Your FREE community newspaper
Issue 83 | February 2022
Covering Beeston, Belle Isle, Cottingley, Holbeck, Hunslet, Middleton, Riverside & Stourton
WE CAN STOP THIS
In this issue:
Councillor Kim Groves steps down
page 3
Your Climate Pledges
page 5
College is building on success
page 12
Appeal for community information to halt recent spate of Beeston car fires by Ed Carlisle
R
esidents in Beeston are being asked for information to help stop a series of recent arson attacks on cars in the community – but some of the victims have also expressed frustration at the apparent lack of response or action from the Police. The past months have seen an unprecedented number of arson attacks on cars, always late at night, across Beeston. They have taken place at locations including Greenmount Terrace, Sunbeam Terrace, Lady Pit Lane, Maud Avenue, Lodge Lane, Robb Street, Dewsbury Road, and Oakhurst Avenue; several of the incidents have featured multiple cars. West Yorkshire Police have eleven logged incidents, but it’s unclear if every event has been reported or not. CCTV footage of one of the incidents shows what appears to be a small group of hooded young men quickly pouring flammable liquid over the cars,
filming themselves all the while - then setting it alight (and nearly getting caught in the explosion), and running away. Footage from another incident shows a young man (apparently white Caucasian) cycle up to a car on a mountain bike, again pour flammable fluid on it, before lighting it and pedalling away. West Yorkshire Police say they are treating some of the incidents as linked. But whilst there are suggestions circulating locally that some of these have been targeted attacks – relating to community or criminal feuds – several victims insist that they are completely in the dark as to why it happened to them. Shaz* told us: “We and our neighbours had our cars burnt up, it was shocking, and we now feel really unsafe. We have no clue who it was, or why we were targeted: we don't cause no trouble, I’m alright with everyone around here. But we need something doing about it, and we as the community need to stick together.”
A Beeston lad that made good
page 19
Yorkshire Cup winners
page 23
Cars ablaze on Lodge Lane in Beeston Local resident Brian* witnessed car fires on his street, and said: “We’ve lived in Beeston for 15 years, and love this community. We’ve been shaken and unsettled by this, but it won’t put us off seeing the good and hope in the area.” Meanwhile, another recent victim Malik* commented: “I’ve lived in Beeston all my life, but this put me and my family in serious shock.” Continues on page 4
WHAT WE THINK South Leeds has its fair share of trouble, but over and over again it has also shown itself to be a strong community. We pull together when we need to and there are a lot of good people making good things happen. These incidents – committed apparently by a very small group of people, who might or might not be local – do not define us. The hard-pressed police meanwhile need our help. We encourage all residents to share all the information they can. Together, we can stop this nonsense, and get back to building a safe thriving community.
NEWS
2-11
SCHOOL LIFE
12-13
COMMENT
14-15
ART LIFE
16-17
LIVES WHAT’S ON
18-19
20-22
SPORTING LIFE
23-24
Get the latest news at www.southleedslife.com - new stories posted daily
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South Leeds Life | February 2022
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2 News
About us South Leeds Life is written by and for local people. People who live, work and play in the LS10 and LS11 areas of South Leeds. The website and newspaper are produced by South Leeds Life CIC, a social enterprise registered with Companies House, No 9998695. South Leeds Life is a member of the Independent Community News Network.
Our aims To inform people of events, activities, issues and opportunities taking place in the South Leeds community; To encourage the involvement of the wider community in communicating their experiences; To foster community spirit and involvement; and To provide a platform for local people to contribute and respond to community life more fully. South Leeds Life is pleased to publish views from across the political spectrum, provided they comply with our editorial guidelines. We remain a neutral publication with a diverse readership, as such we do not endorse any particular political party.
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New footbridge will commemorate poignant legacy of David Oluwale W
ork has begun to create a footbridge across the River Aire which will commemorate the lasting legacy of a man who drowned after being racially harassed. David Oluwale, who had travelled to the UK from Nigeria, was tragically targeted because of his mental health, homelessness and race. He died in the river in 1969 in an incident of racial injustice which left a lasting social and cultural legacy as well as inspiring a string of moving books and plays. Working alongside the David Oluwale Memorial Association (DOMA) and local partners, Leeds City Council will name the new bridge crossing the river from Sovereign Street to Water Lane in his memory, both to commemorate his death and demonstrate a lasting commitment to equality and inclusion in Leeds. Initial building work on the bridge has started, with the finished project forming one of the newest key elements of the ambitious South Bank regeneration programme. The footbridge is located between Victoria Bridge and Leeds Bridge, near Asda House and links in to the new Aire Park on the site of the former Tetley brewery in Hunslet.
Impression of how the new bridge will look at night It will also help fulfil one of the project’s integral and long-standing priorities to ensure better pedestrian and cycling connection between the city centre, the train station, Aire Park and other green spaces around the city centre. Councillor Jonathan Pryor, Leeds City Council’s deputy leader and executive member for economy, culture and education, said: “David Oluwale’s story must never be forgotten and naming this bridge for him will stand as a lasting and poignant memorial to his profoundly tragic death and the legacy which he left behind. “It will also act as a symbol of the
diverse place that Leeds is today and our shared hope that it will always be a better, brighter and more inclusive city which is better connected in every way.” Dr Emily Zobel Marshall, co-chair of the David Oluwale Memorial Association (DOMA) said: “This is another positive decision by Leeds City Council, who have been incredibly supportive of DOMA’s work over the past thirteen years. “David travelled to the UK in 1949 from Lagos, Nigeria, hoping for a brighter future and spent twenty years in Leeds. He was hounded to his death in the River Aire in 1969
by two Leeds police officers. “At DOMA we keep David’s story alive in our educational and campaigning work against racism, mental ill-health and homelessness today. “Naming this bridge for David Oluwale gives residents and visitors alike a clear message that Leeds is dedicated to confronting the traumas of the past and becoming a place of welcome and sanctuary for all people.” The council is also very grateful to local businesses Asda and Leeds Building Society for their help and support to secure the landing rights for the bridge.
New plans for Kays site in Holbeck by Jeremy Morton
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lans for a mixed use development including 1,200 residential units as well as offices and commercial properties have been discussed with Councillors on the City Plans Panel. The site, bordered by Nineveh Road, Marshall Street and Sweet Street and adjacent to the Holbeck rail depot, has lain derelict for many years. The site formerly housed the Kays Catalogue warehouse which was built in 1981 and deolished following closure in 2004. The site includes the historic Commerial Inn on the corner of Sweet Street and Marshall Street. The rail union ASLEF was founded here and the pub was run by Leeds United legend Peter Lorimer for many years. The plans are to refurbish the Commercial and retain it as a pub. The plans include 760 market rented apartments and 475 apartments for sale. Two blocks, fronting Marshall Street and Nineveh Road, are designated as offices and there will be ground floor commercial, retail and leisure uses throughout the site. The apartment blocks will range
in height from 10 to 27 storeys, whilst the office blocks range from 4-7 storeys. Attention has been paid to the open spaces between the blocks to encourage easy pedestrian access through the development. The open area around the Commercial, termed Sweet Street Square, is designed to encourage leisure use by the wider community. Councillors broadly welcomed the proposals but had concerns about the building heights close to both the Commercial and to the former Holbeck library, which is not part of the development. There were also concerns about amenities for the residents with Cllr Colin Campbell (Otley & Yeadon) asking “where is that corner shop?” Cllr Al Garthwaite (Headingley & Hyde Park) suggested that using names such as Greenmount Place and St John’s Green might be confused with streets in Beeston and Little Woodhouse. She suggested tapping into the local history and heritage of Holbeck pointing to local Suffragette leader Mary Gawthorpe and Kays which had been a major employer in the area. She said using that heritage would help the site tie the older
residential area of Holbeck to the so-called Holbeck Urban Village, rather than remaining a barrier. The developers responded that both Greenmount and St John’s referred to the streets on the site before Kays warehouse was built. They have already been speaking to Holbeck Together and will be holding further community consultations in the coming months.
The plans are at a pre-application stage and will be worked up into a full planning application when it will be open to consultation and comment in the normal way. The developers Westrock and Platform stressed that they are “in it for the long term” and will manage the rented premises themselves, rather than selling on to other landlords.
A view of the proposed development looking south west with the Commercial Inn in the foreground and the old Holbeck library to the left
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Stepping down but not abandoning Belle Isle and Middleton by Cllr Kim Groves
I
t has been an absolute privilege to serve as a Councillor for Belle Isle and Middleton for the last 12 years. It was a really difficult decision to take, but I have decided to step down when my current term ends in May. I have really enjoyed serving the people, despite the difficult circumstances that the role sometimes brings. I have dealt with thousands of cases and met wonderful people. We have a wealth of groups who work tirelessly in the area and they are part of the fabric of our community, that includes all our health and teaching professionals. We have amazing individuals who have worked tirelessly for the community. We have people who have raised thousands of pounds for charities and for individuals. When the need presents itself the people in our community step up and deliver. I always think that when the New Year’s Honours List is announced these are the people in our community who we should be thankful to. I thank them all for all their hard work and dedication to the area and the social capital that they deliver to all age groups. I think growing up in South Leeds and entering local politics late meant that I had a wealth of life skills and a good understanding of the community and its challenges. The work of a Councillor is vast and you can only do your best. You are not going to solve everything, budgets are complicated and since 2010 are diminishing year on year. The work you deal with ranges from very local issues to high level complex cases or policy work, so you have to keep in mind that everything is
February 2022 | South Leeds Life
Cllr Kim Groves
News 3 completely and I have pledged to help the boards of organisations that I sit on in Belle Isle and Middleton. I have lived in Belle Isle and Middleton for 36 years. I married Richard and raised two children in the area, who were the first in our family to go to university. I grew up in inner city South Leeds. I’m the daughter of a builder, whilst my mum was an inspirational local community activist who worked tirelessly. It’s always nice to pass the skate park that her and Cllr Gabriel worked for now on Holbeck Moor and see it full of children. My mum and dad lived with my grandparents at Middleton Park Grove, so I’ve ended back where I started. And with our family’s addresses including, Disraeli Street and Gaitskell Walk perhaps politics was meant to be! I am one of four children and even though there will have been tough times my parents just got on with it and worked incredibly hard for us. We felt loved and cared for and have a lot to thank them for. As a working mum I have adapted my career and built up a great portfolio of skills, something I have been working on in my spare time with a
relevant to individuals or services and medical care. families that contact you for It has been fantastic to work help. with, or call at events in our ten I have really struggled with primary schools and now three not being able to find funding secondary schools in Belle Isle for the things that people want and Middleton. We should to see and unfortunately budgets remain controlled significantly by Westminster. Local government has to bid and stick to criteria that doesn’t always fit with local neighbourhood needs. But at least I can say that I tried and left no stone unturned! I personally think that assets like local shops and services run by local people bring a great sense of community. I would also Cllr Kim Groves with members of the Manorfield Hall Committee in 2017 include places like Parkside sports field, South always help and support our business partner, in helping Leeds Hub, Middleton Park, young people and be proud of young people and will be Middleton Railway, Leeds what they achieve. Once again sharing more about that after Urban Bike Park, retail centres thanks to all those who deliver politics. and Belle Isle Tenant activities in the area helping It’s not only been a privilege Management Organisation young people to thrive in to serve Belle Isle and (BITMO) founded by individuals sporting, cultural, creative Middleton, I have held strategic in our community and St environments. roles in the city as Scrutiny George’s Centre that provides I won’t be stepping away Chair and the first women to Chair Transport for West Yorkshire. I will miss my political colleagues (even those in other parties) and hardworking officers at Leeds City Council and West Yorkshire Combined Authority. I must really end by thanking my husband Richard for supporting me on my journey through politics. South Leeds Life understands that the local Labour Party are in the process of selecting a new candidate to Cllr Kim Groves at the launch of the Middleton Park booklet with Friends of stand in the May Council Middleton Park, Middleton Railway, Leeds Urban Bike Park and others elections.
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id you know that you can take out a subscription to South Leeds Life and receive our monthly paper to your door? For just one pound a week that’s less than the price of a coffee or pint - you can help us to keep bringing you the news about your neighbourhood. We know times are tough and not everyone can afford to pay for their news, so the website and the newspaper will both remain free, always. South Leeds Life has been bringing you your news for ten years now. It is news written by local people from your community. We know that matters to you and we want to continue for a long time. Producing a newspaper costs money, even with volunteer reporters (thank you reporters!) and costs are rising. We are not extravagent, we don’t run an office, or even the computers
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South Leeds Life | February 2022
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4 News
Building Blocks Nursery buys its building
On the beat with Insp Lucy Leadbeater
T
his is my final time writing for South Leeds Life as just before Christmas I received the exciting news that I was successful in my promotion application and I have recently been promoted to Chief Inspector. I am very fortunate that I have been retained at Leeds and now have responsibility for the Operations portfolio. Whilst this is exciting news, I am sad to have left my role as South Leeds Neighbourhood Policing Inspector, having loved working in this area with a fantastic group of police officers and staff as well as
members of the community and partners. The passion from the communities and partners to improve people’s lives and make South Leeds the best place to live is like no other area I have ever worked in and I will leave with very fond memories. There have been some significant challenges, especially over the past couple of years, but I am very proud of what the communities and the partnerships working in this area have achieved together to keep people safe and invest in the communities of South
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Leeds. In order to continue the good work in this area, I am pleased to also be able to update you that Insp Tom Perry has taken over my role. Insp Perry is an experienced Inspector who I know is very much looking forward to working with you all and will be a fresh pair of eyes to drive policing forwards in your area. Finally, I would like to thank you for the support that you have given me as well as the South Leeds NPT in the nearly three years I have been in post. I wish you all the best for the future.
Trustees and staff celebrate the purchase at the recent AGM. L-R: Rev Bob Shaw, Cllr Al Garthwaite, Peter Clark, Andrew Best, Sam Withill, Helen King, Rev lindsey Pearson, Ed Carlisle
A
Engaging with the community at Beeston Festival
fter 21 successful years of providing childcare to South Leeds under-fives, Faith Together In Leeds 11, the charity which runs Building Blocks Nursery in Maud Avenue, Beeston Hill, has bought the building! Now their future is secure, they can carry on doing what they do best: offering excellent care to nursery-age children. Some readers may remember when the old Church Hall was knocked down. It was long past its sellby date, and no longer fit for purpose. Slowly the new building took its place, and children arrived. Councillor Al Garthwaite, who is also the Director of Vera Media, has been part of the project from the beginning. She now chairs the nursery management committee and said, “We are thrilled to own our own building at last. We’d like to thank everyone who believed in our vision, supported us and put money in to get us off the
We can stop this Continued from page 1 “We’re depressed and scared: is it racially targeted, and will they attack our house? I just live my life, I’ve volunteered to help local young people, I try to be there for people, and I’ve never had trouble with anyone. The Police said they’d come back to me after the incident, but never did. No-one’s interested, they see it as normal here – but if this happened in Shadwell or Adel, they'd be straight on it. It’s not good enough”. Other residents also shared with us
their frustrations about the apparent lack of Police attention. But Leeds South Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT) Inspector Tom Perry insisted that they are engaged. He said: “Officers are aware of a number of incidents of criminal damage by arson to cars within the Beeston area. Enquiries remain ongoing to identify those involved and establish the circumstances of the offences. We treat incidents of this nature seriously and we will continue
A fire damaged car on Maud Avenue, Beeston
ground. “In particular, we are grateful to the Anglican and Methodist Churches, the Hamara Centre and Leeds City Council. Without them and many others, including of course all the wonderful staff, we’d never be where we are today. Our patron, Hilary Benn MP, has also been most helpful, and we remember, with
much gratitude, Helen and Neil Bishop and Hanif Malik. Without their hard work and support we would not exist.” Now the future is secure, some long-awaited improvements are in the planning. Watch this space for developments. Building Blocks Nursery, Maud Avenue, Leeds LS11 7DD.
The purchase was marked with a celebratory cake with our patrols in the area. I would encourage anyone with information who can assist in our investigation to contact 101, particularly if you have any CCTV footage that can assist.” If you have any information related to these incidents, including any insights about who the perpetrators might be, contact 101, or online via www.westyorkshire.police.uk /101livechat quoting crime reference 13220029002. Or you can share information anonymously via Crimestoppers, on 0800 555111. Causing criminal damage by fire is a very serious offence
and carries a sentences of up to 8 years in prison. Overall crime levels are falling in West Yorkshire. Figures published by the Office for National Statistics last month showed the number of victims of crime had fallen by by 1,347in the year to September 2021. Robbery was down 17%, house burglary down 26.9% and vehicle crime down 18.9%. You can find out more about crime in your area using the interactive Crime Map at bit.ly/LdsSthCrimeMap *Names have been changed throughout, to protect the anonymity of victims and witnesses.
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February 2022 | South Leeds Life
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News 5
Your Climate Change Pledges L
ast month South Leeds Life called on you, our readers, to pledge to take action on climate change - and the response has been magnificent. There’s no getting away from the fact that our climate is changing with stronger storms, longer droughts and rising sea levels. Scientists overwhelmingly agree that this
is due to human action particularly burning coal and oil for the last 200 years. As a species we have to change the way we live to survive. This month we profile the first batch of personal, family and organisation-wide pledges. As you can see they cover a wide range of actions from cutting down on eating meat, to reducing use of plastics and
even international actions. Each of these pledges may seem small scale, but we believe that as more people take action in their own lives, we can pressure our leaders to change policies at an international level. As the old saying goes: “Anyone who thinks that they are too small to make a difference has never tried to fall
asleep with a mosquito in the room.” We hope you will be inspired to look at how you can make changes in your life to reduce your impact on the climate. Please let us know what action you plan to take - send 75 words and a photo to info@southleedslife.com or post to 224 Cross Flatts Grove, LS11 7BW.
“We’ve been trying to act sustainably over many years – but are going to be stepping up this year. We will be working with others to carry out a full review of our organisation's climate impact - then developing an action plan to drive down our emissions and impact. We aim to be carbon neutral within 5 years. We're also exploring how we can inspire our users and partners to join us on this journey.” LS-TEN Skatepark, Hunslet
“Slung Low commit to becoming a vegetarian company. We will ensure that all our catering and hospitality for audiences and visiting artists is the finest vegetarian food we can manage. In doing so, we aim to reduce the impact our work and events have on the environment.” Slung Low, at The Holbeck
“We decided this year as a family to reduce our carbon footprint. We’re changing to a renewable energy supplier – and have turned down our house temperature by 2C, to use less gas. We’re putting extra layers of clothing on to keep warm! We’re a family that want to be responsible, and we know that if we all take small steps we can make a big difference.” Clara de Sousa, Beeston resident and community activist:
“As well as local action, like cycling and recycling, I'm coordinating (remotely, from here in Leeds) the development of a farming project back in Cameroon. We're putting a sustainable ethic throughout that - for example, using chicken poo to create natural gas (for people to cook with), and as manure to help people grow food locally. We’re also organising reforestation of areas that have been stripped bare by logging companies.” Serge Kouob, Beeston Hill resident and community volunteer
“The climate crisis affects all of us, and we must all try our best to work together for positive change. From reducing our waste to saving energy in the building, from raising awareness of global climate issues to investing time in local environmental projects, we – as a church congregation – aim to be more mindful of our decisions and actions, no matter how small or big.” St Luke’s Church, Holbeck
“My pledge is to reduce plastic in my life, and recycle and reuse as much as possible. I do a lot of arts and craft, so commit to using recycled card and paper, and other items, instead of new. For our Hunslet Moor community events, like Santa’s Grotto and Halloween, we’ll use all recycled items for the decorations and so on.” Brenda Barlow, chair of Friends of Hunslet Moor
There’s still time to apply for solar panels and insulation for your home by Beth Bingley
P
eople Powered Homes; the housing partner for Climate Action Leeds project held a community event at Beeston Village Community Centre on 19th January in partnership with Our Future Beeston. It was an opportunity for local people to drop in and talk to Leeds City Council’s Better Homes Yorkshire team and find out more about their free insulation and solar panels scheme, with Solar Specialists Acoole and Insulation specialists on hand to give out advice to the community. Lucy Meredith from People Powered Homes said “It was also great to meet local residents and be able to introduce them to the city-wide National Lottery Funded Climate Action Leeds initiative
and its local community led project ‘Our Future Beeston’ If you missed the event but are interested in the scheme, there is still time to apply! The Leeds City Council Better Homes Yorkshire Grant scheme is open for applications until 31st March 2022. If you are a homeowner with a household income of under £30,000pa and your house has an Energy Performance (EPC) of D or below you may be eligible for a grant. Don’t worry if you do not know the energy rating of your property, you can still apply, and the Better Homes team can carry out an energy survey for you. Tenants in private rented properties are also encouraged to apply, although the
landlord has to pay a contribution toward the cost of installation it is a great opportunity for landlords to install energy saving measures that will add value to their property and make the running costs more affordable for tenants. You can apply via the Better Homes Yorkshire Website www.betterhomesyorkshire.co
.uk/leeds Or call them free from a UK landline on 0800 597 1500. Our Future Beeston will be running a series of drop-in information sessions and activities to help residents reduce energy, access grants and make their homes warmer in 2022. Look out for news in the next edition of South Leeds Life.
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South Leeds Life | February 2022
6 News
Thousands of residents across South Leeds can now access fast, reliable full fibre broadband with CityFibre: are you one of them?
Sponsored Content
A
t CityFibre, we’ve been laying the technology to enable broadband providers like TalkTalk, Vodafone and many others to deliver a new type of next-generation broadband package. We’re pleased to say this is now available in parts of Leeds, with plans to reach nearly every home and business soon. What we’re building across the city is known as a full fibre network. Quite simply, it’s the best digital communications technology available. It not only
paves the way for significantly faster speeds, but it’s also more reliable than traditional networks, and will serve your broadband needs for decades to come. No more slowdown at peak times, lag when gaming, dropping off Skype calls, or simply not getting the speeds you were expecting. With full fibre, you get exactly what you paid for. Think you already have full fibre broadband? Don’t be too sure … While many of us have ‘fibre broadband’ today, more often
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than not, this is very different from ‘full fibre’. The chances are there’s copper in the connection slowing things down (top tip - if your router connects to a normal telephone socket, then that’s what you’ve got). Currently, 28% of UK premises have access to the real deal. A true full fibre connection, on the other hand, takes 100% fibre optic technology all the way from the home to the point of connection and that’s why it’s so fast and reliable. Already, hundreds of homes across South Leeds are making
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ground, it’s there for good and maintenance work is drastically reduced. We plan twice, build once and build right. The power is in your hands Sounds good, right? Luckily you may already be able to access full fibre without even knowing it! Of course, if you don’t ask you don’t get, but, fortunately, getting onto the network is easy. The first step is to visit cityfibre.com/residential, where you can enter your postcode to: • Find out if you’re already able to access the network
• See which broadband service providers are available locally • Register your interest in a service if you’re postcode isn’t live yet If your address is live, then all you need to do is select your preferred broadband provider and choose the package you’d like (ensuring it’s a full fibreenabled service). To give you a few ideas, packages such as Vodafone’s Gigafast service and TalkTalk’s Future Fibre are delivered over a CityFibre connection. We look forward to welcoming you to our network!
the most of a full fibre connection, with services now live and available in parts of Beeston, Belle Isle, Holbeck, Hunslet, and Morley. With more new addresses going live day by day as our work to extend the network progresses at pace through the city, here’s what you can expect from a full fibre connection: • Increased efficiency: significantly faster speeds for both upload and download. This means you can access what you want in the blink of an eye waiting for files to download or videos to finish buffering will be a thing of the past. • No more competing priorities: near limitless bandwidth means everyone in your house can work, study, stream or game online simultaneously without a challenge. • Connectivity you can depend on: we’re constantly monitoring our networks, so problems are often detected and fixed before you even notice! • Futureproofed for growing demand: once Homes with CityFibre connections across South Leeds the fibre is in the (Source: https://www.thinkbroadband.com/)
Women urged to take up invite for breast cancer screening I
nvitations to attend breast cancer screenings are currently being sent to women living in areas of Middleton and Hunslet. Anyone who has received an invitation for a breast screening are urged to please book their appointment as soon as possible. Every three years, women in the city aged between 47 and 73 years-old are routinely invited to undertake a screening, which involves a mammogram X-ray. The aim of the mammogram procedure is to detect any small changes in breast tissue that may indicate cancers that are too small to be seen or felt by the woman herself or a doctor. A range of work is currently being undertaken to boost screening rates in Leeds, which have been impacted by the varied challenges of
coronavirus. Breast screening saves around 1,300 lives each year in the UK. One such project being delivered in the city seeking to improve participation in the screening programmes for breast cancer and also bowel cancer and cervical cancer is Cancer Wise Leeds. The project is funded by Yorkshire Cancer Research, led by Leeds City Council and delivered in partnership with the Leeds Cancer Programme. Supporting this aim over the three-year programme are six Screening and Awareness coordinators. Working within Primary Care Networks in communities across the city, the coordinators are working with communities to better understand how the screening process could be improved to meet their needs. Councillor Salma Arif, Leeds
City Council’s Executive Member with responsibility for Public Health and Active Lifestyles, said: “Through different partnership initiatives such as Cancer Wise Leeds we are working extremely hard as a city to not only increase uptake in screenings, but also support
various initiatives focusing on the key areas of prevention and awareness. “Screening plays a hugely vital role in detecting cancer early, and we would urge anyone who has been invited for a breast screening in Leeds to please book their appointment immediately.”
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February 2022 | South Leeds Life
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News 7
Support for Holbeck households Local skatepark facing ‘Food or Fuel’ dilemma is going green S
outh Leeds charity Holbeck Together have been awarded £9,969 to extend their support for families and older people in Holbeck. The funding comes from a Widening Partnership Grant from Leeds City Council who have recognised the ongoing impact of the Pandemic on some of Leeds most vulnerable communities. The funding will allow Holbeck Together to continue to provide meals, essential food supplies and to extend their affordable Here to help: the Holbeck Together offices on Domestic Street social supermarket. around income, employment, Holbeck Together saw first- Holbeck • cooked Christmas Day education, health, housing and hand the difficult choices environment and suffering from families and older people were lunch for 50 people • joined forces with Lloyds high crime rates. having to make over the festive Elissa Newman, Chief Officer period. With many people Banking Group to make sure no already under significant child in Holbeck was without a of Holbeck Together, said: to unwrap on “We’ve already seen our financial strain, which has present come under increased due to the pandemic Christmas Day to the value of community and the rapidly rising cost of £3,400 of which Lloyds then significant strain due to the Covid-19 pandemic. With the living, Holbeck Together match funded. Holbeck is one of the most anticipated ‘Awful April’ provided: • 300 free food hampers deprived areas in England looming with increases in utility challenges bills, energy bills and council for families and older people in experiencing
tax we know we will have people in our community facing the stark choice of paying for food or fuel. “Thankfully this funding from Leeds City Council provides a stop-gap level of support for the next 12 weeks. “It will allow us to support people in the community on low incomes or struggling financially and endeavour to make sure the most vulnerable people of Holbeck don’t have to choose between food and fuel in the first couple of months of 2022. “We offer a range of free services and support at Holbeck Together, from helping anyone in crisis right through to free activities to help people feel a little less lonely, such as group trips, craft clubs and coffee mornings. “I would encourage anyone in Holbeck who is need of support to either call into our offices, give us a ring on (0113) 245 5553 or contact us through our social media channels.”
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S-TEN skatepark in Hunslet hosted national Green Party leader Carla Denyer last month - and took the opportunity to announce their ambitious plans to become as planet-friendly as possible in the coming years. The acclaimed LS-TEN (formerly The Works) is one of the biggest indoor skateparks in the UK. They also deliver alternative education, and a community programme. For 2022, they are embarking on a new challenge: to fully review their climate impact, take action, and become carbon-neutral within 5 years. Further details are in their South Leeds Climate Pledge (see page 5). Local Green Party
LS-TEN staff with Ed Carlisle (left) and Carla Denyer (seconf right)
Successful Dewsbury Road cafe up for sale as owners retire I
t’s been a fixture on Dewsbury Road for the best part of a decade and owner Garry Hewitt hopes his cafe ‘Only Food and Sauces’ will continue for a long time yet but under new management.
“After seven years of fun and laughter, meeting some great people in such a great cafe, it is with an heavy heart that we have to say it’s time to sell the business as we are retiring” explains Garry.
Only Food & Sauces: fixtures and fittings are included in the sale
The new owners of the shop will benefit from having a good landlord, a fair rent and having a great position on one of busiest Roads in South Leeds. With wife Julie and daughter Hayley beavering away behind
the counter the cafe has built up a loyal customer base. In 2019 we reported that the cafe had been voted 2nd best cafe of the year by Yorkshire Evening Post readers. One customer told us then: “I love coming here every day because I know I will have a hot, tasty meal and the staff are very friendly. I know everybody by their names and sometimes I just pop in for a second time because it is so homely.” The idea for an ‘Easterenders’ style cafe came from Julie when she was made redundant. Garry came up with the name whilst watching the family’s favourite TCV show Only Fools and Horses. Garry is very keen to sell it to someone who will keep it as a traditional English cafe and who is local to South Leeds “to keep it in the community.” The shop will be sold with all the fixtures and fittings so it can be ready for trade from day one. If you are interested in buying the business please ring Garry for details on 07526 851855.
representative and community campaigner Ed Carlisle commented: “So many of us are becoming more climate aware, and the need for us all to play our part. It’s especially exciting to see diverse bodies like LS-TEN, who aren’t an obvious ‘climate’ organisation, step up and take a lead – and their impact via their community networks could be even more significant.” Carla Denyer was visiting Leeds as part of a national listening campaign, as the newly-appointed national coleader of the Green Party. She also participated in a community forum in Beeston Hill about women in politics and leadership.
FOR SALE
Due to owner’s retirement, successful, award winning, English cafe ‘Only Food and Sauces’ is up for sale • • • • •
busy location established customer base great reputation busy location on Dewsbury Road fixtures and fittings included Ring Garry for details 07526 851855 Genuine enquiries only
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Beeston firm appointed The bells of St Mary’s to Parliament I restoration programme by Cllr Elizabeth Nash
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hodar, a specialist asbestos removal, demolition and remediation services company, headquartered at Parkside Industrial Easte in Beeston is amongst 18 firms appointed to carry out crucial scoping works as part of the restoration of the Houses of Parliament in London. Engineers and construction experts planning the essential work to save the failing Palace of Westminster will soon be unearthing the 150-year-old building’s secrets as part of the next stage of detailed and indepth investigations. Investigators will carry out dozens of detailed building surveys, looking at historic stonework, digging boreholes to carry out underground examinations, carrying out archaeological digs, and mapping out asbestos in more detail. Tens of thousands of hours of building surveys have already been carried out as the Houses of Parliament Restoration and Renewal Programme, set up in law to save and restore the building, develops a detailed plan that
Checking for asbestos in the Palace of Westminster will for the first time set out costs and timescales for the essential work. Parliament will be invited to approve this detailed plan next year. A spokesperson for Rhodar said: “Rhodar is delighted to announce that it has been awarded a place on the coveted Houses of Parliament Restoration and Renewal (R&R) Programme. “This award follows an intensive Government procurement process, resulting in 18 businesses being appointed to the commercial framework, covering disciplines such as civil and structural
engineering, geotechnical, archaeology in addition to asbestos removal. “This key strategic framework will see this collective supplier network, working together to scope and deliver the essential restoration programme for the iconic 150-year-old UK Parliament buildings, with estimates suggesting a repair & maintenance spend in excess of £300m by 2025. “Rhodar’s inclusion on this prestigious framework reinforces our position as a key strategic UK enabling works provider and demonstrates the vast experience we will bring to this programme.”
BITMO Community Fund launches to benefit Belle Isle B
ITMO’s Board has made £70,000 available that individuals and groups can apply for to benefit themselves and the Belle Isle community. The funds can pay for: • areas of the estate that need a makeover • training courses or qualifications that tenants and their families need help paying for • help with redecorating costs for the over 65s • help to sustain tenancies by buying household goods or furniture • funds to support community groups or activities BITMO Chief Executive Deborah Kelly stated: “The fund can be used to support community projects, and to help people financially to achieve their goals. As a
community-based, tenant led organisation we want to invest in the things that matter to the people who live here. We are really looking forward to seeing what comes from this and working with tenants to get their ideas off the ground.” Grant applications will be open 1-28 February. Full details are available from the BITMO website www.belleisletmo.co.uk and BITMO offices and staff from 1
February. For more information about the grants and application process further, please call BITMO’s Community & Tenant Support Managers Carla Yeomans on 07891 278423 (Monday to Wednesday only) or Peter Sutton on 07891 274237. The Belle Isle Tenant Management Organisation, BITMO, manages council housing in Belle Isle.
to them in the spire! The Combs church is 14th Century and does not have a spire but a square solid tower and it is not as high as Hunslet spire so that swaying may not be so much of a problem there. My brother-in-law and his wife ring the bells at St Oswald`s Church, Flamborough. I enquired why they do not bellring at their nearer Bridlington Priory and was informed that, as befitting a large priory, the eight bells there are bigger and heavier and harder work! Bell ringing is very good physical exercise and good for mental agility as bells are rung in changes which require a minimum of three bells – not tunes but patterns with the lightest bell, the treble, going first. The bells are suspended from wheels and when at rest
Kenny, Chair of Hunslet Carr Residents Association, was part of the team which rang the Hunslet bells for 23 years. She told me that sometimes when they were practising on a Friday night, beginners at bell ringing made mistakes which sounded ding-dongish and which annoyed some nearby residents. But when the bells were rung correctly on Sundays they were splendid. What is left in the spire is the carillon of small bells which are the clock chimes and which the Council has insisted stayed there, as we local councillors have set aside money for the restoration of the clock. Strictly speaking, carillons are rung by the playing of them from a keyboard. In Hunslet it is not a keyboard but an ellacombe – a set of ropes in a frame which can be pulled by a
t was upsetting to local residents when the Church of England had the bells from the listed St Mary the Virgin spire removed and loaded onto wagons and driven away. Part of Hunslet’s history had gone and this was done without any warning or notification to residents and your local councillors. I am pleased to report that the bells have not been taken for scrap but sent to another St Mary the Virgin church - at Combs in Suffolk. Currently, Combs has four bells but three cannot be used because of their very deteriorated condition and the Hunslet bells will make up a good peal. We may not hear them in Hunslet but I think it’s good to know that the lives of the bells will be extended elsewhere. Some of the Hunslet bells did not sound so good as they had gone out of tune, that is, ever so slightly out of shape. Until relatively recently this could not be corrected but bells can now be tuned and our Hunslet bells will be tuned before installation at Combs. The ringing of church bells is used primarily to summon people to prayer. But they are also rung on special occasions such as weddings or national celebrations. In the past they have also been rung if there were a threat of hostile invasion or warnings of natural disasters such as the life-taking floods in the East Anglia Fens. With the advent of the internet and widespread ownership of telephones there are now more effective ways of informing people of the latter, although the The bell ringing chamber with ellacombe against wall. Photo K Saunders bells hang safely single person playing a change Environment Agency has asked the some churches in very high-risk downwards. On the first pull or a tune independently of the flood areas to continue ringing of the rope the treble goes to clock. For many years Kenny bells as a warning in case there the top of the wheel and on the second pull the treble comes Saunders wound up the clock is an electronic failure. until just before demolition of Parish churches, dependent down with a ring. Just as the treble starts its the modern church which gave on what space they had in their tower or spire and what they descent the ringer calls “Treble access to the spire. What we are all concerned could afford, usually had six gone” so that other team bells but Hunslet had eight. A members begin to pull their about now is that the spire is former bell ringer at Hunslet ropes at the correct time made accessible as soon as told me that when all the bells according to the change being possible so that the clock may once more be working and its were ringing, the spire swayed rung. Jayne Saunders, wife of chimes heard. which was a little disconcerting
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News 9
New restaurant brings Spanish hospitality to Holbeck N
ew restaurant ‘Bomba’ is bringing some welcome Spanish sunshine to Saw Mill Yard, in the heart of the Round Foundry and Marshall’s Mill complex in Holbeck on Leeds’s South Bank. The newest venture from Joe McDermott, who set up the original Arts Café in Leeds and Ilkley Moor Vaults in Ilkley, ‘Bomba’ offers an alternative to the existing independent food and drink venues in the area. ‘Bomba’ has grown from a paella at-home delivery service during lockdown to a stall in Leeds’s famous Kirkgate Market to this new fully fledged restaurant which will open from breakfast through to lunch and dinner for eat-in, take away and delivery. Occupying a 1,574 sq ft space with extensive terrace, the informal venue allows Joe and his team of five including chef Manuel, wife and business partner Elizabeth to develop popular elements from the
February 2022 | South Leeds Life
market menu, from the Spanish breakfasts and churros con chocolate to the
popular boccadillo sandwiches and classic tapas dishes. Paella will be made in large
Bomba is in Saw Mill Yard, off Water Lane in Holbeck
pans to serve individual portions at lunch and then made to order in pans for two,
four or six people in the evening. “We’d been looking for a venue that would allow us to move into evening service for a while and when we saw this space, in such a fantastic heritage area, we knew it was perfect for us.” says Joe McDermott “Holbeck Urban Village and the Leeds South Bank is quickly becoming a bustling community with lots of new places to live and work, it feels like the place to be, atmosphere is incredibly important to us and this area has it in spades.” McDermott has been a regular in the Yorkshire food and drink scene since setting up and running the popular Arts Café in Leeds from 19941999. After spending a few years running a crepe venue in London, McDermott returned to his native Yorkshire to run the Ilkley Moor Vaults, building it into a neighbourhood hot spot, before heading back to Leeds city centre to focus on street food opening a crepe stall in the market. During lockdown, McDermott started cooking and delivering paella locally; proving popular
he went on to change the concept of his stall to sell the Spanish staple alongside other Spanish street food dishes. Building on the initiative created during the pandemic and to cater to the growing residential community around Holbeck Urban Village, ‘Bomba’ will bring back their paella and tapas delivery service allowing Leeds locals to eat their speciality at home in a traditional pan, returning the pan afterwards so cutting out packaging waste. Paul Taylor, Director at Creative Space Management who oversaw the letting, said: “Bomba will be a great addition to the area, we already have some of the best independent pubs and cafes in Leeds here and this will complement them by adding something different, in a restaurant space already well known from previous owners including Matt Healy. “This neighbourhood has attracted creative and successful people and businesses for years and with the significant investment and development around Marshalls Mill, the number of businesses and residents based here is growing all the time.”
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£50,000 upgrade for Beeston’s Brickfield Park H
unslet and Riverside Ward Councillors have announced the approval of a £50,000 upgrade to Brickfield Park on Lady Pit Lane, Beeston Hill. The improvements, developed with the feedback from residents, will include: • balance beams • pull up bar station • stepping pods • slide • additional pathway creating a cycle circuit for children to learn to bike on • thermoplastic play
markings • woodland trail and information boards for future planting plans • static gym city-bike • static gym arm-bike • swings Cllr Elizbeth Nash said: “Brickfield Park is the last of the Beeston Hill Pocket Parks to receive improvement funding – following significant funding to upgrade the play area at Trentham Park a few years ago and amenity improvements to create a sitting park at Rowland Road
Park last year. “Cllr Mohammed Iqbal, Cllr Paul Wray and I know residents have wanted improvements to Brickfield Park for a long time. We are happy we can now commit to delivering these in early 2022.” The new investment is in addition to the planting of new semi mature trees on the park announced at the end of 2021 as part of local councillors’ commitment to improve biodiversity and tree coverage across the ward.
Brickfield Park on Lady Pit Lane
Miss Leeds has turned her life around by Esmeralda Varley
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Help the Salvation Army help local people in need The bustling community project at the Salvation Army centre on Hunslet Hall Road in Beeston is appealing for donations of (nearly!) anything, to help them continue and develop their work supporting local people in need. Non-perishable food, clothing, household goods (except large items and white goods), toys, and unwanted Christmas gifts are amongst the many things they can use. Drop donations off at their charity shop, Monday to Thursday between 9.30am-1pm. Visit the South Leeds Life website for a full write-up on this unique community institution, and all the incredible work they are doing.
hen I found out that I was going to be representing Leeds in the UK’s National Miss pageant I thought, surely not me. I grew up in Beeston and never really believed that I would amount to anything. I have always wanted to help people and through my role working in a children’s home, I believe that I do this but it’s far from the glamorous life of a pageant. 2020 was a struggle, in which I lost my Gran to Covid. Being away from loved ones made grieving even more difficult. The only place I could go was to work, as a key worker, and my role is already challenging without the added strains of a pandemic. I did not feel supported in my relationship, which I now
realise was toxic. I left, but was heartbroken. I had health problems and was diagnosed with depression - I felt completely alone and not good enough. I decided that something needed to change. I threw myself into working out and was approached to do a fitness style photoshoot. I’m an outgoing person, who welcomes new experiences and is confident in front of the camera, so this did not phase me. This led to more photo shoots and paid opportunities. I was published in international magazines, which felt amazing. Being able to go into Morrisons, in Hunslet, with my son and for him to pick up a magazine from the shelf and see his Mum in there, was a real highlight. I love the creativity of modelling but my desire to help people has never stopped and
I organise female empowerment photoshoots, around body confidence and self-love. Many people have seen my journey and reached out to me. I wanted to show them that you can overcome anything with a little bit of self-love. So I am proud to be representing Leeds, I am doing it for myself and anyone else who needs that push to believe in themselves. My title does not require me to do anything charitable but I believe it my duty to do something positive for my city so I have set up a Crowdfunder to support local children’s charity Zarach. The charity is fighting child poverty by supplying beds to the surprisingly large number of families who currently sleep on the floor. You can donate at bit.ly/Zarach.
Advertise with South Leeds Life and reach 15,000 people in LS10 and LS11 This space is 1/8 page and costs just £75 or £200 for 3 inserts Ring: 07894 583966 Email: info@southleedslife.com
Prices held for 2022
Miss Leeds, Esmerala Varley (right) with her main sponsor, Keeley Crosswaite of High Maintenance Aesthetics, Hunslet. Photo: Hannah Lunn
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News 11
Crowdfunding to buy a tug boat for rubbish by Peter Forrest
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Retail rodeo On Saturday 15 January members of the MHA South Leeds Line Dancing Group took part in a demonstration with other line dancers from across Leeds at the White Rose Shopping Centre. The event was organised by Julie A Clarkson of the Original Cowboys line dancing group to raise money for Children in Need. It raised an amazing £714 thanks to the generosity of the public.
Join the Junk Food revolution in Beeston and save money D
o you like good food? Hate waste? Do you want to save money? South Leeds residents are being invited to join a popular scheme to receive a large crate of so-called 'freegan' food (good quality food that would otherwise get binned) for just £13.50 per week. The family-sized boxes have different contents each week, but feature a mix of staple and luxury products, and fresh and packeted items; each box is worth an estimated £40 per week. They are sourced and delivered by Leeds charity Rethink Food (formerly Food Revival), who are part of the growing international 'junk food' movement aiming to stop the needless waste of surplus food. They do so by intercepting food that’s heading unnecessarily for landfill, and distributing it through a network of cafes, venues, events, schools, and community box schemes. This project of theirs has been running since 2018, with members collecting their boxes every week from Rowland Road Social Club in Beeston Hill. The
scheme was previously oversubscribed, but now has capacity to take on new people. Local community campaigner Ed Carlisle, who helped bring the scheme to south Leeds,
commented: “Loads of us locally struggle to afford good quality food – and in the meantime, tons upon tons of good food is being chucked away everyday across
This box of good food would otherwise be thrown away
the country: insane. But this scheme breaks the mould, and gives us great food for cheap – whilst reducing waste, and helping to save the planet. This is a good, popular scheme and we'd now love more people to sign up, and to help spread the word." For more info or to register, visit rethinkfood.co.uk, email boxes@rethinkfood.co.uk, call (0113) 873 0016 - or come to Rowland Road club between 67pm on Tuesday 8 February, to meet and talk with one of the Rethink Food team. Subscribers pay by Standing Order, and collect the boxes from Rowland Road each Tuesday. Boxes can be tailored to suit any dietary needs. The coordinators are also keen to hear from others locally who might be interested in helping to set up schemes elsewhere in south Leeds. The Waste Resources Action Programme (WRAP) – a UK charity and campaign body – estimates that 1.9m tons of food is wasted by the UK food industry every year, with about a fifth of that (400,000 tonnes) suitable for redistribution.
anal Connections CIC aim to support community action to reduce the environmental impact of waterborne rubbish, with the purchase of a tugboat. There are concerns in relation to the increasing water borne rubbish that is visible within but not limited to the Leeds Waterfront Enhancement area. This is a mixture of illegally dumped rubbish (business related), windblown debris (from carelessly discarded detritus or overflowing bins), natural debris and metal work (magnet fishing). The solution creates a variety of potential responses; from enforcement to supporting the current strong community outpouring of volunteering. Canal Connections CIC will continue to support the current approach to land-based clean ups, but a recurring comment among those involved is the failure to address the water borne rubbish. A major part of Canal Connections' work is to address the learning and health and wellbeing of our challenged communities by creating
meaningful tasks that have a positive impact on both individual and community wellbeing and the environment. We would therefore suggest a more creative approach to clean-ups. We have an opportunity to purchase a range of assets that would create a very different set of responses addressing these challenges, by using our traditional canal boats as the focus to develop a programme of meaningful activities in order to develop a sustainable solution to the ongoing problem. An immediate opportunity is the acquisition of a work boat and associated craft; namely “Samson”, currently based on the River Thames, in London, to be paired with our smaller, modern version of a “Tom Pudding” that instead of carrying coal, we will compartmentalise for collecting and recycling water borne rubbish from The Aire & Calder Navigation between Granary Wharf and Thwaite Mills Museum. We are attempting to raise £5,000 on our Crowdfunder page. If you would like to help us please go to: bit.ly/ CanalConnections
Canal Connections CIC aim to buy the Samson to help clear rubbish
Rubbish in the River Aire near the Royal Armouries
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12 School Life
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Cockburn MAT’s Hunslet Carr Primary improves charity challenge with ‘Good’ Ofsted report
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tudents and staff from the three Cockburn Multiacademy Trust secondary schools (Cockburn School, Cockburn John Charles Academy and Cockburn Laurence Calvert Academy) ended a successful Autumn term in December with a nonuniform day. Having seen on the news the widespread hunger and the onset of freezing winter weather in Afghanistan, they decided to raise funds for the Save the Children Afghanistan Crisis Appeal. Almost every child in the country did not have enough food to eat and half of the population were at crisis levels of hunger. The impact of this on the children of Afghanistan would be alarming and everyone across the Cockburn schools wanted to make a difference. The total raised was £1,518.27. According to the Save the Children charity, this would be enough to fund: • 607 baby blankets or • 134 school-in-a-bag kits or • 88 week’s food for a family or • 67 family hygiene packs. Nikita Zigel-Chodyrev, a member of the School Council at Cockburn Laurence Calvert Academy said: "We believe that education should reach everyone in the world, not just the welldeveloped countries. At Cockburn Laurence Calvert Academy, we are so lucky to have an excellent school building and community with everything we need to learn. “At our school, we are not just focused on learning, but also on helping others. It was a pleasure to improve the lives and education of the children in Afghanistan with our donation.” Tian Cai, Head Girl at Cockburn School said “As students, we are very privileged to have an excellent education in
a safe environment and we realise that this is not the case for very child in every country. “We hope that one day, the children in Afghanistan have the same privileges that every child deserves. For today, we are glad that our donations have made a positive impact on their lives.” At Cockburn John Charles Academy, Head Girl, Sumayyah Hafeez-Jabeen said “Giving is not just about donating, it's about making a difference. I am proud of every single one of us who is collaborating to make a difference in the lives of those in need and showing the caring nature of our school, as when we all unite, we can make everything possible.” Head Boy, Patrick Butuza added “It is truly incredible to see how each of the student's small actions, when multiplied, will have the impact of helping so many of those in need.” Tammy Hoskins, Community Fundraising & Engagement Manager for Save the Children said “We’re really grateful to Cockburn Multi-academy Trust for their support in raising such an incredible amount for our Afghanistan Crisis Appeal. Save the Children’s work is only possible thanks to our supporters in the UK and their amazing commitment to make the world a better place for children. “Together with Cockburn Multiacademy Trust’s support we’re determined to help every child become who they want to be.” For more information on Save the Children, visit www.savethechildren.org.uk David Gurney, Executive Headteacher, said “I am extremely proud of the students and staff for raising this huge sum of money. We aim for all of our students to become confident, independent and successful citizens and they showed great pride in supporting children in Afghanistan in the run up to Christmas.”
Save The Children presented the schools with this certificate
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unslet Carr Primary School has been declared a ‘Good’ school following a recent Ofsted inspection. At its last inspection in 2018 Ofsted found it ‘Requires Improvement’. Ofsted grades schools on a four point scale from Outsanding, to Good, Requires Improvement and Inadequate. Primary Schools are graded across five categories: • The quality of education • Behaviour and attitudes • Personal development • Leadership and management • Early years provision Hunslet Carr was found to be Good in four areas and Outstanding for Personal Development. The inspectors wrote: “This school lives out its motto that ‘Impossible is Nothing’. Pupils are nurtured from the moment they step into this school community. “Leaders are passionate about raising aspirations for the pupils in their care. Parents spoke highly of the support they receive.”
Hunslet Carr Primary School. Photo: Google Streetview Commenting on the report, Headteacher Martin Lumb told South Leeds Life: “We are all very proud of the hard work that was recognised in the report. “From the moment we spoke to the lead inspector the day before the inspection, we were excited to show her and her
team all we do to get the children to believe that ‘Impossible is Nothing’. “Having been part of 5 Ofsted inspections, I can honestly say that this one was the most collaborative and understanding process, where the three inspectors were genuinely interested in the school, what we
Schools get new bicycle and scooter storage N
ineteen schools across Leeds, including Lane End Primary School, Hugh Gaitskell Primary School, Low Road Primary School, and Ingram Road Primary School are receiving new bicycle and scooter storage, in a project worth £100,000. The schools will gain a total of 162 secure bicycle parking spaces and 200 scooter parking spaces. The project uses active travel funding allocated to Leeds City Council and West Yorkshire Combined Authority from the Department for Transport. The new storage facility offers greater security and weather protection. The active travel fund supports local authorities to improve cycle and walking infrastructure. This project aims to make it easier for children to use active and sustainable modes of transport to get to school. Leeds City Council runs a programme of active travel and road safety workshops for schools and community groups. The training develops children’s
skills and confidence so they can walk, cycle or scoot to school and use the new storage facilities. These initiatives contribute to the Connecting Leeds transport strategy and help to create a city where you don’t need a car.
Councillor Helen Hayden, Leeds City Council executive member for infrastructure and climate, said: “Walking, cycling and scooting to school are healthier and more sustainable ways to travel so it’s great to see new facilities
New bicycle and scooter shelters for primary schools
are doing well and where we could do more to help our community. “It really was a joyous couple of days that celebrated the hard work and dedication that has taken place over the last 4 years.” You can read the full report at bit.ly/HCPSOfsted. installed at schools all over Leeds. “If more people cycle or scoot to school, there will be less traffic around the school gates, which will improve air quality for the local community. Studies suggest children who ride their bike or scooter to school are happier and more engaged in the classroom. “As we continue to develop our green infrastructure and build segregated cycle lanes in Leeds, it’s becoming safer for children to ride their bike to school.”
February 2022 | South Leeds Life
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Applications open for new Construction T Level
Surveying students at Leeds College of Building South Bank campus in Hunslet
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new Construction T Level qualification is now open for applications at the UK’s only specialist further education construction college. Leeds College of Building is one of a select number of education providers across England chosen to deliver a T Level programme in Design, Surveying & Planning for Construction from September 2022. At the heart of the course, a 45-day industry placement opens opportunities for the brightest talent entering the market. T Levels are a new, two-year
qualification for 16- to 19-yearolds. Designed with employers, each T Level is equivalent to three A levels and has been developed to meet industry needs and prepare students for work. To gain approved provider status, the College applied to the Department for Education demonstrating a positive commitment from local employers and detailing the specialist equipment and expertise offered. This application was backed by the College’s Good Ofsted rating in 2019. Leeds College of Building is
one of only a handful of providers in Yorkshire to offer the Design, Surveying & Planning for Construction T Level, and the only specialist further education construction college to offer this in the UK. The T Level will use industrystandard equipment at both its North Street and South Bank Campuses, delivered by expert staff from the construction industry. According to the Department for Education, T Levels give students the skills to progress and help rebuild the economy following the Coronavirus pandemic. Typical employment
on completion might include technician roles in architecture, building services, civil engineering, surveying or town planning. Nikki Davis, Vice Principal at Leeds College of Building, said: “Leeds College of Building is the UK’s only general Further Education college specialising in Construction and the Built Environment. “As such, we are perfectly placed to work with our established network of regional and national employers to enhance T Level opportunities for students. “T Level students at Leeds
College of Building will have access to state-of-the-art facilities and specialist teaching expertise. Students also benefit from established progression opportunities within higher and degree-level apprenticeships at the College and employment opportunities through our construction partners. “Leeds College of Building is committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion. This new qualification will help us to better serve the region’s young people and workforce, opening up even more opportunities into high paying, skilled jobs.” Caddick Construction Limited is one of the employers offering Leeds College of Building T Level students work placements. Debbie Watson, Social Value Manager (Yorkshire) at Caddick, said: “The new T Levels are a great alternative to entry-level qualifications as they help students gain valuable ‘on the job’ experience whilst undertaking their qualification, which will give them a great advantage going forward in their career. “It will also help employers gain an early insight into the latest talent pool, helping with recruitment and social value benefits. “It also helps us to develop the knowledge, attitude, and skills of the students entering the built environment. “Whilst working with us, students will spend time in each department at both our offices and on our sites to understand
Zero-carbon seminars boost construction students’ industry awareness S
tudents across various trades and professions at Leeds College of Building took part in a unique set of seminars in January. Thanks to support from the recently formed Joseph Aspdin Skills Trust (JAST), a carousel of specialist talks was held at the College’s South Bank and North Street Campuses, focussing on achieving zero carbon in the construction sector. 140 students rotated around talks delivered by experts from diverse industries. Topics covered reducing carbon in the home, passive house construction technology and airtightness, retrofitting existing properties, insulation for retrofit solutions, and air & ground heatpump technology. According to the World Green Building Council, the built
environment sector is globally responsible for 36% of energy consumption, 38% of energy related carbon emissions, 50% of resource consumption, and expected to double in total footprint by 2060. The seminars are one component of the JAST Business Plan, assisting the College to contribute towards the UK’s zero-carbon agenda and sustainability goals. The events aimed to raise student and staff awareness of local and national green initiatives in the construction and built environment sector by liaising with other bodies working in this field. Derek Whitehead, Principal & CEO of Leeds College of Building, said: “Leeds College of Building is very appreciative of this
investment. JAST is raising the awareness and developments needed to help support the knowledge and skills that young, and older, people will require to achieve major zero-carbon targets set locally and nationally. “Furthermore, this work will help inform students of the needs of the construction industry. The sector continues to face unprecedented skills shortages across all occupational areas, which include expertise in zero carbon. We are working hard with employers to address these skills gaps and welcome this support from JAST.” JAST was set up in 2021 by trustees Geoff Driver, Ken J Patterson, Jackie Coates, Sir John Battle and Baroness Judith Blake. Named after Joseph Aspdin, the 19th century Leeds
entrepreneur and manufacturer of cement, its aim is to promote and educate about energy efficiency. JAST trustee Geoff Driver, who is also an ex-governor of Leeds
College of Building, Honorary Alderman, and former Leeds City Councillor for Hunslet and South Leeds, said: “JAST approached the College to help support and offer
Zero carbon experts: L to R: John Blowers, Kevin Pratt, Geoff Driver, Derek Whitehead, Glen Roberts, Richard Dawson, and Neil Davies
the workings of the main contractor. Students will also spend time with our consultants, such as the Architect, to understand how projects get to site, as well as spending time with subcontractors on our projects learning more about life on site.” Time is split between 80% classroom learning and 20% industry placement lasting approximately seven weeks. All students will develop a general understanding of construction, including accurate and appropriate measurements, construction methods and building regulations, digital engineering techniques, design principles and processes, mathematical problem solving, and sustainability and environmental impact. In addition to the core content, students at Leeds College of Building will specialise in surveying and design for construction and the built environment. They will also study laser scanning – a land surveying method that can accurately measure and collect data from buildings and landscapes. For more course information and entry requirements, visit www.lcb.ac.uk or email admissions@lcb.ac.uk. Alternatively, if you are a business owner who could support students through T Level work placements, please email epearson@lcb.ac.uk and find out more about the business benefits and financial incentives available. opportunities to all young people. We hope to raise awareness of the zero-carbon agenda in communities across Leeds and further afield through the development of vital skills and knowledge, and via important training and workrelated opportunities.” In 2021, JAST showed their commitment to zero carbon and the College by funding a temporary two-year Construction Skills Project Coordinator post.
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South Leeds Life | February 2022
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14 Comment
In our view We are better than this South Leeds has its fair share of trouble, but over and over again it has also shown itself to be a strong community. We pull together when we need to and there are a lot of good people making good things happen. These incidents – committed apparently by a very small group of people, who might or might not be local – do not define us. The hard-pressed police meanwhile need our help. We encourage all residents to share all the information they can. Together, we can stop this nonsense, and get back to building a safe thriving community.
Reuniting Holbeck Plans for the redevelopment of the Kays site in Holbeck are to be welcomed. It is a key site linking the old residential part of Holbeck with the ‘South Bank’, ‘Temple’, or ‘Holbeck Urban Village’ (take your pick) part of Holbeck close to the city centre. Leeds conspired to divide neighbourhoods, both from the centre and from one another, first by the railway and then the motorway. In recent years the ex-industrial wasteland has added to that barrier. The redevelopment of northern Holbeck came to an abrupt halt with the banking crash of 2008. In recent years it has restarted and the Kays site is one of the last major pieces in the jigsaw. So it’s important to get it right. The developers clearly have ambitions to make it a desirable development where a community can grow. They want it to be pleasant to walk through and for the wider community to enjoy its amenities, including a reborn Commercial pub. We hope they understand that half the battle is psychological and street names are as important as sight lines as they bring their finished plans forward.
Your letters and comments Kays site development I think it would be a fitting tribute to Peter Lorimer if some of the development could be named after him as a recognition of the many years of service he gave to LUFC and the city of Leeds. Graham Armitage
Cllr Groves stands down Thank you Kim for all your hard work in the community . You have such a heart for the area and we need councillors like you, who live in and understand the area. Hope to see more of you in a new role in the future. Eve Tidswell
Refurbishing Parliament It’s a shame Rhodar didn't help with the demolition of the Houses of Parliament then help build something fit for purpose. Then they help with building one bedroom apartments for MPs, so they couldn't claim for second homes. Lewis Jones Smyth
Hunslet RLFC’s young team What a win! What an effort from every lad on the team. All we ask as supporters is pride in the badge and you boys showed it today. Andy Harris An impressive display. What made it for me was when the Keighley player broke through for what looked like a certain try, only to be ankle tapped by not one, but two Hunslet players who never gave up chasing back for what like a lost cause. Gary Thurlow
Cuts to funeral costs Excellent news and well done to Leeds City Council, this will certainly help bereaved families especially those going through hard times financially. Mohammed Mahmood
Jailed for ride out rampage Typical of the petty-minded Leeds coppers. They spend ages persecuting a bunch of guys out having fun on their bikes whilst they ignore / are complicit with / turn a blind-eye to major crimes. I am a sure that the cops could, if they
The Commercial Inn was managed by Peter Lorimer and is set to be refurbished as part of the redevelopment of the Kays site in Holbeck spent an equal amount, of “painstaking” investigation actually tackle real incidents that affect the people of South Leeds. Instead they are more concerned to be right-on and politically correct. It’s tragic really. Scott
Christmas events at MHA It’s great to see such a fabulous organisation bending over backwards to support their local community. Well done MHA! Gemma
Public transport Yet more difficulties in getting across the city, after two or more years of disruption from this side of Leeds. And with the 74 bus route reduced to a theoretical two an hour (previously a theoretical four an hour), with frequent cancellations. I wish the transport planners would get the message that only the relatively young and fit are able to use bicycles, and then only if not trying to manage children or packages. The rest of us need decent public transport if we are not to use cars. Hilary Clarke
Brickfield Park More for cycling, how many people will use what is proposed? When council bins are not properly sorted out, £50,000 really! Nigel Perry
Your Leeds City Councillors Beeston & Holbeck ward Includes Beeston from Cross Flatts Park to the Ring Road, Cottingley and Holbeck. The three councillors are:
Gohar Almass Angela Gabriel Andrew Scopes
07445 878 333 gohar.almass@leeds.gov.uk 07946 632 468 angela.gabriel@leeds.gov.uk 07860 400 645 andrew.scopes@leeds.gov.uk
Hunslet & Riverside ward Includes the city centre, Beeston Hill and Hunslet.
They want to concentrate on the streets round there, rather than blow all that money making a park look nice. Mark Well said Mark it’s absolutely disgusting. Bins dumped all over, bin bags strewn everywhere, it’s awful. Judith Tempest
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Top Tweets Keep up to date, up to the minute, by following South Leeds Life’s Twitter feed: @SouthLeedsLife. Twitter is the 140 character ‘micro blogging’ site. It’s free and you can sign up at twitter.com. It’s a great place to find the very latest news. Here are some of our favourite recent tweets: @WestYorksPolice Convicted Leeds burglar Brendan Rodgers, 24, who was previously publicised as wanted, has now been arrested. He has been recalled to prison after being found in Beeston yesterday by PCSOs from the local neighbourhood policing team. Our thanks to everyone who shared the appeal. @TARAChair #HunsletTARA collected six bags of litter from the George pub site today.
Playhouse tickets What a brilliant Idea to give the public a chance to write the reviews. Hopefully with the broad variety it will encourage more people to go and see live performances. Linda
Hunslet Carr Ofsted I'd like to say a massive well done to the Senior Leadership Team and Staff. They've worked so hard over the last few years. It has been a pleasure to support them as one of the governors. I know the team will keep pushing the school to deliver for local children. Cllr Paul Wray
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.
Join the team Would you like to join the team here at South Leeds Life? We are always looking for new writers. If you’ve got a nose for a good story, we can support you with training and mentoring to help bring out your inner journalist.
@southleedshub January has been a fun packed month for Short Breaks; slime making, bush crafts, scooter sessions and games night. Roller disco next week! Contact us at southleedshub@leeds.gov.uk for more information about our Wednesday evening Short Break after school club. @HunsletClub No child should feel excluded from a sports club for not having the right kit or equipment. That’s why we are proud to support #TogetherForSport, by @ZeroWasteLeeds; helping children play the sport they love by accessing great quality second hand sport kit. #NoKitNoBarrier
Ring our Editor Jeremy Morton on 07894 583966, or email him at info@southleedslife.com
The three councillors are:
Mohammed Iqbal 0113 226 8796 mohammed.iqbal@leeds.gov.uk Elizabeth Nash 0113 275 8594 elizabeth.nash@leeds.gov.uk Paul Wray 07528 512 649 paul.wray@leeds.gov.uk
Middleton Park ward Includes Belle Isle and Middleton. The three councillors are: Sharon Burke Kim Groves Paul Truswell
0113 378 8814 sharon.burke@leeds.gov.uk 07891 741 832 kim.groves@leeds.gov.uk 0113 378 8811 paul.truswell@leeds.gov.uk
Keep up to date with planning issues in LS10 and LS11 We publish a weekly list of all new planning applications online at: www.southleedslife.com
@LCHNHSTrust Elland Road offers Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, 1st 2nd or booster dose, & 4th dose for people with weakened immunity. Walk in 7 days a week, 7.30am to 5.30pm. Check eligibility: bit.ly/3wVRzdb or book: bit.ly/3pB0n3N
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Comment 15
MP’s notebook with Hilary Benn MP
P
reparations are now well under way for Leeds’ 2023 Year of Culture. We were one of five UK cities which originally bid to become the European City of Culture, but Brexit put paid to that. So, in typical no-nonsense fashion, Leeds decided to have a year of artistic and musical celebration anyway. Ours has long been a city of great creativity, and Gabby Logan, who grew up in Beeston, has become the Chair of the Leeds Culture Trust. She rightly says that Leeds’ time in the cultural limelight “is long overdue” LEEDS 2023 will be the first large scale event of its kind in the city region and the aim is to put on events which bring people together as well as provide economic benefits, jobs and visitors. We all remember what the City of Culture in Hull was able to achieve, and now it's our turn. And, of course, all around us we can see some of the institutions and individuals that form part of our rich cultural heritage. We have theatres and music venues like Opera North, the City Varieties and the Playhouse and the Civic Trust blue plaques which commemorate, for example, The Who Live at Leeds (Leeds University), musician and bandleader Ivy Benson (Cemetery Road, Beeston), the Holbeck Working Men’s Club (where Morecambe and Wise once performed) and the writer Keith Waterhouse (Hunslet Library). Roll on 2023. Inflation is rising and everyone is worried about the forthcoming sharp increase in energy bills. This is going to be really hard for communities in Leeds, and across the country, unless there is a plan to help
February 2022 | South Leeds Life
people. I am supporting the proposal to save most households around £200 including by scrapping VAT from everyone’s energy bills for a year - and to give an additional £400 to families and pensioners who need it most, to be paid for by a one-off windfall tax on booming oil and gas profits. We all remember the terrible Hillsborough disaster which rightly led to the introduction of all-seater stadiums, but in recent years there has been a campaign to allow safe standing at football grounds. The Leeds United Supporters Trust, among others, has long been in favour of this and it's a campaign that I have supported. This is because the particular design of rail seating - where there is a rail in front of each individual seat - means that
fans can stand safely. It is much safer than supporters standing up in existing seats where there is nothing to stop them from toppling forward. I was therefore delighted when it was announced that an official trial of safe standing would begin, and I hope that this will turn into a safe and popular choice in future for those fans at Elland Road who want to stand, while allowing those who like to sit to carry on doing so.
And on the subject of Leeds United, the club were proud to play a part in marking Holocaust Memorial Day which takes place every year on 27 January. This is when we remember the six million Jewish men, women and children who were murdered during the Holocaust, the many other people who were killed or suffered under Nazi persecution and all those who died in the genocides that followed in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur. As part of this year’s activities, the Premier League decided to remember a footballer called Julius Hirsch who was the first Jewish player to represent Germany at national level. He was also the first German player to score four goals in an international match. Simply because he was a Jew, however, Julius was deported from Germany to Auschwitz concentration camp in 1943. He thought that he would not be harmed because he had fought for Germany in World War I and played for the national football team, but he was murdered by the Nazis in 1945. It is his story, and millions of others like it, that bring home to us why we must always remember. Germany was, after all, a prosperous European country and yet this is where the unspeakable horror and barbarity began. Coming to power via the ballot box the Nazis then proceeded to destroy democracy and unleash their hatred against the Jews. What happened there shows how fragile democracy is and why we must always protect it. And the best way to prevent it from happening again is never, ever to forget.
Hilary Benn is our Member of Parliament. He represents the Leeds Central constituency which covers Hunslet, Middleton, Belle Isle, Beeston, Holbeck, Cottingley in south Leeds as well as the city centre, Hyde Park, Woodhouse, Little London, Lincoln Green, Burmantofts, Richmond Hill and Osmondthorpe Contact: hilary.benn.mp@parliament.uk, www.hilarybennmp.com Constituency office: Unity Business Centre, 26 Roundhay Road, Leeds LS7 1AB; Tel: 0113 244 1097
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Standard sponsors: Asha Neighbourhood Project, BasementArtsProject, Beeston Community Forum, Beeston Festival, Beeston In Bloom, Beeston Parish Centre, DAZL, Friends of Middleton Park, Holbeck Together, Hunslet Carr Residents Association, Jamyang Buddhist Centre, Middleton Railway, St Luke’s CARES, The Tech Ladder, The Tetley,
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South Leeds Life | February 2022
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16 Art Life
Slung Low at The Holbeck presents ... F
rom the beauty salon to the football terraces, via a onenight stand and some chamber music - it’s all going on at The Holbeck. Slung Low present a series of visiting shows upstairs at The Holbeck, starting on Saturday 5 February with My Jerusalem by Avital Raz. My Jerusalem is a solo performance derived from a song. A politically-charged tale of a drunken one-night stand between an Israeli woman and a Palestinian man in Edinburgh infused with stories of growing up in the turmoil of 1980s Israel. A nuanced exploration of the politics of division, from internal checkpoints and separation walls to gender norms. With the escalation in violence after Trump declared Jerusalem to be the Jewish capital; questions of antisemitism in the Labour Party; rising levels of awareness of the Palestinian cause — this performance feels very timely. A work about Raz’s ethnicity, gender, racism, and the underlying fear that perpetuates it. Can we surmount divisions imposed by occupation? Can we go beyond the blame game and really see each other’s all too vulnerable humanity? Please note: Contains adult themes, the content of which may cause distress. In particular, issues of political turmoil and child abuse. On Saturday 12 February it’s Too Pretty To Punch. A comedy spoken word show about gender, the media and not fitting any of the boxes, full of explosive movement, original songs and kickass video projection. Edalia Day is a banjo wielding, poetry slam winning, trans warrior, taking on the world one troll at a time. The show Too Pretty To Punch is a hilarious and uplifting journey through what it means to be trans in 21st century Britain. It reminds all of us (regardless of who we are) of the power of celebrating our existence. How To Be A Better Human: A spoken word comedy about grief, loss and self-acceptance is on Saturday 19 February. “In 2019...I lost my Dad. “Well, I didn't lose him. I
knew exactly where he was – in the coffin at the front of the crem.” How to Be a Better Human is a spoken word comedy about grief, loss and self-acceptance. It tells Chris' story of losing two of the biggest relationships in his life - Dad and Wife - in the space of a few months. It finds the lightness and humour in death, loss and divorce, exploring how they help us become better at empathising, connecting and understanding. How we can lose everything and still find the strength to rebuild. How growing a beard can be the best decision of your life, and why some hedgehogs are absolute d*******s. Performed by Chris Singleton and directed by Tom Wright, How to Be A Better Human uses powerpoint comedy, poetry, autobiographical storytelling, original music by Reece Jacob and animation by Huckleberry Films to open accessible conversations about grief, loss and mental health. ENG-ER-LAND is on 26 February. “Walking up to Highfield Road for the first time was mind blowing. Seeing all the other people with their shirts and scarfs, feeling like you’re part of that, feeling that excitement in the air.” 1997. Last year England made it to the semi-finals of Euro 96, Gina G came third in Eurovision and 13 year-old Lizzie went to her first in-person football game: Coventry vs. Manchester City. Not the Man City of today, oil and superstars, but the old Man City - a bit rubbish, but with good fans. Lizzie fell in love with the beautiful game that day, and she’s been obsessed ever since. But then something happens to make her question her place in the stands. ENGER-LAND is an energetic play about who’s really on your team. And finally in February, on 27th Winterreise by Schubert: A Concert. Katherine Broderick – soprano; Kathryn Stott - piano; Performance Ensemsble and local community performers; Paul Whittaker – BSL interpreter. The songs of Franz Schubert’s song-cycle Winterreise have long been the sole territory of the male singer,
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Exhibition: Justin Fitzpatrick’s ‘Alpha Salad’ at The Tetley J
ustin Fitzpatrick presents Alpha Salad, his first major solo exhibition in a public gallery, exploring decadence, food and bodily consumption. Alongside new and existing works by Fitzpatrick, the exhibition includes a selection of artworks and archival material from Leeds University Library Galleries and Special Collections. Alpha Salad presents a narrative from soil to table, that extends beyond pleasure and the aesthetic and sensory understanding of taste, to highlight the tension between the surreal theatre of germination, food preparation and service and the underlying biological necessities and risks of eating. In Alpha Salad, Fitzpatrick considers the bodies created, consumed and at work throughout the food and hospitality industry, and invites us to reconsider their complex, but often overlooked, relations and their implications in our everyday lives. The exhibition will incorporate both Fitzpatrick’s painting and sculpture, and his curated selection of works from Leeds University Library
Alpha Salad is exhibited at The Tetley, Hunslet’s own art gallery Galleries and Special Collections, including work by Wendy Abbott, Duncan Grant and Käthe Kollwitz as well as photographs from the Leeds Archive of Vernacular Culture. Responding to The Tetley’s unique architectural spaces, the exhibition is imagined in a series of chapters, moving through sexual reproduction and photosynthesis to the afterlife of food presentation
and consumption. Fitzpatrick’s Alpha Salad serves up anthropomorphic plants coming of age and queer readings of hospitality workers, from existentially troubled chefs to tuxedoed flushed waiters. Against the contemporary backdrop of food poverty, the wide-reaching impacts of industrial meat farming and social media’s unhealthy obsession with
‘clean’ eating , Fitzpatrick invites us to this neurotic feast to contemplate the grotesque nature of decadence and its underlying sensitivities. Justin Fitzpatrick: Alpha Salad is supported by the Henry Moore Foundation and Fluxus Art Projects. The exhibition is open 10am5pm Wednesday-Sunday at The Tetley art gallery on Hunslet Road until 8 May.
Also featuring short creative responses to the theme of winter journeys developed by community groups in Beeston and Holbeck, Chapeltown, and Seacroft, working with Performance Ensemble. All shows at the Holbeck are pay-what-you-decide (or can
afford) - you pay after you’ve seen the show. But you need to book tickets in advance. Go to www.slunglow.org/shows and follow the links. The Holbeck, the oldest working men’s club in Britain, is on Jenkinson Lawn, Leeds, LS11 9QX.
Alpha Salad: The Demiurge and the Seed by Justin Fitzpatrick 2020 yet the themes of displacement, loneliness and isolation could not be more universally relevant. Feeling adrift, whether it be literally; the displaced person seeking asylum in foreign lands, or metaphorically; the loneliness of being connected to the rest
of the world via the internet yet having no real live connection, is a universal issue. Part of the human experience is to crave to be understood and this outsider, having accepted their solitary fate, walks on. “I arrived a stranger, A stranger I depart.“
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Art Life 17
Parkour champion marks one year to go to Year of Culture I
n one year’s time, LEEDS 2023 will begin. Twelve months packed with events, large and small, across communities and in the city centre that celebrate the culture of the city through its people, art, sport and food. To start the countdown to this major milestone for the city region, the team behind LEEDS 2023 have created a new short film featuring World Champion parkour athlete and Leeds local David Nelmes. LEEDS 2023 will take place across the city and will encompass a wide definition of what culture means to the people of Leeds in particular. In this specially commissioned short film, Nelmes – who is originally from Cross Gates in east Leeds, takes the viewer with him up and over Leeds landmarks, vaulting over walls and leaping through windows, meeting different creative individuals and communities along his route.
February 2022 | South Leeds Life
David Nelmes visited DJ Verity Watts at Eiger Studios in South Leeds “It feels amazing to be part of LEEDS 2023” says David Nelmes “To be an ambassador for the city as well as for Parkour is a big deal. I hope that when people watch the film they are able to appreciate the sport as well as all the
places we went and people involved. I hadn’t been to many of these spots before and so it made me more aware of just how much there is going on in Leeds. I think LEEDS 2023 is going to be incredible and I’m really excited to be part of it.”
The film challenges the usual definition of culture in Leeds with a mix of locations and organisations featured ranging from Kirkgate Market to Bramley Baths, the Northern School of Contemporary Dance to the Howard Assembly Room.
If you watch carefully you will see David vault a piano in the concert room of The Holbeck club. LEEDS 2023 will feature work across the 33 wards of the city and the artists featured in the film are just some of those already preparing for the year of culture which promises to be transformational. Over the last 18 months LEEDS 2023 have been working with artists and organisations across the city, commissioning and encouraging those in or connected to the city to develop projects that could take place during 2023. 65 artists or groups have already received funding to develop seed commissions for LEEDS 2023, while there are at least another 50 conversations still taking place on more projects. Eight projects linked to LEEDS 2023 appear alongside David Nelmes in the film: • DJ Verity Watts filmed at Eiger Studios, south Leeds • AGEOFTHE, a Queer Working Class Drag Collective, with member Hollie filmed at Kirkgate Market, city centre • Brazilian Dance Class students at the Northern School of Contemporary Dance, Chapeltown • The Life Aquatic Bramley
Mermaids group, filmed at Bramley Baths • Visual artist Suman Kaur, filmed at Leeds Beckett University, city centre • Musician Ntantu, performing in the Howard Assembly Room, city centre • Leeds Rhinos’ Jamie Jones Buchanan, Harry Newman and Ash Handley, training in Kirkstall • Arthur France, founder of Leeds West Indian Carnival, filmed at the West Indian Carnival Centre, Sheepscar Road Kully Thiarai, Creative Director for LEEDS 2023, said: “This time next year we will be presenting to the world our Leeds, a city that is vibrant and bold and full of exceptional, creative people. This film is giving us the chance to start shouting about LEEDS 2023 from the rooftops, about what we’ve already been doing and what’s to come. This next year is when we put everything together to make sure that LEEDS 2023 is a celebration in every LS postcode, that every child in a Leeds’ school can be part of this year of culture and that we make the most of the 365 days in 2023.” You can watch the short film at: bit.ly/2023OYTG
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South Leeds Life | February 2022
18 News
Pathways for positivity with Shannon Humphrey
No valentines? No worries… Take yourself Out: five tips to going Solo A recent study stated that 49% of Americans have less than 3 close friends, yet the average number of online connections on places like Facebook is in the region of 338. I spend a lot of time on the online networking site LinkedIn, at the last count I had 3,513 connections. The truth is I rarely connect with most of those connections, it’s simply not possible to have meaningful relationships and friendships with so many people.
social circle in ‘real’ life too, between working for myself, maintaining my home and other life admin tasks, I don’t really go out that much. Pre-Covid, when I worked for a large organisation, I was more sociable, drinks after work, social gatherings even organising the Christmas party for hundreds of people, but now I work for myself, I tend not to be quite so gregarious. When we’re younger we spend a lot of time with people our own ages, we naturally form large peer groups, join
partners, travel, start families and as a result, some of our friendships fall by the wayside. Of course, there are exceptions, I’m best friends with someone I went to middle school with, despite living in different counties and not speaking that often, I know we could call each other anytime of day and we’d pick up where we left off our last conversation But whether you have a handful of friends or hundreds, there will be times that you want to go somewhere or do something that nobody else
but she was busy, and I wanted to go. I got ready really quickly and left the house before I changed my mind and talked myself out of going. I’m a naturally confident person but going to a venue other than the shops or the supermarket by myself initially felt quite daunting- but it actually turned out great and I had a lovely time Here’s what I realised, giving yourself permission to do what you want to do without needing someone else by your side is so
teams, clubs, join bands and participate in activities where friendships naturally develop. As we get older, life happens and it’s natural for friendships to drift a little. Interests change, we get jobs, meet
does, so you have a choice, go and do it anyway, or let the opportunity pass you by … I did something pretty radical at the weekend, well, it was for me. I went out – out by myself. I’d normally go with a friend,
liberating! Too often we put what we want to do off or on hold because we can't find someone to join us. We'll make an excuse to rationalise not going to the
Photo: Shutterstock I have a group of 20 or 30 people I check in with regularly and engage with. To try and do that with 3,500 would be far too time consuming, I’d never get any work done! I have a relatively small
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cinema to watch the new film we've been looking forward to for so long - it's weird going to the cinema alone or eating a slap-up meal at that new restaurant because our friends or partner doesn't enjoy Chinese food, or we cancel gig tickets because a friend got sick. We won't book a holiday to our dream destination because we can't find someone who wants to go too. We lie and say we aren't bothered; it was just an idea, or we'll go another time. Sadly, most people won’t ever do the things they truly want to do in life unless they can find someone to do it with them. And that's a shame… Why put your life on hold? Here are my 5 tips to building confidence and going solo… 1. Take Small Steps If you're not used to going solo, take small steps. If your goal is to travel by yourself start by doing some research online so you know what to expect from the culture of where you want to visit. Join a chat room or look on TripAdvisor for real life accounts of people’s experiences, accommodation, safety, money, local travel and food. Knowledge isn't just power, it's confidence. If you know what to expect it releases some of the doubt and worry. 2. Join a Club Lots of clubs are perfect for people who choose to go alone. Find something that suits your interests. Salsa dancing, walking, cycling, running, gym classes, crafts, book clubs, business networking or fishing. None of which require a plus one. Call or email ahead of time to confirm the venue and that the club is on, arrive a few minutes early so you can introduce yourself to whoever is hosting or running the club in person. Hopefully they will assist with the introductions when the other members arrive. 3. Visualisation Ease your mind and body into a calm state by meditating and breathing slowly. In your mind’s eye see yourself confidently achieving your solo
pursuits successfully. Repeat this visualisation daily or as often as you want, put as much detail around what you want to achieve as you can, once you know what you want, write it down and refer to it. The brain will begin to accept what you tell it as fact and won't be able to differentiate between what is real and what is visualised, making your actual real-life experience far easier when it happens. 4. Distraction Tactics for Dining Alone If you've taken the plunge and gone somewhere by yourself for the first time and you feel a bit uncomfortable, take a small paperback, notebook, or magazine to leaf through, it will distract you for a little while. As you begin to feel more comfortable about going solo, you'll need the distractors less. Try not to use your phone as a distraction tactic, it can act as a barrier to people striking up conversation with you. If you look too busy, people won’t want to disturb you. 5. Remember nobody really cares that you are alone You might think they care, but honestly most people are far too busy and interested in what they've got going on to notice or judge the person over there doing their own thing. Keep your body language lose and relaxed take some water with you if possible. When you're tense or agitated you won't enjoy your experience, doing something you want to do should feel like a pleasure not a self-imposed punishment, if you're not enjoying yourself, give yourself permission to leave. It's OK. Try again another time. If you’re thinking of going solo for the first time, it's always a good idea to leave your contact details with a loved one. Shannon Humphrey is a Youth and Adult First Aid for Mental Health Instructor helping people overcome anxiety, stress and overwhelm. Find out more about her work at www.pathwaysforpositivity .com
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South Leeds Lives 19
Local history with Ken Burton
A Beeston lad made good
Thomas Watson visits Beeston County Primary School
W
hen Thomas Watson was born in 1869 in a tiny white painted cottage on the south side of Beeston Town Street his childhood would have been traditional and as secure as it could have been at this period of time. There were five woollen mills in the district, two dye works, one leather works, and Robinson’s flour mill at Millshaw which was powered by a tremendous waterwheel. The White Hart and Punchbowl brewed their own beer as did many farms and residents, but 'Herb Beer' was a firm favourite at a 1d (½p) a quart (1 litre). Spa water carried from Holbeck and the spring on Windmill Hill was carried round and sold for 1d (½p) per bucket for use by the connoisseur tea maker. As a boy, watching the two Blacksmiths would have
The window paid for by Thomas Watson, originally at Beeston Methodist Church, now at St Andrew’s church on Old Lane
occupied a lot of Tom’s time, and the arrival of the Beeston Feast transformed the village into a miniature ‘Butlins’, with Town Street bedecked with streamers and decorations. The donkeys were all decorated out in gay finery in preparation for the races that were run between the White Hart and the Railway Inn. Flat races, skipping, Knur and Spell, pigeon flying, kite flying, shuttlecock, battledore, quoits, boxing – you name it and it happened at the Beeston Feast. The rest of the year would be punctuated by an occasional visit to Hamilton’s Panorama or the ‘Rhodes Show’, watching with undying fascination Uncle Tom’s Cabin, Maria Marten, or the Murder in the Red Barn. At Whitsuntide there was the ‘Whit Walk’ and Christmas of course was the time to sing carols around the village terminating at Beeston Hall where the owner handed out the traditional pennies and chocolates to the choir. The time came for Tom to start work, this would probably mean either in agriculture or mining both of which flourished in Beeston. However, he could not seem to settle in any job and by the time he was 26 he seems to have had about twenty different jobs. He even tried his hand as a blacksmith at the forge where the Beeston bus now terminates and another was that of a Page Boy at the ‘Old Grand Restaurant’ in Boar Lane, Leeds. By 1895 he had amassed enough money to pay for his passage to South Africa and on this journey he was accompanied by one ‘Hooker’ Addiman. The whole village turned out to see them away,
February 2022 | South Leeds Life
and in a letter quoting the experience many years later he wrote: “We were given a reight royal send off in Wilk’s Waggonette”. Tom arrived in Durban (Natal) in South Africa without a penny to his name, but over the years he became a very successful Hotelier and when he died in 1962 aged 92 he left a fortune
of £140,000. Tom Watson once described himself as being “weighed down with money” but he never forgot his Beeston roots and he distributed thousands of pounds here during his lifetime. In 1936 he gave Beeston Methodist Church a window showing Holman Hunt’s picture “The Light of the World” as the centrepiece. The window was dedicated to his parents and placed near it was a plaque in memory of Mr. Watson’s sister who was accidentally killed at Beeston Railway Station during a Whitsuntide outing. In 1949 he donated £1,000 to the boys of his old school, Beeston County Primary, the accrued interest to be dispersed each year by the Trustees amongst the pupils in the form of initiative awards above and beyond the provisions of the Local Education Authority. He gave £2,000 towards the Veterans Shelter (Watsonian Pavilion) in Cross Flatts Park and which he opened in 1952. Tom Watson’s last act of charity in Beeston was to donate £4,000 towards the conversion of part of the old graveyard at St Mary’s Church into a Garden of Rest though this site is now occupied by the Church Hall. A new window was
Watson was born in this house on Town Street commissioned by Mr W West, Hon Treasurer of the Durban Homes for Men, one of the South African Charities supported by Tom Watson. The first inquiry into making an exact replica of the Methodist Chapel window in Beeston was put to Elliff Brothers glass works in Mabgate, who accepted the commission and to ensure it was accurate in every detail it was photographed in colour on site at the Beeston Chapel. Nothing more was heard of the project for some years then a month after the death of Thomas Watson Elliff Brothers were asked to carry out the work on the window. This new window measured 91 inches by
55¾ inches and when it was ready it was despatched for installation in a Church in Durban. The explanation offered for the initial delay was the South African Government had ‘frozen’ the money and had not given permission for the import of the window for ten years. Thomas Watson’s ashes were brought back from South Africa and were scattered in the Garden of Rest at St. Mary’s Church. All his gifts to the village totalled well over £7,000 giving Beeston cause to remember him as an all time ‘Grandfather of Beeston’ - a village tradition of passing on this title to the oldest male inhabitant.
Changing landscapes Middleton Railway's surroundings have changed dramatically over the years since the railway was rescued back in 1960. Gone is the industrial landscape, replaced by much greenery. The photo shows "Swanscombe No 6" approaching Middleton Park in 1972. Immediately behind the wall is the "Old Run" the route to the colliery. Dominating the photo is "The Alps", the spoil tip from the then recently closed Middleton Broom Colliery. This was landscaped in the late 1970s to early 1980s to produce what we can see and enjoy today. Middleton Railway is currently closed and will reopen on Saturday 2 April. Photo: Keith Hartley
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South Leeds Life | February 2022
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20 What’s On
What’s On
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Full details of every event including map and contact details are available at www.southleedslife.com/events
Your guide to events and activities across South Leeds in February All events listed here have been planned around current Covid-19 restrictions and booking is often required, please contact the organisers to make sure the events are going ahead as the situation changes Please check that regular events are not affected by school holidays, 21-25 February Full contact details can be found in our online What’s On guide at www.southleedslife.com/events
Every Monday Mums & Tots, Tea & Toast 9-10:30am Beeston Parish Centre, Town Street Community Play Group 9-11:30am Little Angels Playzone, The Sugar Mill, Beeston ESOL Beginners class 9:30am-12pm Asha Neighbourhood Project, Beeston Book: 0113 270 4600 Crafts Group 9:30-10:45am Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Acre Road Holbeck Together coffee morning 10am-12pm St Matthew’s Community Centre Mindfulmess (online) 10:30am Cranmore & Raylands Community Centre, Belle Isle Book: 07305 167629 Chair Based Exercise 10:30am-12pm BISA 59 Club, 59 Belle Isle Circus Bingo and Hoy 11am-12pm Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Acre Road Hunslet TARA Walking Group 11am outside Hunslet Community Hub & Library, Church Street MHA Soup & a Sandwich and Digital Health Hub 11:30am-1pm St Andrew’s Community Centre, Old Lane, Beeston Dinner Jackets (baked potato) 12-1pm St Matthew’s Community Centre Lunch Club 12-1:30pm Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Acre Road MHA Lunch Club 12-1:30pm Cottingley Community Centre Dance class 12:30-1:30pm Tenants Hall, Acre Close, Middleton Gentle Exercise 12:30pm Cranmore & Raylands Community Centre, Belle Isle Lunchtime meditation 12:30-1pm Over Zoom. Book: jamyangleeds.co.uk/wellbeing Drop In Technology Support 1-3pm St Luke’s Church, Malvern Road, Beeston Hill 50+ Women’s Group 1-2:30pm Asha Neighbourhood Project, Beeston Book: 0113 270 4600 Baking Together (online) 1:30-2:30pm Cranmore & Raylands Community Centre Book: 07305 167629 Beeston Hillers’ Book Club 1:30-2:30pm Dewsbury Road Community Hub & Library Beeston Digital Inclusion Classes 1:30-3:30pm BISA 59 Club, 59 Belle Isle Circus Reiki 1:45pm &3:30pm Cranmore & Raylands Community Centre, Belle Isle Book: 07305 167629 Dance On 2-3pm Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Acre Road.
Multi Sports for kids 5pm Cranmore & Raylands Community Centre Gateway 2 Sport 5-7pm Manorfield Hall, Newhall Road, Belle Isle Yoga with Amelia 6-7pm Jamyang Buddhist Centre, Ingram Road, Holbeck Illuminate Dance 6 & 7pm Cranmore & Raylands Community Centre Kickboxing 6:30-8:30pm Beeston Parish Centre, Town Street Be Creative 7-8:30pm over Zoom. Book: fb.com/YourSpaceLeeds Drop In Mediatation for Beginners 7-8pm Jamyang Buddhist Centre, Ingram Road, Holbeck
Every Tuesday Tots Group 9-11am Manorfield Hall, Newhall Road, Belle Isle Book: 07794 577586 Community Play Group 9-11:30am Little Angels Playzone, The Sugar Mill, Beeston MHA Breakfast Buddies 9-11am St Andrew’s Community Centre, Old Lane, Beeston Advice & Advocacy 9:30am-2:30pm Asha Neighbourhood Project, Beeston Book: 0113 270 4600 Active Tots 9:30am Cranmore & Raylands Community Centre, Belle Isle ESOL Entry 1 class 9:30am-12pm Asha Neighbourhood Project, Beeston Book: 0113 270 4600 Computer class 9:30am-12pm Asha Neighbourhood Project, Beeston Book: 0113 270 4600 Holbeck Together shopping trip 9:30am-12:30pm Book: 0113 245 5553 Coffee and Connect 10-11:30am St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck Holbeck Together Charity Shop 10am-12pm St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck Bosom Buddies breastfeeding support 10am-12pm Tenants Hall Enterprise Centre, Acre Close, Middleton Book: (0113) 270 6903 Woodwork 10am Cranmore & Raylands Community Centre, Belle Isle Affordable Breakfast 10:30am Cranmore & Raylands Community Centre, Belle Isle MHA Exercise 10-11am Beeston Village Community Centre, off Town St Hunslet TARA Litterpicking 10am meet Church of the Nazarene, Grove Road Gardening Group 10:30am-12:30pm Asha
Neighbourhood Project, Beeston Book: 0113 270 4600 Zumba / Pilates 11am-12pm Asha Neighbourhood Project, Beeston via Zoom Book: 0113 270 4600 Bingo and Hoy 11am-12pm Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Acre Road Quiz Time (online) 11am Cranmore & Raylands Community Centre, Belle Isle Book: 07305 167629 MEA Lunch Club 12-1:30pm Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Acre Road Holbeck Together Lunch Club 12-1:30pm St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck MHA Lunch and Social 12-2:30pm Parnaby Tavern, Middleton Road, Hunslet Lunch Club and Social 12-3pm BISA 59 Club, 59 Belle Isle Circus Bingo 12pm Cranmore & Raylands Community Centre, Belle Isle Lunchtime meditation 12:30-1pm Over Zoom. Book: jamyangleeds.co.uk/wellbeing ESOL class 12:30-3pm Asha Neighbourhood Project, Beeston Book: 0113 270 4600 Line Dancing 1-3pm St Anthony’s Church Hall, Old Lane, Beeston Line Dancing 1-3pm St Andrew’s Community Centre, Old Lane, Beeston Walking Group 1:30-3:30pm Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Acre Road. Women’s Peer Support Group 1:30pm Cranmore & Raylands Community Centre Games Afternoon / Singing Group 2-3pm St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck Line Dancing 2-3:30pm Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Acre Road. Yoga 2-3pm Asha Neighbourhood Project, Beeston via Zoom Book: 0113 270 4600 Digital Skills Workshop 4-5pm Dewsbury Road Community Hub & Library Book: 07435 914350 Illuminate Dance 4:30pm Cranmore & Raylands Community Centre Rainbows and Brownies 4:30-7:15pm Beeston Parish Centre, Town Street DAZL Dance 5:30-6:30pm Cottingley Community Centre Dance Fitness (14+) 6-7pm Middleton Community Centre, Acre Road Book: 07519 018675 Outdoor Yoga 6pm Top of Cross Flatts Park Book: 07576 113269
Inside Out exercise class 6-7pm Tenants Hall, Acre Close, Middleton Free Football sessions (8-18 yrs) 6:30-8:30pm Holbeck Community Centre, Old Elland Road. Book: richard.foye@leedsunited.com South Leeds Lakers Running Club 6:55pm Beeston Village Community Centre. Book: bit.ly/LakersRunning Yoga 7pm Cranmore & Raylands Community Centre, Belle Isle Hunslet Nelson Women’s Rounders 7-8pm Middleton Leisure Centre
Every Wednesday One You Weight Management 8:30am-12:30pm Manorfield Hall, Newhall Road, Belle Isle Everyday Life coffee morning 9-11am Beeston Village Community Centre, Beeston Park Place, off Town Street Advice & Advocacy 9:30am-2:30pm Asha Neighbourhood Project, Beeston Book: 0113 270 4600 Open doors 9:30-10:30am St Andrew’s Methodist Church, Old Lane, Beeston ESOL Enty 1 class 9:30am-12pm Asha Neighbourhood Project, Beeston Book: 0113 270 4600 Mums & Tots 9:30am Cranmore & Raylands Community Centre, Belle Isle Bacon Butty morning / News Cafe / Pop Up Shop / Textile & Painting / Bereavement Group 9:30-11:30am Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Acre Road. Holbeck Together coffee morning 10am-12pm Ingram Court Community Room, Holbeck Holbeck Together Charity Shop 10am-12pm St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck Woodwork 10am Cranmore & Raylands Community Centre, Belle Isle Beeston In Bloom Gardening Group 10am-12pm Millennium Garden, Cross Flatts Park Confidence Building course 10:30am-12pm Tenants Hall, Acre Close, Middleton Hunslet TARA Estate Walkabout 11am meet Best One shop, Rocheford Walk Singing 11am Cranmore & Raylands Community Centre, Belle Isle Holbeck Together Lunch Club 12-1:30pm Ingram Court Community Room, Holbeck Community Cafe 12:30-2pm Cranmore & Raylands Community Centre, Belle Isle Lunchtime meditation 12:30-1pm Over Zoom. Book: j
jamyangleeds.co.uk/wellbeing Peer Support Group 1-2:30pm Asha Neighbourhood Project, Beeston via Zoom Book: 0113 270 4600 Parents & Tots 1:30-2:30pm Ingram Court Community Room, Holbeck Walk and Talk 2-3pm meet at Middleton Park main gates on Town Street Tai Chi 2pm Cranmore & Raylands Community Centre, Belle Isle Slimming World 2-9pm Beeston Parish Centre, Town Street. Book: 07841 488658 Skate Mates 3:30-5pm LS-TEN, Kitson Road Book: ls-ten.org/skatemates Family Cooking 4pm Cranmore & Raylands Community Centre, Belle Isle Free Football sessions (8-18 yrs) 5-7pm South Leeds Youth Hub, Belle Isle. Book: richard.foye@leedsunited.com Bat & Chat Table Tennis 5-7pm Dewsbury Road Community Hub & Library Yoga 5-6pm Asha Neighbourhood Project, Beeston via Zoom Book: 0113 270 4600 1st SLAM Beavers (6-8 yrs) 6-7:30pm St Andrew’s Community Centre, Cardinal Road, Beeston Illuminate Dance 6 & 8pm Cranmore & Raylands Community Centre, Belle Isle Holbeck Chat & Chill 6-7:30pm St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck Holbeck Moor FC: Inclusive adult football training 6:30pm Holbeck Moor Line Dancing 6:45-9pm Manorfield Hall, Newhall Road, Belle Isle Dru Yoga 7-8:15pm Jamyang Buddhist Centre, Ingram Road, Holbeck
Yoga 7-8pm Beeston Parish Centre, Town Street Book: 07576 113269
Every Thursday Tots Group 9-11am Manorfield Hall, Newhall Road, Belle Isle Book: 07794 577586 Music & Movement 9am-1pm Little Angels Playzone, The Sugar Mill, Beeston Advice & Advocacy 9:30am-2:30pm Asha Neighbourhood Project, Beeston Book: 0113 270 4600 Computer class / ESOL 2/3 class 9:30am-12pm Asha Neighbourhood Project, Beeston Book: 0113 270 4600 Affordable Breakfast 9:30am Cranmore & Raylands Community Centre, Belle Isle Holbeck Together shopping trip 9:30am-12:30pm Book: 0113 245 5553 Ping Pong 9:30-10:30am Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Acre Road Holbeck Community Shop 10am-2pm St Matthew’s Community Centre Library Story Bus 10-11:30am Holbeck Community Centre, Elland Road Walk in Cross Flatts Park Meet 10am Hamara Centre, Tempest Road, Beeston Woodwork / Knit & Natter / Beauty Treatments 10am Cranmore & Raylands Community Centre, Belle Isle Holbeck Together Community Cafe / Community Shop 10:30am-2pm St Matthew’s Community Centre Craft Group / Digital Inclusion 10:30am-12pm BISA 59 Club, 59 Belle Isle Circus Inclusive dance 11am-12pm Watsonian Pavilion, Cross Flatts Park
Publicise your event with South Leeds Life’s FREE listings Call/text: 07894 583966 Email: info@southleedslife.com Post: 224 Cross Flatts Grove, Leeds, LS11 7BW
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Bingo and Hoy 11am-12pm Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Acre Road Line Dancing 11:30am-12:30pm St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck Lunch Club 12-1:30pm Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Acre Road MHA Lunch Club & Social 12-2:30pm St Andrew’s Community Centre, Old Lane, Beeston Lunchtime meditation 12:30-1pm Over Zoom. Book: jamyangleeds.co.uk/wellbeing Tea Dance 1pm Cranmore & Raylands Community Centre, Belle Isle Draw with Celia 1-3pm Jamyang Buddhist Centre, Ingram Road, Holbeck Be Friends Group 1-2:30pm Watsonian Pavilion, Cross Flatts Park Online classes 1-2:30pm Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Acre Road. Table Tennis 1-2:30pm St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck Walking Group 1:30-3:30pm Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Acre Road Digital Inclusion / Social Group 1:30-3pm BISA 59 Club, 59 Belle Isle Circus Camera Club 1:30pm Cranmore & Raylands Community Centre, Belle Isle Illuminate Dance 4pm Cranmore & Raylands Community Centre, Belle Isle Elevate Women’s Wellbeing Group 4-5:30pm over Zoom. Book: fb.com/YourSpaceLeeds Women’s Chat & Chill Evening 4:30-6pm BITMO’s GATE, Aberfield Gate, Belle Isle Middleton Scout Group 5:30-7:30pm Manorfield Hall, Newhall Road, Belle Isle Book: scoutsmiddleton@gmail.com Zumba / Pilates 6-7pm Asha Neighbourhood Project, Beeston via Zoom Book: 0113 270 4600 Yoga 7-8pm Beeston Parish Centre, Town Street. Book: 07512 393228
Community Centre Holbeck Together Dance On 10-11am Holbeck Moor Gardening Group 10am-12pm BISA 59 Club, 59 Belle Isle Circus MHA Stretch & Tone 10-11am St Andrew’s Community Centre, Old Lane, Beeston Hunslet TARA Gardening 10am meet Church of the Nazarene, Grove Road Digital Hub IT Support 10-12pm Cranmore & Raylands Community Centre, Belle Isle Arts & Crafts 11am Cranmore & Raylands Community Centre, Belle Isle Bingo and Hoy 11am-12pm Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Acre Road MHA Lunch Club 12-1:30pm Beeston Parish Centre, Town Street Lunch Club 12-1:30pm Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Acre Road Fish & Chip Lunch Club 12-1:30pm St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck Lunchtime meditation 12:30-1pm Over Zoom. Book: jamyangleeds.co.uk/wellbeing Ballroom & Sequence Dancing 1-3pm St Andrew’s Community Centre, Old Lane, Beeston Little Legs Rugby 1-3pm Manorfield Hall, Newhall Road, Belle Isle Line Dancing 1:30pm Cranmore & Raylands Community Centre, Belle Isle Bingo Afternoon 1:30-3pm St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck Friday Social Club 1:30-3:30pm BISA 59 Club, 59 Belle Isle Circus Chair-based Exercise 1:45-2:45pm Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Acre Road. Book: 0113 272 1050 Poetry (online) 3pm Cranmore & Raylands Community Centre, Belle Isle Book: 07305 167629 Free Football sessions (8-18 yrs) 4-5:30pm Holbeck Moor. Book: richard.foye@leedsunited.com Table Tennis 4:45-5:25pm (7-11yrs) 5:306:15pm (12-15yrs) St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck Illuminate Dance 5pm Cranmore & Raylands Community Centre, Belle Isle South Leeds Lakers Juniors (Athletics) 6-7pm South Leeds Stadium Book: fb.com/juniorlakersleeds 1st SLAM Cubs (8-10½ yrs) 6:15-7:45pm St Andrew’s Community Centre, Cardinal Road, Beeston 1st SLAM Scouts (10½-14 yrs) 8-9:30pm St Andrew’s Community Centre, Cardinal Road, Beeston
Every Friday Charity Shop 8:30-11:30am United Free Church, Malvern Road, Beeston Happy Global Families 9-10:30am Beeston Village Community Centre, Beeston Park Place, off Town Street Stay & Play 9-11am St Anthony’s Church Hall, Old Lane, Beeston Stay & Play 9am-6pm Little Angels Playzone, The Sugar Mill, Beeston Food Bank 9-11am Manorfield Hall, Newhall Road, Belle Isle Affordable Breakfast 9:30am Cranmore & Raylands Community Centre, Belle Isle ESOL 2/3 class 9:30am-12pm Asha Neighbourhood Project, Beeston Book: 0113 270 4600 Toast, Cuppa & Games 9:30-11am Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Acre Road. Hunslet RLFC Breakfast Club 10am-12pm Phoenix Suite, South Leeds Stadium Holbeck Together coffee morning 10am-12pm St Matthew’s
Every Saturday Cross Flatts parkrun 9am Top of Cross Flatts Park Middleton Woods parkrun 9am Leeds Urban Bike Park Debbie Heart Theatre School 9am-1pm Manorfield Hall, Newhall Road, Belle Isle DAZL Tinys (Age 3-5) DAZL Xplode (Age 6-9; 10+) DAZL HQ, Middleton Community Centre, Acre Road. Book: fb.com/danceactionzoneleeds Saturday Breakfast 9:30-11am Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Acre Road
February 2022 | South Leeds Life
What’s On 21 Park Roll rollerskating 10am-12pm Sports Courts, Cross Flatts Park, Beeston Book: ls-ten.org ParkPlay 10:30am Brickfield Park, Lady Pit Lane, Beeston Yoga 12-1pm Beeston Parish Centre, Town Street Book: 07576 113269 School Uniform Swap Shop 11am-1pm Bridge Cafe, Cross Flatts Park, Beeston
Every Sunday Junior parkrun (4-14 yrs) 9am Top of Cross Flatts Park Knitting Group 10am-12pm Watsonian Pavilion, Cross Flatts Park Recovery Runners 10am The Glass Box, Leeds Dock Indoor Children’s Exercise 10am-12pm Hillside, Beeston Rd Healthy Minds Cycling Skills 10-11am Watsonian Pavilion, Cross Flatts Park Toning & Stretching with Julie 6:30-7:30pm DAZL HQ, Middleton Community Centre, Acre Road. Book: 07783 786776 Wednesday 2 February MHA Rambling Group Book: (0113) 271 6201 MHA Kurling 10-11am St Andrew’s Community Centre, Old Lane, Beeston Leeds Irish Health Group 10am-12pm Beeston Parish Centre, Town Street MHA Pot of Tea Dementia Cafe 1-3pm St Andrew’s Community Centre, Old Lane, Beeston Hunslet Tenants & Residents 6:30-8pm Church of the Nazarene, Grove Road Miscarriage Support Group 7-8:30pm Charlies-Angel-Centre, 6B Ashbrooke Park, LS11 5SF Thursday 3 February Hunslet Carr Residents Assoc 6:30-8pm Woodhouse Hill Community Centre Community Support Group 7-8:30pm Charlies-Angel-Centre, 6B Ashbrooke Park, LS11 5SF Beeston Community Forum 7:30-9pm Beeston Village Community Centre, Beeston Park Place, off Town Street Saturday 5 February Holbeck & Beeston Cemetery Volunteers 10am-1pm Meet centre of Holbeck Cemetery, Beeston Road Coffee morning 10am-12pm Beeston Parish Centre, Town Street Coffee morning 10am-12pm Church of the Nazarene, Grove Road, Hunslet Saturday Family Film Club 11am-1pm St George’s Middleton Community Hub & Library My Jerusalem 7:30pm The Holbeck, Jenkinson Lawn Book: slunglow.org Sunday 6 February Hunslet RLFC v Leeds Rhinos 3pm South Leeds Stadium, JCCS, Middleton Grove Monday 7 February Leeds Apprenticeship Fair 2-8pm first direct arena, Clay Pit Lane Men’s Corner 7-8:30pm Charlies-Angel-Centre, 6B Ashbrooke Park, LS11 5SF Tuesday 8 February Get Set Leeds Local Community Panel 4:30-5:30pm online at bit.ly/GSLLPanel
Wednesday 9 February Hunslet TARA Action Day 10am-3pm Hunslet Community Hub and Library, Church Street White Rose Speakers 7pm Jury’s Inn hotel, Brewery Wharf Thursday 10 February Library Story Bus 12:45-1:15pm Hunslet St. Mary's Children's Centre, Church Street Saturday 12 February Too Pretty To Punch 7:30pm The Holbeck, Jenkinson Lawn Book: slunglow.org Tuesday 15 February Hunslet TARA Coffee & PCSOs 10am Hunslet Community Hub and Library, Church Street Wednesday 16 February Leeds Irish Health Group 10am-12pm Beeston Parish Centre, Town Street MHA Kurling 10-11am St Andrew’s Community Centre, Old Lane, Beeston Saturday 19 February Your Space Craft & Cafe 10am-12pm Jamyang Buddhist Centre, Ingram Road, Holbeck Coffee morning 10am-12pm Beeston Parish Centre, Town Street Women’s Walking Group ?? 11am-1pm Book: 07435 914350 How To Be A Better Human 7:30pm The Holbeck, Jenkinson Lawn Book: slunglow.org Monday 21 February Carers Leeds Walk & Talk 11am-12:30pm Middleton Park Visitor Centre, off Town Street Craft Club 1:30-4pm Beeston Parish Centre, Town Street Tuesday 22 February Mostly Men 9:30am-12pm St Andrew’s Community Centre, Old Lane, Beeston Wednesday 23 February Library Story Bus 10am-3pm The Tetley, Hunslet Road Friday 25 February Beeston Nightriders cycle ride 7-9pm Meet Chaii Shack, Kashmir supermarket car park, Dewsbury Road, Beeston Saturday 26 February EN-GER-LAND 7:30pm The Holbeck, Jenkinson Lawn Book: slunglow.org Sunday 27 February Holbeck Together Sunday Lunch 12-2pm St Matthew’s Community Centre Book: 0113 245 5553 Leeds Dads meet up 2-4pm The Holbeck, Jenkinson Lawn Book: leedsdads.org/events Tuesday 1 March Hearing Aid Clinic 10am-1:30pm Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Acre Road Grandparents Social Circle 7-8:30pm Charlies-Angel-Centre, 6B Ashbrooke Park, LS11 5SF Wednesday 2 March MHA Rambling Group Book: (0113) 271 6201 MHA Kurling 10-11am St Andrew’s Community Centre, Old Lane, Beeston Leeds Irish Health Group 10am-12pm Beeston Parish Centre, Town Street MHA Pot of Tea Dementia Cafe 1-3pm St Andrew’s Community Centre, Old Lane, Beeston Hunslet Tenants & Residents 6:30-8pm Church of the Nazarene, Grove Road Miscarriage Support Group 7-8:30pm Charlies-Angel-Centre,
IN BRIEF Leeds Apprenticeship Fair The Leeds Apprenticeship Fair takes place at the first direct arena on 7 February between 2–8pm. The fantastic line up of exhibitors including BAM Nuttall, Blacks Solicitors, Health and Care Apprenticeships, Jet2, Leeds City College, Leeds College of Building, Philips Hair Academy, The Armed Forces, The Coders Guild, The College of Animal Welfare, Utterberry, West Yorkshire Police, Yorkshire Building Society, Zenith and many more. To help manage numbers through the event and to assist with Covid safety measures visitors must book their free ticket in advance at: bit.ly/LeedsAppFair.
Here comes the Story Bus! Stomp, stomp, big fuss! Here comes the Story Bus! Sam and Nelly are back on the road! From late January to early February keep and eye out for our Story Buses, perfect for the under 5s. They're packed with brilliant board books, perfect picture books and terrific toys just for that age group. They are covered inside and out in beautiful illustrations by author and illustrator Nick Sharratt, chosen by little ones in Children's Centres across Leeds. Families can also start their Ready Steady Readers journey, learn about other Library and Council services, or explore books together with guidance and recommendations from our Librarian. The bus is calling at Hunslet St. Mary's Children's Centre (12:45-1:15pm) on Thursday 10 February; The Tetley art gallery (10am-3:30pm) on Wednesday 23 February; and at Holbeck Community Centre on Elland Road every Thursday (10-11:30am)
The Story Bus outside Hunslet Community Hub & Library
Beeston Footpaths Following last month’s article about action by Team Beeston to focus on improvements to help with increased use of footpaths in the area, an open meeting is being held at which the team will present their findings to Leeds City Council and to ask for commitments to a possible way forward. The meeting will take place at St Mary's Parish Centre, Town Street, Beeston on Tuesday 22 February between 6-7.30pm.
White Rose Speakers If you want to practice public speaking, build your confidence, develop leadership skills or just make some great friends, White Rose Speakers could be the place for you. We pride ourselves on the supportive, family like feel of our club and will do our very best to help you achieve whatever communication and leadership goals you may have at your own pace. Our meetings are held at the Jurys Inn hotel, Brewery Wharf, Leeds, LS10 1NE on the second Wednesday of each month and online on the fourth Wednesday of each month. They start at 7pm prompt. If you would like to see what it’s all about, please feel free to come along (for no charge) to one of our meetings as a guest, where you will be most welcome. Fellow Toastmasters from other clubs are always welcome too! 6B Ashbrooke Park, LS11 5SF Thursday 3 March Hunslet Carr Residents Assoc 6:30-8pm Woodhouse Hill Community Centre Community Support Group 7-8:30pm Charlies-Angel-Centre, 6B Ashbrooke Park, LS11 5SF Beeston Community Forum 7:30-9pm Beeston Village
Community Centre, Beeston Park Place, off Town Street Saturday 5 March Holbeck & Beeston Cemetery Volunteers 10am-1pm Meet centre of Holbeck Cemetery, Beeston Road Women’s Walking Group 11am-1pm Book: 07435 914350
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South Leeds Life | February 2022
Twitter: @SouthLeedsLife
22 What’s On
Reiki classes in Belle Isle by Amy Hallam
H
ealth for All has linked up with The Reiki Experience to offer beginners Reiki classes to over 50’s in the Leeds area who would like to make new friends and learn a lovely technique that benefits the body and mind. Life can be stressful for many of us and it is therefore important to take time do what makes you feel good. Trying something new, meeting new friends and learning a skill can make a real difference. Sue Malcolm, Master Reiki Practitioner and Teacher, who
Photo: Shutterstock
will be running the classes said “I have seen some of my students totally transformed within a few months of learning Reiki and ready to face the world with new interest, confidence and enthusiasm. When learning Reiki myself, I was told it would change my life. I didn’t believe it …. but here I am now teaching the wonders of this gentle yet effective technique and running a holistic animal good cause organisation (Friends Of Baxter Animal Care) that offers Reiki to distressed, nervous and otherwise suffering animals.”
Reiki is a holistic, noninvasive, complementary therapy that is most well known for its relaxing and calming effects. This healing energy technique promotes the body’s own natural healing and may help with physical, mental and emotional issues. In addition to being relaxing, which in itself can help to reduce stress or anxiety, Reiki can be uplifting and produce an enhanced feeling of overall well-being. Growing numbers of people are also seeking this therapy to assist with recovery from injury, surgery and illness, in addition to many other health matters. Treatments are given in a quiet environment, fully clothed, sitting or lying on a treatment bed. The 10-week class will include Reiki attunements, as well as learning theory and putting your learning into practice. After this course you will be able to give Reiki to yourself and to friends and family. This therapy can benefit men, women, children of all
ages and animals, and it is lovely to both give to and receive. Anyone can learn it. There just needs to be a desire to help yourself and/or others, along with a feeling of compassion. Then Reiki will flow to those open to receiving it. Classes run on Mondays at 1:45pm at the Cranmore and Raylands Community Centre, South Leeds. Just six places are available per course and most sessions must be attended for a level 1 Reiki certificate to be awarded at the end of the course. This could set you on the way to take our further training to becoming a fully-qualified Reiki Practitioner helping other people and possibly animals too. So, if it interests you, what are you waiting for? Make 2022 your year! For enquiries or to book a place please contact me: amy.halam@healthforall.org .uk or call 07305 167629. To read more about Reiki and Sue’s work see www.thereikiexperience.co.uk
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New performance academy open day D
oes your child like to act, dance or sing? LB Academy are holding an open day at their new location in South Leeds on Saturday 12 February. At the open day you will get the chance to work with their industry tutors and participate in acting, dancing and singing workshops. The fun packed sessions will
offer an insight into what the LB Academy offers. Alexandra Mardell, who plays Emma Brooker in Coronation Street will be attending and will select two students on the day to receive a 50% Scholarship for a year. The session runs from 10:30am-1:30pm and costs £15. Email academy@lbact.co .uk to book your place.
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Website: www.southleedslife.com
February 2022 | South Leeds Life
Email: info@southleedslife.com
Sporting Life 23
Hunslet Club Parkside power Call to get to BARLA Yorkshire Cup victory active through football P
Hunslet Parkside celebrate winning the BARLA Yorkshire Cup
by Phil Goodfield
H
unslet Club Parkside overcame plucky opponents Doncaster Toll Bar 32-0 in the BARLA Yorkshire Cup Final on Sunday 9 January at Featherstone Rovers’ Millennium Stadium. Parkside kicked off to their south Yorkshire opponents in the crisp winter sunshine. The opening minutes were nip and tuck, both sides anxious not to give the opposition any advantage but it was Parkside who scored the opening try on 6 mins, scrum half Craig McShane picking up where he left off a week before and settling early nerves by darting over out wide from the play the ball. Mark Stubley drove over the line under the posts for the second score on 19’ following a Toll Bar effort which was
disallowed by the referee. Connor Squires converted taking the score to 10 – 0 which was the score as the first half came to a conclusion, though not before the sinbinning of Parkside’s Ritchie Westwood. The first ten minutes of the second half were crucial to the outcome of the game, Toll Bar having a second effort disallowed by the referee in the opening minutes, but it was Parkside who scored again when Stubley went over under the posts for his second try, again converted by Squires for 16-0. Two telling interventions from off-half Omar Alrawi lead to full back Dean Bowles going over for the next try on 53’, Squires adding the extras. Two further tries for Parkside went to centre Lewis MacMillan following good handling from Bowles and Westwood on 58’
Hunslet’s cup weekend Continued from page 23 regained his feet before Harvey Whiteley completed the tackle and the Parksiders’ line stayed intact. At this point Keighley’s discipline let them down. With Daniel Parker in the sin-bin Harvey Whiteley nipped over on the last tackle to stretch Hunslet’s lead to 14-6. With only ten minutes to go Kiedan Hartley opened up the Cougars defence, before Jordan Paga and a rampaging Duane Straugheir sent Harvey Whiteley over for his second try. This seemed to be the straw that broke the camel’s back for Keighley as first Darley, then Kesik saw red and left us for an early bath.
Mallinson added another two points for security from the ensuing penalty and on the hooter the Parksiders celebrated a well earned victory 22-6. No player had a poor game, but the half backs Gibbons and Mallinson marshalled the team well, Whiteley was superb at acting half-back and Hallas and Summers never stopped going forward. Man of the Match though was Josh JordanRoberts who on his return to Hunslet did a stack of tackling and ran the Cougars defence ragged. The draw for the third round was due to take place after we went to press. Check our website for details.
and in the final moments of the game second row Harry Dodd scored a long range individual effort, which he converted himself for the 32-0 final score. Parkside have previously won the BARLA Yorkshire Cup in 2011/12 and 2013/14. Seasoned campaigner Mark Stubley was Player of the Match selected by the press on duty. Scoring a brace of tries today, Mark picked up the story after the game: “Me, Wayne Foster and Ryan Campbell have played in all three of our Yorkshire Cup wins spanning ten years. Today’s game was a real collective effort. We’ve got a good mix of youth and experience running right through this team which is great for the future of the club”. Coach Carl Briggs, a fourth link with the club’s previous wins as a player in 2011 and 2014 and in charge today
thought his players were outstanding: “After the terrible weather in last week’s semi-final the entire team from 1 to 17 did a terrific job against tough opposition this afternoon. A few nervous lads went out today appearing in their first major final and they all came through the test with flying colours!” Echoing his coach’s words Skipper Elliot Morgan was proud of the way everyone approached the game: “We had talked about how the opposition would take the game to us in the opening stages and how we needed to match them. We did that and once we’d weathered the storm we went on to play our game. Coming down the hill in the second half we were very good. We knew if we played our own game no one would beat us and that’s how it turned out.”
assion for football runs through every corner of the country, and it has the potential to transform lives and communities. The exciting new Active Through Football project is coming to South Leeds to help more adults get into the sport and unlock its many benefits. Football has the power to bring communities together and help people build connections. Getting involved in your local football group is a great way to meet new people and socialise with your neighbours. Also, whether you want to get more active, make new friends, pick up new skills or just have more of a routine, it can be a great way to improve mental health. All whilst improving your fitness and coordination! That’s why partners across Leeds have come together to deliver the Active Through Football programme to several areas in the city, including Hunslet, Beeston and Holbeck. The project is led by Leeds United Foundation and funded by the Football Foundation, yet the community is still firmly at the heart of the project. Whether you would prefer a casual kick around, walking football or 5-a-side matches, your voice will be heard. The aim is to get people moving, so even if you have never kicked a ball or scored a goal before, there will be something for you. We have community launch events coming up in the February Half term and all will
run between 3:30–5:30pm. The events will take place at Slung Low in Holbeck and the Hamara Centre in Beeston. Please come along and express your views on what you would like from the project. Also Keep an eye out near you as the project launches in February for certain sessions. If you are interested in having your say or finding out more, please contact Ben Potter from the Leeds United Foundation: ben.potter@leedsunited.com or 07706 324840.
Or if you would like to volunteer to help at the sessions and make a difference in your community, you can find out more information by contacting Ben. Ben Potter, Active Through Football Project Lead commented: “Active Through Football is a fantastic opportunity for you to have your say and get active the way you want to. A shared love of football is bringing communities in Leeds together and making a real difference to people’s lives. No matter your skill level, get in touch and get involved!”
Miraculous season for new club N
ew local football club Beeston Parkside FC continue their remarkable first season, with more wins this past month - including a hardfought 2-1 victory over promotion rivals Whitkirk Wanderers. Only formed last summer, the club are now unbeaten at the halfway point of the season, having won 7 and drawn 2. They are top of division 4 of the Leeds Combination Association league, with their sights firmly set on promotion. Co-founder and manager Damo Broadbent told us: "We've done so well in this, our maiden year. It’s a miracle what
the lads have done, and the support from the community and local businesses has been overwhelming. It's been a great start, and there's a lot to look forward to." Parkside are based at Cross Flatts Park, play their matches on Sundays, and train on Thursday evenings. New members are always welcome. Full information at: fb.com/ BeestonParkside. The club are holding a fundraiser at Hunslet Nelson Cricket Club on Saturday 2 April and are actively looking for event sponsors. The event will include food trucks, a mini market, games and activities.
Beeston Parkside FC in action
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South Leeds Life | February 2022
Twitter: @SouthLeedsLife
24 Sporting Life
Two wins in Hunslet’s big cup weekend by Phil Goodfield and Ian Pickles
T
here are two Hunslet clubs in the draw for the third round of the Betfred Challenge Cup following great wins for Hunslet Club Parkside and Hunslet RLFC. Hunslet Club Parkside were first through, beating fellow Leeds NCL side Stanningley 22-12 on Saturday 29 January. Their semi professional neighbours joined them the following day beating Keighley Cougars 22-6 at South Leeds Stadium. Bright sunshine and a howling wind greeted the combatants and a healthy crowd at Station Moor. Parkside were missing stalwarts Craig McShane, Andy Hullock and Ben Shulver, but a hard fought first half saw them lead 10-0 at the break. Parkside added to their first half lead on 68’ when Omar Alrawi’s pass put left wing Connor Squires over in the corner, brilliantly converted from the touch line by Jamie Fields for a try which proved to be the game-breaker for a 160 lead. The last five minutes of the match saw three tries, the
Kiedan Hartley scores Hunslet RLFC’s first try against Keighley. Photo: Paul Butterfield first to Stanningley through Josh Adams, quickly followed by Kieran Webster’s effort for Parkside. The final action of the game seeing the visitors crossing for their second. Captain Jamie Fields spoke to South Leeds Life after the game: “Today’s game was a tough
Ping Pong for the people by Karen Peck
P
ing Pong or Table Tennis? What do you call it? Regardless of what you know it by, it’s an activity which can be enjoyed by all ages, from toddlers, children, adults and older adults. It’s a game which can be adapted so that all abilities can play in some way. The opportunities to have a go are growing within South Leeds. At the height of Covid-19 Get Set Leeds Local distributed over 100 home usage table tennis kits to families in Beeston Hill and Holbeck. In 2021 Get Set Leeds Local worked with Parks and Countryside to secure an outdoor table last year at Cross Flatts Park and Holbeck Moor with bats and balls available to borrow from Watsonian Café and Holbeck Together. There are now new sessions for young people which have
been set up in Holbeck at St Matthew’s Community Centre in partnership with Holbeck Together. Get Set Leeds Local funded an additional new table to enable more space for young people to play, with sessions being delivered by Ping Pong 4U coach, Ping Pong Pete. The father to one of the boys attending said: “I am pleased that table tennis for kids is on at St Matthew’s Community Centre. It is not too late, and the coaching is very good. My son has learnt a lot and keeps improving. I believe it helps children to not only develop physically, but to communicate and overcome challenges in a good manner. I hope it continues.” If you have a young person who fancies a game after school, it’s £1 per session every Friday 4:45–5:25pm (for ages 7-11) and 5:30–6:15pm (for ages 12–15 years). All abilities are welcomed. After joining some “activation” sessions last summer at Dewsbury Road Community Hub & Library, local resident Abbey approached the
one. I thought we showed great resilience. In the first half we weathered everything they threw at us and for the second game of the season for the first team we were proud of our efforts. “The second half was a little more frustrating. We couldn’t really keep the ball and
complete our sets to grind down the opposition. I was impressed with the workload our forwards got through, especially young Jack Briggs and Kieran Webster on home debut. There’s a lot of positives for us … and some lessons to learn. It was brilliant to see a big crowd at the game today
and we’re really pleased to be in the hat for the 3rd round – and hopefully a semi-pro club which would be great for the club financially and a good test for us!” Hunslet RLFC faced Keighley in less blustery conditions on Sunday 30 January. Although Keighley had a few
Project Development Team at the Hub with the idea to set up a new weekly session. A Get Set Leeds Local Community Chest application was able to fund another new table tennis table and refreshments. In January the weekly session has re-launched as a regular community session. The Bat & Chat group is every Wednesday evening 57pm at Dewsbury Road Community Hub and is open to all. Abbey is keen to support new people who have never
played before to learn a new skill. The group would love to see some new faces, whether you want to learn a new skill, make new friends or just have something different to do on an evening! It’s completely free and all equipment is provided. For more information contact Grace on 07711 189421 or Grace.Feeney@leeds.gov.uk Next steps – we’d love to support more people to enjoy the game. We’re planning a Table Tennis England 3 hour Activation Course for Spring. If
you’d be interested in accessing the training, which would be funded by Get Set Leeds Local then get in touch. You could use it to develop your own sessions, or link to support one of the existing sessions. A core part of Get Set Leeds Local is giving people within the community to skills to help enable others to move more. If you have a skill or a passion for something, and would like to access training to help enable you to use that skill to help others be more active then get
Bat & Chat every Wednesday at Dewsbury Road Community Hub & Library
Facebook: facebook.com/southleedslife faces missing they would have been favourites coming into the contest, but it was the new look young Hunslet who were sharp out of the blocks, mixing it up with a short kick off and retrieving the ball from a spilt catch. Truth be told both sides were rusty early on, sets not being completed and unforced errors with the ball, but Hunslet slowly got on top and after a finely taken and accurately executed ball by David Gibbons, Kieden Hartley was quick enough to sneak in the corner. Jordan Syme wasn’t able to convert, but kicked a penalty later in the half. Hunslet held the Cougars at bay until the last tackle before the hooter when Anesu Mudoti juggled the ball down under the posts to level it at the break. The second half started with more Hunslet pressure as Keighley were forced into a drop-out, and on 47 minutes Jason Mossop seemed to plant the ball down from an almost impossible situation. No conversion but Hunslet were back in the lead at 10-6. The Gamebreaker moment came shortly after though, as Keighley sliced through Hunslet’s defence and looked certain to score. Jordan Paga raced back to ankle tap Charlie Graham, who stumbled but Continued on page23 in touch. Coming up in Spring are two ride leader courses. If you’ve an interest in cycling, and would be interested in accessing the British Cycling ride leader course to enable you to lead led rides then get in touch. On Tuesday 8 February 4:305:30pm we’ll be hosting our next online Community Panel. Go to bit.ly/GSLLPanel. Anyone working or living within the Get Set Leeds Local areas is welcome. It’s a space to hear what’s happening within communities, share learning and help shape the Get Set Leeds Local project. We’re joined by Leeds Beckett University sharing insights gathered so far. Everyone attending will be entered into a prize draw. If you have a good idea for something that could support people to move more, then just get in touch. We may be able to help make it happen. We’re also keen to hear your insight and ideas on what the challenges to being active are. Get Set Leeds Local is funded by Sport England and delivered by Active Leeds (part of Leeds City Council). Collectively we can develop a place where being active is an easier choice for more people. E-mail: getsetleedslocal@leeds.gov.uk or follow us on Facebook @GSLHolbeck&BeestonHill