JanineBy Natalie Tharraleos Contributing editor Eva Peros
University of Leeds Lecturer, Dr Jo Hawkins, is inviting East Leeds residents to take part in an exciting research project – where you get to walk and talk about your favourite East Leeds locations – and be gifted a shopping voucher for your time.
Natalie met with Jo to find out more about the project:
I’m currently working on an important piece of research and need your help to help identify, understand and map local spaces across East Leeds that matter to you. This could be your local park, favourite bench, building, street, museum or library, or any space – however big or small – that you enjoy.
‘The bench is a tribute to the community during COVID…we put it at an angle because we wanted to have a social setting’
“‘The canal is a lifeline. I’m now quite emotionally attached to canals”
Right now, there’s an online, interactive map where you can pin and share stories about your favourite spaces across Leeds, which can be accessed here
You can do this in a number of different ways and be as creative as you like, including:
⦁ a written submission, with a short description of the space and the amount time you spend there, along with any creative writing/poetry you’d like to add
⦁ an image-based submission, such as a photo or a piece of artwork
⦁ an audio submission, which could be a sound clip of the location with a short recording of you talking about the space, or perhaps a piece of music
You can also take part in a 60-minute walking interview, where we’re inviting people to show us around their favourite local spaces. Interviews would last for around 60 minutes and can be arranged at a time to suit you. As a thank you for your time we’re offering a £20 Love2shop gift voucher for the walking interviews.
How will your contribution help?
Your contribution would be used to produce a report which summarises our key findings. This will be made publicly accessible and fed back to Leeds City Council for ongoing discussion. An interactive map that showcases local spaces and why they matter to you will also be published and made publicly accessible.
As well as highlighting the spaces you inhabit that are important to you, this will provide valuable insights both on a cultural level and in helping to shape local policy decisions. Your stories might also uncover some local hidden gems that others might like to visit. But importantly, sharing your stories and experiences will help shine a light on the many community voices, values and histories that coexist within our vibrant and diverse neighbourhoods.
If you’re interested in taking part (participants must be aged 16 or over), have any questions, or would like any further information, including direct updates on other publications/research relating to this project, please email me at j.hawkins@leeds.ac.uk .
You can also call me on T: 01133439822 or write to me at: Liberty Building, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT.
Thanking you in advance for your help,
Dr Jo Hawkins, University of Leeds
