How can we get ready for more rain?

Extreme weather is happening more often, and the warning signs of climate change are clear. Warmer temperatures are already leading to more intense rainfall—and sadly, more devastating floods. Garforth has already seen the impact—homes, businesses and roads have all been affected by surface water flooding.

That’s why the Environment Agency and Leeds City Council are inviting Garforth residents and businesses to a Community Flood Risk Workshop. This is your chance to help shape Garforth’s future and share ideas on how we can make Garforth better prepared for flooding.

Event details

📅 Saturday 17 January 2026

🕙 10.00 AM – 1.00 PM

📍 Garforth Miner’s Welfare Hall

☕ Teas and coffees will be provided

✅ Reserve your place here: https://tinyurl.com/Garforth-Flood-Risk

In the workshop, you will be asked to:

• Share what matters most to you for Garforth’s future
• Give your ideas and preferences on how Garforth can better cope with flooding in the future
• Meet others who care about your community

If you are 18 or over, please come along. You don’t need to have any expertise—we just want to hear what you have to say.

If you would like more information or have any questions, please email: YorkshireAP@environment-agency.gov.uk.

Join the Garforth Future Flood Risk Forum

Help shape how Garforth prepares for future flooding!

We are looking for 20 local people to help Garforth prepare for future flooding and share your ideas on making your town stronger and safer.

As a forum member, you’ll take part in seven sessions between January and September 2026 (two online, the rest in person):

• 17 January – Garforth Future Flood Risk Community Workshop (https://tinyurl.com/Garforth-Flood-Risk)
• 31 January, 9.30 AM to 12 noon and 10 February, 7.00 PM to 9.30 PM – two in-person sessions
• 3 March, 7.00 PM to 9.30 PM and April (week beginning 6 April) – two online sessions
• May (week beginning 18 May) and June (week beginning 22 June) – two in-person sessions
• September – final feedback session with the wider community

What you can expect to do in these sessions:

• Build on the ideas and discussions from the Community Flood Risk Workshop on 17 January
• Explore different ways that we can lower the risk of flooding in Garforth and how this impacts the people of Garforth
• Work together with the other participants to make decisions

You don’t need any special knowledge to join the forum. All we ask is that you’re open to listening, sharing your thoughts, and working with others in the group. Throughout, you will be supported by experts from the Environment Agency, Leeds City Council, Yorkshire Water and engineering company Arup.

At the end, you’ll present your thoughts and recommendations to a larger community meeting to get their feedback. We’ll also share the ideas with Leeds City Council, Yorkshire Water and the West Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority.

If you’re selected, we’ll ask you to commit to all six sessions in addition to the Community Flood Risk Workshop on 17 January. In exchange, we’ll give you a £75 One4All gift voucher as a thank you for your time and contribution.

How to apply

Places are limited so if you want to apply to be part of the forum then please complete the following application form: https://tinyurl.com/Flood-Risk-Forum

Applications will close midnight Wednesday, 7 January 2026.

If you have any questions about the Future Flood Risk Community Workshop and Forum not covered in the FAQs below, please email: YorkshireAP@environment-agency.gov.uk

Garforth Future Flood Risk Workshop & Forum FAQs

Who can attend Garforth Future Flood Risk Workshop & Forum?

The workshop is open to all members of the Garforth community aged 18+, including anyone who lives or runs a business in the town.

The Garforth Future Flood Risk Forum aims to bring together 20 people who broadly represent the entire community including residents and businesses. The people who attend will be supported to learn about the key issues to help inform their discussions and decision making as a group.

Who is running the events?

The events will be jointly run by the Environment Agency, Leeds City Council, and engineering company Arup.

If I apply for the forum, will I automatically be guaranteed a place?

Our aim is to bring together all kinds of people from across Garforth, each with different experiences and perspectives. Since the forum is limited to just 20 places, we sadly can’t guarantee a spot for everyone who applies.

What are the dates and times of the forum sessions?

In addition to the Garforth Future Flood Risk Community Workshop (https://tinyurl.com/Garforth-Flood-Risk), which is being held in person on 17 January 2026 at the Garforth Miner’s Welfare Hall, the forum sessions are planned to be held during the following weeks:

All sessions will be held outside of typical 9-5 working hours, with some sessions taking place on a weekday evening and others taking place on Saturday morning.

If you are selected to take part in the Garforth Future Flood Risk Forum, and attend all the sessions, you will receive a £75 One4All gift voucher as a thank you for your time.

What will taking part in the forum involve?

If you are selected to take part you will have the opportunity to meet with individuals from all walks of life who live in Garforth. You will hear from engaging speakers, and you will discuss the issues involved in small groups as well as with the wider group, with facilitators to make sure everyone has their voice heard. You do not need to have any prior knowledge of the topics—all the information you need will be provided during the sessions.

How will you ensure that the events are accessible?

There will be opportunities to ask speakers to explain what they mean if what they are saying is not clear.

If you require any form of additional support, for example translation, or support with accessibility issues, then every attempt will be made to provide this. If you are selected for the forum, please just let us know about your specific requirements when we contact you.

Who can apply to join the forum?

Anyone aged 18 and over by the close of registrations, who is normally resident in the area or has a business in the area. Please note that a maximum of one person from any single household will be selected to participate.

The following people cannot apply:

• Elected representatives from any level of government
• Paid employees of the Environment Agency or any political party
• Leeds City Council employees working in a politically restricted post