Saturday, February 22, 2014 at 9:35 am |

Yesterday, Harry Potter actor, Matthew Lewis visited the Armley Helping Hands to help out with their exercise class; see a photo in the gallery. The Reconnect Community Project, which is run by Armley Helping Hands, supports older people to take up hobbies and get more involved in the local community.
Armley Helping Hands is a Registered Charity supporting older people in the Armley & Wortley district of Leeds, West Yorkshire. The charity’s aim is to provide facilities for the advancement of educational, recreational and leisure time activities with a view to improving quality of life, promoting independence, safeguarding older people and reducing social isolation.
He went as a supporter of Sport Relief, which helps to raise money for charities like this, and has asked people to sign up for the Sport Relief Games to raise money and help similar projects across the city, and the UK. The first ever Sainsbury’s Sport Relief Games will take place from Friday, March 21, to Sunday, March 23. Participants can choose from three events – the Mile, the Swimathon and the Cycle.
Of the experience, Matt had this to say:
Matthew said: “I was keen to visit Armley Helping Hands as I’d read about the fantastic work it does to help older people to live independently within the local community. After visiting here today and seeing what an impact money raised through Sport Relief can have I’d like to urge the people of Leeds to sign up to the Sainsbury’s Sport Relief Games.
“The people here are so inspiring. I hope seeing them getting active encourages everyone to get involved. The money you raise will change lives in your local community, across the UK and around the world.”
While there, Matt met a lot of the folks who use the services and have benefited from Sport Relief donations. While there he met a girl named Lauren Firth who is on an apprenticeship funded by money raised through Sport Relief. She said: “Matthew’s visit was fantastic. It was so exciting for everyone here. It was great that he could experience for himself what we do here at the project and the difference we make.”