The Leeds United Foundation has joined forces with children’s show PAW Patrol Live! to provide a paw-some experience for youngsters in west and east Leeds.
The youngsters from Whitecote Primary School in Bramley, Christ Church Upper Armley C of E Primary School, Harehills Primary School, and Our Lady’s Catholic Primary School attended an exclusive workshop with the official charity of Leeds United Football Club.
The fun began last week, when children were told about their surprise trip to at lunch time party, hosted by Leeds United Foundation at Elland Road on Tuesday, 15 July.
The party saw them enjoy PAW PatrolLive! crafts and party food before first-team stars Ilia Gruev and Sebastiaan Bornauw arrived to reveal the exciting details.
As well as benefiting from the Premier League Primary Stars party, they have been invited along to the Leeds show as special guests of PAW Patrol Live!
Bella and Lola from Our Lady’s Primary School said: “We had such a fun day meeting the players and coming to Elland Road. The players even gave us tickets to see PAW Patrol Live! in Leeds this summer – we can’t wait!”
The Leeds United Foundation uses football to support and inspire those who live in Leeds. They do this through a range of activities including health and social education in primary and secondary schools, community volunteering, sports participation for everyone, and enable young people to make positive choices about their lives and futures.
Louise Burns, the School Partnership and Education Manager for the Leeds United Foundation said: “It has been fantastic being able to engage and support local children and families from some of the schools we work with.
“Seeing the smiles as they arrived at Elland Road and providing them with the chance to take part in some fun activities before meeting some of their footballing heroes was brilliant. A big thank you to everyone involved in making this happen!”
Claire Anter, spokesperson for PAW Patrol Live! “The Great Pirate Adventure” said: “Our hope is that this experience sparks joy, creates lasting memories, and inspires a lifelong love for the arts. We look forward to welcoming these special guests to the show in just a few weeks.”
PAW Patrol Live! The Great Pirate Adventure is at first direct arena Leeds on Saturday, 9 August at 10.45am, 2pm and 5.15pm.
The Landmark Trust, which owns Calverley’s historic Old Hall, has announced a programme of workshops involving nine local artists to mark the launch of the new Community Space there.
All workshops can be booked on the Landmark Trust’s website, with most running on selected Saturdays from 27 September 2025 through to March 2026.
All individually priced, the events cater to a wide variety of creative interests, with many suitable for young people aged 16+, and some offering a discount on the ticket price for students, NHS workers and those on limited income or income support.
The workshops are all designed to be beginner-friendly, featuring small groups, and plenty of 1:1 tutor support.
Calligraphy and watercolour. Photo: Landmark Trust
The Old Hall itself will be open to the public as part of the national Heritage Open Weekend on September 13 and 14. Register for free places on the website. There are also festive open days on November 29 and 30.
The Community Space is available for hire, with subsidised pricing and discounts for local groups.
A £19.5m budget overspend has been predicted as the council struggles with the rising cost of caring for vulnerable people.
Leeds City Council’s financial difficulties look set to continue after the publication of its latest budget forecast.
The authority already needed to save more than £100m this year, and previously announced new parking charges, building closures and job cuts.
Latest figures show the two departments running adult social care and children’s services both expect to be £9.2m over budget by end of 2025/26.
A report to the council’s executive board said a freeze on non-essential spending, recruitment and staff overtime would continue.
It said: “This current and future financial climate for local government continues to represent a significant risk to Leeds City Council’s priorities and ambitions.”
The report said £107.4m in required savings for 2025/26 included some budget cuts rolled over from last year.
Conservative group leader Alan Lamb said: “It’s like groundhog day isn’t it?”
Coun Lamb asked whether the forecast for the children and families budget was a true reflection of the overspend. He said: “Or is this going to get worse as we go on?”
Julie Longworth, director of children and families, said costs would be reduced with the introduction of more care places in the city, reducing the need for costly external placements.
She said: “We do have less children coming into care and that is all about effective early intervention.
“No other local authority is expanding in-house provision at the rate in Leeds.”
The report shows a £6.4m shortfall in this year’s adult social care budget.
The council was having to pay more because fewer people had enough savings and assets to be required to fund their own care.
Coun Lamb asked whether reliable financial data was being used to set the council’s annual budgets.
Victoria Bradshaw, assistant chief executive for finance, said: “Things are changing very quickly. It’s really difficult when you try to forecast.
“Every local authority is experiencing the same. This isn’t unique to Leeds.”
G&H is based on South Parade, Pudsey. Photo: Google
Pudsey-based mechanical, electrical and public health service provider G&H has announced the expansion of its service offering with the creation of building performance.
This move comes as businesses seek to adapt their existing properties to achieve net zero targets and comply with the UK’s tightening Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES).
Chartered building surveyor Mike McGill, with over 35 years’ experience in surveying, upgrading and adaptation of UK buildings, will head up the new service. This strategic expansion has led to G&H successfully securing a contract with UK property investment and development company, CEG.
Under the new appointment, G&H will work to improve the energy performance of Tricorn House, a 1970s office building in Birmingham. The goal is to achieve a minimum EPC B rating for the building, ahead of the current 2030 deadline in line with MEES regulations, reduce its operational carbon costs, and support the client’s wider targets to decrease energy intensity.
Following a detailed building survey and options appraisal of Tricorn House, G&H will create a detailed prototype of one office floor, using Building Information Modelling (BIM) and thermal dynamic modelling to identify the most efficient and commercially viable retrofit solution for the whole building.
Mike McGill, building performance director at G&H, said: “I’ve joined G&H to lead its new building performance service because there’s a significant need from UK clients for seamless, proven, and viable solutions to decarbonise their buildings and achieve their net zero targets. By combining G&H’s vast experience with my background in adapting buildings, we have the capability to devise and deliver exactly what the market is demanding.
“We’re off to a great start following our appointment by CEG. They’ve taken the initiative to ensure the long-term sustainability of Tricorn House, well ahead of the MEES deadline. Tricorn House is a typical 1970s concrete office tower, exactly the kind of building that’s often written off as too challenging to retrofit. CEG wants to use this project to prove that these buildings can be successfully upgraded and continue to play an active role as economic and social assets in our city centres.”
Paul Greenhalgh, FM quality and procurement manager said: “We needed a partner that could not only improve Tricorn House’s EPC rating to ensure its legal compliance and its commercial viability, but also one that offered a complete integrated solution.
“G&H’s approach really appealed as it covers everything from initial assessment to final certification. Knowing the project will be designed and managed by Chartered Building Surveyors and CIBSE building services engineers, and delivered by G&H’s own team, is very reassuring.”
As part of the UK government’s target to reach net zero by 2050, all commercial buildings are expected to achieve an EPC C rating by April 2028 and an EPC B rating by April 2030 for both new and existing leases. Properties failing to meet these proposed standards will no longer be lettable, though these requirements have not yet been formally legislated.
Founded in 1998, G&H is a leading MEP provider. Its 200-strong team designs, manages, delivers, and maintains every aspect of MEP schemes across the UK.
CEG is also the lead developer at the Kirkstall Forge development.
Avid chess player, Bramley resident and Farsley Chess Club attendee David Oldridge is a community reporter for WLD. He marks International Chess Day with an introductory history of the game.
Chess. From its mysterious origins to its modern-day complexities, chess has captivated minds for centuries, evolving from a strategic war game into a global phenomenon.
Today, we embark on a fascinating journey through time, exploring the pivotal moments, the legendary figures, and the subtle transformations that have shaped this intellectual battle.
Our story begins nearly 1,500 years ago, in the ancient lands of India. Here, a game known as Chaturanga emerged, widely considered the earliest known predecessor to modern chess.
Chaturanga, meaning “four divisions” (referring to the four divisions of the military: infantry, cavalry, elephants, and chariots), was more than just a game; it was a strategic simulation of warfare, reflecting the military tactics of the time.
Unlike modern chess, Chaturanga was sometimes played with four players, adding another layer of complexity and intrigue.
As trade routes expanded and cultures intertwined, Chaturanga traveled westward, reaching Persia. Here, it transformed into Shatranj. The Persians refined the game, adapting its rules and pieces, and it was through Persia that Shatranj eventually made its way to the Islamic world and then into Europe.
The game’s journey across continents saw its name evolve, with “Shatranj” giving rise to terms like “schach” in German, “scacchi” in Italian, and ultimately, “chess” in English.
The Evolution of the Pieces – Names and Roles
As chess journeyed across different cultures, so too did its pieces undergo fascinating transformations, both in their appearance and their names.
These changes often reflected the societal structures and military compositions of the regions where the game took root.
Let’s delve into the etymology of each piece:
The King: In its Indian incarnation, the king was known as the Rajah. When the game reached Persia, it became the Shah, a term that ultimately gave us the very name of the game itself: “chess,” derived from “shah.”
The king has always been the most crucial piece, representing the sovereign whose capture signifies the end of the game.
The Queen: Perhaps the most dramatic transformation occurred with the queen.
Originally, this piece was the Vizir (or Firz ), a counselor or minister to the king. Its movement was quite limited, only one square diagonally.
However, as chess spread into Europe, particularly during the late Middle Ages, the piece evolved into the powerful queen we know today.
This shift, often attributed to the influence of powerful queens in European monarchies, granted her the extensive movement capabilities she now possesses, making her the most formidable piece on the board.
The Bishop: The bishop’s journey is equally intriguing. In India, it was the Gajah, or elephant, a significant military animal. In Persia, it became the Pil.
When it arrived in Europe, its form and name changed. The pointed top of the piece in European sets resembled a bishop’s miter, leading to its current name.
Its movement also evolved from a limited diagonal jump to the far-reaching diagonal movement we see today.
The Knight: The knight has largely retained its identity as a cavalry piece. In Sanskrit, it was the Ashva, meaning horse.
Its distinctive L-shaped move, allowing it to jump over other pieces, has remained a unique and strategic element of the game throughout its history, reflecting the agility of a mounted warrior.
The Rook: The rook, or castle, has its origins in the Ratha, the chariot of ancient Indian warfare. In Persia, it was known as the Rokh. Its movement, a straight line horizontally or vertically, mirrors the powerful charge of a chariot on the battlefield.
The architectural form of the rook, resembling a castle tower, became prevalent in Europe, giving it its familiar appearance.
The Pawn: The humble pawn, the foot soldier of the chess army, was known as the Padati in Sanskrit. Its name, derived from the Latin pedester and French pion, literally means “foot soldier” or “peasant.”
Despite its seemingly limited movement, the pawn is the soul of chess, representing the vast infantry that forms the backbone of any army.
These transformations in names and movements reflect the cultural assimilation of chess as it spread across the globe, adapting to local customs and military structures while retaining its core strategic essence.
Strategic Innovations – En Passant and Castling
Beyond the evolution of individual pieces, the game of chess itself has seen significant rule changes that have profoundly impacted its strategy and dynamism.
Two such innovations, en passant and castling , stand out as pivotal moments in the game’s development.
En Passant: The “In Passing” Capture
The en passant rule, French for “in passing,” is one of the more unique and often misunderstood moves in chess. Its inclusion was a direct consequence of an earlier rule change:
The en passant rule was introduced between the 13th and 16th centuries. This came about after pawns were granted the ability to move two squares forward on their very first move, a change implemented to speed up the game.
Without en passant, a pawn could effectively bypass an opponent’s pawn that was poised to capture it, simply by moving two squares and landing beyond the attacking pawn’s reach.
The en passant rule was created to prevent this evasion, ensuring that a pawn could not use its initial two-square advance to safely skip past an enemy pawn that would have been able to capture it if it had only moved one square.
It maintains the tactical integrity of pawn play.
The rule allows a pawn on its fifth rank to capture an opponent’s pawn on an adjacent file, but only if that opponent’s pawn has just moved two squares from its starting position.
The capturing pawn moves to the square the opponent’s pawn passed over, as if the opponent’s pawn had only moved one square. This capture must be made immediately on the turn following the twosquare advance, or the right to capture en passant is lost.
Castling: King Safety and Rook Activation
Castling is another fascinating and strategically vital move that evolved over centuries to enhance both king safety and the active participation of the rooks:
The origins of castling can be traced back to the king’s leap, a two square king move that was added to European chess between the 14th and 15th centuries.
However, castling as we know it today, with the simultaneous movement of the king and rook, didn’t fully take its present form until the 17th century.
The primary motivations behind castling were twofold: to provide a safe haven for the king, moving it away from the vulnerable center of the board, and to bring a rook into active play more quickly, especially towards the center where it can exert more influence.
It’s a move designed to accelerate development and improve defensive posture.
Castling is a special move involving the king and one of the rooks. The king moves two squares towards the chosen rook, and that rook then moves to the square immediately on the other side of the king.
There are several strict conditions for castling: neither the king nor the chosen rook can have moved previously in the game; there must be no pieces between the king and the rook; and the king cannot be in check, pass through a square that is attacked by an opponent’s piece, or land on a square that is attacked by an opponent’s piece.
These innovations, en passant and castling , are testaments to the dynamic nature of chess, showcasing how its rules have been refined over time to create a more balanced, strategic, and engaging game.
This brings us the game of chess as we now know it.
Each year on the 20 July International Chess day is celebrated around the world.
Celebrated by millions of chess players.
This year’s theme is ‘Every Move Counts’, highlighting the significance of each decision in chess and life.
A Pudsey cyclist is within 1,000 miles of completing a bike ride to raise money for an international charity.
Tim Devereux is riding 12 miles a day around the Pudsey area and is looking to cycle 3,431 miles, which is the equivalent of the journey from Pudsey to Gaza. He is raising money for Medical Aid for Palestinians.
He said: “By yesterday I have been riding for 200 days, and am within 1,000 miles of my goal!
“Since the start of the year, I’ve been riding every day (except two), averaging 12 miles each day.
“I often ride on the Leeds/Liverpool Canal tow-path, and give passers-by my card. Along the way I have met many well wishers, in person and on line – they have been a great encouragement!
“The bikes have mostly behaved – some punctures, lots of broken spokes on the ebike, and a stolen saddle on my ancient road bike!”
“My original goal was 10 miles a day, but I have upped it to 12 so I can finish on my 77th birthday, 5th October. The fundraising is going well – my target was £1000, but with Gift Aid, it is now over £4000 – of course, much more is needed!”
The former HSBC branch in Pudsey. Photo: John Baron
Plans to repurpose part of the former HSBC bank building in Pudsey into a food take-away outlet have been submitted to Leeds City Council for approval.
Ali Salem Naif Al-Shamary’s plan would create two full time jobs at the former bank chamber, which has been empty since it closed its doorsin October 2020.
The takeaway would be open 11am to 11pm weekdays, and until midnight on weekends and bank holidays.
A design statement submitted with the application concluded: “The proposed internal take-away at 1 Church Lane is a sensitive, policy-compliant redevelopment that reactivates the building without compromising its heritage or the Conservation Area.
“The design prioritises noise and odour control, ensuring no impact on residential amenity. The development aligns with local and national planning objectives, offering significant community benefits.”
A small hot food takeaway kiosk next to the former HSBC bank building were refused planning permission in May. Plans to turn the former bank chamber into a retail unit and flats were approved by council planners last August.
Council highways chiefs are reminding motorists to plan ahead as improvements continue to the Dawsons Corner junction, with repairs and resurfacing works on the Stanningley Bypass.
Over four weeks starting on Monday 28 July 2025, road repairs and resurfacing works will take place on the Stanningley Bypass, as part of the £44.179m Dawsons Corner and Stanningley Bypass improvement scheme.
The work has been planned to coincide with the reduced levels of traffic over the school summer holidays, allowing for these works to progress as quickly as possible with some significant disruption expected to journeys over the coming weeks.
Traffic management will be in place 24/7 along with 30mph speed limits to help complete this work efficiently and for the safety of all road users.
During the set up and switch around of the traffic management, there will be partial closures of the bypass and some of the access/slip roads will have local diversions. Access to Pudsey train station will be maintained at all times.
The road traffic management system will safely allow repairs and surfacing works to take place, starting northbound from 8pm Monday 28 July until 11 August and then southbound from 5am Sunday 12 August, until Tuesday 26 August.
The Owlcotes Shopping Centre slip road will be closed to facilitate changes to the traffic management on the following dates:
Monday 28 July 8pm-5am
Monday 11 August 8pm-5am
Monday 25 August 8pm-5am
Tuesday 26 August 8pm-5am (contingency date)
Councillor Jonathan Pryor, Leeds City Council’s deputy leader and executive member for economy, transport and sustainable development, said: “The team are working hard to minimise disruption by planning, co-ordinating and sequencing large highways schemes across Leeds.
“They need careful planning with other works, not always in our control and events across our busy city. We have done lots of work to try and minimise the disruption these works will create, but what ever the amount of planning there may be some delays.
“Starting from Monday 28 July, to coincide with four weeks of the school summer holidays, please plan ahead when travelling between Bradford and Leeds (A647) or using the (A6120) outer ring road through Dawsons Corner. You will need to allow extra time for your journeys, be patient and follow the signed road diversions in place.”
Pupils are ‘surrounded by care’ at a West Leeds primary school, Ofsted inspectors have said.
Summerfield Primary School in Intake Lane, Rodley is described as a ‘warm and welcoming community’ in its latest Ofsted report published this week.
It is rated as ‘good’ for its quality of education, the behaviour and attitudes of pupils, personal development, leadership and early years provision.
“The school has high expectations of what pupils should achieved” the report says.
“Pupils quickly access support to engage in learning. For most pupils, this ensures they progress well through the curriculum.
“Reading is prioritised. Pupils, right from the early years, are proud to read to adults. They read at home. They enjoy sharing the range of books on offer and discuss their favourite authors.”
There is also praise for a ‘carefully designed’ curriculum, the teaching of phonics and early years provision, where pupils ‘develop curiosity and co-operate well together’.
The report says at key stage two, the changes made to the curriculum in writing and mathematics need more time to embed. This means that some pupils have gaps in their learning as they are not able to apply the knowledge they have learned as well as they should.
A Farsley youngster is cycling from Leeds to Liverpool in a bid to raise money for a charity aiming to end bed poverty.
Jesse Carlill, 11, is looking to cycle 127 miles from Liverpool to Leeds in aid of charity Zarach, which ensures children get the restful sleep they need and lifting them out of bed poverty.
Jesse has already exceeded his target and is now aiming to raise £1,000.
He said: “The trip will take five to 10 days and I will have to sleep at different places along the way. It will be hard but worth it.
“I am raising money to donate to Zarach because many children are going to sleep hungry and cold without a proper bed of their own and without enough sleep the children can’t learn well.
“Poverty is a real problem that has a significant effect on a child’s education. By providing something to eat and a good night’s sleep, Zarach hopes to give every child an equal chance to learn and succeed at school.”
Jesse’s journey starts on 16 August, and he aims to finish in Leeds on the 20th. His crowdfunder can be found here.
The long-established Headingley Station Allotments, on the boundary of Headingley and Kirkstall, has been put forward as a possible piece of land for development.
Leeds City Council is seeking views on a planning blueprint which could see thousands of new homes built on potential sites across West Leeds – including up to 61 homes on the allotments site.
The plan will guide how land is used and developed and influences planning decisions to ensure any developments meet the needs of the community and the environment.
A range of potential sites included in the consultation were put forward by developers, landowners, residents and others.
Councillor Hannah Bithell (Lab, Kirkstall) wrote on Facebook that the council cannot pull it out of the consultation as all the proposed sites have to be part of a wider consultation along with other suggested sites.
Cllr Bithell said: “The impact allotments have on people’s health mentally and physically, the community spirit of an area, combatting social isolation etc, is massive – so we want to make sure the strength of feeling is shown here.”
Andy Sames wrote on social media that his brother was the allotment secretary 30 years ago, and back then a similar application was made which was knocked back after a hearing was held which decided the land will remain as an allotment.
He said the arguments for it to remain still stand today, but uppermost is the density of the population of the area which has grown considerably since then. Even 30 years ago the population density was a prime factor in the decision not to hand the land to developers.
Ecologically, Mr Sames says, there would be heavy losses to the wildlife such as deer and other animals, who roam the area as a natural corridor. Lastly, he said there is already a large new housing development on Kirkstall Lane stretching local services, and Mr Sames says there is no reason to stretch them further.
Allotment plot holder, Maureen, shared her concerns too. She said: “I have got a plot on the Headingley Station and so have both my children.
“My son has had his plot for nearly two years and has grown a lot of veg and things which have helped the family immensely with the cost of living crisis the way it is. My daughter has only been on her plot for a year now and has also put a lot of time and money into it to feed her family.
“I have only had mine a few weeks, but have been getting stuck into doing it. I suffer really badly with anxiety and depression and so this has really helped with my mental health by meeting people and being part of a lovely community.
“I think it’s so unfair to take it away to build houses when we need places like this to help people. I’m sure there are plenty of other areas they could look at and we will fight this.
“They are not having the land that has helped so many people for so many years without a fight.”
People can have their say on the Leeds Local Plan – and whether Headingley Station Allotments site should be developed – in the consultation here.
Burley resident Stuart Long has started a petition against the proposal. The number of signatures currently stands at more than 450.
Mr Long said: “The allotments are an established hub of community, sustainability and heritage.
“These areas are vital green spaces in a densely populated urban environment, offering crucial environmental, social, historical, and community value that cannot simply be replaced or relocated.
“The Station Allotments are one of the last remaining historic growing spaces in the area. Generations of local residents have used this land for sustainable food production, improving food security, well-being and mental health.
“The site is home to wildlife habitats and long-established soil ecosystems, which would be lost permanently if developed.”
