After a comprehensive review, we are looking for local providers to take on the running of some Little Owls nurseries.
The successful provider will take on the nursery as a going concern through a leasehold arrangement. View the opportunity and make an application on Yortender. We are particularly interested to hear from local providers with a proven track record, who can support the diversity of need in the local community.
Little Owls nurseries that are being offered are:
- Bramley
- Burley Park
- City and Holbeck
- Hunslet Rylestone
- Meanwood
- Osmondthorpe
- Rothwell
- Shepherd’s Lane
Closing date for applications is 16 May 2025.
Site visits will be available the week commencing 21 April and 28 April and will be advertised on Yortender. Visits will be outside of nursery opening hours and we would ask that people do not visit the nurseries outside these prearranged times.
After this there will be an evaluation where we will review your responses to the pre-qualification process to be completed by the end of June 2025.
Once providers have been selected and all due diligence has taken place, nurseries will be handed over to the new provider. The handover is expected to take a minimum of 3 months for each nursery and could take longer depending on the unique context of each nursery. Our aim is that by year end 2025, they will all have been handed over to the alternative providers.
Nurseries with no suitable applications will continue to be run by the council.
Further information about the review and decisions leading up to this opportunity can be found in the June 2024 executive board meeting and the October 2024 executive board meeting.
Direct any technical enquiries about the tender website to Yortender. For any other information about this opportunity contact littleowlsreview@leeds.gov.uk.
Voluntary Action Leeds support for third sector organisations
Voluntary Action Leeds (VAL) offers a range of support to not-for-profit organisations, including small community groups, charities and alternative businesses such as cooperatives. If your organisation is considering this opportunity, but would like to get some advice and support around working in a new area, or diversifying your work, VAL can provide the following support:
- review draft bids and give feedback before they are submitted
- funding advice, including different funding sources and deciding which is right for you
- support for organisations to start generating income, for example understanding different alternative business models, specialist training and coaching
- Leeds Funding Support Network, where groups and organisations share their fundraising skills, opportunities for partnerships and different funders come to speak
- support around developing and strengthening policies, such as Safeguarding
- join our Third Sector Safeguarding group where safeguarding issues are discussed, and members can contribute to the work plans for the Leeds Children Safeguarding Partnership
- join Young Lives Leeds, a network for organisations supporting children, young people (up to the age of 25) and families to share best practice and help to shape city agendas (for example Marmot City)
- help bringing organisations together that may be interested in partnership working. For example, Young Lives Leeds were involved in doing this in the past and as a result Leeds Youth Alliance was developed
- promote opportunities to recruit volunteers through our platform Be Collective. We can help you create a role description, and support you with managing volunteers
- a wide range of training in topics such as evaluation, roles and responsibilities of trustees, safeguarding and more
Find out more about the support available on our website, Doing Good Leeds. For support, contact Ann Crossland at ann.crossland@val.org.uk.
Our principal decision-making body, Executive Board, previously approved implementation of the following decisions:
- to retain 9 nurseries - Chapeltown, New Bewerley, Little London, Harehills, Swarcliffe, Seacroft, Middleton Laurel Bank, Two Willows, Armley Moor
- to withdraw from 3 nurseries - Chapel Allerton, Gipton North and Kentmere. These nurseries closed on 30 August 2024
- to undertake a market sounding exercise for 12 nurseries - Shepherds Lane, Meanwood, St Mary's Hunslet, Hawksworth Wood, City & Holbeck, Parklands, Quarry Mount, Bramley, Hunslet Rylestone, Osmondthorpe, Rothwell, Burley Park
