Expression Leeds: Fostering LGBTQ+ Creativity, Confidence, and Community

Expression began as a student-led fashion show in Durham, offering an avenue for the LGBTQ+ community to express themselves creatively. Lulu, the company director, saw an opportunity to expand this initiative after noticing the lack of creative spaces for the LGBTQ+ community in the north of England. Choosing Leeds as a new base, the team aims to continue providing a platform for young queer creatives, both students and locals. Together with Sophie, the Expression Leeds President, they explained to me their goals for this project.

Expression Leeds not only focuses on fashion but aims to foster a sense of belonging and confidence within the LGBTQ+ community. Lulu emphasised the importance of inclusivity, mentioning instances where individuals found the courage to embrace different identities after being a part of the show. Lulu and Sophie’s stories exemplify the transformative impact Expression had in Durham and hopes to have in Leeds. Lulu’s partner, initially identifying as a straight man, found a safe space with expression, and as Lulu said, “I think when she saw just the liberation of expression, I think that really solidified [she] doesn’t have to kind of be miserable or settle for the identity that [she’s] in.” In the future, Lulu aims to open up a trans fund and a designer fund to support individuals with their transitions and creative futures.

Their outreach spans diverse avenues. From collaborating with universities to organising fundraisers and social events, Expression Leeds aims to celebrate LGBTQ+ culture through various mediums. Sophie shares that they are planning gigs, movie nights, and pub outings to give everyone a chance to meet more people from the community.

Our discussion brought to the forefront the realities of straight intrusion into queer spaces, with both Sophie and Lulu sharing their experiences. Unfortunately, these types of incidents are not isolated and they contribute to a sense of unease within the queer community. Sophie and Lulu emphasised the importance of creating and maintaining safe havens where LGBTQ+ individuals can freely express themselves without fear of discrimination or harassment and they hope Expression can become that for Leeds.

Lulu chose Leeds because of its rich LGBTQ+ history. Among Leeds’ LGBTQ landmarks is the New Penny pub, which has been a safe venue for the community since 1953. Leeds’s Freedom Quarter originated in the 1930s when Blayd’s Yard’s Pelican Social Club gained notoriety for welcoming gay and transgender individuals. Despite local opposition, the University of Leeds society branch of the national Gay Liberation Front distributed pamphlets and staged protests in support of same-sex rights during the 1970s.

According to welcometoleeds.co.uk, “Leeds has championed LGBTQ+ rights with many UK firsts, including:

  • The University of Leeds hosted what was said to be the country’s “first national conference for transvestite and transsexual people” with 102 attendees in 1974.
  • The Yorkshire Terriers Football Club was established in Leeds in 1997, the first gay-friendly team to be created in the UK.
  • The UK’s very first civil partnership was held on 21st December 2005 between local entrepreneur Terry George and Michael Rothwell, after a special licence was granted to Bar Fibre on Lower Briggate.
  • The first ever Trans-Pride celebration in the north of England was held in Leeds in March 2018, including talks, discussions, a march, and a day of film screenings.”

Expression’s future plans are to expand its reach and impact, bringing together diverse individuals and providing a supportive space for self-expression and growth. As they continue their journey, the team aims to hold a spectacular LGBTQ+ fashion show in Leeds in June 2024, showcasing not only fashion but also the resilience, creativity, and diversity of the LGBTQ+ community. 

The team’s current focus lies in recruiting individuals for various roles, from designers and models to welfare officers and production directors. Their goal is not only to put together a successful fashion show but to create a welcoming environment where everyone, regardless of academic affiliation, feels included. If you’re interested in participating, contact Expression Leeds through their instagram @leeds_expression or their website expressionentertainment.co.uk

TALK OF THE TOWN: LOAF

Written by Rosie Nowosielski
Edited by Eve Moat

Loaf is a new band offering dream-like, dancing-in-your-bedroom, 90s adolescent nostalgia from teenagers themselves. A Prince Henry’s – Notre Dame – Leeds City College collective, Loaf’s members are no older than 18 – easily making us 20-somethings feel rather untalented.

This fun, vibrant four-piece is comprised of Flo (vocals/rhythm guitar), Alice (bass), Harvey (lead guitar), and Finn (drums) and although they have only been on the Leeds music scene for a short while (since March), they have already played at some outstanding shows at Leeds staples Eiger Studios and Lending Room, in August and November respectively. Loaf are released their first EP Gossamer on all major streaming platforms on 15th December, accompanied by a headline release show at Hyde Park Book Club.

I had the opportunity to see their performance at the Lending Room, and I haven’t seen a crowd so clearly enjoying themselves at a gig in a long time. The love and support for the band was palpable, and I myself was blown away at their superb musicality. Loaf took the covers they performed into their own, turning ‘Bags’ by Clairo from a solemn love song to a powerful indie ballad, and debuted their originals from their upcoming EP, particular highlights being ‘Firework Show’ and ‘October’. 

On speaking to Flo when she visited me in the café I work at, one point she wanted to stress was how happy she was to be in a band with an even boy-girl split, not a band of just teenage boys or with only a female vocalist, which could feel tokenistic to some, like her influences Wolf Alice, the Cranberries, and the Sundays. It’s so important to her in fact that when choosing their support for their HPBC headline, Loaf selected girl-heavy band Until Joy to warm up the stage and crowd. She also disclosed possible future shows in the new year.

The release of the EP and the accompanying show is certainly not the end for Loaf: it’s only the beginning.

For fans of: beabadoobee, Wolf Alice, the Cardigans, Lush, Bratmobile, Elastica.

Socials: @loaf.band / Instagram

Hyde Park’s worst restaurants and shops for hygiene

A mouldy ice machine, a lack of hand washing, the improper storage of cooked food and inaccurate allergen information.

These are just some of the issues that inspectors have discovered during visits to restaurants and convenience stores across Hyde Park.

The Food Standards Agency, who check if food providers produce food that is safe to eat, considers the cleanliness of the premises, the type of food they make, how they work and how they attempt to reduce risks. They have the right to enter and inspect food premises at all reasonable hours and will typically come without notice.

They rank all businesses with a score of zero to five. Between zero and two is considered a failing grade, and three to five is satisfactory.

Whilst the rating they give is public, the inspection reports are hidden and have to be requested which The Gryphon has done for the worst performing restaurants and shops in Hyde Park.

One-star ratings

Chicken Stop

The fast food takeaway which is located next to The Hyde Park Picture House was last inspected on 2 February 2023.

It was awarded a one-star rating, meaning major improvements are needed.

The inspection report said the business was failing to refrigerate high-risk food such as open sauce bottles and cheese at the right temperature.

It said the kitchen floor was “ingrained with dirt” and the walls and ceiling were covered in grease. It recommended that the wash hand basins were cleaned and kept from obstruction and said the fridges and freezers also needed to be cleaned.

Rustica

The Italian takeaway, which is located opposite the University of Leeds Parkinson Building, was last inspected on 6 June 2023.

They, again, were told major improvement was required. Food was found stored uncovered in fridges and freezers, including some in tin cans.

The surfaces in the kitchen were “generally dusty” and the business was told to clean the cooking canopy, the floor under and behind the fryers and the inside of the fridges. They were also told to immediately repair the leaking waste pipe connected to the wash hand basin.

The temperature of the water for that basin was found to be too cold and the basin itself needed to be cleaned according to the report.

The food hygiene knowledge of the staff was found to be poor, with training required. There was also no allergen management procedure which the inspectors had already requested the last time they visited.

Noshi Foods

The convenience store located next to the Leeds Grand Mosque was last inspected on 8 November 2022.

They were warned to stop storing ready-to-eat food next to raw meat in the cold room.

They were also told to clean the inside of the cold room, with the inspector finding “mouldy walls” and dirty ceilings as well as a “filthy” fan unit.

They were told to ensure that the butchery wash hand basin had hot water and asked to train staff on food hygiene.

Two-star ratings

La Besi Restaurant

The Italian restaurant which allows customers to bring their own booze is located opposite the University of Leeds School of Chemical and Process Engineering.

The business was found to be failing to cool cooked food quickly enough and inside the fridge, raw meat was found stored above cooked food.

Food was found stored in open tin cans which poses a risk that chemicals from the can could contaminate the food.

The staff were found to be washing their hands in the equipment sink, which goes against the procedure.

“Mould and bacterial growth” was seen inside the ice machine and the bar glass washer also required cleaning.

The kitchen floor, walls and ceiling were covered in grease and the business was slammed for having incorrect allergen information displayed on their house salad.

Go Gold Local

The convenience store which is attached to the student accommodation building Marsden House and opposite The Tannery was last inspected on 24 August 2022.

No hot water was provided in the hand wash basin and food was found stored on the floor.

An employee was unable to explain the fitness to work requirements which requires that employees who handle food and have suffered from infection don’t return to work for at least 48 hours after their symptoms stop.

‘The Kids Aren’t Alright’: work, an ‘employment drought’ and the financial struggle of students

The Gryphon conducted an anonymous survey into University of Leeds students either looking for work or already in employment during term-time.

The cost-of-living crisis leaves many students finding themselves struggling to embrace the ‘student life’ due to financial struggles.

Across the UK, 55% of students are now working a part-time job in addition to their studies. This is higher than in previous years, fuelled by the rising gap between maintenance loan allowance and living costs.

According to Russell Group universities, The Department for Education bases the maintenance loan calculations on outdated projections, assessing household earnings from 2008. The calculations do not consider the financial hit of the pandemic and the subsequent rise in inflation. The annual inflation rate in 2008 measured at 3.99%, compared to the current UK inflation rate at 4.6%, which is lower compared to 6.7% earlier in the year, and 11.10% in 2022. 

These out-of-date projections result in students having to supplement their loans with paid-work and/or living off small weekly budgets. 

Costs have risen, with rent rising 14.6% for students in the past 2 years alone. However, maintenance loans have not matched this- increasing at the slimmer 5.2%. Because of this gap, student housing charity Unipol and the Higher Education Policy Institute published a report estimating that, on average, students are left with 50p a week to cover other living costs after paying rent and bills. This includes food shops, course costs, any social expenses, transport fees and so on. Many students now are forced to seek work in a situation that has been described as a ‘job drought’. Furthermore, those who have found paid work find the balance with their studies difficult to manage. Whether students are sacrificing social activities or their studies, many agree the living crisis is negatively impacting their university experience. 

A National Union of Students survey found that 1 in 7 university students across the UK work full-time on top of their studies. Other research by Save the Student reports that 56,000 students are undertaking to sex work to financially survive at university. 

An anonymous survey conducted by The Gryphon has found that 83% of respondents at the University of Leeds receive a maintenance loan, but over half of those surveyed said that their loan on its own does not cover their rent. 73% say the cost-of-living crisis means it is compulsory for them to have a part-time job alongside university. 

Comments from students who have found employment whilst studying at Leeds university find a common ground in sacrificing part of their ‘university experience’: “Not much of a social life”,

I work nights, so I’ve missed a fair few lectures and seminars the next day”, I’ve had to sacrifice society events, nights out, and sleep in order to catch up with university assignments”, “I work every Friday and Saturday, which means I usually have to sacrifice weekend social plans to work. It also means I must make sure I get all my studying done during the week as I have little time at the weekends”, “I’m cutting costs everywhere I possibly can. I had issues with an unexpected timetable change, and I had to be demoted at my job because of it., 

“Can be hard to manage the work life balance with uni and work but it is completely necessary to work as a result of my maintenance loan only just covering my rent”

“It’s a huge disadvantage for those who have to work alongside study.”

Those who have managed to find employment find themselves in a “vicious cycle” of balancing studies and social activities with the growing need to work more hours, but the cost-of-living has left students “no choice”. Students are often employed in hospitality and retail, working long hours in customer-facing jobs.

However, it is not just those who are employed who are struggling. Approximately 30% of students who took part in the survey say they are still actively searching for a job. Those students have stated:

“Employers are hesitant to take on students because of the varying availability and everyone goes home for the holiday”., “When I was first looking for a job, it was honestly impossible. Nobody wanted to hire a student who could only work weekends, this is so I could still have a social life and continue my studies without sacrifice.”

“It is very difficult to find a job around university commitments”.

Overall, 83% agree their university experience has been limited because of the current economic climate, forcing them to sacrifice studying or social activities, either to work or to save money. 

The Leeds University Union website recommends that no student works more than 20 hours a week during term-time. However, current financial pressures and the unlikelihood that government will rethink loan provision has made this a necessity for some. 

Jockstrap And Why Your New Favourite Celebrity is a Freak

Picture this, Reader:

You gingerly take your first step out of your pee-stained Hyde Park flatshare, feeling the cold sneaking under your microfleece and instantly regretting choosing your 10am over blissful ignorance. You feel like a freshly birthed hairless kangaroo baby ripped straight from the pouch. The November air tingles on your tender skin and there is not a thing in your stomach but the bubbling forewarning of acid reflux. Your eyes adjust to the light and immediately a yellow-and-black smear tears through your peripheral. You jump! What the f*ck was that! A wasp? A swarm of wasps?!

No! Don’t get ahead of yourself. It’s four pairs of yellow-and-black Onitsuka Tigers on the feet of four girls wearing Adidas trackies in the worst possible colourways, football scarves wrapped around their heads Babushka-style, and 3 or 4 layers of Chaps or Carhartt knits. None of them look like they have washed their hair. They are all smiling at you, and as they move to hug you, you wipe the sleep from your eyes and realise there is a Celtic F.C. scarf around your own neck, peeling gold rings adorning your fingers, that stupid dead Arcteryx bird on your own chest. You are one of them. They love you… you love them.

You remove your Airpod Maxs, they ask you what you were listening to. You show them your lock screen: I<3UQTINVU, by Jockstrap. “It’s so rogue,” you hear yourself saying, feeling as if you might feint. “It’s, like, hyperpop, but folky. And some rap. With violin.” What are you saying? Why are you dressed like this? Where lies the body of the pre-COVID twink who only wore ASOS Design and listened to Halsey’s Badlands? Has knowledge of microplastics and La Roche-Posay killed him?

Let me explain. First, by introducing you, Oh So Confused Reader, to Jockstrap. Much like the underwear, Jockstrap (an English duo made up of Guildhall graduates Georgia Ellery and Taylor Skye) has a fanbase consisting of a committed minority of aficionados (in this case music snobs rather than athletes) holding their own against a louder majority of queer people. After hurtling into the periphery of alternative pop with their bawdy and avant garde 2020 EP Wicked City, the duo hit the public with their debut I Love You Jennifer B in 2022. The debut record – complex, campy, and much brighter compared to Wicked City’s sound – was adored in experimental pop circles and far beyond, earning its spot as the 15th and 7th Best Album of 2022 in Pitchfork and The Guardian respectively and being shortlisted for the 2022 Mercury Prize. In the words of Pitchfork’s Stuart Berman, I Love You Jennifer B brings the thrill back to the “internet-accelerated obliteration of genre boundaries”.

So what if now we were to metaphysically mash another layer of contrivance onto the audio-
trifle Jockstrap gave us last year? Surely the only way I could do it justice in writing would be
by repeatedly smashing my keyboard off the wall until all the keys feel out and made a silly
word on the floor. Something stupid, Internet-age, redundant, and therefore implicitly cool.
Like I<3UQTINVU.

This regurgitation of I Love You Jennifer B hits you with 9 tracks that contain varying proportions of the original album tracks which they remix. I write hit as in wallop with a frying pan, as the album opens with ‘Sexy’, an aggressive retuning of the high-speed, club-ready closer of I Love You Jennifer B, ‘50/50- Extended Mix’. What follows is a similarly frenetic catalogue of rhythms, dissonant synths, and strings, under the seemingly elephantine weight of a second round of scrutiny and distortion. What this weight juices from the year-matured, sun-puckered fruit of Jockstrap’s debut is sweet and addicting.

Whether it is Ian Starr’s mouth-frothing performance on ‘Red Eye’ processed á la 10,000 Gecs (2023) or the gushing, pitchy rework of ‘Glasgow’ on the breakdown of ‘I Touch’, I<3UQTINVU sound terrible (foul!) by all prior established conventions of pop music; but its allure is potent and undeniable. And not just in a freak show, Don’t-Touch-The-Glass way, either – it’s seriously, stickily enjoyable. If I Love You Jennifer B was a glistening and sterile performance piece that won its fans through its one-step-ahead, almost precocious intricacy, I<3UQTINVU throws its glitching, TV-static body onto the stage and kidnaps the lead actor. A scene-stealer, if you would.

The record sounds messy, debaucherous, and cathartic. Songs are distilled down to primitive doing-words for their new titles (‘I Touch’, ‘I Feel’) and listeners’ patience is tested by laborious, gargling vocals on ‘Pain is Real’ before they are crushed by the noise of ‘Red Eye’. The listener is interacted with in invasive new ways, expected not just to passively experience tracks but to be pulled, pushed, and tested by them, their notions of what “sounds nice” battered and bruised and their interest peaked. The only thing made explicit here is the idea that the most valuable art is that which is never tired or “finished”. And it is these words, picket-fence words like “finished” and “nice”, which provide the antithesis to Jockstrap’s music, to Babushka scarves, to Julia Fox, and to dirt-wash jeans.

You see, I saw a TikTok some weeks ago which broached the idea of the dissolution of (fashion) trend cycles. The TikToker (who I would love to cite and who I have sourly and unsuccessfully scoured the internet for whilst planning this article) proposed that while, historically, Western fashion trends have mimicked themselves in 20-year intervals (see: 70s does 50s; 90s does 70s; 2010s does 90s; also Neda Ulaby for NPR), the recent dominion of short-form, TikTok-ified media over our cultural intake has null-and-voided this 20th Century routine. The youth’s overexposure to fashions emancipated from their source era and culture by short-form media has incited style-on-style cannibalism. As in, Uroboros-esque consumption of new trends which has ushered in the era of the microtrend (boo) and the concomitant microtrend critic (yay?).

The microtrend critic is the cynic, (s/t)he(y) who sees the trend and ‘debunks’ it, most recognisably on an eco- or socially- conscious level but, more deeply, as a new manifestation of the anti-trend. Anti-trend not necessarily coming from the same rebel-without-a-cause angle as punk or grunge, but instead loudly signalling that in such a culturally over-saturated landscape, the only way to be “cool” is to deny “finished” and “nice”, reject what looks and sound “good” (a.k.a. that which is coughed up every 20 years and fed to the consumer) and instead embrace the gross, uncool, and memorable. Consequently, we get it-girls like Julia Fox (queer, single mother, intentionally sweaty makeup) and it-boys like Timothee Chalamet (scrawny, sleepy, plays heroin addicts and gay men instead of soldiers and heroes). The culture has begun choosing these quirky, dirty, or otherwise wonky it-stylings for the limelight as the people have had their appetite for perfection sated. That’s what happens when you see 1000 examples of Perfection Manifest on your For You Page by the time you hit 17. You get bored.

All of a sudden, it may seem, the modern youth has become an audience of individuals more socially and globally conscious than ever, and equally conscious of the redundancy of perfection. Perfection is composure in a savage world, and therefore perfection is ignorant (or just cheugy). Perfection is “nice”, but “nice” just doesn’t cut it. To cut it is to be weird, to be nonsensical and confused and dirty and X-rated and still be hot. Distracted enough by the chaos of the human condition to not wash your hair, but not enough to stop posting on Instagram. Coolness is now defined by a global tribunal of hyperaware, cynical Twitter-users, and the only way to survive under their watchful eye is to exist in the celebrity-space ironically. To recognise the ludicrous irony of being human whilst sat atop an inhuman pedestal, and to make fun of it. Because this is something that such a youth populace can
imitate.

Alas, casual fashion becomes an excuse to don netting and bleached eyebrows and Margiela goat hooves, online humour becomes abject nihilism, and commercial music begins to eat its own tail and sh*t out dog-barking, fizzing, wailing compositions under monikers like “Jockstrap”. And we eat it up, because it feels good! It feels amazing to throw inane rubrics of coolness, sex appeal, and style into the gutter so we can worry about the world burning and still feel sexy. So if you do happen to find yourself listening to I<3UQTINVU and finding it unsettlingly amazing, maybe it’s because you are finally loosening your grasp, turning your back on the apocalypse, and sinking your teeth into a slice of oh-so-sumptuous Uncool Pie. Or maybe it’s just great music.

Julie Byrne and her Support Acts Burn Down Brude with their Melodies

Written by Kate Wassell
Edited by Eve Moat

It’s been six years since Julie Byrne last played at Leeds’ beloved Brudenell Social Club, and on Thursday 16th November the venue welcomed her back with warm arms and eager ears. Kicking off their first gig of the tour, the esteemed American folk artist was joined by British experimental pop singer Mui Zyu – the two of them alluring a quietly appreciative and contemplative crowd, with warm smatterings of applause between tracks. 

Image Credit: Kate Wassell

Support act Eva Liu works under the stage name of Mui Zyu, her Cantonese name – a nod to her diasporic identity that is an integral part of her music and most recent project, Rotten Bun for an Eggless Century. Zyu’s sound flits between tender and distorted; together she and her collaborator Lucci create a cosmic sonic landscape, merging and layering beats, synths and electric guitar. Zyu’s lyrics often explore this unwinding and rewinding of a cultural identity: she tells the audience that much of the new album arose from this “trying and failing” to make sense of both her British and Hong Kong culture together. 

Image Credit: Kate Wassell

She also notes how grateful she is to be there supporting Julie Byrne: “I’ve had the new album [The Greater Wings] on repeat, as I’m sure you all have too”. Soon enough Julie Byrne graces the stage (she really does embody the word graceful) with a calming and steady presence alongside her two bandmates. Violinist Jake Flavy beautifully offsets her baritone vocals with heartbreaking, lingering string. Julie, meanwhile, might have the most perfect live voices I’ve ever heard; it’s pretty close to flawless. 

Julie has a sense of sincerity, and also something definitely spiritual about her, which elevates her live performance to an almost religious atmosphere. There is a sanctity surrounding her; her hands are never still, moving along with the music when she isn’t holding her guitar, as if she is always feeling the music move through her body. When you listen her lyrics, it’s clear she is somebody grounded by the natural world, guided by nature rather than shadowed by it. 

About halfway through the set Byrne plays the opening track of her 2023 album of the same name, ‘The Greater Wings’. It is the highlight of the night for me, the track is haunting and transcendental, and they play it without a fault. The songwriter later explains the origination of the title: it comes from the small sphenoid bone, she tells us, that sits just behind our temples. The shape of it is like a butterfly, or “some otherworldly moth” as Byrne puts it, with two smaller wings and two greater wings. She doesn’t elaborate further except to express her finding this fact beautiful, but it seems as if the lyrics of the track are at least in part a homage to her late collaborator, partner and best friend, Eric Littman. “To carry you up”, she sings, “on greater wings”, is to keep him in her memory, to lift him up beyond it. 

The wings, to me, also seem to symbolise Julie’s constant wandering: she is somebody who has never had that permanent sense of home through her life. The pandemic put a halt on movement, but Byrne kept composing; in fact, she began working on The Greater Wings in 2018 and began recording it in 2020. It adds up that she would be the kind of artist to take her time with an album release – to reflect and build it up over time.

The last time Julie was in Leeds she was touring the 2017 album Not Even Happiness. While she still plays homage to a few of her favoured old tracks throughout the evening, her new songs stand out in her live performance. There’s a new clarity and complexity to her most recent songwriting. She follows ‘The Greater Wings’ with a new track ‘22’, from an EP set to be released the following day after her Brudenell performance, in a trio release with Taryn Blake Miller and Emily Fontana, which along with three new songs includes a cover of Jackson Browne’s ‘These Days’. It’s a short but beautiful hint at the new release, with Byrne’s voice being so soft and captivating. 

My only wish was that Julie’s set had lasted a little longer: it was short but sweet. Julie Byrne has the kind of radiance to her smile and her being that makes her a real pleasure to watch perform. I’d recommend anyone to catch one of her live shows, not just for her gorgeous melodies and lyricism but for her enchanting presence. 

How “just putting one foot in front of the other” exploded onto the scene in 2023

At the end of 2023, one of the big winners was running. It felt like everyone was doing it. Your walks to campus were filled with people on a run, and why not?

As a student, running appears to be the perfect solution. Getting out and about in the winter is hard, especially when we’re getting to and from university in the dark. Therefore, running on the weekend is a perfect way to spend some time outside, away from the laptop screens.  It’s not just on the streets of Leeds that people are running, it’s on social media too. From those running 5ks to the ones training for half marathons, it is fair to say running has just as much a presence online as on the tracks. The evolution of “RunTok” has opened the world up to the wonders of running. The majority are starting as beginners and showing just how accessible a run can be. RunTok also normalises the realities of running and is a perfect place to start before you even lace up the trainers.  

Why has running become so popular? Partly because of RunTok and partly because of its benefits. It improves mental health, and fills the long summer days. It’s a perfect opportunity to meet a range of people, which as a student can be a daunting task. Running is a global community, for sure, but it is also a great way to meet new people in the city. Around Leeds there are many running routes and loads of running communities; think the canal and the city’s parks. Of course, one of the largest benefits of running is the physical fitness, but there is so much more to it. 

There’s a certain consensus that to be a good runner, you need all the gear. The most fancy, colourful running shoes, shorts and tops. There’s so much out there it can be overwhelming. So here is my guide for running outside in the Winter:

  • A pair of gloves-  to keep your hands warm!
  • Layers or thermals- running in the winter is no joke, so having some layers is a nice place to start. 
  • A goal for the end of the run– whether it’s a sweet treat or a hot chocolate. It doesn’t have to be a PB.  
  • Run at a gym- If it is just too cold outside, you can always run inside.  

There is also a need to be careful, especially if running in the dark. Try to stay on well lit paths as much as possible and run in groups. There are a few running groups across Leeds such as Hyde Park and Harriers, and in the last few months, These Girls Run has popped up in Leeds. These Girls Run is a women’s only run club with two runs a week, and like the other clubs, it caters for beginners too. More information can be found on their retrospective websites below.

Where to start?

There are many types of running: road, track, trail and treadmill. Whilst the idea of going outside in the cold isn’t exactly at the top of everybody’s wish list, Park Runs are a great place to start. They represent a range of different abilities and have a really good atmosphere. 

The closest one to the university campus is at Woodhouse Moor. They meet at 9am on Saturdays. It has been said that you never regret a run,  so why not give Park Run a try! If you scan the barcode you can set up on the website, and there you’ll get accurate times to help track your progress. Park Runs are dotted across the UK and are a free, wholesome way to start your weekend. 

With the dark nights, and intense deadlines of university, running can be just the thing to help you balance your hectic student life. It doesn’t have to be a massive commitment. You don’t have to race, and you don’t have to have an insane training schedule. You can run for two minutes or twenty, it really doesn’t matter. Maybe that’s why it’s proven to be so popular in 2023, and why that looks set to continue in 2024.

More Information:

Hyde Park Harriers: https://www.hydeparkharriers.co.uk/

These Girls Run: https://www.thesegirlsrun.co.uk/

Park Run: https://www.parkrun.org.uk/

Mother arrested on suspicion of murder after death of baby in Woodhouse Moor

A mother has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a baby died yesterday evening in Woodhouse Moor in Hyde Park.

Police arrived at the park at 5:44pm after the mother had called the emergency services.

The five-month-old girl was taken to hospital by ambulance but was pronounced dead a short time later.

In a statement, a spokesperson for West Yorkshire Police said:

“At 5.44pm yesterday a woman contacted police reporting a baby in a serious condition in an area of Woodhouse Moor park at the junction of Clarendon Road and Moorland Road in Leeds.  

“The woman, who is the child’s mother, has been arrested on suspicion of murder and remains in custody.  

“A scene was put in place for forensic examination and detectives from West Yorkshire Police Homicide and Major Enquiry Team are leading the investigation.  

“Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Chief Inspector James Entwistle said: “The death of a child in these circumstances is clearly a very tragic incident and we are carrying out enquiries to get a complete picture of what has occurred.  

“We would like to hear from anyone who was in the park around this time and who witnessed anything or who has any information that could assist the investigation.”  

“Anyone with information is asked to contact the Homicide and Major Enquiry Team quoting reference 13230701073 or online at www.westyorkshire.police.uk/livechat

This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly.