In a heartwarming display of hardcore generosity, the Leeds punk community, spearheaded by local fan Arran Gordon and featuring bands like Boston’s Haywire, united at Boom Leeds in December 2025. This electrifying event collected hundreds of gifts for the Child Friendly Leeds Christmas appeal, contributing to over £39,000 worth of presents for more than 2,300 children across the city, including those supported by Holbeck Together.
How did the Leeds punk community support the Child Friendly Leeds Christmas gift appeal in 2025?
In December 2025, the Leeds punk community organized a charity concert at Boom Leeds, collecting hundreds of Christmas gifts for the Child Friendly Leeds gift appeal. Their efforts, joined by local businesses and organizations, helped provide over £39,000 worth of presents to more than 2,300 children.
Punk Spirit Meets Holiday Giving: The Event at Boom Leeds
In December 2025, the typically rebellious and raucous Leeds hardcore music scene united for a softer cause: supporting the city’s most vulnerable children during the holidays. At Boom Leeds, part of the Canalside Community Music Space in Armley, nearly 300 music fans and several bands arrived, not just for a night of pounding music, but with Christmas gifts in hand. Their efforts supported the Leeds City Council-led Child Friendly Leeds (CFL) Christmas gift appeal, an annual campaign designed to ensure no child in Leeds goes without a present.
Organized by local resident and hardcore music fan Arran Gordon, the event was inspired by the longstanding American “For The Children” Christmas toy drive, which is a fixture in the US punk scene. To bring this tradition across the Atlantic, Arran collaborated with Austin Sparkman, the frontman of the Boston-based band Haywire, who flew in to headline alongside various UK acts. The combination of grassroots activism and music fandom resulted in an overwhelming outpouring of generosity – a room full of toys, teddies, and thoughtful gifts collected for distribution.
Arran reflected on the event’s impact, stating, “Over 300 hardcore attendees arrived carrying toys and teddy bears. We got double the toys for the amount of people who were there.” The unique blend of music and charity proved to be a remarkable success and has seeded plans for an even larger, multi-day festival in the year ahead.
Child Friendly Leeds Gift Appeal: Impact and Evolution
The CFL Christmas gift appeal, now in its eighth year, demonstrates a robust partnership between Leeds City Council, third sector services, and supportive local businesses. Its mission: to identify families struggling with the costs of Christmas and provide them with presents tailored to the specific wishes and needs of children and young people. In 2025, early reports noted that the appeal was on track to “smash previous totals,” with £39,000 worth of gifts and experiences set for distribution to over 2,300 young recipients.
Key data points illustrate growing community involvement. For example, the University of Leeds partnered with CFL to distribute more than 500 toys city-wide in a single week during the winter appeal. Local businesses contributed generously, with gifts ranging from shopping vouchers and gift sets to selection boxes and free tickets to seasonal activities. Leeds City Council highlighted this achievement: “This year’s appeal is already on track to smash previous totals, with an incredible £39,000 worth of gifts and experiences being donated.”
The ripple effect of these donations is tangible. Partner organizations such as Park Square Barristers, long-time supporters of the appeal, ensure that children receive gifts carefully matched to their age and personal interests. Examples abound: a child with school attendance concerns received a scooter and used it to commute; another obtained football gear to engage in group sports; and a young person with ADHD was given Lego to facilitate self-regulation. As described by Sophie Decamilli from charity Barca-Leeds, “These gifts are more than presents, they create opportunities and make a lasting impact.”
Holbeck Together: Targeted Charity for Local Families
A notable aspect of this year’s drive was its connection to Holbeck Together, a community organization serving families in Holbeck and Beeston – a region in Leeds marked by high deprivation and stark health inequalities. As a new recipient of CFL’s donations, Holbeck Together was entrusted with distributing hundreds of presents collected by music fans and other donors.
Holbeck Together’s activities are wide-ranging and impactful. The charity addresses urgent needs through access to affordable food, advice services, and activities designed to combat isolation, focusing on both older adults and families. In 2025, the launch of the Holbeck Together Business Alliance – a coalition including members from KPMG, Leeds Building Society, and Leeds United – helped amplify their reach. According to Bdaily, the Alliance pooled resources for ongoing funding, coordinated corporate volunteering, and provided strategic support to reduce the charity’s reliance on short-term grants.
Matthew Springthorpe, service development officer at Holbeck Together, described the emotional resonance of their work: “Being able to give parents presents for their children isn’t just about gifts, it’s about giving families a moment of joy, a bit of relief, and to know they’re not alone.” Seasonal highlights such as summer outings and the December community Christmas event, attended by business volunteers and local ambassadors, have further strengthened social bonds while delivering critical support to families under stress.
Ripple Effects: Broader Community Mobilization and Support
The punk community’s embrace of the gift appeal spotlighted how unconventional partners can drive meaningful change. Beyond the music scene, a patchwork of donors, venues, and local businesses have lent a hand. Trinity Leeds Shopping Centre offered shopping vouchers; Lloyds Banking Group, First Direct, and The Grammar School at Leeds provided gift sets; VINCI Building donated selection boxes; Heritage Theatres and Leeds Central Library contributed show tickets; and the White Rose Shopping Centre, in collaboration with Bella Italia, hosted a special “breakfast with Santa” for care-experienced children.
These efforts extend to young carers, children with disabilities, those in kinship care, and teenagers in hardship, ensuring no demographic is overlooked. Leeds Rhinos, the city’s rugby league club, added to the mix by offering 100 tickets to their Boxing Day game, while Hyde Park Picture House screened a festive film exclusively for care-experienced youngsters. As one Child Friendly Leeds campaign update put it, these initiatives offer “a wonderful experience for children and young people and help alleviate some of the pressures families can experience during the festive season.”
The annual momentum of the appeal reflects both the acute need within Leeds and the power of a united community. Organizations, schools, and individuals interested in supporting or partnering with future campaigns are invited to connect via the CFL team at childfriendlyleeds@leeds.gov.uk. The remarkable confluence of music, charity, and local business proves that, even amid hardship, collective action can light up the city for its youngest residents.
- The Leeds punk community, led by Arran Gordon and featuring bands like Boston’s Haywire, organized a charity concert at Boom Leeds in December 2025.
- This event collected hundreds of gifts for the Child Friendly Leeds Christmas appeal, contributing to over £39,000 worth of presents for more than 2,300 children.
- The Child Friendly Leeds (CFL) Christmas gift appeal, now in its eighth year, partners with Leeds City Council, third sector services, and local businesses to provide presents.
- Holbeck Together, a community organization serving families in a high-deprivation area of Leeds, was a new recipient of CFL’s donations in 2025, distributing hundreds of presents.
- Beyond the punk community, various donors, venues, and local businesses, such as Trinity Leeds, Lloyds Banking Group, and Leeds Rhinos, contributed to the appeal.