Our Story
“Our roots are in Gipton, East Leeds. Although our services have grown beyond the estate, we’re proud to remain based here and to contribute to community life.”
Gipton: From Prosperity to Challenges
By 1937, Gipton boasted shops, pubs, churches, cinemas, dancehalls, and youth clubs, fostering a thriving community. However, the area’s fortunes waned as Burton’s moved operations away, eventually ceasing production in 1981. Over time, many businesses closed, and the area struggled to keep pace with Leeds’ city centre’s growing prosperity.
The Birth of GIPSIL (1992)
Amid these challenges, GIPSIL (‘Gipton Supported Independent Living’) was founded in 1992 by concerned community members. They sought to address the issue of young people sofa-surfing on the estate. Recognising that secure housing alone wasn’t enough, they paired accommodation with support services to help young people develop essential life skills.
Mary Sheard From 1992 to 2006, Mary Sheard served as GIPSIL’s Director, steering the organisation through its formative years and building the foundation for the impactful work we continue today. In 2024 she was inscribed on the Ribbons Sculpture as an influential woman of Leeds for her work at GIPSIL.
Our timeline
1997
Six family houses brought into management to support single parents.
1998
Launch of ‘Quality Protects,’ providing six supported tenancies for care leavers.
2000
The Community Support Centre opens at Woodfield Court, supporting 60 households.
2003
Awarded a Leeds City Council contract to house and support 110 vulnerable young people, including single parents.
2007
Julia Preston becomes GIPSIL’s Chief Executive Officer.
2010
Wins a city-wide contract to support 60 care leavers following a successful pilot scheme.
2012
Receives funding from the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) to refurbish 10 empty homes in East Leeds. Elevate, our social enterprise, is launched.
2013
Leads the Flagship Consortium to deliver support services to 405 young people across Leeds.
2016
By incorporating several key support services from Renew, including Archway Resource Centre, floating support, school programmes (The Beck), health and wellbeing initiatives, and Construction & Housing Yorkshire, GIPSIL now serves over 5,000 individuals annually. This integration not only preserved vital services but also saved 45 jobs, ensuring continued support for the community.
2017
Engage is a consortium of 4 providers, each partner working locally with specialist support available. We deliver a citywide housing support service to over 1400 people at any one time to prevent homelessness.
2017
The Old Fire Station in Gipton is renovated. Elevate managed the project and the building acquisition, working on behalf of the tenants to create a vibrant community hub, providing space for activities, services, and our head office.
2020
Our Way Leeds (OWL) replaces Flagship, introducing a fresh approach to supporting young people city-wide.
2022
The Beck is rebranded as CHP (Community, Health & Prevention), reflecting its broadened focus on delivering holistic support.
2024
GIPSIL was awarded Ofsted Status for its quality of delivery.
2025
GIPSIL undergoes a brand refresh to align with our evolving mission and modernised identity.