Aldi will be giving out dozens of £100 vouchers to parents throughout next month as part of a new dedicated fund.
With the summer now drawing to a close, and millions of children across Leeds and the country preparing to head back to school for the new term from next week, Aldi has unveiled its plans to support families struggling to cover costs through the launch of a new dedicated fund, aptly called the ‘Back to School Fund’.
The new fund has been launched after the supermarket recently conducted some research and found that parents, carers, and guardians spend just over £100, per child, during the back-to-school period – with around three quarters (73%) sadly admitting they worry about the costs that come along with the start of the new academic year.
Uniform, new shoes, pencil cases, and lunchboxes are just some of the common back-to-school expenses parents say they struggle to afford the most.
Image: Aldi UK
On top of this, the research also found that around £23 a week is spent, on average, throughout the school year on things like packed lunches and school snacks, and £90 on after school clubs or extra-curricular activities too.
So, as part of its new fund, Aldi has announced that it’ll be giving away £100 vouchers throughout September to help ease the financial burden on families.
In addition to this, the supermarket also is donating £20,000 to causes focused on supporting children – which includes schools and nurseries – through its community giving platform, Neighbourly, to help provide essentials to “families that need it most”.
Keen to apply for Aldi’s ‘Back to School Fund’? You’ll want to email AldiBTSFund@citypress.co.uk by this Friday (30 September 2024) – with 100 people chosen throughout the month.
Authentic Turkish street food is coming to Kirkgate.
Leeds city centre is gearing up to welcome yet another new food spot, and this one is all about homemade lahmacun, shawarma wraps and plenty of signature tahini sauce.
Tahin will open its doors at 10 Kirkgate, next to The Cat Cafe, and with signs already up we don't think it'll be long until they welcome their first customers.
The restaurant is listed as a Turkish restaurant that specialise in their homemade tahini sauce, hence the name.
According to the restaurant's Instagram profile which has been going for a few years, Tahin also specialises in home-made lahmacun wraps alongside shawarma wraps.
For anyone unfamiliar with lahmacun, the Turkish staple is often described as a thin, crispy flatbread topped with a richly seasoned mixture of minced meat, herbs and vegetables.
Wrapped up with fresh salad and sauces, it makes for a satisfying and flavourful lunch to enjoy on-the-go.
Their Instagram suggests that Tahin once existed before back in 2022, so although this may not be a completely new venture, we're nevertheless very glad to see them back.
Its location puts it right in the middle of one of Leeds' busiest areas, making it the perfect mid-shopping pit stop for those wandering around Briggate or stopping for a bite to eat before heading out on the town.
The new opening comes at a time when Leeds' food scene is continuing to expand, with a string of independent restaurants and street-food concepts opening across the city centre throughout 2026.
This Leeds bistro has been named one of the best restaurants in the UK to plan a staycation around
Clementine Hall
A much-loved neighbourhood Leeds restaurant has been given another major accolade.
There’s no shortage of brilliant places to eat in Leeds, but one Horsforth bistro has just been given a pretty huge seal of approval - and it might be worth planning your next staycation around.
The brilliant Bavette has been named one of the best neighbourhood restaurants in the UK to plan a staycation around by Condé Nast Traveller, appearing alongside a handpicked list of restaurants from across the country.
The list celebrates neighbourhood restaurants that are worth travelling for, with the magazine highlighting the growing appeal of venturing outside of busy city centres in search of smaller, more intimate places to eat.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
And Leeds has bagged itself a spot thanks to Bavette, and we can't say we're surprised.
The French-inspired neighbourhood bistro is run by chef Sandy Jarvis and his husband Clément Cousin.
Since opening in 2024, Bavette has quickly become one of the city's most talked-about restaurants, attracting diners far beyond its Horsforth home and scooping up accolades such as the 2024 Good Food Guide's Best UK Local Restaurant, a 2025 and 2026 Michelin Bib Gourmand, and a place in the 2026 National Restaurant Awards Top 100.
Condé Nast Traveller hails Bavette as "a true neighbourhood gem", saying: "The restaurant takes its cues from the couple’s London bistro roots, serving hearty yet elegant dishes made with seasonal ingredients.”
They finish by saying: "Reservations are hard to come by - but so worth it once you get your foot in the door."
We really couldn't agree more.
And while a trip to Horsforth might not technically count as a staycation for us Leeds locals, Bavette is certainly one restaurant worth crossing the city for.
Emily Sergeant -
29th August 2024 
