Leeds has bravely launched its “Leeds Ambitions” strategy, uniting Team Leeds across education, health, and business at the Leeds City College Printworks to forge a healthier, more inclusive, and sustainable future. This bold plan targets closing the 11-year life expectancy gap and boosting the economy by £3 billion annually, ensuring every resident has a chance to flourish.
What are the main goals of the Leeds Ambitions strategy to address poverty and inequality?
The Leeds Ambitions strategy aims to create a healthier, more inclusive, and sustainable city by focusing on four key goals: Healthy lives, inclusive economic growth, thriving communities, and environmental resilience. Collaborative efforts target closing productivity and life expectancy gaps while fostering equal opportunities for all residents.
Team Leeds: A Unified Approach to City Transformation
In a landmark move to combat poverty and inequality, Leeds has launched a refreshed and comprehensive strategy known as the Leeds Ambitions. The initiative was unveiled at the Leeds City College Printworks, where leaders from various sectors including education, health, business, and community organizations gathered to articulate a shared vision for the city. The collaborative spirit of this event, referred to as ‘Team Leeds’, underscores a unified commitment to creating a healthier, more inclusive, and sustainable future for all residents.
The newly outlined ambitions focus on four key pillars: Healthy, Growing, Thriving, and Resilient. Each ambition targets specific areas of improvement, with the overarching goal of narrowing socioeconomic gaps and fostering equal opportunities. According to the roadmap, Leeds aims to close the city’s productivity gap, potentially contributing an extra £3 billion to the UK economy each year. The strategy also sets an ambitious target to close the existing 11-year life expectancy disparity evident within different parts of the city.
Councillor James Lewis, leader of Leeds City Council, emphasized the importance of joint action, stating, “The Leeds Ambitions are more than just a plan; they are a collective commitment from Team Leeds. By bringing together the collaborative power of the council, partners, businesses, and communities, we can build on our successes and work toward a shared future where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.” This collaborative ethos is central to the city’s effort to unlock its full potential and deliver long-lasting change.
Ambitious Goals: Healthy, Growing, Thriving, and Resilient Leeds
The Leeds Ambitions are structured around four interconnected goals designed to address the city’s most pressing challenges:
-
Healthy: The city seeks to ensure that everyone can lead healthier lives, with a focus on the most disadvantaged communities experiencing the greatest health improvements. This priority is reflected in the integration of health and social care services, designed to offer seamless support and better outcomes.
-
Growing: Leeds is committed to fostering an inclusive economy that reduces poverty and inequality. The strategy emphasizes access to quality education, support for business innovation, and the creation of economic opportunities for all. By closing the productivity gap, the city stands to make a substantial contribution to both local and national economies.
-
Thriving: Building strong, safe, and clean communities is another key ambition. The city aims to empower residents to take an active role in shaping their neighborhoods, fostering a culture of participation and mutual support. Investments in housing, public spaces, and crime prevention are central to this goal.
-
Resilient: Sustainability is at the heart of Leeds’s ambitions. The city aspires to become the UK’s first net-zero and nature-positive city by rapidly reducing carbon emissions and restoring natural habitats. Major infrastructure projects are underway to support this vision, positioning Leeds as a leader in environmental stewardship.
Progress and Collaboration: Building on Successes
Leeds has already made notable progress toward its goals, with significant achievements in housing, healthcare, and community support. Over the past five years, the city has experienced its fastest rate of new home construction since the 1980s, accounting for 1.5% of all new homes built in England. In the last year alone, more than 4,400 new and affordable homes have been delivered, helping to address housing needs and reduce inequality.
In healthcare, collaborative initiatives like the HomeFirst program have yielded impressive results. The program enables people to recover at home rather than in hospital, reducing admissions by 1,200 adults and cutting the average hospital stay by nearly 40%. Additionally, over 400 individuals have been able to return home directly from hospital, avoiding unnecessary moves to community care facilities. These efforts are part of a wider push to integrate health and care services and improve patient outcomes citywide.
Community support has also been strengthened through partnerships between statutory services and the voluntary sector. These collaborations have effectively reduced the number of Leeds neighborhoods ranked in the bottom 1% of the English Indices of Deprivation. As Peter Slee, Vice-Chancellor of Leeds Beckett University and Chair of Leeds Anchors Network, remarked at the launch, “It’s clear that when we work together, we can achieve much more than we could alone.”
Infrastructure, Investment, and Community Engagement
The city’s commitment to innovation and sustainability is reflected in its investment in major infrastructure projects. The Leeds PIPEs district heat network now serves over 3,000 homes and businesses, reducing carbon emissions and providing affordable, low-carbon energy. Additionally, a £200 million flood alleviation scheme is underway, further demonstrating the city’s dedication to resilience and environmental stewardship.
Education and skills development are also central to the city’s ambitions. Leaders from local educational institutions, including Bill Jones, Deputy CEO of the Luminate Education Group, and Lucie Lakin, Principal of Carr Manor Community School, highlighted the pivotal role of education in breaking the cycle of poverty. Initiatives are underway to ensure that every young person in Leeds has access to quality learning and the opportunity to succeed.
Statutory and community partners continue to collaborate to deliver vital services and support. Organizations such as CATCH (Community Action to Create Hope) and Community Shop have played a significant role in supporting vulnerable residents. Jamie Jones-Buchanan, Director of Culture, Diversity and Inclusivity at Leeds Rhinos, reinforced the importance of inclusiveness, stating, “Our city’s strength lies in the diversity and resilience of its people. Through collaboration and shared ambition, we can ensure that everyone has a chance to flourish.”
For further details and updates on the Leeds Ambitions, visit the official website: www.leedsambitions.co.uk.
Speakers at the Leeds Ambitions Launch Event
- Peter Slee – Vice-Chancellor of Leeds Beckett University and Chair of Leeds Anchors Network
- Bill Jones – Deputy CEO (and Designate CEO) of Luminate Education Group and Executive Principal of Leeds City College
- Cllr James Lewis – Leader of Leeds City Council
- Jamie Jones-Buchanan – Director of Culture, Diversity and Inclusivity at Leeds Rhinos
- Lucie Lakin – Founding member of the Leeds Learning Alliance and Principal of Carr Manor Community School
- Lisa Littlefair – Head of Leeds Office (and Cities Lead), Mott MacDonald
- Asad Razzaq – CEO of CATCH (Community Action to Create Hope)
- Dr. Sara Munro – Chief Executive Officer, Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and Leeds Community Healthcare NHS Trust
- Gary Stott – Executive Chairman of Community Shop
- Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
-
Ed Whiting, Chief Executive, Leeds City Council
-
The “Leeds Ambitions” strategy aims to create a healthier, more inclusive, and sustainable future by uniting various sectors across Leeds.
- The strategy targets closing an 11-year life expectancy gap and boosting the local economy by an additional £3 billion annually.
- It is structured around four key goals: Healthy, Growing, Thriving, and Resilient, focusing on health, inclusive economic growth, strong communities, and environmental sustainability.
- Collaborative efforts under “Team Leeds” involve the council, partners, businesses, and communities working together to achieve these ambitions.
- Leeds has already made progress, including significant housing development, successful healthcare initiatives like HomeFirst, and reductions in deprivation in some neighborhoods.