An incredible charity which helps people with terminal illness write and record their own original songs has launched a fifth birthday fundraiser.
The Swan Song Project is hoping to raise £50,000 to invest in expanding its unique, free-of-charge song-writing support services.
The Leeds-based charity works with people facing the end stages of their lives and helps them to write and record their own personal songs to leave behind for families and loved ones.
It also helps people dealing with bereavement to write songs about those they have lost.
Image: The Swan Song Project
Founded by songwriter Ben Buddy Slack in 2017, the small charity has grown steadily over five years and helped more than 100 people write their own swan songs.
Due to rapidly increased demand last year, seven new songwriters have been brought in, and its fifth birthday fundraiser has been launched to help it enable more people to celebrate life in a song.
Image: The Swan Song Project
Creative director Ben said: “We are very keen to help more people either facing the end of their lives or dealing with bereavement to write their own songs.
“We believe the process of writing a song can help people come to terms with life, death, loss and bereavement by helping them to express what they feel and what they want to say. It can be deeply therapeutic – and fun too. Also, a song can live forever and carry precious messages, memories, comfort and joy to its listeners whenever they wish.
“We hope our landmark fifth birthday fundraiser will help us to help more people write their swan songs in future.”
The charity now has songwriters based in Leeds, Sheffield and York, and its home has recently been moved out of Ben’s garage to the famous Old Chapel Studies in Leeds.
The charity provides its service free to those who are often going through challenging times when they come in to write their songs.
Each participant has their own song professionally produced, recorded and presented to them in a digital format and CD.
Relying entirely on donations to fund its work, it is estimated that it costs between £400 and £500 to write and record one song. Donations for The Swan Song Project are welcomed via the charity’s website and their Just Giving page.
Leeds City Council have revealed the exciting new concept for Abbey House Museum.
Opened to the public almost 100 years ago in 1927, the historic Grade II listed museum originally served as Kirkstall Abbey’s gatehouse until the dissolution of the monasteries.
The plans for the site have been drawn up as part of a 'Reimagining Project' supported by Leeds City Council and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport Museum Renewal Fund.
The concept aims to create a more interactive visitor experience as the museum goes into its centenary year, with a main focus on intergenerational play for people of all ages to enjoy together.
Image: Supplied
Leeds’ rich collections will be at the heart of the museum, whilst the proposals include enhancing the museum’s traditional streets to enhance and include magical reveals that will let the public experience history through hands on activities.
The proposals mark a new direction for Abbey House Museum, which was put forward for potential closure in 2024 as part of measures to help Leeds City Council address unprecedented budget pressures.
A public appeal saw the council listen to the community, agreeing to keep it open and pledge to make steps to make the museum more sustainable in the future.
Image: Supplied
Councillor Salma Arif, Leeds City Council’s executive member for economy, said: “This is an exciting moment for the future of Abbey House Museum and one which we hope will be the beginning of a bold new direction for a special place which has been part of the Kirkstall community for centuries.
“During the public consultation on the museum’s future, what really came across was the passion and determination people have to see the site succeed, and we want to channel that enthusiasm into creating an attraction which can continue to welcome visitors for many years to come.”
One of Leeds’ most loved sushi restaurants has just opened a second location in the city
Clementine Hall
Because one Fern Modern Sushi wasn't enough, we've now got two.
And guess what? It's even better than the first.
Fern Modern Sushi located in the unassuming Central Arcade has become a firm foodie favourite after opening just a couple years ago.
Run by the wonderful Chef Fern, who you could say is somewhat of a local celebrity at this point, the restaurant is known for serving delicious sushi with the freshest fish possible and traditional Japanese dishes with modern flair.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Full with hungry punters no matter the time of day, it's no surprise that Chef Fern has just opened Fern Modern Sushi 2.0 on Park Row.
This beautiful new space is serving up all the classic Fern dishes, from stacked donburi bowls and perfectly rolled sushi to miso glazed cod and hearty bowls of ramen.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Different for this location, though, is their exclusive cocktail menu - so you can wine and dine to your heart's content.
The interior has also levelled up, complete with a huge open kitchen so you can pull up a chair and eat whilst watching the magic happen.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
And this isn't all that Chef Fern is up to, after opening Tori Nori on Vicar Lane a few months ago this will be her third restaurant in the city centre, and that is no easy feat.
She's even got another restaurant imminently opening in the Central Arcade which will be focused on traditional katsu dishes, and we wouldn't be at all surprised if she had something else lined up in the pipeline.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Fern Modern Sushi 2.0 officially opens on 19 November, but is open now for soft launch with limited bookings.
Clementine Hall -
11th April 2023 
