The latest Leeds update is below:
"Here is our regular update, which includes some updates for you in relation to Connecting Leeds, Leeds Shared Lives and the upcoming local and mayoral elections.
Firstly, I am delighted, as I’m sure many of you will be, to hear Leeds Named as North & North East’s Best Place to Live | Leeds-List in this year’s Sunday Times guide. I can imagine this is no shock to people who live, work and visit here, but it is a much-welcome boost for the profile of our wonderful city! Of course we recognise that many challenges remain for our communities and earlier this week the Leeds Poverty Truth Commission met with Council colleagues to discuss how as an organisation we are engaging with the Commission and what more could be done to systemise our approach and identify further opportunities to engage with citizens and work with them to benefit those who need it most within the city.
Connecting Leeds Update
Some advance notice to plan ahead now for three night-time road closures on the Armley Gyratory southbound A643 starting on 2nd April and completing on 10th April. Following the successful replacement of Gelderd Road footbridge in January, final works will be carried out during the Easter school holidays and require safe access to the site. A key goal of the Armley Gyratory scheme is to provide improvements for pedestrians and cyclists, as well as enhancing accessibility, and replacing the existing footbridges over Gelderd Road and Spence Lane. The new Gelderd Road footbridge along with Spence Lane footbridge include accessible ramps to better meet the needs of non-motorised users and people with disabilities. All the new upgraded footbridges are designed to ensure they will need less maintenance work and inspection, over future decades. These works are planned and co-ordinated across the city and especially with National Highways works on the M621 scheme. Full information can be found here.
Leeds Shared Lives
Leeds Shared Lives Scheme is looking to recruit carers. This is a city-wide Leeds City Council service that provides Respite and Day Support to adults with additional needs. Care is based on shared interests, lifestyles and a sense of humour. It’s a bit like fostering for adults, providing an ordinary life for someone who needs support. Our Shared Lives Carers come from various family settings and diverse backgrounds, from a single person to a family with children, in different types of accommodation. All Shared Lives Carers are recruited via a value-based recruitment process and receive comprehensive induction and training to ensure their suitability for the role. Shared Lives has a national reputation of offering strength-based support, with excellent success ratings. Over 10,000 Shared Lives Carers use their home and family life to share it with someone who needs support around the UK, with all schemes rated as Good or Outstanding by the Care Quality Commission (CQC). Should you wish to find out more about our service please visit our website www.leeds.gov.uk/sharedlives.
Elections
You’ll of course be aware that the pre-election period starts on Monday (25th March) ahead of this year’s local Leeds City Council and regional Mayor of West Yorkshire elections, which take place on Thursday 2nd May. In Leeds, it is a one-third election meaning one council seat in each ward of the city is being contested, while the regional Mayor of West Yorkshire role, will also be voted on. Information is to be posted out shortly to all registered voters in Leeds and we would encourage everyone to read the information carefully to ensure you are aware of what you need to do. Two key elements are ensuring you have an accepted form of Voter ID to show if you choose to vote in person at a polling station on election day, or if you are a postal voter please remember to send your completed postal vote back as early as possible to help manage demand. For more information about all aspects of the elections please see here: Important information issued ahead of local Leeds and regional elections.
Leeds Youth Film Festival this Easter time
Leeds Young Film Festival is celebrating its 25th birthday with a brand new programme of fantastic films. Between 30th March and 14th April, you can enjoy award-winning family cinema, film workshops and nostalgic classics at the Carriageworks Theatre. Also, due to popular demand, the Movie Club is back, now in collaboration with Screen Yorkshire, which is a kids-only adventure through the entire film-making process under the careful supervision of our experienced festival team. Visit Leeds Film for all the details.
World Tuberculosis Day
Each year, we commemorate World Tuberculosis (TB) Day on 24th March to raise public awareness about the devastating health, social and economic consequences of TB, and to step up efforts to end the global TB epidemic. The date marks the day in 1882 when Dr Robert Koch announced that he had discovered the bacterium that causes TB, which opened the way towards diagnosing and curing this disease. TB remains one of the world’s deadliest infectious killers; each day, nearly 4000 lose their lives to TB and close to 28,000 people fall ill with this preventable and curable disease. Global efforts to combat TB have saved an estimated 63 million lives since the year 2000. To mark the date civic buildings in the city centre will be lit red.
World Down Syndrome Day
Yesterday, 21st March, saw the celebration of Down Syndrome Day – in the third month of the year, the 21st was selected to signify the uniqueness of the triplication (trisomy) of the 21st chromosome which causes Down Syndrome. Although the day has just passed, you can still donate to the fundraising campaign and find lots of great information and resources on the website here.
There is also a wide range of religious festivals over the coming weeks, such as the continuation of Ramadan and this weekend both Palm Sunday and Purim, as well as Easter the weekend after next. To anyone observing them, have a blessed time. Council staff have been taking part in the Day of Solidarity campaign to mark Ramadan this year, where non-Muslims have joined their colleagues and friends in experiencing fasting, and it’s been fantastic to hear about the support between colleagues. The slight change in the weather recently and the appearance of some sunshine at times has also been good, indicating that the start of Spring may well be upon us now.
Local developments:
- Art lovers in Leeds have the chance to step inside a groundbreaking urban light and sound installation thanks to the latest VR technology. Full information can be found here.
- A major new cycling event is taking place in Yorkshire this summer to mark the 10th anniversary of the county’s unforgettable staging of the Tour de France Grand Depart. Full information can be found here.
- The trailblazing contributions of Muslims living and working in the north of England are being celebrated in a new museum display in Leeds. Full information can be found here.
- The unique connection forged between a generation of Leeds young people and their beloved local park has been captured in a series of inspiring photos taken decades apart. Full information can be found here.
- Senior councillors are to discuss Leeds City Council’s exciting new partnership with national, regional and local government to transform six of its neighbourhoods, helping to achieve its regeneration ambitions and deliver inclusive growth. Full information can be found here.
- A marvellous collection of vintage miniature millinery is among the historic headgear being documented by museum experts and volunteers in Leeds. Full information can be found here.
- A new scheme has been launched to help Leeds residents dodge the rogue traders dumping their waste illegally and landing them with hefty fines. Full information can be found here.
- The Lord Mayor of Leeds has unveiled the UK’s first city centre-based World Peace Flame in Park Square, Leeds. Full information can be found here.
