Our vision

is to create a vibrant and welcoming space for a wide range of people to meet, mix, work and play

Our aim

is for HEART to thrive through the ideas and activities of the people who use it

Our ethos

is to reduce the environmental impact of the building through its built-in energy saving features, and by encouraging users of the building to reuse and recycle, and use the excellent public transport routes whenever possible

Background and history

HEART is the flagship project of Headingley Development Trust (HDT) and represents the culmination of a five-year dream to keep a much loved old primary school building in community use.

Opening its doors in January 2011, HEART occupies the former Headingley Primary School, which was refurbished and extended to provide the community facilities which exist today.

HEART was conceived and developed by local residents, who wanted to keep the old school buildings in community use as a hub where local residents could meet and participate in a range of activities, even start up a business.

It is a genuine community business which operates without any grant support for its running costs, while at the same time paying off the loan taken out to support its establishment.

One of the key factors in achieving this was the willingness of local residents to support it through personal financial investment; we remain grateful to everyone who continues to support HEART in the ongoing development and improvement of the centre.