Volunteers bring first East Leeds Pride to Seacroft

Following the Pride celebrations that took place across Leeds over the weekend, Seacroft is preparing for its own landmark event on August 15, with organisers describing it as East Leeds’ first Pride celebration.

The event will take place at Wellington Hill Residents Association (WHRA) and has been organised by Louise Gawthorpe and her family, with support from volunteers at the long-running community charity.

Visitors can enjoy stalls selling pizzas and cakes, while local resident Theo Mayne will host the event throughout the day.

The entertainment line-up includes Georgia Diamond, Doll’s Nest, drag king Da-Dee DIY, local singers, TBL Academy, Showgroup and Leeds Dance Studio.

Speaking about the inspiration behind their act, Da-Dee DIY (known as Molly Smith) said: “Harddeep Singh said drag should be about letting out what has been pushed down. I was always told I wasnt capable of doing DIY tasks, but becomming single last year meant I had to start doing them and realised just what I was capable of. It grew a new sense of confidence and independance for me. Doing drag has also led me towards exploring my gender and realising im gender fluid.”

TBL Academy, a performing arts academy specialising in musical theatre training, will bring a group of talented performers to the stage for a Pride-themed set of songs from musicals. The academy has spent the past 10 years supporting students pursuing careers in performing arts, with graduates going on to study at leading colleges including Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Mountview, Laine and ArtsEd.

Showgroup, which has been performing at WHRA for more than 50 years, is also marking the occasion with a new chapter for the organisation. As part of a recent rebrand, the group is expanding its programme to include more focused lessons in musical theatre, acting and singing alongside its existing tap, modern and jazz classes.

The event will also highlight the importance of disability inclusion, with organisers arranging a disability lift to enable Chapel FM’s Jenny to perform on stage. The support has helped ensure the event is accessible and that everyone in the community has the opportunity to take part.

Louise Gawthorpe said: “We wanted to create East Leeds’ first Pride event because our community deserves a space where everyone feels seen, valued and welcome.”

She added: “This isn’t just a celebration; it’s a milestone for WHRA and a statement that our charity is evolving, embracing diversity, and opening its doors wider than ever before.”

Wellington Hill Residents Association has been run entirely by volunteers for more than 70 years.

Louise and her husband, Neil, have managed bookings at the association for the past two years while serving on its management committee. Their daughter, Beth, supports the event by managing its media.