Welcome to Day 5 of the 2025 Harehills Good News Advent Calendar!
Yesterday, we travelled across the city with the Conversation Club. Today, we are back in the beating heart of Harehills for an event that has become a true staple of our festive season: the Harehills Winter Welcome.
On Monday, the delightful St Aidan’s Church Hall was filled not with solemn silence, but with the buzzing energy of a community in full celebration. The hall was packed to the rafters with young people, parents, and neighbours, all gathering to kick off December in style.
What makes the Winter Welcome special is how it blends celebration with care. Amidst the festivities, there were vital stalls dedicated to health and wellbeing, offering advice on women’s health and providing crucial vaccination information to protect our most vulnerable residents this winter. It is a reminder that in Harehills, looking after each other is the greatest gift of all.
The fun was non-stop. Tasneem, one of the driving forces behind this year’s event, was a blur of motion, surrounded by a swarm of excited children as she applied Christmas-themed temporary tattoos. Every child left with a smile, a tattoo, and a chocolate advent calendar to take home.
As darkness fell, the magic moved outside. In a scene reminiscent of a storybook, the children lined up two-by-two. Escorted by volunteers and organisers, they processed up to the Harehills Christmas tree in Banstead Park.
The big moment was hosted by Councillor Salma Arif, a tireless champion for Gipton and Harehills, who led the countdown to the lights switch-on. As the tree lit up the night, the air was filled with what can only be described as a “joyful cacophony” of carol singing led by the young people—loud, proud, and perfectly Harehills.
Related links:
- St Aidan’s Church Community: https://www.staidan-leeds.org.uk/
- Councillor Salma Arif:(https://democracy.leeds.gov.uk/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=7698)
Previous events:
Check out the previous four years of Winter Welcomes covered by the Harehills Good News Advent Calendar
2021: https://harehillslove.uk/2021/12/06/advent-day-6-harehills-winter-welcome/
2022: https://harehillslove.uk/2022/12/04/advent-day-4-harehills-winter-welcome/
2023: https://harehillslove.uk/2023/12/22/advent-day-10-harehills-winter-welcome-2023/
2024: https://harehillslove.uk/2024/12/15/day-15-celebrating-community-at-harehills-winter-welcome-2024/
Now that’s a tradition worth celebrating!
Harehills ❤️ Love 
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