Security measures for a West Leeds cricket club which has been repeatedly targeted by vandals and thieves is one of a number of projects to receive funding from local councillors.
Members of the Inner West Community Committee agreed to fund Kirkstall Educational Cricket Club £2,730 from their wellbeing budget.
The club saw more than £20,000 worth of equipment stolen in a weekend raid at its ground on Queenswood Drive last October. It has been burgled 18 times in the past five years – and gained planning permission in December to put up a new gate to keep out thieves.
The club will use the money to install CCTV, security lights and an alarm on both the clubhouse and the storage units.
Other money awarded from the wellbeing budget at last night’s meeting included:
- £1,470 towards an Easter Eggstravaganza Art Camp in Kirkstall. It’s aimed at children who have been deemed to be vulnerable and who are children of key workers and who would most benefit from three days at Easter Art Camp.
- £4,066 to part-fund the Leeds West Academy Youth Worker Support to help young people alongside the school PCSO and other support staff. The role will look at supporting truancy, engage with teenage pregnancy, engage with young people who are having issues with teachers/school, have home issues they want to raise, mental health issues caused by lockdowns and to liaise with other schools to combat postcode gangs between pupils.
- £9,032 towards Spen Lane Youth Club for eight-19 year olds to enjoy a mix of physical, creative and social activities.
- £8,140 to Woodbridges Youth Club at The Cardigan Centre. This is a youth group for eight to 19-year-olds to come along and enjoy a mix of physical, creative and social activities.
- £550 towards Kirkstall planters.
- £2,456 to The Aire Rivers Trust for specialist cleaning of a stretch of the River Aire below Kirkstall Abbey needs specialist clearing. They will work in partnership with volunteers from a local Kirkstall group, Team Kirkstall supported by Open Source Arts.
- £1,650 for an additional notice board in Armley Park.
The Inner West Community Committee is made up of councillors from the Armley, Bramley & Stanningley and Kirkstall Wards and nine community co-optees. View the agenda in full here.
