SPARK is a faith informed social justice group for people aged 18-30 in the Yorkshire area, a project of the Diocese of Leeds Justice & Peace Commission. SPARK Social Justice is about exploring the connections and supporting younger Catholics and other Christians in the Yorkshire area in taking action on the issues that they care about.
Here are a few opportunities for young people shared by SPARK
Columban Schools Competition
The Columban Missionaries in Britain are inviting students aged 13–18 to enter the 2026 Schools Media Competition. The theme of the competition is, “Becoming a refugee is never a choice. But how we respond is.” United Nations Secretary General Secretary, António Guterres.
Columban missionaries internationally have priority of supporting Migrants and Refugees. The Columban’s are looking for students in Britain (aged 13-18 inclusive, parental permission required) to submit an original piece of writing or an original image on the theme. They invite young people to explore perceptions of people seeking sanctuary in Britain, considering practical examples of welcome and solidarity. The competition aims to increase young people’s compassion and understanding of journeys of displaced people seeking safety in another country.
How can we respect diversity and respond with love to those seeking refuge and safety? Can we be inspired by real-life stories of resilience and hope, Scripture, or Catholic Social Teaching?
How can we empathise with the experience of individuals and families being separated from the place they call home? The competition closes on the 14th of February 2026 and competition winners will be announced on the 9th of March. Cash prizes will be awarded to the winners, and the first prize is an impressive £300! Students will find the Columban Competition website a useful resource: https://www.columbancompetition.com/
Be inspired by some of the powerful articles written by young people in previous competitions – follow the link here: https://columbans.co.uk/filter/schools-media-competition/ https://columbans.co.uk/education/17074/columbans-launch-schools-competition-2026/
Food Bank Donations
All Hallows Church, just down the road in Headingley does great work in the area as a hospitable community-based centre of activity.
They run numerous activities supporting local people in need, including a wonderful food waste café, Rainbow Junktion.
Christmas 2025 was not only a very special day but 60 plus volunteers managed to feed 200 people a delicious dinner, distribute surplus food to families AND have everything cleared up by 5pm, amazing work!
Donations
At this time of year, the Foodshare is always a little thin on the ground for donations.
They are currently supporting over 100 families a week, and they rely on the kind donations of the local community to keep providing these parcels. Tinned goods, long life milk, biscuits and toilet roll are always welcome, so if you can add a couple of items for us to your weekly shop, please do! We are also in need of clean, matched Tupperware so we can give people meals to take home.
DO YOU WANT TO COLLECT SOME ITEMS FOR ALL HALLOWS?
Tasty tins of food, long life milk, sugar, biscuits, toilet roll, kitchen roll, tin foil, Tupperware or plastic containers with matching lids
Make sure your donations are in date please!
West Yorkshire Citizens Assembly
West Yorkshire Citizens 2026 Delegates Assembly
Wednesday January 28, 2026, 7:00 PM to 8.30PM
Woodhouse 135 – Lecture Theatre The Rose Bowl, Leeds Beckett University City Centre Campus Leeds, United Kingdom LS1 3HB
West Yorkshire Citizens is a diverse alliance of more than 20 organisations, including education, community and faith groups, working together to create meaningful change across our region.
In a world that feels increasingly divided, the act of gathering our different communities together and uniting around campaigns is something that will hopefully breathe hope into our community organising.
The Delegate Assembly will be asking you to listen to new stories behind the campaigns and vote for Citizen’s priorities for 2026. Potential campaigns include:
· Mental health
· Tackle racism on public transport
· X
It’s important to recognise that it takes more than 1 or 2 people to organise a community or effect social change, so SPARK needs at least three people to be eligible to vote at the Assembly.
You can be there representing SPARK, affecting the choices made across our region and go on to act on the issues the delegates care most about. The broad representation in Citizens membership give us the power to listen, organise and drive real change.
– If you want to attend, contact Kathy sparks.jandp@dioceseofleeds.org.uk 07756 717 032
SPARK Transport subsidy available.
– Find out more about Citizens Community Leadership Training