Celebrate local acts of kindness in Leeds Big Thank You campaign

On By Imran Marashli

A new campaign allowing people in Leeds to express their thanks to the city’s key workers and local everyday heroes has been launched.

The Leeds Big Thank You campaign is encouraging residents to show their appreciation for key workers like health staff, carers, the emergency services, transport workers and retail staff.

But people from all walks of life in South Leeds can also be singled out for praise for their generosity and acts of kindness.

Councillor Judith Blake, Leader of Leeds City Council, said:

“This is an incredibly challenging and stressful time for all of us. But at a time when most of us are staying home to stay safe, thousands of staff and volunteers are out in the community, doing absolutely essential work to keep the city running, educate our children, feed us, keep us safe and look after us.

“We want to make sure that every single person who is going above and beyond during these extraordinary times knows how much we appreciate and value their work. Or you might just want to say thank you to your neighbours or family members who are there for you when it matters the most.

“There has never been a better time to recognise the key workers, carers and volunteers in our communities so I’d urge everyone to say a ‘Big Thank You’ to them – just visit the website www.bigthankyouleeds.co.uk or use the hashtag #BigThanksLeeds on social media.”

On Easter Sunday, the Hunslet Carr Sports and Social Club left free Easter eggs outside for passers-by to collect, a gesture of kindness that delighted local children.

Theatre company Slung Low has repurposed The Holbeck club and has been delivering meals to people in Holbeck and Beeston.

The Real Junk Food Project has been supporting local organisations care for the vulnerable and needy. It delivered 400kg of cheese to Slung Low on Thursday (16 April 2020) and Artistic Director Alan Lane expressed his thanks to the project and volunteers:

While the Co-op store in Beeston donated 24 pints of milk to Slung Low’s cause when it began to run low on supplies:

The Real Junk Food Project and Morrisons have supported Hunslet Club volunteers as they deliver food to people in need in South Leeds in partnership with Involve Leeds.

Holbeck Together, Belle Isle Senior Action, South Leeds Live At Home, Trinity Network and Middleton Elderly Aid’s provision of meals and pastoral care for the elderly and vulnerable has continued thanks to dedicated staff and volunteers.

Middleton Elderly Aid delivered over 750 meals by the end of the week ending Friday 17 April 2020, making deliveries on Good Friday and Easter Monday, and contacted over 1,400 members for welfare checks.

Hannah Davies, the Chief Executive of Healthwatch Leeds, said:

“There are so many thank yous that we want to express right now. From frontline NHS and care workers through to everyone working in care homes, those offering essential homecare, all the community groups and volunteers through to those people keeping our city going whether it be the bin men, food delivery people, people working in retail.

“It really feels like we are all in this together, a whole city effort to look after each other at this time. We’re really pleased to support this campaign that shares those messages of thanks for all the amazing people of our city.”

 

One Reply to “Celebrate local acts of kindness in Leeds Big Thank You campaign”

  1. Just seen the images of all those lovely Easter eggs sitting on a wall. I thought it was really lovely ‘ really nice. At least give the kids something to feel happy about. It was Easter after all “Don’t cancel easter due to Coronavirus. Don’t cancel life!.

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