Action packed Breeze comes to Scott Hall

Picture caption: "Young people enjoying an action packed day at Breeze on Tour at Armley park last week."

Scott Hall Playing fields is the place to be this week when the Breeze summer activities roadshow comes to town.

On Wednesday 11 and Thursday 12 August, young people aged up to 18 can come along and try their hands at loads of exciting activities, including sports, crafts, games and music.

Amongst the activities taking place young people will be able to make their own owl and learn about the Leeds Owl Trail, take part in puppet workshops and take home their own puppet or a fully ticking clock which they’ve made themselves.

There is also a carnival workshop to gear young people from across Leeds up to take part in the Breeze carnival procession with costumes, and a chance to learn the Breeze carnival moves.

For the competitive youngsters out there, there is the chance to try out some great board games with ‘imagination gaming’, a brand new Team Lazer game (over 13s only), as well as football, rugby and 20/20 quick cricket.

On top of all of this there are more performances from Breeze has Talent, and the chance to make a CD or DVD of their day at Breeze on Tour, and try out some of the brand new inflatables, including giant darts, giant twister and demolition ball.

People attending Breeze are also encouraged to get there by the most environmentally friendly way possible so ‘Dr Bike’ will be at Scott Hall to do a free bike check. Youngsters just need to remember to bring a padlock to keep their bike secure.

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

Grand musical opportunity for Leeds youngsters

Picture caption: "Young people will perform their Summer School Musical at Leeds Grand Theatre's Howard Assembly Room."

Media Opportunity: Thursday 12th August 2010, 6 – 7pm, Howard Assembly Room,
Leeds Grand Theatre

Young people will be hitting the high notes this week, when they perform a musical they have helped put together in just two weeks.

White Rose Learning Centre have hosted an exciting summer project for young people aged 9-12, Summer School Musical, which is to be performed to an invited audience at Leeds Grand Theatre’s Howard Assembly Room on Thursday 12th August. Supported by the Find Your Talent programme Summer School Musical was developed with the aim of creating and producing a musical from start to finish in two weeks.

33 performers, supported by six peer mentors (age 14-17) have been selected from Seacroft, Manston, Morley and inner north west areas of the city with the aim of introducing young people to the performing arts and to engage them with the heritage of Leeds Grand Theatre.

Summer School Musical was written, created and rehearsed (at the Howard Assembly Room) within eight days - the young performers have written their own music for the show alongside musicians and artists including Danny Gough, Claire Bleasdale and Naomi Parker.

Themed around ‘a journey through time’ the show centres on a group of teenagers who stumble across a derelict house where they find musical relics from the past which transports them through music from the 1960s into the present day.

The project has taken place at various locations including White Rose Learning Centre, BBC Media Centre at Primrose High, and the Derek Fatchett Learning Centre.

A partnership between Education Leeds study support, Leeds Grand Theatre and Extended Services, the project has enabled children and young people to work with a range of artists to develop their creative confidence, build new skills and have the opportunity to perform their own work in a Leeds landmark venue.

Councillor Adam Ogilvie, executive board member for leisure commented:
“Performing at the prestigious Howard Assembly Room will encourage young people to engage with culture, gain confidence, build new skills and collaborate with young people from other areas of the city in this special one-off show. This is a fantastic opportunity to use the heritage of such a historic building to inspire a new generation of performers.”

For further details contact Adelle Stripe, Find Your Talent Communications, 0113 3950687, adelle.stripe@educationleeds.co.uk

Council welcomes decision for market traders rate refund

Leeds City Council has welcomed a decision to refund three years of business rates to tenants at Leeds Kirkgate Market.

Following an appeal from the tenants, the Valuation Office Agency for HM Revenues and Customs has agreed a business rate repayment for those tenants who trade from stalls located in the market’s 1976 hall.

The move follows a recent assessment into rates paid by the tenants which took account of the number of empty units in that part of the market.

Councillor Mark Dobson, Leeds City Council, Kirkgate Market Champion said:

“Leeds City Council is delighted with this decision, and encouraged that the tenants’ appeal has been successful. This is a financial boost for those traders running businesses in what are currently difficult economic circumstances.

“The initiative from tenants to obtain this refund has shown a real willingness of the traders to work together to achieve a common purpose, and I am very pleased to see this community spirit is alive and well in the market.”

The market has continued to grow in the past 12 months, and with £250,000 of capital funding having been made available over the next two years to undertake customer improvement on the market, it will continue to grow and improve.

A number of new initiaitves have been brought to Kirkgate market in the last few months including the opening of Jamie Oliver’s Ministry of Food and the newly launched Asian themed Bazaar market, which runs each Wednesday on the outdoor market.

Ends

Notes to Editors:

The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) is an executive agency of HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) with 85 offices spread throughout England, Wales and Scotland.

All business rates are set by the Valuation Office Agency and are paid through the council to the government. This means that there is no net loss or gain to the council’s revenue from this refund.


Ends

For media enquiries, please contact;
Cat Milburn, Leeds City Council press office (0113) 247 4450
Email: Catherine.milburn@leeds.gov.uk