Leeds is a city that reduces the impact of poverty and helps families who need it.
Children, young people and families experiencing the impact of poverty feel they are supported and receive the help they need. They have their basic rights and needs met.
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This page is regularly updated, but if you think something is wrong/missing please get in touch…
Are you worried about a child?
To report a child protection concern, you can call Children’s Social Work Services on 0113 222 4403 (Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm, except Wednesdays when we’re open from 10am).
More information: Report a child protection concern | Leeds.gov.uk
What is Wish 8?
Wish 8 in the Council
There is work taking place within Leeds City Council, lead by our ‘Wish Lead’, on Wish 8 right now. The short-term priorities are:
- To develop and share the Child Poverty Strategy and to feedback to children and young people.
- To engage ambassadors in the work of the council to mitigate the impact of poverty and how they can collaborate with projects initiatives and programmes.
- To improve communication to children and young people regarding how Leeds can support them through the work of the 12 wishes.
The long-term priorities are:
- To establish a mechanism to consolidate the support we offer CYP in Leeds in relation to poverty.
- To establish effective ways of communicating our offer to CYP and families in Leeds (CAN).
- To work together as a city and support young people into adulthood – to thrive and succeed.
Download the Wish 8 badges to use in your e-signatures or on resources:
Blog posts about Wish 8:
Coming soon! Spotlight on the Leeds School Uniform Exchange
The updated Child Poverty Strategy
Coming soon! Spotlight on PE Partner Healthy Holidays provision across Leeds
Free/low cost things to do
In this section of the webpage, you will find websites which promote free opportunities for children and families.
Follow Child Friendly Leeds on social media for the most up to date information. We regularly post fun, free and low-cost things to do across Leeds:
Have you asked your child(ren)’s school about after-school clubs?
North Leeds Mumbler has a specific page dedicated to ‘free & low cost activities’
Child Friendly Leeds provide guides for the Easter, Summer and Christmas school holidays. All activities are free or low cost.
You can borrow books with a free library card and make the most of regular free club and activities for children and young people. With your library card, you can also download e-books and magazines.
A Breeze pass costs £5 per year. Once you have a membership, you can access discounts across the city.
Leeds List provides a list of 40 free things to do in Leeds.
There are 65 Community Parks across Leeds. Find your closest park here
Studio 12 is part of Leeds Libraries. It provide free access to production, computers and training, that young people aged 16-30 can use.
Download the app to give you ideas for 50 things to do (for 0-4s)
Play Streets are a free way for residents to close their road for up to 4 hours so that the community can use it to play and socialise.
Leeds Youth Service run sessions which support the personal and social development of 11-17 year olds through engagement, education, and empowerment. See below for contact details.
Youth Service contact details:
| General Enquiries: | Youth.service@leeds.gov.uk |
| Service Manager: | James.mccarthy@leeds.gov.uk |
| East North East Provision: | James.mccarthy@leeds.gov.uk |
| South, South East Provision: | Glen.OMalley@leeds.gov.uk |
| West North West Provision: | Stephen.Harper@leeds.gov.uk |
Financial support
In this section of the webpage, there are links to websites that can support with budgeting, debt and criteria for different allowances.
The money information centre has a range of information and has advice around money, debt and benefits.
This webpage on the Leeds Local Offer shows financial support available for people with SEND.
Help through Hardship can “advise which benefits you’re entitled to, guide you through any claims, and help you with emergency issues.” Call 0808 208 2138 to speak to a friendly adviser, open Monday to Friday 9-5.
Try the Money Helper budget calculator via the Money Information Centre.
StepChange provides free debt advice and support, including help with welfare rights and benefits. They offer a benefits calculator to help individuals determine which benefits they are eligible for.
The NHS Healthy Start scheme helps pregnant women and new mums to buy healthy food (milk, fruit & vegetables) through vouchers.
Support with food
In this section of the webpage, you can find out about support with food, such as food vouchers, parcels and community kitchens.
Have you asked your child(ren)’s school about whether they have a foodbank or support with food?
The NHS Healthy Start scheme helps pregnant women and new mums to buy healthy food (milk, fruit & vegetables) through vouchers.
This website has the ‘Leeds Food Aid Provision Map’ which contains lots of information about places you can access emergency food across the city, including food banks and community kitchens.
This link will take you to the page where you can apply for Free School Meals, if your child is in Year 3 and above. (In Reception, Year 1 and 2 they automatically receive Infant free school meals)
This Family Food and Wellbeing leaflet has lots of information in one place about food banks, the Healthy Holidays programme and Healthy Start.
This website provides support with breastfeeding with videos and details of support groups.
Support with your wellbeing
In this section of the webpage, you can find places to go for support with your mental health and wellbeing.
Touchstone are based in South Leeds and provide a range of services to improve health and wellbeing. They are a major provider of mostly BME services.
Family hubs are designed to support families by bringing together a range of services into one easy-to-access space. From parenting advice, health support, education guidance, or help navigating local services.
Chat Health is a confidential service for 11-19 year olds to speak to a qualified health professional. They can talk about issues including sexual health, emotional health and wellbeing, bullying, healthy eating and general health concerns.
This is the ‘tools to support’ page of the Relationship Matters website, which helps families and couples (whether together or separated) understand and build healthy relationships.
Leeds Domestic Violence Service has a 24 hour helpline: 0113 246 0401. The link will take you to the LDVS support page.
This page takes you through different organisations who can support with mental health, wellbeing and building resilience.
Solace support the mental health and wellbeing of Refugees and Asylum Seekers.
Support around the house
In this section of the webpage, you can find out more about charities that help with furniture, as well as information about support with bills
You can find support around housing and energy consumption on the Money Information Centre webpage.
Zarach are a charity who provide beds and basics for children experiencing poverty. You must be referred to Zarach so speak to your health visitor/ childrens centre about this.
Yorkshire Water offer support with paying your water bill.
This is the MindWell support page for housing issues.
Leeds and Moortown Furniture Store support people in Leeds with free furniture.
The Leeds Community Trust can provide goods such as cookers, beds, bedding, carpets, washers, removal costs etc. Anything that people desperately need but have no means of paying.
This End Furniture Poverty page provides information and guidance for families who are unable to afford furniture and white goods.
Support in your community
In this section of the webpage, you can find out more about the support in Community Hubs.
There are 26 Community Hubs across Leeds offering support and services.
You can put your postcode in on this page to find your closest Children’s Centre and Health Visitors.
This mapping tool provides information on where to access advice locations across the city from the Leeds MIC website.
Find your nearest Leeds Library here.
Family hubs are designed to support families by bringing together a range of services into one easy-to-access space. From parenting advice, health support, education guidance, or help navigating local services.
Support with essentials (including clothes)
In this section of the webpage, you can find out more about organisations who offer clothes, including school uniforms.
Your child(ren)’s school may provide sanitary products for free.
This map shows the locations across Leeds where school uniform can be accessed for free.
Leeds Baby Bank provide baby essentials to families who are experiencing poverty. On this page, you can find upcoming community events. Speak to your health visitor/children’s centre.
‘Together for Sport’ provide second hand sport kit and equipment. A map of sports clubs involved is being developed. For now, this link will take you to the Facebook page.
Freedom4Girls provide free menstrual products to communities in Leeds.
Support for school holidays
In this section of the webpage, you can find out more about what is out there to support during school holidays, such as ‘Healthy Holidays’.
Healthy Holidays provide free and healthy activities during the school holidays. The scheme is available for primary and secondary school aged children and young people in receipt of free school meals.
This webpage contains a list of places where children can eat for free or £1 during the school holidays.
There are 65 Community Parks across Leeds. Find your closest park here.
Child Friendly Leeds provide guides for the Easter, Summer and Christmas school holidays. All activities are free or low cost.
The Tiny Totley is an indoor place space with a slide in Leeds City Centre that is free to use. It is in the Leeds Children’s Library.
Support going digital
In this section of the webpage, you can find out more about places that can support with going digital.
At a library, you can borrow a computer, attend a digital support drop-in or borrow a tablet.
Support is available to help get online, access a digital device or find low-cost broadband and mobile tariffs.
Find out when the next Nari Ekta Ltd. digital skills workshop is here.
Enrol:
Free amenities
In this section of the webpage, you can find out where you can get things for free. For example, ‘warm spaces’ and places with free WiFi.
This link takes you to our Child Friendly Leeds city centre map, which highlights child-friendly spaces like free WiFi and changing places.
This link takes you to a map of free ‘Warm Spaces’ across Leeds. This scheme only runs at certain times of the year.
Support with SEND
In this section of the webpage, you can find out more about support is there for those with a special need or disability.
This webpage on the Leeds Local Offer shows financial support available for people with SEND.
The Max Card is for families of looked-after children and children with SEND.
This webpage on the Leeds Local Offer has a catalogue of different short breaks opportunities.
The is page on the Local Offer has a list of Parent Support Groups.
Support in the Winter
In this section of the webpage, you can find out more about specific support over the Winter months.
This website was designed by the Council to provide support, more specific to the winter months.
During the winter months only, this link takes you to a map of free ‘Warm Spaces’ across Leeds.
Zero Waste Leeds run a Winter coat campaign where you can get coats for free. This scheme only runs at certain times of the year.
