Leeds City Council on the look out for new Shared Lives carers across the city

Whether for a few hours or a few weeks, Shared Lives carers across our city open up their homes to adults with a range of care needs, providing support and companionship.

They play a pivotal role in our city, offering a much-needed break for our city’s many carers.

However, we have seen the number of Shared Lives carers in our city recently fall to record low levels, leaving Leeds City Council on the look out for anyone over the age of 18 with a spare bedroom who’d be interested in joining their carers community.

Leeds Libraries fighting loneliness by supporting people to feel more digitally included

This week marks Loneliness Awareness Week, a campaign that brings people together to raise awareness of loneliness.

More people than ever have experienced loneliness over the past year, with many of us being unable to see our family and friends due to the coronavirus pandemic. We’ve all spent more time at home than usual, with lots of us using our digital devices to access services, video call loved ones and learn new skills online.

To help make sure everyone has access to digital skills, Leeds Libraries are supporting more people across the city to feel digitally included and build confidence using their laptops, tablets and smartphones to keep in touch with others.

Let’s celebrate Carers Week and the amazing work unpaid carers do in Leeds

In Leeds, there are more than 75,000 people providing unpaid care, often alongside work or education, for someone who otherwise could not manage without their support.

With so many in our city supporting loved ones and friends, it is important we recognise the contribution carers make to their families, local communities and wider society, and that they get the support they need.

Carers Week is an annual event doing just that, raising awareness for caring, shining a light on the challenges faced by unpaid carers and recognising the work they do.

Be a Covid-19 Community Champion in Leeds and apply for funding to share key health messages with your community

Since the start of the pandemic, a range of activities have been taking place in Leeds to connect local communities with key health messages and support available in the city.

Working with Voluntary Action Leeds, Forum Central and Hamara, Leeds City Council are looking for organisations and grassroots groups who can help their communities stay up to date with the latest guidance and make informed decisions.

Applications for their Covid-19 Community Champion microgrants are now open, supporting groups who can share accurate key health messages about the virus and vaccinations with their communities.

Celebrating Foster Care Fortnight with Foster4Leeds

As Foster Care Fortnight 2021 (10-23 May) draws to a close, we hope you have been able to join Foster4Leeds in celebrating virtually the amazing work fosters carers in our city do.

If you can offer a young person in Leeds a safe, secure home, Foster4Leeds needs you!

For this year’s annual campaign, Leeds City Council are encouraging local residents to consider the benefits of being a foster carer.

Dying Matters Week returns to Leeds to open up conversations and break taboos around death

Dying Matters Week has returned, this year focusing on the importance of being ‘in a good place to die’. Too often, people don’t feel prepared and haven’t fulfilled their wishes or communicated them to loved ones.

Where people die has been changing in recent years. More people than ever are dying at home, with the pandemic accelerating this trend. In 2020, 28% of people in the UK died at home.

Dying Matters Leeds wants people of all ages to be in a good place when they die – physically, emotionally and with the right care in place.

Organisations across Leeds are working together to continue supporting clinically extremely vulnerable residents in the city

Shielding residents reflecting on their experiences of the past year

Over the past year, we have seen just how kind and compassionate a city Leeds is, with so many residents supporting shielding neighbours, friends and family to feel and stay safe.

We understand that many people will be feeling the mental and physical consequences of spending much of the last year shielding.

That is why Leeds City Council is working closely with a wide range of partners to ensure practical and emotional support remains in place for the 55,000 people in Leeds who remain clinically extremely vulnerable to coronavirus.

Leeds, let’s raise pennies and pounds for the Lord Mayor’s charity appeal

Just One Day, the Lord Mayor of Leeds’s charity fundraising day, will be returning virtually this year on Friday 14 May!

After being postponed last year due to the pandemic, the Lord Mayor of Leeds, Councillor Eileen Taylor, is once again encouraging local residents, businesses and organisations to come together virtually for ‘Just One Day’ to raise awareness and support her chosen charity SARSVL (Support After Rape and Sexual Violence Leeds).

Leeds, let’s come together for the National Day of Reflection

We’re supporting the National Day of Reflection, happening today, and we would like to encourage others in the city to take a moment throughout the day to reflect on how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected them in the past year.

Organised by Marie Curie, today’s National Day of Reflection marks the first anniversary of the UK lockdown, with Covid-safe events planned up and down the country.

There are plenty of simple ways you can get involved to mark the National Day of Reflection, helping to commemorate the tragic loss of life in the last year and stand together with everyone who is grieving.

Help is here in Leeds for staying active while staying safe

The Active Leeds YouTube channel is full of great videos to help you stay active, such as this playlist focused on exercises for older adults.

As we continue to stay at home as much as possible to help stop the spread of coronavirus in the city, it is important we stay active and keep moving. After all, maintaining good levels of physical activity not only supports our physical health but also our mental wellbeing.

Whether you’re looking to stay active while at home, find fun ways to get fit in your garden or safely exercise in your local area, Get Set Leeds has lots of useful, Covid-safe resources, gathered throughout the last twelve months.