Over 150 organisations from West Yorkshire and Harrogate have signed up to create an anti-racism movement, aiming to tackle structural and institutionalised racism as well as addressing health and social inequalities in the areas.
The movement has been created by over 100 West Yorkshire and Harrogate Health and Care Partnership (WY&H HCP) and West Yorkshire Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) ethnic minority colleagues to proactively challenge racism across all aspects of society.
The group is asking for people and organisations to get involved with the initiative, with it being created after a recommendation from a WY&H HCP review in October 2020 that looked into the impact of COVID-19 on health inequalities. Amongst many things, the review recommended an anti-racism campaign within West Yorkshire and Harrogate be coproduced with the recognition and appreciation that ethnic minorities are not a homogenous population.
The organisations which have already pledged support for the cause include housing associations, universities, West Yorkshire Police, unions, community groups, and sports clubs including Keighley Cougars, Community Foundation at Wakefield Trinity, and Bradford Bulls Foundation (rugby).
Councillor Shabir Pandor, Leader for Kirklees Council and ambassador for the movement, said: “The issue of addressing race equality across the area is an urgent priority and an important recommendation from our independent review. It not just about creating awareness and how people are treated, it is about how lived experiences are interpreted by others and how we integrate culture, values, and beliefs that can add value to how we ensure everyone is inclusive and how these add to innovation.
“It is all about showing positively how we can make real change happen, whilst working towards eliminating racism through developing a new ‘language’. Regardless of skin colour or community background, we can root out racism and I’m urging everyone to get involved.”
The movement highlights the experiences of ethnic minority staff and allies from across WY&H HCP and illustrates their views of racism. The campaign will feature images displayed outdoors on bus rears, as well as across social media with the hashtag #WYHRootOutRacism.
It not just about creating awareness and how people are treated, it is about how lived experiences are interpreted by others and how we integrate culture, values, and beliefs that can add value to how we ensure everyone is inclusive and how these add to innovation.
The campaign will also include various educational resources to encourage people to better inform themselves on anti-racist behaviours and practices, whilst linking to training and people’s life stories.
Developed from colleagues’ insight, evidence shows that people from ethnic minority backgrounds continue to face health inequalities and discrimination in their communities and workplace.
Director of the West Yorkshire Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) Chief Superintendent Jackie Marsh, said: “We are committed to tackling racism in all its forms and by putting people’s experiences first, we can better understand how we can collectively confront it.
“I’m pleased that the Violence Reduction Unit is a key partner in this work. We each have the responsibility to recognise the issues that exist and by working together to address them, we have more chance of achieving positive changes to racial equality across our area.”
