It might not be quite what you expect - a jobs-fair inside a prison. But the ‘Out of Armley’ group of training providers and employers recognise that one of the ways of stopping re-offending is to ensure that prisoners have a clear plan of how they are going to get employment once they are released.

So that was the idea of having a jobs-fair; the first one ever at HMP Leeds in Armley.

ELFM have worked closely with the prison and probation service for a number of years - see the Outside Looking In series of programmes - and we were only too happy to come and see what happened on the day…

 

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Held at the West Indian Centre in Chapeltown, Leeds on March 31st 2008, this event was put together to raise awareness and to start a conversation with the community of Leeds about a permanent memorial to David Oluwale. Amongst the speakers were author Caryl Phillips, writers and performers from the ‘F Words’ Project and Leeds Young Authors.

ELFM were there to support the event.

David Oluwale arrived in Hull as a stowaway from his native Nigeria in September 1949. he served 28 days in Leeds Prison for his crime. Twenty years later, in May 1969, he was pulled out of the River Aire, at Knostrop in Leeds, where he had drowned.

For more information on the David Oluwale Memorial Appeal click here.

To listen to more ELFM podcasts about David Oluwale click here.

 

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ELFM caught up with Iranian flamenco guitarist Ramtin Montazemy to discuss life as a musician and as a refugee, he also treated us to amazing music.

For two more pieces of music from Ramtin check out his other podcast by clicking here.

 

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This piece was performed as part of 2008 Huddersfield Literature Festival by The Young Revolutionaries, a group of young people who explored the notion of being from a multi-cultural society and how they would create their own ‘Handbook To Revolution in One Page’.

This piece was developed by writer, performer & poet Rommi Smith with music and visuals by Hightone Productions in association with AMADA Arts & Huddersfield Media Centre

 

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East Leeds FM and pupils from Brigshaw High School attended the Huddersfield Literature Festival on Saturday the 15th of March at the Lawrence Batley Theatre.

We had the unique opportunity to listen to Doreen Lawrence recount the impact of the murder of her son Stephen. She was joined by Kester Aspden, who discussed his powerful study of the persecution and death of David Oluwale in Leeds in 1969 (see separate interview).

At the end of the two hour intimate session with Doreen and Kester, pupils from Brigshaw High Schools Stephen Lawrence Project group had the chance to interview Doreen. Robyn Scargill, Bronte Plenderleith and Aisha Aslam were on hand for ELFM with some searching questions. They were accompanied by Mr Mir and Miss Marsh who had a dab at interviewing too…

 

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You may want to find out more about the Stephen Lawrence Centre Education Leeds also co-ordinates the Stephen Lawrence Education Award

Doreen’s book – And Still I Rise is available from all good bookshops and at Amazon

Thanks to Huddersfield Literature Festival for arranging the interview for us and Brian Cross for the photos.