The Ukraine Aid Appeal, sponsored by the Leeds Charity Lunch, is now its way to Ukraine.
Four vans with around 5,000 shoeboxes have left Leeds Irish Centre and are on their way to be donated to children and adults in Ukraine, thanks to local donations and volunteers.
Children from the local area have donated their own toys and written letters in both English and Ukraine in hopes of providing some emotional support to those in the country.
Organised by founder of Vulnerable Citizens Support, Haydn Jessop and fellow volunteer John Gibbons, the pair collaborated with the Leeds Irish Centre's Business Men and Women's Charity Lunch to find more vans to help transport the donations over into Europe.
John Gibbons and Haydn Jessop. / Image: Leeds Irish Centre
Volunteer John Gibbons said in a video from Leeds Irish Centre: "it's just been something that came out of the blue" and spoke of the situation in Ukraine. "We decided to do something about it we got our volunteers together and this is it", pointing to the vans ready to take over the donations.
It is expected that the vans will reach Ukraine early next week, with an anticipated journey time of between five and a half and six full days of travelling.
Before the volunteers left with the donations, Cannon Eugene Mcguilicuddy led a blessing, thanking "the hospitality of the Irish Centre and the hospitality of the great people of Leeds here and the general public".
Image: Leeds Irish Centre
Leeds United legend Rob Burrow MBE and father Geoff Burrow attended the event to 'wave off' the donations. Excited to be a part of this initiative, Geoff Burrow spoke at length on behalf of himself and his son about the cause:
"It's important to the world, what's happening and its initiatives like this that mean so much to me.
"To be going over to Ukraine and delivering these boxes, these shoe boxes, which is a brilliant initiative, shows the kindness of Leeds Irish Centre and Leeds Charity Lunch.
"The things that they do for people, they never stop- it's quite breathtaking how kind they are."
Father of the former-Leeds United player added, "In five and a half days, maybe six days they'll be over there and it wont be such a nice day like it is today so god bless" and tweeted a good luck message later that day.
We were privileged yesterday to be invited to the wonderful Leeds Irish Centre and wave off 4 vans full of love and items for the brave people of Ukraine. Leeds at its very best 💙safe journeys and God Bless Ukraine 🇺🇦 people x
The Shoebox Appeal is still continuing to collect donations to send to Ukraine. At present, any donations are encouraged but clothing, toiletries, toys, supportive letters from children and first aid will be particularly welcomed.
Donations should be dropped off at the Leeds Irish Centre and the organisation is also able to help provide more information about the cause to those that need it.
Feature Image- Leeds Irish Centre
News
Plans have been revealed for ‘Sheffield’s smallest cinema’, plus record shop and gallery space
Sheffield based curator and archivist Alex Wilson is taking over a refurbished Victorian unit down the historic Chapel Walk.
The space will be transformed into a record shop, gallery space and micro cinema dubbed 'Sheffield's Smallest Cinema'.
The space will be rooted in, and be a champion of, Sheffield/Yorkshire/Northern cultural heritage; focusing specifically on sound, moving image, design and photography.
Titled 'Memory Dance', the opening exhibition, WE'LL MISS THEM WHEN THEY'RE GONE, will reboot a popular display held on The Moor, Sheffield back in 2012.
Images: Supplied
The exhibition will explore the history of record shops in the city, from Bradleys to Virgins, and includes original 78 RPM sleeves, old and new record shop bags, related ephemera from lost Sheffield vinyl retailers, alongside prints by designer Simon Robinson responding to the imagery of these old sleeves.
They're also asking the Sheffield community to come down with anything relating to the history of Sheffield record shops and if suitable, Memory Dance can scan the items on site and hand back a digital file. Or, they can hang them in the venue for the duration of the exhibition.
The ground floor will also open its racks for the first time to a curated selection of used vinyl for sale drawn from some of the best collections the city has to offer, with a real focus on Sheffield artists and labels past/present to carry the legacy forward.
At the end of June, the walls will be refreshed for the first ever exhibition telling the amazing story of 'SHEFFIELD CABLEVISION TV (1972-76)'.
With newly printed photography from surviving staff members and crew, plus archive artefacts and merchandise, the Memory Dance micro cinema space will also be launched with an exclusive, rarely seen collection of Cablevision TV Station archive video.
Memory Dance at Chapel Walk will soft launch on 05.06.26, and you can find out more here.
Leeds’ most famous pub has announced the return of its annual FREE Beer Festival this summer
Clementine Hall
Whitelock’s Ale House has announced the return of its annual Beer Festival - hoorah!
There’s nothing quite like a nice fresh pint, and we all know Whitelock’s Ale House know how to pour a good one.
So it's with great glee that we can fill you in on their upcoming Beer Festival which will be returning to the iconic pub from Thursday 18 to Sunday 21 June 2026.
The four-day festival will celebrate the best of independent brewing in Leeds, with beers sourced exclusively from local breweries.
Featured breweries will include Northern Monk, Kirkstall Brewery, Anthology, Amity Brew Co. and more.
Known as the oldest pub in Leeds, Whitelock’s Ale House has long championed independent beers and local brewing culture.
Image: Supplied
This year’s festival aims to spotlight the strength and diversity of the city’s brewing scene, with the tagline 'Beer tastes better up north!'
Beer will be pouring throughout the weekend across Whitelock's Ale House and The Turk's Head, with further brewery announcements and festival details set to be shared in the coming weeks via their Instagram.
The best part? Entry to the festival is completely free.
Talking about this year’s festival, General Manager Beth said: “Beer has always been at the heart of Whitelock’s, so this felt like the right year to celebrate both the breweries on our doorstep and the city we’ve called home for more than 300 years.
"Leeds has a brilliantly strong independent beer scene right now, and we’re looking forward to showcasing some of the best breweries the city has to offer across the weekend.”
You can find out more about Whitelock's Ale House and their fabulous Beer Festival here via their website. Cheers to that!
Sophie Smith -
15th April 2022 
