麻豆社

Leeds Chinese Community School (LCCS) is one of three Chinese supplementary schools in Leeds, is over 40 years old and has 175 students. It is lauded as a big success story for the Chinese in the city.听

Run by volunteer teachers for children and young people aged between 5 and 18, the school meets on Sundays and provides a chance for British-born Chinese families to meet, learn Chinese language, martial
arts and dance.

Most students are second or third generation British-born Chinese who attend day schools just like any other children.听Their families mainly came from Hong Kong, Guangdong or southern part of China who speak Cantonese or Hakka as well as Mandarin.

All parents and teachers have the same goal when coming to the school - to let the children gain knowledge of Chinese culture and learn about the language and their roots.

Being a Chinese in UK, I share the same mind-set of other parents and teachers when I first started to get involved with LCCS as a parent in 1998.听Gradually, I started to understand the structure of the school, which to my surprise, was entirely run by volunteers.听

I was then invited by the Headteacher Mrs. Tatum Yip to help with administrative tasks, and took up the Deputy Head role, eventually becoming Headteacher myself. Since then, we have started the Chinese dance, Taekwando and calligraphy classes to enrich the children's experience and provoke their interest in Chinese culture.听It has been a challenging experience and a memorable page in the book of my life.

With the help of Dr. Ann Kwan, Mrs. Lisa Kwong and many dedicated teachers, parents and the support of local Chinese community, the school has gradually built up a reputation in Leeds and districts.听Mrs. Sally Pegg kindly took up the Headteacher role in 2006 to further develop the school with Dr. Yim Ling Siu when I could not contribute too much voluntary time due to personal and work commitments.听I have now rejoined the school team and hopefully we shall continue to work together as a team to benefit children in Leeds.

Listen to Candy talk about the school on the 麻豆社 Radio Leeds Breakfast Show: