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Issue 84 | March 2022
Covering Beeston, Belle Isle, Cottingley, Holbeck, Hunslet, Middleton, Riverside & Stourton
IS YOUR LANDLORD LEGAL? by Jeremy Morton
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undreds of private landlords in Beeston Hill are still to register with the mandatory Selective Licensing scheme brought in by the Council over two years ago. The scheme aims to drive up standards and was brought in because local landlords were not joining a voluntary city-wide accreditation scheme. The licence covers issues such as gas and electrical safety, making sure fire alarms are in working order and ensuring that all furniture provided is safe. Landlords were required to register for the scheme by 6 January 2020 or face a fine of up to £30,000. Leeds City Council estimate that 200-300 landlords in the area are still to register. They are investigating all properties within the area and have investigated 123 landlords to date. Once landlords have registered properties are inspected to check they meet
the minimum standard. This process has been hampered by Covid, but since March 2021 357 properties have been visited, 90% of those were found to need further work to meet the required standard. Landlords opposed to the introduction of the scheme claimed that it was a “tenant tax” that would drive rents up, but the Council says this hasn’t happened. “Rent has increased within the private rent sector across the city over the last 2 years, in line with increases seen across other cities. In terms of the selective licensing area Leeds City Council has no not seen any specific increases as a direct result of its introduction” said a spokesperson. We spoke to a number of landlords and tenants in the area, some of whom wished to remain anonymous. Tahran Ali is a local resident who owns 4 properties in Beeston Hill, and is one of the directors of Leeds Landlords Unite - who campaigned
against Selective Licensing. He estimates that as many as a quarter of landlords haven't yet signed up. "The Covid pandemic's been difficult for landlords, and Selective Licensing has just made things harder. It's the local small-timers who've been hit hardest, not the growing number of mega landlords based in London and elsewhere. I still can't see any point to Selective Licensing: what's it achieved? It's been imposed in an inflexible and even aggressive manner, and it's made no discernible improvement for the local community it was meant to serve. Housing hasn't really been improved: it's a bureaucratic exercise. It's driven rents up. And quite a few landlords have converted their houses to temporary accommodation, like Airbnb which makes our community even more transitory. I'm not attacking the Council: I recognise what they do. But as a local resident, I care about
this area, we face lots of problems here, and Selective Licensing wasn't the answer." Some landlords we spoke with were more positive about Selective Licensing. Khaleeqa* said: "I'm new to being a landlord, and wanted to make sure our property was fit for purpose and safe. Selective Licensing is a good thing: we valued the Council inspection, which gave us advice, and took our fears away. My main issue is with the local property management agents, who are taking landlords for a ride." And another landlord, Mary*, told us: "The scheme was poorly communicated (I didn't know about it until the last minute), but it's a good idea: there are a lot of rogue landlords, and I hope they really go after them. Also, it does cost a lot, and I'd like to know what they're doing with the money." (*Names changed.) A Leeds City Council Spokesperson, said: “So far nearly 2,000 homes have been
In this issue:
Dora takes on river rubbish
page 5
Here to help at Holbeck Hub
page 5
Residents help plan park upgrade
page 6
licenced with a further 500 homes currently in the process of being licensed. The scheme is helping to ensure landlords continue to manage their properties and ensure their tenants have a well-managed and safe home. Unfortunately not all landlords are complying with the scheme resulting in formal action being taken against just over 100 properties with more action to follow. “Street by street proactive visits are now occurring to ensure that all privately rented properties are licensed, these visits have initially start in the Bartons and Beverleys. Through the proactive work we will ensure that all homes in Beeston are safe, well managed and provide good quality accommodation. Working with partners, council officers will continue to work with tenants to help address their needs, such as employment and training, help with bills, and access to health.”
Obituary: Mohammed Farouk
page 15
Parkside bow out in style
page 24
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 | March 2022
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Plans emerge to develop two keys sites in Holbeck
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Artist’s impression of the City One development with the Sweet Street linear park and 42 storey tower block behind
by Jeremy Morton
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wo separate developers have submitted outline plans for major sites in Holbeck. Both schemes are at the Pre Application stage and have been discussed by Councillors on the City Plans Panel. Now residents can debate them and speak to the developers at a meeting of the Holbeck Neighbourhood Forum (see below). The first scheme - Sweet Street West - is on the site of the old Kays warehouse. The site is bounded by Sweet Street, Marshall Street, Nineveh Road and the rail depot. It includes the Commercial Inn at the corner of Sweet Street and Marshall Street, but not the former Holbeck Library on the corner of Marshall Street and Nineveh Road. The developers Westrock / Platform_ propose: • Approx. 1,200 new high-quality Build-to-Rent and market sale residential apartments, spread across six new buildings ranging in height from 10-27 storeys. • Two new purpose-built commercial office blocks of five to seven storeys. • Over 1.5 acres of high-quality public open space. • The retention and refurbishment of the historic Commercial pub. • New commercial ground floor spaces for cafés, shops, restaurants and other community amenities. At the heart of the design is a network of new public squares and spaces that aim to provide a fitting setting to the historic Commercial pub and the former Holbeck public library. The Commercial pub has a long connection with Leeds United and
the legendary Peter Lorimer and Platform_ plans to retain and refurbish this historic venue and to return it to active use through a new food and drink offering. Further information about the proposals is available at: www.sweetstreetwest.co.uk. Local people are invited to view the plans and talk to members of the Platform_ team at St Matthew’s Community Centre on Thursday 3 March, 3:45-7:30pm and at the Holbeck Neighbourhood Forum on Thursday 10 March from 6pm also at St Matthew’s. Caddicks are bringing forward plans for another site, dubbed ‘City One’, that includes the Halford store on the corner of Meadow Road and Sweet Street. The rest of the site, bounded by Jack Lane and Bowling Green Terrace is currently empty with part of it used as a car park. The plans include up to 2,200 residential apartments, 70,000 m2 office space and a 450 bedroom hotel; arranged in 10 or 11 blocks. Office accommodation would front Meadow Road in three blocks of up to ten storeys. The building line would be moved back to accommodate a wider footpath and cycleway. The office entrances would be from a ‘green street’ running north-south within the development but there is scope for ground floor commercial uses facing Meadow Road. The site is constrained by an electricity sub station which may or may not be relocated. There is also a high pressure gas main running alongside Sweet Street. For this reason the building line on Sweet Street will be 24m from the roadway allowing for a linear green space. Residential blocks to the north and west of the site would range
from 5-9 storeys rising to a tower of up to 42 storeys on Sweet Street. A multi storey car park and hotel would front onto Jack Lane. The plans for City One were presented to Councilors on the City Plans Panel on 25 February, but didn’t go down well. There was general agreement that too much development was trying to be squeezed onto the site.With 2,200 new households the developers said they were trying to build a new community, but many
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on the Panel felt there wasn’t enough greenspace and that it was the wrong shape, linear parks and green streets rather than squares or playing fields. Cllr Elizabeth Nash (Hunslet & Riverside) said “There’s far too much on this relatively small site. When you look at the plan it looks quite green, but all those blocks are a tremendous height. The whole concept needs to be rethought.” Cllr Peter Carlill (Calverley and Farsley) commented that the development was the size of the village of Calverley and therefore needed everything a village needs in terms of facilities and space. Cllr Caroline Gruen (Bramley & Stanningley) commented: “People have to be able to live the sorts of lives everybody wants to live and given that everybody here will be in flats the green space is really, really important. In future iterations of this we need to apprectate much more how we are compensating for the volume of those buildings and how the architecture and treatment of those buildings is maximising the impact of that volume and making it a pleasant impact.” Cllr Neil Walshaw (Hyde Park & Headingley) was worried the plans showed just an extension of the city centre rather than a new community and he reminded the developers that it couldn’t be designed just for 20-somethings. “We want to see this site developed, but not at any cost” he said. Cllr Al Garthwaite (Hyde Park & Headingley) asked for more details on safety and security in the full application. Not just within the development, but on the roads and paths leading into the city centre and into the rest of Holbeck so that future residents didn’t feel marooned living on the site.
Map showing the location of the two developments
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News 3
Cockburn consults over new pitches on golf course land by Jeremy Morton
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eeds City Council, the Leeds Local Education Partnership and Cockburn School have issued a consultation leaflet about the provision new outdoor sports facilities at the school on Gipsy Lane, Beeston. As we first reported in June 2020, this is the second phase of work to create 210 extra places at the school to help meet the shortfall of high school places in South Leeds. Phase one consisted of a new block of classrooms and was completed in 2020. Phase 2 consists of a full size 3G artificial sports pitch suitable for football and rugby and three tennis courts, to be built on land that formally part of the private South Leeds Golf Club. The golf club closed in 2019 and the majority of the land, which reverted to Leeds City Council’s ownership, was incorporated into Middleton Park. The rationale for the new pitches is that tennis courts were lost to the new building and also to make up for a historic shortage of outdoor sports facilities at Cockburn School. A number of mature trees will be removed as a result of building the pitches, but three new trees will be replanted for each one lost in line with Leeds planning policies. The plans include diverting a footpath and bridleway which runs along the current boundary of the school. The footpath, Leeds 207, is a
historic right of way with heritage features – high quality stone sets or cobbles – and a permissive bridleway. The plans propose a new footpath would skirt the new pitches, whilst a new bridleway would be routed from the old golf house, further up Gipsy Lane. Leeds Ramblers have
previously objected to the development of Cockburn School damaging this footpath and Leeds Civic Trust suggested that the route could easily be preserved with gates in the school boundary to allow students to access the pitches. The consultion closed on 14 February, but a full planning
application is expected to be submitted shortly. Residents will be able to comment or object to the planning application in the normal way. You can also view the proposals on the Cockburn School website at: www. cockburnschool.org/newsports facilities.
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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 and costs are rising. This month’s paper cost 42% more to print than last month. We are not extravagent, we don’t run an office, or even own
Work starts on former golf course ork has started at the former South Leeds golf course on the creation of a 48hectare country park and green space. Much of the former golf course will be developed as a country park with new woodland planting and pathways. There will also be a ‘Peoples Woodland’, delivered in partnership with Leeds Hospitals Charity, creating a space for reflection and peace in memorial of loved ones who lost their lives during the pandemic and to pay tribute to our hard-working frontline key workers. The ‘Peoples Woodland’ will be created towards the bottom of the Ring Road behind the
March 2022 | South Leeds Life
Park Wood estate. Development of the site adds around five kilometres of new walking trails adjacent to the already popular Middleton Park. A variety of new habitats
A Peoples Woodland will be created
are planned including over 20,000 trees, wildflower meadows and wetland habitat, plus rewilding practices such as reduced mowing will form part of the management plan.
The woodland creation supports the council’s pledge to combat the climate emergency by planting 5.8 million trees over the next 25 years. Local people will also benefit from the economic, biodiversity and health benefits of good quality green space. People will be given the opportunity to donate to the project or sponsor a tree in memory of a loved one or to thank our dedicated frontline key workers for their efforts. More information on this can be found at: leedshospitals charity.org.uk/woodland. People can also sign up to volunteer to plant trees on the site or elsewhere in the city. Email your interest to wood landcreation@leeds.gov.uk
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South Leeds Life | March 2022
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4 News
Have your say on plans to extend Dewsbury Road cycle route
On the beat with Insp Tom Perry
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would like to start this column by introducing myself as the new Inspector for the South Leeds Neighbourhood Policing Team. I have joined the team from one of the East Leeds Patrol Teams, and have previously worked at Elland Road, so Leeds has been a staple of my West Yorkshire Service. I take over from Lucy Leadbeater, who has remained in Leeds following her promotion to Chief Inspector. I hope to continue the good work that Lucy carried out for the communities of South Leeds. I have set about learning and understanding the core issues that affect daily life for people in the community, and how, as a Neighbourhood Policing Team we can have the greatest impact. My hope is that in the months ahead, I will be able to use this column to update you on some positive news for the community, as well as sharing some useful and informative information on important issues. Tuesday 8 February saw Safer Internet Day 2022. Staff from your Neighbourhood Policing Team have been taking this opportunity to engage with local schools to assist in sharing some key messages around safe internet use for children, as well as some useful messages for parents (below). Additional information and resources are available on www.saferinternet.org.uk. We will continue to focus our
Leeds City Council has provided funding to security mark bikes attention on areas that cause concern to communities. An address on Malvern Rise in Beeston was subject of a Premises Closure Order as a result of partnership working between Housing, Leeds AntiSocial Behaviour Team and your Neighbourhood Policing Team. The address was responsible for significant antisocial behaviour, including drug supply, discarded drug paraphernalia, noise/nuisance and intimidation of local residents. In addition, ongoing work to tackle criminal and anti-social behaviour linked to unlicensed ‘car meet’ events in Leeds has seen closure orders secured on three hotspot areas, one of which is within South Leeds. Staff from your Neighbourhood Policing Team have worked with Leeds City Council to secure a closure order covering Lowfields Road in Holbeck, an area of repeat anti-social behaviour. The team have also been assisting partners from the
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Communities Team at Leeds City Council in conducting a leaflet drop in Holbeck. The activity was aimed at informing residents of the work that partners are engaged with in order to keep people safe. Part of this activity relates to a community drop-in event scheduled for Tuesday 1 March at The Holbeck. The event offered an opportunity for residents of Holbeck to speak directly to the Police, Council and various other partners. A final word from me about Bike safety. Staff from your Neighbourhood Policing Team have started a new bike safety initiative, where advice and resources are available for security and crime prevention. Future events are scheduled for Middleton Bike Hub (Leeds Urban Bike Park) on 17 March and on 4 April. We hope to grow the initiative with further events on a larger scale. These events are open to the public and offer free bike security marking.
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eople are being invited to have their say on plans to extend the Dewsbury Road cycle route delivered in partnership by Leeds City Council and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority. Under the plans, an additional 1km of two-way cycle track will be added to the city centre end of Dewsbury Road.
journeys or as part of a longer journey by public transport. Councillor Helen Hayden, Leeds City Council’s executive member for infrastructure and climate, said: “It’s important that everyone in Leeds can access the growing cycle network across the city and I’m pleased to see these proposals coming forward to provide a vital link to
The five areas consulted on previously were: • Western Gateway: Kirkstall Road to Wellington Street (A65) and St Pauls Street. • Southern Gateway: Neville Street and Bishopgate Street, with Dark Neville Street and Sovereign Street connectors. • Eastern Gateway: Lady
The Dewsbury Road extention will use part of underused two lane Dewsbury Road and Parkfield Street coming out of the city centre. This will allow for a 3m wide two-way cycle track as well as a widened footpaths and improved side road crossings. You can find a more detailed description of the plans by clicking here. The consultation runs until midnight on Tuesday 15 March. Find out more information and have your say at www.yourvoice.westyorks-ca .gov.uk/drl A separarte scheme will see the cycle route extended from the Tommy Wass junction to the White Rose Shopping Centre and Office Park, the consultation on these plans closed in December. The Dewsbury Road extension is in addition to the 4.5kms of new fully segregated two-way tracks planned across the city centre to create 11km of cycling routes, following a consultation on five other sections last year. The schemes are aimed at making it easier to cycle and walk across Leeds city centre, whether that is for shorter
communities in south Leeds. “It’s always important to remember that as well as being a primary way to get about, cycling and walking can play a part in bigger journeys. That’s why I’m pleased to see how this scheme will improve further the cycle access to Leeds railway station, enabling people to extend their trips by train across West Yorkshire and beyond. “We want to make Leeds a cycle friendly city by embracing cycling as a normal everyday activity for everyone. We are working on greater and improved connectivity and with more appealing public space to make that vision a reality.” Cllr Manisha Kaushik, the West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s Transport Committee Lead Member for Active Travel, said: “We are pleased to be working in partnership with Leeds City Council on this important scheme, which will plug an important missing link in the existing network, and I would encourage everyone to make the most of this opportunity to have their say by taking part in the public consultation.”
Lane, Templar Street and Bridge Street. • Crown Point Bridge Gateway: Black Bull Street and Crown Point Road. • Holbeck Connector: Whitehall Road to Holbeck. The first phase of the Holbeck Connector is now complete, with work on the second phase due to start in spring. Construction work is also due to start on the Crown Point Bridge Gateway in the spring, with the Western Gateway and Southern Gateway on site in the summer. These routes are part of a £7 million package delivered by the council in partnership with the Combined Authority through its Transforming Cities Fund programme, which is aimed at making it easier to walk, cycle and use public transport. Once completed, the six sections will complement the new Elland Road and Dewsbury Road cycle routes, which opened last autumn, and have been delivered through the Combined Authority’s CityConnect programme. Find out more at cyclecityconnect.co.uk.
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March 2022 | South Leeds Life
News 5
Your Climate Change pledges
Rebwar Sharazure and the Kurdish House Leeds community association: “I used not to bother about the environment, but the Kurdish leader and thinker Abdullah Ocalan totally changed my mind on it: it’s for all of us to protect the planet. As well as our ongoing litter picking, we’ll be encouraging our community to use their cars less, and cycle and walk more. Also, we give one day per month at our cultural school over to teaching the young people about the environment.”
Flooded footpaths, but properties safe Riverside footpaths were left underwater as the level of the River Aire rose in Hunslet on Monday 21 February after Storm Franklin had passed through. The water level was close to that during the Boxing Day floods of 2015, but the new movable weirs at Crown Point and Knostrop were lowered to let the water move downstream faster and no properties were flooded. This photo was taken from the footbridge at Citu’s Climate Innovation District by reader Kirstin Spence.
Eleven 11 year olds to tackle river litter M
eet Dora Szele-Menyhart, a soon to be 11 year old with a birthday wish to help the environment. Dora has organised ten of her friends, that’s eleven 11 year olds, to undertake a sponsored litter pick along the River Aire in Hunslet. They aim to collect 11 bags of rubbish. It takes place on Saturday 5 March starting at … 11am of course. Dora, who attends Low Road Primary School, says the river is important to her family who live close by. It’s a great place for a walk when they want to switch off. “It’s hard nowadays to avoid hearing about environmental issues like pollution and global warming” said Dora. “I‘ve been influenced by Greta Thunberg and while the politicians were making big promises at COP26 I kept thinking what could I do to prevent the environmental catastrophe. “The lightbulb moment came when I heard that one of my
Dora Szele-Menyhart aims to collect 11 bags of rubbish teacher’s grandsons did a sponsored walk to support a medical charity. I told my mum that I would like to do the same for an environmental cause and I had her support from the
very first moment. “First, we did a bit of talking and planning. Although I would like to solve worlds’ problems to avoid future disaster, I had to accept that it all starts here
and now. Baby steps, as they call it. Since we live close to River Aire we contacted Karen Peters from Friends of The Aire – South Leeds to check if the idea was somewhat feasible and useful for the group. Karen was very supportive, and her suggestions helped shape the fundraising walk. She also helped a lot with the justgiving.com page. “On 5 March 2022, me and my friends will walk and collect at least 11 bags of rubbish alongside the River Aire in Hunslet. Strangely, it would be a success if we could NOT collect 11 bags of litter. Knowing the state of the riverbank unfortunately we may even overachieve. “I am organizing this fundraising and litter picking walk to raise awareness of the quantity of rubbish built up in and around the river. Whilst we pick the litter at the riverbank group Friends of The Aire is looking to buy a boat to clear the river from the water. If you would like to support Dora’s efforts, you can donate at her Just Giving page at bit.ly/11Aire. As the children were born in 2011, they have set themselves the target of raising £2,011.
Christine Smart, Community Development Manager at Cottingley Community Centre: “Clothes have a big carbon impact, so I pledge to buy no new clothes this year: during the pandemic, I realised I don't need more clothes, I’ve plenty already! I’m also going to buy a reusable bottle for the gym, and not buy any plastic water bottles: they go out of date and leak chemicals into the water. And I’ll keep my garden planted up, with oxygenboosting and bee-friendly plants.”
Nick Lalvani, People Matters (Holbeck): “I've purchased an electric moped, which has a fraction of the carbon emissions of a car. I'm also moving to a more vegan diet, and helping others trying to do the same by sharing my experiences. We're a bit sheltered in the UK from the impacts of global warming, but nature is thoroughly connected: it’s time for the people of Leeds to live lives that are more respectful of nature and our collective home, Earth.”
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South Leeds Life | March 2022
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Cladding progress Residents work together for but fight goes on Brickfield Park improvements by Tania Carlisle
W Leeds leaseholders demonstrating outside Parliament last year
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ocal campaigners have partially welcomed the long-awaited Building Safety Bill, announced by national government last month to tackle the ‘Cladding Scandal’ – but also voiced words of caution that it might not be enough. The bill is a response to the crisis which has unfolded since the catastrophic 2017 Grenfell Tower fire – in which 1,000s of apartment blocks across the UK, the homes of 10,000s of residents, have been deemed unsafe due to cladding and other fire safety deficiencies. This includes 1,000s of Leeds residents, many in Leeds Dock. The proposed legislation will now make its way through Westminster, and might well be further amended, before becoming law in the coming months. The announcement surprised many of the campaigners, as an about-turn from previous government policy. It puts final responsibility for paying to rectify the apartment blocks back onto the building industry, developers, cladding manufacturers, and the freeholders who own the buildings. The leaseholders
who own the flats will only pay a limited amount, towards noncladding costs only. However, critics assert that the leaseholders – the flat owners, who played no part in the unsafe construction of the buildings – have already shouldered punishing costs for fire safety measures, insurance, and more in the past few years. And local campaigner Pippa Hamshaw was one who voiced further concerns: “The devil’s in the detail. We may still have to pay for noncladding work – and face a bill of up to £10,000 if my developer or freeholder plead poverty, which they undoubtedly will. “Also, landlords, who own the majority of flats here, may not qualify for funding, so our building might not get refurbished, and our homes will remain unsafe and unsellable. “This is one step forward, but half a step back.” For further information and details on the cladding scandal, including who to turn to if you’re affected, go to: fb.com/leedscladdingscandal, fb.com/ukcag, and leaseholdknowledge.com.
e were delighted to read about the announcement of £50,000 worth of spending due to take place on Brickfield Park over the next year, including play and exercise equipment, cycle tracks and seating areas. We are a group of residents local to Brickfield Park on Lady Pit Lane, Beeston Hill who have been campaigning and calling for improvements to this park, since Leeds City Council announced that developments were a possibility (end of 2020). With the help of Leeds Citizens and St Luke’s Cares we have organised a listening campaign which has helped to amplify the voices of people who live next to and use this park (or would like to use it!). We have worked with various Council represtatives to ask people what they like or don't like about the park and what they would like to see happen in it. We would really like to thank you if you contributed to this process. Whether this was filling in a questionnaire about the park, or speaking to one of our volunteers who knocked on your door. It’s really important that we as a community help to co-create our leisure spaces, our communities and indeed our city. We especially want to thank Kidz Klub Leeds and the valuable contribution of the children who spent lots of time discussing and visiting this park. Kidz Klub leaders held
Charity opens new centre to beat hunger by Ed Carlisle
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gainst the backdrop of the ‘cost of living crisis’, innovative Leeds charity Rethink Food this month launched a unique ‘academy’ at the White Rose Shopping Centre: a community venue aiming to support people of all ages and backgrounds to develop ‘food secure lives’. Rethink Food – formerly known as Food Revival, and based until now in Pudsey – is part of the wide-ranging movement of organisations and groups that has emerged in the past decade to tackle
unnecessary food waste, by diverting surplus food into communities. Since launching in 2015, the organisation has redistributed huge quantities of unwanted food which would otherwise have been binned: 900 tons over the first 12 months of the Covid pandemic, for example. They supply over 100 schools and 17 local community organisations, and also sell over 200 weekly boxes to the public – including through the Rowland Road Social Club scheme in Beeston. Furthermore, the organisation has also
developed a range of initiatives to address the underlying issues surrounding food poverty and insecurity. These include: an extensive UK-wide schools programme, which provides teaching resources, and hands-on experience of growing, cooking and understanding food; and online resources for all ages. Their new ‘academy’ – located next to the main door into Sainsbury’s, inside the shopping centre – will enable them to develop their work, operating as a learning environment and meeting space for schools, businesses,
Campaigners are now forming a Friends of Brickfield Park group focus groups with children to talk about what they enjoyed about it and would like to see there in the furure. Children who participated attend local schools, and many of the children live in streets surrounding the park. A child who had done a photography project with Kidz Klub commented: "I enjoy looking at the view of the city from Brickfield Park." It is a park that does have stunning views, and so hopefully these views can be enjoyed by many more people in the future. The listening team also organised an Avtivity Day last summer and were assisted by James from Leeds Lets Get Active who helped run an orienteering course on the Park. Families attended and enjoyed the event and gave
their opinion about what they felt should happen in the park. Over the last two months 'Park Play' has also happened in Brickfield Park, thanks to Karen Peck (Leeds Lets Get Active). Suriah and Tom, two play workers, have enthusiastically turned up every Saturday, whatever the weather, at 10:30am to lead team and ball games for local children. They will continue to do this every Saturday throughout the next year. This activity is starting to be attended by local families as they hear about it, but the more the merrier - so please do come along. Finally we would like to thank the various Council Representatives who diligently do their job of managing our Parks, and to Councillor Paul
Wray for allocating Council funding to this venture. We do believe that we have together co-created something that will hopefully be enjoyed for a long time to come. This has been the start of a powerful journey with local people helping shape the future of this park. There is still more to be done, unfortunately the park still has lots of dog waste in the grass, and litter can be a problem. So the group of residents that have started this campaign want to continue it by forming a 'Friends of Brickfield Park' Group and they need people who live near the park to join the group and help organise future events. If you are keen to be involved with this do get in touch with Neil Rhodes by emailing neilgrhodes@gmail.com
community groups, and the their wide range of partners at For more information, or to public. their official launch event on get involved, or to access the Nathan Atkinson, a former Thursday 17 February – and academy, visit rethinkfood.co head teacher and Rethink Food particularly noted that they had .uk or facebook.com/Rethink co-founder, said: “Millions of managed to wholly kit out and FoodUK, email academy UK children arrive at school furnish the venue for free by @rethinkfood.co.uk, or just hungry each day, and we saw using surplus goods donated drop in there and talk with the that in our schools – so we by furniture firms and others. team. vowed to remove hunger as a barrier to learning, and started Rethink Food. “But more than that, we want to improve food security for children, families, and their wider communities – and increase awareness, understanding, and positive action linked to food.” Rethink Food paid thanks to Cutting the ribbon on their new centre next to Sainsburys in the White Rose Centre
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News 7
Grant will support community building programme in Holbeck N
ew grants worth £262,500 have been announced to support the expansion of the successful Asset Based Community Development (ABCD) programme across Leeds, with five new ‘pathfinder’ sites receiving grants. Slung Low, who work in Holbeck, are amongst five successful third sector organisations across the city awarded the ABCD community grants. Although primarily a theatre company, Slung Low run the Cultural Community College, ran a food bank during the pandemic and manage The Holbeck – the oldest working men’s club in Britain. Asset based community development is an approach to sustainable community-driven development, supporting local people to make the changes they want to see in their neighbourhood, developed on the premise that everyone has assets and strengths to contribute to their community. Pathfinder sites work within their local community to uncover and develop existing strengths and assets of
individuals and groups, helping to build social connections and fostering citizen led action. In 2021 Leeds Beckett University published the findings of an 18-month research study into the ABCD model in Leeds. The evaluation found evidence that individuals were better connected, friendships were made, and supportive relationships were formed during this period across ABCD sites. Examples of better community cohesion were also found across the ABCD sites, with different generations coming together and communities becoming more inclusive of people with disabilities. The grants are set to return a significant value of investment for the council, with the Leeds Beckett University study estimated between £5 – £14 of social value is returned for every pound invested into the ABCD community pathfinder programme. Cllr Fiona Venner, executive member for adults and children social care and health partnerships, said:
“ABCD has been pioneered in Leeds and has been a real success story of how the council has supported communities to create the change they want to see. It is fantastic that we can roll out the programme to a further diverse selection of communities across the city. “I look forward to seeing the impact that these new ABCD pathfinder grants will have on empowering communities.” Ruth Saxton, Community Director with Slung Low said: “The Slung Low team is delighted to be working alongside Holbeck’s ABCD Community Connectors. We feel well placed to steer our shared community in making Holbeck an even better place to live. “We’ve started to work with a proactive group of residents who already have some inspiring plans, large and small. We’re very grateful to Leeds City Council for trusting us with this exciting and vital opportunity.” To find out more about the ABCD programme, visit: www.abcdinleeds.com
Doris is styling it out Congratulations to Doris Ofori from Beeston, who will be competing this month in the national finals of the Concept Hair Magazine hair-styling competition. Doris - a student at Leeds City College - is one of six finalists in the level 1 styling event, live in Birmingham on 24 March.
Free route maps to help everyone get active A
Yorkshire charity has launched a free resource to encourage people of all abilities to walk and cycle around Leeds’ green spaces. Open Country has produced new ‘Breakfree’ packs to inspire and inform people of the many accessible routes across the Leeds city region. Although the pack has been launched with disabled people in mind, they are also perfect for families with young children and pushchairs, anyone who might struggle with exercise and older people with mobility problems. The two packs are split into Leeds South & East and Leeds North & West and feature 24 short trails around parks, nature reserves and reservoirs across the district. Sites include popular spots in rural settings such as RSPB St Aidan’s as well as more urban green spaces such as Middleton Park and Thwaites Mill and the River Aire. The individual route cards give a detailed trail description of the terrain, gates or barriers,
the gradient, and features of interest including play areas, wildlife watching opportunities and information boards. The route cards also include the public transport options and list if there is a cafe and WC facilities and whether these are accessible to all. The Breakfree packs have been created with the support
of CityConnect, a project led by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, which enables more people to travel by bike and on foot around the county. The pack is free to download from the Open Country website at www.opencountry.org.uk /breakfree and groups and individuals with disabilities can get hold of a free printed
Open Country Chief Officer David Shaftoe (right) launches the Leeds Breakfree packs with members of Open Country
version of the Breakfree pack by emailing info@opencountry .org.uk The packs will also be free to pick up from many of the outdoor sites featured and will be shared with disability groups across the Leeds city region. Research by Leeds Beckett University for Get Set Leeds found that 21% of adults were
doing less than 30 minutes of activity per week which classes them as ‘inactive’. This is even less in the disabled community. Barriers to participation in physical activity include a lack of local information, access to transport and fears over the accessibility of places. David Shaftoe is Open Country’s Chief Officer and comments: “The new Breakfree packs aim to break down some of the barriers to participation in the outdoors and are a real celebration of some of the green spaces in our urban environment. Residents of the city are lucky enough to have over 800 kilometres of Public Rights of Way and permissive paths available to walkers and cyclists, as well as 62 community parks and several nature reserves – so many opportunities for outdoor adventures! “Our Breakfree packs feature the most accessible of these places, detailing everything you need to know to make an experience in the outdoors
more enjoyable and demonstrate just how easy it is to access some great places on our doorstep.” Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, said: “I pledged to make our region more inclusive, and enabling people with disabilities and mobility issues to access to our parks and nature reserves is an essential part of this. Green spaces are often a focal point for the community, providing welcoming places for people of all ages and abilities to enjoy walking and spending time. Through support to valuable organisations like Open Country, we can help make these spaces accessible to everyone and West Yorkshire a great place to live, for everyone.” Open Country has been championing countryside access for all for over 30 years and runs weekly activities including tandeming, countryside walks and wheelchair friendly outings to enable people with a disability to enjoy a day in the outdoors.
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Upgrade approved for Beeston bedmaker Hunslet Lake Park helps local charity give every head a bed L
Hunslet Lake Park. Photo: Google Streetview
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unslet and Riverside Ward Councillors have announced the approval of a £37,000 upgrade to Hunslet Lake Park in Hunslet Carr. The improvements will include: • new swings • safer surfacing under some equipment • tumble over bars • stepping pods • new park signs • new thermoplastic play markings • multi-use-games-area lines and court repainting • balance beams Cllr Elizbeth Nash said: “We have listened to the feedback of residents in
Hunslet Carr – in particular from those who live in the Arthingtons and Royals estate. Cllr Mohammed Iqbal, Cllr Paul Wray and I know residents have wanted improvements to Hunslet Lake Park for a while and we are happy we can now commit to delivering these by the middle of 2022.” The new investment is in addition to the planting of new semi mature trees as part of local councillors’ commitment to improve biodiversity and tree coverage across the ward. The Councillors have also announced the approval of 31 new litter bins across different areas of Hunslet and Beeston as part of their investments to
reduce litter in the ward. Cllr Elizbeth Nash said “We know litter really gets residents angry – it is also bad for wildlife. Cllr Mohammed Iqbal, Cllr Paul Wray and I have now increased the litter bin capacity of the ward year on year for the last four years – helping residents to do the right thing by making sure more areas have a nearby litter bin. The extra time this also saves council staff from litter picking means they can do other tasks which help to keep our community clean and tidy.” These litter bins have been ordered and should be delivered and installed by mid April.
eeds based charity Zarach has received a donation of 40 single mattresses from local bedmaker Harrison Spinks, as the two companies join together to support families in crisis this winter. Delivering beds and basics to children and families living in poverty crisis, Zarach aims to give every head a bed and helps ensure all children have somewhere safe and comfortable to sleep. The charity then offers a series of support ranging from healthy and nutritious food parcels to tailored bundles, to help children thrive at school.
Tracey Parle at Zarach, said: “Zarach is so grateful to receive the generous donation of 40 high quality mattresses from Harrison Spinks. ‘Every Head a Bed’ is our commitment to help ensure all children have somewhere safe and comfortable to sleep, with consistent access to healthy and nutritious food in order for them to Eat, Sleep, and Learn. “We believe that well rested and well-fed children will be increasingly ready to learn. Through the power of education they will be able to break the cycle of poverty and improve the breadth of
opportunities available to their future selves.” Nick Booth, Managing Director at Harrison Spinks, said: “Zarach’s work is incredibly important in Leeds and the surrounding areas and, as a local bedmaker with a deeprooted Yorkshire heritage, we couldn’t help but feel affection for the charity. We’d like to urge everyone to donate if they can, especially over the harsh winter months.” For more information on Zarach, or to make a donation please visit zarach.org.
activities each week. “We’re glad to see Leeds City You do not need to make an Council and Holbeck Together appointment for the working to make sure that our Community Hub or the residents receive the same Storybus as it is a drop-in amenities as those available service. Staff will be adhering elsewhere in Leeds. to social distancing guidance “It’s great that residents in and taking all Covid-safe precautions. This may mean you have a short wait outside – although if the Community Centre at St Matthew’s is open you can always pop in for a cuppa while you wait! Beeston & Holbeck Councillors welcomed the service commenting: The Story Bus outside St Matthew’s in Holbeck
Holbeck will now be able to access these handy council services closer to their doorsteps, as well as the library story bus which we’re sure will prove to be popular with local kids.”
Holbeck Together – your Community Hub H
olbeck Together has been appointed by Leeds City Council as the designated partner for the Mobile Community Hub for Holbeck.
Leeds City Council are committed to making as many of its services as accessible as possible. Therefore, every Tuesday (10am-3:30pm) and
The Mobile Community Hub advice team are here to help you
Thursday (9:30am-3:30pm) you can pop down to St Matthew’s and visit the mobile van to get advice and support on a variety of council services. You can get advice and support on: • Council housing – Repairs, Rent advice, Applications, Bidding • Council tax - support with applications, payment arrangements, direct debits • Reporting anti-social behaviour • Employment Support – writing a CV, Jobsearch, Application Support, Interview Skills, Advice on Training • Blue badge applications In addition, every Thursday from 10–11:30am the Storybus will also be parked up outside St Matthew’s and children can climb on board for free story-time and fun
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News 9
St Luke’s Holbeck launches Job Club L
ooking for work? Need help with your job applications, CV or interview skills? Would you like to have the opportunity to get together with other people in your position? Then our CAP Job Club could be just the thing for you. St Luke’s Holbeck is running a Job Club for eight weeks from Monday 21 March 2022. Doors open at 10am for refreshments and the Club starts at 11am until about 12:30pm. The Job Club format runs throughout the country and has been developed by Christians Against Poverty in Bradford. We’ve received specialist training from CAP so we can offer support and practical advice to people who are unemployed. Mike Wrigglesworth, St Luke’s Church CAP Job Club Manager said: “We really want to make a practical contribution to the community and think running a Job Club is the best way. The course is for anyone – whether you’ve been out of work for a while or a short time, or are
March 2022 | South Leeds Life
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St Lukes Church, Malvern Road looking to change jobs but aren’t sure where to start.” The eight week course provides jobseekers with essential skills, such as CV writing, interview techniques and the value of volunteering. At the heart of the course is a supportive peer group where people can share their experiences, struggles and advice. In addition, everyone is given one to one coaching to develop their strengths and identify other opportunities.
Mike said “We aim to provide a warm, friendly and relaxed environment- let us help you take your first steps into employment and a job you’ll enjoy.” As above, we run from Monday 21 March 2022 at 10am at St Luke’s Holbeck (Beeston Hill), Malvern Road, Leeds, LS11 8PD. For more information call Mike Wrigglesworth on 07500 530250 or visit capjobclubs .org to find out more.
ver the last ten years South Leeds Life has become a trusted source of local news. We are looking to grow our group of sponsoring organisations so that we can continue as a financially independent local news provider for years to come. Sponsors are very important to us, providing predictable income. Particularly important as print costs rise - 42% in the
last month. But we believe South Leeds Life is important to our sponsors too. We offer packages that include guaranteed advertising and editorial coverage to help you tell your story locally. Many of our sponsors tell us that they discovered opportunities and connections through our pages and are happy to give a little back. Standard sponsorship starts at just £60 per year.
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How I discovered arts and crafts in lockdown by Heather Mills
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p until the first lockdown hit, I didnt take part in any arts and crafts. Although it’s a long time since I was at school, getting bad grades in art put me off trying and had knocked my confidence. I mistakenly believed that art was just about creating something perfect. I never realised how art and crafts is so much more than that. When lockdown hit, the prospect of lots of time alone
Book folding
made me head to YouTube to find tutorials for different crafts, and to buy supplies. The first craft I tried was book folding. This involves making a pattern inside a book and by cutting and folding you can create an image inside the book. This is what sparked my love and excitement. Since then I have tried many different crafts. I have upcycled plant pots from paints and fabric. I have made jewellery from crystals, and more recently I have taught mysef to knit on a loom by watching
YouTube. I have found crafting has given me a great way of relaxing and helps me pass time when I am stuck inside because of my chronic illnesses. It has helped me connect with other people online in craft groups. I have learnt art and crafts are more about being able to be creative and express yourself, than it is about being graded. This is now a huge part of my identity and I am always excited to see what I can try next. I have found a number of challenges whilst trying new crafts. But the main issue I would say is the price it costs to start a new hobby. If I was going to give advice to anyone starting out, it would be to check local facebook groups and the next door app to see if people are gifting items you could use. I think art can be created by something really simple, and you don't need to spend a fortune. Because I have found so much enjoyment from arts and crafts, my friend and I are hoping to set an art group up in the near future.
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We are very grateful to all our sponsors: Gold, Silver, Bronze and Standard who have already signed up for 2022 below. Will your organisation join them? For more information email info@southleedslife.com or call the Editor on 07894 583966. As well as sponsorship and subscriptions, we also get some grant funding. We are very grateful this month to have received a grant of MICE Money from Councillor Angela Gabriel.
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10 News NEWS IN BRIEF New food project at Hamara Centre FoodCycle is a new project at the Hamara Centre providing a free three course meal prepared from food that would have otherwise gone to waste. The project aims to combat hunger, loneliness and food waste all in one! Meals will be served every Wednesday evening starting on 9 March. The project is also looking for volunteers to help prepare food, collect supplies, or greet the guests. More information at: www.foodcycle.org.uk
Boundary Commission consultation The Boundary Commission for England has launched a secondary public consultation on Parliamentary constituency boundaries, which is open now until 4 April 2022. Members of the public can submit views on the proposals for their area via the consultation website bcereviews.org.uk. Plans include moving Middleton and Belle Isle from Leeds Central to a new Morley consituency.
Book your stall at Beeston Festival Bookings have opened for stalls at this year’s Beeston Festival which will take place on Saturday 25 June in Cross Flatts Park. The Festival’s bustling Bazaar boasts 100 stalls selling a range of goods and providing information. Food stalls are arranged in a central food court. The Festival operates a sliding scale of charges depending on what type of organisation you are and what you are selling. Bookings close on 9 May.
New project sets out to fix up South Leeds
Employment support for people with learning disabilities M
Ed Carlisle gathered volunteers to rebuild a storm-hit fence in Hunslet
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ocal residents are this month looking to launch a new project for south Leeds, and want your input and involvement. The project – called the South Leeds Urban Task Force – will look to mobilise volunteers to tackle practical challenges across LS10 and LS11. These might be things that need fixing, like fencing or gates; or ginnels, pathways, green spaces, or gardens that need clearing; or small DIY jobs around people’s homes. Local campaigner Ed Carlisle
is pushing the idea, after he and a group of residents pulled together to help hard-pressed residents in Hunslet fix fencing that had been blown down or damaged by the recent storms (pictured). The scheme is based on similar successful schemes elsewhere, in communities including Wortley. Ed comments: “We’re not planning on taking on work that’s the rightful responsibility of others like the Council or landlords – but sometimes, for different reasons, work isn’t getting done, and that’s taking its toll on the local community.
“Meanwhile, there are loads of good skilled people locally – who might hopefully be willing to offer small bits of time. There are a lot to practicalities and dynamics to work out with the idea, but it could make such a positive impact if we pull it off.” There will be an online zoom discussion about the proposal at 8.30pm on Tuesday 15 March. To join that, or for further details, look for ‘South Leeds Urban Task Force’ on Facebook, or contact Ed on 07738 921277.
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y Future is a new and exciting project set up to support and develop a network of Peer Support Work Clubs for people with learning disabilities. The clubs will use a variety of Health For All’s centres in south Leeds, including the Watsonia Café, Cranmore & Raylands Community Centre and Beeston Village Community Centre. The Work Clubs will provide a space for people with learning disabilities to meet with their peers, share their aspirations and goals, and to help build confidence and awareness around gaining employment. The work clubs will also provide access to practical help such
as access to IT to find and complete job applications, and to receive peer support and encouragement in their journey towards employment. Health For All will be delivering My Future project in partnership with Beeston Action for Families (BAFF), and both services will provide opportunities for volunteering and work placements, working together to raise the profile of the value of learning disabled employees. If you feel you would benefit from the support of this new project, please get in touch with Danielle Newton on 07487 664352 or email Danielle .Newton@healthforall.org.uk for more information.
Our Future Beeston goes live F
or the last year a group of Beeston residents, together with Climate Action Leeds development worker Beth Bingley have been consulting, identifying venues and partners and developing an initial local strategy in order to access a package of funds from the National Lottery Community Fund to employ part time local hub worker James Latham and fund an initial programme of activities. The project is being supported locally by a partnership with Health for All. Our Future Beeston is part of the wider Climate Action Leeds project, which has an ambitious target of making the city carbon zero and socially just by 2030. James said “I can’t wait to
get started with some of the exciting things residents have planned for Beeston, and to work closely with members of the community to create initiatives which help make sustainability more
James Latham
accessible”. You can meet James and find out more about the projects as he will be running an energy saving advice drop in at Bridge Café, The Watsonia, Cross Flatts Park on alternate Saturdays between 11am and 1pm Our Future Beeston will work to support and promote existing green groups and initiatives in the area such as the South Leeds CRAP group, Food Club, Pre-loved uniforms, Beeston in Bloom and Beeston Womblers. The project will also bring opportunities, funding and initiatives from the city-wide Climate Action Leeds project and its
Lynn Bailey from BAFF and Danielle Newton from Health For All partners into Beeston. Energy saving advice and retrofitting drop ins and workshops on-street growing info and workshops, a seed library, planters from pallets and recycled containers, and a bin yard gardens pilot. Our Future Beeston is a 3 year project so there is stillplenty of time to get involved in shaping the vision, direction & decisions taken to develop new
activities in the area. If would like to find out more/get involved in the project, and/or to sign up to the mailing list for the Our Future Beeston newsletter please get in touch with James by e-mail: ourfuturebeeston@gmail.com Follow Our Future Beeston on Facebook and Twitter @ourfuturebeeston for tips on saving energy and reducing waste.
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News 11
Cricket in South Leeds by Cllr Elizabeth Nash
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gloomy topic of conversation in my household recently has been the disappointing Test results in Australia. I recall the time, throughout the working day, men would be enquiring of what the test score was. It was our “national game” but other sports, hobbies and interests have now supplanted it, and both interest in our national cricket team and the playing of amateur cricket is declining. No doubt the removal of cricket from terrestrial television or “free-to-view” has had some impact, but there is no doubt in my mind that the disappearance of local cricket grounds, especially in inner cities has contributed, and South Leeds is no exception. Various institutions fostered cricket teams with some providing cricket grounds. Firstly, there were stately homes when the owners thought it the thing to do to have a cricket ground on their estate. Most, but not all of these have survived and are let to local clubs but, obviously, we have no existing stately homes in South Leeds! Secondly, both churches and chapels encouraged cricket teams, for the benefit of their congregations. I know of one called Whitehall Bethal Chapel which played on a ground on Whitehall Road. Both the Chapel and its ground have
long since gone. Then thirdly, firms and industries had their cricket teams and some provided the grounds. Notably in South Leeds was Leeds Co-operative Society which had a ground adjacent to its bakery at the end of Gelderd Road and had a very good team. Yorkshire Copperworks and Bysons Engineering both at Stourton were well-known for their grounds. All those grounds have gone as the development value of the land was just too valuable to keep when the firms no longer existed. Fourthly, local councils, including the former Leeds Corporation provided cricket grounds in public parks. However, this last was not altogether successful. Other park users resented not being able to use large sections of their park. There was always the problem of dogs doing their business on the ground and damage to the cricket square either intentionally or unintentionally. One may imagine that even at amateur level if a cricket ball is bowled at around 70 miles per hour and it hits a divot or rut it would be very dangerous with the ball ricocheting off at unexpected angles hitting players. Maintenance of a cricket square is very expensive and progressively, year on year, Councils have become strapped for cash and levels of maintenance have declined accordingly resulting in
dissatisfied clubs moving elsewhere. Cross Flatts Park had a cricket ground but it would be inconceivable today for both its upkeep and taking up too much park space, although there are practice facilities there. The big exception in Leeds are the Council-owned grounds at Soldiers Field in Roundhay and the Roundhay Arena which are in big demand. Those grounds owned by local councils are mainly towards and beyond the Leeds boundary where local parish councils have their own cricket grounds and can raise additional money to provide recreational facilities.
In Hunslet we have a flourishing team called Central Leeds CC playing Sunday cricket. Its search for grounds led them firstly to East Keswick where the Club hired the Parish Council ground. Then for two seasons they had to travel to grounds out of Leeds before now playing at Old Leodians ground in Alwoodley. For cricket clubs to own their own grounds was and still is unusual. But South Leeds had Holbeck CC which opened its own ground on Lowfields Road adjacent to the Elland Road stadium in 1901. Before doing his National Service in the Army, my husband played for Holbeck. Yorkshire second team players, when not playing for County, also played for Holbeck. It was the premier club in the Leeds
eeds College of Building students showcased their skills last month when Andrew Stephenson MP paid a special visit to the South Bank Campus. The Department for Transport Minister of State and Pendle MP is visiting Leeds as part of a week-long itinerary, meeting local stakeholders and employers to discuss transport infrastructure and the supplychain benefits associated with HS2. The College was the first UK provider to work with employers – through the Technician Apprenticeship Consortium – to develop a needed Apprenticeship Standard. This has been delivered by the College over the last 4 years and attracts apprentices nationally to its block release
courses. The MP attended the College on 21 February, toured state-ofthe-art facilities, and spoke to staff and students about the opportunities available to support transport-related
District winning championship after championship. It folded in 1961 because no one would take on admin responsibilities! The land was derelict for a long time until the M621 wiped it out entirely in 1974. There was also Hunslet Rugby & Cricket Club which played on grounds at the former Parkside. Both grounds were sold for industrial development. Hunslet Rugby moved eventually to the John Charles Stadium but Hunslet Cricket Club disappeared. I am happy to report though that South Leeds has just one outstanding example left of a cricket ground played on by Hunslet Nelson Cricket Club. The team originally played on a ground off Low Row in Hunslet and then moved in 1987 to its present ground situated on
Gipsy Lane at the junction of the three wards of Beeston & Holbeck, Middleton Park and Hunslet & Riverside. Much hard work by volunteers has made a cricket playing area to be proud of. Fundraising by the Club, including contributions from all local councillors in the past, has provided facilities of new changing rooms, separate changing rooms for juniors, and all-weather net practice strips. Having married into a cricket family I find it sad that South Leeds has only one ground left out of, what I am told, were originally 30 teams playing on grounds in South Leeds! I wish Hunslet Nelson every success in the cricket field and its engagement with our communities, keeping the flag flying for our national game.
Nikki Davis (Vice Principal – Teaching, Learning & Quality). Mr Stephenson heard about the challenges the College and FE Sector deal with and the tremendous growth in apprenticeships the College now accommodates (2,800) from Level 2 to Degree Apprenticeships. Andrew Stephenson MP said: “It was a pleasure meeting the staff and students at Leeds College of Building – learning first-hand about the vital skills and courses on offer, which will play a crucial role in helping the country build back better and greener. “We are committed to Levelling Up all parts of the UK and these apprenticeships will help fill the essential skills gap and transform the country by providing invaluable, practical on-the-job training for the people of Leeds.” Derek Whitehead, CEO & Principal of Leeds College of Building, said: “We were delighted to welcome the Minister to our fantastic facilities, used for
construction and built environment training at all levels including apprenticeships. Our courses, which embrace new technologies and zero-carbon agendas, are producing the talent needed to fill essential skills gaps and support the UK’s transport infrastructure. We are proud that our students and apprentices, with support from employers, go on to work on major projects across the UK linked to vital road and rail networks and new transportation schemes.” Leeds College of Building opened phase two of the South Bank Campus in 2019 after a £11.9m investment from the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (the LEP), delivered in partnership with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, through the Leeds City Region Growth Deal. The funding provided worldclass education and training facilities for students and the construction industry to help meet growing sector needs and skills gaps.
Hunslet Nelson Cricket Club’s ground on Gipsy Lane in Beeston
Minister of State visits Leeds College of Building L
March 2022 | South Leeds Life
construction careers such as Civil Engineering. Mr Stephenson also met students and staff in classrooms and workshops across Gas, Plumbing, Electrical, Heating &
Ventilation, and Refrigeration & Air Conditioning departments. The tour was led by Peter Norris (Chair of the College Governing Body), Derek Whitehead (Principal & CEO of Leeds College of Building), and
Andrew Stephenson MP (left) and Derek Whitehead, CEO and Principal of Leeds College of Building (centre) with a student at the South Bank Campus by philjacksonphotography.co.uk
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12 School Life
Cockburn Multi-Academy Trust Spring term roundup
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Captain Cooper’s Hunslet Carr Prim
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chools across the Cockburn Multi-academy Trust have enjoyed a busy half term since the return from the Christmas break. Here is a round-up of some of the activities from the different schools. IBM P-TECH Residential Visit Year 11 students from Cockburn School, Cockburn John Charles Academy and Leeds City College experienced a residential visit to London on 1011 February. This trip was funded by contributions from IBM and the schools and college. The P-TECH programme is a prestigious opportunity for selected students to gain understanding and experience of the growing digital and cybersecurity sector and to provide them with a pathway through post-16 study leading to internships and potential employment with business partners, such as IBM, KPMG and NHS Digital. The trip was a huge success with students participating in a range of activities including a flight on the London Eye, a Thames river cruise, walking tour of the city, overnight accommodation and finishing with a STEM focused visit to the Science Museum. David Gurney, MAT CEO, said “This visit was a fantastic opportunity for students across the trust, in collaboration with Leeds City College and IBM, to experience a fully funded residential visit that enriched their cultural capital and will raise their aspirations to strive for success in the upcoming final examinations.” LGBTQ+ Week Schools across the MAT provided a range of activities to celebrate diversity to coincide with the annual LGBTQ+ week. Middleton Primary School delivered a whole week of activities to learn about diversity, equality and all the different types of family that exist, encouraging all student to celebrate their ‘uniqueness’ and promoting respect and tolerance. Cockburn MAT secondary schools delivered a week of assemblies to all students focusing on equality and diversity and all schools are taking an active approach to raise the profile of this area by establishing student-led LGBTQ+ groups, which meet at lunchtime and provide students with support. Cockburn School Students in Years 7 and 8
Cockburn MAT students outside Buckingham Palace were amazed by a Royal Institution live demonstration. ‘Energy Live!’ is an exciting audience led show, delving into the different stores of energy and how they affect our lives. Students experienced lively, firebased demonstrations. Audiences left not only knowing their elastic from their gravitational, but also fired up about energy. There was even an extra show in the evening for students from other year groups and schools and their families.
for everyone and they are now on the lookout for new members from the local community. Anyone is welcome, whether you have sung in a choir for years or have never done it before, there is a place for everyone to find their voice. For those that want to show off their new skill, there are performance opportunities throughout the year but this of course is optional, you are free to just come along and sing. By joining the choir, we hope
Cockburn students were impressed by the Royal Institution demostrations Cockburn Community Choir is looking for new members: Cockburn School has been hosting Cockburn Community Choir for a number of years under the leadership of singing teacher, Sophie. It's a fully inclusive choir hoping to engage and enthuse the local community by bringing together people from all walks of life through song. The choir sing a wide range of repertoire from pop to rock, classical to show tunes, there really is something
you find new people to connect with in the community, get to learn some new music, sing some favourites and experience the joy of making music with other people. Singing is a great way to enhance your general wellbeing and that use of breath control seems to make everyone leave much more upbeat and awake than when we arrived. It is scientifically proven that singing improves wellbeing and releases endorphins that boost your
mood. It is also aerobic exercise as it increases oxygen in the blood leading to better circulation. So why not join a choir today? Rehearsals take place between 5-6pm at Cockburn School on Tuesdays during term time. For more information, please contact Mrs Amos at communitychoir @cockburnschool.org. We hope to see you there! Cockburn John Charles Academy Key Stage 3 drama students have been working closely with our educational partners at Burberry Inspire to stage a ‘Shakespeare Festival’ which was presented to an invited audience on Thursday 27 January. Head of School, Siobhan Roberts, said: “It was wonderful to see so many of our students taking to the stage and performing a challenging script with confidence and flair. As an academy we understand how vital it is for students to work outside their comfort zone and to broaden their cultural understanding.” Middleton Primary School The students at Middleton Primary School have raised over £200 to mark NSPCC ‘Number Day’ and the British Heart Foundation’s ‘Wear It Red’ event. All children were invited to come to school wearing something red and a number of their choice. Meanwhile the school’s football team continue to go from strength to strength, having played 8 matches this season and won 7 of them. Headteacher, Samantha Williams, said “I am so proud of our students’ attitude toward charitable endeavours, they are always keen to support those in need. We are also hugely proud of the performance of our football team, their team spirit and resilience absolutely exemplify the wider values of the school.”
Leeds United star Liam Cooper joined pupils for assembly
by Joanna Roberts and Martin Lumb
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n Thursday 3 February there was an electric, infectious buzz around Hunslet Carr Primary School due to the imminent arrival of Leeds United’s captain, Liam Cooper. All classes were prepared for the amazing experience having had lessons about Liam Cooper where they watched clips of him playing, clips of the team celebrating their promotion to the Premier League and let’s not forget how they learnt the Leeds United anthem, ‘Marching on Together’. Liam’s visit was organised by his LC6, Liam Cooper Academy. We were offered the chance for
Liam to not only visit our children, but for his coaches to deliver sessions for our children. To say we were over the moon with this is an understatement. We knew we had to seize this chance to give our children the life-long memory of meeting Liam and hearing about his journey. All children were challenged to think carefully about what they’d like to find out about Liam Cooper. Teachers explained that although finding out what he has for breakfast would be interesting, we wanted children to think about the skills, resilience, ambition and perseverance it took Liam to become not only a professional footballer, but also the captain of a football team.
A fist bump with the Captain
Liam Cooper presented a signed shirt to the school
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School Life 13
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s visit to mary School
Two young women from Beeston contest Youth Parliament vote by Kushmina Begum and Jeremy Morton
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Our goal was for our children to meet someone who proves our ethos – ‘Impossible is Nothing’. Cooper certainly did that with the most inspiring and motivational assemblies that will last in our children’s memories. When Liam was asked, “What advice can you give us to motivate us to achieve our dreams like you have?” he happily told our children: “I always had a dream, from probably your age and for as long as I can remember to play football. It took a lot of sacrifice, perseverance and I managed to do it. I gave my dream everything I had. It took a lot of practice and taking advice. I always set new goals because you’ll be surprised about how focused you
are and how much more you concentrate.” The inspirational visit will also be remembered for the passionate and heartfelt way the children sang Marching on Together. Our video showing Year 1 and 2 singing along with Liam reached over 100,000 views on Twitter and gained interest from a range of media outlets who congratulated us on such a special video and reported the visit on their various platforms. It was a whirlwind experience for the children and the community. Having an inspirational visit from Liam was like winning our own Premier League and has made us more determined to give our children the belief that ‘Impossible is Nothing’.
wo impressive young women from South Leeds are campaigning to win a seat in the UK Youth Parliament. Leeds is electing three Members of Youth Parliament (MYP). Voting has closed but the winners had not been announced as we went to press. We spoke to Hannah Begum and Tian Cai, both from Beeston, who are amongst the six candidates in the election. We started by asking about their campaigns. Hannah told us: “My manifesto is about how Covid 19 has worsened the lives of many young people. It has caused mental health issues, loss of family and friends and social skills. My plan is to help these young people and allow them to be brought out of this cycle of loss, ensuring proper healing after the pandemic.” Tian explained: “In my manifesto, I discuss problems that I believe affect young people the most: their homes, mental health, environment and education. We should improve housing, increase Tian Cai
versatility in education, tackle the stigma of ‘not seeking for help’ and mental health to be embraced rather than seen as a hindrance.” Both young women are very active both at school and in the community. Hannah attends Notre Dame College where she is studying for A levels in Philosophy, Theology and Ethics, Politics, History and Drama. Hannah recently got into the Ethics Cup Final and will be going to the national finals on 31 May. Tian is in Year 11, preparing to sit her GCSEs at Cockburn School where she is Head Girl, having previously served on the School Council. She commented: “Being voted by my peers to become Head Girl of Cockburn School 2022, gave me an insight
of what a leader is: selfless, considerate and compassionate. I’ve learned to plan and present assemblies from students to parents, coordinate team meetings, initiate a prom committee and hopefully inspire younger peers at my school.” Tian volunteered at The Bridge Café in Cross Flatts Park before the pandemic as well as at her church. South Leeds Life first interviewed Hannah back in 2015 when she ran a very creative campaign to become Leeds Children’s Mayor. She impressed Leeds Voice bigwigs by getting a reply from the Prime Minister (David Cameron in 2016). Since then she has helped produce and present the Leeds Child Friendly Awards and attends Leeds Youth Theatre. Both Hannah and Tian are
Hannah Begum
Wellspring Academy Trust named top in the country T
Liam with Panku the school’s ‘Impossible Is Nothing’ mascot
he Wellspring Academy Trust has received the top award at the prestigious National Schools Awards in London. At an event held at the House of Lords, the Trust was named “MAT (Multi Academy Trust) of the Year.” The trust operates 28 schools across Yorkshire and Lincolnshire including Elements Primary in Middleton, and Springwell Leeds (which includes a setting in Belle Isle). Mark Wilson, Wellspring’s Chief Executive Officer said: “We really believe that this award belongs to the whole of the education sector. Everybody in every school setting and college has performed brilliantly
proud of their roots in Beeston and South Leeds and are keen to raise the profile of the area if elected. Hannah told us if she wins and gets to speak on the dispatch box in the House of Commons she will mention Beeston and South Leeds. Tian said that, if elected: “I hope not only to tackle social issues, but also to change the outlook of politics that young people have, where many feel change is futile, voices are only suppressed and or politics correlates to just corruption. However complex the challenge is, nothing is impossible. I want to provide solutions, alternative ideas and a perspective of an open-minded young person.” We wish both Hannah and Tian the best of luck, both would make great representatives for South Leeds and the wider city.
(L-R) George Krawiec (Chair of governors at Beacon Academy, Jason Thurley (Head at Beacon Academy), Mark Wood (Chief Finance Officer at Wellspring Academy Trust). Hearl Lenton (Chair of the Wellspring board), Karen Frogatt (Clerk to the trust board)
to support families and ensure continuity of education throughout these difficult times. I am delighted that Wellspring has been recognised for its work. Any things that we do that have been recognised by the judges as good practice in the sector are things that we can share with others to aid them.” Hearl Lenton, Chairman of the Wellspring Board said: “I could not be more delighted. I have the privilege of seeing at close quarters the sheer hard work and dedication behind the scenes that goes into ensuring good schools for children and young people. Our aim is to Make A Difference every day. This award recognises the progress we are making in that important endeavour.” Wellspring is a not for profit organisation that operates twenty-eight schools in total throughout the North and East of England.
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14 Comment
In our view Landlords must sign up The housing crisis in this country sky high house prices, too little social housing - means that the role of private landlords has become increasingly important. There are many very good private landlords in South Leeds, but as we’ve reported in the past, their are some rogues too that put tenants lives at risk. The Selective Licensing scheme brought it in by Leeds City Council for Beeston Hill was dubbed a ‘tenant tax’ by landlords that opposed it, but it is showing its worth. 90% of inspected properties did not come up to the minimum standards for tenants and there is no evidence that rents have risen faster than elesewhere. It’s time for all the landlords in the area to register with the scheme. Respect your tenants by providing quality accommodation and they are more likely to respect you. And that will have consequences for the wider community. It’s a no-brainer really, especially when the alternative is a £30,000 fine.
Refugees could be you or me The scenes from Ukraine are truly horrifying. We are sure that Leeds will do its bit, if the Government allows us to, to welcome refugees from the conflict. One of the striking features of the pictures of families trying to board trains or queuing at the border is how much they look like you and me. That’s because they are like you and me - people with jobs, families a settled life doing the best they can. And that’s true for all refugees, whether they arrive on trains or in little boats. Uprooting your family is not an easy decision, it is usually one forced on you, in a hurry and the chances of having all the correct beaucratic paperwork with you is slim. The crisis in Ukraine shows us that we need a more compassionate border policy.
Your letters and comments Cockburn Sports pitches You cannot just divert one of the oldest footpaths in Yorkshire. They damaged it and all the 100 year old trees in the hedgerow so they could get wagons up instead of going through the school grounds to build the extra class rooms (I have photos). This is part of the heritage of the area. Planting trees at 3 to 1 is not acceptable. These take between 20 and 30 years before they start to clear the air up until then they are adding to the pollution. The trees they are cutting down are home to birds and bats as well as other mammals. Even 5 year old trees if planted would not be the same. Linda Meikle A natural grass pitch should be the only option next to a nature reserve and ancient woodland. Nearly all 3G pitches use microplastics as infill. Microplastics build up in nearby soils, in local water courses or wash down drains with the potential to end up in the sea. Microplastic can also be mistaken for food by wildlife and has been found in the stomachs of fish in rivers near 3G pitches. There is a stream running adjacent to the proposed pitch. Rubber crumb has also been shown to leach harmful chemicals and toxic heavy metals, contaminating soil and water, impacting soil health and wildlife. The pitch will also introduce noise and light pollution. Light pollution affects bats, insects, in fact all wildlife and even trees. Because of this a grass pitch used only in school hours by the pupils would be the only acceptable option if the planning is permitted. It shouldn’t be used as a source of revenue for the school. The Climate Emergency wipes out any proposals like these that are now out of step with current research and thought. Suzy This is a local school for the children of the local community. The majority of children live within a mile of the school. It’s quite simple the sports facilities are not sufficient for a school of its size (65% below the required government standard for a high school) if the school was built today, by government regulations it would have to be built with enough sporting facilities i.e. playing fields and pitches. The school serves the local children and community. The school is used by a
Artists impression of the diverted footpath and new piches behind number of local sports groups made up of both adults and children. I didn’t see much objection to the private golf club serving just a privileged few who could afford to pay the golf club fees. Why should the school and children of south Leeds do without adequate sporting facilities, are our children second class to the likes of children who go to other high schools in Leeds with the right amount of playing fields. It’s not the schools fault its so successful and popular with parents. My understanding is it is less than 5% required of the 118 acres private golf course right next to the schools existing boundary. The rest of the golf club site has been earmarked for planting of 1000s of trees and community use 95% v 5%. Come on! Chris Those commenting that the school needs additional sports facilities should note that maybe the school should consider looking at what they have currently. I understand that the current provision is not currently fully utilised. Those objecting to this development are not against children but developments like this should be challenged to make sure they really do add value and are not just trophy venues. Are we also saying that environmental and public safety and access issues should just be ignored. No, let’s make sure this is looked at dispassionately and make sure the planning process looks at all angles and considers all views. Alan Shaw
Your Leeds City Councillors
Beeston & Holbeck ward Includes Beeston from Cross Flatts Park to the Ring Road, Cottingley and Holbeck. The three councillors are:
Gohar Almass Angela Gabriel Andrew Scopes
07445 878 333 gohar.almass@leeds.gov.uk 07946 632 468 angela.gabriel@leeds.gov.uk 07860 400 645 andrew.scopes@leeds.gov.uk
Hunslet & Riverside ward Includes the city centre, Beeston Hill and Hunslet. The three councillors are:
Mohammed Iqbal 0113 226 8796 mohammed.iqbal@leeds.gov.uk Elizabeth Nash 0113 275 8594 elizabeth.nash@leeds.gov.uk Paul Wray 07528 512 649 paul.wray@leeds.gov.uk
Middleton Park ward Includes Belle Isle and Middleton. The three councillors are: Sharon Burke Kim Groves Paul Truswell
0113 378 8814 sharon.burke@leeds.gov.uk 07891 741 832 kim.groves@leeds.gov.uk 0113 378 8811 paul.truswell@leeds.gov.uk
Cycle lanes Can we have the figures for daily cycle use on the LeedsBradford Cycle Superhighway before any more public money is spent on cycle lanes? Living near this white elephant, I don’t need all my fingers to know how many cyclists use this in a day! A shocking waste of public money for a few enthusiast cyclists and Tour of Yorkshire flag wavers!
When will Leeds City Council realise that both the terrain and weather mean normal people will not cycle! Alex McGeorge I have started to cycle since they did the Hunslet Road lane and will do so more often when they finish the Black Bull Street section. There’s plenty more like me. Build it and they will come! Bob Ross
Holbeck developments
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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: @RachaelLoftus The “cladding burden” should be shared 50:50 between people who profited from it & those who are victims of it? Ok. Then let’s go halves on the massive profits you made when you missold our homes? #EndOurCladdingScandal @HolbeckTogether On the last Sunday of the month, we deliver a twocourse Sunday lunch to people in Holbeck – and host Sunday lunch at St Matthew’s Community Centre. It’s £4 – and £3.50 if you’d like transport to St Matthew’s. Call us in the office to find out more: 0113 245 5553
If these new flats are built where will the people who live there get access to medical services? – eg dentists, doctors etc – is a medical centre going to be built there? Or will they just have to register at surgeries away from this area, ones which already have hundreds of patients? Also will some sort of local supermarket be built nearby? Or don’t these services figure in the plans? Mike
Speed limit signs I wonder if it would be possible to have some speed limit signs on the lampposts coming down the ring road from Middleton. There is not one from the Westwoods down to the lights at Tommy Wass and driving up or down I find a procession of cars trying to pass me. I think most people have the idea that it is a 40 mph area, whereas in fact it is on 30 mph. Signs on any of these posts would be a great help. Margaret Cook
@dazldance @dazldance & @RJCDance have joined forces and will be featured on #BBCDancePassion22 @BBCiPlayer filmed at the stunning @NorthernSchool in partnership with @bbcarts @onedanceuk so excited to share our piece LS UNITY with you all choreographed by @MasonJubb & group @ace_thenorth
Thomas Watson Thankyou for this wonderful information (A Beeston lad made good, February). My son was awarded the last Watson award at Beeston Primary School around 1988/89. I still have it to this day. Mrs C Paver
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.
@LeedsCommFound The latest #GiveLoveLeeds podcast is live and we talk with two Community Organisations funded through the Men's Suicide Prevention Programme, which supports activities for socially isolated men. Listen here: spoti.fi/34yhheM
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Comment 15
MP’s notebook with Hilary Benn MP
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lthough in our hearts we probably knew it was coming, no words can quite convey the profound shock we all felt when we woke up to discover that Russian forces had started their invasion of Ukraine. This is not a conflict in a faroff country of which we know little. This is a brutal war in modern cities which are part of Europe. A war against a proud sovereign state which has done nothing to threaten Russia, but which President Putin seems determined to seize by brute force. The Russian army is large and powerful and its troops have been massing on the borders of Ukraine for many weeks now, but as I write this article, Ukrainian forces and
civilians are doing their level best to resist. People talk about the fog of war and the first casualty being truth, but thanks to the brave reporting from correspondents and citizen journalists throughout the country we can see and feel the determination of the Ukrainian people to resist. And even if Russia is eventually able to depose the Ukrainian government, it is going to have a really hard time attempting to hold on in the face of a population that will continue to resist with all its might. And the great irony in all this is that by his actions, President Putin has actually strengthened Europe and the NATO alliance. His country is now a pariah. It is
facing political and economic isolation. Sanctions will bite. Russia’s sporting teams will no longer be welcome anywhere. Russian planes cannot fly into or across Europe. Germany has announced a big increase in military expenditure. The European Union has taken the unprecedented step of saying that it will join the UK and others in buying and supplying weapons to help Ukraine resist the invaders. NATO will end up putting more troops into member states in Europe; the very opposite of what President Putin was hoping to achieve. And in Moscow and other Russian cities brave Russians have taken to the streets to protest against the war, even
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
though they know that they will be arrested. Above all, President Putin despises democracy and freedom. The conflict has also brought out heroism. People who have never picked up a weapon in their lives are taking receipt of AK-47s and learning how to shoot. Trenches are being dug. And the symbol of defiance that is President Volodymyr Zelensky. He is of Jewish descent and three of his great uncles were murdered in the Holocaust, so he understands why brutal dictators must be defeated. And as he has stuck by his post in Kiev, he has given heart and inspiration to his fellow citizens with his regular video broadcasts. Watching the news reports and video footage, there is an eerie echo of the newsreel films of the Second World War. Burnt out tanks. Street by street battles. And long lines of refugees seeking to escape to
safety. Those who can leave are heading West into Poland and beyond. Some of them will want to come to Britain because they have family here. It is our responsibility to offer them a warm welcome. After all, what this conflict reminds us is that the progress we have enjoyed since 1945 has not ended the possibility of war happening again on our continent. And each of us knows that if it was our country being invaded and we had to flee elsewhere, we would be so grateful to those who extended the hand of friendship and took us in. It is the very least anyone can do in the face of such brutality. The end of Marcelo Bielsa’s time as Leeds United’s manager, with the club just above the relegation zone, may in footballing terms be not altogether surprising. Being a
Obituary: Mohammed Farouk Butt by Hanif Malik
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first met Farouk, nearly 25 years ago when I began my career in the community sector as a project worker with the South Leeds Elderly Group. Farouk was the chairman and one of the founders and although the organisation was a very small outfit with only two part-time staff, it was clear he had an ambitious vision for the community. At the time he was running a small timber yard in Holbeck but without fail, he would arrive in the office every day and discus his ideas to improve community facilities in the locality. Encouraged by his passion, we began to form alliances in the community and he was instrumental in helping develop the ‘Faith Together in Leeds11’ consortium, through his links with the different faith and community leaders in the area. Over the next few years we worked very closely to develop
the Hamara Centre and it is fair to say that without Farouk’s selflessness, commitment and drive, what is now a thriving organisation would not have existed. He would often spend more time in the office and attending community meetings than he would running his own business. Even when he eventually moved to London for employment, on his return he would first visit the Hamara Centre, before going home to see the family. We had no real idea at the outset how we were going to raise the several million pounds to develop and operate the centre but Farouk was an optimist and his enthusiasm rubbed off on the rest of us. Six years after we started the campaign, in 2004 Farouk proudly opened the doors to the Hamara Centre, an organisation he cared about enormously and one where he remained actively involved until his untimely death.
His 30 plus years of unstinting service to the community often went unheralded but his gentle demeanour endeared him to all he met and his among his many attributes was his reluctance to take any credit or be at the forefront for his achievements. He was one of the most community spirited individuals I had the pleasure of knowing. A man who would put the needs of others before his own and who in his own quiet unassuming manner would get things done quietly and efficiently. Farouk was a very well-known figure not only in Beeston but throughout the city He will be sadly missed by many, but his legacy to the community, particularly in Beeston is a great tribute to him and his family. He will be remembered fondly by those of us who knew him and will be an enormous loss to the voluntary and community sector.
manager in the Premiership is a very tough and uncertain business, and every season sees its casualties. But what has been really special and striking is the admiration and affection for him - the man and the manager - that Leeds United fans expressed as news of his departure spread. They know that nothing can take away the memories of his extraordinary success in bringing the club back into the Premiership, where it belongs, and in the process creating a team that was so exciting and such a joy to watch. Their feelings were best summed up in the remarkable farewell letter addressed to him by the Leeds United Supporters’ Trust who said this: “All that’s left to say … is that we love you. And you will be loved in this city, and by Leeds fans across the world, forever. “Thank you, Marcelo. Saludos Cordiales.”
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16 Art Life
What Makes Us Tick
Village Community Centre. The group of local teenagers with Chinese, eastern European and Asian heritage were working with the Violence Reduction
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Unit and used collage to express what’s going on in their heads when they think about local knife crime. One piece won third place in an art
exhibition and was exhibited at the Royal Armouries. Speaking to the assembled artists, Pat McGeever, Health For All’s CEO said: “The designs are so high quality that you’d be hard pressed to know that they weren’t created by professional artists. They’re gobsmacking, absolutely beautiful, the creativity that’s gone into them and I can just imagine the good chats that you had whilst you were choosing what to put in. We would love to keep the display here. You should all be very proud of yourselves.” The art workshops and activities of the groups were part of Live Well Leeds, Healthy Holidays and Violence Reduction Unit projects during summer 2021 and the Christmas period. The exhibition event was funded by Live Well Leeds.
People who said they weren’t Futures group at Beeston the slightest bit room at Tenants Hall in creative have come up Middleton has been turned with the most amazing into an art gallery thanks to ideas. “But it’s also about the work of local people attending support groups run the conversations that we have in between the by Health For All. I went along to the see the making.” Leslie, who attends exhibition and speak to some of those involved in the project. the Blossom kinship Jill Scanlon is a community carers group, explained based mental health worker that her collage was who supports a number of based on her love of support groups locally. She holidays. It includes of exotic invited local artist Sue Bowden images to work with the Be Yourself destinations, but also women’s group at Middleton of birds that migrate to sunnier climes. And Family Centre. “We started by mind agreed with Jill saying: “It’s very therapeutic mapping what they like, what they’ve missed during Covid, to do things like this what makes them tick. and because it takes your they produced these lovely mind off the everyday works of art that are really worries.” As well as Blossom, personal to themselves” said Jill has taken the Jill. The artworks draw on the project to the Teen and Men Artists and their work at the exhibition in Middleton work of Maria Rivans, a Spirit Brighton-based artist, who had Behaving Dadly groups. Artist Sue Bowden told me: created a collage of herself “During lockdown everyone’s featuring images that represented her influences. Jill kind of lost track of what and Sue invited the members makes them tick. The aim of of the group to create their own the project was to remind people of who they are: where collage. Jill continues: “We had they love going and what they people that said to begin with love doing. I think it’s really they had nothing at all to put on important for their self-esteem by Hazel Millichamp a picture, nothing positive, and to have their work on display. then they went away and They also keep a copy to give ne of the most beautiful thought about it; and as the themselves a visual reminder paintings in Leeds Art weeks went on they started of what makes them tick.” Gallery is “Iris” painted in Sue’s also adapted the 1886 by John Atkinson thinking ‘well, yeah, I have got this and I used to do that’. concept for the Inspiring Grimshaw, in my opinion. The painting exemplifies all of Grimshaw’s painting skills of portraying light and colour – it is otherworldly. Today, the artist is considered to be one of the Victorian era’s greater painters. Born in 1836 in a back-to-back in Leeds, he was a self-taught artist, who, to the dismay of his Donate it to support people parents, left his job as a Great National Railways clerk to with Learning Disabilities follow his passion. Grimshaw died on 13th October 1893 of tuberculosis and is buried in Woodhouse Cemetery (which is now St ‘Reflections on the Aire - on strike’ by John Atkinson Grimshaw, 1879 George’s Fields). One of the Leeds artist surveying the houses he lived in is in Cliff Hurst bequest. “Reflections on the Aire – on same area we can still see to Road in Headingley and has a Leeds Civic Trust blue plaque. strike” was painted by this day (minus the industrial Four of his children went on to Grimshaw in 1879. Whilst the cityscape) and memorializing it become painters. One of his painting is one of his signature in his inimitable style. The location for the artist’s sons Arthur Edmund Grimshaw moonlit scenes it is also (1864-1913) was the master of combined with a social viewpoint was established by the choir at Leeds Cathedral message, making it a rare gallery curator Nigel Walsh and Call us to curator of Industrial History, and was a conductor of the example of his work. The painting depicts a lone John McGoldrick. In arrange a Leeds Symphony Orchestra. When Leeds Art Fund and female figure looking out over conjunction, they discovered free pickup Leeds Art Gallery were alerted the dark waters of the River that this was a dire time for to the sale of a Grimshaw Aire, a somber industrial industrial workers and that painting that had been housed cityscape in the background. strike action was prevalent in in a private collection for years, The scene is thought to be a early 1879. At this time, they were able to secure it for painting of Knostrop Cut, Grimshaw lived just along the South Leeds AlternativeTrading Enterprises Ltd future generations, thanks to across from Hunslet Mills. It is river at Knostrop. Registed Company no 6394383 | Registered Charity 1149293 Councillor Jonathan Pryor, the generous support of the thrilling to imagine this great
by Jeremy Morton
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Atkinson Grimshaw’s moonlight masterpiece returns to Leeds O
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Leeds City Council’s executive member for economy, culture and education, said: “John Atkinson Grimshaw’s stunning paintings captured the dramatically changing face of Leeds as an emerging industrial city, and, as we can see in this painting, his empathy for the plight of his fellow citizens. “We’re extremely fortunate to have such an extensive range of his work here in his home city and for this beautiful new addition to be joining the world class Leeds Art Gallery collection.”
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Art Life 17
Tiny Tetley - a new free art space for pre-school children by Hazel Millichamp
I
spoke to Jack James the Participation and Engagement Officer at The Tetley, Hunslet’s own art gallery, about the new Tiny Tetley Studio. Tiny Tetley runs from 10am until 5pm from Wednesday
through to Sunday. The sessions take place on the second floor and are absolutely free! The Tiny Tetley Studio is a new artist-designed space for children under five. Jack explained to me that he and his team wanted to make sure the sessions were free in order that
The Tiny Tetley Studio includes an inviting slide
they can be accessed by as many people as possible. Although The Tetley is a very busy venue, hosting exhibitions, events and weddings, Jack had noticed that the second floor was less well used. This was where his quiet office was housed and he
realised that due to more blended working since the pandemic this space could be better used as a new play area for under 5s. Jack dedicated lots of energy into getting the space organized and invited initial proposals from artists. Stephanie Jefferies is the artist they chose – not only is she as an artist she has been a nursery school teacher and is a trained Montessori teacher too. Together they worked with Three Create, Yorkshire’s leading play space designers. Stephanie has designed a series of toys and objects for children to play with, and the freshly designed space includes a climbing frame and a slide. A bespoke sound installation by Buffalo Sound Design provides relaxing background music. There are three small spheres, each with a unique track, hidden around the space and waiting to be discovered by tiny hands. The team even
The Studio has “exceptional” warm light have breastfeeding aids crocheted by Leeds Bosom Buddies fb.com/Cityand HunsletBosomBuddies/ Jack describes the warm, bright light in the room as “exceptional” – and as a safe, secure, beautiful space for families to spend time with friends and their small people. Watch this space as Jack and the Tetley team will be leading outreach workshops in South Leeds at the Hamara Centre
shortly. For access to the artistdesigned play space at Tiny Tetley, you need to sign up for a free Family Pass here: bit.ly/TetleyPass With the pass you will also receive: • Special discounts in The Tetley Bar & Kitchen • Access to other free family activities • Updates on their family events
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South Leeds Life | March 2022
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days and weeks devoted to it. The Random Acts of Kindness Day took place again this year on 17 February, it originated in Denver Colorado, 1995. The idea behind the day is to make the world a little brighter and better through simple, kind-gestures, words and actions. But don’t worry if you missed it, there’s still plenty of other opportunities and wonderful reasons to give and receive kindness Most people don’t realise this, being kind is more than just doing a good turn for someone else. Kindness plays a crucial role in our wellbeing. Whether we’re giving kindness, receiving kindness or simply witnessing it, research has shown that kindness causes chemical changes in our body that improves our physical and mental health Maybe you’ve heard of the expression, ‘helpers high’ it’s the tingly, happy feeling of goodness that warms your insides when you know you’ve done something to positively impact a person or situation.
Kindness gives us the same happy rush of hormones that are triggered when you cuddle a new born baby, spend time with a loved one, or in my case, pet a cute cat! The hormone Oxytocin and a chemical called nitric oxide are released into the blood vessels which expand, reducing blood pressure, protecting the heart and keeping it healthy. It’s even been said that people who express high levels of kindness produce more endorphins which are the brain’s natural pain killers, and they produce 23% less of the stress hormone cortisol meaning they are more laid back as a result. I bet if I asked you to name 3 kind things, you’d done for other people recently you’d have no problem, but how about if I asked what kind things, you’d done for yourself lately. Would you struggle? It’s often the case, we can easily and frequently express kindness to others, yet we neglect to extend that loving care to ourselves. When we turn kindness inward, it sends a message to other people about the way we’d like to be treated, it also means that when we take better care of ourselves, we have more energy reserves to help others when they need us the most. Here’s 5 simple ways to kindness
1 Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but here it is: being kind sometimes means you have to do the difficult things. Having uncomfortable conversations, you’d rather avoid, doing the jobs you’ve been putting off. You don't have to be cruel to be kind, but sometimes you do have to be assertive 2 Donate unwanted items to foodbanks and charity shops, decluttering your space will make you feel better and it benefits others 3 Volunteer your time to a cause you believe in, kindness helps the charity and gives you a sense of pride and purpose which is good for physical and mental health 4 Set aside a couple of minutes, hours or days, depending on your commitments, to do something you love, that’s just for you, it will help you decompress and release and unwanted stress or worry 5 Take a few moments to check-in with friends, family and neighbours, it will be good for you too Kindness is contagious, don’t overthink it, just go for it and watch the goodness spread! Shannon Humphrey is a First Aid for Mental Health Instructor Youth and Adult, for more information visit www. pathwaysforpositivity.com
food is king in our house when we are struggling and it’s far less energy to heat up a soup
than prepare a big meal with several different food types and utensils. You can get reasonably nutritious foods that you don’t need to spend a lot of time on. If you are aware of a friend or neighbour that does struggle in this aspect, and you have a spare plate popping it round would likely be gratefully received. Little things can make a big
difference especially to those who are hit a little harder this year. Isolation doesn’t just affect those who live alone and don’t forget to check on everyone, even those who manage a lot of responsibilities as they are more likely to neglect their own needs. I have had positive experiences from all those listed above so it can work!
18 South Leeds Lives
Pathways for positivity with Shannon Humphrey
Kindness
I
remember asking my mum as a child what my best quality was, in the hopes she would say funny, or clever or pretty. But she actually said I was 'kind’, 10-year-old-me, felt
bitterly disappointed in her remark, in fact I thought that she’d made it up because she couldn’t think of anything else nice to say … being kind isn’t what most kids of my age wanted to hear. It didn’t seem
quite dynamic, exciting, or fun enough. Turns out that I underrated the street cred of kindness. Fast forward, ahem, X number of years to 2022 and kindness is all the rage! It seems that everyone wants to be considered kind, in fact it’s been the buzz word of the past few years. There’s even entire
Photo: Shutterstock
Disability not inability with Christine Smart
Winter Woes I
t is maybe an obvious yet lesser-known fact that disabled people have a harder time in the winter. The changes in weather can cause pain and low mood, the icy conditions are a nightmare for those of us with mobility issues, chill to the bone is an actual fact not a saying and we can become more isolated. Heating bills go through the roof and additional pain and seasonal depression means it can make it harder to look after ourselves. There is no cure-all, but there are things that can knock some issues off the list! My hot water bottles are constantly stuck to me at this time of year. I take them everywhere: to work to the gym, shopping it might look odd but I’m not freezing! They allow me to turn the heating off more regularly so everyone else in the house isn’t melting while
I’m still freezing and knocks a few quid off the bill. If you have a disabled friend or someone who struggles extra with their mental health this time of year check in on them. You don’t need to have a full-blown counselling session but maybe a chat about something random can break the monotony of isolation. Offer and ask for help. I have learnt that instead of being miserable that I can’t do a thing, that I can ask someone else to do it and it gets done. For those of us who don’t like to ask, offering to nip to the shop, especially in weather that makes moving around difficult is a gift. Certain conditions can make you feel alone this is the one time the thought really can count! Social Media is both the negative and positive entity that we all need at times. It can be the only way that some are
comfortable communicating. Gone are the days when we’d have hours long conversations on the house phone, this replacement of communication can be used to your advantage. Short, no pressure, conversations are about all you can manage some days so Messenger offers that. Steer clear of things that have a negative impact on you and indulge in the fun side of social media, watching a cat play a keyboard is surprisingly uplifting, Keeping it moving can have several benefits, keeping it moving with music can distract you to where it doesn’t feel like you’re consciously exercising. If walking outside isn’t suitable potter round the house or stick to the garden. It can release both the stiff joints and give even momentary relaxation for the mind. Make sure you eat. I am guilty of neglecting this aspect of my health especially on a bad day, cooking is the last thing I want to do, convenience
Photo: Shutterstock
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South Leeds Lives 19
Local history with Ken Burton
Cranbrook House
Cranbrook House, 219 Beeston Road
T
his house stands at the corner of Cross Flatts Park at the Beeston Road end. It is a red brick end terrace house built in the latter part of the 19th and early part of the 20th century with a turret at the Park side that contains bay windows on the ground and second floors. At the rear was a garage, stables, and a hay loft and entry was from a back street. The name plate is on the turret wall between the upper and lower windows, but now faded. The house was built on land released by the Low Moor Company of Bradford when mining ceased to be a financially viable proposition in Beeston at the end of the 19th century. This is remembered in some street names in the area being named after mining officials – Hardy, Dawson, and Tempest. Lord Cranbrook, originally Gaythorne Hardy, was the son
of one of the owners, hence the house name. One of the early occupants of the house was Joseph Fearnley Carter who is shown in the 1906 Leeds Directory as living here. Joseph was born at Drub, Gomersal on 3 May 1839. His father, James Carter was a Cordwainer (a man who makes new shoes out of new leather as opposed to a Cobbler who repairs shoes), his mother was Lydia Carter (nee Wigglesworth) who was born in Great Gomersal and who it is said was illiterate. They married in May 1825 at St. Peter’s Church in Birstall, they had seven children but one is thought to have died in infancy, Joseph was the youngest of the survivors. Joseph’s name appears on every Census from 1841 to 1911 and when aged 22 he is listed as a ‘stone-mason’. He married Jane Longbottom of Hunsworth, the daughter of
March 2022 | South Leeds Life
George Longbottom, Maltster. In 1871 he is listed as a Licensed Victualler at the Brunswick Hotel, 36 Vicar Lane, Leeds. It was here in Leeds that he began to take an interest in politics and like a number of other local politicians he tried the Leeds Board of Guardians first and was elected to the Board in 1880. The 1881 and 1891 Census Returns show him as the Licensed Victualler at the Red House Inn, 92 Meadow Lane, Hunslet. It was not until his third attempt that Joseph was to enter Leeds City Council as it then was; he failed in 1886 and 1887 but succeeded for the Conservatives in 1888 when he defeated the Liberal candidate Mr FW Batley. He was re-elected in the 1891, 1894, and 1897 elections. In 1898 he was made an Alderman and served in this capacity until the Concordat
between the Liberals and the Conservatives in 1904 when he and others elected to retire. This didn’t mean an end to his municipal career because in the following year he re-entered the Council as the representative of the South Ward after he had defeated the Liberal candidate Mr John Seddon by two votes, this was the only seat won from the Liberals in this election. History repeated itself for Carter because in March 1906 when he was once again promoted to the Alderman Bench on the death of William Walker but he only held the position for two years before retiring in November 1910 because of increasing years and ill health. For nearly 21 years Joseph had held the Chairmanship of the South Ward Conservative Association and during this time he had the satisfaction of seeing three Municipal seats in the South ward won by the Conservatives. He was clearly identified with the (Divisional) Conservative Association since its formation in 1863 and he held various positions, being at one time one of the ViceChairmen. In the summer of 1911 he was presented on behalf of the Association at the great gathering in Middleton Park with a Testimonial in recognition of his valuable services to the Party. Joseph’s Beeston connection is via the Old Punch Bowl pub on Town Street and the name FC Carter can be seen above the door in old photographs. In 1890 he pulled down the old pub and built the new Old Punch Bowl on the same site in 1892. This new building complete with brew house was originally intended for Carters son, Frank Clarence Carter, but unfortunately the son met with a tragic accident while on his honeymoon at Lake Lucerne, Switzerland, where he drowned aged 34. His remains were returned to Beeston for burial in St Mary’s churchyard. With his new pub came a small shopping parade of three
shops one of which was James Boshells barbers shop; this is where Charles Blewitt had his moustache shaved off after murdering his wife Mary Ann in Star Fold, Beeston. The road behind the buildings was known as Carter Terrace, behind No.55 Town Street, Beeston. The 1901 and 1911 Census show Joseph living at Cranbrook House, 219 Beeston Road and at this address he must have been a good employer because around 1905 a young woman in his service was married and he furnished their home from top to bottom as a wedding present. Joseph was one of the more esteemed members of the Leeds Licensed Victuallers Association, although he had retired from business some years before. Joseph Fearnley Carter died on 21 June 1919 aged 80. He was buried at St Mary’s Church graveyard in Beeston where the family monument can still be seen. His wife Jane had died well before him on 5 December 1897, aged 53. Another later occupant of the
house was Percy Bickerdike, a Masseur and his wife Phyllis. Many of the rooms were adapted to receive patients who were in need of treatment and the bathroom was equipped with a spa for the use of patients. The bedroom over the front door was lead-lined, being intended for the use of Xray equipment. Outside the house there was a garage, stable, and hay loft which Percy put into use as a gymnasium and store for ointments and potions. The two front lawns were separated by a gate and an underground air raid bunker made of steel and some 16 tons of concrete, access to this was from the two cellars while an emergency exit from this was provided via a hatch into the gardens. Unfortunately, before the lead-lined room was completed Percy died in 1936 at the age of 42. Phyllis, however, continued to live here until about 1992 when she is believed to have moved into sheltered accommodation. The house was sold and then converted into flats, this seems to be the fate of these grand old buildings.
The Carter family monument in Beeston Cemetery
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South Leeds Life | March 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 March 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 Full contact details can be found in our online What’s On guide at www.southleedslife.com/events
Every Monday Mums & Tots, Tea & Toast 9-10:30am Beeston Parish Centre, Town Street Community Play Group 9-11:30am Little Angels Playzone, The Sugar Mill, Beeston ESOL Beginners class 9:30am-12pm Asha Neighbourhood Project, Beeston Book: 0113 270 4600 Crafts Group 9:30-10:45am Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Acre Road Over 65s Group @ Hunslet RLFC 9:45-11:45am Phoennix Bar, South Leeds Stadium Holbeck Together coffee morning 10am-12pm St Matthew’s Community Centre Mindfulmess (online) 10:30am Cranmore & Raylands Community Centre, Belle Isle Book: 07305 167629 Chair Based Exercise 10:30am-12pm BISA 59 Club, 59 Belle Isle Circus Bingo and Hoy 11am-12pm Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Acre Road MHA Soup & a Sandwich and Digital Health Hub 11:30am-1pm St Andrew’s Community Centre, Old Lane, Beeston Dinner Jackets (baked potato) 12-1pm St Matthew’s Community Centre Lunch Club 12-1:30pm Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Acre Road MHA Lunch Club 12-1:30pm Cottingley Community Centre Dance class 12:30-1:30pm Tenants Hall, Acre Close, Middleton Gentle Exercise 12:30pm Cranmore & Raylands Community Centre, Belle Isle Lunchtime meditation 12:30-1pm Over Zoom. Book: jamyangleeds.co.uk/wellbeing Drop In Technology Support 1-3pm St Luke’s Church, Malvern Road, Beeston Hill 50+ Women’s Group 1-2:30pm Asha Neighbourhood Project, Beeston Book: 0113 270 4600 Baking Together (online) 1:30-2:30pm Cranmore & Raylands Community Centre Book: 07305 167629 Beeston Hillers’ Book Club 1:30-2:30pm Dewsbury Road Community Hub & Library Beeston Digital Inclusion Classes 1:30-3:30pm BISA 59 Club, 59 Belle Isle Circus Reiki 1:45pm &3:30pm Cranmore & Raylands Community Centre, Belle Isle Book: 07305 167629 Dance On 2-3pm Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Acre Road. Multi Sports for kids 5pm Cranmore & Raylands
Community Centre Gateway 2 Sport 5-7pm Manorfield Hall, Newhall Road, Belle Isle Yoga with Amelia 6-7pm Jamyang Buddhist Centre, Ingram Road, Holbeck Illuminate Dance 6 & 7pm Cranmore & Raylands Community Centre Kickboxing 6:30-8:30pm Beeston Parish Centre, Town Street Be Creative 7-8:30pm over Zoom. Book: fb.com/YourSpaceLeeds Drop In Mediatation for Beginners 7-8pm Jamyang Buddhist Centre, Ingram Road, Holbeck
Every Tuesday Tots Group 9-11am Manorfield Hall, Newhall Road, Belle Isle Book: 07794 577586 Community Play Group 9-11:30am Little Angels Playzone, The Sugar Mill, Beeston MHA Breakfast Buddies 9-11am St Andrew’s Community Centre, Old Lane, Beeston Advice & Advocacy 9:30am-2:30pm Asha Neighbourhood Project, Beeston Book: 0113 270 4600 Active Tots 9:30am Cranmore & Raylands Community Centre, Belle Isle ESOL Entry 1 class 9:30am-12pm Asha Neighbourhood Project, Beeston Book: 0113 270 4600 Computer class 9:30am-12pm Asha Neighbourhood Project, Beeston Book: 0113 270 4600 Holbeck Together shopping trip 9:30am-12:30pm Book: 0113 245 5553 Coffee and Connect 10-11:30am St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck Holbeck Together Charity Shop 10am-12pm St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck Grandparents Kinship Support Group 10am-12pm St George’s Centre, Middleton Bosom Buddies breastfeeding support 10am-12pm Tenants Hall Enterprise Centre, Acre Close, Middleton Book: (0113) 270 6903 Woodwork 10am Cranmore & Raylands Community Centre, Belle Isle MHA Exercise 10-11am Beeston Village Community Centre, off Town St Hunslet TARA Litterpicking 10am meet Church of the Nazarene, Grove Road Gardening Group 10:30am-12:30pm Asha Neighbourhood Project, Beeston Book: 0113 270 4600 Affordable Breakfast
10:30am Cranmore & Raylands Community Centre, Belle Isle Belle Isle and Middleton Craft & Chat 10:30am-12:30pm St George’s Centre, Middleton Zumba / Pilates 11am-12pm Asha Neighbourhood Project, Beeston via Zoom Book: 0113 270 4600 Job Search Club 11am-12pm Hamara Centre, Tempest Road, Beeston Bingo and Hoy 11am-12pm Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Acre Road Quiz Time (online) 11am Cranmore & Raylands Community Centre, Belle Isle Book: 07305 167629 MEA Lunch Club 12-1:30pm Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Acre Road Holbeck Together Lunch Club 12-1:30pm St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck MHA Lunch and Social 12-2:30pm Parnaby Tavern, Middleton Road, Hunslet Lunch Club and Social 12-3pm BISA 59 Club, 59 Belle Isle Circus Bingo 12pm Cranmore & Raylands Community Centre, Belle Isle Lunchtime meditation 12:30-1pm Over Zoom. Book: jamyangleeds.co.uk/wellbeing ESOL class 12:30-3pm Asha Neighbourhood Project, Beeston Book: 0113 270 4600 Line Dancing 1-3pm St Anthony’s Church Hall, Old Lane, Beeston Line Dancing 1-3pm St Andrew’s Community Centre, Old Lane, Beeston Walking Group 1:30-3:30pm Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Acre Road. Women’s Peer Support Group 1:30pm Cranmore & Raylands Community Centre Games Afternoon / Singing Group 2-3pm St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck Line Dancing 2-3:30pm Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Acre Road. Yoga 2-3pm Asha Neighbourhood Project, Beeston via Zoom Book: 0113 270 4600 Digital Skills Workshop 4-5pm Dewsbury Road Community Hub & Library Book: 07435 914350 Illuminate Dance 4:30pm Cranmore & Raylands Community Centre Rainbows and Brownies 4:30-7:15pm Beeston Parish Centre, Town Street DAZL Dance 5:30-6:30pm Cottingley Community Centre Dance Fitness (14+) 6-7pm Middleton Community
Centre, Acre Road Book: 07519 018675 Outdoor Yoga 6pm Top of Cross Flatts Park Book: 07576 113269 Inside Out exercise class 6-7pm Tenants Hall, Acre Close, Middleton 51st Leeds (Hunslet) Guides 6:15-7:15pm Rainbows; 6:157:30pm Brownies; 7:15-8:30pm Guides St Mary’s CofE Primary Academy, Church Street, Hunslet Free Football sessions (8-18 yrs) 6:30-8:30pm Holbeck Community Centre, Old Elland Road. Book: richard.foye@leedsunited.com South Leeds Lakers Running Club 6:55pm Beeston Village Community Centre. Book: bit.ly/LakersRunning Yoga 7pm Cranmore & Raylands Community Centre, Belle Isle Hunslet Nelson Women’s Rounders 7-8pm Middleton Leisure Centre
Every Wednesday One You Weight Management 8:30am-12:30pm Manorfield Hall, Newhall Road, Belle Isle Everyday Life coffee morning 9-11am Beeston Village Community Centre, Beeston Park Place, off Town Street Advice & Advocacy 9:30am-2:30pm Asha Neighbourhood Project, Beeston Book: 0113 270 4600 Open doors 9:30-10:30am St Andrew’s Methodist Church, Old Lane, Beeston ESOL Enty 1 class 9:30am-12pm Asha Neighbourhood Project, Beeston Book: 0113 270 4600 Mums & Tots 9:30am Cranmore & Raylands Community Centre, Belle Isle Bacon Butty morning / News Cafe / Pop Up Shop / Textile & Painting / Bereavement Group 9:30-11:30am Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Acre Road. Holbeck Together coffee morning 10am-12pm Ingram Court Community Room, Holbeck Holbeck Together Charity Shop 10am-12pm St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck Woodwork 10am Cranmore & Raylands Community Centre, Belle Isle Beeston In Bloom Gardening Group 10am-12pm Millennium Garden, Cross Flatts Park Confidence Building course 10:30am-12pm Tenants Hall, Acre Close, Middleton Singing 11am Cranmore & Raylands Community Centre, Belle Isle Holbeck Together Lunch Club 12-1:30pm Ingram Court Community Room, Holbeck
Community Cafe 12:30-2pm Cranmore & Raylands Community Centre, Belle Isle Lunchtime meditation 12:30-1pm Over Zoom. Book: jamyangleeds.co.uk/wellbeing Peer Support Group 1-2:30pm Asha Neighbourhood Project, Beeston via Zoom Book: 0113 270 4600 Parents & Tots 1:30-2:30pm Ingram Court Community Room, Holbeck Parents & Tots Social 1:30-2:30pm Hamara Centre, Tempest Road, Beeston Walk and Talk 2-3pm meet at Middleton Park main gates on Town Street Tai Chi 2pm Cranmore & Raylands Community Centre, Belle Isle Slimming World 2-9pm Beeston Parish Centre, Town Street. Book: 07841 488658 Skate Mates 3:30-5pm LS-TEN, Kitson Road Book: ls-ten.org/skatemates Family Cooking 4pm Cranmore & Raylands Community Centre, Belle Isle 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 Library Story Bus 10-11:30am St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck Walk in Cross Flatts Park Meet 10am Hamara Centre, Tempest Road, Beeston Woodwork / Knit & Natter / Beauty Treatments 10am Cranmore & Raylands Community Centre, Belle Isle Holbeck Together Community Cafe / Community Supermarket 10:30am-2pm St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck Craft Group / Digital Inclusion 10:30am-12pm BISA 59 Club, 59 Belle Isle Circus
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Inclusive dance 11am-12pm Watsonian Pavilion, Cross Flatts Park Walking Football 11am-12pm The Hunslet Club, Hillidge Road Bingo and Hoy 11am-12pm Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Acre Road Hunslet TARA Estate Walkabout 11am meet Best One shop, Rocheford Walk CV Writing 11am-12pm Hamara Centre, Tempest Road, Beeston Line Dancing 11:30am-12:30pm St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck Lunch Club 12-1:30pm Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Acre Road MHA Lunch Club & Social 12-2:30pm St Andrew’s Community Centre, Old Lane, Beeston Lunchtime meditation 12:30-1pm Over Zoom. Book: jamyangleeds.co.uk/wellbeing Tea Dance 1pm Cranmore & Raylands Community Centre, Belle Isle Draw with Celia 1-3pm Jamyang Buddhist Centre, Ingram Road, Holbeck Be Friends Group 1-2:30pm Watsonian Pavilion, Cross Flatts Park Online 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
ESOL 2/3 class 9:30am-12pm Asha Neighbourhood Project, Beeston Book: 0113 270 4600 Toast, Cuppa & Games 9:30-11am Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Acre Road. Hunslet RLFC Breakfast Club 10am-12pm Phoenix Suite, South Leeds Stadium Holbeck Together coffee morning 10am-12pm St Matthew’s Community Centre Holbeck Together Dance On 10-11am Holbeck Moor Gardening Group 10am-12pm BISA 59 Club, 59 Belle Isle Circus MHA Stretch & Tone 10-11am St Andrew’s Community Centre, Old Lane, Beeston Hunslet TARA Gardening 10am meet Church of the Nazarene, Grove Road Digital Hub IT Support 10-12pm Cranmore & Raylands Community Centre, Belle Isle Arts & Crafts 11am Cranmore & Raylands Community Centre, Belle Isle Bingo and Hoy 11am-12pm Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Acre Road MHA Lunch Club 12-1:30pm Beeston Parish Centre, Town Street Lunch Club 12-1:30pm Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Acre Road Fish & Chip Lunch Club 12-1:30pm St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck Lunchtime meditation 12:30-1pm Over Zoom. Book: jamyangleeds.co.uk/wellbeing Ballroom & Sequence Dancing 1-3pm St Andrew’s Community Centre, Old Lane, Beeston Little Legs Rugby 1-3pm Manorfield Hall, Newhall Road, Belle Isle Line Dancing 1:30pm Cranmore & Raylands Community Centre, Belle Isle Bingo Afternoon 1:30-3pm St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck Friday Social Club 1:30-3:30pm BISA 59 Club, 59 Belle Isle Circus Chair-based Exercise 1:45-2:45pm Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Acre Road. Book: 0113 272 1050 Poetry (online) 3pm Cranmore & Raylands Community Centre, Belle Isle Book: 07305 167629 Free Football sessions (8-18 yrs) 4-5:30pm Holbeck Moor. Book: richard.foye@leedsunited.com Table Tennis 4:45-5:25pm (7-11yrs) 5:306:15pm (12-15yrs) St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck 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
Every Saturday Cross Flatts parkrun 9am Top of Cross Flatts Park Middleton Woods parkrun
March 2022 | South Leeds Life
What’s On 21 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 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 Bingo 12-3pm Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Acre Road
Every Sunday Junior parkrun (4-14 yrs) 9am Top of Cross Flatts Park Recovery Runners 10am The Glass Box, Leeds Dock Indoor Children’s Exercise 10am-12pm Hillside, Beeston Rd Healthy Minds Cycling Skills 10-11am Watsonian Pavilion, Cross Flatts Park Toning & Stretching with Julie 6:30-7:30pm DAZL HQ, Middleton Community Centre, Acre Road. Book: 07783 786776 Wednesday 2 March MHA Rambling Group Book: (0113) 271 6201 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 Horse Racing 1:30-3pm Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Acre Road Inner South Community Committee 2pm Beeston Parish Centre (St Mary’s), Town Street MEA Pie & Peas evening 5-7pm Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Acre Road 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 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 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 School Uniform Swap Shop 11am-1pm Bridge Cafe, Cross Flatts Park, Beeston
Energy Saving Advice 11am-1pm Bridge Cafe, Cross Flatts Park, Beeston Leeds Girls Can taster sessions 12-3pm Leeds Dock Imran’s 5 A Side Fundraiser 12pm The Hunslet Club, Hillidge Road Sunday 6 March Monday 7 March Middleton Community Group 6-7pm Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Acre Road Men’s Corner 7-8:30pm Charlies-Angel-Centre, 6B Ashbrooke Park, LS11 5SF Tuesday 8 March Hearing Aid Clinic 10am-12pm Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Acre Road Book: (0113) 272 1050 International Women’s Day Event 12:30pm Watsonian Pavilion, Cross Flatts Park, Beeston Wednesday 9 March MHA Kurling 10-11am St Andrew’s Community Centre, Old Lane, Beeston Live entertainment with singer Clare Brooks 1:30-3pm Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Acre Road White Rose Speakers 7pm Jury’s Inn hotel, Brewery Wharf Saturday 12 March Car Boot Sale 9am-1pm Watsonian Pavilion, Cross Flatts Park, Beeston Sleepover 6 & 8:30pm The Holbeck, Jenkinson Lawn Book: slunglow.org Sunday 13 March Hunslet TARA Litter pick 12pm meet at Church of the Nazarene, Grove Road Monday 14 March Beeston Hill Residents Meeting 6:30pm Hamara Centre, Tempest Road, Beeston Hill Tuesday 15 March Hunslet TARA Coffee & PCSOs 10am Hunslet Community Hub and Library, Church Street Lunch and Elvis tribute entertainment 12-2pm St Matthew’s Community Centre Book: 0113 245 5553 Wednesday 16 March Leeds Irish Health Group 10am-12pm Beeston Parish Centre, Town Street MEA Film Club 1:30-3:30pm Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Acre Road MEA Pie & Peas evening 5-7pm Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Acre Road Thursday 17 March Leeds Baby Bank 10am-12pm Dewsbury Road Community Hub & Library Bike Security drop-in Leeds Urban Bike Park, Ring Road, Middleton Hunslet Moor & Hall Residents Meeting 6:30pm Dewsbury Road Community Hub & Library Saturday 19 March Coffee morning 10am-12pm Beeston Parish Centre, Town Street School Uniform Swap Shop 11am-1pm Bridge Cafe, Cross Flatts Park, Beeston Energy Saving Advice 11am-1pm Bridge Cafe, Cross Flatts Park, Beeston Easter Fayre 12-4pm St Mary’s CofE Primary Academy, Church Street, Hunslet Jane Hair: The Brontes Restyled
IN BRIEF Leeds Girls Can On Saturday 5 March the team from Leeds Girls Can will be running a series of sporting taster sessions at Leeds Dock, Armouries Drive, Hunslet LS10 1PZ. Between 12-3pm you’ll find yoga, buggy walk, roller skating, climbing wall, swimming, history walk and more. There’s a very friendly 5k fun run open to all women and girls of all ages and abilities, starting at 12:30pm outside the Royal Armouries Museum. Email: Victoria.Cusack @leeds.gov.uk to book your place.
Watsonia Car Boot Sale Strictly speaking it’s a table top sale, but at just £5 a table who’s quibbling? The sale is being organised by The Bridge Cafe at the Watsonian Pavilion in Cross Flatts Park, Beestion on Saturday 5th March 9am-1pm. The cafe will be open selling refreshments. To book a table call 07983 995745.
International Women’s Day Asha Neighbourhood Project and Health For All invite you to a celebration of International Women’s Day on Tuesday 8 March at the Watsonian Pavilion in Cross Flatts Park, Beeston. Join them from 12:30pm for tea and cakes, henna, rail gaddi, arts and crafts. Please try to wear something white, purple or green - the colours of the Suffragettes who won the vote for women in the UK. For more information email: tahena@ashaleeds.org.uk or call (0113) 270 4600.
Join Asha to celebrate International Women’s Day in Cross Flatts Park 7:30pm The Holbeck, Jenkinson Lawn Book: slunglow.org Sunday 20 March Leeds Dads meet up 2-4pm The Holbeck, Jenkinson Lawn Book: leedsdads.org/events Monday 21 March Craft Club 1:30-4pm Beeston Parish Centre, Town Street Tuesday 22 March Mostly Men 9:30am-12pm St Andrew’s Community Centre, Old Lane, Beeston Friday 25 March Beeston & Holbeck Councillors’ Surgeries 4pm Beeston Community Hub & Library, Town Street, Beeston 5pm St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck 6pm Cottingley Community Centre Saturday 26 March Hunslet & Riverside Councillors’ Surgeries 10am Hunslet Hub & Library 11am Dewsbury Rd Hub & Library 12pm The Hunslet Club 1pm Hamara Centre 2pm Lock Keeper’s House 3pm Middleton Railway 4pm Woodhouse Hill Com Centre 6pm Facebook Live: fb.com/PaulWrayUK Future Pub 7:30pm The Holbeck, Jenkinson Lawn Book: slunglow.org Sunday 27 March Holbeck Together Sunday Lunch 12-2pm St Matthew’s Community Centre Book: 0113 245 5553
A concert by Kaleidoscope Chamber Collective 3pm The Holbeck, Jenkinson Lawn Book: slunglow.org Wednesday 30 March MHA Kurling 10-11am St Andrew’s Community Centre, Old Lane, Beeston MEA Pie & Peas evening 5-7pm Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Acre Road Drink & Draw 6:30-8pm The Tetley, Hunslet Rd Thursday 31 March Hunslet Green & Whitfields Residents Meeting 6:30pm Hunslet Community Hub & Library Saturday 2 April Holbeck & Beeston Cemetery Volunteers 10am-1pm Meet centre of Holbeck Cemetery, Beeston Road Coffee morning 10am-12pm Beeston Parish Centre, Town Street Coffee morning 10am-12pm Church of the Nazarene, Grove Road, Hunslet Saturday Family Film Club 11am-1pm St George’s Middleton Community Hub & Library School Uniform Swap Shop 11am-1pm Bridge Cafe, Cross Flatts Park, Beeston High Hopes 7:30pm The Holbeck, Jenkinson Lawn Book: slunglow.org Sunday 3 April Hunslet RLFC v Oldham 3pm South Leeds Stadium, Middleton Grove
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South Leeds Life | March 2022
Twitter: @SouthLeedsLife
22 What’s On
Slung Low at The Holbeck presents ... M
arch sees Slung Low presenting three plays and a concert of chamber music upstairs at The Holbeck. 'Sleepover' by All Things Considered is an interactive celebration of friendship, sisterhood and the teenagers we used to be. Aimed at women aged 35+, ‘Sleepover’ invites its audiences into the world of 1990, a time of back combed fringes, Just Seventeen magazines and White Musk perfume. Audiences are invited to leave their adult responsibilities behind and to reconnect with the teenagers they used to be, who might just have something to say about how they are living their lives now. There are two shows on Saturday 12 March, at 6pm and 8:30pm. Buglight Theatre presents ‘Jane Hair: The Brontes Restyled’ on Saturday 19 March at 7:30pm. Haworth’s Hair & Beauty is open for business! Stylists Anne, Emily & Charlotte Bronte are back taking bookings for an evening of sibling rivalry and literary debate in Bradford’s most creative beauty salon where the sisters cut, colour and style whilst sharing their hopes and dreams. Action unfolds over one explosive evening as the writers of Wuthering Heights, Jane Eyre (and those other books you’ve not read either), find themselves on the cusp of huge success. But are The Brontes ready for global superstardom - and, more importantly - is the world ready for them as they really are three warring, siblings from Keighley each with something different to say. Whether you’re Team Charlotte, Team Emily or Team the other one (Anne, her name’s Anne) this is an opportunity to meet our modern day versions of these
three determined young women from Yorkshire who set the literary world on fire. Then on Saturday 26 March ‘Future Pub’ looks into the future of a British institution. Future Pub is a new live performance by Katie Etheridge & Simon Persighetti (Small Acts) that debates and celebrates the power and potential of community whilst gathering a deeper understanding of what the pub of the future will look like. Conjuring the territories, atmospheres and eccentricities of a traditional local, the show incorporates film, live music, games and of course a time machine to transport audiences to the pub of the future! Future Pub explores the enduring role of pubs in our lives, at a time when the future of so many hangs in the balance. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you may win a prize and you’ll never take pubs for granted again! Finally on Sunday 27 March at 3pm there is a concert by Kaleidoscope Chamber Collective, hailed for its “exhilarating performances” with a programme of sumptuous chamber works both familiar and lesser known. The central work is Dvořák's radiant String Quintet in E flat, written during his summer in America which also inspired the New World Symphony. African-American composer Florence Price’s Piano Quintet draws on spirituals and dance forms, while Frank Bridge’s early Phantasy Piano Quartet is one of the loveliest examples of English romanticism. 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 Bontes as you’ve never seen them on Saturday 19 March
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Lockdown art exhibition at Middleton Park Baptist Church M
iddleton Park Baptist Church (LS10 4HT) are holding a Free Community Art cafe and Exhibition which will be open to the public every Saturday and Thursday from 14pm running from 12 March to 7 April. It is part of a community initiative to provide a friendly space for people of all ages to get together, to have fun and to process what we have all been through during the pandemic. Both young and young at heart can have a go at creating their own piece of art in a relaxed and fun atmosphere which aims to be family friendly. There will be poetry and local art work from all ages as both the Middleton Primary School and the Elderly Aid Art Group are contributing work, alongside pieces from a local Creative Arts Group which met via zoom throughout Lockdown. Manchester Painter Mildred Cooper will also be displaying a set of oil paintings depicting events from the life of Jesus and there will be some special
Community Pastor Alison Wain and Rose Austin, church secretary activities running on ad hoc basis. However, the aim is not just to come and look but to give people a chance to come and get involved. People are welcome to have a coffee and chat, do some craft or art work, write their own reflection, or just to spend some quiet time.
In recognition of those we have lost there will be a meditation area with a remembrance tree, information on bereavement support and a separate church service of Comfort and Remembrance on Sunday 3 April at 5pm. The Community Pastor Alison Wain said: “As a church we
Covid: National Day of Reflection 2022 by Rev Lindsey Pearson
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he National Day of Reflection is a day for us all to connect with each other, as we support the millions of people who are grieving, and reflect on the lives of the people we’ve lost during the last two years. On 23 March 2022, it will be two years since the first UK lockdown. Whether a death is recent or long ago, and whether or not it was due to Covid-19, the restrictions we’ve all been living under have meant that many people have had to grieve without friends and family around them. Whether sudden or expected, the death of someone close to us can be devastating. We will all feel the pain of grief at some point in our lives. The last two years have reminded us how much harder grief is when you are isolated from those whom you care about and those who support you. While life is beginning to return to normal for some
people, several million people are still living with the trauma of loss, and not being able to grieve properly. This includes many children as well as adults. Let’s come together, in our streets, workplaces, schools and communities, as well as with the nation at large,
to acknowledge and soothe this pain. Let’s make the legacy of the pandemic years one of compassion, love and active support for those who grieve, both now, and in the years to come. On 23 March, let’s take time
have been aware of so much good work being accomplished by different voluntary groups and we wanted to highlight that by having an event that drew contributions from a variety of places. “We have been particularly impressed by the vision of the team at Middleton Primary School and at Elderly Aid and that is why we are so delighted to be able to include some of their art contributions. We have been praying about how we as a church can play our own part in showing the love of God in our community and this is one small way of doing this. “We want to give people a chance to come together, to chat, to have fun and to socialise, but also to give space for people who need to remember, to grieve and to process difficult experiences during this time. We hope by being a friendly presence and offering a listening ear to show the love of Jesus in our community and to be a centre of Hope.” For more information email minister@middleton parkbaptistchurch.org.uk to connect, supporting the millions of people who are grieving, and remembering the family, friends, neighbours and colleagues we’ve lost during the pandemic. St. Mary’s Parish Church, Town Street, Beeston, LS11 8PN is opening up for anyone to remember a loved one, leave a photo, or write a name or a memory on our Wall of Reflection. At 12 noon we’ll be tolling our bell to introduce a minute’s silence, and at 8pm we’ll be lighting candles. Do join us.
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Sporting Life 23
Running for better mental health
Dean Smith and Jamie Heselden formed Recovery Runners
by Ben Fraser
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ince late March 2020 the world has and still is going through a period of unprecedented change. The COVID-19 pandemic continues to take from all of us, some more than others. Every single person in one way or another has been forced into a state of transition. Running (and physical activity generally) is a powerful tool that can help you manage life transitions and the collateral effect it has on your mental health. It can be tailored to your capacities and needs; it can lead the mind and body into long-term success. The power of running is not to be understated. Dean Smith and Jamie Heselden are living proof that running can transform lives. Dean and Jamie have both battled with addictions to drugs and drink. Dean hit a new low in 2006 when he tried to take his own life for the third time. It was at this point he began his personal transformation. A key part of this change has been running. From 5ks to marathons Dean and Jamie
March 2022 | South Leeds Life
have used running to manage their mental health and maintain their abstinence. Running with others has been really important to both of them. Dean runs with the South Leeds Lakers and Jamie the Rothwell Harriers. The social support in a group has inspired them to lead Couch to 5k running groups with Leeds rehabilitation services Growing Rooms and Spacious Places. Now both Dean and Jamie have set up their own running community called the Recovery Runners. The community support people from around Leeds who are recovering from issues like alcohol, drugs, suicide attempts, gambling and eating disorders. Recovery run leader Martin is one person that has used the Recovery Runners to play a big part in his own recovery. “I had the ego the size of a planet yet my self-esteem was in the gutter. I built my selfesteem up by doing estimable things. You can see it in peoples faces how they react when they run the farthest in their lives. They end up happy and proud of themselves.” And when Martin has been
Join a friendly running club such as South Leeds Lakers
faced with giving up running he’s struggled to show other people what it really means to him. “I’m not young and my knees are bad. A consultant told me to stop running. I said you don’t understand. He told me to get a bike. I said you don’t understand.” Stories like Dean’s and Jamie’s from the Recovery Runners are built around the strength of community and the sense of togetherness you get when running with others. As Claudia from the Recovery Runners reflected:
the long term. There’s lots of groups running together in Leeds right now. At the end of the day running is the perfect way to unwind into a healthy sleep schedule. Chemicals released during and after running relax your body and encourage deep sleeping. A perfect finish to a day. A day in which running and exercise made those difficult moments more manageable. If your starting point to get active is from a place of unwellness don’t forget to be kind to yourself. Small steps and SMART goals are so much better than high expectations and big disappointments. Running from the off might not also be the one for you. Let’s take it back to basics and start with a walk-jog option - a perfect companion for this is the successful Couch to 5k
Clear your head with a run in the woods “A lot of the time it’s combining running with great conversation or having a laugh. Actually, there is a lot of spiritual and emotional support I get to draw on while running down a sunny canal path… it’s quite beautiful really.” People who run together during tough transitions are more likely to keep going and achieve positive outcomes in
app. Download it at bit.ly/NHSCouch5K All considered it can be hard to get out and start running. The smallest barriers to entry can put a halt to the best intentions. leedsrunroutes.co .uk is a brilliant resource that removes the problem of 'where to run'. The site has a location search and lists routes nearest to you. It highlights where to park; where the nearest toilet is; and a trackable map of the route. Starting to run regularly provides continued benefits for the individual - stress busting; brain boosting; and better sleeping - that rise the more you do, from 30 minutes to about 300 minutes a week. It is at around 300 minutes where the mental health benefits of running reach a peak. Running alone might not solve your mental health problems and if you are in crisis please reach out for help to organisations such as: www.leedsmind.org.uk www.mindwell-leeds.org.uk www.samaritans.org/branch es/leeds andysmanclub.co.uk
Hunslet clubs bow out of Challenge Cup
Battling to the end. Photo: Daniel Fowler Continued from page 24 fine individual effort on 28’. Hullock’s conversion attempt hit a post and unfortunately bounced out but the home side were now 12-6 in front of their Championship opponents. The next two scores of the first half went to the Eagles who took a 16-12 lead into the interval. Sheffield extended their lead in the first set of the second 40, Gudzek crossing and converting his own score but the home side responded in the best fashion on 51’ when a shift to the left involving Westwood and McShane saw Connor Squires finish well in the corner bringing the score to 16-22 and it was game on! Parkside were the next scorers with opposite wing Will Cohen going over on 76 minutes for a two point ball game at 20-22, but injuries – George Clarke broken ankle, Danny Lidbury concussion and Liam Thompson ligament
damage to name but three – had taken their toll on the home side and the final five minutes of the game saw Sheffield Eagles cross for three tries through Hodgson, Jones-Bishop and Johnson against a side who had given their all and had in the process done the amateur game proud! The whole team were out on their feet at the end of the game as skipper Ben Shulver, speaking to South Leeds Life, pointed out: “I think everyone gave all they had in the tank out there this afternoon. We couldn’t do much more with the injuries we had and we were a proud bunch in the changing rooms after the game. In the end it came down to those last five minutes when Sheffield pulled away and the final score flattered them … but we can take good confidence into next week’s game up in Cumbria against Egremont.”
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South Leeds Life | March 2022
Twitter: @SouthLeedsLife
24 Sporting Life
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Hunslet clubs bow out of Challenge Cup by Phil Goodfield and Ian Pickles
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oth Hunslet RLFC and Hunslet Club Parkside ARLFC are out of this year’s Betfred Challenge Cup having lost their fourth round ties over the weekend of 26-27 February. Hunslet lost out to League 1 rivals North Wales Crusaders 30-8 on the Saturday and on Sunday Parkside’s amateurs lost to the Championship’s Sheffield Eagles 20-40, a score that flattered the professional club. The month started much more positively in the third round ties when Parkside created the upset of the round, beating League 1 London Skolars 6-28 at their New River Stadium. First half tries from Craig McShane and Jake Dearden saw Parkside 6-12 up at the break. The Old Boys did not take their feet off the pedal in the second 40, continuing to dominate proceedings and scoring three further tries through No 8 Elliot Morgan on 67’, converted by Fields, and two quick fire scores both in the final minutes of the game. Rake Jack McShane went in from close quarters on 78’, again converted by Fields and centre Omar Alrawi scored out on the left, finishing off a flowing handling move The following day neighbours Hunslet RLFC avoided a slip up against NCL club Siddal ARLFC
under the gaze of the BBC cameras. Siddal weren’t overawed and gave a their hosts a scare in just the third minute when a flowing move was only stopped by a last ditch tackle from Jimmy Watson. On nine minutes Watson turned from saviour to supplier as his ball sent Jordan Paga over in the right corner for the first of his four tries. Siddal’s challenge suffered a blow half way through the first half when Ian Davies was sent from the field for a swinging arm in the tackle. But they kept at it and with ten minutes to go score was still 14-4. But two tries for Paga and one for Jack Mallinson led to a final score of 30-4. Hunslet’s fourth round match was moved to Paton Field, home of Caldy RUFC on the Wirral. Hunslet, having only conceded six points in each of their first three games (including a 34-6 win over Leeds Rhinos) found themselves 6-0 down after only three minutes when on the last tackle of a Crusaders attack the ball was dabbed through for Gibson to follow up and score. Jason Mossop forced his way over in the left corner on 12 minutes, but it was the Crusaders who looked the hungrier with Eckley and Gibson scoring again. Hunslet needed a try before the break to stay in the contest and after a penalty were given the opportunity. Ethan
Will Cohen scores for Hunslet Club Parkside against Sheffield Eagles. Photo: Stephen Gaunt / Touchlinepics.com O’Hanlon carved a path through the Crusaders defence before Jack Mallinson’s grubber kick was pounced on by Jack Render. Joe Sanderson couldn’t land the conversion and Hunslet trailed 18-8 at the break. The second half developed into an arm wrestle, broken after 70 minutes by North Wales through the middle and excellent passing ended in a fine try for Hazzard under the posts to make Billsborough’s conversion easy. Gibson added
Hunslet Club Under 11s are up for the cup by Samantha Bailey
F
ive years ago this side began their journey when they started to represent The Hunslet Club in 2017. Since then, the team have progressed rapidly with the support of the club, local coaches and volunteers. This season, the Hunslet Under 11’s football team have completed a fantastic achievement in reaching the Leeds and District Cup Final. Here are a few thoughts from head coach Lee Maguire: “I am immensely proud of the lads on what they have achieved by reaching the cup final. “Myself and Arron Stancliffe started to coach them when they were 5/6 years old and to watch most of team stay
together and develop at the rate they have makes us extremely proud. “They have always been a talented group of players, but
their rate of progress has even been a surprise to us. As with any group of young players, it has not been without its challenges and to curb their
Finalists: Hunslet Club Under 11s football team
another for his hattrick and Hunslet’s cup run was over. Following the loss by semipro neighbours Hunslet Club Parkside carried the baton for south Leeds and the National Conference League into their first ever 4th Round Challenge Cup appearance 24 hours later. At the final whistle the score was 20-40 to Sheffield Eagles but the scoreline in no way reflected the heroic performance Parkside put on for a 400 strong crowd. Unable to play at their
Station Moor ground the tie was played at South Leeds Stadium and in the winter sunshine it was the visitors who kicked off. Parkside opened the scoring on 13 minutes when Jamie Fields landed a penalty from close to the posts but the opening try went to the Eagles with Liam Kirk scoring and in the process accidentally bringing about Parkside’s first major injury with George Clarke having to leave the field and unable to return.
The response from Hunslet Club Parkside was impressive and typified the whole performance on an afternoon when a little more luck could easily have brought about a very different conclusion. First Kieran Webster went over from close in and under the posts with Andy Hullock converting on 23’ and second, full back and Parkside’s Player of the Match Craig McShane received the ball out on the right and dummied his way over for a Continued on page 23
natural competitiveness has been a challenge (the parents will vouch for this!). “They have certainly matured as players and people over the years, which has culminated in this brilliant cup run this year. We have had great support from the Hunslet Club with particular support provided by Craig Gilmore, Wayne Robbins and more recently Miller Davies.”
Here is a quick overview of the progress to the final. Maguire stated that this “wasn’t easy due to a tough draw all the way through.” In round 1, the draw saw them up against a recently formed development team, North East Leeds Tigers, securing the win with a brilliant 14 – 1 result. Following this in round 2, was an even tougher draw bringing them up against LS27 from the C leag,ue in which they took another win with a final score of 7-0. Bringing them to the quarter finals, was the win against fellow A league team, Wigton Moor. This match provided a very tense half time with the score being 0-0. However, the second half saw them accumulate a great 4-0 result. Then, through to the quarter finals against Collingham, who provided a challenge in the first 15 minutes of the match bringing them 2-0 down. The team showed unbelievable character to keep playing their normal game, bringing them up to a 2-2 tie by half time.
Maguire stated that they then produced their ‘best 30 minutes of the season so far’ securing the win with a 5-2 final score, taking them through to the semi finals. The semi final saw another challenging draw against another fellow A league team Garforth Villa who they had not played as yet this season. This was undoubtedly the best the team has ever played in all the years together, and one of the best grass roots performances Maguire said he had witnessed overall. From the very first minute to the last, the team played immaculately with a huge 8-0 victory, seeing them through to the final. The Hunslet Club, their under 11s and all staff and volunteers are massively proud of their achievements and are looking forward to the final which has now been confirmed on Sunday 20 March. Feel free to go along and show your support (10:30 Kick-Off) when they play against Pannal Ash at Whitkirk FC.