EngageYour FREE magazine from your local NHS Issue 11: November 2017

NEW GIPTON COMMUNITY CENTRE IS A

PHOENIX FROM THE ASHES

Get app savvyA list of five super useful ‘apps’ that might make a difference in your day to day life

Stay Well This Winter

All the info you need on flu jabsPLUS...

SPOTLIGHT ON BOSTON SPA / FESTIVE FRAUDSTERS / ENGAGEMENT HUB / CONGRATS TO ST GEMMA’S / LOCAL VOLUNTEERS / GARDENING GURU / RECIPES / QUIZ CORNER ...

THINGS TO DO THIS WINTERRound up of winter activities in Leeds

Continuing the #hellomynameis legacy...

03 Stay Well This Winter If you’ve been offered a free flu jab by the NHS, it means you need it!

04 Chris Pointon The husband of Dr Kate Granger tells us how he is ensuring her #hellomynameis campaign for more personalised care in the NHS lives on after her death

06 New Gipton Fire Station community centre We unveil how the oldest operational fire station in the country has been transformed into a fantastic multi-purpose community centre

07 Get app savvy Five apps to make a difference in your day to day life

08 Spotlight on Boston Spa Find out all about the picturesque village of Boston Spa and the many charms it has to offer

09 Beware the festive fraudsters The scams to look out for this festive season to ensure Christmas doesn’t end up costing you more than you’d planned

10 Engagement hub Leeds NHS organisations are working together so that the patient voice is well and truly heard

11 Congratulations to St Gemma’s St Gemma’s Hospice celebrates teaching hospice accolade

12 Local volunteers making a difference Salsa and coffee combine as GP practice volunteers go the extra mile

13 Gardening guru Creating a healthy oasis away from the hustle and bustle of city life

14 Recipes Make yourself a curry inspired by royalty

15 Quiz time! Get your brain active with this edition’s quizzes

16 Sports and health Tips to help you stay active this winter

Contents

Intro / Contents02

Stay Well This Winter

We’ve had the pleasure of chatting to Chris Pointon about how his wifes, Dr Kate Granger, legacy lives on in her #hellomynameis campaign for more personalised care in the NHS. Influenced by her own experiences as both a doctor and cancer patient, she campaigned tirelessly to encourage all staff to introduce themselves to patients: a simple idea that makes a big difference. Kate sadly passed away in July 2016 and Chris has been continuing her work ever since: conference speaking, book writing and raising over £250,000 for the Yorkshire Cancer Centre. Find out what he’s been up to on pages four and five.

Over recent months a fantastic group of volunteer health champions have been hard at work, meeting people in their own communities to raise awareness about small lifestyle changes that can have a positive impact on health and wellbeing. They have also been encouraging people to take up NHS screening invitations, as early diagnosis is so important in improving outcomes from conditions such as cancer and heart disease.

Big congratulations go to St Gemma’s which has become the first hospice in the UK (and in fact the world), to be awarded university teaching hospice status. Find out more on page 11.

Finally, this couldn’t be our winter issue without mentioning Christmas. It’s supposed to be the season of goodwill but unfortunately it can also be a time when scams are rife. So on page nine we’ve offered our top tips to ensure you and your loved ones have the merry Christmas you deserve and don’t fall foul of any festive fraudsters.

As ever we’d welcome your feedback on this magazine. Please get in touch if you’ve been inspired to write an article or have a suggestion for what we could cover next. Just drop us an email: commsleedswestccg@nhs.net

As the nights are getting darker and the weather turns colder, we give you advice on how to keep the flu at bay, as well as lots of great ways to beat the winter blues. We’ve got a round-up of activities going on in Leeds over the colder months, not to mention a recipe for a fabulous chicken korma – guaranteed to warm you up!

Stay Well This Winter 03

If you belong in any of the groups below, it’s really important you get protected this winter. You are eligible to receive a free flu jab if you:

• are 65 years of age or over

• are pregnant

• have certain medical conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, lung disease, kidney disease or a neurological disease

• have a weakened immune system – for example, because you’re having chemotherapy or have HIV

• are living in a long-stay residential care home or other long-stay care facility

• receive a carer’s allowance, or you are the main carer for an elderly or disabled person whose welfare may be at risk if you fall ill.

Flu vaccine for childrenThe flu vaccine is free on the NHS for:

• children over the age of six months with a long-term health condition

• children aged two and three on 31 August 2017 – that is, born between 1 September 2013 and 31 August 2015

• children in reception class and school years one, two, three and four

• children aged between six months and two years of age who are eligible for the flu vaccine should have the flu jab.

Children eligible for the flu vaccine aged between two and 17 will usually have the flu vaccine nasal spray.

KEEP FLU AT BAY THIS WINTERExperts are increasingly concerned about the risk of flu circulating this winter and that’s why we want to make sure our readers are ready to fight it off. One of the best ways to do this is by getting your flu jab, if you’ve been offered a free one it means you need it.

The flu jab is offered free by the NHS to those who are particularly vulnerable to the infectious illness. For many it can be an unpleasant experience but for some people the risks are far greater and, occasionally, can be fatal.

Stay Well This WinterThere’s lots of myths circulating about the flu jab so it’s important that you know it is safe and it does not give you the flu (although you may experience some minor side effects). Find out more about the flu vaccine and how you can Stay Well This Winter by visiting www.nhs.uk/staywell

Chris Pointon04

You’ve continued with your late wife’s legacy of #hellomynameis, how has this been for you?

#hellomynameis had to continue for myself, it was something that Kate and I came up with four years ago (2013). It just feels like it’s the right thing to do because it keeps Kate’s name alive as well as helping other people.

The campaign has opened up various other doors to compassionate care and it also makes me feel like I’m making a difference. Speaking in front of large crowds of people about our journey and our story wasn’t something I used to feel overly comfortable with. For the last two to three years I’ve started to feel more comfortable, and with Kate’s passing last year I’m the figurehead of the campaign now.

Talking about Kate and the campaign helps with the grieving process, as I’ve lost my soul mate and I’ll never forget Kate.

Have you faced any challenges whilst continuing to campaign for #hellomynameis?

Trying to balance everything together so that I can continue with the campaign, the grieving of losing Kate is ongoing, and my employer has been absolutely amazing throughout Kate’s illness and her passing.

I’m a perfectionist when it comes to work and other things I do, so I want to give a 100% to everything that I do. One of the challenges for me has been managing my own time. I tend to push myself to the limit and by keeping busy it also means that I’ve not got time to think about reality. This is good but at times I need to remember that I’ve just lost my wife and her parents have just lost their daughter as well as the impact her passing has had on the rest of our family and friends.

The biggest challenge is making decisions based on what I think Kate would want. I imagine 99 times out of 100 I’d make the right decisions, because Kate and I were in tune with each other and we knew how each other thought.

On your journey to continue Kate’s legacy of #hellomynameis has anything stood out for you?

When Kate was alive, she was doing all these conferences and various talks; I suppose I hadn’t appreciated the magnitude of the campaign across the world. It’s only when Kate was seriously ill towards the end of her life and when she passed away, that I’ve actually realised how prevalent the campaign is. The support it continues to get across the world and the sheer passion that people have for the campaign, it’s humbling. It’s nice to know that the campaign will continue to be used and Kate’s name has now been used for many awards across the UK and the world. Kate’s name is also being used to recruit new nurses, who are involved in projects named after her.

We get talking to Chris Pointon, husband of the late Dr Kate

Granger, who tells us how he’s been continuing with Kate’s

legacy of #hellomynameis

#hellomynameis

Chris Pointon 05

Earlier this year your employer, Asda, launched Dr Gnorma Gnome to support you and promote #hellomynameis, how much did this mean to you?

My employer has always been very supportive and they’ve helped me in a number of ways. The biggest support they can give to me is time, flexibility and their understanding.

In our business we also sell a lot of gnomes, the actual buyer approached me last year telling me the new range for this season was going to be a doctor gnome. They wanted to promote the campaign through the gnome by having a badge on the actual product, with a link to the website which we did. The buyer had donated part of the profit from Dr Gnorma Gnome to Asda’s own cancer charity. The gnome was a huge success, as it was all over social media and it was a fun way of promoting the campaign but still very relevant.

#hellomynameis has gone global and has the backing of a number of celebrities including Drew Barrymore and Bob Geldof, is there anyone in particular who you would like to see backing the campaign?

Kate used to set me a number of challenges in the last two to three years of her life for the campaign, a lot of them I managed to succeed with. There were some difficult ones to get, like the Corrs who were Kate’s favourite pop group and Kylie Minogue, who I went above and beyond to get to endorse the campaign.

The two people that I would really like to see back the campaign are Michelle and Barack Obama. Although Barack is no longer the president of the United States of America, he’s still a high profile figure and I’d like him to endorse

the campaign and Michelle as well because of the work she does. I’ve written, emailed, tweeted and been in touch with a number of people but with no success just yet but it will happen. I’d also like to see Phil and Holly from This Morning endorse the campaign, as Kate was a big fan of the show which she wanted to go on but didn’t. Holly and Phil would be great endorsers because of their reach across social media to really highlight the campaign.

How do you fit in continuing Kate’s campaign for compassionate care with your own work commitments?

I’ve always been an organised person as that’s one of my skills, which really helps and the other thing is that I don’t want to let people down. If somebody asks me to talk at a conference or do an interview, I always accommodate them wherever possible. I couldn’t have done this without the support of my employer, they’ve given me the flexibility to go and deliver talks. The video they made whilst I was over at Walmart United States, was an amazing testament to the support I’ve been given.

Is there anything else people can do to improve the care they provide patients?

#hellomynameis is the starting point in that relationship and it’s the starting point in the care they can give to patients. This follows on to living the values the campaign has brought about, the four values that we talk about which Kate was very keen on. The overriding principle for those values is to treat the patient as you would want to be treated yourself, or as you would want your family member to be treated and what you want to be remembered for.

Additional questions

Favourite place in Yorkshire?

I’ve two favourite places; the first one is the Yorkshire Sculpture Park, as that’s where Kate and I got engaged. Second place would be Holmfirth because my late grandma lived there, and I’ve a lot of great memories from there as Kate and my grandma got on really well.

Three words that best describe you

Organised, compassionate and driven.

Who is your inspiration?

Kate, she did so much with what she was going through.

Guilty pleasure

I’ve been fortunate enough to drive the best cars in the world and a lot of this is down to the organisations out there like Jaguar, Land Rover and Bentley, as they’re happy to help people and don’t want any kind of free publicity for it.

Find out more about #hellomynameis...

by visiting www.hellomynameis.org.uk or you can follow Chris on Twitter at @PointonChris

Download the ‘Hello my name is’ song from iTunes.

In 2015, when Gipton Fire Station closed its doors for the final time, it was the oldest operational fire station in the county. But now, thanks to funding from Jimbo’s Fund and the involvement of local community projects, the landmark reopened in September 2017 with a new lease of life as a multi-purpose hub for the surrounding community.

The new-look building, now known as The Old Fire Station, offers a wide range of services, including a community café, office accommodation, a teaching kitchen, an enterprise hub available for hire and a variety of community spaces and meeting rooms.

Outside, there is a landscaped entrance, parking and a small community garden. The small garden will be looked after by Hyde Park Source and includes flowers, fruit and vegetables.

The outside space also has an unusual feature – wire bastions around the garden which are a nod to the late Leeds businessman and philanthropist, Jimi Heselden, who established Jimbo’s Fund with Leeds Community Foundation.

GFS Community Enterprise (wholly owned by Leeds Community Foundation) acquired and renovated the building and made sure local people were able to put forward suggestions and ideas about what they would like the space to offer during its development.

Care was also taken to keep original features in the building itself, including keeping the doors and shutters on the engine bays, original tiling on walls and floors, pumps and even some of the fireman’s poles.

Kirsty McKinnon, Communications Manager for Leeds Community Foundation says: “We want the centre to become the heart of the local community, providing a sustainable, secure and accessible space, as well as being a lasting legacy for Jimi Heselden. A great deal of planning has gone into this project and we are delighted that The Old Fire Station has now opened its doors.”

When is a fire station not a fire station? When it’s a gleaming new venue for the local community!

COMMUNITY CENTRE IS A PHOENIX FROM THE ASHES

New Gipton Fire Station community centre06

The Old Fire Station Gipton Approach, Gipton, Leeds LS9 6NL

www.theoldfirestationgipton.org.uk

0113 213 6813

Follow on Twitter and Facebook @OldFireStaLS9

Although we don’t all use them, smartphones

and ‘apps’ are becoming part and parcel of the

world we live in. With that in mind we have put

together a list of five super useful ‘apps’ that

might make a difference in your day to day life.

Scannable

Scannable uses your phone’s camera to capture a document

and ‘scan it’. It’s really simple and easy to use. Hover over the

document using the app and voila! You can then save your

image or email it out to yourself or others who might need it.

Available on: iOS

Send Anywhere

Send Anywhere allows you to send large files and documents

from your phone direct to a computer, bypassing an email

provider’s data limitations. Simply select your file in the Send

Anywhere app and send it. The document will be sent to the

Send Anywhere website where you can collect it up to 10

minutes after being sent. If you don’t retrieve it, it will be

deleted, meaning your files remain secure.

Available on: iOS, Android, Windows Phone

ShazamHeard a song that’s catchy and you really like, but don’t know

who sang it or what it’s called? Shazam listens to the song being

played using your phone’s microphone and sends back the

information about the artist and title of the song, including

links to where you can find the song to buy/stream!

Available on: iOS, Android, Windows Phone

Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor pulls together locations, hotels, flights, restaurants

and things to do into one convenient place with reviews,

images, links to menus and websites, locations and opening

hours. Great to help you plan your next social event or holiday.

Available on: iOS, Android, Windows Phone

TrainlineThe Trainline app is simple and great. Need to know the time of

your next train or want to book tickets at the best price? Trainline

gives you availability, best prices and explanations of routes. It

is up to date too, so you can also check to see if your train is

running late or not.

Available on: iOS, Android, Windows Phone

Get app savvy 07

You’d probably be forgiven for having never heard of Boston Spa before. Situated between Tadcaster and Wetherby it is truly on the edge of the Leeds area. It’s not a walk from the city centre, that’s for sure; an hour bus ride on the number 70/71 will get you there. It might seem a long way away but it’s certainly worth a visit.

It is a small village with a lot of history and stuff going on. It was originally established in 1744 as a ‘spa town’ by John Shires (a resident of neighbouring village, Thorp Arch) who discovered sulphur springs in the surrounding area. The Spa baths were built to allow visitors to come and take the waters in the early 19th century but this declined as nearby Harrogate became more affluent as a spa

town. Boston Spa was also home to a number of abodes that were constructed for home workers from the Thorp Arch munitions factory during the Second World War.

Boston Spa is a picturesque village with a lot of greenery and wildlife to spot. Just off the high street are a number of walks and footpaths into the countryside where smells of wild garlic fill the air and the sounds of playing dogs are never far behind. The banks of the River Wharfe are perfect for a stroll or exercising your dog.

If you don’t fancy exploring too far into the local woods, there are a number of cafes and restaurants on the high street so you can enjoy a coffee or a tasty meal in a relaxing environment. If you want to see some more of the history of Boston Spa there are many listed building and structures for you to find, including Boston Hall which is owned by former Yorkshire and England cricketer, Geoffrey Boycott.

Spotlight on Boston Spa08

Boston SpaSpotlight on…

Be sure to keep an eye out for special events in Boston Spa, they have a number throughout the calendar year including a scarecrow festival, an “in bloom” flower festival, an “artists on show” festival and many jazz, real ale and cider festivals.

Beware the festive fraudsters 09

Beware of online shopping fraud Last year over £25 billion was spent online by UK shoppers in the six weeks running up to Christmas. While buying your presents online is quick and convenient, there are people out there looking to take advantage of this huge market by creating bogus websites selling fake or unsafe goods, or items that will never be delivered.

• If possible only buy from retailers you know and trust

• Check the delivery, warranty and returns policies

• Be especially careful when purchasing expensive items

Christmas e-cards Many of us now send e-cards instead of traditional Christmas cards, either to help the environment or to save precious time. Most are genuine, but there are cyber-criminals creating their own versions that you don’t want to open. They can lead to viruses affecting your computer and use something called malware to access your personal or financial information.

• If you receive an anonymous e-card play it safe and delete the email

• Make sure you have anti-virus protection installed on your device that is regularly updated and always turned on

• If you believe your electronic device has been infected, switch it off and disconnect from the internet to prevent further information being stolen. For advice on free virus removal tools go to www.cyberstreetwise.com. You should also change your passwords and username for any online activity you do such as banking, emails or shopping sites.

Beware ‘amazing deals’ at this time of year These incredible offers aren’t always what they seem. So always shop around, compare and read the small print. Be particularly wary of deals that seem ‘too good to be true’ and companies you have never heard of.

And finally, keep your presents out of sight (particularly if you are going away over the festive period) Nothing is more tempting to thieves looking through the window than piles of presents lying under a tree.

TOP TIPS TO ENSURE A CRIME FREE CHRISTMASChristmas is one of the most expensive times of the year. Yet unfortunately it can end up costing you much more than you’d planned thanks to a rise in clever scams. Here we tell you some of the tell-tale tricks to look out for to ensure you don’t fall foul of the festive fraudsters.

If you do unfortunately fall victim to fraud, please report it immediately to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040; www.actionfraud.police.uk. For more information about online crime prevention, go to www.getsafeonline.org or www.cyberstreetwise.com

Engagement hub10

Involving patients and the public in developing health services is integral to everything we do if we are to have excellent services that most closely meet local people’s needs. As a commissioner of healthcare services our responsibility is to ensure that our local communities have the opportunity to be fully engaged in the decisions we take.

“This programme is an asset to our local health and care system.”

CCG staff member

“It’s been inspirational.”

Patient champion

“ The training is excellent and the opportunity to communicate with others and gain experience/knowledge is so important.”

PPG member

“ I have learned a great deal from my involvement and am impressed by the thinking that goes into producing the training elements that I have been involved with.”

CCG staff member

“ The support our practice has received to help re-launch, develop and manage our hub has been invaluable.”

GP practice

Leeds engagement hub

Our engagement hub offers a range of free activities to support local people to get involved and influence healthcare services in Leeds, including:

• Training

• Peer support

• Information, advice and guidance through

• Patient champions; and

• Patient participation groups (PPGs)

• A quarterly magazine (the one in your hand right now!)

We are now in the third year of this programme and since 2014 we have:

• Developed 10 different training sessions which have been delivered 33 times to 287 people.

• Facilitated 23 peer support sessions with 216 patients, members of the public and staff.

• Provided 81 opportunities for patient champions to get involved in events and activities.

• Visited 66 patient participation groups (PPGs) across city.

We recently started working in partnership with Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, eMBED (our commissioning support unit) and Leeds and York Partnership Foundation NHS Trust.

The engagement hub was recently shortlisted for the ‘Improving Patient and Community Engagement’ Award at the Transforming Healthcare Awards. It’s great to get recognised for our work in Leeds but what is most important to us is providing engagement support that really helps you to feel more confident in your role as a volunteer or member of staff.

Champion

Listen

Act

We are in the process of evaluating the programme and developing our training calendar for 2018. You’ll be able to read the evaluation and find out about all our training on our website here: www.leedswestccg.nhs.uk/get-involved/how/patient-champion

If you’d like to know more about the engagement hub, contact chris.bridle@nhs.net

CONGRATULATIONS TO ST GEMMA’S HOSPICE

Congratulations to St Gemma’s 11

Congratulations to St Gemma’s Hospice in Moortown for becoming the first officially recognised University Teaching Hospice in the UK and the world!

More than a coffee morningPatients in Chapeltown are starting to become their own health providers. They are sharing their gifts, passions and skills with the community and bringing the feeling of association and belonging closer to those in their neighbourhood and practices.

This is a fantastic achievement that recognises the huge amount of important research and teaching work that St Gemma’s carries out in partnership with the University of Leeds.

That’s not all! There’s another reason for the St Gemma’s team to celebrate as they’ve also been rated ‘Outstanding’ by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) – the independent body which assesses all health and social care providers in the country.

St Gemma’s has been offering expert care and support to patients and their families – often at the end of life – since 1978. Today it is the largest hospice in Yorkshire, helping thousands of people when they need it most, regardless of religion, race or cultural background.

The team are understandably delighted with their new status. It will mean that staff and volunteers have access to the most up-to-date education and demonstrates that the care they provide is of the highest standard. Something that many in Leeds will have seen first hand when they or their loved ones have spent time at St Gemma’s.

Find out more about the work of St Gemma’s and how you could support the work they do: www.st-gemma.co.uk

One of the groups that has flourished is ‘More Than A Coffee Morning’, which is associated with St Martins Practice on Chapeltown Road. Every Thursday morning, at Leeds Polish Centre, bunting is strung up, the kettle is boiled and Cuban salsa music drifts over the tables and chairs.

It is a place to have a natter, play dominoes or get involved in some knitting. There is a gentle Zumba class every week as well as a fortnightly healthcare insight session. There are also arts and crafts, cooking skills, storytelling, laughter workshops and origami!

If you would like to volunteer your time please contact Joe on joseph.kiff@leeds.gov.uk

Members of the coffee morning have said:

“This is one of the best things that I have done. I have been to Age Concern for several physical exercise classes but now all those sessions have ended and I have found this group. It is a perfect balance of how much physical exercise we do and the amount of other activities, like crafts. You come here, you make friends and you come away smiling.

“A welcoming, multi-cultural environment that gives me great encouragement and sets me challenges: it has helped a lot in improving my self-esteem.”

Evidence is clear that the earlier that cancer is diagnosed the easier it is to treat and the better the outcomes for individuals and their loved ones.

Who are we?The Leeds Cancer Awareness Project relies heavily on volunteer community action team members who work with us, in their own communities, raising awareness and encouraging people to take up NHS screening invitations. So far we have over 25 volunteers working across the city to spread the message of early diagnosis and awareness.

What are we doing and how are we doing it?The team have been working across the city since April 2017, going out into the community talking to people in their own environments such as shops, pubs, clubs and social events as well as talking to people in established social groups.

In south and east Leeds, community health workers complete lifestyle risk assessments with people. This helps them see what small changes they could make to their everyday lives to make a positive impact on their health and wellbeing and local services who can support them.

If you would like one of the team to come along and deliver a session to one of your groups then please get in touch. There is no fee and the team provide all the required resources – including quiz / bingo prizes!

The Leeds Cancer Awareness Project In Leeds, the rate of cancer is higher than the rest of England. A lot has been done to reduce the differences in rates but the work is far from done.

SuccessesWe have greatly improved the facilities for patients and staff.

Some of the work we’ve done is highlighted below.

• Helping to rationalise the facilities and ambience of the patient areas.

• Reducing delays in outpatient appointments.

• Reducing the time it takes for letters to get to the GP following a consultation.

• Successfully helped move the dermatology inpatients department from Leeds General Infirmary to Chapel Allerton Hospital.

We’ve also set up a small registered charity, the Dermatology Friends of Chapel Allerton Hospital, which raises funds for medical equipment and items which improve the patient’s hospital visit.

If you are interested in being involved, contact Victor Boughton, Chair: 0113 257 2064 or Bill Cunliffe, Secretary: 0113 267 2326.

Patient panel looking for new membersMeeting monthly, the Leeds Dermatology Panel is a committee of 14 patients and 10 staff (including consultants, managers, supervisors and sisters as well as staff) who aim to maintain a high standard of clinical care for patients with skin disease and skin cancer at Chapel Allerton Hospital.

Local volunteers making a difference12

Picture of volunteers: Bruce Abbott and Frances Hansom

ContactTo learn more about this programme, arrange for us to come to your group, or enquire about joining our team of volunteers, please contact:

Karen Fenton, Darren Meade and Amy Samouelle on: 0113 8800153

Leeds@uni.uk.net

The Cross Flats Room Hillside Enterprise Centre Beeston Road Leeds LS11 8ND

Gardening GuruTucked behind a young people’s centre in the seaside town is a secret garden, only it’s not that secret anymore. This social enterprise is the brainchild of Rhiannon Williams, a professional gardener and mum of two (where does she find the time!?).

Three years ago Rhiannon saw a derelict patch of land and, with the help and support of North Tyneside Council’s Business Factory programme, she created the ‘Secret Gardening Club’, a place where children can play outdoors, build dens, make fires, use tools and climb.

It’s not a new idea but what impresses me is how she has transformed a dream into reality. I’ve lost track of the number of times I have walked past wasteland in Leeds and thought about what a beautiful community space it could be. But how do you cultivate a concept like this?

Well, having drive and determination is a must and you can’t do it on your own. The more volunteers and local assets involved the easier it gets. Working with established local organisations will help you secure funding and promote the project. Lewisham have produced a really helpful guide for anyone wanting to act on their community garden dream. Visit bit.ly/2ytNkKu to take a look.

Here are a few jobs for you to do over the next month:

• Cut back any perennials that have died

• Get new plants by lifting and dividing perennials like sedum, anemone and hosta

• Look after garden critters by creating an insect hotel

• Make some homemade fatballs with the kids and hang them out in the garden.

Happy gardening.

Whitley Bay has got it going on

In a time of limited resources, where we are being encouraged to self-manage our health and wellbeing, community gardens offer an opportunity to reduce public health disparities. This is through promoting physical activity and healthy eating, growing food for underserved populations, and accelerating healing from injury or disease.

Sir Steve Bullock, Mayor of Lewisham captures it nicely when he says that “...this is real community empowerment – local people coming together to create something which is sustainable.”

I’ll continue to cast a whimsical eye over run down spaces in my hometown but in the meantime my garden provides some respite from the daily grind and an opportunity to exercise. By the time you read this it will be late October and you’ll need to think about winding down (or up, depending on how you look at it!) for winter.

...this is real community empowerment – local people coming together to create something which is sustainable.

Sir Steve Bullock Mayor of Lewisham

Gardening guru 13

Chicken Korma

RECIPE This is the real deal chicken korma from Luknow, inspired by the Nawaab’s (aristocracy) of the Mughals, dating back centuries. Now this is not the mild concoction created for the hesitant spice eating Brit, but the original creamy yet spiced up chicken which delights the taste buds of everyone who has it. As someone from a Kashimiri background, I’m also trying to make the korma more acceptable to our pallet which is primarily inspired by a fusion of spicy Punjabi food. The last time I made this dish, our vegetarian colleagues couldn’t resist a taste, so everyone be warned if you are anywhere near a kitchen when this is being cooked.

INGREDIENTS:1 whole chicken – cut into small pieces

Garlic – 1 full bulb

Ginger – size of your thumb, peeled

Green chillies – 6 or 7

Ghee (good old British butter would be fine too and a lower fat alternative) – 2 tablespoons

Cloves, cinnamon, cardamom – 1 teaspoon each

3 small onions – pureed

Red chilli – 1 teaspoon

Desiccated coconut – 1 tablespoon

Cashew nuts – 2 tablespoons

Poppy seeds – 1 tablespoon

Black Cardamom Powder – half a teaspoon

STAGE ONE

After having cut, cleaned and washed the chicken, place in a bowl. Grind the ginger, garlic and green chillies to a rough texture. Personally I prefer to use a pestle and mortar, it’s not only therapeutic but leaves the kind of texture I prefer. Mix this well into the chicken and put to one side.

STAGE TWO

Heat the ghee in your wok or pan (make sure the wok or pan has a lid), and when it’s all melted throw in the cloves, cinnamon, and cardamoms. You can bruise them if you wish to before adding them. Leave for about 30 seconds/1 minute until you can smell the aromas. Then add the pureed onions. Once the water has dried and the onions are reasonably browned, add the chicken. You can add half a glass of water here and cover the pan with a lid.

STAGE THREE

Add the cashew nuts, poppy seeds and desiccated coconut to half a litre of water and blend until it becomes a thick creamy paste. Once the chicken has cooked for around 10 minutes, add the creamy paste and cook (with lid on) for a further 10/15 minutes. Finally add the black cardamom powder and mix well. Leave for another two or so minutes – then your korma is ready to eat.

BEST SERVED WITH HOT CHAPATTI OR NAAN BREAD, BUT YOU CAN HAVE IT WITH PLAIN RICE TOO.

This is an uncomplicated yet exciting dish split into three parts.

Recipe14

Courtesy of Rainbow Junk-tion Cafe

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Quiz corner

Quiz time! 15

D T E N S K I G A C T I V E N I

Y Y E M F U I S N R O O J F M A

H R L S L S P P A U L S B F P G

L D G N K I F W M N S E A E A E

Q D W O L O K E U O R P T S T C

K A A W L C R C B L Y R K T N O

G E E B W R O W I E U L E I Z M

E R P O V F C N D I S W O V J M

W I T A O R E P M U J G S E M U

O B M R E O R P D E N Y M T O N

U H C D E S N G I P T O N M O I

A E W M P T I P H N D A P T C Y

M M O P E P U N S T B C R U R Y

R O H O I W N H T L S A Q P J F

O M T B O S T O N S P A A R N E

K R E X S R R L R P W E B O P I

KORMAFESTIVEFROSTBOSTON SPA

GIPTONCOMMUNITYAPPSACTIVE

SKISNOWBOARDJUMPER

Wordsearch

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6 4 7 5

9 3 4 2

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5 3

2 6 5 4 9 1

Sudoku

NHS Leeds CCGs Partnership

Free activitiesWalk in the park: you don’t need to go far to find one of Leeds’ beautiful parks and enjoy a stroll around Roundhay Park lake, or the splendour of Temple Newsam House. Bring the bikes or just stretch your legs. Some even offer a café, so you can refuel with a hot drink. Find out more: www.leeds.gov.uk/parks

Parkrun Leeds: if you fancy upping the pace, Parkruns are friendly 5km timed runs, for all abilities, taking place every week in five Leeds parks. You just need to register before your start. Find out more: www.parkrun.org.uk/leeds

Museums: explore fascinating insights into history and art. Highlights this winter include Skeletons: Our Buried Bones at Leeds City Museum – unearthing people’s stories through their skeletons, including a medieval soldier and a victim of the Black Death. Find out more: www.leeds.gov.uk/museumsandgalleries

Also check out: The Thackray Museum: www.thackraymedicalmuseum.co.uk

The Royal Armouries: www.royalarmouries.org

Low costTropical World, Roundhay: escape the wintry weather, explore environments and meet incredible creatures from rainforests, mangroves and deserts. Our favourites? The cheeky meerkats of course! Cost: adults £6, children £3, under 5s free. www.tropicalworld.leeds.gov.uk

Go Karting: Let off some steam at the longest indoor circuit in Yorkshire. Perfect for thrill seekers. Cost: starting at £30 for two 15 minute races. Find out more: www.team-sport.co.uk/ go-karting-leeds

Ice skating: Look out for the ever popular ice skating rink which lands in Millennium Square every January. Cost (2017 prices): adults £7.50, children under 12 £6.

When the temperatures drop and evenings get longer, it’s tempting to curl up on the sofa with a box set and a pair of fluffy slippers. We’re not going to argue, a bit of hibernating feels good, but with Leeds offering some great activities, there’s plenty to enjoy out and about during the winter months.

Activities on offer this winter

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If we still haven’t convinced you to leave the comfort of your living room, why not keep the kids occupied with some fun and free activities at home. You could set up a treasure hunt, build a den or have a pizza party. Google is your friend – search for ‘things to do on a rainy day’.