Councillor Receives Community Hero Award As Part Of Black History Commemorations
A Leeds City Councillor has received a Community Hero Award at the launch of a year-long black history project.
Councillor Alison Lowe (Labour, Armley) was honoured with the award at the launch of Angel of Youths’ Black History Project, entitled ‘My Leeds My Culture.’
The award was one of many given out to local community heroes, who have helped support young people from black and minority ethnic (BME) backgrounds to help out in their neighbourhoods and raise their aspirations to get into politics.
Angel of Youths nominated Councillor Lowe because of her tireless efforts helping BME young people in Armley and throughout Leeds.
The launch event, which took place at Leeds City Museum, celebrated the positive contributions made by people of African origin to the culture of Leeds through music, sports, art, history, faith and fashion, and featured speakers from various cultural perspectives who shared their experiences and insights on the importance of Black History in community development.
Future events for‘My Leeds My Culture’ will be led by young adults supported by Angel of Youths and will feature a variety of performances, poetry, artwork and stories held at the City Museum until late 2015. Highlights include comic book style portrayals of the Community Heroes, including Councillor Lowe, Leeds West Indian Carnival founder Arthur France, footballer Sanchez Payne and Leeds’ first black Lady Mayoress Susan Pitter, by Bramley-based artist Josephine McYebuah.
Councillor Alison Lowe (Labour, Armley) said:
“I’m honoured to have been awarded with a Community Hero Award by Angel of Youths. I was delighted to be able to speak at the launch of their year-long black history celebrations, which commemorate the fantastic contribution that people of African origin have made in Leeds. I look forward to the numerous events taking place throughout the year and hope many people will visit the Leeds City Museum to see what’s on.”
Marvina Babs-Apata (Founder of Angel of Youths) said:
“We want to celebrate the contribution people of African descent have made to Leeds’ history and create a positive space for young adults from all backgrounds to showcase their amazing talents and play their own part in our city’s fantastic cultural scene.”
Gas Training Achieves A UK First
The UK’s leading gas training company, Brookhouse Training, has been granted Gold Status by the sector skills council, Utility & Skills, for its Managed Learning Programme (MLP) in gas training.
The only training company in the UK to receive this award, Brookhouse Training were assessed by the IAS, (Independent Assessment Service), against new protocol called the Standards for Training in Gas, which details exactly what must be included in a MLP.
David Dumaresq-Lucas, Director at Brookhouse Training says: We were assessed across our entire facility, nothing was left out of this intensive and demanding assessment and I’m very pleased to report we have not only achieved Gold Status but we are the first in the UK to have an IAS approved Managed Learning Programme in the whole of the UK. I thank our entire team for their hard work and diligence in helping to achieve this.
Brookhouse Training is committed to the Sector Skills Council, Energy & Utility Skills (EU Skills), policy of ensuring our industries have the skills they need now and in the future. The energy and utilities sector is fundamental to the success of the UK economy and a skilled workforce is vital in developing, maintaining and enhancing the sector.
Brookhouse Training is the UK’s number one gas, plumbing, training and assessment specialist offering practical learning from within a bespoke state-of-the-art training centre based in Cleckheaton, West Yorkshire.
Lord Woolmer Awarded Honorary Degree By Leeds Beckett
Former Council Leader, MP and Director of Leeds United, Lord Woolmer has received an honorary degree from Leeds Beckett University.
Lord Woolmer, who was also Chair of the Board of Governors at Leeds Beckett from September 2010 to August 2013, has been conferred with the award of Doctor of the University for his significant service to the city of Leeds and the region.
Lord Woolmer has long-held connections with Leeds and has served the city in a civic capacity for more than 40 years. He has been a member of the House of Lords since 1999 and is currently a member of the Select Committee on European Economic and International Trade Policies.
“It is an enormous privilege and a great honour to be awarded the first honorary degree from Leeds Beckett University and I’m truly delighted. In my local government years I’ve got many happy recollections of achievements: one was steering the city council as it was then from being a city of 500,000, transforming into a metropolitan district of 700,000 people. It led to Leeds being the second largest local authority in the country.
“Leeds is an outstanding city: it’s a vibrant, successful, green and energetic city with the Dales and the Pennines on its doorstep. It’s a city not only of today but of the future. I would remind Leeds Beckett’s current students that they are very able people with enormous potential and that they need to seize that potential because life is so full of opportunities.”
Leeds Beckett University Vice Chancellor, Professor Susan Price, added: “Lord Woolmer is a highly-respected figure in our city and our region and we are delighted to recognise his significant contribution to public life with this Honorary Doctorate. As Chair of our Board of Governors, he brought a depth of experience and knowledge, together with steadfast support for our university, from which we benefitted greatly and it is with enormous pleasure that we bestow this honorary award, our first as Leeds Beckett University, upon him.”
Diana Award Honour For Leeds Youth Council
The members of the Leeds Youth Council have been recognised for their campaign work with a prestigious Diana Award.
The youth council, which is made up of young people aged 11 to 19 years old from across the city, received the Diana Award in recognition of the time and dedication they have shown to actively campaign on issues that are important to the young people of Leeds.
The Diana Award is a legacy to Princess Diana’s belief that young people have the power to change the world for the better. Since 1999, the Diana Award has recognised over 42,000 young people who have made a positive difference to the lives of others and their communities. The aim of the Diana Award is to recognise young people for their contribution to society, empower them to reach their full potential and encourage them to engage in social action as early as possible.
The Leeds Youth Council received the award for being a Diana Active Campaigner in the local community. Over the last two years the group have volunteered over 1500 hours of their time to actively campaign on issues that are important to the young people of Leeds.
Councillor Judith Blake, executive board member responsible for children and families, said:
“This is a fantastic achievement for the members of the Leeds Youth Council, and great recognition of the work they do representing the young people of our city. I’m sure this award will encourage them to continue their hard work and encourage others to stand up for their beliefs.”
In receiving the award the member of the Leeds Youth Council are able to join the Diana Network, a programme opening doors to work experience, volunteering and campaigning whilst training young people in employability and social action skills.
Tessy Ojo Executive Director of the Diana Award said:
“The Diana Award is proud to recognise young campaigners, like the Leeds Youth Council who have the confidence and courage to stand up for what they believe. The Diana Active Campaigner Award is presented to inspirational young people who have made a positive difference in the communities. With a growing network of over 42,000 Award Holders, we are building a force of young people who are committed to take social action and improve our communities.”
As part of the Diana Network young people can also join the Anti-Bullying Ambassadors Programme which trains young people across the UK and Ireland to become Anti-Bullying Ambassadors in their schools or communities; helping to prevent bullying and ensure everyone is happy and safe online and offline.
The Training and Mentoring Programme gives Award Holders who have achieved something remarkable themselves to become Youth Mentors to disadvantaged young people.
For more information on the Diana Award or to make a nomination please visit – www.diana-award.org.uk
Top Honours For Team Who Give Independence To Young People With Special Educational Needs
A team who help young people with special needs and disabilities gain independence and confidence have received a top national industry award.
The Children’s Transport Team at Leeds City Council won the ‘Learning Award’ at this year’s Children and Young People Now awards for their Independent Travel Training project which teaches young people with special needs the skills and confidence to use public transport.
Members of the team attended a black-tie awards ceremony in London to collect their award.
Councillor Judith Blake, executive board member responsible for children and families said:
“This award is fantastic recognition for the hard work of the children’s transport team. They have helped so many young people with additional needs to gain self-confidence and independence, and ultimately change their lives for the better.
“By helping these young people to learn the skills needed to travel independently they are opening up so many opportunities, both socially and for their future employability. I would like to congratulate the team for the difference they are making, not only to the young people themselves but also their families too.”
Following the success of a pilot which originally started in 2008, over 275 young people are now able to use public transport rather than being dependent upon taxis or their parents, thanks to the training provided by this team.
As a result of special educational needs, many children and young people are reliant upon others for transport, often needing taxis to take them to and from school or college, and their parents to drive them around to meet friends and socialise. This narrows their experiences and opportunities in learning and life and restricts their future employment prospects.
The independent travel training raises their self-confidence and self-esteem and helps them lead lives more in-common with their peers. The learners are provided with a ‘travel buddy’ who implements training which is tailor-made for each young person. Over four to six weeks the buddy works through every aspect of independent travel, from using pavements and crossings safely to reading bus timetables, buying tickets and managing money. When a learner first starts making independent journeys they are ‘shadowed’ by a buddy who can step in if something goes wrong. It is only when the buddy, the young person and their parents are comfortable that the young person is allowed to start travelling independently.
The project has been self-financing due to the savings made in the reduction of expensive taxi journeys.
