Leeds Star Newspaper

01/08/2026

29/07/2026

Congratulations to Carin van Doorn OBE! 🎖️🎉

We are delighted to congratulate Carin van Doorn on receiving her OBE from His Majesty The King at Windsor Castle earlier this month.

The award recognises Carin's outstanding services to Children's Heart Surgery and Charity during a remarkable career dedicated to improving and saving the lives of children born with heart conditions.

💬 Speaking about the occasion, Carin said: "The investiture took place at Windsor Castle on 7th July. The OBE was given to me by King Charles himself, and it was a very special occasion. I feel very humbled to be given the OBE."

After more than 30 years in congenital cardiac surgery and over a decade leading the team at the Leeds Congenital Heart Unit, Carin retired at the end of 2025 - leaving behind an incredible legacy.

Last year, through our Because of Carin campaign, we celebrated the profound difference Carin has made to countless children and families. Her skill, compassion and leadership have helped shape the care available to heart patients across the region and beyond, and her influence will be felt for generations to come.

Everyone at Children's Heart Surgery Fund sends our warmest congratulations to Carin on this well-deserved honour. Thank you, Carin, for everything you have done for children with heart conditions and their families!

🩷💚💜💙



Leeds Children's Hospital Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

21/07/2026

His Majesty The King gives royal seal of approval to landmark Leeds 400 celebrations. His Majesty The King Charles III has praised the hard work, generosity and civic pride of the people of Leeds, giving the city’s landmark Leeds 400 celebrations the royal seal of approval. In a letter marking the occasion, The King offered his congratulations and paid tribute to Leeds’ distinctive history and heritage. He also reflected warmly on personal memories from his most recent visit to the city in 2022. His Majesty The King Charles III wrote:

“On the occasion of the 400th anniversary of Leeds receiving its Royal Charter, The Queen and I extend our most heartfelt congratulations to you all. For more than four centuries Leeds has served as an industrial, creative and cultural jewel of England. From the oldest working railway to the filming of the first motion picture, Loiners have long strived for a prosperous future through shared resilience and enterprise.

“I am heartened to see that this tireless work continues today through the collaboration of your famous city’s many businesses, universities and hubs of art, research and hospitality. I remember fondly my most recent visit to Leeds, when I was fortunate to meet so many clever, hard-working and generous people in whose hands, I know, the future of Leeds, and indeed this great Nation, will continue to shine brightly. I was deeply touched by the warmth of the welcome and the optimism and civic pride of the local people.

“I know that this special occasion will be marked with the typical joviality of spirit for which old Leodis is known! My warmest wishes are with you all as you celebrate this important anniversary.” https://leedsstar.co.uk/our-city/his-majesty-the-king-gives-royal-seal-of-approval-to-landmark-leeds-400-celebrations/

21/07/2026

Landmark Leeds Bridge Restored for City’s 400th Anniversary. Memories of a pioneering Leeds landmark have been revived as part of a historic restoration project marking a major milestone in the city’s history. Centenary Bridge, which crosses the River Aire between The Calls and Brewery Wharf, has been refurbished as Leeds commemorates 400 years since it was granted its first royal charter by King Charles I. Built in 1993, the bridge was the first new river crossing to be constructed in the city for more than a century. Its distinctive sweeping design has since become a familiar and much-loved feature of the Leeds waterfront. Over recent months, Leeds City Council officers have used specialist equipment to repaint Centenary Bridge, working during the day and overnight to restore the landmark to its former condition. The bridge’s original designer, Colin Harris, returned to the site to view the restoration work and recall his role in creating the landmark. A civil engineering graduate of the University of Leeds, Mr Harris had worked on major projects around the world before returning to the city in 1989. He came back to establish a new Arup office at the former Design Innovation Centre, close to the site where Centenary Bridge would later be built https://leedsstar.co.uk/news/landmark-leeds-bridge-restored-for-citys-400th-anniversary/

21/07/2026

Leeds pupils capture city life for future generations. Primary school pupils across Leeds have created a thought-provoking message for future generations as the city marks a major historic anniversary. Children from schools throughout the city prepared a series of time capsules, which were buried on July 13 — exactly 400 years after Leeds received its first royal charter from King Charles I. The initiative forms part of Leeds 400, a city-wide programme commemorating the granting of the charter in 1626 while celebrating the city’s past, present and future. The capsules offer pupils the chance to record what life in Leeds is like today and share their hopes and reflections with children who may discover them in years to come. Chapel Allerton Primary School is among those taking part in the project, with pupils selecting objects they believe reflect life in both Leeds and their school in 2026. The items were buried in the school playground, where they are expected to remain for the next 100 years before being unearthed by future generations. Alongside objects linked to school life, sport and play, pupils also designed colourful posters highlighting their favourite things about the area in which they live https://leedsstar.co.uk/child-friendly-leeds/leeds-pupils-capture-city-life-for-future-generations/

21/07/2026

West Yorkshire Freemasons Grant £60,000 to Provide School Essentials for Vulnerable Leeds Children. Around 600 vulnerable children across Yorkshire will receive warm coats, shoes and other essential clothing to help them attend school, thanks to a £60,000 grant from the West Yorkshire Freemasons to Yorkshire Children’s Charity. The funding will support the charity’s Warm, Dry and Ready to Learn Winter Essentials campaign, which helps disadvantaged young children access the clothing and basic necessities they need to attend school comfortably and thrive in the classroom. The grant will contribute to a wider project delivering more than 4,600 essential items to children aged five and under who are living in poverty. Items provided through the campaign include winter coats, shoes, hats, gloves and other necessities that many families are struggling to afford. All funding provided by the Freemasons will be spent directly on essential items for children. Over the next two years, more than 1,000 winter bundles containing coats, shoes, hats and gloves will be distributed across the region. The grant from Yorkshire West Riding Freemasons has been awarded through the Masonic Charitable Foundation, which is funded by Freemasons, their families and friends across England and Wales https://leedsstar.co.uk/charity/west-yorkshire-freemasons-grant-60000-to-provide-school-essentials-for-vulnerable-leeds-children/

Around 600 vulnerable children across Yorkshire will receive warm coats, shoes and other essential clothing to help them attend school, thanks to a £60,000 grant from the West Yorkshire Freemasons to Yorkshire Children’s Charity. The funding will support the charity’s Warm, Dry and Ready to Lea...

21/07/2026

More Than 10,000 Young People Help Shape Morley’s Future. A pioneering youth engagement programme linked to Morley’s regeneration has reached a major milestone, with almost 10,300 young people taking part since its launch in 2022. Growing Talent Morley brings together public and private sector organisations to provide a tailored programme of activities for young people across the area. By involving participants directly in plans for Morley’s regeneration, the initiative is helping them develop valuable skills while giving them a meaningful voice in shaping the town’s future. The programme is delivered by social value specialist Ahead Partnership in collaboration with Leeds City Council, the Morley Town Deal Board and major regional property owners, including Landsec and Sterling Capitol. The initiative is funded through a wider £24.3 million grant awarded under the UK Government’s Local Regeneration Funding programme. The milestone comes shortly after Morley Town Hall was handed over to specialist contractors as part of wider plans to regenerate the town, enhance its cultural offer and create a vibrant community hub. The initiative has reached every school in the area and brought together local communities, businesses and public-sector organisations to support young people and contribute to Morley’s future. More than 300 volunteers from 95 businesses operating across the town have taken part, alongside significant private-sector investment https://leedsstar.co.uk/news/more-than-10000-young-people-help-shape-morleys-future/

21/07/2026

Seven Leeds parks recognised among country’s best with prestigious Green Flag Awards. Seven of Leeds’ most popular parks have once again been recognised among the best in the country after receiving prestigious Green Flag Awards. Golden Acre Park, Kirkstall Abbey, Middleton Park, Otley Chevin Forest Park, Pudsey Park, Roundhay Park and Temple Newsam Estate have all retained the internationally recognised accreditation. The seven sites, which are managed by Leeds City Council, were praised for meeting high standards in areas including maintenance, environmental management, community involvement and visitor facilities. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Green Flag Award scheme, which sets the benchmark for well-managed parks and green spaces around the world. The Leeds parks are among a record 2,391 sites across the UK to receive the award this year. The Green Flag Award scheme recognises and rewards well-managed parks and green spaces, setting an international benchmark for quality and effective management. The programme is run by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy under licence from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. Several of Leeds’ award-winning parks have achieved Green Flag status every year for more than 15 years, reflecting their consistently high standards https://leedsstar.co.uk/news/seven-leeds-parks-recognised-among-countrys-best-with-prestigious-green-flag-awards/

Seven of Leeds’ most popular parks have once again been recognised among the best in the country after receiving prestigious Green Flag Awards. Golden Acre Park, Kirkstall Abbey, Middleton Park, Otley Chevin Forest Park, Pudsey Park, Roundhay Park and Temple Newsam Estate have all retained the int...

21/07/2026

Yorkshire Sculpture Park launches 2026 graduate award for emerging regional artists. Yorkshire Sculpture Park has opened applications for its 2026 Yorkshire Graduate Award, reaffirming its commitment to supporting the region’s next generation of artistic talent. The annual initiative offers recent graduates from Yorkshire universities the chance to undertake a residency at the park, with access to dedicated time, workspace and professional guidance to develop their creative practice. Set within YSP’s internationally renowned landscape, the residency gives the selected artist an opportunity to experiment, build confidence and advance new work. It will conclude with a public presentation, enabling visitors to engage with the artist’s practice and ideas. Artist residencies have been central to Yorkshire Sculpture Park’s programme for almost five decades, offering artists at pivotal stages of their careers the freedom to experiment, develop new ideas and expand their creative practice. Launched in 2018, the Yorkshire Graduate Award has since become an important springboard for emerging contemporary artists. The programme has supported graduates working across a diverse range of disciplines, including sculpture, performance, film, photography and sound https://leedsstar.co.uk/whats-on/yorkshire-sculpture-park-launches-2026-graduate-award-for-emerging-regional-artists/

Yorkshire Sculpture Park has opened applications for its 2026 Yorkshire Graduate Award, reaffirming its commitment to supporting the region’s next generation of artistic talent. The annual initiative offers recent graduates from Yorkshire universities the chance to undertake a residency at the par...

21/07/2026

Spire Harrogate Clinic Achieves First Gold CAP Award for Housekeeping Excellence. The award highlights the clinic’s ongoing commitment to excellence, continuous improvement and delivering the highest standards of care. Spire Harrogate Clinic has been achieved a Gold CAP Award following the latest unannounced assessment by the CAP Award Programme (Continuous Advancement Programme for Housekeeping). This significant achievement recognises the commitment and dedication of the housekeeping team and all colleagues who contribute to maintaining high standards across the clinic. The CAP Award Programme is an internationally recognised accreditation that promotes and rewards excellence in service delivery, quality and patient experience. Widely regarded as a benchmark for best practice, CAP assessments evaluate services from the perspective of patients, colleagues, visitors and consultants. Through a rigorous assessment process, inspectors review not only the clinic environment but also the teamwork, culture and infrastructure that support the delivery of outstanding care https://leedsstar.co.uk/health/spire-harrogate-clinic-achieves-first-gold-cap-award-for-housekeeping-excellence/

The award highlights the clinic’s ongoing commitment to excellence, continuous improvement and delivering the highest standards of care. Spire Harrogate Clinic has been achieved a Gold CAP Award following the latest unannounced assessment by the CAP Award Programme (Continuous Advancement Programm...