Leeds

Rob Burrow and Kevin Sinfield are writing a children’s book about friendship

The book will explain "there are many ways to be strong".

Georgina Pellant Georgina Pellant - 20th July 2023

Rob Burrow and Kevin Sinfield are writing a children's book about friendship, it has been revealed.

The two rugby league legends, who have inspired the world with their unbreakable friendship, will collaborate on a new book called Try to highlight male friendships and show "there are many ways to be strong".

Designed for men and boys in particular, but for everyone to read and enjoy, the new book will explain that these "friendships can be based on love and vulnerability", according to Burrow.

The former Leeds Rhinos star continued: "True friends like Kevin are always with their friends even when times are tough.

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"I used to love reading bedtime stories to my three children, usually multiple times because they would try and delay their bedtime," he added.

The new title will be preceded by another book for children and adults called With You Every Step: A Celebration Of Friendship, set to be released in November 2023.

This November release will see illustrators reproduce the former teammates' words using black line artwork.

England rugby union defence coach Sinfield said: "To create a book based around friendship, we hope it will help many parents, not just fathers, connect with their children and provide an insight into what true friendship is."

Read more: The Leeds sports bar serving cheesy pizza fondues and loaded tater tots

Featured image - Leeds Rhinos (via Instagram)

Leeds

Prime Minister Andy Burnham is opening Health and Social Care North in Leeds

Danny Jones Danny Jones New health and social care north office in leeds

Newly-appointed Prime Minister Andy Burnham has shared plans for a brand-new Health and Social Care 'North' in Leeds as one of his first big plans as leader.

Set to be based right here in the city centre, the new Yorkshire base for the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) will serve as a Northern hub for the crucial cog in the public sector.

This comes not long after Andy Burnham announced and opened 'No. 10 North' at his previous base over in Greater Manchester, which took barely a week to get up and running.

Headed up by current Health Secretary Yvette Cooper, the initiative will be building on the vision outlined not only by Burnham but on the groundwork laid by her predecessor and now Defence Minister, Wes Streeting.

As per a report by LBC, an insider close to Cooper - the Labour MP for Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley - told the outlet that this big step for the North "will help bring decision-making closer to the communities we serve and strengthen our ability to improve health outcomes across the country."

"She has asked the Department to draw up plans that would complement the plans for Number 10 North on the other side of the Pennines", they continued, "allowing  Ministers to work from Quarry House [in LS2] in the North, and strengthening DHSC operations in other parts of the country."

With confirmation now coming that the old 'Quarry on the Hill' has been chosen as the satellite station for the soon-to-be-overhauled Department, the selection makes sense given its current government operations.

As well as being a major headquarters for the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), it also has offices reporting to DHSC, NHS staff and other parts of the civil service.

In addition, it's also worth noting that the PM has just announced another big change to the education sector, too, essentially trying to redress the balance between "academic and technical" training.

Great news for everyone looking to seek out solid and hopefully more stable careers across the nation.

https://thehootleeds.com/news/the-government-has-announced-fundamental-changes-to-the-uks-education-system/
Well worth a read through.

Building on Leeds' existing offices, the idea is that this will ensure more considered development across more regions and specific communities, West Yorkshire being just one of them.

Many localities still understandably feel like they fall foul of being somewhat overlooked, especially up in this part of the country.

But, as alluded to above, the hope is that this continued sense of devolution and efforts to work more directly with local governments should help bridge the gap between Whitehall, Westminster and the rest.

As the PM said in his first speech at his new Northern premises, he said a big part of his ethos is about "putting power in every postcode" and making a change from things just feeling "like an argument with people in the centre of government and people having a to and from all of the time."

While official opening dates etc for Health and Social Care North are still yet to be revealed, the former Mayor of Greater Manchester has insisted that he will be working from No.10 North at least once a week. What do you make of it all, Leeds?

Read more:

Featured Images — r44flyer (via Flickr)/Samantha Cheverton (via Geograph)/Mtaylor848 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Leeds

DMA’S announce VERY intimate Leeds gig ahead of major tour

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson

DMA'S have just announced details of some of their most intimate gigs yet, with the Aussie trio set to perform at record stores and tiny music venues around the UK.

The indie-rock heavyweights have just announced a handful of very intimate shows this summer, ahead of their much larger tour in 2027.

DMA'S will be treating fans to up-close acoustic gigs in cities including Leeds, Manchester, Middlesbrough, Dundee and Bristol.

The shows are to celebrate the release of their self-titled fifth album, which is due for release on 21 August.

DMA'S will be playing the outstore gigs the week after the album is released, kicking things off in Kingston on 24 August.

Then they'll head out to some of the nation's finest record stores and intimate event spaces, including a stop at The Wardrobe in Leeds.

DMA'S' Leeds gig will take place at The Wardrobe in partnership with Crash Records, giving fans the chance to catch the trio in one of the city's best-loved intimate live music venues.

The announcement follows the release of the band’s latest single, Killing Time, a fast-paced, euphoric and instantly infectious anthem that continues to build anticipation for the album.

This is a rare chance to see DMA'S – Johnny Took, Matt Mason and Tommy O’Dell – in an intimate setting, when they normally dominate some of the biggest stages in the world.

DMA’S have accrued more than 500 million streams across their catalogue, four multi-platinum singles, multiple ARIA Award nominations, and 13 songs in triple j’s coveted Hottest 100.

These intimate outstores mean fans won't have to wait all the way until 2027 to see the boys live again, when they'll be heading out on a much bigger UK tour.

Tickets are on sale now HERE.

DMA'S intimate record store shows

  • Monday 24 August – Kingston, Circuit (with Banquet)
  • Tuesday 25 August – Manchester, The Yard (with Crash & Piccadilly)
  • Wednesday 26 August – Middlesbrough, Empire (with Jacaranda)
  • Thursday 27 August – Dundee, Fat Sams (with Assai)
  • Saturday 29 August – Leeds, The Wardrobe (with Crash)
  • Sunday 30 August – Norwich, Waterfront (with HMV)
  • Monday 31 August – Bristol, Rough Trade

Featured image: Roman Jody

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