Posted on: 8 October 2025
Today marked the second in a series of safe space sessions for staff at NHS West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board (ICB). The first, held in response to the Unite the Kingdom march and its aftermath, was powerful. This one, prompted by the recent attack on the synagogue in Manchester and the arson at a mosque in Essex, was equally moving.
We know our staff and communities are feeling scared. The rise in hate incidents is not abstract - it’s personal, painful, and present. Mary Kadzirange, Chair of the Race Equality Network, held the space today with grace and strength. She shared how, even while out in the park with her children, she was told to “go back home.” That moment, like so many others, is a reminder of the trauma people are carrying, and often silently.
Fatima Khan-Shah spoke about the shame she felt upon hearing about the synagogue attack. Though not hers to carry, it was real. She reminded us of the long history of harmony between Muslim and Jewish communities - a history now threatened by rising hatred. One of our Jewish colleagues shared their sadness and fear: concern for a niece starting university, and for family members who no longer feel safe displaying the mezuzah, a symbol of faith and belonging.
Others spoke of the need to remember that most people are decent. That good people are the majority. That being with like-minded colleagues helps restore hope. One colleague shared how hard it is to feel suspicious of others, when all they want is to believe in kindness. “I hope we don’t lose our humanness,” they said. That hope echoed through the room.
Ian Holmes reflected on the power of allyship - not just in statements or blogs, but in everyday actions: asking if someone is okay, inviting them into conversations, standing beside them. We’ll be sharing resources to support this, but the message was clear - allyship needs to be lived, not just spoken.
Social media came up often. Some colleagues have stepped away to protect their mental health. Others stay on to understand and advocate. Paul Hemingway shared how West Yorkshire ICB is navigating this space - still present on X (formerly Twitter), but using it less and less. We’re building our presence on other platforms, aiming to eventually leave X behind. While we’re there, we use it to make clear: hate has no place here.
There was appreciation for the stand West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership and the ICB has taken, such as putting on events like today’s, creating space for truth and solidarity. But there was also a call for more courage. For more leaders to be visible. For action to match words.
This was another powerful session. It was painful but also healing. The genuineness, kindness, and desire to do something positive from the allies in the room was palpable. It reminded us that we are not alone. That we can hold space for each other. That we can act.
Next, we want to focus on practical action. What can we all do, individually and collectively, to make our workplaces and communities safer, kinder, and more just?
If you have ideas, please share them – email them to ali.
We stand together.