Farnley: Pride in Place update – “thank you for having your say”

By Jo Gittins, Chair of the Farnley East Pride in Place Neighbourhood Board

When I wrote my last update, we had submitted our application to extend the boundary and were preparing for a busy summer.

I’m delighted to share that our proposed extension to the Pride in Place boundary has now been approved so more people can benefit from the opportunities this funding brings. 

It has been fantastic to see the community get involved in Pride in Place. The enthusiasm and support we’ve received has been genuinely inspiring, and we’re very grateful to everyone who has chosen to be part of our journey. It’s not too late to share your views – our community online form is still live here. 

Here are some summer highlights 

We held our Farnley Pride in Place Dog Show at Farnley Park. During conversations on the day, feedback was overwhelmingly in favour of creating a new footpath around the park. The Board wasted no time in acting on that feedback. Funding was approved, and the new footpath has already been installed demonstrating how quickly we can respond when there is clear community backing.

Next up was the Community Connect Day at Farnley Village Green. Everything on the day was free, including food, drinks, sweets, glitter tattoos, activities, Leeds United kids kits and a bouncy castle. Families told us they were grateful for free activities at the end of the school holidays which can be an expensive time of year. Thanks to the generosity of the community in our fun raffle, the community also raised £83 for Leeds Baby Bank.

Another wonderful highlight of the summer was our Tea, Tunes and Togetherness event, run by Armley Helping Hands at the Cornmill for people aged over 50. The atmosphere in the room was fantastic and the band, Man about Town, had everyone signing along. It was a great day.

The Pride in Place team were also given the opportunity to host a Playbox, a magenta shipping container filled with games and activities and some very popular hammocks. We provided 15 free play sessions at Farnley Village Green and six further sessions on the back field – Farrow Vale. Children enjoyed free play and we were joined by WY Fire and Rescue and WY police on a couple of occasions. Some of the most useful feedback we have received so far has come from informal conversations with the adults and young people.

Last weekend was our Scarecrow Festival Trail at Farnley Reservoir, which went down a treat. Many people took the time to visit and tell us their ideas for improving this special landmark. 

Community Funding Pot

We also launched our £100,000 Community Funding Pot recently and invited local groups to come forward with projects that would have a quick, positive impact within Farnley East.  

We have approved funding for Leeds Baby Bank to buy 15 of each of the following: cots, moses baskets, lie-flat prams and side-by-side pushchairs, alongside six months of driver costs to help ensure these essential items can reach families who need them most in Farnley East. 

We have also approved funding for Flourishing Families to deliver some cookery clubs aimed at supporting children and families as they make the transition from primary to secondary school. This can be a challenging time for many young people, and these sessions will help families build confidence, learn practical cooking skills and strengthen support networks at an important stage in their lives.

Farnley Falcons Rugby Club successfully applied for funding for work to be completed on the clubhouse to improve its appearance, particularly on the roadside. This club already serves 600 people per week so is a wonderful community asset. Once the work is complete, the local community will see the club is open, welcoming and accessible for all.  

Youth Shadow Board 

The Youth Shadow Board met at Herd Farm in August and Farnley Park in September and will be undertaking a First Aid course in October to learn some valuable skills.  Too often, young people are overlooked so it has been fantastic to see this group of 11-to-17-year olds’ show us their enthusiasm, ideas and commitment. 

We’ve approved the build and installation of two Little Free Libraries for Farnley East, to be overseen by the Youth Shadow Board. This gives young people the opportunity not only to influence decisions but also to take ownership of a community project and help bring it to life.

Looking ahead

We now move towards developing the long-term plan for the area. We are already seeing the positive impact of the community coming together but our next milestone will be 30 November 2026 when we submit the 10-year Pride in Place plan to the UK Government. Look out for that in future updates. 

Thank you once again for having your say and helping us create a Pride in Place Plan that truly reflects the ambitions, priorities and aspirations of Farnley East. 

• To find out more about Pride in Place Farnley or get involved, e-mail: PrideinPlace.Farnley@Leeds.gov.uk

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