Children and young people across the city will have the chance to get their skates on at a new pop-up roller disco this Easter.
The event space at Leeds Kirkgate Market will be transformed into a roller disco arena for three days in the Easter holidays and has been brought to Leeds as one of the winning ideas in a Child Friendly Leeds competition.
The ‘Making Leeds city centre more child friendly’ competition, which was entered by more than 350 children and young people, was organised as part of the Child Friendly Leeds fifth anniversary celebrations last year.
One of the winning ideas came from Chelsey, who was 17 years old when she entered the competition. She wanted a low cost, annual roller disco for children and young people in the city centre. Her idea was that it would enable young people to get together, meet new people and make new friends as well as help them to learn how to skate or teach others to skate.
Leeds City Council and partners Sk8House, are making Chelsey’s idea a reality for three days during this year’s Easter school holidays.
The ‘pop-up’ rink will be in the event space at Leeds Kirkgate Market on 9, 10 and 11 April. There will be seven sessions each day including one especially for children and young people with additional needs, one for younger children between age 5 and 8, four family sessions and a teenager only session to finish off each day. Wheelchair users are welcome to go onto the rink in their wheelchairs.
Councillor Lisa Mulherin, executive member for children and families said:
“The competition we held last year to get children and young people’s views on what would make Leeds city centre more child and family friendly was really popular – and we were delighted with the ideas and responses that we got.
“We committed to try our best to make 10 winning ideas out of the 350 submitted become a reality, and I am delighted that Chelsey’s idea to have a Roller Disco will be happening in the Easter school holidays.
“Our aim is for Leeds to be the best city for children and young people to grow up in and have fun, and I hope that the Roller Disco will fuel young people’s imaginations, help them to get active and create a real buzz in Leeds this Easter.”
Councillor Jonathan Pryor, lead member for markets said:
“We are really pleased to be able to accommodate this great idea for children and young people here at Kirkgate. This roller disco is another fantastic use of the event space and is one of a number of activities we’ve organised for the Easter holidays, which will not only give the children something fun to do, it will also allow their parents to find out more about what the market has to offer.”
Chelsey said: “The fact that my idea is going to be a reality is really great and I hope it will be a success. Also, the fact that it is open to children of all ages and abilities makes it a great chance for them to socialise and try something new.”
Daily sessions (40 minutes with a 20 minute change over time between sessions)
10am – for children and young people with additional needs
11am – for children aged 5 to 8 years old and their parent/carer
Family sessions at 12 noon, 1pm, 2pm and 3pm
4pm – Teenager session (13 to 18 year olds)
Tickets are priced at just £2 per person for each 40 minute session, which includes skate hire and protective head and wrist gear. Visit the Child Friendly city centre page on the Child Friendly Leeds website for details on how to book tickets. Children aged 5-12 years old must be accompanied by an adult. Adults can skate with their child/children (with a ticket) or help them on the rink without skates on (no charge).
Depending on availability, tickets will also be on sale daily at the Kirkgate Market office (cash only).
