Leeds City Council’s German Twinning Award with Dortmund & Siegen 2026

Key Points

• Leeds City Council is marking its long‑standing partnership with the German cities of Dortmund and Siegen after a Leeds councillor received a prestigious German‑British Friendship Award.
• The award recognises decades of work to nurture civic, educational, cultural and economic links between Leeds and its twin cities in Germany.
• The partnerships with Dortmund (formally twinned in the 1960s) and Siegen (twinned later as part of a broader European outreach) are among Leeds’s longest‑running international relationships.
• The honoured councillor has played a leading role in twinning activity, including regular exchanges, civic visits and support for school, youth and community projects involving all three cities.
• Representatives from Dortmund and Siegen have frequently visited Leeds for civic ceremonies and major events, with Leeds delegations making reciprocal visits to Germany to strengthen ties.
• The partnerships have supported collaboration on urban development, culture, sport, education, youth work and remembrance projects linked to post‑war reconciliation.
• Leeds City Council leaders say the award highlights the importance of city‑to‑city diplomacy and person‑to‑person contacts in maintaining strong European links after Brexit.
• The council is using the moment to reiterate its commitment to international cooperation, peace and friendship, and to encourage more residents, schools and community groups to engage with twinning opportunities.
• The German‑British Friendship Award is presented by German partners to individuals who have made an exceptional and sustained contribution to bilateral relations.
• Leeds officials have paid tribute to partners in Dortmund and Siegen for their “steadfast friendship” and to the councillor whose work has underpinned the partnerships for many years.

Leeds (The Leeds Times) March 13, 2026 – Leeds City Council is celebrating the strength and longevity of its partnerships with the German cities of Dortmund and Siegen after a Leeds councillor was presented with a German‑British Friendship Award in recognition of years of work building links between the three cities. ​

How is Leeds City Council marking the German-British Friendship Award?

Leeds City Council has framed the award as both a personal honour for the councillor involved and a wider recognition of the city’s enduring commitment to international partnership.

Council leaders have highlighted the long history of collaboration with Dortmund and Siegen and used the announcement to underline that these relationships remain central to Leeds’s civic identity and external outlook.​

In public statements, the council has pointed to the many strands of cooperation that have grown out of the twinning arrangements, from school exchanges to cultural festivals and joint discussions on urban policy. Officials have also stressed that the award reflects not only formal diplomacy but decades of grassroots contact between residents, voluntary groups and young people across Leeds, Dortmund and Siegen.​

What does the award recognise in terms of Leeds–Dortmund and Leeds–Siegen relations?

The German‑British Friendship Award is intended to recognise individuals who have made a sustained and tangible contribution to relations between the two countries, and in this case it focuses on the city‑to‑city axis linking Leeds with Dortmund and Siegen.

According to Leeds City Council, the honoured councillor has been instrumental in maintaining regular contact with counterparts in both German cities and in supporting projects that bring the twinning partnerships to life.​

As reported by officials in the Leeds City Council news release, the award is explicitly connected to the councillor’s role in promoting educational visits, civic exchanges and cooperative activities that have strengthened mutual understanding between communities.

The council notes that these efforts have helped keep the partnerships active and relevant over many years, including during periods of political change at national level.​

How did the partnerships with Dortmund and Siegen develop over time?

Leeds’s link with Dortmund dates back several decades and is one of the city’s oldest and most visible twinning relationships.

Over time, the partnership has expanded beyond ceremonial contact to include regular engagement on culture, youth work and local governance, with delegations travelling in both directions to share experience and build friendships.​

The connection with Siegen, established later, complements the Dortmund relationship and broadens the scope of Leeds’s engagement with Germany.

Together, the two partnerships have allowed Leeds to participate in joint projects involving all three cities, creating a triangular network of cooperation that has been particularly important for post‑war reconciliation and European understanding.​

Why are these German partnerships significant for Leeds today?

Leeds City Council has emphasised that its partnerships with Dortmund and Siegen remain strategically important at a time when local authorities are seeking to maintain and deepen European ties after Brexit. Councillors argue that such links offer practical benefits, including opportunities to share knowledge on urban regeneration, climate policy, transport and social inclusion.​

In cultural and educational terms, the partnerships give young people in Leeds access to international experiences and perspectives through exchanges, joint projects and digital collaboration. The council also points out that long‑standing links of this kind contribute to Leeds’s international profile, making it easier to attract visitors, students and investment.​

How has the honoured councillor contributed to Leeds’s German links?

Leeds City Council credits the award‑winning councillor with many years of active involvement in twinning work, including hosting visiting delegations and representing Leeds on visits to Germany.

According to the council’s account, the councillor has built personal relationships with partners in Dortmund and Siegen and has consistently championed the value of international engagement within the authority.​

As described in the council’s report, the councillor has supported practical initiatives such as school partnerships, cultural collaborations and commemorative events that bring together residents from all three cities. This hands‑on involvement is cited as a key reason why the German‑British Friendship Award was conferred, underlining the importance of individual commitment in sustaining city‑to‑city links.​

What statements have Leeds City Council leaders made about the award?

Leeds City Council leaders have used their official communication to congratulate the councillor and to thank partners in Dortmund and Siegen for the honour. They describe the award as a testament to the “strong and enduring friendships” that have been built up over many years and as an encouragement to continue investing in these relationships.​

In their remarks, council representatives stress that the award belongs not only to one individual but to all those in Leeds and in the two German cities who have participated in exchanges, hosted visitors or taken part in joint projects.

They add that the council remains committed to supporting further partnership activity, including youth and community initiatives that can reach new generations.​

How are Dortmund and Siegen involved in current and future cooperation?

Leeds City Council notes that Dortmund and Siegen have been consistent and enthusiastic partners, frequently welcoming Leeds delegations and sending their own representatives to West Yorkshire. Joint events have included civic ceremonies, cultural performances and participation in commemorative and educational programmes intended to foster mutual understanding.​

Looking ahead, the council indicates that there are plans to continue and expand collaboration across priority areas such as climate action, culture and education. All three cities are expected to explore opportunities for digital exchanges and joint initiatives that can involve a wider range of residents, including those who may not be able to travel.​

How does this recognition fit into Leeds’s wider international strategy?

Leeds City Council frames its twinning work with Dortmund and Siegen as part of a broader strategy to position the city as outward‑looking and internationally connected.

The council argues that long‑term partnerships provide a stable foundation for broader networks, including participation in European city groupings and thematic collaborations on issues such as health, transport and culture.​

Officials highlight that recognition such as the German‑British Friendship Award reinforces Leeds’s reputation as a reliable and engaged partner. They also suggest that this kind of visibility can support efforts to attract international students, cultural collaborations and investment projects that benefit the local economy.​

What opportunities are there for Leeds residents to engage with the German partnerships?

Leeds City Council encourages residents, schools, universities and community organisations to take advantage of the opportunities offered by the partnerships with Dortmund and Siegen. These can include school exchanges, cultural collaborations, joint sports activities and participation in projects focused on themes such as heritage, environment or youth leadership.​