Hula lotta help

Picture caption: Cross Gates junior wardens at the Comic Relief event


Watching the world rally round to help victims of the Japanese earthquake and tsunami the East North East Homes Leeds (ENEHL) Cross Gates junior wardens were determined to do their bit – even if it meant jumping through hoops.

The youngsters, aged between nine and 11, who had spent last week raising money for Comic Relief turned their attention to help the victims by giving up part of their weekend to hula for Japan.

Their sponsored hula-hoop session took part in Cross Gates Shopping Centre on Saturday 19 March where they also held a tombola raising money for the stricken country, which is struggling to rebuild following a massive earthquake and tsunami.

The wardens are hoping to have raised over £300 through the hula-hoop session and tombola and would like to thank the Cross Gates Shopping Centre for letting them come in and hold the event.

The children who took part in the fundraiser are all junior wardens from Cross Gates Primary School recruited by ENEHL, one of three organisations that manage council homes in the city on behalf of the council.

Meghan Hughes, a junior warden on the scheme, aged 10 years, said:

"I was watching the events happening in Japan on the television and knew that we had an event coming up to raise money for the junior wardens but I asked Jean if we could change the event to help those affected by the earthquake and tsunami."

Angelena Fixter, who chairs the ENEHL board, said:

“This is a really fun, enterprising way of raising funds for the victims of the earthquake. It’s great to see young people taking the initiative and helping those less fortunate than themselves. That’s exactly the reason we set up the junior wardens scheme and it’s wonderful to see them helping improve communities and setting a good example to other young people."

Junior wardens have three basic rules – respect for themselves, respect for others and respect for their environment. Working with ENEHL, the new recruits get involved in practical projects such as cleanups. They also act as extra eyes and ears for the community.

ENDS

Jean Barnbrook
Communications and Information Officer
t: (0113) 24 76120 f: (0113) 247 6151
e: jean.barnbrook@enehl.org.uk
w: www.enehl.org.uk

New homes give new careers to young people

Leeds City Council is working to help young people develop their jobs skills by securing apprenticeship work on a new council housing development.

As part of the council’s partnership with developer Keepmoat Homes to deliver 25  two bed-room properties for the over 55s, the company is now offering two young Leeds lads apprenticeships on site.

Joe Thrush and Ryan Springer, students from Leeds College of Building,  started a two-week work trial on Monday 14 March 2011, and if they are successful they will be taken on as apprentices. The apprentices are working at the Evelyn Place site in west Leeds.
 
Councillor Peter Gruen, executive board member with responsibility for environment and neighbourhoods said:

“Getting young people into employment is very much a priority for the council. I am pleased that Joe and Ryan have been selected to become apprentices with Keeptmoat homes, and it is great to see the younger generation building homes that the older generations of Leeds will be able to enjoy – this development certainly captures the idea of  local homes for local people.”

Cathy Clelland, chair of the West North West Homes Leeds board said:

“West North West homes Leeds fully supports the recruitment and training of local people across all areas of our business, whether employed directly by us or through our partners. It is great to see two people get the opportunity to undertake apprenticeships and develop their skills at the same time as helping us deliver new homes.”

Lesley Hibbins, Training Co-ordinator at Keepmoat Homes Ltd said:

“Keepmoat Homes aim to create training and employment opportunities within the local area of any project which they undertake. This is a great way of encouraging young people to begin a career in the construction industry. We are delighted to welcome the lads to the site and we look forward to helping them gain the experience and training that they need to qualify in their chosen trades.”


Notes to editors:

Leeds City Council is working in partnership with developer Keepmoat Homes, West North West Homes and the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) – which is part funding the venture to deliver 25  two bed council properties for the over 55s across three sites in west Leeds, including Evelyn Place, Silver Royd Hill and the former Waterloo Road Primary School.

Each property features two bedrooms, full gas central heating and an enclosed rear garden with a shed. There is off street parking, and plenty of energy saving features including solar panels and low energy lighting to ensure that the environmental impact of the development and residents running costs are kept to a minimum.

West North West Homes Leeds is one of three Arms Length Management Organisations (ALMO) which manage and maintain council housing on behalf of Leeds City Council. They are wholly owned by the council, which retains ownership of housing stock and sets rents.
West North West Homes Leeds covers the areas of Otley, Pool, Bramhope, Guiseley, Yeadon, Cookridge, Rawdon, Holt Park. Tinshill, Horsforth, Kirkstall, Burley, Armley, Bramley, Pudsey, Woodhouse, Wortley, Farnley, and New Farnley.


Ends

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