City’s museums and galleries give NHS workers a tasty boost

Museums and galleries across Leeds have being doing their bit to help fuel front line staff working hard in the region’s hospitals.

A number of the city’s historic sites took the difficult decision to close their doors earlier this week as part of a city-wide effort to minimise the spread of Coronavirus.

But big-hearted staff at the sites were still determined to offer their support to NHS workers and have teamed up with The Real Junk Food Project to donate food from museums and galleries cafes.

Sites including Leeds Art Gallery’s Tiled Hall Café, Leeds City Museum café and Abbey House Museum’s Gatehouse Café handed over treats and snacks yesterday, which will be used by The Real Junk Food Project to put together free boxes of food for NHS staff who are struggling to shop as they work round the clock in hospitals and healthcare facilities.

The donation is just one part of a current drive across Leeds to support those most affected by the virus and to mobilise the city’s strong sense of community spirit through new networks aimed at keeping people connected and supported.

Councillor Judith Blake, leader of Leeds City Council, said: “There’s no doubt that this has been an incredibly difficult week for our staff and everyone in Leeds as we all look at how best to prepare and adapt to the rapidly evolving challenges this pandemic is presenting.

“But even in the midst of so much uncertainty, it’s been heartening to see the people of Leeds coming together in so many different ways and for our compassion and indomitable community spirit to once again shine through.

“Here in Leeds, looking after each other is what we do and over the coming weeks I’d encourage everyone to think about the steps they can take to ensure our most vulnerable residents know that we’re all here for each other.”

For more details about The Real Junk Food Project, visit: https://trjfp.com/

Leeds City Council is also partnering with Voluntary Action Leeds to introduce a structured approach to volunteering.

Anyone wishing to help is asked to contact VAL at https://doinggoodleeds.org.uk/covid-19-care-volunteering.html, emailing info@val.org.uk or calling 0113 2977920. Training will be provided so volunteers meet safeguarding standards.

Community groups forming with the aim of providing help are also asked to contact VAL so a volunteer manager can be involved in the process.

ENDS

For media enquiries, please contact:

Stuart Robinson

Communications Officer

Leeds City Council

Tel: 0113 378 9182

Email: stuart.robinson@leeds.gov.uk

www.leeds.gov.uk