The air in Bradford’s Darley Street Market Courtyard was alive with celebration on Yorkshire Day. Music drifted through the market’s open space, mingling with the sound of laughter and the gentle hum of conversations in many languages. Stalls brimmed with colour, crafts, and the smell of fresh food. Children’s faces were painted with bright patterns while women greeted each other with smiles and hugs. The Women of West Yorkshire Festival had begun not simply as an event, but as a living tribute to the women who make this region thrive.
For Mayor Tracy Brabin, the inspiration for this gathering came from a moment of realisation. “When I was first elected as the Mayor of West Yorkshire, there were more mayors called Andy than women,” she said with a knowing smile. “Far too often, women have caring responsibilities, work multiple jobs, and rarely have time to connect with one another. By bringing women together, we can celebrate what we have but also talk about the serious challenges: pay, transport, opportunities, skills, training. You don’t have to leave to achieve that you can stay here.”
Inclusivity Champion Fatima Khan-Shah shared how the festival grew from listening to the women in her network. “They kept telling us about all the amazing things they were doing, but there was no way to showcase it,” she said. “We wanted to give them a platform to celebrate and inspire. Yorkshire women say what we think. We welcome everyone. We embrace change and we usually get what we want.” She encouraged more women to join the Women of West Yorkshire movement, a growing community of over 850 women and allies.
Among the stalls, the Yorkshire Women’s Forum displayed tables filled with items made from materials saved from landfill. Director Dhanu Patel explained, “We save things from landfill, make new things from old, and sell them to fund our projects. We support women with wellbeing, mental health, dementia, menopause – all the groups we run. We’re reviving old skills our mothers and grandmothers had, bringing them back into the forefront. It’s about reconnecting as women.”
Across the courtyard, the CEO of Women’s Whispers shared a story rooted in both Yorkshire identity and survival. “I was born and bred in Yorkshire, and I’m a survivor of domestic violence,” she said. “That’s why I set up Women’s Whispers to provide lifeline support to ethnic minorities affected by domestic abuse, modern slavery, and sexual exploitation. My message is simple: be strong. There’s a better life around the corner. Make that call, ring the police, do the right thing for yourself and your children.”
For some, the festival was also a space for reflection and honouring those who came before. One attendee described what being a woman of West Yorkshire means to her. “It means I have to be a leader, to fight for my community, to look after the pennies but be generous with my support and love. My mother inspired me. We didn’t always agree, but she was a trailblazer. She fought racism all her life, worked for a trade union, went to court on equal pay challenges. And internationally? Malala Yousafzai, because she fought for education, and education is the difference between poverty and success.”
The day’s atmosphere was, as Alison Lowe, Deputy Mayor of Policing and Crime in West Yorkshire described it, “buzzing, loud, and very engaging.” But beyond the music, the crafts, and the performances, the real heartbeat of the festival was connection. Women met each other’s eyes and found recognition there. They shared stories, some joyful, some painful and in doing so, they stitched another thread into the fabric of the community.
As the afternoon light softened and the stalls began to pack away, the conversations carried on. Phone numbers were exchanged. Promises were made to meet again. For those who came, the Women of West Yorkshire Festival was not simply about marking Yorkshire Day. It was about claiming space, lifting each other up, and proving that when women come together, they can transform not just a market square for a few hours, but the future of an entire region.
