A young ballerina from one of the toughest housing estates in Leeds is about to have all her dancing dreams come true, thanks to the kindness of strangers who've pooled together to raise over £100,000 for her to go to school.
Thirteen year old Constance Bailey made headlines earlier this week after her mum, Laura, launched a crowd fundraiser on the website Go Fund Me pleading for help to cover the costs of her daughter's ballet school fees.
Constance had been accepted into The Hammond School in Chester, which is one of the country's top four ballet schools, but as her mum wrote on the crowdfunding page: "I am a single Mum in a council flat, I work full time in a low paid NHS job, I do not get maintenance from my ex husband, this is simply impossible for me to afford."
Explaining that school fees for the year totalled more than £30,000, she turned to the generosity of strangers for help, explaining that there are "no bursaries on offer and both Leeds council and my local Cllr Paul Drinkwater have told me there is no money to pay."
"The Wayne Sleep Foundation scheme for funding talented dancers to go to ballet scheme no longer exists," she added.
Constance auditioning for a place at the Northern Ballet summer school / Image: Academy of Northern Ballet
"I know it is a long shot, I know that people are very broke at the moment [...] But this is a real chance to change my child's life."
The story was covered by The Guardian on Monday, and following the paper's highlighting of the appeal thousands of readers flooded in to help cover the cost of Constance's education and board at the school - smashing the original £90,000 target out of the water.
At the time of writing, the amount raised on the page now stands at £105,169.
Sharing her immense thanks with all of those who donated, mum Laura said: “I am dumbstruck but so incredibly moved by the messages. I feel so very humbled."
“Constance hasn’t stopped smiling and grinning. She keeps saying: ‘I keep thinking I’m going to wake up and it was all a dream.’ Our emotions are overflowing. This really is beyond our wildest belief. People who have donated have changed Constance’s life forever.”
"You the great British public are incredible. We have reached our goal (plus expense of uniforms, insurance, travel and equipment etc).
"We have been on a roller coaster of emotions today and have been genuinely taken aback by the love, kindness and support people have expressed."
The funds will be used to fund three years board at the school, plus covering her yearly medical insurance and the cost of school unfiroms.
Anything leftover will be put into a new fund that mum Laura plans to start in Leeds to help other disadvantaged children go to dance school in the future.
Feature image - HANDOUT.
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Team behind Headrow House and Belgrave to take over and reopen Woodside just one year after opening
The foodie-favourite restaurant and bar is now under new management.
The eagle-eyed amongst you may have noticed that Woodside has sadly been closed for a few months.
We certainly have, and ever since December we've had a Woodside Sunday roast-shaped hole in our hearts that's been gasping for one of their glorious Marmite glazed parsnips.
But luckily, it has now been confirmed that Woodside isn't going anywhere as Superfriendz, the team behind Headrow House, Belgrave and many other top Leeds spots will be taking over. Hallelujah.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Woodside opened at the end of 2024 from the owners of The Brunswick and The Melbourne.
Labelling itself as a 'neighbourhood eatery and bar', Woodside quickly became a favourite amongst Leeds foodies and was known for its smoked meats, great cocktails and stellar Sunday roasts (do I need to talk about the parsnips again).
The menu was fresh and innovative, with oysters topped with kiwi granita and an incredibly garish banana split standing out as highlights.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
We hope that the new management continues to maintain Woodside's brilliance, but mainly we're just so glad that it's sticking around.
Superfriendz take care of a whole host of spots in the city, including proper Leeds favourites Headrow House, Belgrave Music Hall and Waterlane Boathouse.
Announcing the news to Instagram, Woodside said: "After a longer-than-expected winter break, Woodside is back and will reopen on Thursday 19th March!
"Your favourite neighbourhood bar and eatery returns with the same warm welcome, but an all new management team.
"We can’t wait to see you so keep your eyes on our socials for news on great food and drinks, big screen sports, quizzes and more.
"We’d also like to thank Sam and the original team for all the hard work that went into setting-up the venue. We hope we can do it justice."
A new female-founded business has opened in Leeds and it’s a trinket-lover’s paradise
Clementine Hall
Lisa Angel has just opened inside the Victoria Gate and it’s an Aladdin’s Cave full of jewellery, prints, gifts and everything in between.
The best part? It’s a female-founded brand that has chosen our wonderful city for their first Yorkshire site. We absolutely don't blame them.
Founded in 2004 by Lisa hand making jewellery which she sold at craft fairs local to her Norfolk home, the business has gone from strength to strength every since.
The brand is now a recognised part of the British high street landscape, boasting seven other stores across Norfolk, Suffolk, and the Midlands.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Shoppers can expect beautifully handcrafted jewellery, unique trinkets and wonderful staff who are open to have a natter.
It's the perfect shop for when you don't exactly know what to buy that someone special, just pop in here and you'll be hit with a wave of inspiration immediately.
We could've genuinely spent a good hour in there and come out with a much lighter wallet.
Lisa herself spoke about the opening: “As an independent retailer, we are thrilled to launch in a destination with such a reputation as Victoria Leeds.
"We believe retail should remain grounded in inspiration and discovery, and we look forward to bringing just that to the vibrant city of Leeds, in our first store in the north.”
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Managing Director James Moody said: “We're incredibly excited to be opening our first northern showcase store in such a prestigious location.
"Victoria Leeds represents exactly the kind of vibrant retail destination where we can bring the full Lisa Angel experience to new customers. This is a significant milestone for us as we continue to grow our retail presence."
Georgina Pellant -
24th August 2021 
