Kandice Aimee is a founding co chair of Leeds First Friday Society.

She has been attending Leeds First Friday since 2019 and has missed very few monthly events since first becoming part of the community. She is a proud Yorkshire transwoman being born and growing up in West Yorkshire and living in Leeds since 2010. Kandice Aimee has been involved in the coordination of Leeds First Friday for the last four years, supporting the event behind the scenes through social media moderation, governance, communications, planning and community engagement. She has also led much of LFF’s involvement with Leeds Pride, including organising the group’s walking float in the parade and supporting LFF events across Pride weekend. In 2025, she gave the opening speech on the Leeds Pride community stage on behalf of Leeds First Friday, which remains a personal highlight of both her life and her involvement with LFF.

Kandice Aimee has also helped organise one off LFF events, including the Electric Halloween Carnival, Leeds First Friday’s first special ticketed event outside a normal LFF weekend. She later led the transition from an informal coordination model into Leeds First Friday Society, including drafting the constitution, leading the consultation feedback process and helping guide the community meetings that formally established the Society.

Kandice Aimee is passionate about giving back to Leeds First Friday because LFF has given so much to her. She believes Leeds First Friday changed her life and helped her become the person she is today. As a founding co chair, she wants to help make sure LFF continues for years to come, so it can offer that same sense of community, confidence and possibility to others.

Ann East is a founding co chair of Leeds First Friday Society.

She has been a regular attendee of Leeds First Friday since first joining the community in March 2022. Over that time, Ann has become increasingly involved with the LFF team and, in October 2023, helped establish the popular daytime meetup Pints and Straws. Since then, Pints and Straws has continued to grow and has become a highlight of the LFF experience for many regular attendees.

Ann has helped many people within the community take their first steps into the outside world, offering support, encouragement and friendship, and she continues to do so today.

Leeds First Friday has given so much to Ann and to many others, and she feels passionate about supporting the event for everyone who attends now and for those who may join the community in the future. As a founding co chair, Ann is committed to helping LFF continue to grow as a place of joy, friendship and acceptance for anyone who attends.

Lizi Bell is a founding Co-Chair of Leeds First Friday Society and has been part of the community since 2019, rarely missing a monthly event since first getting involved.

Over the years, she has played an active role in supporting Leeds First Friday behind the scenes. She has been a moderator of the Leeds First Friday Facebook group and has been closely involved in delivering the group’s Pride celebrations in recent years, helping to organise activity and support events across the Leeds Pride weekend and supporting behind the scenes at other events like the Electric Halloween Carnival.

Lizi is deeply committed to giving back to Leeds First Friday, recognising the positive impact it has had on her own life. She credits the community with helping shape her confidence and sense of self. Alongside her involvement with LFF, she has also held roles within a large corporate organisation, including serving as Chair of their LGBTQ+ Network, reflecting her wider commitment to inclusion and community building.

Lizi knows all the best spots in Leeds for tiramisu!

As a founding Co-Chair, Lizi is passionate about ensuring the future of Leeds First Friday, so it can continue to provide a welcoming, empowering space for others for years to come.

Ella Benni Thomas is a member of the Leeds First Friday Society Coordination Team and a host of Pints and Straws. She first came out in January 2023, shortly after the loss of her mother, a moment that shook her world and pushed her to finally live as her true self.

Just a couple of months later, in March 2023, Ella walked into Leeds First Friday for the first time. She was still navigating a dark and uncertain period, but LFF quickly became the place that helped her find her feet, discover her authentic identity, and build friendships that now mean everything to her.

Over time, Ella became a familiar face at LFF, especially through co hosting Pints and Straws. She brings her usual mix of humour, honesty and a slightly chaotic lack of filter, helping create a space where people can relax, connect and feel part of the community.

Ella loves rock music, science fiction, craft ale and being unapologetically herself. She also has a heart of gold and genuinely loves helping people feel connected, welcomed and seen.

As a communications professional, Ella brings her skills to LFF in any way that is useful, supporting the team, strengthening how LFF reaches the community, and helping the event remain the joyful, transformative space that helped her rebuild and become who she is today.

Laura Jones is a member of the Leeds First Friday Society Coordination Team and the lead for Made It, LFF’s newcomer welcoming event. Her journey with Leeds First Friday began in July 2022, when she walked through a hotel door and into a community that would change her life.

Choosing LFF as the place to come out was a hugely positive and joyful experience for Laura, giving her the confidence to begin living authentically. What started as a single visit soon became a regular part of her life, eventually leading her to attend one of the very first Made It events.

Laura joined the Made It team in September 2023. Since then, she has become a dedicated part of the newcomer experience and has missed only one event. She is passionate about helping others take their first steps into the community and discover the support, friendship and belonging that she found through LFF.

As Made It team lead, Laura is continually inspired by the journeys newcomers make. One of the most rewarding parts of her role is seeing people arrive nervous or uncertain, then watching their confidence grow as they begin to connect with others and embrace their identity.

Although she is now happy and confident living openly, Laura never forgets how daunting it felt before she first attended LFF. Remembering that experience helps her understand just how much courage it can take to walk through the door for the first time.

Laura’s aim is simple: to give every newcomer the opportunity to make LFF their own. Whether through friendships, shared experiences or personal growth, she wants everyone to feel empowered to shine brightly and become an active part of the community.

Nikki Dee Angel is a member of the Leeds First Friday Society Coordination Team. She first came to Leeds First Friday nearly four years ago, beginning with the very scary step of leaving her hotel room and joining the community for the first time.

Since then, Nikki has become more and more confident and is now completely at home being out and about as herself. Like many others, she is a wonderful example of how LFF can help people who have felt isolated or alone to step out, connect with others and celebrate who they are in a safe and welcoming environment.

Nikki spent three years as part of Made It, the LFF newcomer welcoming team, and is immensely proud to have helped welcome over 1,000 newcomers during that time.

She has now taken on a new role within the Coordination Team, focusing on accessibility and helping make sure Leeds First Friday is as welcoming and inclusive as possible for everyone who wants to be part of the community.

Lucy Hutchinson is a member of the Leeds First Friday Society Coordination Team and the lead organiser of Cocktails at 9. She first attended Leeds First Friday in September 2022 and soon became a regular part of the community.

Lucy attended her first Leeds Pride with LFF in August 2023, where she marched in Pride for the first time. She found the experience truly emotional and amazing, and it remains an important part of her connection with the LFF community.

In September 2023, Lucy started Cocktails at 9 at Farrands. Sometimes described as one of LFF’s premier events, Cocktails at 9 is always busy and is popular with first time attendees and regulars alike. Lucy chose the venue because it gives people the chance to chat, introduce themselves and settle into the evening in a relaxed atmosphere, with support from Lucy and her co host, Alex McDonald.

Many people who attend Cocktails at 9 come back regularly, meaning the night can often fill up weeks in advance. Lucy is also known for enjoying an espresso martini or two, and she now even has a cocktail created for her on the Farrands cocktail menu.

After taking a short break in January 2024 to focus on her own journey, Lucy returned to LFF with even more energy and commitment. She has also supported Leeds First Friday behind the scenes by providing app hosting and email support, helping keep LFF connected to the wider world.

Lucy marched at Leeds Pride in 2025 and was picked up by local news because of her dress. A frequent LFF attendee in latex, Lucy has built a reputation for her distinctive style and her love of latex fashion.

As part of the Coordination Team, Lucy is looking forward to supporting the continued growth of Leeds First Friday and helping others feel welcomed, included and supported within the community.

Isobel Fox is a founding member of Leeds First Friday Society and a member of the Society’s Coordination Team. She has been attending Leeds First Friday for over four years and has only missed a few monthly events in that time.

Isobel has helped coordinate Pints n Straws, the popular Leeds First Friday afternoon social, since it began in October 2023. She is also responsible for the maintenance of the Leeds First Friday website and app.

She is a keen advocate for Leeds First Friday and often encourages people she meets at support groups to give LFF a go. When new people do attend, Isobel tries to help make sure they feel welcome, supported and able to enjoy the experience.

Leeds First Friday has had a huge impact on Isobel’s transition. It has helped her form long term friendships, grow in confidence and feel more comfortable living fully in the outside world.

As part of the Coordination Team, Isobel brings experience, reliability, practical support and a clear understanding of how important LFF can be for people taking their first steps into community.

Olivia F is a member of the Leeds First Friday Society Coordination Team and an admin for the LFF Discord server. She started attending Leeds First Friday in mid 2023 while looking for ways to build her confidence in living as herself.

By spending time around other trans+ people in a relaxed, social environment, Olivia found comfort, joy and a sense of belonging. LFF quickly became a regular fixture in her life.

In 2024, after informally getting involved and helping out, Olivia joined the LFF team properly and stepped up to help moderate the LFF Discord server. Through that role, she helps make sure the community has an online space where people can chat freely about anything and everything, stay connected between events, and continue building friendships beyond the monthly LFF night.

Olivia can often be spotted at LFF by her signature makeup, with big wings and bold colours, as well as the dark colour palette, spikes and chains that make her style instantly recognisable.

With the formalisation of Leeds First Friday and the creation of the Society, Olivia has joined the Coordination Team with a focus on running and supporting the LFF Discord. She also pitches in with in person events and is excited to see how the wonderful community that helped her gain confidence continues to evolve.

Isla Bloomer is a member of the Leeds First Friday Society Coordination Team. She first stepped into the LFF scene in November 2018 and soon became a regular attendee.

Like many people, Isla was nervous at first, but she quickly realised that Leeds First Friday offered the community and sense of belonging she needed. Over the years, she has formed amazing friendships with other LFF attendees and continues to be inspired by the people she meets through the community.

Isla attended her first Leeds Pride with LFF in 2019 and has attended every year since. She has fond memories of holding the LFF banner in the parade, as well as proudly claiming the title of LFF Shuffleboard Queen.

Over the years, Isla’s involvement with LFF has grown to include helping host a special LFF fashion session at John Lewis, writing articles to share with the community, representing LFF on a community podcast, and supporting behind the scenes where possible.

Isla’s own transition journey has run closely alongside her experience of LFF. Because of that, she understands how important LFF can be for people taking their early steps out as trans people, and how powerful those first connections can be.

Isla has also become increasingly visible in the wider community, including speaking at events about trans awareness and chairing the LGBTQ+ community group at her workplace. As part of the Coordination Team, she hopes to build on that work and help others experience the same sense of community, confidence and belonging that Leeds First Friday helped give to her.

Jean B is a member of the Leeds First Friday Society Coordination Team. She first attended Leeds First Friday in May 2017 and began attending regularly from October 2019.

Although 2017 was by no means the first time Jean had been out in public, it was the first time she had been among other members of what she describes as “her tribe”, and that had a profound effect on her. For the first time, she could see the complete rainbow spectrum of different journeys in front of her, including people whose experiences reflected parts of her own life, such as balancing family life with the inner calm that can come from partial transformation.

Jean often drops into Made It to say hello to newcomers, but she also enjoys heading off on her own and being visible in bars and pubs across the LFF night.

Over the past few years, Jean has seen a wonderful shift in the age demographic of the community, from what was once a largely older group to a much more mixed crowd, including many younger attendees. She sees this as a positive sign for the future of Leeds First Friday.

Jean describes herself as an “annoying parrot” sat on the shoulder, commenting, suggesting and occasionally correcting when she spots possible errors. Once a teacher, always a teacher.

As part of the Coordination Team, Jean brings long standing experience of LFF, a thoughtful eye for detail, and a willingness to speak up when something may need considering. Her main skill, however, may be her ability to talk for Yorkshire, and she could probably talk the hind legs off a whole herd of donkeys.

Simona Nicky Berry is a member of the Leeds First Friday Society Coordination Team. Although she has been based in Sheffield since the early 1980s, she is still a Geordie girl at heart.

Simona has been in a wonderfully supportive relationship for 38 years and has a gorgeous 18 year old daughter. A lifelong rock climber and fell runner, she founded her own outdoor sports business in 2002. When she is not looking after the company, she still spends time climbing and running in the hills and mountains, giving her time to consider and reflect on her transition, which she describes as complicated.

Like many people in the trans+ community, Simona has faced bullying and rejection, alongside a long history of addiction, homelessness and severe mental health difficulties. These experiences have shaped her understanding of how important safe, welcoming and non judgemental community spaces can be.

Simona first came to Leeds First Friday in March 2011, having previously experienced some extravagant and sometimes dangerous nights out in Manchester and Soho. LFF felt very different. It had a warmth and sense of community that she had not experienced before on the trans+ scene. It felt more inclusive and relatively safer, with the organisers at that time, Tonya and Rachel, making her feel incredibly welcome and supported.

Despite having attended LFF more than 130 times, Simona does not see herself as a natural choice as a founding member of the Coordination Team, although she feels honoured to have been asked. She considers herself socially awkward, introverted and constantly vigilant, and says that sometimes she can feel incredibly lonely even in a room, bar or club full of people. Even so, Simona has found a great sense of calm, belonging and community at Leeds First Friday. LFF has given her more than she feels she could ever repay, and she wants to continue supporting the event, its organisers and its amazing community for as long as she is able.

As part of the Coordination Team, Simona hopes to help ensure that, as LFF continues to grow and thrive, it remains the safe, welcoming and non judgemental community it has been for so many years. She sees the LFF community as a broad, rich and vibrant social network, bringing together people from many different backgrounds and experiences, and built on the core values of inclusion, respect and acceptance.

For Simona, those values are more important now than ever.

Amanda KissMe is a member of the Leeds First Friday Society Coordination Team. A relative newcomer to LFF, Amanda first started attending in autumn 2024 after moving to Leeds.

Like many people, Amanda was shy and nervous at first, but she soon settled into the LFF community. She found a fabulous, supportive group of people and quickly made many friends. Amanda is always happy to chat to anyone who comes along, especially before and after the main LFF weekend, helping new people feel more settled and connected within the community.

Amanda is now lucky to have a fairly stable life with a supportive family, but she understands the difficulties of trying to juggle this life with its various trials and tribulations, often while doing so in secret. She is always happy to chat, listen and share from her own experience.

Professionally, Amanda is a senior university professional, and she brings that experience to the Coordination Team as Leeds First Friday Society develops its governance, structure and future direction.

Amanda is also keen on amateur dramatics and stand up comedy, and has been doing drag for several years. When she is in the mood, she can be an utter show off, bringing warmth, humour and a little theatrical sparkle to the LFF community.

Kelly Fox is a member of the Leeds First Friday Society Coordination Team. She has attended Leeds First Friday every month since October 2023 and has become a much loved part of the community.

Kelly describes herself as someone who embraces both the masculine and feminine sides of her life. While her work life often places her in a more male role, outside of work she is free to express and celebrate her feminine side. She values the freedom to move between both parts of herself and embraces that versatility with pride.

Kelly loves organising things for the LFF community, from meals and venue visits to the occasional surprise. Like a firecracker, you never quite know what she might have planned next. For LFF’s 18th birthday, she brought a beautiful cake and decorations for the community to share and enjoy, helping make the night feel even more special.

Kelly also understands the fear, nerves and anxiety that can come with attending Leeds First Friday for the first time. She remembers what it felt like to take those early steps herself and has since supported many first time attendees, helping them explore every nook and cranny of LFF and feel more at home within the community.

Since first coming to LFF, Kelly has grown from someone shy, nervous and wanting to keep her head down into someone who feels free, happy and able to spread her wings. With the support of the LFF community, she has come out to family, friends and work colleagues, breaking free from many of the things that once held her back.

Kelly now wants to give back to the community that helped her so much, bringing energy, warmth, fun and a little bit of Queen Bee sparkle to Leeds First Friday.