Community Strength Amidst Chaos
Last night’s events shook our neighbourhood. A spark of anger, fuelled by a family’s pain, ignited a chain reaction of destruction. It was a frightening night for many. But amidst the chaos, something truly remarkable happened.
Harehills rose.
We didn’t stand by and watch as outside forces tried to control the situation. We came together as a community, de-escalating the tension, calming the flames, and quite literally putting our neighborhood back together. It’s easy for the news and social media to focus on the negativity, to spin narratives of blame and division. But those who live and breathe Harehills know the truth.
This isn’t a story about “multiculturalism gone wrong.” It’s a story about community strength in the face of adversity. It’s about neighbors looking out for neighbors. It’s about acknowledging that while challenges exist, they don’t define us.
What Defines Harehills?
- It’s the Winter Warmer Festival, where we celebrate togetherness in the heart of winter.
- It’s the Junior Sports Hub, providing a safe and fun space for our kids to thrive.
- It’s Catch Leeds, where young people are learning, growing, and nurturing our environment with their urban farm.
- It’s our dedicated councillors, who listen and work tirelessly for our community.
- It’s FoodCycle and St Aidan’s FoodShare, offering nourishment and connection to those who need it most.
- Back to Front greening up the area.
Bowls on Maidens bowling green by Walter Baxter is licensed under CC-BY-SA 2.0 
Roundhay Road, taken by Jonathan Lawrence Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) Share — copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format Adapt — remix, transform, and build upon the material for any purpose, even commercially. This license is acceptable for Free Cultural Works. The licensor cannot revoke these freedoms as long as you follow the license terms. Attribution — You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use. No additional restrictions — You may not apply legal terms or technological measures that legally restrict others from doing anything the license permits. 
Roundhay Road, taken by Jonathan Lawrence Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) Share — copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format Adapt — remix, transform, and build upon the material for any purpose, even commercially. This license is acceptable for Free Cultural Works. The licensor cannot revoke these freedoms as long as you follow the license terms. Attribution — You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use. No additional restrictions — You may not apply legal terms or technological measures that legally restrict others from doing anything the license permits. 
Banstead Park, Harehills, taken by Jonathan Lawrence Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) Share — copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format Adapt — remix, transform, and build upon the material for any purpose, even commercially. This license is acceptable for Free Cultural Works. The licensor cannot revoke these freedoms as long as you follow the license terms. Attribution — You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use. No additional restrictions — You may not apply legal terms or technological measures that legally restrict others from doing anything the license permits.
Harehills is about love, resilience, and the unwavering spirit of our people.
Yes, we have problems. Every neighborhood does. But we’re more than our challenges. We’re a vibrant tapestry of cultures, backgrounds, and stories. Our diversity isn’t a weakness; it’s a wellspring of creativity, strength, and resilience.
Let’s not let outsiders define us. Let’s show the world what Harehills is truly about. Let’s share our stories, our photos, our experiences of what makes this community so special.
#HarehillsLove
To our neighbors: If you’re struggling, if you need support, reach out. We’re here for each other.
To the world: Come visit Harehills. Don’t just read the headlines; experience the heart of our community.
This is our neighbourhood. This is our home. And we wouldn’t have it any other way.
If you have something positive you feel defines Harehills to you, please feel free to share at Good News Advent Submissions
And lastly, for a more detailed look at how our community came together please check out this article from East Side Story – Unsung Heroes Hailed Following Disturbances as Clean Up Begins
Harehills ❤️ Love 
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