New tap-to-donate smart posters to help those sleeping on the streets in Leeds
To tackle homelessness and change the lives of those living on the streets of Leeds, new smart 'tap to donate' posters have been set up around the city centre.
Multiple 'tap-to-donate' units have being installed in Leeds city centre to raise money for those in need.
Leeds-based fundraising campaign Making Better has launched this week, with the aim of improving the lives of people in need on the streets of Leeds.
As part of the launch, 'tap-to-donate' units are being installed in the city to improve donation accessibility, as well as raising support and awareness for the new campaign.
The units will allow people to make direct donations by simply tapping their card on the machine, just as you would when making a contactless transaction in a store or restaurant.
This is an easy way to raise funds for a range of local charitable organisations operating across the city centre to support vulnerable individuals and has become increasingly popular in recent years.
The smart posters have been set up for different charities around the UK. / Image: Tap for Bristol
So far, plans to rollout four donation units have been approved at Leeds Station, Tesco Briggate and Bond Street, and Wilko sites, and all should be installed over the week.
Money raised through the 'tap-to-donate' installations will go towards providing essential everyday items to those living on the streets of Leeds and any assistance they may need.
This will be done by supporting existing local charities working hard every day to tackle homelessness and social disconnection on the streets of the city centre. By connecting resources and enabling people to donate to those in genuine need, the campaign seeks to improve lives, communities and futures.
Tap to donate at four different Leeds locations. / Image: Leeds BID
Making Better comes after the success of 2018’s Big Change Leeds campaign, which saw LeedsBID working with Safer Leeds and Leeds Community Foundation to raise almost £80,000 for people in need.
Karen Butler, Head of Place Management and Delivery at LeedsBID, the campaign organisers, said:
“Rough sleeping, homelessness and street activities are increasing issues in Leeds. Making Better gives those experiencing or at risk of a life on the street the support they need to move towards a better and safer future.
"It also helps manage the challenges these things present to those living, working and visiting the city centre. Providing additional funds to existing charities helps make sure the support goes to those who require it and is tailored to those individuals’ needs.”
Briggate and Bond Street Tescos will host the smart posters. / Image: Raella
Making Better tap to donate units can be found at:
Leeds Train Station: New Station Street, located in the window of the unit adjacent to Pret a Manger
Tesco Bond Street: inside the store, by the Community Board at the end of the tills
Tesco Briggate: located in the window facing Briggate, to the left of the entrance
Wilko, Albion Street: located in the window to the left of the main entrance
To find out more information, including how you can help the Making Better campaign, visit their website.
Feature Image- Leeds BID
Leeds
No Greek Tragedy, just indie bangers – The Wombats set Leeds’ First Direct Arena alight
The Wombats aren’t just still going strong - they’re getting better. And honestly? Long may they reign.
The Wombats absolutely tore the roof off the First Direct Arena in Leeds last night, Wednesday 26 March and what a night it was.
From the second they hit the stage it wasn’t just a gig, it was a full-blown indie-pop spectacle, packed with infectious energy, nostalgia, and a whole lot of dancing.
They kicked things off with “Moving to New York,” and honestly? The crowd was in from the first note.
Image: The Hoot Leeds
Matthew Murphy’s unmistakable vocals rang through the arena and suddenly, thousands of people were screaming every lyric like it was 2007 all over again. It was one of those moments where you could just feel how much this band still means to people.
Despite the massive venue, The Wombats somehow made it feel intimate. The lights? Pure chaos in the best way - vibrant, colourful, and totally in sync with the band’s wild, bouncy sound.
Murphy’s cheeky banter between songs made it feel less like a polished arena show and more like a jam session with a few thousand of your closest mates.
Setlist-wise, they nailed it. “Let’s Dance to Joy Division” and “Greek Tragedy” had the whole place losing it, while the stripped-down version of “Techno Fan” gave everyone a minute to breathe (and maybe get a little emotional).
Image: The Hoot Leeds
Those quieter moments just made the high-energy choruses hit even harder. It was a rollercoaster - in the best way possible.
Then came the encore. If you thought the crowd was loud before, “Kill the Director” took things to another level. Pure, chaotic indie bliss. The kind of moment you don’t want to end.
Here’s the thing about The Wombats: some might say their older songs hit harder than their newer stuff, but is that just nostalgia talking? Or maybe it’s a generational thing?
Either way, they proved they’re still one of the most exciting live bands out there. They’ve still got the hooks, the humour, and the ability to turn a massive arena into a sweaty, euphoric singalong.
Get Baked’s viral ‘Bertha’ cake has a sister on the way – and she sounds just as cheeky
Danny Jones
She's big, she's green and she's ready to ruin your figure.
A lot of you will have seen the viral ‘Bertha’ cake by Leeds born beloved sweet treat specialists Get Baked.
They recently opened another site in Manchester's Northern Quarter, where queues literally formed round the block of hungry punters wanting to get their hands on the infamous sugary treats.
And now it's going to happen all over again, as they've recently unveiled their newest flavour which is sure to go down a storm.
We’ll give you a hint: it’s a current food and drink trend that’s about as big as Bertha herself – it’s not matcha, it’s not hot honey (duh), and it’s not Guinness…
Images: Get Baked
Yes—scratch that; HELL YES!Get Baked is set to welcome Bertha’s equally beautiful twin sister, and she’s officially a pistachio girlie.
Having started out life simply as ‘Bruce’, after taking inspiration from the iconic scene from Matilda, this thing has become a phenomenon in its own right, and who doesn’t like more flavours of a good thing?
Probably one of the biggest foodie crazes going at the minute, thanks to the popularity of pistachio cream, cookies, lattes and the similar social media sensation that is the ‘Dubai Pistachio Bar' people are rather fittingly going nuts for this particular flavour of almost absolutely anything.
With that in mind, the Leeds-born bakery and dessert shop – founded by Rich Myers over in Headingley back in 2011 – have shown no hesitation in hopping on the bandwagon and creating a new twist on their own viral menu item.
Teasing the full details in a post on their Instagram this week, they wrote: “What’s big, green, and is going to destroy your life in a couple of weeks’ time? Pistachio Bertha. Strictly limited to 5,000 slices. Coming oh so soon. GB.”
In case you were wondering just how mad those with a sweet tooth could possibly go for a slice of cake, just look at the recent queues when they finally launched in Manchester city centre:
Speaking on the grand opening here on our turf and his partner Amy’s hometown, Myers said simply: “Manchester, what a launch. Thanks for much for the warm welcome. Stay baked.”
Sophie Smith -
9th December 2021 
