Our first Imagine Presents..event

By Lucy Meredith: Imagine Leeds Events Coordinator

We held our soft launch event on 10 September to introduce the new phase of Imagine Leeds. With big thanks to National Lottery Funding for funding the project for the next three years. 

Thank you to everyone who was able to attend, it was great to see new faces as well as old friends.  

As well as introducing the Imagine Leeds team we also launched ‘Imagine Presents…’ programme of monthly events as part of our new funding to run alongside our monthly Green Drinks Leeds. 

We have our events booked up to the end of the year.

21 October is Community Energy with Clean Energy Leeds: BOOK HERE

11 November Warm Homes & Insulation with Home Energy West Yorkshire and Wrapt Homes: BOOK HERE

14 December is our Crafty Christmas social with Leeds Craftivists: BOOK HERE

But we also want to know what you want! We asked people what event topics and types of events they would like to come to over the next three years at Imagine.

Here is a summary of the suggestions: 

Creative & Arts

Music & poetry events, Story Telling: Climate stories from across the world, exhibitions and another Arts & Climate week.

Creative activities, maybe running alongside more serious sessions

Climate Conversations : Climate tea Trolley

Film screenings and board game evenings

Sustainability, Recycling and Waste

Edible Christmas Decorations, recycled decoration making, Recycle, Reuse, Re-gift events.

Incentives to recycle (cash for cans) 

Waste and recycling

Clothes repair and Clothes swaps

Reuse& repair fairs

Dog poo- The impact and how to deal with it

How to make your event climate friendly

Disability and accessibility

How can sustainability interact with disability?

The impact of climate change on disabled people

Heat waves & chronic illness

Carbon footprint & accessibility

How can accessibility positively impact on climate change? 

Inclusive BSL/Makaton events

Planning accessibility for litter picks

Health: 

Climate Change impact on Health

Climate grief / Anxiety / Eco emotions/ Eco hope

Trade unions as training partner, Health conditions (know your rights in the work place)

Food and Nature: 

Food security

Importation v’s Local grown

Community Larders

Education on where your food comes from

Gardening, practical sessions, planting

Nature walks around the city

Water (domestic)

Climate Justice

How can asylum seekers get involved in Climate Action?

Effects of Climate change on the whole world

Positive news stories and global insights

Other:

Practical skills workshops

DIY Energy creation

As you can see we already have some great suggestions but we would still like to hear for you, If you have some suggestions please fill in our short survey: https://forms.gle/m38xTTT7sLRTgNxt9

If you already have a workshop or event that you think would be suitable for the Imagine Presents…Programme please email lucy@imagineleeds.org  

Volunteering at Imagine Leeds

We have also got some volunteer opportunities available for those who would like to get involved. Here are the areas we would like help with:

Event Support

Help with greeting and signing people in, housekeeping, making drinks, and facilitating discussions or scribing at specific events.

Media & Comms

Taking photos, filming, graphic design, creating event posters, social media posts, and blog writing.

Evaluation Support

Collecting statistics from events, assisting with surveys, gathering crucial research data, and bringing creative evaluation ideas.

Buildings Group

Join our core group working toward our long-term vision of acquiring and managing our own community building.

Funding Group

Supporting with fundraising campaigns and assisting in writing grant and funding applications.

Physical Tasks

Help us when we move spaces, lift and carry furniture or equipment, and assist with painting, decorating, and cleaning.

If you are interested in volunteering please fill in our short survey, we really appreciate any help you can offer over the next three years:  https://forms.gle/bp7WWTgk8MPah43E6