Unit 11 is a community hub in Kirkstall. Photo: Mindy Goose
Burley community stalwart Adele Rae is in the running for a top national award.
Ms Rae, who is a leading light in a number of community organisations in both Burley and Kirkstall, has been shortlisted in the Housing Quality Network (HQN) Frontline Stars Award for residents.
As a centrepiece of its annual conference in July, HQN has launched a special award in recognition of those frontline workers, volunteers, residents, and members of the housing community who have gone the extra mile during the Covid-19 crisis and made a tangible difference to the lives of others.
Adele Rae, left. Photo: Ramona Green
The nomination for Ms Rae reads:
“Adele is a long-time customer at Leeds and Yorkshire Housing Association and has been a customer representative on the Board for the last five years.
“She is passionate about community and is the Development Director the Kirkstall Valley Development Trust, which has ambitious plans to regenerate and unite the west Leeds area where she lives.
“This has included setting up a community hub, known as Unit 11, which Adele and team, including another LYHA customer – Martin Knox – have recently transformed into a Covid 19 support centre and food distribution hub, working tirelessly to help Kirkstall residents who are vulnerable, elderly, and/or living in poverty.
“Adele is also a Tenants Participation Advisory Service board member.”
The residents’ category of the awards had 19 nominations and a vote, which closed on Friday, will narrow these down to just 10.
We all have times of worry concerning various issues like, your job, money, children and especially now with the coronavirus putting the country in “Lockdown”. Detailed below are some practical and simple steps to show you how to stop worrying and start living.
Make a list of your worries. Identifying what is causing you to be worried is the first step to moving on and eliminating that worry.
Analyse the list. Look at whether your worry is productive or unproductive. A productive worry is one that you can do something about straight away. For example, “When coronavirus is over I want to go to the Yorkshire Dales for a week’s walking holiday, so I am worried about booking a hotel which will be suitable”. This is a productive worry because you can take action now by going online to find suitable hotels and compiling contact details. By contrast, an unproductive worry is one which you can’t do anything about, it’s more of a proliferation of “what ifs,” For example, losing sleep and worrying if you may lose your job is unproductive.
Embrace uncertainty. Once you have isolated your unproductive worries, it’s time to identify what you need to accept in order to get over them. You may need to accept your own limitations or it may be a degree of uncertainty that you need to accept. For example, you may get a serious disease someday as nobody knows what the future holds. Many worried people equate uncertainty with a bad outcome, but uncertainty is really neutral. When you accept uncertainty, you don’t have to worry anymore. Acceptance means noticing that uncertainty exists and letting go and focusing on the things that you can control, enjoy, or appreciate.
Make yourself uncomfortable. Worriers feel that they can’t tolerate discomfort, but if you practice discomfort, you will accomplish a lot more. The aim is to be able to do what you don’t want to do or things that make you feel uncomfortable. Worries tend to avoid new things and situations that make them uncomfortable, such as parties or public speaking engagements. The pre-emptive worry helps them avoid discomfort, but if you force yourself to do the very things that make you un comfortable, you will rely less on worry as a coping strategy.
Stop the clock. Worried people often have a sense of urgency. They think, “I need the answer right now and if I don’t get it then something terrible will happen”. Look at the advantages and disadvantages of demanding such urgency. Rather than focus on te sense of urgency, instead focus on what you observe right now. Ask yourself, “what can I do in the present moment to make my life more pleasant or meaningful”. You can either focus your mind on getting an answer right now or focus on improving the moment. The latter is the best strategy. Take a deep breath, read, or listen to music or the birds outside to stop the clock and curtail your anxiety.
Remember that it’s never as bad as you think it will be. Anxiety or worry is all about anticipation. The “What ifs” are always far worse than how you feel when something actually happens. Worriers tend to worry about things that even if they happen, they can handle it and in fact worriers are actually good at handling real problems.
Cry out loud. The emotional part of the brain – the amygdala – is suppressed when you worry. The emotion kicks in later with gastrointestinal symptoms, fatigue or rapid heart rate. You need to use your emotions, don’t try to get rid of them because when you are crying or angry, you are not worried.
Talk about it. Beside the cognitive therapy techniques mentioned above, which can help change troublesome behaviours, talk therapy can also help chronic worriers worry less by getting to the root cause of their issues. Often talk therapy and cognitive behaviour therapy can work together. Each individual needs to understand what causes their anxiety or what it is related to. If you dig deep enough and go back to the early bases, it goes away because you have gotten to its roots.
A Pudsey man is organising a weekly community litter pick in a bid to keep the town tidy.
James Crabtree, in conjunction with the Litter Free Pudsey group, will be holding the litter pick tomorrow (Saturday, 4 July). He said:
“We will start at the Fox and Grapes Pub on Smalewell Road, we will then head out past Tyersal gate all the way out to Holmewood estate then loop back round into Black Carr Woods and finish back where we started at, The Fox and Grapes.
“All equipment will be provided and we will have to work in groups of 6 to be in line with covid rules. If you would prefer to bring your own PPE then that’s no problem and wear appropriate clothing.
“This gives us all a chance to take pride in where we live, do our bit for the community and socialise with new like minded people. So bring family, bring friends and let’s make Pudsey great again.”
It is hoped the litter picks will be a weekly event, tackling litter hotspots around the town.
Farsley Farmers Market is held monthly at St John's Church
Since 2020 began there have been a few changes to the personnel, writes Jo Reilly.
Namely the departure of Paul Tudge, who was a founder member and the Vicar of St John’s. At Christmas we bid a fond farewell to Paul and his family. The team is still made up of members of the Farsley community and they are Ray Sheller, Chris Birks, Jo Reilly and Bev Tuke.
The team have been busy putting Covid 19 safety measures in place and can finally announce the return of Farsley Farmers Market on Saturday 25th July – our first Market since cancelling the 28 March anniversary event!
At the return event, safety measures will include a one-way system, social distancing and hand sanitisers and we hope you will comply so that all Farsley community can #staysafe.
We have taken care to allow correct spacing of the stalls and to select a good mix of traders for the reduced number of pitches, and all of them complying with Covid 19 guidelines.
The event will be marshalled by volunteers recently appointed following the appeal on facebook.
The market itself will not look much different except that there will be No Access to the Church Hall toilets and no hot food or drinks on sale.
To allow extra time for the safe set-up of the market Stalls, a new start time was agreed upon by the team.
The lockdown market will trade from 10am to 1pm.
Please join us on 25th July and, if you prefer to pick up orders ready and waiting for you, check out and contact the traders soon to be listed in the event post on the market Facebook page.
Traders will provide card payments options and/or a safe cash system on the day.
Leeds West MP Rachel Reeves has written to Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden and called on him to clarify when swimming pools like Bramley Baths will be allowed to re-open.
Her intervention followed talks yesterday with community-led Bramley Baths about the impact of the coronavirus pandemic which triggered the order to close the Edwardian bathhouse along with pools across the country.
Leeds West MP Rachel Reeves with Bramley Baths CEO David Wilford. Photo: Jo Fiddes
In her letter to the Culture Secretary, Ms Reeves highlighted the feeling among the team at Bramley Baths and swimmers that it was “strange and inconsistent” that an easing of lockdown rules permitted the reopening of pubs, but not pools and gyms.
As a Friend of Bramley Baths, she urged the Culture Secretary to clarify the Government’s plans regarding the re-opening of swimming pools and called on the Minister to safeguard the future of the pool and the team working at Bramley Baths.
The Baths first opened in 1904 to give local people access to washing facilities. A community enterprise since 2013, it is run by a professional team with the support of a community led board of volunteers and fund-raising.
In her letter to the Culture Secretary, Ms Reeves wrote:
“The team at the Baths have worked exceptionally hard during the lockdown to ensure the Baths remains in business, and are now getting the building ready to re-open.
“They have put in place detailed measures to adhere to Swim England’s extensive guidance, and are confident they can manage the baths in a safe and secure way.”
She said the team at the Baths were concerned about the lack of Government guidance as they were keen to welcome customers back “as soon as it is safe to do so”, adding that the team made a significant contribution to the local community.
Bramley Baths is currently closed due to the Coronavirus pandemic. Photo: John Baron
Her letter concluded:
“Charitable and community organisations like Bramley Baths offer an invaluable service to their community which would not be easily replaced. On their behalf, I would urge the government to take whatever steps necessary to ensure that they can remain sustainable and, when it is safe, begin trading again safely.
“Coronavirus, and the necessary measures to contain its spread, have already imposed a huge cost on families and on communities up and down the country. I hope that the government will do all it can to minimise lasting damage to the social infrastructure upon which all our communities rely.”
The letter can be read in full here:
Bramley Baths CEO David Wilford backed Ms Reeves calls for clarity and said:
“We are working very hard behind the scenes to ensure safety measures are in place for our customers and staff.
“We would urge the Government to provide us with a date so we can plan when we can start trading safely again. We also await the Government issuing safety guidance on re-opening.
“I would like to thank everyone in the community who has supported us by becoming a Friend of Bramley Baths, or who have bought T-shirts, donated to staff sponsored walks or kept paying their memberships. They have helped keep us afloat financially during these difficult times.”
People are urged to support the Friends of Bramley Baths scheme, which sees supporters pay £4.65 a month in return for voting rights at the Baths’ AGM and a whole host of other benefits. You can become a Friend here.
As well as the Friends scheme, the Baths has been busy fundraising since it closed in March, with staff completing a sponsored 750k walk among the highlights.
Council-run pools in West Leeds include leisure centres at Armley, Kirkstall and Pudsey.
Council chiefs this week approved the improvements to the school, which will be carried out by Leeds LEP.
West SILC caters for a wide range of special educational needs – moderate and severe learning difficulties, complex and multiple learning needs (CMLN / PMLD); complex autism, autism spectrum disorders and social, emotional and mental health needs.
The “scale of benefits” that a new mass transit system would bring to Yorkshire have been hailed by a transport body, as proposals to revive a travel masterplan move one step closer, writes Richard Beecham.
Previous attempts at bringing a light rail-based transport system to the city were thrown out by successive governments due to either being too expensive or inconvenient to build.
The results of an inquiry in 2016 led to the government shelving a proposed £170m trolleybus scheme, left Leeds as the largest city in Western Europe without an integrated mass transit system.
But regional leaders appear to be willing, once again, to look into the possibility of creating one.
The West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) in collaboration with partner councils are developing a mass transit system which will offer a new public transport option and an attractive alternative to car travel.
In late 2018, WYCA raised eyebrows by discussing a ‘tube’-style map – featured at the top of this article – indicating the communities most likely to be served by mass transit. These included Armley, Bramley and Pudsey in West Leeds.
A document set to go before WYCA’s transport committee claims a mass transit system would help create a “low carbon future” as well as regenerate neighbourhoods and strengthen the economy.
The report added:
“Whilst the cost of implementing mass transit can be high, the scale of benefits which it delivers are also high. Other cities in the UK and beyond are demonstrating mass transit does offer high value for money and can also open up new funding opportunities.”
At its meeting earlier this year, WYCA agreed to continue to undertake early works to plan for mass transit across the region, while the devolution deal published by government in March 2020 included a commitment to “explore the case for funding a modern, low carbon West Yorkshire Mass Transit System”.
The board now looks set to approve £2.041m to enable early feasibility and design work, which is expected to continue until early 2021.
However, the report adds that, even if the scheme is successful, it is unlikely building work would begin until at least the “mid-2020s”.
The report, set to go to next week’s meeting, stated: “It is essential that the business case for mass transit considers the emerging longer-term implications of Covid-19. As the timescales to deliver any mass transit proposals are longer than the time it will take for Covid-19 implications to become clearer, it will be possible to continue to test the mass transit/Covid-19 implications at each stage of the business case and Assurance Framework process.”
In late 2018, WYCA raised eyebrows by discussing a ‘tube’-style map indicating the communities most likely to be served by mass transit.
In 2016, plans to build the trolley bus network in Leeds were rejected by the Government, following a report from a planning inspector who said the scheme was “not in the public interest”.
Leeds city council has been urged to do more to help rid communities of ‘laughing gas’, writes Richard Beecham.
A committee of councillors is set to decide whether to hear evidence about the issue of nitrous oxide – also known as ‘laughing gas’ – and how widespread usage of the drug is in the city.
A letter sent by Conservative councillor Matthew Robinson claimed the council should “do more” to help rid communities of nitrous oxide usage, and make sure young people know the dangers of the drug.
The letter, addressed to Leeds City Council’s environment scrutiny board chair Coun Barry Anderson, read:
“I am writing to ask your committee to look into the use and abuse of nitrous oxide (laughing gas) in our communities.”
He added a petition, which at the time of writing has just over 5,000 signatures, is calling for the issue to be discussed in Parliament.
Coun Robinson said:
“There is no doubt the council can do more to support the police, help users, educate people, tackle the health problems and work to eradicate the empty canisters we find left all over our neighbours (sic).
“I hope (the) scrutiny board will look into this matter and work with our local Police to help address this blight on our communities.”
The letter was sent as part of a request for the committee to hear evidence and make recommendations on the issue, known as a “call-in”. Councillors on the committee will debate and ultimately decide whether to look into the issue further, which could include an inquiry into the issue.
Nitrous Oxide, also known as laughing gas or NOX, is a colourless gas that is traditionally used for sedation or pain relief. However, in recent years, it has also been used as an illegal recreational high.
Although it is mostly found in pressurised canisters – often seen discarded on pavements – inhaling directly from the canister is extremely dangerous, and is often transferred to a balloon before being taken.
Users often experience fits of laughter or hallucinations when taking nitrous oxide, but many also complain of severe headaches, dizziness and paranoia.
Long-term use can also lead to severe vitamin deficiencies, nerve damage and can even stop the body forming white blood cells properly.
Nitrous oxide is classified as a psychoactive drug, meaning it is illegal to give away or sell. Supply and production can lead to up to seven years in prison.
The call-in follows a number of complaints from around Leeds in recent months about discarded laughing gas canisters, which led to West Yorkshire Police East to put out a statement about the issue back in June.
It read:
“A number of reports and evidence of use has been highlighted in the communities we serve and we would like to highlight that there is a number of health risks to those who may be involved in the use of Nitrous Oxide, including: loss of consciousness, possible suffocation, Vitamin B12 deficiency (a form of anaemia) and it increases risks from other drugs and intoxicants like alcohol.
“If you know of anyone that is involved with Nitrous Oxide make sure they know about the health risks and law regarding the use and supply.”
Pubs and bars in Leeds will be made to play music quietly to ensure socially distancing drinkers can hear each other speak, as the relaxing of lockdown restrictions continues this weekend, writes Richard Beecham.
Leeds City Council has issued guidance for residents, visitors and businesses as hospitality and entertainment venues prepare to reopen this weekend.
From Saturday July 4, restaurants, bars, leisure and entertainment venues can reopen as part of the latest relaxation of restrictions due to Covid-19.
However, drinkers could be returning to a very different kind of night out, as a council statement claims restrictions will be placed on the volume of music so socially distancing revellers will be able to easily hold conversations while they remain two metres apart. No live music performances will be allowed.
Businesses are also encouraged to put up signage and “social distancing visuals”, while a team of council night marshals will be operating over both of the first two weekends of the reopening. West Yorkshire Police will also have extra feet on the ground.
Most pubs and bars will operate with reduced capacities, with space available either through online bookings or a first-come first-served basis.
The council statement added:
“Opening times may be varied, with contactless payment being used where possible. Music levels in all venues will be restricted to ensure customers can talk normally, with no live band performances allowed.
“Signage and reminders of safety messages will be visible in popular areas across the city centre, along with hand sanitiser stations. Additional cleaning will be carried out, especially on objects being touched such as benches, bins and push buttons as well as at transport interchanges.”
Works on Greek Street, The Headrow and Infirmary Street has taken place in town to help create more space and wider footways for socially distancing pedestrians.
Venues have also been advised to introduce table service ensure the safety of customers and staff, while the council claims it is also “fast tracking” temporary street café licence applications in the city centre, which would allow people to drink outside.
It added:
“The message on using public transport remains to only use it if necessary, and everyone who does must wear a face covering with contactless payment to be used if possible.
“Taxis and private hire vehicles will be available from taxi ranks or by hailing, but with reduced numbers operating pre-booking is advised. They may have additional requirements, such as limits on the number of people per vehicle, and face coverings, so it is advised to check that when booking and to be aware that some operators may decline to accept customers who do not have a face covering.”
Leeds City Council Leader Cllr Judith Blake
Leader of Leeds City Council Judith Blake said:
“We know many people are looking forward to venues reopening, but we would appeal to everyone to respect the rules to ensure venues can keep staff and customers safe. This is another important step in our city centre reopening and bringing its economy back to life.
“We are working closely with businesses and partners to do all we can to help the reopening run smoothly, but we need everyone to play their part to make it a success and keep everyone safe.”
Anyone with concerns for the welfare of people on the street can contact 0113 2459445.
With the threat of the virus still present, direct donations of cash or food have increased health risks for both the person on the street and anyone donating. It can also prevent people accessing the help they really need and that support currently in place for them elsewhere. Support can be donated to Big Change Leeds at https://www.bigchangeleeds.co.uk/
Persepolis opening in Bramley. Photo: Simon Cullingworth
Congratulations to Rakesh and Nasser Sarvjahani on today’s opening of Bramley’s newest restaurant Persepolis, writes Simon Cullingworth.
Serving Mediterranean food on Town Street, it will be a welcome addition to West Leeds.
All takings from opening day are being generously donated to the NHS.
During the pandemic there has been so much uncertainty surrounding the future of local businesses and beyond, but this hasn’t dampened the spirits or determination of these two local businessmen.
Rakesh and Nasser will be familiar to local residents who visit the Wine Shop and Xerxes barbers on Town Street, but now they’ve branched out together in a new venture which offers Bramley residents a new restaurant and takeaway.
They are serving a variety of Turkish, Persian and Greek food, all cooked fresh to order offering an alternative to other local cuisines.
At present they are only able to offer take away service but look forward to the day when they will be able to open the fully licensed restaurant.
The opening ribbon was cut by Bramley & Stanningley councillor Kevin RItchie.
Amity Brew Co at Sunny Bank Mills in Farsley. Photo: 2020
A new craft brewery with a beer garden will launch in an iconic landmark mill in Farsley.
Amity Brew Co has signed a 10-year lease at Sunny Bank Mills in Farsley, following an injection of £50,000 from the Business Enterprise Fund and raising £25,000 from family.
Russ Clarke at Sinnybank Mills. (picture: Neash photo/video)
The 2,500 sq ft brewery and bar, due to open in autumn 2020, will be based at Sunny Bank Mills’ Festoon Rooms with a paved outdoor beer garden overlooking the newly developed £2million Weavers Yard, a 5,000 sq ft outdoor space with 96 car parking spaces.
Gaining experience at BrewDog, North Brewing Co and Beer Hawk, Co-founder and Director of Amity Brew Co, Russ Clarke dreamt of using the USA brewery model to open his own brewpub. Russ said:
“We are a group of friends who met on the craft beer scene having worked in the UK’s best breweries, so we know our stuff.
“We are inspired by the US model of a brewpub, making limited batch beer on-site and getting it into the hands of the community fresh and fast.
“Launching a business post covid-19 really adds the pressure on but we’ve been heartened to see how the local community has rallied together and we feel the brewpub is exactly what the community will embrace at this time. We are adaptable and nimble enough to make sure that our plans can quickly change according to any government restrictions that might be passed in the future as we all adapt to the world with C-19.”
Amity Brew Co, head of communications Verity Clarke and co-founder Russ Clarke (picture: Neash photo/video).
Due to C-19, Russ moved the launch forward so that he can start to build a community locally and within the craft beer scene before physically opening doors.
Using cuckoo brewing – a practice where breweries hire out their kit – Head Brewer Greig Swanson, formerly of Top 100 breweries Buxton Brewery and BrewDog, has created a core range of beers including a “helles” lager, an extra special bitter and an American pale ale, all named after Farsley landmarks.
John Gaunt, joint managing director of mill owners Edwin Woodhouse and Co Ltd, said:
“Just as the mill was home to manufacturing some of the best cloth in the world, we can’t wait to see Amity Brew Co brewing and selling high quality craft beers. Amity Brew Co will be a superb addition to the Mill community, complementing Grumpy’s and The Mill Kitchen and making it an even more attractive place to visit and work.”
Bustling: Sunny Bank Mills, off Farsley Town Street
Sunnybank has been extensively renovated to provide quality space within an environment steeped in heritage for small and medium-sized businesses in West Yorkshire. Altogether 70 companies are now on site, creating 350 new and sustainable jobs.
To find out more about the launch and to keep informed of future announcements visit the Amitybrew website.
Pudsey-based communications agency Punch Creative has introduced a four-day working week as lockdown measures ease.
Like many, the coronavirus pandemic caused the Yorkshire business to adapt and become more agile. Punch employees were set up to work from home and internal and client meetings were led via Microsoft Teams and Zoom.
During this time, many economists spoke in favour of a four-day work week due to its “range of benefits for employers and workers.” Academic studies also reported that a four-day work week could result in “lower stress levels, higher levels of job satisfaction and an improved work-life balance.”
Following a review of its working culture, Punch decided to take the plunge and move to a shorter work week to achieve the company’s aim of creating a more “socially conscious agency”.
Richard Lowes, Creative Director at Punch Creative said:
“From July we are joining a small but growing number of companies in the UK by moving to a four-day work week, Friday off, every week. Or as we see it; a shorter more focused working week with agile working which equals longer weekends with a happier, more creative and productive agency to benefit everyone.”
The agency joins a small number of UK businesses who have decided to introduce a three-day weekend to increase productivity and employee wellbeing.
Punch Creative is a fully integrated communications agency, working together with clients to create and implement ideas that drive their success. It’s based at Chapel Studios, Bradford Road, Stanningley.
