Exciting new ‘Love Leeds’ improvement programme launched

The new community-led ‘Love Leeds’ programme will see council and partner services working with residents in a more integrated way than ever before to deliver visible improvements in all 33 wards of the city.

The aim of Love Leeds is to build on the power of community and volunteer action, working with local organisations and resources to help strengthen a sense of belonging and pride in a neighbourhood with residents directly engaged and involved.

The programme will follow a rolling operating model, starting with engagement and consultation with local groups, stakeholders and residents in a ward to listen, understand and identify priorities for improvement.

Using a range of resident drop-ins and workshops, pop-up listening and engagement sessions and working closely with community, volunteer and third sector groups, the aim is to provide local opportunities for people to have a much stronger voice in how the area in which they live is looked after and improved.

The council especially wants to hear from grassroot groups and lesser-heard communities, to find out their views on what will help improve their neighbourhood and to provide opportunities for residents to get involved.

Alongside a range of council services, the programme includes health partners, West Yorkshire Police and third sector groups to work closely with residents to decide on the improvements to make.

After hearing the local views, action plans will then be developed to address the issues raised, before the final element sees intensive action carried out on the ground to make changes which residents will be able to see and feel.

Examples of possible improvements could be intensive environmental clean-ups, weeding, cleaning, graffiti removal, improving highways, removing rubbish, work to tackle and prevent fly-tipping, clearing and cleaning community housing and health support and advice, such as pop-up blood pressure checks and health outreach work.

The first ward selected is Chapel Allerton, beginning in early October, followed by Headingley and Hyde Park, Little London and Woodhouse, and Moortown through November and December.

These wards have been chosen based on a number of factors, including currently active community groups, strong relationships with community and voluntary sector organisations, and existing neighbourhood networks that can support early implementation. All other wards in the city will follow in 2027 before the programme repeats in an ongoing cycle.

The ‘Love Leeds’ programme has its own dedicated webpage offering further details and the latest information at https://www.leeds.gov.uk/LoveLeeds, together with a distinctive brand identity and tagline ‘cleaner streets, stronger communities’ also launched today which will appear around the city to help raise its profile at neighbourhood level. Updates, community stories and examples of improvements made will also be shared on council social media channels.

Launching the programme Leeds City Council executive member for environment Councillor James Gibson said:

“We are delighted to be getting ‘Love Leeds’ underway, as it will bring services, community groups and residents together in a more integrated way than ever before to identify what people want to see and feel improved in their area, and to quickly get on and deliver it.

“The tagline ‘cleaner streets, stronger communities’ reflects the aim to not only make a difference residents will be able to recognise, but to strengthen relationships at all levels to provide a sustainable new way of working in localities across Leeds, with everyone pulling together to make things better. Let’s get started.”

Council services directly involved include Housing Leeds, parks and greenspace, highways, Leeds Anti-Social Behaviour Team (LASBT), public health, Active Leeds, community hubs, waste management, jobs and skills and volunteering. Partners include West Yorkshire Police and third sector organisations.

ENDS
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