The Trust needs to raise £150,000 by the end of June to achieve its ambitious plans to transform the former Headingley Primary School into the HEART arts and enterprise centre.

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Leeds City Council has set a deadline of the end of next month to raise the money needed.

On Saturday a new shop was opened on Otley Road to help publicise the campaign.

Mrs Lesley Jeffries, a Trust director said: "We need to raise £150,000 by June 30 to stop the Council selling this much loved building.
"We want it to be a thriving arts, enterprise and community centre, not more flats.

"To publicise our work and this urgent campaign, we are opening some shop premises in central Headingley.

"Local residents will be able to drop in and get campaign details, join the Trust and get more involved."

Mrs Jeffries continued: "This will see the launch of an energetic two-month campaign to sell shares in the project. For just £100 miniumum donation every Headingley resident can own a little part of its future."
The Trust celebrated last November when council chiefs agreed to hand over the school building on Bennett Road to them on a long-term lease at a peppercorn rent.

The local authority had considered selling it for development but months of campaigning prompted a change of heart.
However, the Trust has missed out on several grant applications to help fund HEART, and are now urging the public to get behind the project.
The Trust was established more than two years ago and now has more than 700 members.

It has already set up a monthly deli market and supported the community buy-out of the local wholefood store.

For more information on HEART and the Trust visit: www.headingleydevelopmenttrust.org.uk