Harehills ❤️ Love

Welcome to Day 19 of the 2025 Harehills Good News Advent Calendar.

It is easy to care about the environment when the sun is shining. But the true test of a community’s commitment is who turns up when the sky turns grey.

On a rainy Saturday in late September, the people of Harehills proved that their dedication to a greener future isn’t weather-dependent. The “Our Planet Our Neighbourhood” community day at the Compton Centre saw residents, families, and young people turn out in force, swapping the drizzle outside for a warm buzz of ideas inside.

A Hub of Ideas The Compton Centre was transformed into a marketplace of solutions.

• Support: Groups like Freedom4Girls were on hand, tackling period poverty and supporting women in our area.
• Leadership: We heard from passionate speakers including Claude Hendrickson from Climate Action Leeds and our local councillors Asghar Khan and Nkele Manaka, all united by a vision for a cleaner, fairer East Leeds.

Patching Up the Planet The star of the show, however, was a hands-on workshop that had everyone talking. Local designer Goodness Woodhead (who we will be hearing more about tomorrow!) ran her “Patching Up the Planet” session. She showed adults and kids alike that you don’t need to be a master tailor to save your clothes from the bin. With simple techniques—some not even requiring a needle and thread—she demonstrated that fixing what we have is an act of creativity, not just a chore.

As Natalie Tharraleos from the Harehills Action Team put it:

“She showed about four different ways of attaching a patch… That was really inspiring, really interesting. I think everybody enjoyed that, adults and children alike.”

Why It’s Good News This event proved that the “green agenda” isn’t something imposed on Harehills from the outside; it is growing from within. It is being led by local volunteers, local youth groups, and local families who know that a greener neighbourhood is a better neighbourhood for us all.

Find out more:

East Side Story Coverage: https://eastsidestory.co.uk/rain-cant-stop-harehills-going-green/