Damon Cooper from Leeds Asperger Adults writes about their fundraising event at Fairuz this Sunday …
Tucked away in an urban cave at the bottom of a ramp lies my favourite city centre restaurant, Fairuz, and on Sunday July 13th Leeds Asperger Adults are hosting a fundraising event here.
Launched just over ten years ago, LAA is a support group and charity for Adults with Asperger Syndrome that amongst other things has a monthly get-together in the Civic Hall. I arrived in 2011 at the recommendation of other people with the condition and made lifelong friends from the group, who I speak to on a regular, sometimes daily, basis. However despite all the progress being made, I still feel the group lacks a mainstream presence in Leeds and I am hoping the upcoming event at Fairuz will go some way to solve this concern.
It seems to me a lot of charities are happy being underdogs where creative, brainy and self-effacing members thrive with rabble-rousing talks about injustice, but they are heard by just a few. Whilst this no doubt offers some kind of ongoing therapy for those involved it is not the solution, and gets very boring after a while. It is time we had something a little bit different.
Since going into Fairuz with Margaret, chairwoman of LAA, she has opened up about her past dealings with the Iraqi embassy, thanks to the furniture inside sparking a flashback. Margaret and a couple of others were invited to replicate their work with disabled children in Leeds throughout Iraq, but then war broke out. I have sat with Margaret for over three years in various Civic Hall Chambers and not once did she mention this particular part of her past, because she never really had the opportunity.
I am hoping more people open up with stories I have not heard before. Whilst the chambers will continue to be a useful meeting place for the group, I feel that we are isolated in the Civic Hall, so LAA needs to engage with this city’s population by hosting events that appeal to more people than just ourselves. For this upcoming fundraising event, people are getting involved with the group for the first time, whether that’s by donating prizes for the raffle, buying tickets, or promoting the event through various social media – which is all great progress.
Fairuz is an intriguing place combining Middle Eastern furniture with Lebanese and Mediterranean food, which continues to delight me, plus every other loyal regular. My favourite dish is Inab, a vine leaf stuffed with rice and herbs that sometimes comes with extras thanks to the generosity of the owner. Those who are massive fans of restaurants could go on all day and night about the amazing dining experience they have had over the years; so come experience it yourself this Sunday if you’re free.
The buffet is £10. There will be a tombola, raffle, some live music, talks, food, and an opportunity to meet new people.
Starting from 4pm and operating till late. You can drop by anytime you want for as long as you want.