A History of Breeze
Celebrating the first 20 years!
In response to consultation with young people in Leeds in 2003, Leeds City Council committed a pot of money to fund the purchase of ‘Action-Adventure Equipment’ for the recreational use of young people in the city. It then became the Breeze Teams task to procure that equipment, ranging from temporary skate parks, sports and challenge inflatables to Techno trucks equipped to deliver music production and video workshops.
The Breeze Teams focus was clear: to enable maximum access to this equipment whilst maintaining it in good order, and providing a safe environment in which children and young people could really enjoy the Council’s investment. At the same time children would have the chance to explore activities provided by our partners across the city, all of which would be showcased at a series of events held in our major parks. The idea of Breeze On Tour was born with the very first summer of free activities taking place 20 years ago in 2004.
Since 2004 Governments have changed, funding streams have shifted and in many cases been reduced, but the Breeze Team’s focus and remit has remained the same. Funding bids have been augmented by income generating initiatives like ‘The Christmas Experience’ at Lotherton Hall, where some of the income raised by the team has gone to support the Breeze summer events in the city.
Over the past 20 years the Breeze team has built on these events by developing some fantastic partnerships with statutory and independent providers including LCC teams from Museums, Libraries, Sport and the Youth Service and Leeds City College alongside independents like Rock School, Shane Fenton of Speak to the Streets, the late and sadly missed Barber B, First Floor and the Leeds Playhouse, Scope and Boom-chicka-boom to name but a few of many. Our information zone has featured partners promoting countless initiatives, and the events have attracted regional and national bodies, raising awareness on topics such as; mental health, healthy eating, the environment, climate change, Safety on the Railway Tracks, No to Knives, sexual health and drug awareness.
The Breeze events have enabled young people to celebrate moments of national and regional import including the 2012 Olympics when Gold Medal winner Nicola Adams was met with rapturous applause at the Kirkstall Abbey event. The Olympics were also commemorated in Breeze graffiti walls at the John Charles Stadium , The Rugby World Cup made an appearance at Breeze on Tour in Armley Park in 2015 and in 2014 the Grand Depart of cyclists from the Headrow in Leeds, kick started a summer of bike challenges at our events. BBC’s Radio 1 Road Show joined us one year at Kirkstall Abbey which was also the site, along with Millennium Square, of our Guinness Book Of Records attempt for the most dancing Zombies to assemble in one place.
In 2004 the events attracted approximately 5,000 young people under 19. With the introduction of registration through Breeze Card and now through the booking system the team has been able to report more accurately as the program has grown, with summer attendance regularly reaching over 22,000 young people plus their parents and carers each year. It’s surprising then to note that the program has always been delivered by the efforts of a tiny core team of between five and seven full time staff who also deliver many other projects throughout the calendar year. With such an enormous task, delivery has only been made possible through the regular recruitment of a casual pool of DBS checked workers skilled in sport, youth work, child care and the arts who come together for the summer program. We have had some magnificent staff and volunteers through this route. All of this organization has provided the backdrop against which 2 generations of young people in Leeds have grown up experiencing Breeze events, and between those young people, our partners, Breeze staff and volunteers there are thousands upon thousands of individual personal stories to tell and literally millions of hours of fun will continue to be had. Watch this space!!
Councillor Salma Arif, Leeds City Council’s executive member for adult social care, active lifestyles and culture, said:
“Breeze In The Park is a much-loved staple of summertime in Leeds, and I’m sure this year’s events will add another chapter to its long-running success story.
So many young people have enjoyed Breeze get-togethers in our wonderful parks and green spaces since 2004, with the programme’s continued focus on fun, inclusivity and value-for-money reflecting our determination to ensure Leeds is the best city in the country to grow up in.
It’s lovely to think that some parents bringing their own families to this summer’s events will once have attended as children themselves and are now set to make a whole host of magical new memories.”
Sally, Leeds parent, said:
“We’ve been coming to Breeze since the beginning in 2004, when I was 10 years old. I went with my mum and my siblings, which there’s 4 of us, and now we are coming with our kids. Now there’s 3 generations coming, with my Mum, us siblings and the 11 grandchildren.. We go to as many as we can and we travel far to go to them, all via bus. As a kid I loved and was always in the video van, making films and also loved the talent tents. Breeze is our routine every year and it’s our norm, you know, that Breeze is on. I don’t know summer without it and it wouldn’t feel like the proper school holidays or the same without it. Even through the changes it’s still as amazing for the kids. It’s great for all ages, there’s always something for everyone to do.”
Laimar, Piranha Studios, said:
