A new 'dog walk and talk' group has been launched in Leeds with a focus on mental health and wellbeing.
Dog walkers from the Leeds LGBT+ Dog Walkers group have created an inclusive space to openly talk about mental health.
After Tom Mansell passed away in 2020 after battling depression, friends of the property entrepreneur wanted to raise money for mental health charities and help others to speak out about their internal battles.
If you are used to getting out and about with your four-legged friend you will know how refreshing it can be to get outdoors early in the mornings or late at night and reflect.
But it can also be an overwhelmingly lonely period for some, so creating a safe space for anyone to come along and speak honestly about their wellbeing and mental health will go a long way.
The Leeds LGBT+ Dog Walkers have officially assigned three of their walks as 'walk and talk' events, and you don't even need a dog to attend the mental-health-focused events.
The walks will raise money for MindOut, a mental health charity for the LGBTQ+ community over a period of six weeks but the walkers have another goal in mind too.
The group wants to show people that they're not alone, particularly those within the LGBTQ+ community.
Danny Silk, posted the launch of the walk and talk events, stating that:
"Tom was a well known person in Leeds and his family and friends loved and miss him dearly.
There’s a lot of stigma surrounding suicide and depression, we are hoping to create a safe space once a month during and after our walks where we will be sitting down for a coffee to talk or just listen about other people’s experiences with the above."
The first 'dog walk and talk' event was held over the weekend, where Leeds Mind and Tom's family attended to show their support and raise awareness for community mental health services.
The dog walking group already have a Facebook group of 300 members and regularly enforce this feeling of belonging through shared memes and advice about their dogs.
The group hold weekly dog walking events, meeting at mutually agreed locations around Leeds city centre.
To join the Leeds LGBT+ Dog Walkers on their 'walk and talk' events in memory of Tom Mansell, or to simply show your support for the cause, visit their dedicated Facebook page.
UK singer-songwriter Tom Odell is set to play a huge outdoor Leeds show this summer.
Sounds of the City is making a triumphant return this summer and we couldn't be more excited.
Being added to the already star-studded lineup is Tom Odell, a Chichester-born singer-songwriter known for his heartfelt piano ballads and distinctive tone.
You may also know him from a certain John Lewis advert which made sure there were no dry eyes in the house.
The announcement follows a huge year for Tom Odell, who released his latest album A Wonderful Life and completed a major UK arena tour.
Known for his emotionally charged, piano‑led anthems, Tom Odell first rose to prominence after winning the BRITs Critics’ Choice Award in 2013 and has since become one of the UK’s most successful contemporary artists, with massive global hits like “Another Love”, which has now surpassed three billion streams on Spotify.
The ‘Another Love’ singer will perform on Saturday 4 July and will be supported by Matt Maltese.
Already announced for Sounds of the City are Dylan Gossett, Alabama Shakes, Wet Leg, The Human League and The Cribs.
The Millennium Square gigs are always fantastic fun, with previous acts including Blossoms, McFly and Mika bringing huge audiences to the city.
Tickets go on sale this Friday 6 February at 10am and you can get your tickets here.
Pre-sale starts this Thursday 5 February which you can access by signing up to Millennium Square's mailing list here.
Award-winning Leeds restaurant announces shock closure just months after opening
Clementine Hall
Emba in Leeds will be closing its doors with the owner blaming rising costs and pressure on the hospitality sector.
Back in April last year, one of Leeds' top restaurants The Owl closed its doors.
Run by renowned Chef Liz Cottam, The Owl was reimagine into Emba - a trendy restaurant tat bridged 'the gap between cosy bar and vibrant dining room'.
To open Emba, Cottam opened a Crowdfunder where supporters would be awarded with prizes such as VIP dinners and merch depending on how much they donated.
But sadly just months after opening, Emba is to close permanently.
Cottam confirmed the sad news with a statement shared with customers over the weekend, saying she was completely "heartbroken".
She said: “This is no longer the right time to own independent restaurants like Emba,” she said. “Under the current conditions they cannot survive and the recent budget confirmed what so many of us already knew: no meaningful help is coming for hospitality.
"The experience of being here and the harsh financial reality of running a business here no longer stack up.
"Being award winning, popular, admired and loved no longer means profitable and as an industry if we’re honest most of us have not truly been okay since Covid."
She signed off the statement promising to return to the restaurant world, she said: “What I do know is this, I am not done. I will keep cooking, keep creating and keep finding ways to do the thing I love.”
Sophie Smith -
15th November 2021 
