It’s hard to believe that we are at the start of a new year already. 2014 was a fantastic year for the Yorkshire Reporter. We have met some talented and inspirational people whilst covering the news of our local communities and also the memorable events affecting the whole region.
We reported on the build – up of anticipation and excitement in the run up to the Tour de France, how local businesses and communities were preparing for the big event, and when it finally happened, celebrated with all of you as our stunning county was gloriously shown on TV screens around the world, putting Yorkshire firmly on the map. There has also been the legacy left by such an event, the new cycle tracks across the city and the various clubs and activities set up to encourage us all to ‘get on our bikes!’
The Yorkshire Bank in association with Cycle Yorkshire has recently set up bike libraries, where people across Yorkshire are being asked to donate their old or unwanted bikes.
The idea is that community and not for profit groups will then bid for funding to run bike libraries where these donated bikes will be refurbished and available for people to borrow, so that everyone regardless of their circumstances have access to a bike. Helen Page, Yorkshire Bank Customer Experience & Marketing Director said “We are delighted to be partnering with Cycle Yorkshire to launch the new Bike Libraries initiative. At Yorkshire Bank we’re committed to supporting the local community and we hope, through this wonderful scheme, more people will be able to enjoy the benefits of cycling.”
Another lasting legacy of the Grand Depart is the first ever Tour de Yorkshire, set to take place this year on 1-3 May. This is a new race organised by Amaury Sports Organisation and Welcome to Yorkshire and is expected to become an important race in the international calendar with top teams and cycling stars participating. Director of the Tour de France at A.S.O. Christian Prudhomme said “I am delighted we are returning to Yorkshire where we saw the grandest ever Grand Depart for the Tour de France. It is clear the people of Yorkshire are passionate about cycling and we can’t wait to bring them this new race.” The full route details are to be revealed on January 21st with Bridlington, Leeds, Scarborough, Selby, Wakefield and York all set to host a prestigious start or finish.
Of course there was the centenary of WW1 in 2014 too. We wrote various articles covering different aspects of this tragic time in our history from the Medals to the Leeds Pals.
Thank you to Jacki and Bob Lawrence from ELHAS for writing such an excellent article for us – Leeds and the War. We all worked hard to write informative yet sensitive pieces and many of our readers complemented us on this as well as the actual presentation of these features. The whole country embraced the centenary as we remembered the fallen, the stunning display of poppies at the Tower of London saw record numbers of visitors from around the world and many from our region.
As well as the visual remembrance in London, lots of our local communities remembered in their own way, raising money for the British Legion and participating in the Lights Out event.
In the last 12 months we have covered various awards to deserving individuals and groups, and helped support many local and national charities. Over the year, Cash for Kids help raise vital funds for children in Leeds and across Yorkshire. Their biggest fund raising event is Mission Christmas.
We featured this event in November to encourage our readers to buy an extra gift to donate to the charity, so that many disadvantaged children in our local area could receive a Christmas present that they might not have got otherwise. The event was a huge success with Cash for Kids Charity Executive Lauren Scarth saying “This was our best year yet and we feel sure lots of that success is due to it being promoted in your publication. By the end of the event we managed to help over 18,000 local children and families.
“We are really grateful to the Yorkshire Reporter for all their help. We have lots more planned for 2015, including a chance for a couple to win the full cost of a wedding! Full details will be announced in February including how to take part and raise vital funds for Cash for Kids.”
Another charity we have given extensive coverage to this year has been St George’s Crypt. The charity has a long history of helping the homeless and needy in Leeds.
The charity has been running for nearly 85 years, it provides 56,000 meals annually, provided emergency accommodation to 1,022 people last year and served up a 3 course Christmas meal to those that have no family to go to on Christmas day.
St George’s Crypt has been awarded a national award from No Offence as the best employer for ex-offenders, won best partner at the Leeds City Council annual awards and won another Gold in Leeds in Bloom for the gardening work done by their clients who have signed up for their in-house drug and alcohol rehabilitation program Growing Rooms.
David Pilling, head chef and recipient of the No Offence award said ‘We are humbled by the work we get to do and this recognition is great, not only for us but for our guys as well. In a world where it is harder and harder to find long-term employment the clients we work with find it especially difficult. We are proud to have won the award and also proud that there is national awareness and acceptance that people can change and that second chances do exist.’
Catching up with one of the Growing Rooms project attendees we discovered that he had moved on into his own accommodation, was looking for other volunteering opportunities and potentially a job. ‘We are proud to be part of a city that supports and encourages the work we do – when we get acknowledged for the gardening it gives everyone a boost; it’s not only about the recovery, it helps to broaden their perspective and raise their aspirations.’
So after all this success what does the future hold? As Chris Fields, CEO of the charity puts it, ‘We are looking to training and engagement as the future of the charity – we see the development of our clients out of homelessness and poverty as not only our Christian duty but also our charitable duty and our duty to Leeds. We would like to see all our clients move out of the cycle of homelessness, to engage, to build their confidence and ultimately find some form of active employment.’
They are developing their training department, hiring a new manager to consolidate and grow the ‘what happens next’ part of the charity. Christine Lane, the new appointment to Training and Engagement said, ‘It’s all well and good providing emergency support for our clients but if we don’t have a plan for what they will do next then we do sometimes see the same people coming in – almost like a revolving door. We want to develop upon the successes of our different training departments and give our clients every opportunity to re-engage and grow.’
So there is lots of work to be done but it seems like the right people are working with the right agencies to develop a service that makes Leeds a national leader in the provision of care to some of the most vulnerable people living in our society.
As well bringing local news and events to our readers, we of course include our regular columns every month from our Junior Reporter Selina reviewing family friendly places, Historian Gareth covering the history of our region, Papa G brings delicious recipes for you to try at home, our gardening section written by Martin, Head Gardener at York Gate Gardens, the music column by Stuart and for dogs lovers our Wagging Tales section where we take a look at different breeds each month.
Also, from next month, Chris Brown of Brown & Gold Pawnbrokers will be sharing excerpts from his diary showing the intriguing business of pawn broking. We caught up with some of our columnists to find out what they have planned for the coming year:
Selina says “My favourite review to date has been Beamish. It really was a fantastic day out! Looking back over last year it has been very difficult to choose a favourite as I have enjoyed everything, but a highlight was certainly being given the privilege of holding some animals at Temple Newsam Home Farm.
This year I am looking forward to bringing readers more suggestions of places to take their children, I know many have found my articles helpful when planning family days out. I would like to thank all the attractions for allowing me to review them and I wish you all a Happy New Year.”
Historian Gareth tells us “I have had the privilege to meet some really interesting and knowledgeable individuals over the last 12 months in my role as Yorkshire Reporter Historian. I would particularly like to thank Bob Woosnam – Savage from the Royal Armouries and Chris Rock from the Battle of Stamford Bridge Society for allowing me to interview them in order to bring our readers some really informative articles. For the coming year I will further explore all the rich history that Yorkshire has to offer, and I hope to be able to report on the forthcoming funeral of Richard III, as this once in a lifetime discovery holds much interest for Yorkshire and indeed the rest of the world!”
Martin, our gardening expert has had a busy year, not only writing for us every month but at York Gate Gardens where he is the Head Gardener. He is passionate about his job and told us that last year was a hugely successful one – “York Gate, and our charity (Perennial) has had a bumper year, celebrating its 175th birthday, Perennial asked us to create a show garden at the Harrogate Spring Flower Show, Shanet, the assistant gardener at York Gate, designed and built the garden, along with some of our garden volunteers, securing a Premier Gold Medal, Best Show Garden and Best Planting Scheme. Martin has big plans for 2015 and says “I am really looking forward to sharing my gardening exploits with you all, including tips and advice about everything from creating a garden to seasonal tasks and gardens to visit.”
Stuart our Music writer and photographer says “It’s been a real privilege meeting some of you in my capacity as photographer. It is really pleasing to hear just how much our readers like and respect the paper. I am genuinely surprised and happy when I’m stopped and asked when the next issue is coming out as I wander around Leeds in my Yorkshire Reporter jacket on various assignments. And thank you to all of those who have happily posed for pictures during these assignments.
I’m also responsible for the music reviews and previews in the paper. We were fortunate to cover Leeds Festival in 2014 which was great for the paper. We obviously aim to do the same in 2015. The next year in terms of music is going to be really important as it seems likely that Leeds will bid to become the European City Of Culture in 2023. This may seem a long way off but if the city has a thriving musical culture it will do the bid no harm at all. Hopefully Yorkshire Reporter will be able to reflect the vibrant music scene it has: There is much to look forward to in the next year. Not least the homecoming of the Kaiser Chiefs to a sold out Leeds Arena.”
As you can see, we have lots planned for the coming 12 months from our regular features to your community news and big events, so continue to pick us up, read and enjoy – and don’t forget if you have any news get in touch! From all of us here at the Yorkshire Reporter, we would like to wish all our readers a Happy New Year.
