Tea and tunes: Pride in Place consults with older people in Armley and New Wortley

By Helen Fay

Older residents of Armley and New Wortley were treated to a free cream tea and musical entertainment on Wednesday as part of a Pride in Place consultation event. 

The Pride in Place Programme is a government initiative that is investing up to £5.8 billion across almost 300 disadvantaged communities. Armley & New Wortley is one of two areas in West Leeds to receive funding of £20 million over a 10-year period. The other is Farnley East.  

Residents and local businesses were invited to form a Neighbourhood Board and will directly decide how funds will be spent to improve local high streets, parks, and community facilities. The Armley & New Wortley Neighbourhood Board is chaired by the Reverend Phil Arnold.

Wednesday’s consultation event was held at Corn Mill Lodge Hotel, with the hotel providing the location, food and refreshments while hosting duties fell to Armley Helping Hands (AHH). 

Helping Hands CEO Dawn Newsome, who also sits on the Armley & New Wortley Neighbourhood Board, arranged the consultation event in order to find out how local residents aged 50+ want to see the money invested in Armley and New Wortley.  

Ms Newsome said: “Today’s Armley and New Wortley Pride in Place consultation was a beautiful reminder of the incredible strength and diversity of our community, bringing together generations from ages four to 98 to shape our shared future.”

She added: “By ensuring our older residents have a powerful voice alongside younger generations, we lay down the groundwork for how this historic £20 million Pride in Place investment can truly transform our community.”

There were 104 older residents in attendance at the event, alongside five carers, eight staff, nine volunteers, three Armley Helping Hands board members, three Armley & New Wortley Neighbourhood Board members and five relatives.

A small number of young people were also at the event. A total of 137 consultation forms were completed and submitted. The youngest audience member was four years old and the oldest was 98.

Music was provided by the Man About Town men’s mental health music group, which meets in Armley every Wednesday. 

The group will be performing again at the Farnley East Pride in Place consultation event for residents aged 50+ which takes place at Corn Mill Lodge Hotel on Tuesday, 25 August from 11am to 2pm. Tickets are free, but limited to 100 places. Places can be booked by ringing Armley Helping Hands on 0113 279 9292 from Monday to Friday between 9.30am and 3pm.

Ms Newsome was pleased with the way the consultation event had gone. She said: “It’s been amazing to listen to people’s views from vital improvements to local transport, better  community facilities, safer roads and youth play areas, to expanding dedicated support groups and facilities for our LGBTQ+ residents.

“The invaluable feedback gathered today at the Corn Mill Lodge Hotel will directly influence a safer, more inclusive neighbourhood. We are deeply grateful to the Armley & New Wortley Board, our exceptional local business partners, our magical entertainers, and our tireless staff and volunteers who made this spectacular day possible.”

Further information about the Pride in Place Programme in West Leeds can be found here.

To find out more about Armley Helping Hands and the services they offer, click here.

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