes. So we all wrapped up warm and had hot drinks before setting off on the walk. On the walk was Sue, Nicola, Joanne, Dave and myself. We were lucky that the on the day, no rain was forecast. The walk was circular through Belle Isle and Middleton Park, and took around an hour to complete the 7k. From and back to BITMOs GATE. We all arrived back at BITMOs GATE, where we all ate carrot cake. Donna baked potatoes for us all, with cheese and coleslaw, provided for us by Carla and BITMO. Of course hot drinks provided. We raised £57.00 for Children in Need on the day. So thank you to all who donated

money for this wonderful charity. A cheque has been posted off to Children in Need. I watched some of the Children in Need programme when we were shown how the money went for good courses. From January 2018 the Walk & Talk group will be on a Monday from 11am-12pm. This will also allow me to start a new walking group with Middleton Elderly Aid on a Wednesday some time in the New Year.

The Walk & Talk group in Middleton Park last summer

www.southleedslife.com

Website: www.southleedslife.com

December 2017 | South Leeds Life

News 15

Email: info@southleedslife.com

The world must remember Srebrenica

Give at White Rose Centre’s Giving Tree

Beestoner Gohar Almas Khan has spoken of his heartbreaking visit to one of Europe’s worst atrocity since the Second World War. Mr Khan and other delegates from the UK were given an opportunity courtesy the charity Remembering Srebrenica to visit Bosnia-Herzegovina to learn about the mass murder in Srebrenica. In 1995 General Ratko Mladic and his Bosnian Serb forces systematically murdered 8,372 Bosnian Muslim men and boys, even though the area had previously been declared a United Nations Safe Area. Dutch peacekeepers in Srebrenica failed to prevent the massacre. Mr Khan said the three-day visit was deeply moving and as cliched as it may sound it was a life changing experience. He told me how it was an emotional experience which had him in tears. Mr Khan said before his visit, he was briefly aware of the genocide, but the severity of it hit home when he was told about how people were being sold packages to come and dress as soldiers, be given guns and then let lose to shoot young men, as though they were playing a video game. His heart sank hearing that story and cannot even imagine how this impacted on the young Muslim men of Bosnia. Even today, new mass graves are still being discovered. Initially, only part of an arm may be found, and several years later another. Mr Khan vividly remembers one of the mothers of Srebrenica, who lost all the men in her family to the massacre, she doesn’t know where all their graves are, but stands outside the memorial of around 800 graves selling

White Rose Shopping Centre Jane Dowson. and Heart Yorkshire are By raising awareness through encouraging shoppers to buy a outreach projects, money for gift for deserving children this ground-breaking research, and Christmas. offering crucial family support, The Giving Tree is back at the Leeds based charity helps White Rose from Monday 20 ordinary families facing November until Sunday 17 extraordinary circumstances. December, where shoppers Marie Peacock, Head of can donate gifts of all shapes Income Development at and sizes to this year’s charity Candlelighters, which supports Yorkshire facing families children’s cancer. Gifts donated will be given to children who deserve an extra touch of Christmas magic this festive season. From toys and games to hats and accessories, shoppers are encouraged to donate whatever gifts they can, as all gifts will find a deserving Donate at the Giving Tree home. Steven Foster, General Candlelighters, said: “The Manager of White Rose Giving Tree is a great way for Shopping Centre, said: “The people from across our Giving Tree is such a special Yorkshire community to show annual event, and we can’t wait their support for families facing to host it again. We’re always childhood cancer. amazed with how generous our “This is such a special South Leeds community are, opportunity and we are and to help so many deserving delighted to have been chosen children is a fantastic way to as this year’s charity, enabling spread Christmas cheer. us to continue to stand with “While you’re busy shopping families when they need our in one of our many stores in the support the most.” centre over the Christmas All gifts will can be dropped season, why not pick up an off at Heart Yorkshire’s extra gift for a special boy or Donation Station within White girl? The joy that gift will Rose Shopping Centre any time provide is priceless.” during the extended Christmas Candlelighters has been opening hours (9am – 10pm chosen as this year’s charity Monday to Friday, 9am – 8pm due to its tireless work to Saturdays, 11am – 5pm support Yorkshire families Sundays). Gifts will be delivered facing children’s cancer, and is to Candlelighters a week before also the chosen charity of Christmas, ready for the big Leeds Lord Mayor, Councillor day.

by Fatima Patel

The Srebrenica memorial though it was mine. Being able to bury a loved one gives us closure and helps us grieve. The nature of the massacre ripped even that away from these families and to stand offering my soldier to a mother who has experienced this pain first hand right outside the memorial was a feeling that even know leaves a lump in my throat.” As a sign of solidarity to their families, here in the UK we remember the victims every 11 July, just as we commemorate the victims of the Second World War. The European Parliament adopted a resolution to do just this back in 2009 – but the UK is the only country to officially accept it so far and for this Mr Khan feels extremely proud to be British. He is grateful to the Remembering Srebrenica initiative, whose aims are to help participants learn how they can improve community cohesion in their own towns and cities and learn from the lessons of the Srebrenica massacre. “I am very proud of the role Britain has played in supporting

The UK delegation to Bosnia-Herzegovina souvenirs. “As I put her head on my shoulder, I felt as though she was my mother and her pain, pierced through my heart as

the victims of the Srebrenica massacre. It makes me very proud to be British.” Mr Khan says he felt the betrayal from our

peacekeepers whilst in Bosnia. Research and evidence suggests that Srebrenica was a preventable tragedy: the UN peacekeeping force was already on the ground. Yet it stood by as men and boys were driven to their It is deaths. believed that intelligence was available which signalled Serbian general Ratko Mladic’s intent to capture and “cleanse” Srebrenica. So, it seems claims that the UN forces did not comprehend genocide could take place are unfounded. Thousands were murdered as a result of their inaction. Mr Khan and the rest of the

Serbian Christians) to come and stay in his flat, as their flats were high up and more likely to be targeted. “Upon staying one night, his friends had all left him the very next day, with no goodbye or no warning that the whole block of flats was going to be under siege. His friends had been given pre-warnings to leave as Christians and they did so, without even taking a second thought over a friend whom they had known and socialised with for years. Faith now seemed to matter.” “This shook me” said Mr Khan. “How can your own friends just leave you at death’s door like that?” “I had to ask Resad that if it was the other way round what would he do?” continued Mr Khan. Resad confidently said he would ensure his friends were safe. “This gave me a moment of

Gohar Khan with a Srebrenica mother delegation had the opportunity of meeting educational specialists, the British Ambassador to BosniaHerzegovina, members of the Mothers of Srebrenica group and other genocide survivors during their visit. One survivor made a lasting impression on Mr Khan. Mr Khan met Resad Drbonja, in Sarajevo who is a survivor of the massacre and one of the main guides during the 3 day trip. Resad described how life was before the massacre, how he used to enjoy going out and socialising with his Serb Christian friends. Everyone was equal, there were no differences in race or religion, Resad told Mr Khan. Resad explains that he and his friends used to live in flats, and he describes how when the bombing started he had invited his best friends (who were

pride seeing this young man’s values, which were instilled in him from his faith and that’s the irony of it all” “It was truly a life changing experience for me and has changed a lot of my misconceptions about life and faith” “This holocaust and massacre of Muslims happened in the heart of Europe just 22 years ago and it needs to be told. We need to show that Muslims are NOT terrorists but victims. Just look around, Palestine, Iraq and Rohingya as examples. Muslims are being killed and we must do more to respect people’s faith and way of life” he said. “We need to learn to live together and celebrate our common values. So, let’s educate people about each other and take good from each other” he concluded.

Tetley memories

Did you or any of your family work at Tetley’s brewery in Hunslet? As South Leeds Life has previously reported, the site is about to redeveloped into flats, houses offices and shops together with a new urban park. The developers, Vastint, are keen to respect the history of the site and have asked local people to come forward with their stories and photographs.

The brewery was founded in 1822 by Joshua Tetley and in its heyday in the 1960s employed 1,000 people. It closed in 2011 and was demolished the following year leaving the just art deco head office building – now The Tetley gallery. If you have memories to share please email to info@southleedslife.com and we will pass them on.

www.southleedslife.com

South Leeds Life | December 2017

16 Arts

Twitter: @SouthLeedsLife

Facebook: facebook.com/southleedslife

She’s a Wrong ’Un Women’s revolution comes to West Yorkshire Playhouse by Tania Carlisle

Kathleen Yore as Annie Wilde in Red Ladder’s Wrong ’Un BITMOs GATE centre was packed for Red Ladder Theatre’s performance of Wrong ‘Un – “the one woman suffragette musical.” Kathleen Yore plays the role of Annie Wilde, a mill girl from Nelson in Lancashire. Laughed at for wanting to play for football in school, laughed at for asking the mill owner for equal pay with the men, she joins the Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU) – the suffragettes – and goes to London to agitate for the vote. Boff Whalley has created the character of Annie, but all the incidents in the play are real events that happened to real women fighting for the vote. There is a lot of humour in the telling of the tale and Whalley has written songs in the (music hall) style of the times. Arrested for being in possession of

a brick, Annie is sentenced to 60 days in Pentonville prison. Like all suffragettes she goes on hunger strike and her tale of being force-fed is truly harrowing. It contrasts with the humour in much of the play. Annie is ultimately disillusioned once the First World War breaks out and WSPU support army recruitment by handing out white feathers to any young man not in uniform. In return the government give the vote to women over 30 who own property. Annie sees this votes for the women in fancy hats, but not those like her in shawl and clogs. “It’s not votes for women, it’s votes for ladies” she says. Kathleen Yore’s performance held the audience rapt as she told her story was met with deserved applause at the end.

Spotty Socks brings Teechers to Beeston Spotty Socks Theatre Company, part of Guisley-based Codswallop CIC, are bringing their production of John Godber’s education comedy ‘Teechers’ to Beeston Parish Centre. The action takes place as a playwithin-a-play as three school leavers, inspired by their drama teacher, act out the story of their secondary education, hilariously revisiting everyone’s favourite high school memories. Originally written in the 1980s by John Godber for the Hull Truck company, the play remains relevent and has been performed many times since. In fact Godber stipulated the use of contemporary chart music to keep the play current. Everything in the play is reduced to the bare essentials, with very little set and the three actors playing twenty other parts. Teechers is on tour around community venues in Leeds. On Saturday 2 December it will be performed at Beeston Parish Centre on Town Street, opposite the Co-op, starting at 7:30pm. The performance is pay-what-youcan. Spotty Socks typically suggest £10 per ticket booked as a reasonable amount, however, if a

pound or 50p is all you have to spare, that is equally as gratefully received. But, of course, if you are able to afford your own ticket and find you are in the position to subsidise someone else’s ticket too, your contribution will help us to continue making the arts accessible within the community.

Pink Sari Revolution was recently at the West Yorkshire Playhouse. This powerful and hard-hitting play is based on true events and tells the story of an extraordinary woman, Sampat Pal and her fight to challenge injustice and take back power for the most marginalised in India. She leads the ‘Gulabi Gang’ a force of women thousands strong all clad in pink saris and carrying bamboo sticks, ready to fight if they have to. Together they have challenged injustices in India ranging from domestic violence and child marriages to government corruption, and use whatever means they can to bring about justice for those without a voice. They, and in particular Sampat Pal, have faced real opposition from the ‘powers that be’ and this play explores the real cost of making a stand. The play revolves around a young Dalit (lower cast) girl, stunningly performed by actress Ulrika Krishnamurti. She is accused of running away with her boyfriend and then stealing, but we are led to believe she has been raped by a high ranking official. Sampat Pal decides to campaign for this girl’s freedom and encounters a world of opposition, cover-ups and high emotion on all sides, not least from other women who arguably have the most to lose from the unravelling of the status quo. It is gritty and even eerie from the outset recounting past instances where other women have been raped and even murdered for similar ‘crimes’. Syreeta Kumar who plays Sampat Pal portrays her as a difficult,

Pink Sari Revolution. Photo: Pamela Raith clever, hard headed individual on a mission. She asks the ‘Gulabi Gang’ throughout to ‘Put down their shame and pick up their sticks’. When challenged as to whether she is leading a welfare project or a vigilante group, she quips ‘Can’t we do both?’ She asks her followers not to look for a ‘Gandhi’ or a ‘Mother Theresa’ in her, because this is real life and it is violent. Her fighting fire with fire approach does not gel with everyone, and the play also looks at the fall-out of such a courageous figure and how her own ego and power becomes confused in her mission. Her own family and close friends struggle with the tension of appreciating what she stands for, yet also feeling the rough end of her often abrasive attitude. The simplicity of the scenery and backdrop (at times just bright pink saris hanging ceiling to floor) adds to the starkness of the message. Central to the stage is a tree whose roots are

bursting out of a concrete floor – and throughout the play, angry fiery cracks appear in the floor as tensions mount. The stage designer Isla Shaw explains in the programme: “Sampat goes into a situation and she rips it open – so the idea in our case is that the tree is erupting through the concrete block and pushing it out.” Overall it is a highly emotive and well acted piece of theatre, exploring issues of power and powerlessness that affect not only women in in India, but people in all societies. Prepare to be challenged: it is not an easy subject matter! Pink Sari Revolution is based on a book by internationally renowned journalist Amana Fontanella-Khan, and adapted for stage by Purva Naresh. It has an award-winning cast of seven, both Indian and British Asian artists, and is directed by Suba Das from Leicester-based theatre group Curve.

Our partnership with West Yorkshire Playhouse means you could get free tickets to see a show. In return we ask you to write a review, or talk to us about what you thought of the play and we will write the review. Shows coming up after Christmas include Birdsong a story of love and survival during the First World War.

Pets in the Basement

The final show of 2017 at Beeston’s Basement Arts Project, called “Jill and Josh and their Ded Petz” opens on Friday 1 December. The work of Leeds-based artists Jill McKnight and Joshua Hart, the show looks at the relationships between humans and animals, the place pets take in our lives and the effects when they die. The loss of a pet can often be our first experience of death. These themes will be articulated throughout the course of the exhibition through works referencing Tamagotchi pets, puppets, dissected cadavers and

bodily fragments. The preview night is on Friday 1 December 7:309:30pm. The exhibition is then open on Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays to 11

December. Basement Arts Project is located at 28 Back Burton Terrace, off Tunstall Road in Beeston.

www.southleedslife.com

Website: www.southleedslife.com

December 2017 | South Leeds Life

What’s On 17

Email: info@southleedslife.com

Take a Winter’s Trail Lantern Festival and Thursday 21 December. Book via www.tcv.org.uk/skeltongrange Tickets (£6.44) for a timed slot are needed for all adults and children attending the event, but babies are welcome free of charge.... All the funds raised will support the charitable work of The Conservation Volunteers at Skelton Grange Environment Centre.

The woods at Skelton Grange in Stourton are being transformed into a winter wonderland this Christmas.

Here is a magical winter trail for younger children and families. Wander through the candlelit woods and gardens at Skelton Grange. Catch glimpses into the secret worlds of the little folk who reside here and find your way to our campfire for a warming drink and gingerbread. A Winter’s trail takes place from 4pm on Tuesday 19, Wednesday 20

Festive fun at the library

Leeds Library Service has certainly caught the festive spirit and have planned lots of Christmas themed events at local South Leeds libraries this month. Christmas themed Lego Clubs: Monday 4 December 3.304.30pm at Dewsbury Road Community Hub Wednesday 6 December 3.304.30pm at Beeston Library Free drop in fun sessions for 5-12 year olds Coding for Over 60’s: Friday 8 December 10-11.30am at Hunslet Library Come and have a go at an Hour of Code! It will be a fun session for absolute beginners where we learn the basics of coding and have some laughs along the way. Try something new and meet new people in a friendly setting. Refreshments are provided. Free drop in session Special Christmas Storytimes for under 5’s: Tuesday 12 December 10.4511.30am at Beeston Library Thursday 14 December 11.0011.45am at Dewsbury Road Community Hub Friday 22 December 9.3011.00am at Hunslet Library Come along and hear Christmas stories, sing some songs and meet a very special guest all the way from the North Pole! All free drop in sessions Christmas Music-Making for 5-12 year olds Using iPads create your own festive tune, use live loops and different instruments, edit your tune in the studio and have lots of fun! No previous experience needed

It’s never too late to start coding Free session Booking essential: www.ticketsource.co.uk/leedslibra ryevents Monday 18 December 11am12pm at Dewsbury Road Community Hub Monday 18 December 2-3pm at Beeston Library Thursday 21 December 11am12pm at Hunslet Library Teen Christmas Zine Workshop Thursday 14th December 3.15– 4.45pm at Beeston Library Free drop in at any time session for 11-16 year olds. Come along to this fun workshop and create your own #zine. Get creative with stamps, washi tape and lots of coloured pens! All resources will be provided. The Creatives Club: Tuesday 19 December 3.304.30pm at Dewsbury Road

Community Hub. 5-12 year olds Come along and make something festive for Christmas and have lots of fun.

returns to Beeston

The popular annual Cross Flatts Park Lantern Festival returns to Beeston this Christmas – on the evening of Friday 8 December. The free, family-friendly event will once again feature carol singing (led by the local Salvation Army brass band), live animals to meet and pet, refreshments (this year including roast chestnuts), arts and craft activities – and hundreds of lanterns lighting up the park! Local resident Mark Hodgkinson of the Salvation Army is one of those coordinating the event, and commented: “It’s been great to see this event develop over the past few years, with loads of different local people getting involved – and it’s always good to see Beeston ‘on the map’ for the right reasons. We had hundreds join us last year, and this year’s promises to be even bigger. See you all then.”

Attendees are invited to come (through the Beeston Road entrance) from 5.45pm, for a 6.30pm start – the event centres around the Watsonia Pavilion at the top end of the park. Bring a lantern or light if possible, and wrap up warm! The event will finish by 7.30pm at the latest. Two new features this year will see a labyrinth in the Millennium Garden where you will get the chance to meet characters from the Christmas story. There will also be a Lightbox Trail for children to see if they can piece together the message in the sentence. The organisers are also looking for more volunteers, anytime between 10am-9pm on the day – please get in touch if possible, or just turn up. The event is hosted by the Church in LS11, and supported by the Salvation Army and Leeds City Council.

www.southleedslife.com

South Leeds Life | December 2017

18 What’s On

Twitter: @SouthLeedsLife

What’s On Your guide to events and activities across South Leeds in December

Facebook: facebook.com/southleedslife

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

Full contact details can be found in our online What’s On guide at www.southleedslife.com/events Every Monday Women & Girls’ Drop In 9:30am-12pm Asha Neighbourhood Project 43 Stratford Street, Beeston Lychee Red – Chinese Elders Gp 10am-12pm Belle Isle Family Centre, Belle Isle Road Friendship Group 10am-12pm Belle Isle Family Centre Julie’s Ancestry Group 10am & 1pm BITMO’s GATE Aberfield Gate, Belle Isle Road Crafts 10-11:30am Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Midd. Park Avenue Salsa-cise 11:30am-12:30pm St Andrew’s Community Centre, Beeston. Lunch Club 11:30am-1pm Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Midd. Park Ave Lunch Club 12-1:30pm Cottingley Community Centre Bowling 12:30-4pm Cross Flatts Park Christmas arts and crafts 1-3pm BITMOs GATE, Aberfield Gate, Belle Isle Road Women’s Wellbeing Group 1-3pm Belle Isle Family Centre, Belle Isle Road Dance 2-3pm Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Midd. Park Avenue Triathlon Training 4:15-5:45pm Middleton Cycle Hub Kickboxing 6-9pm Beeston Parish Centre, Town Street Hunslet Warriors Juniors 6-7pm Warrior Park, The Oval South Leeds Sisters running 6.15pm South Leeds Stadium St Matthew’s Youth Club 6:30-8:30pm St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck Zumba 7pm Middleton Parochial Hall Prize Bingo 7-9:30pm Beeston Parish Centre, Town Street Middle Tones Singing Group 7-9pm Tenants Hall Enterprise Centre, Acre Close, Middleton Adult Jazz & Tap Dance 7-8pm Cottingley Community Centre Zumba 7-8pm Hamara Centre, Tempest Road, Beeston Every Tuesday Mums & Tots 9-11am Manorfield Hall, Newhall Road, Belle Isle Keep Fit for over 55’s 9:30am Trinity Network, Belle Isle, Nesfield church hall Tots, Tea and Toast 9:30-11:15am St Luke’s Church, Malvern Road, Beeston Heart to Heart Breakfast 9:30am Asha Neighbourhood Project, 43 Stratford Street Coffee Morning 9:30am-12pm St Andrew’s Community Centre, Beeston HEA’s Tea & Toast breakfast 10am-12pm St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck Breastfeeding Support

10am-12pm Middleton Family Centre, 252-262 Sissons Road Friendship Group 10am-12pm Hunslet Methodist Church, Telford Terrace, Balm Rd General fitness over 55's 10-11am St Anthony's church hall, Beeston Community Coffee Morning 10-11:30am Beeston Library HEA’s Singing Group 11am-12pm St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck Knit & Natter 10:30am-12pm Middleton Park Visitor Centre Bumps & Buggy Fit 11:30am-12:30pm Middleton Park Visitor Centre, off Town St Gentle Exercise 11.30am-12:30pm Cottingley Community Centre Lunch Club 11:30am-1pm Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Midd. Park Ave Lunch Club 12pm Woodhouse Hill Community Centre, Hunslet HEA’s Lunch Club 12:15-1:30pm St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck Bowling 12:30-4pm Cross Flatts Park Social Afternoon 1:30-3pm Woodhouse Hill Community Centre, Hunslet Line Dancing 2-3:30pm Middleton Community Centre Rainbows, Brownies, Guides 4:30-9:15pm Beeston Parish Centre, Town Street Inside Out wellbeing group 6-8pm Conservative Club, Ring Road Middleton Craft & Social Evening 6:30pm Woodhouse Hill Community Centre, Hunslet Carr South Leeds Lakers running 7pm from Beeston Co-op The HUB Choir 7-8:30pm Slung Low Theatre, 67-71 Bath Road, Holbeck Middle-Tones Singing Group 7-9pm Tenants Hall Enterprise Centre, Acre Close, Middleton Every Wednesday Bacon Butty Breakfast 9-11am Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Midd. Park Ave Messy Time 9:15-11am Middleton Play & Learning Centre, Throstle Lane Parents and Toddlers 9:15am-12pm Beeston Parish Centre, Town Street Get Fit Where You Sit 9:15-10:15 Lane End Primary School, Beeston Road City Tots 9:30-11am City Evangelical Church, Cemetery Road Pop Up Council Services 9:30am-2:30pm Cottingley Community Centre Chair mobility 10-10:45am Trinity Network, Belle Isle, Nesfield church hall Breaklfast Club & Foodbank 10am-12pm Hunslet Methodist Church, Telford Terrace Rags to Riches Sewing Group 10am-12pm Tenants Hall Ent.

Centre, Acre Close, Middleton HEA’s Shopping Trip 10am-1pm Holbeck Elderly Aid, Domestic Street CAP Job Club 10am-12pm Two Willows Children’s Centre, Cardinal Sq Community Craft Cafe 10am-12pm Church of the Nazarene, Hunslet Hall Road Money Advice 10:15am-3pm St George’s Centre, Middleton Walk and Talk 12-1pm BITMOs GATE, Aberfield Gate, Belle Isle Free Zumba 12-12:45pm Middleton Leisure Centre HEA’s Lunch & Film Afternoon 12-3pm Ingram Gardens Community Centre, Holbeck Lunch Club 12:30pm Salvation Army, Hunslet Hall Road, Beeston Grandparents’ Group 12:30-2:30pm Tenants Hall Ent. Centre, Acre Close, Middleton Line Dancing 1:45pm Trinity Network, Nesfield Road, Belle Isle At Home In Holbeck 2-3pm Ingram Road Primary School Walk and Talk 2-3pm meet outside Greggs, Middleton Park Circus Knit and Crochet Group 3-5pm Costa Coffee, Crown Point Retail Park Aerobics and Dance 3:30-4:30pm Cottingley Primary Academy DAZL Dance class (6-12yrs) 4:45-5:45pm Watsonian Pavilion Cross Flatts Park, Beeston DAZL Dance class 5-6pm Cottingley Community Centre 1st Beeston Beaver Scouts 6-7:30pm St Andrews Community Centre, Cardinal Road, Beeston Hunslet Warriors Juniors 6-7pm Warrior Park, The Oval City Kids (R-Y6) 6-7:15pm City Evangelical Church, Cemetery Road General fitness 6:15-7:15pm Belle Isle Family Centre Cottingley Youth Club 6:30-8:30pm Cottingley Community Centre Zumba 6:30pm Middleton Parochial Hall, Town Street Zumba 7-8pm Hamara Centre, Tempest Road, Beeston Middleton Mavericks running 7pm South Leeds Stadium Martial Arts 7-9pm Beeston Juniors, Cardinal Square Clubbercise 7:30-8:30pm St John & St Barnabas Church Hall, Belle Isle Camera Club 8pm upstairs at St George’s Centre, Middleton Every Thursday Mums & Tots 9-11am Manorfield Hall, Newhall

Road, Belle Isle Charity Shop 9:30am-3pm Beeston Parish Centre, Town Street HEA’s Community Cafe 10-11:30am St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck Ping Pong / Model Making 10-11:30am Middleton Community Centre Middleton Park Estate Volunteers 10am-3pm Middleton Park Visitor Centre New Lives Group 10-11:30am Cottingley Children’s Centre Storytime (under 5s) 11-11:30am Dewsbury Road Community Hub, Beeston Chair based mobility group 11:15am-12:30pm Beeston Village Community Ctr Lunch Club 11:30am-1pm Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Midd. Park Ave Lunch Club 12pm St Andrew’s Community Centre, Beeston Line Dancing 1pm Trinity Network, Nesfield Road, Belle Isle Little Explorers Baby Group 1-2:30pm Middleton Play & Learning Centre, Throstle Lane New Lives Group 1-2:30pm Two Willows Children’s Centre, Cardinal Square Digital Image Online Photography 1:15-3:15pm Cockburn Skills Hub, Gipsy Lane Social Afternoon 1:30-3pm St Andrew’s Community Centre, Beeston Activites with Rocky 1:30-2:30pm Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Midd. Park Ave Craft Group 1:30-3:30pm Cleveleys Court, Holbeck Vale Circles Autism Hub 2-7pm Vale Circles Centre, Tunstall Road, Beeston Kidz Klub Middleton 5:05-6:15pm Middleton Primary School, Middleton Park Avenue Mini & Junior Rugby 6-7pm Leeds Corinthians, Ring Road, Middleton Women’s Rounders 7pm Middleton Leisure Centre Indoor Bowls 7-10pm The Holbeck (WMC), Jenkinson Lawn Youth Drop In 7-9pm Watsonian Pavilion, Cross Flatts Park Clubbercise 7:30-8:30pm Cottingley Community Centre Zumba 7:15pm Middleton Parochial Hall Every Friday Tea & Toast 9am Beeston Parish Centre, Town Street Charity Shop, Tea & Toast 9am-12pm Beeston Hill United Free Church, Malvern Road Breastfeeding Support Group 9:45-11:15am Mothercare cafe, Crown Point Retail Park Under 5s Storytime 10-11am Dewsbury Road Library

HEA’s Tea & Toast Breakfast 10am-12pm St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck Cuppa, Toast and Games 10am-12pm Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Midd. Park Ave Middleton Minstrels Women’s Choir 10:30am-12:30pm Tenant Hall, Acre Close, Middleton Lunch Club 11:30am-1pm Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Midd. Park Ave Luncheon Club 12-1:30pm Beeston Parish Centre, Town Street HEA’s Fish & Chip Lunch Club 12:30-1:30pm St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck Bowling 12:30-4pm Cross Flatts Park Krok Po Kroku (Polish Group) 12:30-2:30pm Tenants Hall Enterprise Centre, Acre Close, Middleton Ballroom Dancing 1-2:30pm St Andrew’s Community Centre, Beeston HEA’s Games Afternoon 1:30-3pm St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck Gentle Chair Exercise Class 1.30-2.30pm Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Midd. Park Ave Rhymetime 2pm Beeston Library, Town St Urban Dance 4pm Cockburn School Holbeck Skate Park 5-6:30pm Holbeck Moor Girls Football 6-7pm Beeston Juniors, Cardinal Square Church Lads’ & Girls Brigade 6-8pm St John & St Barnabas Church, Belle Isle Road Friday Night Project 6-9pm Middleton Leisure Centre 1st Beeston Cub Scouts 6:15-7:45pm St Andrews Community Centre, Cardinal Road 1st Beeston Scouts 8-9:30pm St Andrews Community Centre, Cardinal Road, Beeston Every Saturday Breakfast Club 8:30-11am Vale Circles Centre, Tunstall Road, Beeston Cross Flatts parkrun 9am Watsonian Pavilion, Cross Flatts Park Coffee morning 9am-12pm Beeston Parish

Centre, Town Street Police Contact Point 9:30-11:30am St George’s Centre, Middleton Middleton Railway 10am-5pm Moor Road, Hunslet Kidz ‘n’ Co 10:30am-12:30pm Cottingley Community Centre Every Sunday Cross Flatts junior parkrun 9am, top of Cross Flatts Park Middleton Railway 10am-5pm Moor Road, Hunslet Thursday 30 November Hunslet Remembered 10am-12pm Hunslet Library Christmas Lights Switch On 4pm Middleton Circus 5pm Arthington Court, Balm Road, Hunslet Carr 6pm Beeston Co-op, Town Street Friday 1 December Cinderella 6:30pm The Hunslet Club, Hillidge Road Saturday 2 December No Stress Yoga 10-11:30am The Tetley, Hunslet Road Christmas Tree Festival 10am-12pm St Andrew’s Church, Old Lane, Beeston Christmas Fair 10am-2pm Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Midd. Park Ave Family Art Workshop 11am-3pm The Tetley, Hunslet Road Holbeck Christmas Market 11am-3pm St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck HUB Chistmas Fayre 12-4pm Slung Low Theatre, 67-71 Bath Road, Holbeck BITMO Christmas Party 12:30-4pm Belle Isle WMC Motown Meets Elvis 8pm St Joseph’s Catholic Club, Whitfield Avenue, Hunslet Play: Teechers 7:30pm Beeston Parish Centre, Town Street Sunday 3 December Christmas Fair 12-4pm South Leeds Golf Club, Gipsy Lane, Beeston Christmas Tree Festival 2-4pm St Andrew’s Church, Old Lane, Beeston Cinderella 2:30 & 6pm The Hunslet Club, Hillidge Road

Publicise your event with South Leeds Life Send full details of your event to: info@southleedslife.com or post to: 224 Cross Flatts Grove, Leeds, LS11 7BW Ring/text: 07894 583966

www.southleedslife.com

Website: www.southleedslife.com

December 2017 | South Leeds Life

What’s On 19

Email: info@southleedslife.com

Christmas markets

Here’s our roundup of community Christmas Markets and Fairs in South Leeds. These are great for picking up decorations and presents and supporting our community organisations. Monday 4 December Lego Club 3:30-4:30pm Dewsbury Road Community Hub, Beeston Tuesday 5 December Mostly Men! 10am-12pm St Andrew’s Community Centre, Beeston Christmas Lights switch on 4pm Belle Isle Circus Wednesday 6 December Hunslet Memories 12-2pm The Prospect pub, Moor Road, Hunslet Pot-a-Tea Dementia Café 1:30-3:30pm St Andrew’s Community Centre, Beeston Live Entertainment & food 2-3:30pm Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Midd. Park Ave Lego Club 3:30-4:30pm Beeston Library Inner South Community Committee 5pm Leeds Civic Hall Thursday 7 December Holbeck Community Clean Up 10am-2pm St Matthew’s Community Centre Hunslet Carr Residents Assoc 6:30pm Community Centre, Woodhouse Hill Avenue Beeston Community Forum 7:30pm Old White Hart, Town St Friday 8 December Hour of Code for Over 60s 10-11:30am Hunslet Library Carol Service 7pm St Andrew’s Methodist Church, Old Lane, Beeston Saturday 9 December Ramblers group Meet 9am St Mary’s Church, Town Street, Beeston South Bank Consultation 10:30am-1:30pm Dock 29, Leeds Dock, Armouries Road Family Health & Fun Day 12-4pm Beeston Parish Centre, Town Street Teens Club 1-5pm Vale Circles centre, Tunstall Road, Beeston Beer Festival 4-11pm The Hunslet Club, Hillidge Road Free Family Film Night 6pm The Holbeck Club, Jenkinson Lawn, Holbeck A Magical Christmas 7pm St Andrew’s Methodist Church, Old Lane, Beeston Sunday 10 December Leeds Christmas 10k run 10am South Leeds Stadium Children’s Fun Run 10:35am South Leeds Stadium Aspiring Communities Meeting 7pm Beeston Parish Centre, Town Street Monday 11 December Elements Primary drop in 1:30-4pm Tenants Hall Enterprise Centre, Acre Close, Middleton Tuesday 12 December Pop Up Council HUB 10am-3pm Crosby Road, Holbeck Hearing Aid Clinic 10:30am-12pm Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Midd. Park Ave Thursday 14 December Elements Primary School consultation 5-7pm Tenants Hall Enterprise

Centre, Acre Close, Middleton Friday 15 December Winter Woodland Festival 10am-3:30pm Skelton Grange Environment Centre, Stourton Hunslet RLFC Season Launch 7:30pm Phoenix Suite, South Leeds Stadium, Middleton Grove Saturday 16 December Young Archaeologists Club 10am-12pm Middleton Park Visitor Centre, off Town Street Christmas Bazaar & Coffee Morning 10am-12pm St Andrew’s Community Centre, Cardinal Road, Beeston Family Art Workshop 11am-3pm The Tetley, Hunslet Road Christmas Market 11am-2pm BITMOs GATE, Aberfield Gate, Belle Isle Christmas Fayre 12-4pm Beeston Juniors FC club house, Cardinal Square Sunday 17 December Sunday Lunch 1-3pm Ingram Gardens Community Centre, Holbeck King Meets Swing 5pm Parnaby Tavern, Pepper Road, Hunslet Carr Carols and Candles 7pm St Mary’s Church, Town Street, Beeston Monday 18 December Activity Camp 8:45am-3pm The Hunslet Club, Hillidge Road Tuesday 19 December Activity Camp 8:45am-3pm The Hunslet Club, Hillidge Road Messy Christmas 10:30am-12:30pm St Mary’s Church, Town Street, Beeston Family Art Workshop 11am-3pm The Tetley, Hunslet Road Wednesday 20 December Activity Camp 8:45am-3pm The Hunslet Club, Hillidge Road Thursday 21 December Activity Camp 8:45am-3pm The Hunslet Club, Hillidge Road Jobs Day 9:30am-4pm BITMO’s GATE, Aberfield Gate, Belle Isle Road Bereavement Support Group 7-8:30pm St George’s Centre, Middleton Friday 22 December Activity Camp 8:45am-3pm The Hunslet Club, Hillidge Road An Evening with Tom Bleasby 7:30pm South Leeds Golf Club, Gipsy Lane, Beeston Wednesday 27 December Tiny Tetley 10:30-11:30am; 11:45-12:45 The Tetley, Hunslet Road Thursday 28 December Family Art Workshop 11am-3pm The Tetley, Hunslet Road Saturday 30 December Family Art Workshop 11am-3pm The Tetley, Hunslet Road

SATURDAY 2 DECEMBER Christmas Fair 10am-2pm Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Midd. Park Ave Holbeck Christmas Market 11am-3pm St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck HUB Chistmas Fayre 12-4pm Slung Low Theatre, 67-71 Bath Road, Holbeck SUNDAY 3 DECEMBER Christmas Fair 12-4pm South Leeds Golf Club, Gipsy Lane, Beeston SATURDAY 16 DECEMBER Christmas Bazaar & Coffee Morning

10am-12pm St Andrew’s Community Centre, Cardinal Road, Beeston Christmas Market 11am-2pm BITMOs GATE, Aberfield Gate, Belle Isle Christmas Fayre 12-4pm Beeston Juniors FC club house, Cardinal Square

Inner South Community Committee

It may be almost Christmas, but the work of Leeds City Council goes on. The Inner South Community Committee will be meeting on Wednesday 6 December at 5pm at the Civic Hall in the city centre. The committee is made up of our nine Councillors from Beeston & Holbeck, City & Hunslet and Middleton Park wards. They directly oversee functions including street cleaning, community buildings and youth services. The committee also administers grants to local groups from its wellbeing budget.

Each meeting starts with an Open Forum. This is your chance to raise any issue of concern with your Councillors. You can ask a question or put your

point of view. Light refreshments will be provided, please use the Portland Crescent entrance to the Civic Hall.

www.southleedslife.com

South Leeds Life | December 2017

20 Sport

Twitter: @SouthLeedsLife

Lakers & Sisters Smash the Dash by Amanda Binns

On Sunday 5 November 2017 hordes of runners from South Leeds descended on the city centre to run to Kirkstall Abbey and back as fast as they possibly could. The race was the Abbey Dash and is a fairly flat out and back 10k course.

The route started on the site of the old international pool and headed onto Wellington Street where the official start was located. At this point it was pretty cold but I soon warmed up. Having never done this race before, I expected it to be a colder version of the Leeds 10K. The route was very similar but

South Leeds Lakers prepare for the Abbey Dash It was a cold a frosty morning when everyone assembled for pre-race pictures, but that would soon change. Everyone compared expected times, levels of fitness and nerves whilst milling around various parts of the city. The Lakers could be found in Park Square and the Sisters were loitering with intent to run in front of the Town Hall. I, and a couple of others went between the two groups. There were also members of the newly formed Morley Runners there. The runners were divided into starting pens according to predicted time. On entry runners have to fill in how long they expect to take to complete the race so it is quite important that the time is correct, although I have been assured that they are not strict about the runners being in the allocated starting pen. Over 8,000 people set off to “Smash the Dash” and finish times ranged from 29:13 to 2:11:37. There were over 30 South Leeds Lakers and South Leeds Sisters. Both are established running clubs in the South Leeds area. They can usually be found on a Saturday morning hanging out at Cross Flatts parkrun. If anyone wants more information they are very approachable and supportive. There are also clubs in Middleton and Morley who I’m assured are just as lovely. Most of the members of Morely Runners are relatively new to running and signed up for a couch to 5K programme so this is a massive achievement for them.

there was much less support along the way. As usual the speedier runners passed in the opposite direction and were cheered along by us just setting out. There were a few familiar faces and I shouted out to some of them, breath and memory allowing. I did hear my name called a couple of times as well but was so focused on staying alive that I missed some too. It was hard passing the usual turning point at Kirkstall Morrisons but I kept on plodding along. I soon arrived at the halfway mark and was comforted by the fact that it was all downhill until the very last stretch. As I turned the corner I was hit in the face by the hot sun. I could barely see on the way back so have no idea if I saw anyone I knew, very unlikely as I was the last Laker home. It was very quiet from 5K to around 8K, there were some supporters but not nearly as many as I have seen in the summer. The last uphill was not a surprise and being prepared made it easier, there were more supporters at this point including a lot of runners that had already finished. Rounding the final corner brought a pleasant surprise; the finish line was slightly closer than other races that finish there. The flat finish and the crowds are a good incentive for a sprint finish and I did my best, overtaking a few people on the last few yards. This race had its good points and bad but I would probably do it again just for the social aspect. A lot of the runners go to the pub for “rehydration” and food after which is a definite bonus.

Facebook: facebook.com/southleedslife

Hunslet’s pre-season derby match dates

Hunslet RLFC will entertain Hunslet Club Parkside in a ‘State of Hunslet’ rematch at the South Leeds Stadium as part of their 2018 pre-season schedule. The game will take place on Sunday 4 February 2018, 3pm kick off. Hunslet will be looking for revenge when they take on the current National Conference Cup winners, as it was Parkside who came out on top last season, winning a close game by a single point in a 1819 victory. The following Friday Hunslet will host the current Super League Champions Leeds Rhinos. The Harry Jepson OBE Memorial Cup will be played at the South Leeds Stadium on Friday 9 February, 7:30pm kick off. Hunslet kick off their 2018 League 1 campaign on the road taking on Hemel Stags at Pennine Way. The opening game of the season will take place on Sunday 18 February. The following week the Parksiders return to the South Leeds Stadium to face Whitehaven in their first home game of the league season. This is followed by a home tie against North Wales in round three, before the short trip to the Provident Stadium to face the Bradford Bulls in a mouth-

watering clash. The traditional Good Friday fixture will see Hunslet host Keighley Cougars with a 2pm kick off and they will face old rivals York City Knights at the South Leeds Stadium in round nine. The newly formed West Wales Raiders will visit South Leeds Stadium on Sunday 27 May and Hunslet finish the league campaign away to Coventry Bears. The League 1 play-off format has also been confirmed with two teams being promoted to the Championship at the end of the season. The league leaders will automatically be promoted with the below four teams in the league ladder competing in a play-off format. Second will play fifth, and third will play fourth with the winners of each match competing in a Grand Final to determine which team is promoted to the Championship. The Hunslet RLFC 2018 season launch night will take place on Friday 15 December in the Phoenix Bar at South Leeds Stadium, 7:30pm start. The bar will be open from 6:30pm for those wanting to get down early for what will be a great night’s entertainment. This year will be extra special as it will feature a mini

beer festival serving craft beers from a pop up bar. Partners Brewery will be supplying five of their bestselling beers for everyone to enjoy at just £2.50 a pint. Highlight of the evening will be the revealing our new errea 2018 home and away shirts as

well as new errea winter leisurewear range including a new lion rampant scarves. All the new exciting products will also be on sale on the night. There will be a Q&A session with Head Coach Gary Thornton and the 2018 squad will be in attendance.

Beeston’s world class kickboxers by Mick Tindall Three members of a Beeston kickboxing club have just returned victorious from Orlando Florida, where they were competing in the World Karate & Kickboxing Championships. Urban Freestyle Marshal Arts (UFMA) is a small kickboxing club run by Dean Imbusch and based in Beeston on Dewsbury Road. Dean’s son Jordan, 16, has retained a world title for 5 years; his daughter Alyssa, 14, who retained her world title; and Georgia Pickard were part of the England Team at the tournament. They came back with two golds, two silvers and three bronze medals. Seven in total, which is great for a small team. This small club boast world champions who also have British titles and were crowned ‘Best of the Best’ when they fought in Athens earlier this year.

Team UFMA: (L-R) Jordan, Dean & Alyssa Imbusch, Georgia Pickard

Advertise with South Leeds Life and get your message to 15,000 people in LS10 and LS11 Prices from just £50 for 1/16 page to £300 for a full page advert Ring 07894 583966 or email: info@southleedslife.com today