Harehills ❤️ Love

Welcome to Day 16 of the 2025 Harehills Good News Advent Calendar.

Sometimes, good news isn’t about a flashy new building; it’s about making sure the places we already love are here to stay. Today, we’re heading just to the edge of our patch—to the border of Harehills and Burmantofts—to celebrate a community anchor that has had a transformative year: Nowell Mount Community Centre.

The Year of the “Glow Up” If you’ve visited the centre recently, you might have noticed it feels a little different. That’s because 2025 kicked off with a major “green” overhaul. Thanks to a successful grant from Groundwork UK, the centre completed a massive energy retrofit in January.

We’re talking new, efficient boilers, modern radiators, and bright LED lighting throughout. It sounds technical, but the impact is human: it means the “Welcome Spaces” running this winter are genuinely warm, bright, and welcoming. In a year where energy bills have bitten hard, Nowell Mount has solidified itself as a reliable thermal sanctuary for everyone in LS9.

Growing Together The warmth isn’t just in the radiators; it’s in the people. 2025 has seen the centre buzz with activity:

• Roots & Shoots: The Monday morning gardening group continues to prove that you don’t need a big garden to have green fingers. They’ve been turning the “concrete jungle” narrative on its head, growing fresh veg and boosting mental health one seedling at a time.
• The Lunch Club Returns: Just last month (November), we saw the relaunch of the “Hot and Healthy Lunch Club”. It’s a simple but beautiful concept: vegetarian meals shared with neighbours, with a “bring a container” policy so you can take some goodness home with you.

Award-Winning Neighbours We also have to shout out Learning Partnerships, the charity that works tirelessly within the centre. In June 2025, they were named a Weston Charity Award winner—a prestigious national accolade that recognises their incredible work in adult education and family support. It’s proof that the work happening in our corner of East Leeds is world-class.

Looking to the Sun The best news? They aren’t finished yet. Plans are already in motion for 2026 to install solar panels on the roof. It’s a bold step that will turn Nowell Mount into a “power station” for the community, generating its own clean energy to keep the lights on for decades to come.

In a changing world, Nowell Mount stands firm—warmer, greener, and more open than ever.

Get Involved:

• Welcome Spaces: Mondays, 11:00 am – 1:00 pm.
• Roots & Shoots: Mondays, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm.
• Where: Nowell Mount Community Centre, LS9 6HR.

Find out more:

Mindwell Leeds Roots and Shoots: https://www.mindwell-leeds.org.uk/services-directory/roots-shoots/

Welcome Spaces : https://www.facebook.com/groups/947284815423947/posts/3412054395613631/?locale=en_GB