Leeds ACTS

Coordinating third sector and academic collaborations to better understand pressing societal challenges within our communities.
Coordinated by Voluntary Action Leeds.

About Leeds ACTS

Leeds ACTS! (Academic Collaboration with the Third Sector) is a unique partnership between the voluntary sector and the three Universities in Leeds: Leeds Beckett University, Leeds Trinity University and the University of Leeds.
We bring together the expertise of local communities and academia in Leeds. By enabling these connections we hope to better make sense of local societal challenges, including inequality, and develop innovative solutions to address them through research, policy, and practice.
Separated red, blue, green, and yellow jigsaw pieces symbolise Third Sector collaboration; Leeds ACTS! in text, Leeds volunteering context.

How we work

The Leeds ACTS! Partnership steering group meets bi-monthly and is made up of representatives from third sector organisations and higher education institutions. 

Leeds ACTS! applies a thematic approach to the delivering of activity aimed at addressing key societal challenges within communities across Leeds. Activity includes conferences, workshops and seedcorn funding to inspire new collaborations. 

In January we held the inaugural Leeds Housing Conference – Good Places Leeds and in November we will be hosting a series of workshops on Dementia, followed by a seedcorn funding round. 

Leeds ACTS! provides a point of contact to share ideas and opportunities for joint TS-HE working. Get in touch if you are looking for either a research or community partner. 

Sound like something you should be part of? Get in touch! 

To find out more about Leeds ACTS!, please contact Sonja Woodcock, Project Worker on 0113 297 7920 or email sonja.woodcock@val.org.uk 


Recent work and projects

We coordinated the Leeds Housing Conference – Good Places Leeds.

We hosted a series of workshops on Dementia, followed by a seedcorn funding round.
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Seedcorn Fund Project Evaluations

Gledhow Valley Seedcorn Funding ‘A Right to Green Space’PDF, 432 KB

This Vignette describes the delivery and outcomes of the Fresh Water Quality Monitoring Gledhow Beck Seedcorn project. The project was delivered between July 2023 and August 2023 and funded by the LeedsACTS! partnership.

LGAP & Leeds Beckett Seedcorn Funding ‘A Right to Green Space’PDF, 243 KB

This Vignette describes the delivery and outcomes of the Common Health Evaluation Framework for Community Environmental Projects’ Seedcorn project. This project was delivered between Leeds Green Activity Provider Network and Leeds Beckett University and funded by the LeedsACTS! partnership.

Mafwa Theatre & Leeds Conservatoire Seedcorn Funding ‘A Right to Green Space’PDF, 3 MB

This Vignette describes the delivery and outcomes of the Flourish x LCON Seedcorn project. The project with Mafwa Theatre and Leeds Conservatoire was delivered between 19th March and 21st May and funded by the LeedsACTS! partnership.

Contact Leeds ACTS

If you’re looking for either a research or community partner get in touch.
Find out more about the Leeds Academic Collaboration with the Third Sector by contacting Sonja Woodcock, Project Worker, employed by Voluntary Action Leeds.
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Get our updates

Sign up to the Leeds ACTS! Bulletin
Join this mailing list to receive invites to relevant events and seedcorn funding rounds.

Sign up using the link below and select ‘Academic collaboration with the Third Sector’ which is second from the bottom of the list.

This mailing list is managed by Voluntary Action Leeds (VAL). You can subscribe to more categories of interests which are listed.
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Voluntary Action Leeds (VAL) registered charity number 225863 and a company limited by guarantee in England and Wales number 555150. Volition Leeds registered charity number 1092126 and company limited by guarantee in England and Wales number 04046674.
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