Nigel is Leeds’ new children’s champion

Picture caption: "Nigel Richardson will take the helm as the director of children's services later this year."

Councillor Judith Blake, executive member responsible for children’s services said:
“We are very pleased to be appointing Nigel Richardson as our new director of children’s services.

“In appointing Nigel, the council has obtained the services of a talented and experienced leader and manager. The children’s services agenda is very large and we are confident that Nigel is the perfect candidate to tackle the many challenges ahead.

“Nigel has already been instrumental in achieving so much for the children and young people of Hull in his current post.

“He has proved he has the experience and knowledge to help drive forward the changes needed to bring children’s services in Leeds back up to the standard children and young people in this city deserve. “

Nigel Richardson joins Leeds from Hull City Council where he is currently corporate director of children and young people’s services. Nigel joined Hull in 2005 and has been instrumental in helping Hull on their improvement journey and has laid the foundations to improve the outcomes for children and young people.

Nigel’s contribution to the improvements in children’s services in Hull helped it become the most improved council in the country at the Local Government Chronicle awards earlier this year. His background is within the social care sector and he worked with Lord Laming on the Victoria Climbie inquiry in 2001-2002.

Nigel will take the helm at Leeds in the autumn and will work with the interim director Eleanor Brazil to ensure the continuation of the improvement agenda which is already making good progress.

ENDS
For media enquiries, please contact:
Emma Whittell, Leeds City Council press office, on (0113) 2474713
Email: emma.whittell@leeds.gov.uk

Put the kettle on the road to recycling

Old kettles and toasters lying around the loft or garage could do their bit for the environment in Leeds by being re-used or recycled.

During this week’s national Recycle Week staff from Leeds City Council’s environmental services section are highlighting how waste electricals can be re-used.

They are running roadshows at Currys electrical store at Crown Point retail park to inform people about recycling unwanted electrical appliances and will offer those pledging to recycle the chance to enter a prize draw for a DAB digital radio or an eco-friendly kettle.

Anyone supporting the pledge is then being asked to have a hunt round at home for old appliances and bring them to the city’s Household Waste Sort Sites (HWSS) for recycling.

The council advises that appliances that are still in working order can be passed on for free to other people to use via websites such as www.ilovefreegle.org which is a supporter of Recycle Week.

Currys is hosting the roadshows- from 11am-2pm on Wednesday (June 23) and Thursday (June 24) to demonstrate its backing for recycling. Stores in the DSG International group- which includes Currys- encourage customers to bring in old appliances which they will then send off for recycling for free.

Cllr Tom Murray, executive member for environmental services, said:

“Old kettles and irons are often just lying around gathering dust at the back of cupboards, yet they can be put to active use by being recycled. Just one toaster can provide enough steel to make 25 drinks cans, so have a look round for your old appliances and do your bit for the planet.”

Waste electricals are taken to treatment centres for shredding, after which the different parts are mechanically sorted into reusable resources such as plastics and steel.

Irons and toasters contain enough steel for 13 and 25 drinks cans respectively, while a games console could provide enough plastic to make 139 yoghurt pots. Items as diverse as electric toothbrushes, old CD players and hand-held vacuum cleaners can all be re-used.

Further information about what you can recycle and where you can do it in Leeds is available by clicking on the recycling section of the Leeds City Council homepage at www.leeds.gov.uk Information can also be found about recycling at www.recyclenow.com


For media enquiries please contact:
Donna Cox, Leeds City Council press office (0113) 224 3335
e-mail: donna.cox@leeds.gov.uk

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