Overwhelming support for area’s anti-racism movement

West Yorkshire and Harrogate Health and Care Partnership and the West Yorkshire Violence Reduction Unit are preparing to launch their anti-racism movement on the 23 August. With the support of over 400 organisations and community allies the movement has the backing of councils, the NHS, doctor surgeries, housing associations, community groups, universities, and faith leaders, to name a few.

Co-created by over 100 West Yorkshire and Harrogate Health and Care Partnership ethnic minority colleagues to proactively challenge racism across all aspects of society, the movement is part of an ongoing commitment to tackling structural and institutionalised racism, as well as addressing health and social inequalities across West Yorkshire and Harrogate. 

The movement, a recommendation from the West Yorkshire and Harrogate Health and Care Partnership review in October 2020 into the impact of COVID-19 on health inequalities will bravely see staff and community colleagues putting their face to the movement’s visuals in high profile places, including Millennium Square in Leeds; sports clubs and hospital grounds. Imagery from the campaign will also be displayed on buses, as well as across social media with the hashtag #WYHRootOutRacism. The movement will encourage people to better inform themselves on anti-racist behaviours and practices, whilst linking to training and people’s life stories.

Built from insight from people’s experiences of racism, 24 themes were identified and grouped into three areas: systems of oppression; behaviours and appearance/perception. The movement will encourage everyone to reflect on what it must feel like to walk in the shoes of people from ethnic minority groups who continue to be impacted by racism and to importantly do something about it by rooting it out and standing together.

Cllr Shabir Pandor, Leader for Kirklees Council and Movement Ambassador said: 

"Our Partnership‘s focus includes tackling health inequalities which sadly also includes racism.  Tackling racist behaviours head-on, we are showing there is no room for racism across our area. I’m urging everyone to get involved in this important movement by standing together to help make life better for all who experience it." 

Rob Webster CBE, CEO for West Yorkshire and Harrogate Health and Care Partnership said:

"The racism that marred what should have been a celebration of the fantastic progress of the England men’s football team earlier this month, showed that explicit racism persists in our society. Our Partnership believes that being actively anti-racist is important and we will address racism when it is perpetuated by individuals and is a feature of systems. Together we intend to root it out.  During these times we want to say to everyone affected by racism – directly or indirectly – we have got your back."

Humma Nizami from the Race Equality Network said:

"The Race Equality Network is dedicated to tackling racism and inequalities at all levels within Bradford and district. The fact is that racism does exist, and it cannot be a tick box exercise or one-time conversation so by working in collaboration with our network of individuals and organisations, we are working towards making a lasting change.  I urge everyone to support this movement because together we can and will root out racism."

Sam Clewarth, West Yorkshire Violence Reduction Unit said: 

"Please get involved in this important, meaningful, and powerful movement developed with my colleagues by registering your support at https://bit.ly/2TuH5Tp. You can also access free resources so you are ready for the launch in August. By working together as one we can root out racism." 

Visit https://bit.ly/2TuH5Tp or www.wyhpartnership.co.uk/get-involved/root-out-racism/toolkit to register your support ahead of the launch. On Twitter, follow @wyhpartnership or search #WYHRootOutRacism.