Leeds Rugby Foundations Trustee Bob Bowman and the Connecting Communities Manager, Ikram Butt, were both invited to be key guest speakers by Leeds Initiative for the launch of the New Vision for Leeds and City Priority Plan, hosted at the Hamara Healthy Living centre.
The event was the first of a series of events organised by the local authority in communities across the city around the ‘Best City’ concept.
The community film collective Oblong commissioned to put a film together of local people talking about what the best city concept means to them of which featured Rhinos superstar, Danny Maguire was shown to the audience.
Leeds Rugby Foundation trustee Bob Bowman who is the lead officer in the Leeds Safer Schools partnership spoke about the partnership work Leeds is leading with police, council, health, fire, probation and schools themselves . Bob also provided examples of good working practice of making all our communities safer including the award winning Leeds awareness programme.
Connecting Communities Manager, Ikram Butt, also provided examples of good working practice of making our communities stronger and environmentally aware.
Paul Rowson, Executive Chair of the Leeds Rugby Foundation, stated that ,‘the Leeds Rugby Foundation is at the forefront of breaking down barriers, building bridges and reaching out to previously excluded communities to enrol them in sport and all the benefits it can deliver. We are delighted to be able to support the launch of New Vision’.
Paul added ‘We are also pleased that one of our key strategic partners of the Foundation, Hamara, are hosting the event for being recognised for their outstanding contribution towards the ‘New Vision’ agenda.’
The launch of the event was jointly opened by Cllr Gruen and Hanif Malik, C.E.O of the Hamara Healthy Living centre.
Healthy was chosen as an ideal location to focus on “Best City for Communities” as it has strong links with all aspects of the Safer and Stronger Communities agenda, through its involvement in the Prevent programme, community wardens, youth programmes, harmonious communities, community engagement as well as Hamara local environmental improvement and awareness schemes.
The Vision set out for the City of Leeds is ambitious and challenges the local people to be the best city in the UK by being fair, sustainable and inclusive. During consultation it was made loud and clear that the people of Leeds care about their community and society as much as infrastructure and buildings. So this Vision sets out not only how we aim to achieve a 21st century transport system for the city, but also our ambitions to create a more cohesive city with stronger communities.