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Issue 58 | January 2020

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

RESIDENTS ENGULFED IN CLADDING CRISIS

In this issue:

Environmental heroes

page 6

Festive photos roundup page 11-12

Stress and uncertainty as building owners shift safety costs to flat owners

by Ed Carlisle

undreds of South Leeds residents enter 2020 facing the threat of huge ‘lifechanging’ bills – tens of thousands of pounds per household – and maybe even eviction, following the news that their apartment blocks have failed key fire safety regulations. December saw residents of several blocks in Leeds Dock (formerly Clarence Dock) and elsewhere in the city receive letters from West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (WYFRS), and/or their building owners or senior leaseholders. These set out the failings of their buildings, the costly fire safety measures now necessary – and in many cases, the insistence that the leaseholders (the owners of the individual flats) would collectively foot the bill. Residents have expressed disbelief and outrage, saying they feel “blackmailed”; and others have called it a “nightmare” saying they’re “sick with stress” and “feel trapped and at gunpoint to costs that we cannot control.” They are getting organised via a ‘Leeds Cladding Scandal’ campaign, and linking with national groups – but for many, there is currently little hope of finding a positive way forward. Daniel Marquina lives in Leeds Dock, and told us: “Most of us are first-time

buyers, living here, putting all our savings into the mortgage – but now we’re facing these very high costs, and it’s very worrying. I don’t understand why we (the leaseholders) have to pay, instead of the building owner. The government has to help us.” The situation follows the Grenfell Tower tragedy in west London in June 2017, in which 72 people died. The government has since brought in rigorous new legislation covering building regulations for apartment blocks. These especially centre around a type of exterior cladding called ACM (Aluminium Composite Material) – but also cover other forms of cladding, internal building materials, and fire detection and alarm systems. This has led to a nation-wide survey of apartment blocks, and the announcement last year of a £200m government fund to enable privately-owned buildings to replace ACM cladding. Publicly or socially owned buildings were already covered by a separate fund. Some at-risk developments, including One Brewery Wharf and the Park Plaza, therefore have renovations underway, either via the government fund, or their own warranty schemes. But the situation for other blocks – including those at Leeds Dock – is more complex. First, the development companies who originally built them (below the legal

regulatory standard, even then) have since been dissolved – with allegations that they were ‘shell’ companies, designed to avoid future responsibilities like this. Furthermore, the blocks are over 10 years old, so fall outside of any warranties. Some argue that the government fund is hard to access, especially when there are perhaps over 100 individual leaseholders to consult. And several if not all of Photo: Skeeze via Pixabay the Leeds Dock blocks will also need substantial internal renovations – which are not covered by the government fund. Neither does the fund include other dangerous forms of cladding other than ACM, such as HPL (High Pressure Laminate); and nor does it include upgrades on alarm systems, nor interim costs such as ‘waking watches’ (where staff are employed on 24-hour fire detection duty). Some apartment Leeds Dock Photo: Harshill Shah via Creative Commons (cropped) blocks elsewhere in the UK have already had to pay related blaze in student the deputy chief fire officer for £100,000s for these services accommodation in Bolton in the county – cited a “lack of and alterations, and costs look November (in which thankfully action” from some building likely to spiral well above £1 no-one was injured or died), the owners, insisted that “interim WYFRS have lost their measures cannot go on in million for many blocks. These complications patience. In last month’s letter indefinitely” and called for apparently led to a standstill – to the owners of 10 Leeds “urgent action”. Continues on page 2 but following another cladding- developments, Dave Walton –

50 years a Scout Leader

page 18

Runners say Bah Humbug!

page 24

NEWS

2-9

SCHOOL LIFE 10-11 PHOTOS

12-13

COMMENT

14-15

ART LIFE

16-17

LOCAL LIVES WHAT’S ON

18 19-22

SPORTING LIFE 23-4

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South Leeds Life | January 2020

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About us South Leeds Life is written by and for local people. People who live, work and play in the LS10 and LS11 areas of South Leeds. The website and newspaper are produced by South Leeds Life CIC, a social enterprise registered with Companies House, No 9998695. South Leeds Life is a member of the Independent Community News Network.

Our aims To inform people of events, activities, issues and opportunities taking place in the South Leeds community; To encourage the involvement of the wider community in communicating their experiences; To foster community spirit and involvement; and To provide a platform for local people to contribute and respond to community life more fully. South Leeds Life is pleased to publish views from across the political spectrum, provided they comply with our editorial guidelines. We remain a neutral publication with a diverse readership, as such we do not endorse any particular political party.

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Top Carbon Classification for Beeston bed maker

179-year-old Yorkshire bed maker has enhanced its sustainability credentials by becoming fully Carbon Neutral, following an independent audit of its business. Following the assessment – done by sustainability experts at Carbon Footprint Ltd – Beeston-based Harrison Spinks, one of Great Britain’s most innovative bed manufacturers, is eligible to be classed as ‘Carbon Neutral +’, a new classification for businesses that go above and beyond full carbon neutrality. The innovative manufacturer, which holds three Queen’s Awards including one for Sustainable Development, has its own farm where it rears sheep and grows hemp to create natural mattress fillings and owns a 56-acre sustainable forest which provides wood for its beds. As well as announcing its Carbon Neutral + status, it has also launched an urban tree-planting scheme involving schools and community groups near its South Leeds headquarters. The tree planting follows the luxury bed maker offsetting 3,824 tonnes of Carbon Dioxide by supporting the Solar Power Generation Verified Carbon

Harrison Spinks MD Simon Spinks with the hemp harvest at the Harrison Spinks farm. Hemp is used as an eco-friendly natural mattress filling. Standard (VCS) project in India. Simon Spinks, Managing Director at Harrison Spinks, said: “For a business that’s proud to make some of the best, most comfortable and sleep-inducing mattresses in the world, there’s one thing that threatens to keep us awake at night – the future of our planet. “We started our sustainability journey ten years ago, growing our own fillings and committing to sourcing natural fibres locally, and for the last decade our core business objective has been to

Cladding crisis Continued from page 1 The letter went on to give a deadline of 10 January, by which time building owners need to have presented credible plans to tackle the risk; if they fail to do so, WYFRS have threatened to forcibly evict all residents. Affected local blocks include: the McClure, McClintock and Crozier blocks, which together make up Franklin House, at Leeds Dock; and One Brewery Wharf (where work is already underway, and where we understand the freeholder is coordinating and funding the renovations). Since the WYFRS letter, other Leeds Dock blocks include La Salle and Cartier House have also found themselves caught up in the crisis – with surveys there pointing to likely illegality, and a costly ‘waking watch’ also now in place. It is estimated that over 600 local households, and over 1,000 people, are affected. Nationally, it is estimated that over 400 blocks, and up to 17,000 households, are affected – although it is unclear in how many cases the financial liability is being passed to the leaseholders. With the exception of One Brewery Wharf, locally it looks likely that all the individual leaseholders will be forced to foot the bill together – and

as it stands, they have no alternative legally. Meanwhile, their homes are valued at £0, un-mortgageable and unsellable, trapping people who need to move for family or work. And Ritu Saha, who helps coordinate the UK Cladding Action campaign, commented: "Two and a half years after Grenfell, many of us are still living in extremely unsafe homes. And what’s worse, leaseholders are being told that we have to immediately find lifechanging sums of money to make these buildings safe. The choice is: the safety of our families’ lives, or bankruptcy and homelessness. We had nothing to do with building these unsafe buildings, but responsibility for fixing them has been placed entirely on our shoulders. Where is the accountability for the developers, those who signed them off (including many local authorities), and those responsible for lax building regulations?” Hilary Benn also comments on the scandal in his column on page 15. For more info or to join the campaign, find Leeds Cladding Scandal, and UK Cladding Action, on Facebook or Twitter. Note that all Leeds City Council apartment blocks have been certified safe.

change the way the world sleeps. “We’ve been relentless in looking for more sustainable ways of working so we can look after our planet for future generations. It is for this reason we have made the pledge to not develop any new mattresses containing foam or glue and to eliminate foam from any existing product by 2020. “We will soon be launching our foam-free and glue-free mattresses which not only offer better comfort, but avoid unnecessary landfill or incineration which happens to foam

mattresses at the end of their useable life. “This latest independent audit places us at the top of the carbon neutrality tree and we wanted to build on that, so we have approached schools and groups in neighbouring communities and offered to plant one-year-old trees – known as ‘whips’ – for them. “Harrison Spinks is committed to doing the right thing for a sustainable future so we can all rest easy at night.” John Buckley, Managing Director of Carbon Footprint Ltd, said: “In these times of climate emergency, Harrison Spinks has taken the responsible step of having a robust measurement of its own green-house gas emissions completed and energy audits done across its sites. “The business has a solid plan in place to reduce its own emissions. Alongside this, they are supporting carbon offset projects that fund solutions to climate change.” Every year, Harrison Spinks grows almost 800 tonnes of natural fibre fillings for its mattresses. By farming its own materials and manufacturing its own components, the company has been able to save more than 1,300 tonnes of CO2 every year.

Extra care flats for Beeston W

estward Care, the owners of Pennington Court care home in Beeston have submitted a planning application for 58 extra care and assisted living apartments on Hunslet Hall Road. The flats are to be built adjacent to Pennington Court on land which currently has a newsagent, derelict retail units, and car parking. The existing shop will be reprovided and given a temporary location so that it can keep trading and serving local residents through the building process. The flats will provide affordable rented accommodation for elderly

people and working age adults with learning difficulties. There will be communal facilities to encourage social interaction. The flats allow people to retain their independence whilst tailored care can be provided. The scheme has been proposed in response to Leeds City Council’s Vision for Extra Care Housing which calls for 1,000 units to be built across the city. It is supported by Holbeck Together who were involved in the design process. Comments in support or raising objections can be lodged until Wednesday 15 January quoting planning reference is 19/07472/FU.

CGI image showing how the apartments will look from Hunslet Hall Road

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Burglary and vandalism, but look how our communities responded T

by Jeremy Morton

wo incidents last month showed the dark side of South Leeds, as a bereavement charity was burgled and a community college bus was vandalised. Between them those responsible caused £7,000 of damage, but the response - in cash and in kind - from local people and busineses has been heartwarming. On 5 December CharliesAngel-Centre in Beeston was broken into. The charity helps parents and family members who have suffered the bereavement of a baby or child. £2,000 worth of toys and equipment was stolen. The response of the South Leeds community was fantastic. Donations in kind have included a new security alarm fitted for free by Steve Welsh from Total Security; and a Go Fund Me online appeal has raised over £1,500. The Co-op’s Marsh Lane funeral home also stepped in, presenting the charity with a new Xbox One S, a 24 inch

Sam Key from Charlies-Angel-Centre Foundation with Tory Lee and Caroline Gorman from Co-op Funeralcare Panasonic television and also a handful of games for the Xbox that have been provided by staff members. Having met with the charity the home plans to look at ways they can work together in the future. They are hoping to get some of their bereavement packs for a start to pass on to the families they are in contact with. West Yorkshire Police have released CCTV images of men they would like to speak to about the break in. Then on Saturday 21

December Slung Low suffered a break in to their double decker bus in Holbeck. A group broke into the bus, which is used to deliver courses as part of Slung Low’s Cultural Community College, and caused £5,000 worth of damage, smashing windows, damaging heaters and furniture. The bus was parked outside The Holbeck, the former working men’s club that Slung Low manage on behalf of its members. Staff were joined by club members and other local residents to help in the clear up. Sheets of wood were brought to board up the bus and brooms worked to sweep

up the broken glass. on their website: slunglow.org. An appeal was launched Reflecting on Twitter, Slung straigh away to repair the bus Low’s Artistic Director Alan and word reached Sting (Yes Lane said: that Sting). He donated his “It’s hard to keep a gentle own, signed, copy of the score heart in these moments. The to his musical The Last Ship in accumulative effect of attacks an act of Christmas charity. major and minor over a long The score was auctioned on period of time. You forget the ebay on Christmas Eve and hundreds of people who have raised £328 for the appeal. the most positive experience Typical of the response to the and you concentrate on these. incident, Kidz Klub Leeds who It changes you. It changes your run sessions on the bus, world view. commented on Twitter: “But then we’re still here. Sting donated this score “Every week these children And we’ll fix the windows. And who live in the houses there’ll be an epic quiz on classes in the new year, and surrounding the ‘big yellow bus’ Boxing Day, and shows and we’ll still be here.” get to use it to sing, paint, listen and plot how to change the world. Without your kindnesses @SlungLow @slunglowalan this would be so much harder. Thank you – we are all with you.” In response Slung Low have promised to have the bus “spick and span” in time for Kidz Klub’s first session in January. If you would like to contribute, but don’t want to bid for the score, you can donate via the PayPal button Securing the vandalised bus outside The Holbeck

Two charged with Dewsbury Full fibre broadband arrives in Leeds S Road murder

The Premier supermarket on Dewsbury Road. Photo: Google Streetview

wo men have been remanded in custody, charged with murder after a stabbing on Dewsbury Road on Thursday 12 December. The incident occurred at about 5:30pm outside the Premier supermarket, opposite the Dewsbury Road Community Hub. Keith Harrower, aged 40, also known as Joshua French was stabbed and died from his injuries in hospital the same day.

Kearon Barker, aged 30, of Cardinal Crescent, Beeston is charged with murder and possession of an offensive weapon. Omar Ishaq, 33, of Low Lane in Horsforth is also charged with murder. A third man arrested on December was released without charge. The men are due in court again on 21 January for a plea hearing. Should either plead not guilty a full trial is expected to start on 8 June.

Rebecca Lowe with Vodafone Gigafast Broadband City Manager Dawn Whitehead.

outh Leeds has become the latest location to receive Vodafone’s full-fibre broadband service. Homes and small businesses are now able to experience some of the fastest internet access speeds available in the UK. Unlike most home broadband services based on old telephone lines, Vodafone Gigafast Broadband uses all optical-fibre cables at every stage of the connection. As a result, customers can enjoy download speeds 16 times faster, and upload speeds 125 times faster, than the average fixed broadband service in the UK. Leeds goes live under Vodafone’s plan to bring Gigafast Broadband to at least 15 UK towns and cities during 2020. Vodafone is facilitating an acceleration of the build out of new full-fibre networks through its partnerships with network infrastructure companies CityFibre and Openreach. Vodafone Gigafast Broadband is ideal for small businesses who

need fast access to the Internet and cloud-based hosting services, as well as consumers with busy households and multiple people online streaming movies, games and music at the same time. Rebecca Lowe from Hunslet was one of the first customers to sign up to Vodafone’s full-fibre in Leeds. Rebecca and her family signed up for the 900mpbs service after experiencing problems using mulitple devices in their existing connection. Rebecca explained: “Our previous broadband service was extremely slow especially during evenings and weekends. It made watching streaming services impossible, as they would take hours to load. “The difference with Vodafone Gigafast Broadband was immediate. Watching our Smart TV is a much better experience and everyone can still use other devices without issues. It has saved us all more time as previously we would have been forced to wait for the internet connection to catch up.”

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On the beat

by Insp Lucy Leadbeater

would like to start by wishing everyone a Happy New Year. I hope that you have all had a safe and happy time over Christmas and have managed to spend time with loved ones. I was fortunate enough to have time off over this period but also wanted to say thank you to my colleagues and all the other emergency services who have worked hard to keep us safe over this period. A New Year always bring a period of reflection. Since joining the team at the end of March 2019 I have got to meet some fantastic people and already developed some great working relationships with partners, residents and communities. I consider myself very fortunate to have this role where I get to work with such amazing people and the main thing that has struck me is how strong the communities of Inner South are and how much community spirit there is across all the areas. As a Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT) we have worked very hard this year to deliver the level of service residents of Inner South deserve. We have had some excellent results including; a large number of arrests and other pro-active work, dealing with some really tricky neighbour disputes, tackling ASB, managing numerous critical incidents, the continual development of the Managed Approach and the partnership work that we deliver day in day out. I can honestly say South NPT

is a great team to lead and I am very proud of all our achievements over the past 12 months. I feel that this has been a really productive year for us and we have the foundations, processes and team to be able to continue building and improving our performance and delivering an excellent service to the residents, business and communities of Inner South in 2020! January will often bring us difficult driving conditions and therefore it is more important than ever to ensure that your vehicles are in a road worthy condition and that you take extra time to prepare for each journey. As part of our Safer Roads Strategy we aim to ‘work together to make the West Yorkshire roads network safe and feel safe – being secure and efficient for our communities’. We do this in a number of ways including prevention, reassurance, intelligence gathering and enforcement. Our prevention and enforcement activity is focussed around the ‘Fatal Four’ factors: · Excessive speed · Drink or drug driving · Failure to wear seatbelts · Mobile device distraction whilst driving (e.g. use of mobile phones) In Inner South we work alongside our Safer Roads colleagues and have done a number of operations to tackle speeding concerns and the other factors detailed above. In a period of just 7 days one of our ward officers had dealt with 3 drivers who will now be prosecuted for having no insurance (and who have now had their vehicles seized), reported 10 drivers for driving at excess speed and dealt with 1 driver who will now be prosecuted for using their mobile phone. We will continue to work hard to tackle these issues and make the roads of Inner South as safe as possible.

Winter Wonderland

Middleton Woods are beautiful at all times of the year, but there’s something magical about snow. Beeston-based photographer Stuart Petch captured this scene last winter. stuart-petch-photography.co.uk

Fourth conviction for rogue Beeston landlord Jack Collins L

andlord Jack Collins of Woodlea Road, Yeadon, has been hit with court fines for a fourth time for failing to properly manage his rental properties. On 18 November 2019, Mr Collins was found guilty and ordered to pay £25,324.60 within two months for failing to maintain a property on Sefton Terrace, Beeston. Mr Collins had denied exposing vulnerable tenants to sub-standard housing conditions over a prolonged period of time including defective fire doors and a broken fire alarm, exposed electrical cables, rotten windows, no heating or hot water for a six month period during which one tenant was left without washing facilities. Mr Collins had been prosecuted for offences at the same property on 12/2/2018 and had to pay £8,655 including fines and costs. On that occasion it was for failing to comply with improvement notices served by the local authority to ensure safety of tenants. In addition, Mr Collins had been fined on two other occasions 10/1/2018 and 3/5/2019 for poor conditions in his Beeston properties. Over the four prosecutions (a period of 22 months) Mr Collins

Sefton Terrace, Beeston. Photo: Google Streetview has incurred fines and costs totalling £59,217 initiated by the council. Mr Collins’ property is located in one of the two recently designated Selective Licensing areas which are part of an initiative to improve the standard of rented homes in parts of Beeston and Harehills. From 6 January 2020 any person renting out a property in these areas will need to have applied to the council for a licence. Landlords who fail to have made an application by this date will face formal action including a fine or civil penalty. Find out more at www.leeds.gov.uk/selectivelic ensing. Councillor Debra Coupar, Leeds City Council’s executive member for communities, said:

“It was unacceptable to expect vulnerable people at this property in Beeston to live day to day in appalling conditions, resulting in considerable distress for the tenants, due to the behaviour of this landlord. “Landlords have a responsibility in law, and to their tenants, to ensure that they adhere to and comply fully with the housing regulations including proper and timely management. “In this particular case, like previous occasions, this landlord fell considerably short of the standard expected, which is why we pursued this action through the courts that resulted in the court ordering him to pay over £20k. “The safety of our residents

remains our top priority and I want to send out the clear message that we will seek to use a range of enforcement tools if, as in this case, legislation has been disregarded by a landlord and a resident is living in a property that is substandard. “Of course, we would rather not have to pursue this course of action and that is why we are looking to raise housing rental standards in parts of Beeston and Harehills by introducing Selective Licensing schemes in January 2020. “I’d like to encourage all private landlords in these areas to make sure they have completed a licence application and paid the first part of the fee by 6 January 2020.”

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Meet the officer helping to keep South Leeds clean, tidy and running smoothly F

by Jeremy Morton

or the last three months the wards of Beeston & Holbeck and Hunslet & Riverside have had a dedicated Civil Enforcement Officer. I met up with Joanne (not her real name*) to find out about her role. She has legal powers to tackle illegally parked cars by issuing Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs); and dog fouling and littering by issuing Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs). Whilst these issues are her priorities she also reports other issues, such as fly tipping to members of her wider team in the Council. Joanne sees her role as helping to have an impact on the area and improving life for local people. For example by reducing problem parking and making it easier for traffic to flow, making access easier for mechanical street sweepers and refuse lorries and making it safer for children going to school.

The post has been funded by the Inner South Area Committee and it’s the ward members who are setting the agenda, responding to feedback from residents, rather than wider Council priorities. “I’m not working to targets to issue tickets and I’m certainly not on commission” explains Joanne. With such a big area to cover and working mostly alone, she can’t cover every issue, but she makes sure she visits the priority areas and hotspots on a daily basis. These include parking on Tempest Road, Dewsbury Road and Beeston Hill as well outside schools. “It seems to be getting easier as people realise I’m staying in the area. I’ve noticed on Tempest Road for example, it was really bad with people parking on the zig-zags at the zebra crossing, but it’s not as bad now. “It’s the same on Beeston Hill near the traffic lights. I still go there daily and issue PCNs to

vehicles but it is getting better.” Most people accept a ticket, but quite a lot get into their car and drive away. Whether it’s embarrassment or trying to avoid the fine, it doesn’t bother Joanne. It just means the ticket gets issued by post, rather than in their hand. If people do get aggressive, Joanne has a bodycam and is in radio contact with her base for back up. Joanne’s focus is to resolve issues, not to punish people, so she always tries speak to people, explain the issue and change their behaviour. One recent case involved a motor business on Barkly Road in Beeston. Cars in various states of disrepair and apparently abandoned were left outside the garage. Joanne worked with the garage owner to get the vehicles off the street. The owner co-operated and worked hard to remove them, or move them into the grounds of the garage. “It was good to get positive feedback from Councillors that it has made a difference” says Joanne. “I praised the garage owner, but said I’ll still be back to check!”

General Election: Hilary Benn holds Leeds Central

On patrol near Beeston Primary School. Joanne also carries out joint patrols with PCSOs in Beeston and in Holbeck every two weeks. “We cover their priority streets and my priority streets together because the Police have powers I don’t have and

Photo: Cllr Gohar Almass

vice versa, so between us we can sort most things out.” Another bugbear in Beeston is matchday parking. Joanne explains that there is a dedicated team of 6-8 officers from Parking Services patrolling every matchday, so

she tries to deal with issues a bit further away from the ground on those days. The post is a one year pilot and will be reviewed at the end of 12 months. If its success carries on the Community Committee will look to continue funding it, helped by the income from fines, which returns to their budget. Cllr Mohammed Iqbal (Hunslet & Riverside) commented: “We are very pleased to have this Civil Enforcemrnt Officer between the two wards, I think it will bring a lot of positives in the area in terms of cleaner neighbourhoods and parking issues. “Refuse vehicles have had a lot of obstructions which have resulted in a backlog of missed bin collections. In turn that’s led to a lot of dumping issues and fly tipping. Hopefully we’ll see a lot of change now and I’m sure the public will be pleased with that.” If you have any issues you want to report please call the Council’s contact centre on (0113) 222 4444 or via the website: my.leeds.gov.uk *We have changed the officer’s name because a few disgruntled people have tried to harass her on social media.

Hilary Benn MP speaking at the count

n a bad night for Labour, sitting MP Hilary Benn held the safe Labour seat of Leeds Central which includes LS10 and LS11. However his majority was cut from 23,698 in 2017 to 19,270 and his

share of the vote from 70.2% to 61.7%. Turnout was slightly higher at 54.4% compared with 53.2% in 2017. There were 160 spoilt ballot papers. The full results are as follows:

Candidate

Description

BENN Hilary CARLISLE Ed CLOUSTON William FORTUNE Peter HOLLAND Jack THOMAS Paul

Labour Party Green Party Social Democratic Party Conservative Party Liberal Democrats Brexit Party

Votes 30,413 2,105 281 11,143 2,343 2,999

Awards for care and compassion

Two Hunslet men have been given awards by a national charity in recognition of their respect, care and compassion for others. Mark Braithwaite, 54, and Eli Sherrif, 65, are both tenants in Waterhouse Court, a supported housing scheme run by national adult health and social care charity Making Space. They were nominated for the awards by support worker Debra Hanrahan, who nominated Mark for a ‘Respect’ award and Eli for the ‘Stand Out’ award.

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Big and small win environmental award T

White Rose Shopping Centre’s achievement follows the introduction of a Smoke and Vape Free Zone in its outdoor leisure area, The Village, in 2018. Launched alongside White Rose’s new children’s play area, the zone was created in partnership with Leeds City Council and Child Friendly Leeds as part of the city’s Clean Air Leeds ambition. The Bronze title was awarded to White Rose due to the centre’s impressive record for sustainability. In 2017, a total of 3,000 solar photovoltaic panels were installed on the centre’s roof – the largest solar installation on a retail property in the Dean Stratton, Nikki Appleton, and Henry Powell from UK – which generate White Rose Shopping Centre

wo contrasting South Leeds companies, White Rose Shopping Centre and Leeds Wood Recycling, have been awarded a prestigious environmental award. The Green Apple Environment Awards, is an annual international campaign to recognise, reward and promote environmental best practice around the world.

enough electricity to power more than 200 UK homes for 12 months. In recent years White Rose has also introduced free electric car charging points and also boasts food digesters, which break down solid food waste from retailers into liquid, a rainwater harvesting system, LED lighting which uses up to 90% less energy than traditional bulbs, and encourages site-wide biodiversity including hives of more than 500,000 bees on its roof. Last month, the centre planted 187 trees on its site to mark Baby Week Leeds – one tree for every baby born in Leeds during the week. Steven Foster, General Manager of White Rose Shopping Centre, said: “We’re delighted that our sustainability work has been recognised at the Green Apple Environmental Awards. That said, we certainly won’t be resting on our laurels – we’re constantly seeking out ways to improve our environmental impact and we understand that this is a work in progress.

“It’s important to us that in addition to offering a full day out in terms of retail, dining, and leisure, we ensure that our impact on our community is a positive one.” At the other end of the commercial scale and based in Holbeck, Leeds Wood Recycling (LWR) also won a Green Apple. The company started just 14 months ago and is a social enterprise. The team at Leeds Wood Recycling LWR collect waste confidence. wood from factories and Manager Charlotte Stanley building sites, sort it and told South Leeds Life: “To have recycle it into a range of been nominated, let alone win products. an award has been so amazing LWR also offers volunteering for LWR. opportunities for people who “We would love more people might be looking for work, or to come and get involved. We're recovering from a mental looking for more volunteers to health issue or have a learning help with our wood waste disability. Training is provided collections, processing, and and volunteering can be making, so we can grow and invaluable in building up work reuse even more of the wood experience and self that we collect.

Boosting confidence CityFibre at Northern College K

Women and children enjoyed crafting in the evenings

by Tahena Ahmed

orthern College is a residential college dedicated to the education and training of men and women who are without formal qualifications and are seeking to return to learning. The college provides opportunities through the provision of adult residential and community based learning. Northern College has been working in partnership with Asha since 2014 offering residential weekend courses with pre-school childcare at Wentworth Castle in Barnsley. A group of women on the Asha volunteers course completed a 3-day confidence and motivation skills course in November. They used iPads to

write about their personal life experiences and created a storyboard to bring their stories to life. Then they presented their work to the group. In the evenings, with their children, they took part in making Christmas decorations and explored the history Wentworth castle. One of the women when asked for feedback responded with a smile: “Freedom, Freedom!” She talked about the barriers she faced in accessing education and how difficult it is for her to work, study or go anywhere with young children. If you are interested in joining Asha’s volunteering course, please email: tahena@ashaleeds.org.uk

“We will be starting a new project called 'the skill tree' in the new year, which will be teaching our volunteers how to make products for our shop, in a interactive skill-sharing environment. “Everyone has to muck in with the day to day duties of LWR before getting stuck into making. But we are hoping to skill up and get connected to lots more people in South Leeds in the new year.”

backs training scheme

irkstall Forge, Leeds CityFibre. The Forging Futures working. That is why we are College of Building, Campus, an initiative launched working with local partners to O’Connor Utilities (OCU) and by CEG, in conjunction with give young people in the area CityFibre have joined forces to Leeds College of Building and the opportunity to develop their support young apprentices Leeds City Council, offers careers. through a 12-week fibre invaluable experience and “Getting more skilled installation training scheme opportunities for young people engineers into the workforce that will help build the city’s in the area to explore a career and helping them to secure full fibre network. in engineering. work right away is a win-win for CityFibre, the UK’s leading alternative provider of wholesale full fibre infrastructure, and construction firm OCU have worked in partnership with Leedsbased skills centre “Forging Futures Campus,” to nurture new talent to help develop Leeds’ first full fibre network. Following a 12-week apprenticeship scheme, delivered by I Consult Ltd and designed by Kirkstall Forge and Leeds College of Building, OCU has hired three young graduates L-R: Jake Kirby, Kim Johnston CityFibre’s City Manager for Leeds, Shaun Kerry, to immediately begin Angela Myers SHEQT Advisor for OCU, Ethan Coggill. working for its teams in the city. Kim Johnston, CityFibre’s City everyone, and initiatives like The graduates, who Manager for Leeds, said: the Forging Futures Campus impressed OCU with their “We are absolutely are a real credit to Leeds. dedication and commitment committed to Leeds for the Because we are building a over the course of the long-term and want to leave network future-proofed for programme, will support in the behind a positive lasting legacy. future generations, it is delivery of a full fibre network In addition to our full fibre especially pleasing to have in Leeds, which represents a network, we want to support members of the next £120m investment by the community in which we are generation playing such a

pivotal supporting role.” Angela Myers, SHEQT Advisor, OCU, said: “It has been a real pleasure to see our apprentices develop and grow over the course of the program. They’ve built their confidence, communication skills and competency and have demonstrated a real commitment to the role that will no doubt lead to a long and bright future at OCU. “On-the-job experience like this is invaluable for budding engineers and it has been a pleasure to collaborate with Kirkstall Forge, Forging Futures and CityFibre to help young people in Leeds to get this opportunity.” Ewan Metcalf, Managing Director of I Consult Ltd, said: “We’re delighted that OCU has employed three of the graduates from the programme, allowing them to build on the skills developed through the Forging Futures Campus. Commercial partnerships are vital to the ongoing success of the course and OCU has been so supportive throughout.”

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Extension underway at St Luke’s Church I

by Abbie Randall

f you live near Malvern Road in Beeston Hill, you’ve probably noticed some activity going on at St Luke’s Church. There is a lot of activity at the church which will see the building turned into a community hub in summer 2020. The builders have laid down foundations which will support an extension to the main church creating a space for community rooms, accessible facilities and a large purpose-built kitchen.

The Church will engage with local charities and organisations who will be able to use the building as a base to enable them to deliver their projects to the local area. It will also be a base for workers providing youth work, social cohesion and employability skills in the area. The church has been standing since the 1800s and comes from humble beginnings as a tin hut and has already seen an extension added in its early history. This is the largest project the church has ever seen since its

St Luke’s church is getting an extension for community use

construction and there are great hopes and expectations about the positive impact it will have on the community. Over the next few months work will continue and you’ll see the walls take shape, the old church windows re installed and the rooms sealed from the elements. Inside work will be going on to create a structure to make a second floor on the inside which will act as a small office space to compliment the community rooms below. When the work is finished there will be a formal reopening of the church sometime in the summer so watch this space for further news! Although there is a lot of work to be done the congregation is still gathering and for now meets at St Luke’s School just down the road. If you need more information about the project or would like to get in touch and enquire about hiring the space when the Church reopens check out their Facebook page or website stlukesholbeck.org.uk

Community Carers served up a Christmas treet! C

Sponsored Content

he South Leeds team run a total of 22 groups, Monday to Saturday at various times and venues and have been celebrating their “golden” year as Slimming World was 50 years old in September. In total the members in their groups have lost 32,752.5 pounds this year, 2,339 stones 6.5 pounds, the equivalent of almost 13 ford fiestas! Jane Masefield runs groups in Middleton and Beeston. She says “that Slimming World feeling” for her is being able to enjoy a great social life and still lose weight. Eating and enjoying fabulously filling family meals like macaroni cheese and chicken risotto” just a couple of Jane’s favourites! Maria Metcalf also runs a group in Middleton. The best “slimming world feeling” for her comes from seeing her daughter picking up good habits. Maria says “On busy

days, seeing my daughter choose to make something healthy for herself and her brother, rather than opting for a takeaway makes me feel great!” Tace Catlin runs groups in Beeston Hill and Belle Isle. She says “I love the freedom to eat a variety of foods which enables me to cook all my favourite recipes. That “slimming world feeling” of being able to experiment and discover new dishes just by making a few swaps to make them healthier!” Vicky Sampson runs the groups in Hunslet and she says “That slimming world feeling” is knowing you are part of a group of similar minded people who don’t judge but completely understand your desire and struggle to lose weight. Just being welcomed, supported and valued is the best feeling in the world!” Tace

Maria

Jane

Vicky

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January 2020 | South Leeds Life

News 9

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South Bank For South Leeds campaign launched T

he concert room in The spent to the benefit of the local continuing to develop the Holbeck club was packed community. Kirkstall Forge site in the west on Monday 25 November for Other opportunities arising of the city, where they set up the launch of a campaign by from the new buildings could Forging Futures to offer training Leeds Citizens called: ‘South include training and and employment to local Bank For South Leeds’. employments schemes for people. As the redevelopment of people in the existing As part of the meeting CEG, parts of Holbeck and Hunslet communities of South Leeds, Cllr Gohar Almass, Cllr Angela close the river kicks on and the both during construction and Gabriel (both Beeston & city centre moves southwards afterwards as businesses move Holbeck) and Cllr Paul Wray into the ‘South Bank’, there is a into the properties. (Hunslet & Riverside) made concern that the existing communities could miss out on the benefits. Leeds Citizens works through grassroots organisations and aims to bring them together with business and the Council work together to solve problems. Or as Rolf Mason, Curate at St Luke’s Church, Holbeck, explained at the meeting: “To build a successful community, you need three things; 1. People first and foremost 2. Businesses and employers to create money and 3. A great council to organise Residents show their support at the Leeds Citizens meeting everything.” Representatives from CEG specific commitments to work The meeting heard that were present at the meeting. with the people of South Leeds developers in Leeds would CEG are the developers behind through Leeds Citizens. The full have to make a contribution to a number of schemes for list of commitments are listed the Community Investment housing, offices and retail on our website. Levy (CIL) based on the size of around Water Lane and Globe A spokesperson for Leeds their development. Part of this Road in Holbeck and have also Citizens said: “We are happy payment goes to Leeds City taken on the iconic Temple that this campaign is now Council to fund citywide Works round the corner on underway that it has such infrastructure, but part is to be Marshall Street. They are also strong support – from local

Salvage Hunters visit Middleton Railway

people, CEG and local ward members. We believe in people power and this was clearly present at the Holbeck when the campaign launched! “Our alliance will be busy in the next few months listening to local people and giving them a voice on the issue of the Southbank (sic) developments and how they will impact South Leeds communities. “We are excited at the immediate prospect of being able to make some concrete plans with CEG for creating Living Wage jobs in the area and hope this will be the start of some real benefits local people will receive in the future. “Our hopes are typifed by some verses from the song “Hope for Holbeck” which the parents of Ingram Road Primary School wrote (with the help of Slung Low) and performed at the event:” Come take a walk down by the riverside. Spa waters flow – a special place to go… Oh my, you’ll find a place to work or play, Oh my, you’ll find a place to sing or pray, Oh my, you’ll find a place to celebrate, Oh my, where all the people love not hate

John Tee and Drew Pritchard from the TV show “Salvage Hunters” visited Middleton Railway on Wednesday 18 December. In the show Drew travels across the country to find bargain pieces of scrap that his team can restore and resell. Ian Smith, from the Middleton Railway Trust told South Leeds Life: “We were able to provide them with some good stuff, but details will only be revealed in the episode to be shown in February!”

Landlord licensing scheme launches on 6 January

rivate landlords in Beeston Hill have until 6 January to register for Leeds City Council’s new Selective Licensing Scheme, or face a fine. The scheme has been introduced to improve the quality of housing. The licence covers issues such as gas and electrical safety, making sure fire alarms are in working order and ensuring that all furniture provided is safe. Whilst landlords in other parts of the city have signed up to an accreditation scheme which promotes improvement, there is very low take up of the scheme by landlords operating in Beeston Hill. Landlords have argued vigourously that the scheme will be counter productive. They claim the charge of £825 (for 5 years) will be added to rent as a “Tenants Tax.” A report to the council’s Executive Board noted that whilst residents commenting in person at the Dewsbury Road Community Hub were largely in favour of the scheme, online responses were more hostile. Analysis revealed that there were multiple responses from single IP addresses, which indicates that they were completed from a single property. Of the online returns, 121 IP addresses were used to complete 3 or more questionnaires, which accounted for 826 responses out of the total 982 responses from the Beeston residents’ responses. One IP address was responsible for 55 responses. Tahran Ali, a Holbeck resident and member of the 300 strong Leeds Landlord Unite group campaigning against selective licensing told South Leeds Life: “The truth about selective licensing is that this is just another tenant tax. Residents of South Leeds overwhelmingly rejected the proposal, though Leeds City Council really did put the “con” in consultation and

proceeded anyway. “The licence is not about improving housing standards, but shall focus on landlords demanding rigourous referencing and having written tenancies. For which Debra Coupar wants a £825 lump sum per property, all upfront before any licence is issued. The upshot of which shall inevitably be more selective tenancies with increased rents to cover those costs. “This would be far more palatable if the evidence backed up the council's claims that Beeston is a distinctly problematic neighbourhood. It isnt. Or if there was popular support for this measure. There isnt. Every independent metric showed no support for what shall be a tenant tax, it shall impinge on the prospects of the poorest and most vulnerable tenants in finding new a home. With the only benefit being a £5million windfall for LCC, at the expense of the tenants in Beeston and Harehills.” The area covered by the scheme is approximately bounded by the M621 motorway, Cross Flatts Park, Dewsbury Road and Garnet Road. Some properties are exempt including: holiday lets, business premises, socially let properties, student accommodation owned by a university, accommodation where the tenant is a family member, any property where the landlord already holds an HMO licence and properties that are empty. Cllr Debra Coupar, Leeds City Council’s executive member for communities, said: “I’d like to encourage all private landlords in the area to make sure they have completed a licence application and paid the first part of the fee by 6 January 2020." For more information go to: www.leeds.gov.uk/housing/ information-for-landlords/ selective-licensing

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South Leeds Life | January 2020

10 School Life

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Local Artistik Day Every Tree Counts at at Reach Primary Middleton Primary School M

each Primary Learning Centre in Beeston held a special day on 19 December inviting local artists Mik Artistik and Andy McVeigh to spend the day in school. Mik is something of a cult figure on the Leeds music scene and counts Iggy Pop amongst his fans. Andy McVeigh is sometimes known as the Burley Banksy for his work decorating street furniture in celebration of his beloved Leeds United. Andy worked with the children on small canvasses which the children painted something that means a lot to them. These ranged from Dad’s favourite club to the family pet. Mik commented: “I’ve

Mik Artistik and Andy McVeigh performed at Reach Primary been doing some work with the children drawing on paper bags. We’ve also worked on words and rhythms, making up littlepoems. It’s been a really lovely day.” Headteacher Ali Elvidge explained: “We wanted to teach the children about respecting their

environment, making the most of it and the community links we have. They’ve all gone home with some artwork and a paper bag with a Christmas present in it.” The day ended with Mik performing some of his songs and poems to the children, parents and staff.

Clapgate remembers Carry Franklin with sunflowers C

by Kirsty Webster

lapgate Primary School remembered teacher and founder of Leeds Little Free Libraries, Carry Franklin, with a field of beautiful sunflowers. Every child from nursery to year 6 had time recently to remember, share memories and create a stunning sunflower in her memory. The Clapgate Arts Council were responsible for

launching the idea at school and wanted the memorial display to be bright and cheerful just like Ms Franklin. The children had access to lots of different art materials to make their flower. Sunflowers were Ms Franklin’s favourite flower. She enjoyed planting them with the children, harvesting them and then using the flowers in the Art room at Clapgate for observational

iddleton Primary students planted trees with the help of Huddersfield based web agency, Splitpixel, as part of the wider Woodland Trust #EveryTreeCounts campaign. The pupils spent a Tuesday afternoon planting cherry and crab apple trees, alongside employees from Splitpixel Creative Ltd., to provide for local wildlife and contribute to the Woodland Trust goal to plant one million trees by the end of November 2019. The relationship between the school and agency started in June of 2019, when Splitpixel were contracted to develop a new school website in time for the new school year. On the day, the group planted flowering and fruit-bearing saplings, which provide food for birds through the colder months, and food and shelter for bees and butterflies in the warmer months. Trees offer a solution to the two environmental emergencies facing our planet: climate change and biodiversity loss. The cause is an important one to Charlie Herke, 39, co-founder and studio director of Splitpixel. She said: “We can’t rely on the younger generations to do all the work in the fight against climate change and ecological breakdown – change needs to come from every

Pupils get hands on with the planting generation. “Our goal is to encourage other businesses to contribute more than just money! We’re introducing greener policies in our workplace, supporting employees who want to get involved in the climate movement – and most importantly, getting our hands dirty ourselves. “We hope other businesses will recognise this urgent need for change while we still have time to make a difference.” The Splitpixel team are planning to extend our environmental action to other schools and aim to set up an allotment to promote sustainable living – with the intent to donate the fresh produce to

local foodbanks. In the meantime, Splitpixel’s work with former client Middleton Primary will continue as the trees grow and mature, and plan to revisit the project in the spring to talk more about protecting local wildlife. Samantha Williams, Headteacher at Middleton Primary, said: “It’s important to get young people excited about the environment. “Our pupils are very engaged in climate action – with our prefects, Eco Warriors and members of the Gardening Club always jumping at the chance to get a bit muddy and do their bit like they did today.”

drawing. Ms Franklin was a longstanding member of staff at Clapgate Primary School. The children remembered all of the many parts of school life that she contributed to, including art, drama, the Artsmark Award, the launch of the school allotment and camping trips. The stunning field of sunflowers is a beautiful way for the children to remember Ms Franklin.

Staff from Splitpixel Creative joined pupils to plant trees at Middleton Primary School

Advertise with South Leeds Life and reach 15,000 people in the LS10 and LS11 area Ring 07894 583966 Email: info@southleedslife.com Every child drew a sunflower to remember Ms Franklin

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Cockburn School’s Addams Family triumph

by Alannah Marsden

019 saw Cockburn School take on yet another amazing musical, and they certainly rose to the challenge! The final result was five incredible performances of the Addams Family enjoyed by teachers, fellow students, parents and carers, members of the local community, and even students from primary schools in the area. And everyone who attended emerged from Cockburn’s theatre with the biggest smile on their face, having experienced something that could only be described as magical. The cast and crew have been working extremely hard since September to make Addams Family the best it could possibly be. Four months of pure dedication definitely paid off, and it was clear to see from the performances just how committed everyone was. For weeks leading up to the

Out on the tiles

show the students involved stayed for rehearsals after school to perfect choreography, finalise lines and practise songs. They even came in on a teacher training day and a full weekend to put more hours into the show. There was a clear demonstration of resilience from all, which is one of Cockburn’s values. Of course, it wasn’t just the amazing actors and actresses on the stage who deserve recognition for this phenomenal show. The crew who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure everything ran smoothly on the night, the students who volunteered to help with hair and makeup to really add the spooky element, the band who put in hours learning every song, all contributed to the final product. And of course, the super talented and dedicated teachers from the performing arts department who went above and beyond to make Addams Family the best

musical yet. None of it would have been possible without them. Everyone shared the view that the musical was a complete and utter success, and a great experience for all who came. One audience member even remarked “I wish I’d bought tickets for every night!” which really brings to light how enjoyable it was for those who came to watch. The cast and crew also really enjoyed being a part of something so remarkable. Ashur Cali, who played the part of Uncle Fester, explained that: “It’s fueled us with a passion for the arts and pride for what we’ve made together.” Yet again, Cockburn has astounded us all with a sensational show which will be remembered for years to come. You can see a video report South Leeds Life made at the dress rehearsal at: south leedslife.com/video-addamsfamily-at-cockburn-school/

After three days of intense competition at WorldSkills UK Live, Leeds College of Building student and The Roofing Corporation Apprentice, Joe Osborne, was named winner of the silver medal in Roof Slating & Tiling.

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South Leeds Life | January 2020

12 Festive Photos

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a on, collected Lane in Beest de si rk e Pa f th of to d te Lighting, base d staff to dona Performance T r customers an ei th om fr od e. m huge box of fo co he Sc e ve At Hom South Leeds Li dr pro wo

DePuy serve up Christmas cheer M

edical devices company DePuy Synthes invited members, volunteers and staff from the South Leeds Live At Home Scheme (SLLAH) to their Beeston factory for Christmas lunch. Children from Hugh Gaitskell Primary School next door gave a Carol Concert after lunch. De Puy Synthes have strong relationships with both organisations. Staff regularly volunteer their time to support SLLAH projects. The school is supported in its annual science week project, when children get first hand experience of a cutting edge technology company. Kerry Seymour who leads on Corporate Social Responsibility for the company and serves on the Governing Body of Hugh Gaitskell Primary, commented: “We were delighted to invite the older residents of Beeston and Cottingley into our canteen and to have the children sing for them. We also held a collection for Holbeck Food Bank which we also have close links with.” Kath McNulty, Headteacher of Hugh Gaitskell Primary School said: “We are also extremely lucky and privileged to work with DePuy, with Kerry and her team and I say a heartfelt thanks every year to DePuy because you support us to support these fabulous children. Thank you so much.” Jane Holland from South Leeds Live At Home said: “It’s the highlight of the year, we come, we get fed and we get entertained by these wonderful children and we realy, really appreciate it. “But it’s not just today, Kerry and her team support us throughout the year. They provide us with volunteers to do our garden, they support us at lots of events, they help at our lunch clubs. The community of Beeston and Cottingley is privileged to have the support of a company like this.” Santa visited, listened to the children’s singing and then gave them each a present.

The 7th annual Christmas Lantern Festival took place on Friday 13 December in Beeston’s Cross Flatts Park and was another great succe Hundreds of families attended to enjoy carols, live animals, a giant s a mini-orienteering challenge, and refreshments. The Junk Christmas competition was won by Beeston In Bloom (below). The festival was led by the Salvation Army South Leeds Initiative, wi support from the Church in LS11, Slung Low, local schools, South Lee SLATE, and other volunteers. The organisers thanked the Leeds City C Inner South Community Committee for their generous sponsorship.

January 2020 | South Leeds Life

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Festive Photos 13

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The commu nity o ollected and f businesses based at M donated 18 arshall’s Mil 6 Christmas l and The Ro rive has bee gifts to Lee und Foundry n a regular ds Women’s initiative on ovided to w Aid. The coll the estate fo omen and ch ection r five years. ildren that ar ould go wit The gifts we e supported hout. re by the charit y who otherw ise

Middleton-based charity Health For All organised collections across their sites and projects with staff, trustees, volunteers and group members all contributing items for local Food Banks.

Santa visited m

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Slung Low celebrated a year at The Holbeck with their biggest ever Christmas Fayre. Hundreds of people browsed the stalls, enjoyed a hog roast and mulled wine and enjoyed live music from the Holbeck Choir who then led the audience in singing some favourite Christmas songs

51st Hunslet St Mary’s Rainbows, Brownies and Guides joined with the Hunslet Gathering to sing carols at Hunslet Morrisons on Sunday 22 December. As well bringing festive cheer they raised £217 for the local foodbank

Aid

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South Leeds Life | January 2020

14 Comment

In our view Cladding scandal

The tragedy of the Grenfell Tower fire which cost 72 lives alerted the public to a scandal. It wasnâ€™t just inflammable cladding, it was also about building regulations and who carries out the inspections (not the Council anymore). At the bottom of this scandal is years of deregulation or â€œremoving red tapeâ€? as businesses wanting to make larger profits prefer to call it. At Grenfell Tower ordinary people paid with their lives. Now as Leeds Dock residents have found out, ordinary people are being asked to pay to make builds safe. That cannot be right.

Community spirit

We may have said this before, but the community spirit in South Leeds is fantastic. We know there problems and some real toerags living amongst us. But when bad things happen, theft or vandalism, we donâ€™t shrug our shoulders and sink deeper into the mire. We organise and collect and put right. Sometimes itâ€™s just bad luck, struck down by a disease, or a child getting lost. It doesnâ€™t matter we will muck in and do what we can to help.

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Your letters and comments St Peterâ€™s church

I regarded Richard as a friend he helped and advised me about my diabetes , kind caring and very understanding . I will miss him as will the Lingwell staff . No more pain good friend RIP dear friend. Ian Bracewell

It was such a shame when St Peterâ€™s was demolished back in the 1970â€™s, such a beautiful church. I was confirmed there when I was 12 and was in the girl guides. I joined the PCF (Peopleâ€™s Christian Fellowship) youth club and also sang in the church choir. I fondly remember the choir master, Mr Liversedge, such a lovely gentleman. I later became a Cub Scout leader when the new church was built. It was so heartwarming to read about Barbaraâ€™s memories of St Peterâ€™s and just reminded me of what great times I had there being a small part of it. Linda Murray

The Night Christmas

I agree with your reviewer. We went to see it tonight too. I think perhaps I enjoyed it as much as the children, maybe more! Lauran

Raymond Harley

Cottingley station

The chances of Cottingley railway station existing when/if the â€˜White Roseâ€™ station comes to fruition are nil. Iâ€™d like details of how/when the people of Cottingley/Churwell New Village were consulted. Iâ€™ve lived on the Cottingley estate long before the station The original St Peterâ€™s Church on Dewsbury Road was created and I use it regularly heart of one of the most poorly serviced but Iâ€™ve never seen any information on the area of Leeds â€“ poor shops, poor doctors, station about the â€˜White Roseâ€™ station, had poor bus service, poor play facilities for nothing through the post informing me or kids. What a waste of money asking my opinion of the alternative station Mac. Hawk so just who are these people â€˜consultingâ€™ â€“ New Year, new you? a small leaflet in the Cottingley Post Office Dr Lestner January is a time for New Yearâ€™s â€“ which I just happened to notice when Dr Lestner holds a special place in my resolutions and we are asking our collecting medâ€™s (itâ€™s in with the pharmacy) heart. Years ago, as a 20 year old girl in an readers to resolve to build even gave details of â€˜consultationsâ€™ in various abusive relationship I became very sick in more community spirit in South places that were all since gone by date. pregnancy. It took a lot of courage to see a Leeds in 2020. Iâ€™m not sure what planet Kim Groves is doctor but when I did, I was so lucky it was Community spirit is driven by on but if he/she seriously thinks moving Dr Lestner. I had become severely this station will benefit the people the connections. The more people we malnourished and he showed great people of Morley & Middleton he/sheâ€™s know in our neighbourhood the concern and insisted I go straight to deluded. safer we feel and the more hospital. After an unhelpful call to The only way the â€˜White Roseâ€™ station will responsible we feel. We report on ambulance, Dr Lestner took me to the benefit anyone from the lots of groups doing all sorts of hospital himself and handed over directly Cottingley/Churwell area will be the lift, so activities across the area. So why to another doctor. I later learned he had those with buggies or wheelchairs have not go along and take part in called the hospital the next day to see if I proper access but thatâ€™s nothing that something youâ€™re interested in - a was OK. investment in the station at Cottingley sport, gardening, a residentsâ€™ group It was thanks Dr Lestner that my life couldnâ€™t have. - whatever floats your boat. turned around that day and I am now a very Itâ€™s going to be yet another stab at the happy healthy mother of two. I will never forget Dr Lestner. He showed me Compassion and made me believe I was worth more than I was tolerating. As Beeston & Holbeck ward someone who doesnâ€™t have any Includes Beeston from Cross Flatts Park to the Ring Road, Cottingley and Holbeck. parents myself, he was the only The three councillors are: person that cared for me at that Gohar Almass 07445 878 333 gohar.almass@leeds.gov.uk time and I am so lucky to have met him. Angela Gabriel 07946 632 468 angela.gabriel@leeds.gov.uk Truly a wonderful man that the Andrew Scopes 07860 400 645 andrew.scopes@leeds.gov.uk world will miss. Name withheld

Your Leeds City Councillors

Hunslet & Riverside ward

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

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

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

Judith Blake Kim Groves Paul Truswell

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

Before

Raymond is amazing. He was also treasurer and church warden at St Maryâ€™s for some years, mower of the church grass, magazine deliverer, and so much more. Heâ€™s greatly loved and valued by us all. Lindsey Pearson

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Top Tweets Keep up to date, up to the minute, by following South Leeds Lifeâ€™s Twitter feed: @SouthLeedsLife. Twitter is the 140 character â€˜micro bloggingâ€™ site. Itâ€™s free and you can sign up at twitter.com. Itâ€™s a great place to find the very latest news. Here are some of our favourite recent tweets: @leedslibraries #OnThisDay in 1958 this pic of Admiral Street Dewsbury Road was taken. Check in out on ow.ly/e8F550xspvT - looks like lots of people have fond memories of the various shops and pubs on this street #ThrowbackThursday West Yorkshire Archive Service @wyorksarchives

Bus services Improved punctuality of the buses? Thatâ€™s a joke. I had not used buses for quite some time, but when I did on Saturday my bus that was due came with Out Of Service on it and so did the next two. Wanting people to use buses and leave your car at home? You are joking, some days it takes an hour from coming out of the house to getting to Leeds. Kim Frearson

Christmas Lights As per, no lights on Dewsbury Road. Itâ€™s the same in summer with no hanging baskets. It seems Councillors can sponsor baskets on Tempest Road for the few, but not on Dewsbury Road - a main thoroughfare for the White Rose Shopping Centre. Judith Tempest

Vandalism at Slung Low

@WestwardCare A big thank you to the children of St Francis Of Assisi Catholic Primary School in #Beeston who visited Pennington Court this morning. Residents enjoyed a fantastic performance of Christmas carols and songs and a rather competitive game of pass the parcel! @CEO_HunsletClub Staff Christmas jumper day at the club đ&#x;’šđ&#x;’›

What a shame that Slung Lowâ€™s bus was smashed up, but what a great response. I had such a great time at the Christmas fair there and have been telling everyone what a fantastic community event it was - let's hope all gets fixed and sorted soon. Hilary Denham

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

Corrections & clarifications

Vodafone In our December edition (Dancers continue to dazzle thanks to Vodaphone (sic), p3) we mis-spelled Vodafone inconsistently throughout the article. We incorrectly referred to Superfast fibre broadband, rather than Gigafast fibre broadband. We also mis-spelled Dawn Whiteheadâ€™s name in the photo caption. We apologise for the errors. Duathlon Also in our December edition (Beestonâ€™s Mince Pie Duathlon, p24) we failed to credit Paul Whithurst for the photo.

@SthLeedsLakers Well done to our Homeless Aid run team, taking out much needed clothing, toiletries and food to rough sleepers on the streets of Leeds. @nhsleeds Anyone who has been unwell with symptoms of diarrhoea and vomiting should not visit the hospital until they have been free of symptoms for 48 hours as norovirus is highly infectious

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Comment 15

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MP’s notebook T

January 2020 | South Leeds Life

by Hilary Benn MP

he legacy of the terrible Grenfell tower tragedy still echoes across Leeds. Having identified all the blocks in our city with AMC cladding - the type used at Grenfell – a search has now begun for buildings clad in HPL following the serious fire at a student accommodation building in Bolton. So far, two blocks have been found and the leaseholders are now going through the all-too-familiar process of having to pay for an expensive waking watch to enable them to stay in their homes while arguments rage over who’s going to pay to replace the unsafe cladding. I’m clear that it shouldn’t be them. To make it even worse, anyone trying to sell their home in a block with cladding on it is now finding that many mortgage companies won’t lend on the property until it is certified as safe. And the result? There’s a growing number of people finding, through no fault of their own, that they can’t move when they need to, whether for work or other family reasons. This is really urgent for those affected and I’ve said to the

Government that ministers need to find an answer. I don’t intend to give up. And the same applies to the campaign for a rapid transit system. Leeds is the largest city in Europe without one. The congestion is awful, poor air quality is making people ill and we’re pumping out CO2 when we need to stop doing so altogether. The Conservatives referred to Leeds’ lack of a light rail or metro system in their election manifesto and while it didn’t make a specific commitment to fund one in Leeds, it did talk about giving city regions the funding to upgrade their bus, tram and train services to make them as good as London’s. I intend to hold the new Government to this. And while they’re at it, we want to be able to run our own buses as well. If that’s good enough for London, then it’s good enough for Leeds. As for the general election, I’ve decided not to comment in this column on the national result - what with it being the season of goodwill but I wouldn’t recommend holding an election in December.

I’m not sure my coat has dried out properly and some tightly sprung letterboxes have left their mark on my fingers. But there are some advantages. My phone fitness tracker tells me that one day I managed to take 20,564 steps which is almost treble my usual daily total. I got to examine the state of a lot of streets and estates and see what’s improved. I was able to drop in on some community organisations. I talked to lots of people, who were almost all friendly, but who certainly Hilary Benn MP tested my arguments. And most Member of Parliament. I will do my important of all, as I said to best to repay it. To those of you who didn’t vote for someone at the start of the campaign, it always reminds you me or didn’t vote at all, I am also that you should never take the your Member of Parliament. I am here to help everyone without fear or voters for granted. So now it’s over, can I thank all of favour and to be your voice. Finally, can I take this opportunity you who put your trust and confidence in me once again as your to wish all of you a Happy New Year.

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

Get involved with South Leeds Life This newspaper is brought to you by people like yourself. Apart from our Editor, everyone is a volunteer. They care about what’s happening in South Leeds and want to help keep other informed. There are lots of jobs needed to keep the news flowing: • Writing articles • Taking photographs • Distributing newspapers • Selling advertising • Managing social media You don’t need to be an expert, we can help get to grips with the job. You just need a bit of time and commitment. Does this sound like you? Get in touch and let’s have a chat about how you can join our team Ring 07894 583966 Email: info@southleedslife.com

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

South of the River – The LS1.1 Postcode Blues C

by Jeremy Morton

an I start by saying that I really like CEG as a developer. I’m sure they make a pretty penny for their investors, but they also take local communities seriously and really try to engage – which often isn’t easy for corporates. I don’t know a lot about their development at Kirkstall Forge, but I like their approach to training and apprenticeships – Forging Futures. I like the fact that they responded positively to Leeds Citizens new campaign, South Bank for South Leeds (see page XXX). I don’t have any problem with their plans for their ‘mixed use developments’ (flats, offices and shops) on a group of sites around Water Lane and Globe Road in Holbeck. I’m impressed that they were prepared to take on the money pit that is the

iconic Temple Works. And I don’t mind that they are badging the area as ‘Temple’, but … I do think they’ve slipped up with ‘LS1.1’. I can see how great it sounded in the marketing focus group meeting. It’s not in LS1, but it’s like a souped up, funkier, more high techversion of LS1. It echoes Internet 2.0, it’s a development, it’s does so much more. I’m sure it will go down very well with the people who CEG are selling and leasing to, but not so much with existing community. I know that the term ‘South Bank’ makes many of our readers’ hackles rise, but I actually think it’s a useful name. It’s certainly a lot shorter than saying “those parts of Holbeck and Hunslet, close to the river that were characterised by heavy industry that’s now gone.” And given that there are a large number of developments in the

area all being built in a relatively short period of time and the area needed a detailed planning framework, ‘South Bank’ is fine by me. But that doesn’t mean that The Tetley art gallery or Ruth Gorse Academy are no longer in Hunslet, nor that the Temple development isn’t in Holbeck. Most of the projects I put my efforts into, whether that’s South Leeds Life or Beeston Festival are at least in part about boosting community pride. I’m proud to live in Beeston and I’m proud to live in LS11. I’ve also spent quite a lot of time debunking the urban myth that the LS1 postcode will be extended south because ‘the posh folk’ won’t want to live or work in LS11 (or LS10). My understanding is that the Post Office think the LS1 postcode is too big (in terms of volume of

mail) already and certainly wouldn’t countenance expanding it. Of course, Royal Mail’s been privatised since I started debating this, so who knows what money might buy? However another strand to my argument was that big companies like Asda, Eversheds and Ernst & Young had no problem with an LS11 postcode. And that still stands. A lot of South Leeds is physically cut off by the motorway, railway lines and the remaining derelict sites. I believe CEG when they say they want to connect Temple with the existing communities, so don’t put up a psychological barrier by badging the area as not really in LS11. Come on CEG, drop that dot, that full stop, and show some pride that you’re making homes and offices and public spaces Is the Temple in LS11 or LS1.1? in LS11.

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South Leeds Life | January 2020

16 Art Life

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A Middleton Summer Night’s Dream as Bard’s classics shake up city parks P

arks in Leeds will prove all the world’s a stage when they host unique pop-up performances of Shakespeare’s classics thanks to a new project supported by Leeds Inspired. Leeds theatre company Front Room Productions will give some of The Bard’s most beloved scenes a contemporary twist during the free, open air shows in Middleton Park, Reginald Park in Chapeltown, Bramley Park and Roundhay Park next summer. The exciting performances have been made possible thanks to funding from Leeds Inspired, who provide grants for hundreds of grass roots arts projects making a difference in communities across Leeds. Leeds-based Front Room’s producer Alice Barber said the hour-long performances, featuring live music, would be an opportunity to make Shakespeare more fun and accessible in an unconventional setting. She said: “We describe it as Shakespeare’s best bits and we do it in a way that’s fun, a bit more modern, but still has at its core all of those same incredible stories and characters that have become such a wonderful part of our heritage. “The themes of Shakespeare’s plays are timeless, but they can also be difficult to get your head round. By putting these performances

on in a local park and bringing them a bit more into the 21st Century, alongside some familiar pop hits that fit the context of the scene, we can give people a new way to enjoy these fantastic works of literature in a much less formal environment.” Front Room’s performances will include excerpts from A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Twelfth Night, Romeo and Juliet and Hamlet, with audiences also getting the chance to pick a random scene out of a hat for the cast to perform on the spot. The company has previously performed at Leeds Kirkgate Market and Temple Newsam, where they will return later in 2020 for a full production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Alice added: “Some of the people who’ve watched our productions before have said it may not be the first time they’ve seen Shakespeare, but it’s the first time they’ve enjoyed it. “It’s also brilliant that Leeds Inspired are enabling organisations like us to bring our ideas to life and give people in the city a chance to experience culture on their doorstep and in a completely different way.” This isn’t the only Shakespeare being performed in Middleton Park. The Friends of Middleton Park will be bringing another Oddsocks’ family-friendly version of one of the Bard’s classic plays to the park in July, as they have done for the last decade.

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Wizard of Oz: Join the fun over the rainbow

Agatha Meehan (Dorothy) and the young ensemble in The Wizard of Oz.

by Hazel Millichamp

e visited the Playhouse to see the performance of The Wizard of Oz and what a wonderful show it was! Having been completely obsessed with the film as a child it was a great treat to see it played out in live action before me.

Lucy Sherman was just amazing as Dorothy – it was hard to comprehend that such a powerful singing voice came from such a petite, young lady. As soon as she began to sing Somewhere Over the Rainbow, it felt like coming home. Polly Lister, as first the mean and Toto-hating Miss Gulch and then the even meaner Wicked Witch was absolutely mesmerising. She had the perfect mix of nastiness and humour – she was very often laugh out loud funny, but still intimidating enough to have small children in the front row cower in horror as she cackled towards them. As the tornado hit Kansas, the effects were spectacular – the rain and swirling buildings were projected onto material,

whilst Dorothy was being spun and whirled by members of the cast. The aerial artists were breath-taking. The introduction to the Munchkins was brilliant – the actors playing the diminutive folk were so engaging and full of character – I was so impressed with their level of skill. As Dorothy landed in Oz, her real life dog was converted into a patchwork puppet. The puppetry was fantastic and I really felt for the person who had to animate the dog and was slightly bent over for the entirety of the performance – I think most of the audience shared my sentiments as very enthusiastic applause was reserved for the puppeteer at the end of the show. In Oz, the set looked amazing and magical, a partly revolving stage and dancing light

Polly Lister as the Wicked Witch

All photos: The Other Richard portrayed the yellow brick road The whole show was mindbeautifully. Sam Harrison as blowing – the singing, dancing, the Tin Man, Marcus Ayton as effects, ensemble and the Lion and Eleanor Sutton as costumes really transported us the Scarecrow were all so to the wonderful world of Oz engaging and really helped the and it was heart-warming to audience subsume themselves see the reactions of the small into the story. The Lion was children in the front rows – cowardly and absolutely especially when the winged hilarious in equal parts – he monkeys screeched towards had always been my favourite character in the film and Marcus did not disappoint me portraying him on the stage. There were many great musical numbers and dance performances scattered throughout the production and particularly outstanding for me was the jitterbug scene where zombie like people were made to compulsively dance, thanks to an evil spell cast by the wicked witch. Again I was astounded by Toto puppeteer Ailsa Dalling the skill of the smaller them. At points Dorothy and her members of the chorus – their Oz crew ventured into the dancing and acting skills were audience which was great for second to none. I was so us all to see and drew the impressed at such young audience even further into her people showing such adventure. accomplished skills. If you get a chance, get A special mention from me yourself there and join in the has to go to the three apple fun over the rainbow. tree ladies played by members The Wizard of Oz runs at of the ensemble. Their Leeds Playhouse until Saturday costumes were unbelievable as 25 January 2020. Tickets cost were their tree like movements £14-55 from (0113) 213 7700 and consternation at having or leedsplayhouse.org.uk parts of them eaten by Dorothy. /events/the-wizard-of-oz

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January 2020 | South Leeds Life

Art Life 17

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If you go down to the Free theatre tickets for library this weekend... Leeds Playhouse spring & summer season

Wrongsemble’s Hansel & Gretel at Leeds Central Library

by Ewan Mitchell

f you go down to the Central Library this Christmas you’re in for a big surprise. If you go down to the Central Library this weekend you’ll never believe your eyes! Behind the shelves of books you’ll find that Wrongsemble have returned after last year’s successful ‘The Princess and the Sprout’ pantomime, to present ‘Hansel and Gretel’. The play starts at Library locking up time, but before the grumpy Chief Librarian, her shy young assistant, and the timid Security Guard can leave the building a freak storm hits,

forcing them to spend the night in the Library. To while away the hours the trio decide to turn to the books on the shelves and choose Hansel and Gretel as the story to read. What follows is the tale we all know of children getting lost in the woods and discovering a gingerbread house inhabited by an evil witch. But at the end of the story the Librarian isn’t happy about the apparent lack of character written into the Witch’s part of the story. Through music, song, jokes and slapstick, the ensemble cast take on a miriad of roles to tell and retell the same story in

different ways. Our two kids, aged 4 and 8, sat enthralled throughout the 60 minute performance, and there was plenty for us grownups to enjoy too. This really is a brilliant and engaging way to spend an hour with the family, as a break from the hustle and bustle of Christmas. Performances take place regularly through to Sunday 5 January 2020 in Room 700, the multi-use arts space on the 1st floor of Leeds Central Library. Tickets cost £6-8 with a family ticket (four) for £24. Visit www.wrongsemble.com /hansel-and-gretel for more information.

The Night Before Christmas

Lladel Bryant (Elf) and Alexandra James (Carol) in The Night Before Christmas.

by Andre Ribeiro

he Night Before Christmas is beautifully engaging from beginning to end! The show is performed by two amazing actors who transport you deep inside the storyline by constantly

interacting with the audience. At some point they make you feel that the whole performance is made only for you. You can feel the eye contact. However, that intimate feel is, at times, broken by the joyful sound of kids having a proper loud laugh.

Photo: Anthony Robling

The play also surprises because the actors beautifully communicate by using hands sign language. That really made the whole thing even more special and unique. I loved it, my partner loved and my toddler loved. A mustsee play.

Leeds Playhouse has been refurbished

s part of South Leeds Life’s ongoing partnership with Leeds Playhouse we are able to offer a free* pair of tickets to a range of shows coming up over the next six months. *Of course there’s no such thing as a free lunch, so although the tickets are free we do ask for something in return. We rely on our readers to review the plays they see. You can write the review yourself and send it us for publication, or if you’re not confident to write it yourself, you can chat to one of our reporters who will write up your thoughts into a review. The season features a huge range of plays from the the local to the international. Maggie May and Freedom Project demonstrate deeprooted pioneering collaborations between Leeds Playhouse and its communities, telling stories of human resilience; Oliver Twist and A Little Night Music revisit familiar stories, retelling them with fresh voices and a reinvigorated vision; and Missing People and Monsoon Wedding embrace international collaborations, reflecting global perspectives and bringing the world to Leeds. Leeds Playhouse Artistic Director James Brining said: “The reopening of Leeds Playhouse has reinvigorated the theatre’s relationship with the city and placed us at the heart of a modern and vibrant region. The energy and dynamism of the new building drives our ambition to be a force for positive change within Leeds City Region and across the wider industry. I am extremely proud of our Spring/Summer Season and the scale and ambition we are presenting, which showcases new writing and familiar texts

brought to life in a fresh way. “We are working with a thrilling range of artists to create work which both reflects the world we live in and the environment we create around us. As we head towards our 50th anniversary, we’re at the beginning of the next great chapter for this brilliant theatre in this extraordinary city.” Our free* tickets are for the press night of each show as follows. Go to leedsplayhouse .org.uk/whats-on to find out more about each show. Night Of The Living Dead ™ – Remix – Tuesday 28 January – 7:45pm Dr Korczak’s Example – Wednesday 29 January – 7:15pm Kneehigh’s Ubu! A Singalong Satire – Tuesday 4 February – 7:30pm Black Waters – Wednesday 12 February – 7:30pm The Bear – Tuesday 18 February – 11:30am seeds – Monday 24 February – 8pm Pride & Prejudice (*Sort Of) – Tuesday 25 February – 7:45pm Oliver Twist– Wednesday 4 March – 7:30pm Smile Club – Thursday 5 March – 8pm a little space – Friday 6

March – 7:45pm A Girl in School Uniform (Walks Into a Bar) – Thursday 12 March – 8pm Missing People – Monday 16 March – 7:45pm Faustus: That Damned Woman – Tuesday 24 March – 7:45pm Say Yes to Tess – Friday 27 March – 8pm The Lost Happy Endings – Friday 27 March – 7:30pm The Kite Runner – Tuesday 31 March – 7:15pm Maggie May – Wednesday 1 April – 7:45pm Holes – Tuesday 7 April – 1:30pm In The Night Garden Live – Wednesday 15 April – 1:00 PM The Not So Ugly Sisters – To Be Confirmed Quality Street – Tuesday 21 April – 7:45pm Amsterdam – Tuesday 5 May – 7:45pm A Little Night Music – Friday 15 May – 7:30pn Sweet Dreams – Saturday 16 May – 10am The Glee Club – Tuesday 19 May – 7:45pm Idol – Friday 22 May – 8pm Piaf – Wednesday 27 May – 7:45pm Sh!t Theatre Drink Rum With Expats – Thursday 4 June – 8pm Freedom Project – Friday 12 June – 8pm These Hills Are Ours – Friday 26 June – 8pm The War of the Worlds – Tuesday 30 June – 7:45pm Monsoon Wedding – Tuesday 30 June – 7:30pm To apply for free tickets to any of these shows, please email info@southleedslife.com telling us why you would like to see the show and review it. Tickets are only available on the date shown which is the show’s Press Night.

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South Leeds Life | January 2020

18 South Leeds Lives

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Unsung heroes recognised at city awards T

hree unsung heroes from South Leeds were amongst those celebrated at Leeds City Council’s Compassionate City Awards last month. Now in their third year, the awards celebrate the positive and compassionate work that individuals, community groups and organisations do every day to make their local communities and wider city a great place to live, work and visit. Such work significantly helps to improve the lives of many people living in Leeds which enriches the city and supports the council’s vision for Leeds to be the best city in the UK. Christine Smart from Cottingley was named Unsung Hero of the Year Having overcome many difficulties in her life, Christine rejuvenated a community centre which was nearly closing down due to lack of money and use. It is now used all year round for lunch clubs,

afterschool clubs, dance classes and more. Christine told South Leeds Life: "Winning the unsung hero of 2019 is a surprise and an honour. Compassion usually comes from a place of bad experience or missing something that is needed and not wanting anyone else to feel the same. Everyone that won absolutely deserved it and I'm grateful to Cllr Gabriel for my nomination.” Ian Rodley from Middleton won the Jo Cox Award Ian has devoted 20 years of his life to being a role model and community mentor to thousands of children and young people across Leeds, helping them with difficulties in their lives. Ian runs DAZL which has engaged thousands of children in South Leeds and across the city in dance and has helped make dance cool for boys in Leeds.

Help for the homeless H unslet residents are appealing to other locals to donate sleeping bags, small tents, and hot drinks flasks - to be distributed amongst people who are homeless in the city this winter. Following a session in the city centre on Christmas morning talking with those who were sleeping rough, and dishing out

sandwiches, hot drinks, and winter coats - the group now plan to go out regularly. All donations should be taken to Hunslet Dental Practice, on Church Street opposite the Community Hub, during working hours. For more info, contact Kath at the practice, on (0113) 271 6623 .

“What an absolute honour to win the Jo Cox’s Award, thank you so much Compassionate City Awards thank you to my amazing team” As if to prove the point Ian and DAZL raised £150 for fellow winners Charlies-AngelCentre Foundation following their break in (see page 3). Beeston-based CharliesAngel-Centre Foundation won the Health & Wellbeing Award This organisation helps parents and family members who have suffered the bereavement of a baby or child, providing free services such as bereavement counselling and community support meetings. Sam Key from the charity commented: “As a family we are very proud of Charlie and winning the Health & Well Being Award is an amazing achievement, our charity is not just about us, there are a few people who without them our charity wouldn't be what it is. This

Ian Rodley receives his award from members of Jo Cox’s family award is dedicated to all our baby's and children. I also want thank all of our volunteer counsellors.” Councillor Debra Coupar, Leeds City Council’s Executive Member for Communities said: “The Compassionate City

Awards are a great way of recognising and celebrating some of the fantastic community work that takes place in Leeds. “There are countless individuals and organisations across the city who regularly go

above and beyond for their local communities and it’s this grass roots work that really helps to make Leeds the best city to live, work and visit. “Congratulations to all the winners and a big thank you for all your tremendous efforts.”

Scouting leader honoured for 50 years service

Raymond Harley with fellow Scout Leaders, his wife Diane and District Commissioner Gareth Luby

by Jeremy Morton

couting has been a major part of Raymond Harley’s life and on Wednesday 4 December he was honoured for his fifty years of service to Scouting. The special award was made at the South Leeds and Morley (SLAM) Carol concert, held at St Andrew’s Church on Old Lane in Beeston.

Raymond is known to many families in the area having led Cub and Scout Groups at St Matthew’s in Holbeck, Wesley Street Methodist Church in Beeston and now at St Andrew’s with the 1st South Leeds & Morley Scout Group. As a boy Raymond was involved as a cub and a scout, joining the cubs in 1947. He became a Assistant Scout Leader in February 1960 at St

Matthew’s church in Holbeck. He took a break when he got married, but brought his son to cubs once he was old enough. As a parent with scouting experience he was asked to help out, which he did. Then when the Cubs leader left he was asked to step up and lead the pack as ‘Akela.’ He has remained a leader ever since. Now 79, he still helps with the scout group at St Andrew’s in

Beeston. The award was presented by the new District Commissioner Gareth Luby, who recalled taking part in a camping competition when Raymond was one of the judges. Raymond received a standing ovation from all the Beavers, Cubs, Scouts, Explorers and their families, together with a rousing “B-R-A-V-O.”

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January 2020 | South Leeds Life

What’s On 19

Email: info@southleedslife.com

Have you got your tickets for Goldilocks, the Beeston panto? B

ack in 1970 a group of budding thespians at St Andrew’s Methodist Church in Beeston decided to put on a pantomime. They enjoyed the experience so much they put on another one the next year and have put on a show every year since. The St Andrew’s Pantomime has become a fixture of the Beeston social calendar with the annual run of shows regularly sold out. For their fiftieth pantomime, St Andrew’s have chosen Goldilocks and commissioned a new script from Ian and Siobhan Noble: For years Minnie has been traipsing her circus all over the land with the help of her lovely daughter Goldilocks and Benny the Ringmaster. However, times are tough and the punters just aren’t showing up anymore. Goldilocks has

ambitions though and hopes to save the circus. Unfortunately, another circus run by the ruthless Captain Max keeps showing up in town just before them and taking all the business. And he’s plotting to become not just the best circus in the world, but the only circus in the world. What Minnie and Goldilocks don’t know is that Baron Bloodless and his accountant Norris Pencil are just around the corner looking for the rent money. There may not be time for Goldilocks to save the circus and they desperately need to find a way to bring the crowds flocking back soon. Meanwhile, a family of friendly bears live a quiet life in the nearby woods without a carein the world. They chase salmon in the river, scratch on trees, scare picnickers and of course

Can Alpha answer your big questions?

ife is full of questions. Small ones like ‘What should I have for breakfast?’, but also big ones like, ‘What is the meaning of life?’ and ‘Why does God allow suffering?’ Alpha is a free 8 week

course which gives you the chance to ask your big questions. Each evening, there will be a free light meal and a short talk about the basics of the Christian faith followed by plenty of time for

discussion. Mosaic Church’s Alpha Course will run on Monday nights from 3 February – 23 March at The Old White Hart, Town Street, Beeston, LS11 8BZ, starting at 7:30pm.

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enjoy lashings of lovely porridge. Can Minnie get people rushing back to her circus and afford the rent? Will Captain Max get his way? And how does a peaceful family of kindly bears fit into all this? The group are staging thirteen shows between Saturday 18 January and Saturday 1 February, including evenings and matinees, at St Andrew’s Community Centre, Old Lane, Beeston, LS11 8AG. The performance on Tuesday 28 January will be signed for people with hearing impairments. Tickets are on sale now at £6 for adults, £4 for children. Contact the box office on 07988 349985; or email standrewspantogroup @hotmail.com. Find full details on the website at: www.standrewspanto.uk

IN BRIEF Local history lectures Leeds Civic Trust has announced its latest series of local history lectures. Under the title Kevin Grady’s Leeds In Your Lunchtime, each lecture will be held at Leeds Minster (formerly the Parish Church) each Wednesday in February, 1:15-1:50pm. 5 February: Leeds Parish Church and Minster 1200 years of history. 12 February: "The Wonder of His Age": John Harrison, Leeds benefactor (1579-1656) 19 February: "Leeds' First Town Hall": The Moothall, Briggate, 1600-1825. 26 February: "How Leeds got its Daily Bread, 1086-2019": Corn Mills, Bakehouses and Corn Exchanges.

Jobs Fairs On Tuesday 7 January Tradeslink is hosting a job opportunity event at Dewsbury Road Community Hub for the construction and asbestos removal sectors, 10am-3pm. A Jobs Fair is also being held at the Marriott Hotel, Trevelyan Square, Boar Lane on Friday 17 January, 10am-2pm. There will be employers from various sectors present, it’s free and there’s no need to register.

Digital Drop-in Get help tailored to your needs whether you’re a novice or need more advanced hints and tips. A fortnightly drop in session will run on Saturdays starting 11 January, 10am-1pm at Hunslet Community Hub.

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South Leeds Life | January 2020

20 What’s On

Twitter: @SouthLeedsLife

What’s On Your guide to events and activities across South Leeds in January Please check that regular events are not affected by school holidays, 20 December - 6 January 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 Hobbies2gether craft group 9:30-11:30am St George’s Centre Middleton Lychee Red – Chinese Elders Gp 10am-12pm Parocial Hall, North Lingwell Road, Middleton Julie’s Ancestry Group 10am & 1pm BITMO’s GATE Aberfield Gate, Belle Isle Road Crafts 10-11:30am Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Midd. Park Avenue Breastfeeding Support 10:30am-12pm Hamara Centre, Tempest Road, Beeston SLLAH Drop In Coffee morning 10:30am-12pm Assissi Place, Belinda Street, Hunslet Walk and Talk 11am-12pm BITMOs GATE, Aberfield Gate, Belle Isle SLLAH Salsa-cise 11:30am-12:30pm St Andrew’s Community Centre, Beeston MEA Lunch Club 11:30am-1pm Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Midd. Park Ave SLLAH Lunch Club 11:45am-1pm Cottingley Community Centre Luncheon Club 12:30pm Trinity Network, Nesfield Road, Belle Isle Bowling 12:30-4pm Cross Flatts Park Women’s Wellbeing Group 1-3pm Middleton Family Centre, 256-262 Sissons Road Learning Disability Advice 1-3pm Connect In The North, Office 42, Sugar Mill Business Park, Oakhurst Road, Beeston Dance 2-3pm Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Midd. Park Avenue Men’s Boxercise 2:15-3:15pm Hamara Centre, Tempest Road, Beeston Blossom Kinship Group 4-5:30pm Middleton Parochial Hall, North Lingwell Road Connected 4-5:30pm Middleton Family Centre, 256-262 Sissons Road DAZL Cheerdance Team (6-12yrs) 4:30-6pm Tenants Hall Enterprise Centre, Acre Close, Middleton DAZL Urban Cheer (13-16yrs) 4:30-6pm Tenants Hall Enterprise

Centre, Acre Close, Middleton Chocolate, Chat and Chill 5:30-7:30pm Laurel Bank Day Centre, Middleton Park Avenue DAZL Contemporary (7-12yrs) 6-7pm Tenants Hall Enterprise Centre, Acre Close, Middleton DAZL Youth Company (13-19yrs) 6-8pm Tenants Hall Enterprise Centre, Acre Close, Middleton Rainbows, Brownies, Guides 6-8:30pm St Andrew’s Community Centre, Cardinal Road, Beeston Super Circuit 6pm Involve Learning Centre, off Church Street, Hunslet, LS10 2QE Kickboxing 6-8:30pm Beeston Parish Centre, Town Street Hunslet Warriors Juniors 6-7pm Warrior Park, The Oval South Leeds Spartans Girls Rugby 6-7pm Corinthians RUFC, Ring Road Middleton, by Leisure Centre DAZL DanceFit (women 16+) 6-7pm Middleton Community Centre, Acre Road South Leeds Sisters running 6.15pm South Leeds Stadium Coffee & Craft Middleton 6.15-8:30pm St Cross Church, Acre Road, Middleton St Matthew’s Youth Club 6:30-8:30pm St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck How To Meditate 6-7pm Jamyang Buddhist Centre, Ingram Road, Holbeck Yoga 6:30-7:30pm; 7:30-8:30pm St Anthony’s Church Hall, Old Lane, Beeston Girls Group 7-9pm South Leeds Youth Hub, Middleton Road, Belle Isle DanceFit 7pm Middleton Parochial Hall Middle Tones Singing Group 7-9pm Tenants Hall Enterprise Centre, Acre Close, Middleton Adult Jazz & Tap Dance 7-8pm Cottingley Community Centre Zumba 7-8pm Hamara Centre, Tempest Road, Beeston

Every Tuesday Mums & Tots 9-11am Manorfield Hall, Newhall Road, Belle Isle Tots, Tea and Toast 9:30-11:15am St Luke’s Church, Malvern Road, Beeston

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

Heart to Heart Breakfast 9:30am Asha Neighbourhood Project, 43 Stratford Street SLLAH Breakfast Buddies 9:30-11:30am St Andrew’s Community Centre, Beeston Gentle Exercise 9:45am Trinity Network, Nesfield Road, Belle Isle Holbeck Together’s Tea & Toast 10am-12pm St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck Muslim Pensioners Group 10am-12pm Vale Circles Centre, Tunstall Road, Beeston Baking 10-11am Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Midd. Park Ave Breastfeeding Support 10am-12pm Middleton Family Centre, 252-262 Sissons Road Women’s Friendship Group 10am-12pm Hunslet Methodist Church, Telford Terrace, Balm Rd SLLAH Mixed Exercise 10-11am St Anthony's church hall, Old Lane, Beeston Community Coffee Morning 10-11:30am Beeston Library Knit & Natter 10:30am-12pm Middleton Park Visitor Centre Storytime 10:30-11:30am Hunslet Community Hub, Waterloo Street Tai Chi (gentle exercise) 11:30am-12:30pm Hunslet Community Hub, Waterloo Street SLLAH Chair Based Exercise 11.30am-12:30pm Cottingley Community Centre MEA Lunch Club 11:30am-1pm Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Midd. Park Ave Couch to 5k running group 12-1pm meet outside North Star Coffee, Boulevard, Leeds Dock (starts 14 January) SLLAH Lunch Club 12pm Arthington Court, Hunslet Holbeck Together Community Lunch 12-1:30pm St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck Lunch Club 12:30pm Salvation Army, Hunslet Hall Road, Beeston Luncheon Club 12:30pm Trinity Network, Nesfield Road, Belle Isle Bowling 12:30-4pm Cross Flatts Park Lunchtime Meditation 12:30-1pm Jamyang Buddhist Centre, Ingram Road, Holbeck Stay & Play 1:30-3pm Building Blocks Nursery, Maud Avenue, Beeston Craft Group 1:30pm Trinity Network, Oakley View, Beeston SLLAH Line Dancing 1:30-2:30pm St Andrew’s Community Centre, Beeston SLLAH Social Afternoon 1:30-3pm Woodhouse Hill Community Centre, Hunslet Holbeck Together Afternoon Social 1:45-3pm St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck Line Dancing 2-3:30pm Middleton Elderly Aid

Social Centre, Midd. Park Ave Teen Spirit Boys Group 4-6pm Middleton Family Centre, 256-262 Sissons Road Kidz Klub Beeston 4-7:30pm Beeston Hill United Free Church, Malvern Road Rainbows, Brownies, Guides 4:30-9:15pm Beeston Parish Centre, Town Street Girls Group 4:30-6:30pm Hamara Centre, Tempest Road, Beeston DAZL Streetdance (6+yrs) 4:30-5:30pm Watsonian Pavilion, Cross Flatts Park, Beeston Your Space Journaling Group 5-7pm The Happy Yak Café at Jamyang Buddhist Centre, Ingram Road, Holbeck DAZL Streetdance (Learning Disability 13+yrs) 5-6:30pm Middleton Community Centre, Acre Road, Middleton Inside Out wellbeing group 6-8pm Middleton Parochial Hall, North Lingwell Road Women’s Fitness Boot Camp 6-7pm Leeds Urban Bike Park, Ring Road, Middleton, LS10 3TN Hunslet Rainbows, Brownies and Guides 6:15-8:45pm Hunslet St Mary’s Primary School, Church Street Coffee and Craft Middleton 6:15-8:30pm St Cross Church, Acre Road, Middleton Hunslet Nelson Rounders Team 6:30pm Hunslet Nelson Cricket Club, Gipsy Lane, Beeston DAZL DanceFit (women 16+) 6:30-7:30pm Middleton Community Centre, Acre Road Craft & Social Evening 6:30pm Woodhouse Hill Community Centre, Hunslet Carr Free Football Sessions 6:30-7:30pm 8-12 year olds 7:30-8:30pm 13-16 year olds Holbeck Community Centre, Elland Road, LS11 0AB Fitness Boot Camp 6:45-7:45 Middleton Park Visitor Centre, off Town Street South Leeds Lakers running 7pm from Beeston Co-op Qi Gong 7:15pm Jamyang Buddhist Centre, Ingram Road, Holbeck

Every Wednesday Bacon Butty Breakfast and Wednesday Weigh In 9-11am Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Midd. Park Ave Welfare Rights Advice Surgery 9am-12pm St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck Messy Time 9:15-11am Middleton Play & Learning Centre, Throstle Lane Parents and Toddlers 9:15-11:15am Beeston Parish Centre, Town Street Get Fit Where You Sit 9:15-10:15 Lane End Primary School, Beeston Road City Tots 9:30-11am City Evangelical Church, Cemetery Road Pop Up Council Services 9:30am-12:30pm Cottingley

Towers Open Doors Tea & Toast 9:30-11:30am St Andrew's Methodist Church, Old Lane, Beeston Chair mobility 10-10:45am Trinity Network, Belle Isle, Nesfield church hall Breaklfast Club & Foodbank 10am-12pm Hunslet Methodist Church, Telford Terrace Rags to Riches Sewing Group 10am-12pm Tenants Hall Ent. Centre, Acre Close, Middleton Women’s Walking Group 10-11am BITMOs GATE, Aberfield Gate, Belle Isle Shopping Trip to Morrisons 10am-1pm Holbeck Together, Domestic Street Holbeck Together Coffee Morning 10am-12pm Ingram Court, Holbeck Money Advice 10:15am-3pm St George’s Centre, Middleton Walk &Talk Walking Group 11am-1pm MEA Social Centre, Middleton Park Avenue Free Zumba 12-12:45pm Middleton Leisure Centre 2 course Community Lunch 12:15-3pm Ingram Court, Holbeck Grandparents’ Support Group 12:30-2:30pm Tenants Hall Ent. Centre, Acre Close, Middleton Luncheon Club 12:30pm Trinity Network, Nesfield Road, Belle Isle Hatha Yoga 12:30-1:15pm Jamyang Buddhist Centre, Ingram Road, Holbeck Ladies Group 1-3pm St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck At Home In Holbeck 2-3pm Ingram Road Primary School Parnaby Pals Memory Cafe 2-4pm Parnaby Tavern, Middleton Road, Hunslet Carr 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 South Leeds Spartans Girls Rugby 6-7pm Corinthians RUFC, Ring Road Middleton, by Leisure Centre City Kids (R-Y6) 6-7:15pm City Evangelical Church, Cemetery Road Chocolate, Chat and Chill 6-8pm St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck Cottingley Youth Club 6:30-8:30pm Cottingley Community Centre Mindful Self Compassion 6:30pm Jamyang Buddhist Centre, Ingram Road, Holbeck DanceFit 6:30pm Middleton Parochial Hall, Town Street Zumba 7-8pm Hamara Centre, Tempest Road, Beeston Free Walking Football 7-8pm Middleton Leisure Centre

Facebook: facebook.com/southleedslife Youth Group 7-9pm South Leeds Youth Hub, Middleton Road, Belle Isle Martial Arts 7-9pm Beeston Juniors, Cardinal Square Clubbercise 7:30-8:30pm St John & St Barnabas Church Hall, Belle Isle Camera Club 8pm upstairs at St George’s Centre, Middleton

Every Thursday Mums & Tots 9-11am Manorfield Hall, Newhall Road, Belle Isle Stay & Play 9-11am St Anthony’s Church Hall, Old Lane, Beeston Table Tennis 9:45-11:15am St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck Holbeck Together Community Cafe 10-11:30am St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck Community Gardening/ Litterpick 10am-12pm Church of the Nazarene, Lupton Street, Hunslet Ping Pong 10-11:30am Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Midd. Park Ave Little Explorers Baby Group 10-11:30am Middleton Play & Learning Centre, Throstle Lane Community Craft Cafe 10am-12pm Church of the Nazarene, Hunslet Hall Road Middleton Park Estate Volunteers 10am-3pm Middleton Park Visitor Centre New Lives Group 10-11:30am Cottingley Children’s Centre Storytime (under 5s) 10:15-10:45am St George’s Community Hub, Middleton SLLAH Yoga 10:15-11:15am St Andrew’s Community Centre, Beeston Craft Group 10:30am Trinity Network, Nesfield Road, Belle Isle Storytime (under 5s) 11-11:30am Dewsbury Road Community Hub, Beeston Dru Yoga 11am-12pm Jamyang Buddhist Centre, Ingram Road, Holbeck Holbeck Together Line Dancing 11:30am-12:30pm St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck MEA Lunch Club 11:30am-1pm Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Midd. Park Ave Couch to 5k running group 12-1pm meet outside North Star Coffee, Boulevard, Leeds Dock (starts 14 January) SLLAH Lunch Club 12-1:30pm St Andrew’s Community Centre, Beeston Luncheon Club 12:30pm Trinity Network, Nesfield Road, Belle Isle Lunchtime Meditation 12:30-1pm Jamyang Buddhist Centre, Ingram Road, Holbeck New Lives Group 1-2:30pm Two Willows Children’s Centre, Cardinal Square Muslim Ladies Group 1-3pm Vale Circles Centre, Tunstall Road, Beeston Green Gym 1-4pm Lady Pit Lane Allotments, Linden Avenue, Beeston Breathe Easy gentle exercise 1:30pm Hunslet Methodist Church Telford Terrace, off Balm Road BAFF Dancercize 1:30-2:30pm Beeston Parish Centre, Town Street

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SLLAH Social Afternoon 1:30-3pm St Andrew’s Community Centre, Beeston Fun and Games afternoon 1:30-2:30pm Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Midd. Park Ave Holbeck Together Craft Group 1:30-3:30pm Cleveleys Court, Holbeck Vale Circles Autism Hub 2-7pm Vale Circles Centre, Tunstall Road, Beeston Men’s Circuit Training 2:15-3:15pm Hamara Centre, Tempest Road, Beeston Kidz Klub Middleton 4-7:30pm Middleton Primary School, Middleton Park Avenue Kidz Klub Holbeck 4-7:30pm The Holbeck club, Jenkinson Lawn DAZL Hip-Hop (6-12yrs) 4:30-6pm South Leeds Youth Hub, Middleton Road, Belle Isle Footbal sessions 5-8pm Old Cockburn Sports Hall, Primrose Lane, Beeston Community Choir 5pm Cockburn School, Gipsy Lane Mini & Junior Rugby 6-7pm Leeds Corinthians, Ring Road, Middleton South Leeds Lakers Juniors running club (8-14) 6-7pm Cockburn School, Gipsy Lane, Beeston DAZL Hip-Hop (13+yrs) 6-8pm South Leeds Youth Hub, Middleton Road, Belle Isle General Fitness 6-7pm Beeston Parish Centre, Town Street Hunslet Nelson Rounders Team 6:30pm Hunslet Nelson Cricket Club, Gipsy Lane, Beeston Discovering Buddhism 6:30-8pm Jamyang Buddhist Centre, Ingram Road, Holbeck Ballet Burn 7-8pm South Leeds Conservative Club, Wooler Street, Beeston Bingo 7pm St matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck Youth Group 7-8:30pm Middleton Community Centre, Acre Road Yoga class 7:30-8:30pm Beeston Parish Centre, Town Street

10:30am-12:30pm Tenant Hall, Acre Close, Middleton Dancing In Time 10:30am-12pm St John & St Barnabas Church, Belle Isle Road Breathe Easy gentle exercise 11:30 Parochial Hall, North Lingwell Road, Middleton MEA Lunch Club 11:30am-1pm Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Midd. Park Ave SLLAH Luncheon Club 12-1:30pm Beeston Parish Centre, Town Street Holbeck Together 2 course Community lunch 12-1:30pm St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck Luncheon Club 12:30pm Trinity Network, Nesfield Road, Belle Isle Bowling 12:30-4pm Cross Flatts Park Krok Po Kroku (Polish Group) 12:30-2:30pm Tenants Hall Enterprise Centre, Acre Close, Middleton SLLAH Ballroom Dancing 1-2:30pm St Andrew’s Community Centre, Beeston The GATE Men’s Group 1-3pm BITMO’s GATE, Aberfield Gate, Belle Isle Road Holbeck Together Walking Football 1:30-3pm Holbeck Elderly Aid, Domestic Street Holbeck Together Afternoon Social 1:30-3pm St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck Gentle Chair Exercise Class 1.45-2.45pm Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Midd. Park Ave Rhymetime 2pm Beeston Library, Town St Family Boxercise (from 11 Oct) 5-6pm Tenants Hall Enterprise Centre, Acre Close, Middleton Girls Football 6-7pm Beeston Juniors, Cardinal Square Church Lads’ & Girls Brigade 6-8pm St John & St Barnabas Church, Belle Isle Road Friday Night Project 6-9pm Middleton Leisure Centre 5th Middleton Brownies 6-7:30pm United Reformed Church, Nesfield Road, Belle Isle 1st Beeston Cub Scouts 6:15-7:45pm St Andrews Community Centre, Cardinal Road Youth Group 7-9pm South Leeds Youth Hub, Middleton Road, Belle Isle 5th Middleton Guides 7:30-9pm United Reformed Church, Nesfield Road, Belle Isle 1st Beeston Scouts 8-9:30pm St Andrews Community Centre, Cardinal Road, Beeston

Every Friday Tea & Toast 9am Beeston Parish Centre, Town Street Charity Shop, Tea & Toast 9am-12pm Beeston Hill United Free Church, Malvern Road Welfare Rights Advice Surgery 9am-12pm St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck Toast and Games morning 9:30-11:30am Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Midd. Park Ave Breastfeeding Support Group 9:45-11:15am Mothercare cafe, Crown Point Retail Park SLLAH Stretch and Tone 9:45-10:30 St Andrew’s Community Centre, Beeston Under 5s Storytime 10-11am Dewsbury Road Library Holbeck Together Tea & Toast Breakfast 10am-12pm St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck Holbeck Together Shopping Trip to Morrisons 10am-1pm Holbeck Elderly Aid, Domestic Street Cuppa, Toast and Online help 10-11:30am Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Midd. Park Ave Middleton Minstrels Women’s Choir

Every Saturday Breakfast Club 8:30-11am Vale Circles Centre, Tunstall Road, Beeston Cross Flatts parkrun 9am Watsonian Pavilion, Cross Flatts Park, Beeston Middleton Woods parkrun 9am Leeds Urban Bike Park, Ring Road, Middleton Breakfast Club 9-11am Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Midd. Park Ave Police Contact Point 9:30-11:30am St George’s Centre, Middleton DAZL Urban Cheer (7-13yrs) 9:30-11am South Leeds Youth Hub, Middleton Road, Belle Isle DAZL Tinies (3-5yrs) 9:30-11am South Leeds Youth Hub, Middleton Road, Belle Isle

January 2020 | South Leeds Life

What’s On 21 Zumba 10-11am Beeston Parish Centre, Town Street Hunslet Nelson Rounders Team 10am Hunslet Nelson Cricket Club, Gipsy Lane, Beeston Kidz ‘n’ Co 10:30am-12:30pm Cottingley Community Centre Yoga 11:30am-12:30pm Beeston Parish Centre, Town street Bingo Afternoon 12:30-3:30pm Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Midd. Park Ave Women’s Cardio Cricket 1:15-3:15pm Old Cockburn Sports Hall, Primrose Lane, Beeston (starts 18 January) Tennis For Free 2-3:30pm Cross Flatts Park

Every Sunday Cross Flatts junior parkrun 9am top of Cross Flatts Park Street Cricket 10am-1pm Old Cockburn Sports Hall, Primrose Lane, Beeston Women’s Cricket League 1:30-4:30pm Old Cockburn Sports Hall, Primrose Lane, Beeston (starts 12 January) Saturday 4 January Coffee Morning 10am-12pm St Andrew’s Comm Centre, Cardinal Road, Beeston South Leeds Community Orchestra 10am-12pm St Cross Church, Acre Road, Middleton Volunteer Rangers 10am-12pm Holbeck Cemetery, Beeston Road Coffee Morning 10am-12pm Beeston Parish Centre, Town Street Sunday 5 January Family Art Workshop 11am-3pm The Tetley, Hunslet Rd Hunslet RLFC v Bradford Bulls 3pm South Leeds Stadium, Middleton Grove Monday 6 January Mostly Men 10am-12pm St Andrew’s Community Centre, Beeston Nature visits for Families and Childminders 10am-1pm Skelton Grange Environment Centre, Stourton Holbeck Together Carers Group 12:30-2:30pm St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck Writers’ Club 1-2:30pm Hunslet Community Hub, Waterloo Road Code Club 3:30-4:30pm Hunslet Community Hub, Waterloo Road Lego Club 3:30-4:30pm Dewsbury Road Community Hub, Beeston Tuesday 7 January Friends of Stank Hall 7:30pm The Broadway pub, Dewsbury Road, Beeston Wednesday 8 January SLLAH Curling 10:30-11:30am St Andrew’s Community Centre, Beeston SLLAH Generation 55 12-2:30pm The Broadway pub, Dewsbury Road, Beeston Hunslet Rugby Memories 12-2pm The Prospect pub, Moor Road, Hunslet Bereavement Support Group 1-2pm St Andrew’s Community Centre, Beeston Photography Club 3:30-4:30pm Hunslet Community Hub, Waterloo Road Friday 10 January

Oliver! 7pm The Hunslet Club, Hillidge Rd Sound Bath 7:15pm Jamyang Buddhist Centre, Ingram Road, Holbeck Saturday 11 January Digital Drop In 10am-1pm Hunslet Community Hub, Waterloo Street Family Art Workshop 11am-3pm The Tetley, Hunslet Rd Beeston Festival AGM 2pm Watsonian Pavilion, Cross Flatts Park Oliver! 2pm The Hunslet Club, Hillidge Rd Film Night 6pm Jamyang Buddhist Centre, Ingram Road, Holbeck Sunday 12 January Oliver! 12pm Hunslet Club, Hillidge Road Free Community Meal 1-3pm Church of the Nazarene, Hunslet Hall Road, Beeston Sunday Lunch Club 1-3pm Vale Circles Centre, Tunstall Road, Beeston Hunslet RLFC v Batley Bulldogs 3pm South Leeds Stadium, Middleton Grove Monday 13 January Tea, Cake and Conversation 12:30-2:30pm St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck Sing Aphasia Choir 1-3pm Tenants Hall Enterprise Centre, Acre Close, Middleton Tuesday 14 January Learn My Way – computer skills 12:30-1:30pm Hunslet Community Hub, Waterloo Street Camera Club 3-4:30pm Dewsbury Road Community Hub, Beeston Beeston Local History Group 8pm Beeston Parish Centre (small hall), Town Street Wednesday 15 January Code Club 3:30-4:30pm Dewsbury Road Community Hub, Beeston After Work Wednesdays Open Mic 6-11pm Sheaf Street Cafeteria, off Crown Point Road, Hunslet Thursday 16 January Coffee Morning 10am-12pm Parochial Hall, North Lingwell Road, Middleton Toy Library 11:15am-12:15pm St George’s Centre Community Hub, Middleton St Luke’s Tenants & Residents 6pm St Luke’s Primary School, Beeston Road Leeds Film Club 6:30pm Cineworld Starbucks, White Rose Shopping Centre Friday 17 January #TechMums drop in 1-3pm Dewsbury Road Community Hub, Beeston Saturday 18 January Ramblers Meet 9am Beeston Parish Centre Young Archaeologists Club 10am-12pm Middleton Park Visitor Centre, off Town Street South Leeds Community Orchestra 10am-12pm St Cross Church, Acre Road, Middleton Medicine Buddha Practice Day 10am-5pm Jamyang Buddhist Centre, Ingram Road, Holbeck Sunday 19 January Sunday Lunch Club 1-3pm Vale Circles Centre, Tunstall Road, Beeston Leeds Dads meetup 2-4pm The Holbeck club, Jenkinson Lawn, Holbeck Tai Chi Workshop 2pm Jamyang Buddhist Centre, Ingram Road, Holbeck

Publicise your event with South Leeds Life’s free listings Call 07894 583966 Email: info@southleedslife.com Monday 20 January SLLAH Generation 55 12:30-2:30pm Whistlestop pub, Town Street, Beeston Code Club 3:30-4:30pm Hunslet Community Hub, Waterloo Road Tuesday 21 January Police Drop In 10am-12pm Hunslet Community Hub, Waterloo Street The Writers Club 1-2:30pm Beeston Library, Town Street Leeds Aphasia Cafe 1-3pm BITMOs GATE, Aberfield Gate, Belle Isle Wednesday 22 January Tiny Tetley 10:30-11:30an & 11:45am12:45pm The Tetley, Hunslet Rd Saturday 25 January Jumble Sale 10am-2pm Jamyang Buddhist Centre, Ingram Road, Holbeck Digital Drop In 10am-1pm Hunslet Community Hub, Waterloo Street Sunday 26 January Sunday Lunch 12-2pm St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck Sunday Lunch Club 1-3pm Vale Circles Centre, Tunstall Road, Beeston Monday 27 January Hunslet TARA Coffee Morning 10:30am-12pm Hunslet Community Hub, Waterloo Street Wellness Space Afternoon 1-3pm Ingram Gardens Community Centre, Holbeck Tuesday 28 January Learn My Way – computer skills 12:30-1:30pm Hunslet Community Hub, Waterloo Street

Middleton Community Group 7pm St Cross Church, Acre Road Wednesday 29 January Volunteer Rangers 10am-12pm Hunslet Cemetery, Middleton Road SLLAH Curling 10:30-11:30am St Andrew’s Community Centre, Beeston Cop Shop Dementia Café 1-3pm Elland Road Police Station, Beeston Arm In Arm Memory Café 1:30-3pm Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Midd. Park Ave Code Club 3:30-4:30pm Dewsbury Road Community Hub, Beeston Thursday 30 January Hunslet Remembered 10am-12pm Hunslet Community Hub, Waterloo Road Toy Library 11:15am-12:15pm St George’s Centre Community Hub, Middleton Friday 31 January Free Legal Advice 2:30-4:30pm Dewsbury Road Community Hub, Beeston Hunslet RLFC v Leeds Rhinos 7:30pm South Leeds Stadium, Middleton Grove Saturday 1 February Coffee Morning 10am-12pm St Andrew’s Comm Centre, Cardinal Road, Beeston South Leeds Community Orchestra 10am-12pm St Cross Church, Acre Road, Middleton Volunteer Rangers 10am-12pm Holbeck Cemetery, Beeston Road Coffee Morning 10am-12pm Beeston Parish Centre, Town Street

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South Leeds Life | January 2020

22 What’s On IN BRIEF Get involved in Beeston Festival Beeston Festival will take place on Saturday 28 June 2020 in Cross Flatts Park, but organiing the event has already started. If you would like to find out more or get involved, get along to the Festival’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Saturday 11 January, 2pm in the Watsonian Pavilion, Cross Flatts Park.

Build your confidence with Asha Asha Neighbourhood Project in Beeston is offering a free six week course for women who are looking to build their self esteem and confidence. The six week course will run on Tuesday mornings, 10:30am-12pm, starting on 7 January, at 43 Stratford Street, LS11 6JG. Book your place by calling Shamin on 07715 674548, or Tahena on (0113) 270 4600.

Have a rest at The Tetley After the chaos of the festive period, find your calm this January in a brand new wellness programme! Wash away the winter blues with the weeklong series of events centred around wellbeing and self care - from activity workshops to Sound Baths these events will leave you feeling refreshed and renewed ready for the new year ahead. 18-26 January. Watch out for full details coming shortly at thetetley.org

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Sing Aphasia Free digital skills course Choir for Leeds mums returns L

ocal charity, Speak With IT, have launched a choir to help people with aphasia (speech-loss following stroke) and they’re looking for new members to join. The choir meets monthly to pick songs and work on melodies. We’re looking for people with aphasia and their carers to join our choir to have fun, meet new people and use singing as an aid to encourage speech production. The benefits of singing therapy for people with aphasia are well documented, but more than this, singing makes us feel good about ourselves and allows us an excuse let it all out. The choir rehearse on the second Monday of the month, 1–3pm at Tenants Hall, Acre Close, Middleton LS10 4HX from 13 January 2020.

eeds’ popular #techmums clubs are welcoming new recruits for the second round of free courses starting in January 2020. Led by Leeds Libraries and Leeds Employment and Skills, the clubs are back by popular demand, after recently winning a Women in IT Excellence award for most diverse and inclusive digital initiative. The #techmums clubs are a key part of the Leeds City Council 100% Digital Leeds programme. For ten weeks, women on the free course explore social media, web and app design, coding, online safety and creative design. #techmums is for women who are currently outside employment, due to childcare or career breaks, who want to learn new digital skills for day-to-day life or go on to retrain and access further education. Forty-one #techmums graduated from the last course in 2019, with 12 moving straight on to another Leeds Employment and Skills course. Three mums secured places on the sought-after TechUP

programme, which helps people from underrepresented communities retrain and start new careers in technology. Through the Leeds Libraries tablet lending scheme, women can also borrow iPads during the course to continue learning at home. The #techmums clubs were originally created in London by Dr Sue Black OBE, Professor of Computer Science and Technology Evangelist at Durham University. Sue was inspired by her own experience of retraining and establishing a successful academic career in technology, after starting out as a single mum with few qualifications, living in a domestic violence refuge. Gifty Assana joined #techmums in 2019: “After having children, I felt my knowledge of technology was very outdated and I needed to do something but I wasn’t quite sure what… “The #techmums experience was fantastic. The course covered topics introduction to coding, app design, online safety and budgeting online.

“Last but not least, it created an atmosphere to form lovely relationships with other women … I am currently learning things I didn’t imagine myself doing before #techmums.” Councillor Debra Coupar, Leeds City Council’s executive member for communities, said: “We are extremely proud of the award-winning #techmums clubs and look forward to celebrating the achievements of this year’s graduates. “This collaboration by Leeds Libraries and Leeds Employment and Skills offers inspiring learning experiences for women across the city, as well as the chance to consider a career in technology, which is a growing industry in Leeds.” The #techmums clubs start during the second week of January, with a drop-in welcome event including at Dewsbury Road Community Hub and Library on Friday 17 Juanuary 2020, 1-3pm. For more information and to book your place, visit leedsadultlearning.co.uk, email leedsadultlearning @leeds.gov.uk or telephone (0113) 378 7002.

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January 2020 | South Leeds Life

Sporting Life 23

Email: info@southleedslife.com

Social entrepreneurs to expand disabled sports services A

special loan for business startups is helping two Yorkshire social entrepreneurs share the joy of sport with people who would usually miss out because of disability. Sports development expert Richard Szostak, and champion wheelchair racer Louis Speight, have delivered hundreds of specialist coaching sessions across West Yorkshire, including regular sessions in Belle Isle, since receiving a Start Up Loan from Transmit Startups. Their social enterprise is called Omnis Circumvado CIC, meaning ‘all-encompassing’ in Latin, andruns adapted sport and PE sessions for special education needs schools, community groups and local authorities. Omnis has also developed special programmes including wheelchair skills training and visual impairment awareness training to teach people about sight loss.

Now the Huddersfieldbased company is celebrating its first birthday with plans to double the number of people it reaches with its crucial support. Richard said: “It’s been a fantastic first year and we’ve never looked back since getting our initial funding from Transmit Startups. “We knew there was a real need for our services but we’ve been blown away by how well they’ve been received. This year we’ve worked with 465 people and now we’re aiming to recruit new trainers so we can double our numbers in 2020. “Too many people of all ages currently miss out of mainstream sports because of physical or emotional challenges but we’ve proved it doesn’t have to be that way! “With some creative thinking and a bit of determination, we’ve developed lots of innovative ways to involve children and

adults in fun games and activities and the results have been amazing.” Emma Pogson-Golden is Centre Manager at Manorfield Hall in Belle Isle, where Omnis holds regular sessions attended by her sons Oscar, aged six, and Alfie who is 10. Emma said: “The unique thing about Omnis is it’s totally inclusive. Richard and Louis adapt the sessions to suit every single child so nobody is left out. Because of this many children are gaining an introduction to a whole new world they previously could only watch from the side lines. “By bringing so many families together Omnis has also built a lovely, positive community and that kind of support network is crucial for families – especially those whose children face specific physical and behavioural challenges.” Find out more about Ominis Circumvado CIC on their website: www.omniscic.com

Viking wins again

Tom “The Viking” Crosby is now 6-1 as a pro MMA fighter after winning his latest bout against Jamie Powers at Caged Steel 24 at Doncaster Dome on 30 November. Tom, from Middleton and a child minder by day, said “It’s the best I’ve ever felt for a fight” and thanked the team at his gym AVT MMA Leeds as well as his family.

Women’s cricket starts Y

orkshire Cricket Foundation are starting two new weekly cricket sessions for women and girls in South Leeds this month. The first ball of the Indoor Women’s Softball Cricket League will be bowled on Sunday 12 January, 1:304:30pm. There are spot prizes to win each week and every player will receive a free t-shirt. Winners of the league will reeive a team trophy, medal and tickets to the new women’s Hundred game. A week later a fun fitness session called Cardio Cricket

kicks off on Saturday 18 January, 1:15-3:15pm. Cardio Cricket involves fun games and fitness. Lauren Mudd from Yorkshire Cricket Foundation said: “Come and have a laugh, get fit and play some cricket.” Both sessions are open to women and girls aged 12+ and take place at Old Cockburn Sports Hall, Primrose Lane, Beeston, LS11 5EW. For more information cal 07738 122112 or email: lauren.mudd@yorkshirecricket foundation.com

Couch to 5k running

Oscar Pogson-Golden gets stuck into a sports session with Omnis CIC

eeds Dock in Hunslet is the venue a new lunchtime running group. Run Leader John Fielding explains: “The group is aimed at people that have never run before, or have not run for a long time. Couch To 5k (C25K) is an ideal way of starting your running journey or getting back into running after a long spell away from it.” The C25K programme was developed by the NHS and builds up gradually over nine weeks from mostly walking in the first week to running a full 5 km at the end. It has been used by thousands of people to improve

their fitness. Whilst you can follow the C25K programme on your own by downloading the free app to your phone, joining a group will provide you with more support and solidarity. The runs take place on Tuesdays and Thursdays starting on 14 January. Meet outside North Star Coffee on The Boulevard near the Royal Armouries. You can register at runtogether.co.uk or email sharon.atherton@leeds.gov.uk or johnfielding1972@gmail.com

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South Leeds Life | January 2020

24 Sporting Life

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Hunslet are hungry for the new season A

by Ian Pickles

fter a disappointing season last year, Hunslet RLFC supporters came to the pre-Christmas unveiling of the new home shirt on Thursday 19 December and to meet Gary Thornton’s squad for 2020 in an optimistic mood. The Phoenix Bar was filled with supporters anticipating a bright future after new investors and a new hybrid model of running the club between supporters and sponsors was unveiled. Coach Gary Thornton has had to assemble a squad with a 25% budget cut this season as lower league clubs tighten their belts, but a younger and possibly hungrier squad has been assembled and was introduced to the fans. The main core of the team is still in place, but some familiar faces have left or retired and some new exciting players have come in. Popular Full-back Jimmy Watson has re-signed for a 7th season, as has hooker Jack Lee, captain Duane Straugheir, free scoring centre Ben Heaton, Winger Tom Ashton, Forwards Zach Braham and Jordan Andrade, tough running forward Josh Tonks and hooker Vila Halafihi. Fans’ favourite Michael Haley has retired along with Adam Robinson, Mike Emmett and top try scorer Gareth Potts. Kicker Joe Sanderson has moved away to play in Australia, whilst both Ryan Wright and Dan Hawksworth have signed for Keighley, and Nathan Chappell was not retained. Although this year’s squad is younger there will be more experience at half back with big kicking Simon Brown coming back onboard along with former Sheffield and Batley half back Dominic Brambani.

Hunslet have also gone local, signing promising Hunslet Club Parkside half back Danny Rowse. Winger Matty Chrimes has joined from Doncaster along with Bradford hooker Lochlan McGill. Former York and Newcastle kicker Jack Aldous makes a return to South Leeds, whilst the pace of former Leeds Rhino’s Under 16 captain Kieden Hartley will be an asset. Other names joining the squad are Zach Johnson, Harry Kidd, Ben Markland, Jack Ray and Danny King. Coach Gary Thornton stressed the importance of good home form this season after a string of embarrassing defeats at the South Leeds Stadium. The away form was good, but we need to turn the South Leeds Stadium into a fortress and make it a place teams fear to visit. Since the shirt unveiling the club announced a further signing to the squad. Promising young prop forward Harvey Hallas has moved from Dewsbury Rams after a period on loan with Keighley. The club have also announced a partnership with Huddersfield Giants and Halifax RLFC to share players and best practice as well as fielding a reserve team with players from all three clubs. Hunslet’s future still rests with its supporters and the club now has a wider range of membership packages available for supporters to get behind the club from £15 a year to £50 a month, with various perks and advantages. Find out the full details of membership packages here. Hunslet’s preseason kicks off at 3pm on Sunday 5 January 2020, when the club hosts Bradford Bulls at South Leeds Stadium. Tickets are 310, £5 and under 16s free.

Hunslet RLFC’s Preseason Sunday 5 January 3pm

Hunslet RLFC v Bradford Bulls Sunday 12 January 3pm

Hunslet RLFC v Batley Bulldogs Friday 31 January 7:30pm

Hunslet RLFC v Leeds Rhinos Harry Jepson OBE Memorial Trophy

Corinthian Spirit

Middleton-based Leeds Corinthians RUFC celebrated Christmas, and the half way point of the season, sitting on top of Northern Division - Yorkshire Three with 44 points from 13 matches. December saw only their second defeat of the season as they slipped up at Old Otliensians in difficult conditions, but romped past Hemsworth 50-0 and beat Castleford 33-13. In January they travel to Wibsey and Sheffield Medicals and entertain Skipton on Saturday 11 January, kick off 2:15pm. Photo: Andrew Cassar

Bah Humbug trail race a great success T

he South Leeds running community put on quite a show with the second annual Bah Humbug 10k trail race on Sunday 8 December. The sell out event saw 600 runners from across Leeds and beyond tackle tough and at times slippery course on trails through Middleton Park, with the start and finish on the track at South Leeds Stadium. The race was hosted by the Hunslet Rugby Foundation and organised by South Leeds Lakers, South Leeds Sisters, Morley Running Club and Morley Triathlon Club. Profits from the race will all go back into grassroots sport in the area. The event was supported by a small army of volunteer marshals who kept runners on the right course and encouraged their efforts, often with sleigh bells and in one case by a trumpet. They also ran a water station at the 5km mark and provided first aid support and were joined by a choir from Mosaic Church singing carols. Organiser Phil Hodgson commented: “In the 1980s I took part in the South Leeds 10k runs which were organised by people from outside our area and won by people from outside our area. “Today things changed. We not only organised it but

Nuns and Reindeers were amongst the fancy dress costumes donned by runners for the Bah Humbug 10k in Middleton Park. Photo: Andrew Thrippleton actually won it! “There are so many people who have been involved in this journey but tonight let’s celebrate two Lakers who epitomise our spirit. “Jonathon Harding who has put us up there with the elite and Martin Lee whose organisational skills contributed so much to today.” Many runners chose festive fancy dress including

Christmas puddings, elves and nuns on the run as well a good smattering of Santa hats. Some runners were also fundraising for good causes. For Melanie Arendt, who we featured back in May this was the culmination of a year’s efforts for Diabetes UK: “The Bah Humbug trail 10k marks the 13th race of a very eventful year. Injuries and illness haven’t stopped me

from doing what I planned, whether I ran or walked, I completed every race from 10k to a half marathon. I would like to thank everyone who has helped and encouraged me along the way. Your support has meant so much.” Runners also shared their community spirt by donating clothing before the race, which organisers took to St George’s Crypt.