Get your skates on for a pop up roller disco at Kirkgate Market this Easter

Children and young people across the city will have the chance to get their skates on at a new pop-up roller disco this Easter.

The event space at Leeds Kirkgate Market will be transformed into a roller disco arena for three days in the Easter holidays and has been brought to Leeds as one of the winning ideas in a Child Friendly Leeds competition. The ‘pop-up’ rink will be in the event space at Leeds Kirkgate Market on 9, 10 and 11 April.

Media opportunity

When: Monday 9 April at 11:45am

Where: Kirkgate Market (event space) Vicar Lane, LS2 7HY

Members of the media are invited to attend an informal opening event for the Roller Disco which will be carried out by the Leeds Children’s Mayor, Isla Bentley from Gildersome Primary School and competition winner Chelsey. Isla and Chelsey will be available for photos/ filming and interviews will be available from Child Friendly Leeds representatives.

The 'Making Leeds city centre more child friendly' competition, which was entered by more than 350 children and young people, was organised as part of the Child Friendly Leeds fifth anniversary celebrations last year.

One of the winning ideas came from Chelsey, who was 17 years old when she entered the competition. She wanted a low cost, annual roller disco for children and young people in the city centre. Her idea was that it would enable young people to get together, meet new people and make new friends as well as help them to learn how to skate or teach others to skate.

Leeds City Council and partners Sk8House, are making Chelsey’s idea a reality for three days during this year's Easter school holidays.

Chelsey said: “The fact that my idea is going to be a reality is really great and I hope it will be a success. Also, the fact that it is open to children of all ages and abilities makes it a great chance for them to socialise and try something new.”

There will be seven sessions each day including one especially for children and young people with additional needs, one for younger children between age 5 and 8, four family sessions and a teenager only session to finish off each day. Wheelchair users are welcome to go onto the rink in their wheelchairs.

Daily sessions (40 minutes with a 20 minute change over time between sessions)

10am – for children and young people with additional needs

11am – for children aged 5 to 8 years old and their parent/carer

Family sessions at 12 noon, 1pm, 2pm and 3pm

4pm – Teenager session (13 to 18 year olds)

Tickets are priced at just £2 per person for each 40 minute session, which includes skate hire and protective equipment. Children aged 5-12 years old must be accompanied by an adult. Adults can skate with their child/children (with a ticket) or help them on the rink without skates on (no charge).

Tickets are available from the Child Friendly Leeds website: https://www.leeds.gov.uk/childfriendlyleeds and will also be on sale daily at the Kirkgate Market office (cash only).

ENDS

For media enquiries, please contact:

Emma Whittell, Leeds City Council press office, on (0113) 3786007

Email: emma.whittell@leeds.gov.uk