To see more photos of past events please have a look at our Facebook page
On Saturday 10 July Europe Direct Leeds attended the ever-popular Kirkstall Festival. It was a great day, thanks to everyone who was involved!
On Saturday 3 July 2010 football fiction writer Tom Palmer came to Leeds Central Library to celebrate the World Cup with fellow football and literature fans. There were quizzes, refreshments, face painting and even a penalty shoot-out. You can see more photos of our World Cup exhibition and event on our Facebook page.
At the end of June 2010 we kickstarted the summer by attending the Belle Isle Gala and Otley Carnival. During the summer you’ll be able to meet us at various Breeze events.
Meet the winners of Otley Carnival’s World Cup quiz:
Callum Illingworth: “I liked the bright and colourful stall at Otley Carnival”
Denise Chippindale: “I was impressed by all the useful information that Europe Direct could give me.”
Sam Pennington: “I learnt something new about other countries.”
What has Europe ever done for us?
On 14 March, The Young European Movement teamed up with Europe Direct for a discussion on What has Europe ever done for us? Read more here.
Europe Day 2010
On Saturday 8 May we were at Leeds’ Roundhay Park and had a great time talking to people, making hats and planting sunflower seeds to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Schuman Declaration. See photos on our Facebook page.
27 and 28 March 2010: Enterprise Show Leeds
Together with Business and Patent Information Services, Europe Direct Leeds attended the Enterprise Show in Leeds.
The Enterprise shows are designed to help anyone wishing to start or develop a business. Attendees had access to business advice and information from a diverse range of support organisations and attend a range of seminars and talks.
23 March 2010: New Start Garforth
Europe Direct Leeds sponsored this event as part of its action to support the Lisbon Strategy.
‘To make the EU the most competitive and dynamic knowledge-based economy in the world, capable of sustainable economic growth with more and better jobs and greater social cohesion’
Customers attended for expert advice, ideas and practical support about changing careers, starting a business, volunteering, new skills, money advice and lots more besides, both in the UK and in Europe.
2 March: Conference on Migration and Citizenship in a Changing Community
An interesting event with various speakers and workshops. Life is indeed not black and white!
3 March: Fairtrade Information Evening with a speaker from Traidcraft: FairtradeFlyer
This was an enjoyable and informative event. We had a great numbers of people attending and both the talk and the refreshments went down very well. Thanks to all involved!
Visit by Mark Cropper, Ambassador from DG Agri, European Commission to Allerton High and City of Leeds High Schools on Wednesday 20th January
Two Leeds High Schools, Allerton High and City of Leeds, yesterday enjoyed an informative and stimulating visit by an ambassador from the European Commission, Mark Cropper of DG AGRI.
As part of a nationwide programme of ambassadorial visits to schools in the UK, the European Commission are keen to stimulate awareness amongst young people in the way the EU works and the impact European decision making has on daily life.
The ambassador visited Leeds on 20th January and was accompanied by Lynette Falconer, Manager of the local Europe Direct Leeds. The visit was organised by Europe Direct Leeds, which is the local European information centre providing free information for the general public, based in Leeds Central Library.
At Allerton High School, the ambassador met Deputy Head Julie Brownrigg and Head teacher Elaine Silson,. He then talked to a post 16 group on EU Decision making and the KS4 group studying food technology enjoyed a presentation on ‘Your Body, Your Health’. Students learning Spanish were surprised to have some of their lesson discussion in Spanish!
At City of Leeds High school, Ms Jan Lloyd met the ambassador and showed him round the school. The AS Business Studies Class watched the ‘Your World’ presentation and found out about EC involvement in law making
Finally City of Leeds Year 11 Food technology class discussed ‘ Agricultural and food issues in the EU ‘ focusing on sustainable food, food labelling and other topics.
Some questions posed were:
- How could a river running through several countries be pollution free without the co-operation of all 27 Member States when one country’s industrial waste or pollution can be carried thousands of miles to another country.
- How the EU managed to reduce the cost of phone tariffs across Europe for mobile phone calls made when people are abroad.
- How food labelling helps
Question and answer sessions enabled the young people to gain a better understanding of how the European institutions work to implement decisions. The young people got a lot out of it and now have a broader knowledge of the workings of how the EU affects us.
On 16 December 2009 Leeds Central Library hosted an evening family event celebrating Polish art, tradition and culture with Polish music from a Violinist, string quartet and Folk band. They were accompanied by a group of school children from Leeds Catholic Polish School, who performed some traditional Polish dancing and sang some Christmas carols in Polish.
Storyteller Matthew Bellwood performed a traditional Polish folk tale and Leeds Museums provided a display of Polish artefacts including traditional baubles, games and an assortment of memorabilia.
Leeds Libraries, Museums and Europe Direct Leeds facilitated a Polish Christmas decorations workshop held at the Discovery Centre on Saturday 12th December 2009.
Both sessions were well attended. Participants were able to make decorations involving paper cuttings and egg painting. There was also a selection of objects on display (loaned from the Polish Centre).
European Christmas Party
On 19 December 2009 Europe Direct Leeds invited children and parents to celebrate Christmas with them. Providing entertainment, festive food from across Europe and information on European matters Europ Direct staff enjoyed an afternoon full of festive spirit, fun and laughter.
Junior Inventors Challenge
flyer: flyerInventorsChallenge
Celebrating the European Year of Creativity and Innovation, Europe Direct Leeds and the Business and Patents Service joined forces to deliver a series of 6 Junior Inventors Challenge workshops for young people at Horsforth School in Leeds.
Held at Horsforth Library, 14 young people had the chance to learn about inventions, which ones have succeeded and which ones have failed miserably, some of which have made a lot of money and some crazy ones. The challenge was for the children to come up with their own ideas and to see if they have been patented, how to protect ideas and how to get them to market. They also had to think of a catchy name and design a logo.
The final presentation and awards ceremony took place on 9 December 2009, with guest speaker Emily Cummins, serial ethical inventor and entrepreneur.
Leeds Summat
On Saturday 21st November, Europe Direct Leeds staff ran a stall at The Leeds Summat, http://www.summat.org.
Held at Leeds University, The Summat was ‘A gathering for inspiration, disruption & action.
It aimed to be a unique event: a bit like a very creative and participatory conference; an alternative, indoor festival; a learning experience; and a bit like a party too.
The Summat was a forum to get discussion going at a time when we’re ‘at many crossroads (environmental, political, social, communal) - and we CAN create better, new futures…’ The aim was ‘to gather different people from all backgrounds and corners of Leeds and Yorkshire in one place: to connect, talk, eat, play, learn, and laugh together - and start working out how to create a better world together’.
Europe Direct staff were able to let people know we’re here to help them find information on important issues being tackled by the EU
We spoke to about 80 people and attended 2 workshops.
Neighbourhood Management in Leeds: Empowering or Controlling?
David Smith, Leeds Voice (www.leedsvoice.org.uk)
Is the ‘team neighbourhood’ approach empowering or controlling?
What can we learn from the ways communities across West Yorkshire are developing more control over local decision making? Leeds Voice is coordinating community and voluntary sector input to Leeds Initiative’s Neighbourhood Policy Group and its task to develop community engagement in the city.
Suspect Communities
Featuring Pat Magee & Jo Berry
Members of Leeds Irish and Muslim communities compare their experiences of being ‘suspect communities’ at different points in recent history.
The Big Draw: Peace
Languages at Leeds Met were pleased to welcome pupils from Notre Dame Catholic Sixth Form College, Nab Wood School, Easingwold School and Hipperholme & Lightcliffe High School to the European Day of Languages on Monday 28th September 2009. The event was opened right outside of the new Carnegie Village on the Headingley Campus where Erasmus students and Language Ambassadors greeted the pupils in their own native languages. Europe Direct Leeds staff Lynette Falconer and John Armstrong supported the day providing information and goodie bags for the young people
The European Day of Languages, proclaimed by the Council of Europe On 6th December 2001, aims to encourage language learning across Europe and to foster the linguistic legacy of the European Year of Languages 2001. Each year, the European Day of Languages is celebrated to raise awareness of the importance of language learning in the global economy, to promote the rich linguistic and cultural diversity of Europe and to encourage lifelong language learning in and out of school.
In Languages at Leeds Met, we believe that languages provide learners with a world citizenship and there seems little doubt that poor language skills will eventually have a profound impact on monolinguals in facing new challenges of the global economy. We recognise that our local community represents a very healthy plurilingualism with enormous hidden talents in languages skills, especially among young people. Our strategies of internationalising learning include promoting and celebrating linguistic diversity by reinforcing the positive message among young people about the benefits of languages and encouraging them to take special pride in their language skills.
Dr Théophile Munyangeyo and Marion Lines the project leaders arranged this language festival which involved around 130 pupils from partner schools to help them to discover their hidden language talents and to showcase their existing language skills. The European Day of Languages is not just a celebration of European languages but instils an appreciation of the value of all languages.
During a busy morning of activities, pupils were exposed to a variety of language taster courses that included Arabic, Chinese, Italian and Finnish plus a quiz. After a lunch on the sunny Acre at the Headingley campus pupils were shown around the University facilities by Student and Language Ambassadors so that they could get an appreciation of what to expect from Leeds Met University life. The day closed with the Dean of the International Faculty, Professor Elspeth Jones awarding a number of prizes to Schools and individual pupils. Nab Wood School won the European Day of Languages Leeds Met trophy: as one of our Routes into Languages partner schools, they have made a major contribution to the promotion of languages in the region through their involvement in activities with Leeds Met staff and language ambassadors. Easingwold School came out top in our language quiz and went home with a digital voice recorder. Star trophies, hoodies and silver mugs were awarded to congratulate all our visitors for their enthusiasm for languages.
Celebrating 10 years of The Big Draw Europe Direct Leeds worked in partnership with Leeds Art Gallery on Saturday 10 October 2009. Inviting adults and children to share their peace messages, peaceful thoughts and memories on two large sheets of paper Europe Direct Leeds also promoted European policies and encouraged people to think about their memories of events leading to the Fall of the Berlin Wall 20 years ago.
Light Night Leeds: See Things Differently! Averting CO2de Red
As part of the yearly Light Night celebrations Europe Direct Leeds were involved in “Avert CO2de Red” at the Old Broadcasting House, Leeds on Saturday 9 October 2009.
“Avert CO2de Red” is a series of short films about Leeds, how the city affects the environment, and what Leeds people can do to change their city’s relationship with nature.
Working together with Environment Leeds and Leeds City Council we gave away free information packs containing presents such as wind-up torches, encouraged people to sign the Leeds Climate Pledge and spoke to them about what they can do to tackle climate change.
European Day of Languages
Europe Direct held several language taster sessions on the European Day of Languages on 26 September 2009.
Learners got an introduction to Urdu, Welsh, Turkish and Polish, as well as a taster of foreign newspapers and radio stations online.
During the summer half term Oakwood Library held a children’s event, using sunflower seeds donated by Europe Direct. The children made recycled newspaper plant pots and planted the seeds in soil (A librarian commented: “messy but fun”). They also did a European flag hunt around the library and all the children went home with a booklet of European climate stories.
On 8 August 2009 Europe Direct Leeds were part of a Sci Fi Extravaganza where children could explore Space and Space Travel, as part of the Summer Reading Challenge “Quest Seekers”.
Europe Direct Leeds attended a successful and enjoyable Kirkstall Festival on 11 July 2009. Thanks to all involved and to everyone who showed and interst or shared their own stories with us.
On 4 July 2009 Europe Direct Leeds attended a successful school fair at City of Leeds School. Together with Leeds Library and Information Service we attended to promote the European Union and what Europe Direct can offer to parents and children, along with library resources. Thanks to students and staff, we had a great time!
On 29 June 2009 Europe Direct Leeds attended a successful school event at Kirkstall Valley Primary School. The event was celebrating Health and Environment Day - students promoted sun safety and healthy eating, offered delicious food and entertainment. We attended to promote the European Union and what Europe Direct can offer to parents and children. Thanks to students and staff, we had a great time!
During April, May and June 2009 Europe Direct Leeds has worked in partnership with The Jean Monnet European Centre of Excellence (JMECE) at the University of Leeds, the Association des Etats Generaux des Etudiants de L’Europe and the European Movement to provide information to provide information to students and citizens in Leeds. They have organised several events to promote the European Elections and encourage people to vote.
- Elections event on Briggate, Leeds
On 14 May 2009 Europe Direct Leeds took part in an event that was organised by the library to celebrate Adult Learners Week. Members of staff provided language taster sessions in Welsh, German, Spanish and Portuguese. The student groups enjoyed all sessions thoroughly and most participants said they would look into learning a new language this year.As part of this event Europe Direct was also able to provide students with information about European travel and mobility matters.
9 May 2009 Europe Day at Hunslet Library - The celebration of the cultural diversity within Europe
Europe Day is an annual celebration of the diversity of cultures within Europe and provides an opportunity to come together and to learn more about the European Union. During the Milan Summit in 1985, EU leaders decided to celebrate 9 May as Europe Day.
This year, at Hunslet library we celebrated Europe Day by holding a coffee morning for the local community and for any one who visited the library that day. Everybody was welcomed to try a selection of different biscuits and chocolate from EU countries. These were popular with the visitors especially with the children who kept returning to the table for more biscuits. Over coffee people were invited to test their knowledge on Europe and the European Union by taking part in a quiz. Prizes included a bottle of wine for adults and chocolate for children.
It was a successful event and it was enjoyable to see the younger population and the older generation coming together and striking up conversation’s with each other which happened by coincidence over an informal coffee and biscuits morning, in celebration of Europe Day.
Written by Bronwyn Brady & Inga Kobzeva
