Our latest newsletter is here along with some inserts, lots of information and upcoming activities, events and outings
You can also see previous newsletters here Issue-99-Spring-2023
We will continue to do all we can to support anyone affected. As well as our regular email updates, please remember you can visit our Cost of Living website for support and advice on housing, food, fuel and health, as well as details of events taking place across Leeds to support local residents.
Leeds City Council
If you use energy pre-payment meters, you should be receiving energy bill discount vouchers from the first week of the month, through either text, email or the post (using your registered contact details).
You will need to redeem these at your usual top-up point, such as your nearest PayPoint or Post Office branch.
For more information on receiving the discount, visit the Energy Saving Trust website
Warm Spaces across Leeds offer a welcoming and safe warm place for anyone to use for free, particularly if you’re struggling with the cost of heating your home during cold weather. Opening hours have now returned to normal after the festive period.
To find your nearest Warm Spaces visit www.leeds.gov.uk/warmspaces
A reminder that community hubs and libraries offer warm spaces and a warm welcome. You can also access additional services including help with job applications, claiming benefits you could be eligible for and money saving tips and budgeting. You can find your local community hub here.
Free, confidential advice is also available from the Money Information Centres.
A leading doctor in West Yorkshire is calling on people who haven’t yet had their flu and COVID vaccinations to come forward as soon as possible. You can read more here
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Over a million families in the UK are entitled to support with the cost of childcare from the government. Find out whether you’re eligible for tax-free childcare or 30 hours per week of free childcare at www.childcarechoices.gov.uk
If you’re considering fostering, joining Foster4Leeds means you can help the council keep Leeds children in their local area, and you’ll receive a huge amount of support from our amazing fostering service and other local foster families.
For more information visit www.leeds.gov.uk/foster4leeds or to speak to a member of the Foster4Leeds team, call 0113 378 3538.
With the cost of living going up, many people are searching for fun things to do that won’t break the bank. For some inspiration, take a look here: Free and low-cost activities for people in Leeds
Leeds 2023 is a year-long celebration of culture. It kicked off earlier this month with The Awakening at Headingley Stadium, featuring music, poetry, dance, comedy and more. You can find out more about Leeds 2023 here.
This week Leeds added a new chapter to a remarkable story of courage and comradeship as the city awarded its highest civic honour to Rob Burrow and Kevin Sinfield.
Rugby league legends Rob and Kevin have both been given the freedom of Leeds in recognition of their heroic campaigning and fundraising for all those affected by motor neurone disease (MND).
You can read more here.
Our first soup and a roll get-together was very well attended last week and everyone enjoyed the homemade carrot and coriander soup.
There’s another one today and every Wednesday until the end of March. At the Caring Together premises, 127 Woodhouse Street. Drop in any time between 11am and 2pm (soup usually served from around 12 noon) – or come and join us for the full 3 hours if you wish.
Warm soup, warm building and a warm welcome for all!
We won’t tell you what today’s soup is, you will have to come along to find out, but we are sure it will be delicious.
There are 74,000 unpaid carers in Leeds. If you look after a partner, relative or friend who is disabled or ill due to physical or mental health, you are a carer, even if you don’t think of yourself as one.
Caring Costs unpaid carers in many ways, from carers’ wellbeing and ability to access health services, to costs to their finances and employment options, to the current cost of living crisis which is being felt even more acutely by carers throughout the UK.
Find out about the emotional, practical and financial support available to you. https://www.carersleeds.org.uk/
Our latest newsletter is here along with some inserts, lots of information and upcoming activities, events and outings
You can also see previous newsletters here
Issue-98-Winter-2022
Light Night Leeds is the UK’s largest annual arts and light festival and returns on 13th and 14th October 2022.
For the past 17 years, over two incredible nights in October, some of Leeds’s most recognisable indoor and outdoor spaces have been transformed by spectacular artworks and captivating performances by local, national and international artists.
The streets of Leeds will be transformed into an incredible illuminated playground with more than 50 spectacular light installations, dynamic projections and interactive artworks.T
his year’s event will have the theme of Playful City, with some of Leeds’s most recognisable landmarks and locations hosting spellbinding installations aimed at encouraging visitors to engage and interact with the city in new, fun and innovative ways.
Highlights will include a thrilling, large scale projection on The Queen’s Hotel, which will take the people of Leeds on a futuristic, digital rollercoaster ride.
At Leeds Civic Hall, a homage to the classic video games of the 1980s will see visitors take control of a high tech augmented reality experience, played out across the historic building’s impressive façade.
At Leeds Art Gallery, local artists Akeelah Bertram and Adam Glatherine’s installation will turn sounds into a cascade of colour and light across a network of eight-foot tall pipes, while at the Leeds Playhouse, a giant, luminous slinky will tumble end over end from the rooftops around the city’s famous theatre.
The popular Spark drummers will also be back with a unique performance at Trinity Leeds, while the historic lifting tower on Wellington Place will be the backdrop for a projection that will give a modern twist to the tale of Rapunzel.
See https://www.lightnightleeds.co.uk/ for more details of when, where and what is going on and including details of where you can get a printed guide
Headingley, Hyde Park and Woodhouse Councillors will be at Caring Together premises today between 5pm and 6pm for their monthly advice surgery.
This is open to all residents in the area and no appointment is needed so you can just call in if you would like to speak to your local councillor.
Caring Together – 127 Woodhouse Street (Charing Cross), Leeds, LS6 2PY
Mindfulness for Health 8 week course – online or in person in East Leeds
Let’s recover together
Aimed at people living in Leeds:
who are over 60 and living with pain, fatigue, long covid or other health difficulties,
or who are over 60 and facing isolation or are bereaved after the pandemic.
You can choose to be online or in person at Space2 in Gipton, Leeds.
Taster session on Monday 3rd October 10.30 am – 12.00
The 8 week course starts Monday 10th October 10.30 am – 1 pm (breaks are built into the morning)
Booking is essential.
Phone Jelena at Space 2 on 0113 320 0159 or mobile 07519 042683 for more info or to book your place.
8 week course teaches the skills to help you support your physical and mental health. Each week introduces key ideas and practices which help us to live well and thrive in the face of health challenges such as chronic pain, fatigue, chronic illness and stress.
What will I learn?
mindfulness and self compassion skills in daily life, how mindfulness can help manage pain, stress and chronic health conditions, to live in the present moment and breathe into your experience, rather than tensing against it, the art of taking joy in simple everyday pleasures, greater concentration and focus, transformative body and breath awareness for relaxation, tranquility and to let go of tension
What is involved?
8 weeks of 2.5 hour sessions with breaks, a mixture of practicing mindfulness, learning ideas and discussion, being in a warm and friendly group where you can choose what to share, led by an experienced accredited mindfulness teacher, resources to practice at home, free membership of an online community of practice to continue after the course.
Information about this and other courses at https://mindfulnesscoop.co.uk/
Heritage Open Days is England’s largest festival of history and culture, bringing together over 2,000 local people and organisations, and thousands of volunteers. Every year in September, places across the country throw open their doors to celebrate their heritage, community and history. It’s your chance to see hidden places and try out new experiences – and it’s all FREE.
The events this year are a mix of in-person and online events – many are both so you can choose between getting out and about in the local area or taking part in something further afield without needing to leave home.
Leeds Inspired have pulled together a selection of what is happening in Leeds: https://www.leedsinspired.co.uk/collection/heritage-open-days-leeds-2022
All the events can be found here https://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/visiting
Leeds West Indian Carnival is back for 2022 after a 2 year break because of the pandemic
The main event is BankHoliday Monday 29th August. The Parade leaves Potternewton Park at 2pm turns left down Harehills Avenue, right onto Harehills Lane and right again down Roundhay Road; right onto Barrack Road, right again onto Chapeltown Road before turning right onto Harehills Avenue and back into Potternewton Park.
There will also be lots happening in the park throughout the day and the parade will be live streamed to the screen at the side of the main stage.
