Leeds City Council

It’s giving ✨Bridgerton: Yorkshire edition✨

Members of the Temple Newsam Estate house team enjoyed tea on the rooftop this week ahead of the launch of a new programme of summer events, giving visitors a taste of what life was like for the generations of servants who lived and worked there.

Open for nominations!

The Compassionate City Awards recognise those who have made a significant impact to the lives of others in their local communities. They celebrate the individuals and organisations who are helping to create thriving, diverse communities. They ensure people feel that their work is valued and serve as an inspiration to others.

With nine award categories, celebrate your unsung heroes by nominating now!

Find out more: https://orlo.uk/G8PLJ

We’re using this Pride season to highlight the challenges LGBTQ+ people can face in supporting their mental health and encouraging everyone to Check-in with Pride. 🌈

If you're unsure how to open a conversation on mental health, Mind suggests:
➡ Asking someone how they are doing or feeling. And encouraging them to engage with an open question focused on them and their wellbeing.
➡ Use your own personal experiences as a conversation starting point.
➡ Talk about how you maintain personal wellbeing, relax or de-stress (for example, using sport or physical activity as part of your daily or weekly routine).
➡ Use topical news stories to highlight interesting points.

West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership

🔊 The White Rose flag will be flying today at our Civic Hall to celebrate Yorkshire Day! At the same time, civic buildings will also change their colours to purple in observation of the start of National Road Victims Awareness Month.

Yorkshire Day is a great day to celebrate everything that makes Yorkshire so special - it's a chance to appreciate everything it has to offer; the people, food, scenery, music, history and more.

🔊 For Road Victims Awareness Month: "Many people are unaware that a routine activity like driving a motor vehicle leads to more fatalities than both murder and terrorism combined.

This is especially tragic, as the majority of road deaths and injuries can be prevented by obeying traffic laws and acting more responsibly on the roads.

In 1998, National Road Victim Month was founded by RoadPeace, the national charity for road crash victims." ~RoadPeace

🔊 Tonight, buildings are changing their colours to purple to mark the end of Disability Pride Month 💜. The Disability Pride flag will also be flying at Civic Hall.

Don’t miss out on registering for Solar Together West Yorkshire. 🔔

West Yorkshire Combined Authority has introduced the scheme to help you get access to high-quality solar panel installations for your home at a great price from pre-approved suppliers.

Registrations close on Friday 9 August. For more info, click the link our comments. ⬇

Have your say on electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure in West Yorkshire. 🔌

West Yorkshire Combined Authority are looking for your thoughts on their EV Infrastructure Strategy and their Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) programme.

The focus of their plans are to:

📈 Increase number of EV charge points in West Yorkshire
📍 Make sure there is a good coverage of charge points
✅ Ensure charge points are easy to use and in the right places
🧼 Keep charge points safe and well maintained
🚘 Reduce carbon emissions and allow people to switch to EVs

You can share your thoughts at a drop-in session at Kirkgate Market on Monday 19 August, from 9:30am to 1:30pm or by visiting the link in the comments. 👇

Have the Olympics got you in a sporty mood? If so, check out the new and improved gym at Rothwell Leisure Centre! 💪

The gym has received a complete refurbishment, including new flooring and décor, new state-of-the-art equipment, a new free-weights area, and an enhanced space for gym-based fitness classes.

The new gym is the latest improvement to the leisure centre, which has also seen a full refurb of its large and small swimming pools.

Rothwell follows other leisure centres in Armley, Morley, and Wetherby to be recently revamped. Up next is Aireborough Leisure Centre, with work due to the start in August to deliver an enhanced gym and activity hall as well as a partial re-roofing of the building.

Want to check it out for yourself? Active Leeds adult memberships, which give you access to Rothwell and our other leisure centres, start from £25.95 per month.

Active Leeds | Rothwell Leisure Centre

Do you know what a loan shark looks like? 🦈

The best way to keep yourself safe from a loan shark is to know how to spot one. If you’ve dealt with someone who has done one or more of the below, you might be borrowing from a loan shark.

💷 Offers you a cash loan
🚫 Gives no paperwork
📈 Adds huge amounts of interest or APR
😠 Shows threatening behaviour
💳 Has taken something valuable from you (bank card, passport etc.)

If you think you have been lending from a loan shark, Stop Loan Sharks England can help you. Click the link in the comments to find out more, report a loan shark, or talk to their team. 👇

Did you know that Healthy Holidays events are running throughout August? 🍎

If you're eligible for benefits-related Free School Meals, you can access a wide range of holiday clubs that will provide food and activities for your child - including SEND inclusive and wheelchair-accessible events.

All you need to do is create an account and then register your child. For more information, click the link in the comments. ⬇

🔊 Our civic buildings as well as other organisations across the city tonight will be changing their colours to purple in support of World Hepatitis Day.

"World Hepatitis Day, observed on 28 July, raises awareness of viral hepatitis, an inflammation of the liver that causes severe liver disease and cancer.

This year’s theme is: It’s time for action. With a person dying every 30 seconds from a hepatitis-related illness, we must accelerate action on better prevention, diagnosis, and treatment to save lives and improve health outcomes.

There are 5 main strains of the hepatitis virus – A, B, C, D, and E. Together, hepatitis B and C are the most common infections and result in 1.3 million deaths and 2.2 million new infections per year."

🔊 Job of the week!

👉 Trainee Professional Accountant £26,421 to £40,221

Grow your career with us. We are looking for high calibre applicants with the right skills and academic success to reach the highest levels within our organisation. If you think you have the ambition to reach the top of the finance profession, then we’d love to hear from you.

The role will enable trainees to undertake the level 7 Accountancy/ Taxation Professional apprenticeship and become a qualified accountant. This is a permanent post within our finance team with incremental progression dependent on examination success and demonstrating competence in work-based progression criteria.

You will enjoy brilliant employee benefits working with Leeds City Council. Ranging from flexible working options and extremely generous employer pension contributions to discounts with local and national businesses and a generous annual leave allowance, which increases with service.

Find out more and apply by 6 August: https://orlo.uk/GA3qd

To support more working families, from September, parents of primary school children in England can expect to see an increase in wraparound childcare.

This includes regular before and after school provision that run from 8am until 6pm or later, either on a school site or at another local setting.

Speak to your child’s school or local authority's Family Information Service to find out more.

Visit Childcare Choices for further details: https://orlo.uk/iG1Pi

Are you heading into the city centre this weekend? 🛍

Little Bird Markets will be hosting to artisan markets filled with incredible handmade goods and delicious street food.

The first one will take place tomorrow (Saturday 27 July) at City Square, with the second on Sunday (28 July) on Briggate. Both markets will be running from 11am to 5pm.

We are officially one of the best apprenticeship employers in the UK! 🥳

We’re thrilled to have earned a place in the Department for Education's top 100 apprenticeship employers 2024.

We've entered the rankings for the first time since before the pandemic and secured the best spot for a local council, coming in at number 90. 🤩

Our apprentices are a vital part of Team Leeds, bringing new skills and energy to our services. They learn, earn and grow with us, and we are grateful for their contribution and achievements. 👏

We’re also proud to be a Living Wage Employer. All employees, including apprentices of any age, are paid a salary that matches or exceeds the Living Wage UK minimum rate.

Well done to all the other employers on the list and thank you to the DfE for the recognition. 🌟

Friday 26 July to Saturday 4 August is Love Parks Week. 💚

Did you know that Leeds Parks and Countryside Service manage around 4000 hectares of parks and green spaces? That's equivalent to about 6000 football pitches!

We're encouraging residents to visit their local parks or green spaces and enjoy the benefits they bring to mental and physical health, and overall wellbeing.

It's week! 💚🌳We're celebrating the amazing parks and green spaces that make our communities greener and healthier. 🏃‍♂️ Tell us why you love your local park using and we'll share your stories! 📢

Final chance to have your say on our proposal to expand Broomfield South SILC by 100 places. 🚨

As part of our plans to rebuild the school, we're looking to establish a permanent satellite site for post-16 provision.

Let us know your thoughts by taking part in our online survey before midnight on Sunday 28 July 2024.

Explore this collection of vintage sailor suits in an upcoming historical clothes and costumes themed workshop at Leeds Discovery Centre ⚓️

A favourite sartorial style for the Victorian era’s babies and toddlers, the suits were based on the type of iconic uniform worn by sailors in the British navy.

Are you looking for free and low-cost things to do over the summer holidays? ☀

Visit our website to find out more about…
♟ Game token trail at Leeds City Museum
🦋 Urban nature trail at Kirkstall Abbey
🔎 Summer store tours at Leeds Discovery Centre
📚 Summer reading challenge with Leeds Libraries

And much more! Visit the link in the comments for more info.

Breeze in the Park is here for summer 2024! 🙌

For just 50p per child, enjoy a jam-packed array of activities, featuring everything from sports and games to art and music – and, of course, the famous Breeze Leeds giant inflatables.

Events start today (Wednesday 24 July) at Cooper’s Field (previously Parkside Fields) in Belle Isle, followed by 25 more taking place at parks and green spaces over the city until Thursday 22 August.

Events in Bramhope, Beeston, East Ardsley, Wortley, Kirkstall, East End Park, Wetherby and Cross Gates will include relaxed and quieter sessions for children with additional needs.

Tickets must be booked in advance. See the link in the comments for more information and to get your tickets. ⬇

🎉📚 Exciting news! 📚🎉

We're teaming up with Breeze Leeds to bring you gently used school uniforms for free at their local events as part of Leeds School Uniform Exchange.

Don't miss out on this opportunity to support sustainability and your community. See you there!

To find out more about upcoming Breeze event dates and locations, visit: https://orlo.uk/TGDpO

If you are a landlord, join our Private Sector Lettings Scheme to secure your finances and help families in need of housing. 🏠

As part of the scheme, you’ll receive five weeks’ rent upfront and a 12-month guarantee. You will also get access to our 15 years’ experience in supporting landlords and be matched with the right tenant for you.

For more information, check the post below. ⬇

Partner with Leeds Landlord Letting Scheme and benefit from a five week upfront payment and a 12-month rent guarantee. Secure your finances while helping families in need. You will also benefit from our expert Support Team, who are on hand to assist with rent arrears, Universal Credit enquiries and other tenancy matters. Get in touch and find out more... [email protected] / https://linktr.ee/landlordlettingscheme

Important information regarding an upcoming road closure at Armley Gyratory. ⬇

Plan ahead for upcoming road works. ⚠

➡ Stanningley Bypass A647 Outer Ring Road

➡ Horsforth to Rodley A6120 Outer Ring Road: starting Wednesday 24 July until summer 2025.

For more information, see the Connecting Leeds posts. ⬇

Stanningley Bypass A647: https://orlo.uk/wikJk

Horsforth to Rodley A6120: https://orlo.uk/mPVZO

We hope everyone who attended Leeds Pride today had an amazing time! 🏳️‍🌈

Team Leeds showed out for the biggest celebration of LGBTQ+ life in Yorkshire and this year saw the parade expand to Call Lane.

🔊 Our Town Hall will be lit up in saffron this evening for the Buddhist celebration of Asalha Puja, also known as Dharma Day.

"This day is celebrated by Theravadan Buddhists in commemoration of the Buddha's first sermon. Known as the ‘Sermon in the Deer Park’, this is considered to be the first time the Buddha outlined his key teachings (known as ‘the Dharma’) including the ‘four noble truths’ and the ‘eightfold path’. Dharma Day is seen as an opportunity for Buddhists to show their gratitude to the Buddha and to listen to sermons from Buddist teachers." ~Global Dimenson

*Please note that other buildings in the city are still lit up in rainbow for today's Leeds Pride celebrations.

EDIT: ***Thank you to everyone who applied - due to the large amounts of applications we've had to close this job advert down early. Good luck if you did apply, and keep an eye out for more opportunities in future if you didn't!***

🔊 Job of the week!

👉 Recycling Assistant £23,411 to £23,893 (pro rata) plus enhancements

As a Recycling Assistant, you’ll play a vital part in boosting recycling levels by supporting visitors to our household recycling centres. If you want to make a positive contribution to the environment, enjoy working outdoors and can offer friendly customer service, this role is for you!

You’ll be based at one of our eight recycling sites in Leeds where you’ll greet visitors and help them separate their waste to maximise the potential for reuse or recycling. You will operate any necessary machinery to sort and manage waste, and ensure the site is well-maintained, clean and safe.

You’ll be a great team worker, who can interact positively with members of the public as well as partners, contractors and council colleagues. You must be able to work in a physically active role outdoors in all weather conditions.

Working hours are on average 32.15 per week, on a flexible rota with enhanced pay for working weekends and bank holidays.

Are you celebrating Leeds Pride this weekend? 🌈

We hope everyone has an amazing, but safe, day. If you do need some help, remember that support is available.

📱 Get the Walksafe app to share your location and route with friends and family, and find nearby support and safe spaces.

👼 And if you feel uncomfortable or unsafe, Ask For Angela in participating venues for discreet support from trained staff.

Women Friendly Leeds

Joint statement on behalf of Leeds City Council and the Romanian and Roma community:

Today, representatives of the Roma community met with Leeds City Council to express their concerns about a family matter yesterday (18 July 2024).

The council has agreed to undertake an urgent review of the case and work with Romanian and Roma led organisations, the churches, and the Honorary Consulate of Romania and other family representatives for the best interests of the family and wider Roma community.

We are asking all communities to remain calm and to ensure that we do not see further disturbances such as those witnessed last night, which brought fear and upset to communities in Harehills. Local people are devastated by what happened, and we want to ensure there is no repeat of the distressing scenes we saw. Such actions will have a long lasting and harmful impact on our community.

The Romanian and Roma community have played a fantastic role in the community and have contributed much to the diversity and richness of the Harehills. We want this work to continue, and develop further work that makes Harehills an even better place to work and live. The events of last night will not help our community or the family. We need to work together with the authorities to ensure that best outcomes for the community, and to ensure our voices are heard at the highest level so we can avoid such scenarios in the future.

Please help us by remaining calm, keeping yourselves and your children safe, and by avoiding a repeat of last night’s disturbances. This is in the best interests of the family and the wider community.