If you find Black Friday and it’s no-holds barred, fight to the finish for the cheapest deal a drag – then Giving Tuesday might be the refreshing antidote you are looking for. 

This year, over 4,400 UK charities, including Zest, the charity that host FoodWise Leeds, are participating in this meaningful event. We want to say thank you and express our gratitude to all supporters who help us create a fair community for everyone in Leeds. Zest empowers those facing disadvantages through people-led projects focused on hope and happiness. 

You can support Zest projects by donating to our Just Giving.

Giving Tuesday is a global movement that promotes generosity and encourages acts of kindness. It highlights various ways to give, from volunteering time and donating money to raising awareness and opting out of spending. Here are some ideas for how people can enhance giving and promote equity in our communities in Leeds. You can find out more about the Giving Tuesday UK Campaign in this link.

In this picture: Images 1 & 2 slogans courtesy of free images from GivingTuesdayUK. Image 3 courtesy of Zest Leeds website of Leeds Cookery School and Men’s Pie Club at Leeds Markets.

1. Support Local Community Initiatives ✨

There are loads of initiatives encouraging positive support of a range of communities. One excellent example, Mahogony Market. Founded in September 2020, Mahogany Market orchestrates events that showcase and create platforms for African and Caribbean culture. They connect the community with local independent businesses and there is a wide array of products and services. You can support local black-owned businesses by buying gifts at their next festive Mahogony Market on Dec 1 at Northern School of Contemporary Dance. Also consider supporting Give-a-Gift a local grassroots organisation supporting the most vulnerable across Leeds. With support from volunteers and donations, they have supported over 2000 people with toys and emergency supplies. Other food aid across the city can be located on this brilliant new map.

2. Start a Community Garden and Cultivate Generosity 🕒

There are a whole host of global community garden initiatives and they don’t just cultivate land, they cultivate community and kindness too. Read more about this here. Below are some local community gardens. Examples in east, west, north and south of the city: Chapeltown, Killingbeck & Seacroft, Horsforth, Hunslet & Riverside and Incredible Edible Leeds, and a handy map to locate more good stuff here. More examples in this community garden directory.

3. Support Compost Collective Leeds🌿

Compost Collective Leeds is a city–wide community composting scheme revolutionising the reduction of food waste. Did you know 200 kilos of food waste is produced by the average Leeds household each year? And the good news is that 40% of this can be transformed into valuable free soil by being composted. Yet many homes aren’t suitable for home composting compost. Well. Compost Collective Leeds have the perfect solution.

What can you do to help build the compost revolution? Join, start or donate towards a new community composting scheme. Compost Collective is a city–wide community composting scheme that began as a pilot in 2022. Read more about our journey here.

Want more information? Click here.

Fancy watching something about Compost Collective? Click here

In this picture: close up images of the new compost bin build at Horsforth Community Composting Scheme (1) logo on side of bin (2)volunteers before it is built (3) tools and the bin lid being created (4) a person having a moment of rest with tools inn hand (5) wood parts being assembled.

4. Invest in your local community.🌍

Community Share offers are one example of ways you can support your local community by investing in them. Community Ownership allows local people to have control over spaces that are important to them and to use them in ways that meet the community’s needs. One current local example is Bramley Baths Share Offer Raise the Roof, where people in Bramley, Leeds and beyond can invest in a piece of local heritage, and the only remaining operational Edwardian pool in Leeds. More information here. Another national example is the Black Farmers Uk, who are a grassroots black-led food justice inititative in Croydon. You can donate in this link or sign their petition here. Another fun and festive themed scheme you can support is Rainbow Junktion‘s reverse Advent Calendar. For each day of december they have suggested items you can donate to build a donation package of 24 items to give to local people who need it, and for those looking for a cause to support more reguarly you can become a friend of Rainbow Junktion here.

In this picture: Reverse advent Calendar 2024 from Rainbow Junktion with 24 items you can donate.

5. Buy an Experience ✨

Another alternative to Black Friday deals and a way to take part in #GivingTuesday is buying an experience to share with loved ones – local foodie and cultural experiences include – Leeds Cookery School Vouchers or why not go see a theatre production such as The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe at Leeds Playhouse and Leeds Food Tours run delicious tasting foodie tours which often includes a taste of the amazing chillis at the Chilli Shop right here in the heart of Leeds.

In this picture: Courtesy of Leeds Playhouse – a poster of the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.

6. Buy Nothing 🌿

What might be a refreshing change or flip of the coin, is to buy absolutely nothing. The Buy Nothing Project is a global network of community groups that encourage people to give, lend, and share items instead of buying new ones. The Buy Nothing Project was founded in 2013 by Rebecca Rockefeller and Liesl Clark in Bainbridge Island, Washington. It started as a Facebook campaign, but now also has a website and standalone app. The project has over 128,000 communities around the world. Features of the scheme include:

Giving: Members freely give or request items without obligations.

Sustainability: Rehoming items is eco-friendly compared to disposal.

Community: The project fosters trust and empathy among members.

Awareness: Highlights the negative effects of overconsumption and benefits of buying nothing to your mental health, bank balance and more.

To find out more or join up for FREE click this link.

7. Support Local 💚

When you buy local, you’re not just purchasing a product; you’re investing in a story. Each item at a local market has a history and a heart. The artisan who crafted that beautiful ceramic mug, the farmer who grew that squash in the field down the road. It helps build stronger communities, is more sustainable, and is often unique and high-quality products. Here is a list of some of the local artisan, Christmas and Farmers’ Markets coming up. You can also check out our map for some of the #goodfood initiatives happening across Leeds. From Little Veg Libraries to community gardens and farmers markets, find out what is happening locally.

It’s truly heartwarming to see the variety of ways we can connect with our local community and support one another. From organic veggie boxes, which include more affordable solidarity options to ensure everyone has access to fresh produce, to incredible dining experiences that celebrate locally sourced ingredients, there’s a genuine sense of care and community spirit in Leeds. And let’s not forget about the joy of fresh locally sourced organic meat, or the delight of picking out a locally grown Christmas tree. Each of these options not only brings quality into our lives but also supports our local farmers and artisans. It’s definitely worth exploring and supporting these wonderful local initiatives. Take a look at a few we have listed ( titles are click throughs): Eat Your Greens including their new greengrocers in the CITU: Climate Innovation District, Leeds Veg Box Passion 4 Plants Meanwood Valley Farm Kirkstall Valley Farm Swillington Farm and last, but not least The Swine That Dines. This is just a hint of the flavour of the #GoodFoodMovement in Leeds. You can find out more on our website here and we will be sharing more about the amazing work happening in Leeds soon!

In this picture: Courtesy of Eat Your Greens website.