What we do

We’ve been providing services to the Irish and wider community in Leeds for over 25 years.

Whether you’d like an excuse to get out more, help with form-filling or more specialist unemployment, bereavement or mental health support, we can help. From outreach support to our Cara (Friends) project to regular Luncheon Clubs and Tea Dances, there’s something to help everyone feel more connected at Leeds Irish Health and Homes.

We’d also love to see you at one of our events celebrating our distinctive Leeds Irish culture and community – St Patrick’s Day is top of the list, of course, but there are plenty of other things going on throughout the year.

To find out more about our mission to connect people through care, culture and community (and the odd cup of tea) email info@lihh.org or telephone 0113 2625614.

For information on all our services please email info@lihh.org or telephone 0113 2625614

Irish Community Support Service

Our support workers are warm, experienced and non-judgemental and can help in a wide variety of situations, including unemployment, personal difficulties or working your way through complicated housing or benefit systems. We also tackle social isolation and loneliness through a range of social and cultural events - we’d love to see you there.

The CARA (Friends) Project

The Cara group provides person-centred support, aimed at improving health and wellbeing, encouraging independence and reducing isolation and loneliness within the elderly Irish community.

We hold a monthly coffee morning with snacks, Irish newspapers, books and live music. We also organise fun outings for community members in and around Leeds.

Digital Inclusion

Whatever your skill or experience level, our Digital Inclusion sessions can help you get online and get connected. We offer one-to-one support, online and face-to-face sessions and surgeries - we can even provide you with an iPad to get started.

Get confident with technology at your own speed and find out what the online world has to offer.

Arts, Culture and Mindfulness

The Irish have a rich cultural heritage in the arts which we’re always keen to develop with projects ranging from baking to poetry anthologies. Artistic discovery and practice can help promote mental wellbeing, but can also provide entertainment, education and more.

Discover your inner creative at one of our workshops or cultural events.

Luncheon Clubs

We run weekly Luncheon Clubs which provide a nutritious meal, social contact and fun for our community members.

There's often bingo, tea, conversation and craic to enjoy and everyone's very friendly and ready to welcome new faces.

Get in touch for out latest schedule and come along to experience it for yourself.

Tea Dances

Our tea dances have been very popular with our community since we started holding them in 2014. There's wonderful food to enjoy with friends, music, dancing and plenty of craic.

We usually hold tea dances to coincide with St Patrick's Day, Samhain (when the ancient Celts marked the beginning of Winter) and Christmas.

Enhance

Through Enhance, our Health and Wellbeing workers help people home from hospital smoothly and safely. We create a personalised support package that offers both practical support (signposting, collecting medication, accompanying patients to appointments) and emotional (befriending, listening, advocating).

Housing

We manage 52 tenancies across the city on behalf of landlords. For some clients, this might be their first proper home - or first home in a long time - and our Tenancy Support Worker is on-hand to offer regular support and meet any difficulties that might arise. We can help with form-filling, signposting and referring to other services where needed.

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Intergenerational work

Our intergenerational work gives younger and older, Irish people in Leeds the opportunity to share stories, experiences and learn from each other - it builds communication skills and keeps us all open to new ideas and perspectives.

We have a thriving gardening group based at a local primary school and regularly organise activities where younger and older people can connect.

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Anam Cara Memory Group

Estimates suggest that there are 10,000 Irish people living with dementia in Britain. We're passionate about promoting a greater awareness of dementia and providing better care and support for those living with dementia as well as their carers.

We run sessions three time a month based around the principles of Cognitive Stimulation Therapy, which is focused on encouraging new ideas, thoughts and associations.

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