The Black Health Initiative (BHI) have finally received their National Diversity Award win after months of postponing the event due to coronavirus-related restrictions.
The Black Health Initiative won the 2020 National Diversity Community Organisation Award for race, religion and faith in September and have only recently celebrated their win at the Polish Centre Leeds.
The team invited supporters and volunteers join them last week to formally enjoy the national recognition of their work and celebrate their community. The evening supported Leeds-based DJs and gave the BHI a chance to thank all of those involved in the programme.
The 2020 National Diversity Awards had been moved multiple times due to the pandemic and ongoing restrictions, but the ceremony was finally held in September in Liverpool.
The award recognised the dedicated support that the BHI offer the community and the organisation have now been able to celebrate their win. The team were 'truly humbled' to have their work recognised nationally and to receive an award from 60,000 nominations.
The BHI is a community engagement organisation working towards equality of access to health and social care within Leeds and the surrounding areas for disadvantaged communities.
Despite having no core funding, BHI influence positive change their their partnership with NHS trusts and foundations, cancer charities, education providers and other voluntary organisations and were praised for their ongoing support in the community.
The National Diversity Award highlighted their successful work with services locally, regionally and nationally.
The awards are known to be the UK's largest diversity award show and was held in conjunction with ITV News to highlight role models and community organisations across the UK.
The National Diversity Awards 2021 shortlisted nominees have also been published, with the awards set to take place in early 2022.
Matthew Jones from Leeds Law Society is amongst the 2021 National Diversity Award nominees for his work as a positive role model in the LGBT community. His work has put the Leeds Law Society at the forefront of diversity and inclusion in the Leeds Legal Sector and nationally.
Feature Image - Black Health Init
Leeds
Leeds’ first sauna and ice bath cafe is coming to the city centre this spring
Get ready to take the plunge Leeds, as a community-led sauna and ice bath concept is on its way.
Hidden behind a railway arch in Saxton Gardens, Kontrast is gearing up to bring its popular sauna and ice bath concept to the city.
Following the huge success of its Manchester site, Kontrast Leeds will combine saunas, ice baths and a cafe designed to bring wellness into everyday life.
The Leeds space will feature two traditional saunas, one infrared saunas and four ice baths each varying in temperature between 3 and 13 degrees.
Images: Supplied
Plunge pools can be enjoyed solo or shared, depending on what guests choose, giving people the opportunity to shape each session around exactly what they need that day.
To suit different moods and preferences, Kontrast Leeds will include both a social sauna and a silent sauna, giving guests the option to come for conversation or reflection.
Single sessions will cost just £12 for 45 minutes, with 90-minute sessions from £20.
Image: Supplied
Known for making sauna and ice feel more accessible, welcoming and community-driven, Kontrast has grown beyond regular sessions to become a base for recurring events. These include their live ambient DJ set event, Unwind, which celebrates local talent, and their weekly run club, both of which the team hopes to bring to Leeds as part of building a similar sense of community in the city.
The Leeds site builds on everything the team has learned from Kontrast in Manchester.
Alongside the core sauna, Ice, cafe offering, the new site will include improved facilities, more spacious sauna provision and additional ice baths meaning more room for people to get involved.
Myles Smith announces HUGE arena gig in Leeds this year
Thomas Melia
Singer-songwriter Myles Smith has just announced his biggest headline tour and is set to play a huge arena gig in Leeds this year.
Quit ‘Stargazing’ and get ready to fight for tickets as Myles Smith has just announced he’ll be visiting Leeds later this year for his biggest arena gig to date.
Known for hits like ‘Nice To Meet You’, ‘Stay (If You Wanna Dance)’ and ‘Wait For You’, this BRIT School graduate is now heading on the road for some headline shows across the UK.
Recognised for his folk-pop sound, Smith has built quite a name for himself just three or so years into his career, with solo efforts and a few collaborations under his belt.
Myles Smith is heading to First Direct Bank Arena, Leeds, on tour this year / Credit: Press shots (supplied)
Recently, the Luton-born artist collaborated with some well-known names like Shaboozey on their track ‘Blink Twice’ and even features on a new single from former One Direction member Niall Horan titled ‘Drive Safe’.
It was only last year that the ‘Stargazing’ songwriter visited Leeds, bringing his high-energy hits to O2 Academy back in February.
Now, Smith is ready to tackle an arena crowd and has chosen Leeds First Direct Bank Arena and is expected to raise the roof when 13,500 fans flock to the star’s show this winter.
Titled after his upcoming album My Mess, My Life, My Heart, Smith will be playing a variety of well-known and brand new hits when he makes his way up North.
Fans who are signed up to the official artist presale can get exclusive access to tickets from Wednesday, 25 March at 10am, with the window closing on Friday, 27 March at 9am.
Meanwhile, general admission tickets go live by 10 am that same Friday (27 Mar).
Myles Smith is embarking on his ‘My Mess, My Life, My Heart’ tour this winter and visiting First Direct Bank Arena, Leeds on Sunday 8 November – tickets and more info HERE.
Sophie Smith -
13th October 2021 
