The Lord Mayor of Leeds Charity Appeal ‘Just One Day’ has been hailed a ‘great success’, after returning last Thursday (27 February 2025) with the theme of ‘one day to play’.
The event runs all year, but features a day where schools, universities, businesses and the public can spend the day, or any time they can spare, participating in fun activities to raise money for the Lord Mayor’s charity.
This year, the Lord Mayor, Councillor Abigail Marshall Katung, chose the Leeds Community Foundation as her charity.
Leeds Community Foundation is an independent grant maker, collaborator, and leader that brings together organisations and individuals to invest in communities, building a fairer Leeds for everyone. The foundation’s funding helps community organisations to continue and expand their work, so they can reach more people and have a greater impact in our communities.
Together with her deep support for the Leeds Community Foundation, the Lord Mayor is passionate about improving mental health for children and young people in Leeds and believes that play is one way to do this.
The Lord Mayor of Leeds, Councillor Abigail Marshall Katung, said:
“Just One Day is a fantastic event raising much-needed funds for a local charity that does incredible work with community organisations throughout the city.
“We are thrilled to be working with Child Friendly Leeds this year to deliver the theme of ‘just one day to play’. Play is something that we have decided to prioritise because of its importance to the development of children and young people. Having the support of Child Friendly Leeds in Just One Day and to have specially developed lesson plans and resources has enhanced the event and brought the whole Leeds community together.
“It’s been fabulous to watch the children playing and learning and the event has been a real success for all those who participated.
“Anyone can participate in Just One Day at any time of year. I encourage everyone, adults, and children alike, to take some playtime, get involved and raise money for a fantastic charity.”
As a part of the day, the Lord Mayor visited Lane End Primary, a school that recognises the importance of play, making their normal lessons more playful by adding extra playtime and dressing up just for fun!
The children at Lane End Primary donated to come to school wearing comfy clothes and be ready to add play into their curriculum. They had the opportunity to give feedback on their playful learning and how their school could be improved for play, which the headteacher plans to take to school governors.
Lane End Primary headteacher, Jane Hopwood, said:
“Lane End Primary School believes in the power of learning through play.
“Our children loved meeting the Lord Mayor and have been inspired to be playful throughout the day. We’ve been problem solving, creating, and building outside in the sunshine at dinner time. Staff and children also explored how to improve play in school and across the city and hope to invite the Lord Mayor back so she can hear our ideas.”
At lunchtime at the Civic Hall, the Lord Mayor attended a free food event provided by the charity, Rapid Relief Team, with the Leeds Community Foundation, where those taking food were asked to donate to Just One Day in place of payment.
To find out more about how to take part in ‘Just One Day’ or to donate, please visit www.leeds.gov.uk/justoneday.
To find out more about how Child Friendly Leeds is prioritising play in the city please visit Play | Child Friendly Leeds. To learn how to take part in ‘Just One Day’ or to donate, please visit www.leeds.gov.uk/justoneday.
This post is based on a press release issued by Leeds City Council
While you’re here, can we ask a favour?
South Leeds Life is published by a not-for-profit social enterprise. We keep our costs as low as possible but we’ve been hit by increases in the print costs for our monthly newspaper which have doubled in the last two years.
Could you help support local community news by making a one off donation, or even better taking out a supporters subscription?
Donate here, or sign up for a subscription at bit.ly/SLLsubscribe
