Exclusive by John Baron
A consortium of community organisations is aiming to bid for funding to build a state-of-the-art community hub in the heart of Armley.
Following September’s announcement of the Pride in Place programme by Leeds West and Pudsey MP Rachel Reeves – including £20 million for Armley ward – the Armley Consortium has been formed.
The consortium is made up of key third sector organisations across Armley and New Wortley, and it aims to bid for funding to build a permanent, purpose-built, state-of-the-art community hub in the heart of Armley.
This hub will incorporate both existing and new exciting services to serve the community. The consortium hopes it will be a centre that’s run purely for the community, by the community and with the community – an organic, grass roots movement of community leaders and charities, delivering services to people across Armley and New Wortley.
The Armley Consortium’s stakeholders include Armley Action Team, Armley Helping Hands, Barca Leeds, New Wortley Community Centre, SHEnanigans and Friends of Armley and Gotts Park.
Third Sector organisations will have the option for a permanent home in the new hub, while other groups will be able to use the facilities to deliver life-changing services to the community.
The move comes as community facilities such as Strawberry Lane Community Centre and Stocks Hull Hub face closure.
Consortium spokesperson Philip Cave said: “This is a unique opportunity for Armley and New Wortley to define its future: how it delivers vital services to its community, how we as a society look after those that need help, and how we ensure that we create the very best opportunities for our friends and neighbours to make the most from their lives.”
The core objective is community collaboration and stronger communities, Mr Cave told WLD. “This will ensure the investment goes into grass roots services within Armley and New Wortley, and gives our communities a voice in decisions that affect their lives, fostering a sense of ownership and local legitimacy.
The Armley Consortium has secured two key local figures as patrons Sir John Battle – who was MP for Leeds West 1987-2010 – and Alison Lowe OBE, a former Armley councillor who is currently deputy mayor of West Yorkshire for Policing and Crime.
“This is a multi-year project, but its impact could last decades,” Mr Cave added.
As a centre of excellence, it’s hoped the centre will provide social, educational, and economic benefits, acting as hubs for social connection, offering skill-building programs, and supporting local entrepreneurs and economic development.
A site for the proposed centre has still to be identified.
Mr Cave added: “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and we’ve brought together the core stakeholders from the full range of charity services across Armley and New Wortley, along with opening the doors to any other charity that might benefit.
“This has the potential to be a huge, 50-year project for Armley, and one that every member of the community can be proud of.”
The Consortium has already received backing from all three local councillors – Lou Cunningham, Andy Parnham and Alice Smart, and has briefed MP and Chancellor Rachel Reeves on its plans.
It also has the support of local schools, faith leaders and GP practices, all of whom will be referring people into the hub’s services.
Further discussions with community leaders will be taking place over the coming weeks while the Consortium prepares for its first open meetings with stakeholders, community leaders and members of the public, and we welcome contacts from anyone who feels they would like to become involved.
“This is going to be a project where everyone wins, across the whole community,” explained Mr Cave. “If we get this right, our community will have the best Third Sector hub in the country, offering the best services from infancy to old age.”
The Armley Consortium plans to hold open meetings for community members to learn more, discuss options for the hub, and provide their input.
Mr Cave added: “If we work together, we can achieve great things and thrive. If we thrive as a community, it is because the community cares for everyone.”
Who are the consortium members?
Armley Action Team
A grassroots community organisation who dedicated to making Town Street and Armley a better place to live, work, and thrive. It works with residents, local businesses and partner organisations to tackle food insecurity, social isolation and hardship while building a more connected community.
Armley Helping Hands
Established in 1995 by local people, AHH is a registered charity supporting older people in the community living in Armley and Wortley and the surrounding area of Leeds. It delivers health, education, recreation and leisure activities in and around Armley and Wortley to improving their conditions of life.
Barca Leeds
Barca-Leeds was founded over 32 years ago and delivers innovative services for adults, children, young people, and families. It creates lasting positive impact in communities by helping people to thrive through a wide range of services including community health development, social prescribing, drug, alcohol and housing support and young people and family services.
Friends of Armley and Gotts Park
The group was established by local residents back in 2016. It aims to make local parks friendly, accessible and community minded. Many households in Armley to do not have a garden and therefore access to public green space is essential for all ages of the community.
SHEnanigans
A women’s only group (or anyone who identifies as a women) for those living and/or working in LS12. Members come together to join in fun physical and creative taster sessions, and the aim is try something new, forge friendships and have fun. It focuses on positive mental health. SHEnanigans has over 900 online members who are welcome anytime to pay as you feel events.
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Does Armley have a Town Parish Council? Would greatly help co-ordination and delivery of this excellent community project bringing eveyone together. Nice to see Leeds fowlk helping eachother.
Isn’t this a continuation of the Tory Leveling Up Funds? Nice to see a successful Conservative Party policy being stolen by The Labour Party because it works well and labour didn’t have any better ideas to improve high streets. Sunak’s legacy policies.
Good enonomic policy ia good economic policy, irregardless of if Political Party Red or Political Party Blue implemented it.
We are part of Armley Ward on the spring valleys. Why do we never get anything where we live. It always bloody Armley
Have you tried sending emails or attending these groups, with the intention to get inside and ask them to help out the part of the ward where you and neighbour’s live?
This is the point of this £20 million pot, the public that means You Mr/Mrs Padget can have a real say into where it’s spent.
Honestly, email the groups mentioned above in their nice West Leeds Dispatch articles, and write a nice engaging productive email about things you know on your street or your part of the Ward which would be a nice improvement. Like flower planters, art murals, football goalposts for kids and families to play, yk, there’s lots of things I can imagine.
Maybe you can be the change you want to see in the world? Good luck! Stay Optimistic.
How do we find information when this Armley Consortium meetings are?