Supporting organisations to be part of the West Yorkshire trauma informed movement

Organisations across West Yorkshire can now sign up to a West Yorkshire Charter and commit to preventing trauma and adversity.

Children experiencing trauma and adversity such as neglect, abuse, violence, poverty or discrimination are more likely to suffer from depression, anxiety and diseases, such as diabetes or cardiovascular conditions later in life.

Adults dealing with complex challenges may be more prone to developing addictions, experiencing suicidal thoughts, and missing work compared to those who aren't facing such difficulties.

Emm Irving, Head of Improving Population Health, West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership explained: "Making services and systems trauma-informed is a big, ongoing effort that requires time and resources. If organisations complete the readiness checklist, they can think about how their services currently work and what changes they need to make before committing to the charter.

"During this time of the year, many people may not feel happy despite the season. Connecting organisations, communities, and people in West Yorkshire allows us to understand services better, acknowledge people's needs and experiences, and prevent more trauma in their lives."

Director of the West Yorkshire Violence Reduction Partnership, Det Chief Supt Lee Berry added: “Trauma can be the catalyst for future harm, not just among individuals, but families and communities.

"By recognising this and acting as a partnership, we can pre-empt and counter experiences of serious violence, whilst supporting better public health.

"I would call on others across West Yorkshire to join us in the journey to becoming a ‘trauma informed’ system by 2030. We can help you to meet any gaps and to be part of the charter."

The West Yorkshire Adversity, Trauma, and Resilience Programme, jointly delivered by West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership and West Yorkshire Violence Reduction Partnership, has taken the charter, initially developed through the Visible Project in Leeds with input from various stakeholders. The charter is based on key principles like safety, trustworthiness, peer support, collaboration, mutual understanding, giving people a voice and choices, empowerment, and cultural sensitivity. It's part of the goal to be more aware and responsive to trauma by the year 2030.

See the animation for an explainer about what adversity, trauma and resilience mean and our calendar for the 31 days of December with suggested simple actions to support wellbeing, increase knowledge and spread a little kindness.

In June 2020, the West Yorkshire Adversity, Trauma, and Resilience Programme was established. It brings together around 600 members from various sectors, such as public, private, and voluntary. Membership is inclusive of all five West Yorkshire areas: Bradford District and Craven, Calderdale, Kirklees, Leeds, and Wakefield District. The represented sectors range from housing, police, and criminal justice to sports, education, healthcare, and more recently, private sector companies, including those from the financial and corporate events sector. The success of the West Yorkshire model has attracted interest from other parts of the country.