Some students at the University of Leeds have been offered £10,000 in cash and a year's free accommodation to defer their place for a year.
The offer has been made by the university to students wanting to study business and law in the city.
This year's A-level results saw an unprecedented number of high grades, which has led to an overwhelming number of students meeting the terms of their conditional offers.
However, the university doesn't have room for them all - so it's offering incoming business and law undergrads a sizeable cash sum to put their university attendance back a year.
The university has also stressed that it will secure the place of any students that do not want to take up the offer.
Interim Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Peter Jimack said that the offer was being made to "help ensure the highest quality of education and experience at the schools of business and law," ITV reports.
Unsurprisingly, quite a few University of Leeds alumni have been having their say on Twitter since the announcement was made and there are some interesting ideas floating around as to how they would have used the money if given the opportunity at the time.
Some have commented that they feel such amounts of money would be better suited to a hardship fund, as opposed to being given out to students in cash, whilst others are being very supportive of the offer - acknowledging that it is a "prettty great deal given the astronomic cost of uni"
Twitter user @frankkilopezzz said "Sounds like a great deal. I’d defer and use the 10k to see the world"
Whilst @aakhtr said: "This is what happens when education is based wholly on market values, greed and profit. Thatcherism. It makes a perverted sense for Leeds University to do this as they, still make a profit on student fees long term. Ethics & student welfare don't matter."
And Twitter user @adiranbethune said: "If this was me, I'd consider myself blessed by the Gods, take the £10k and put it all on black in the casino because clearly I cannot lose!!!! I'd then invest my winnings in a student flat in Leedsand live rent free until I graduate. The end."
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Beloved Leeds coffee brand announce opening date for ANOTHER city centre site
One of Leeds' most iconic brands is expanding yet again.
North Star Coffee Roasters are one of the early pioneers of specialty coffee in the North of England and among the UK’s first B Corp-certified coffee roasters.
They've been keeping the people of Leeds awake since 2013, and you'll find their coffee across the country as well as at their current city centre locations.
And there really is no stopping them as just one month after opening a lovely kiosk in the famed Victoria Quarter, North Star is opening another site on Great George Street. Hurrah!
Images: The Hoot Leeds
You can find the new North Star opposite the LGI, sporting its fabulous bright colours that will be sure to wake you up even if the coffee doesn't.
At this site there will be all the caffeinated beverages as well as house-made bakes and sandwiches available to grab-and-go.
And we don't have long to wait to check it out, as they'll be opening their doors this Monday 27 July.
Image: The Hoot Leeds
“While it’s easy to focus on the challenges facing hospitality, we still believe deeply in the role that cafés play in our city's community,” said Holly Kragiopoulos, CEO of North Star Coffee Roasters.
“They are places where people come together, to meet, to pause, to connect. Choosing to invest now is a reflection of our belief in Leeds, and in the long-term value of creating spaces people genuinely want to spend time in.”
“These new sites allow us to create meaningful opportunities for both new and existing team members,” Holly added.
“Hospitality is ultimately about people - both those we serve and those who make the experience possible. As a Leeds-born business, we’re incredibly proud to continue investing in our city. The support we’ve had from day one is what’s made this growth possible.”
Bus operator partners with Leeds hospitals to help mums-to-be make vital appointments
Clementine Hall
First Bus is partnering with Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust to support vulnerable women during pregnancy.
The bus operator is providing an incredible 1,000 day tickets to help vulnerable mums-to-be make appointments.
The free travel passes can be provided by maternity teams to women mainly from minority or disadvantaged communities, helping them to attent important check-ups and appointments.
A recent review of records estimates that 100 pregnant women every month struggle to make hospital appointments as they have no access to funding support or face other barriers to transport.
Image: Supplied
First Bus will provide 100 day tickets per month until March 2027 for midwives to distribute to women based on travel needs following a financial assessment which is carried out during their initial appointment with the maternity team.
Nada Abdul-Majid, Specialist Midwife Health Equity at the Trust, said: “I’ve seen first-hand how women struggle to get to their hospital appointments if they don’t have enough money to use public transport.
“Our Haamla team carry out home visits to these vulnerable women however, it is important that families are able to travel to the hospital for scans, doctors’ appointments, labour and obstetric emergencies.”
Zoe Hands, Managing Director of First Bus Franchising which includes the West Yorkshire region, said: “Supporting communities in the areas we serve means, where we can, being able to assist people in all stages of life. Nothing can be more important than helping to ensure the health and welfare of mothers-to-be and the benefits this will bring to their newborn children.
“We’re pleased to be working in partnership with the Trust and seeing the positive impact our travel support can make to the lives of vulnerable women in Leeds.
“We’re really grateful to First Bus for providing these tickets for women so they can receive maternity care without worrying about the cost of travel to and from appointments,” added Nada. “This will make a real difference to mothers and babies.”
Georgina Pellant -
12th August 2021 
