25 new projects, groups and activities to bring people together are getting off the ground in local communities across Leeds, as part of the ‘U Choose’ project being delivered by Migrant Access Project Plus (MAP+).
The projects are all being led by local residents, who presented their ideas at a series of three voting events the end of November and beginning of December at St Lukes Church in Beeston Hill, All Hallows Church in Hyde Park and New Wortley Community Centre. There were around 50 proposals put forward across the project.
More than 300 people turned up across the three events to see the proposals, support their friends and neighbours and vote for their favourites, to decide which ones received a share of the U Choose funding pot.
The funded projects range from gardening and creative groups, mental wellbeing groups and cookery classes to cross-cultural festivals, a radio theatre project and even a trip to the Houses of Parliament!
You can view a full list of projects here.
U Choose funding is a MAP+ scheme based on asset-based community development principles which provided an opportunity for individuals and groups of friends or neighbours to apply for a small pot of funding. The funding could be used to get a project or activity off the ground that would benefit people living in: Hyde Park, Little London & Woodhouse; Beeston Hill & Holbeck; Armley & New Wortley.
MAP+ is funded by Leeds City Council and aims to promote community cohesion and enhance resilience and sustainability of local communities in Leeds. It uses innovative asset-based engagement tools to bring new migrant and settled communities to work together in a way that benefits everyone in their local area.
