Organisers of a series of open mornings at Forward Leeds have hailed them as a success.
The Welcome Events have been taking place on Wednesday mornings at sites across the city, including Kirkgate in the city centre, on Stanningley Road in Armley and at Irford House in Seacroft. The aim of the events has been to introduce local residents, professionals and businesses to Forward Leeds.
Forward Leeds’ Executive Director, Lisa Parker, said; “We have been holding these events to celebrate the service and to show people how open and accessible Forward Leeds is.”
Professionals, local residents, families and friends as well as local business people had the chance to take a tour of the facilities, ask questions, and learn about what goes on within the service, such as the needle exchange and other harm reduction services offered.
The events have been well attended, with the Armley site attracting over fifty people, and staff coming from the projects’ partners BARCA, St Martins, St Anne’s and Leeds & York Foundation Trust. The Armley welcome event also had the projects’ Leeds City Council commissioners in attendance.
Forward Leeds, Commissioner, Chris Dickinson at the Armley Welcome Event.
Head of Commissioning at Leeds City Council and Forward Leeds Commissioner, Chris Dickinson, said: “The welcome event was a fantastic opportunity to understand how Forward Leeds really operates. Staff and volunteers gave detailed tours of the sites and readily answered all questions from attendees. The premises are welcoming and friendly, it was great to see happy staff, in a professional and inspiring working environment. It was wonderful to see so many services users, local residents and businesses interested in learning about what Forward Leeds does.”
Lisa Parker added: “We have been extremely pleased at the turn out for the welcome events we have been holding at each hub. The events have also been an opportunity for us to recognise the hard work our staff do at Forward Leeds, so at each event, as a little thank-you, we have made sure each staff member got a Forward Leeds purple and pink cupcake.”