Together Housing is playing their part in challenging hate and prejudice as supporters of a major new anti-racism campaign.
West Yorkshire and Harrogate Health and Care Partnership (WY&H HCP) and the West Yorkshire Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) are launching an anti-racism movement at the end of August and have received more than 350 organisational pledges already, including from Together Housing.
Co-created by over 100 WY&H HCP 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 the area.
The movement, a recommendation from the WY&H HCP review in October 2020 into the impact of COVID-19 on health inequalities, is being developed with organisations, including the NHS, councils, and a number of housing associations.
The movement spotlights the experiences of racism and will includes a campaign distributing a suite of educational resources to encourage people to better inform themselves on anti-racist behaviours and practices, whilst linking to training and people’s life stories.
Cllr Shabir Pandor, Leader for Kirklees Council and Movement Ambassador said: “I’m delighted that over 350 organisations and community champions have pledged their support ready for the launch in August, including Together Housing. There is no room for racism across our area and I’m urging everyone to get involved so together we can root out racism”.
Kevin Ruth, Deputy Chief Executive at Together Housing Group, said: “Social housing is about everyone having a place they can call home where they feel safe and protected. Racism is just one aspect of hate in the community that needs to be challenged and stopped.
“Together Housing Group work in communities not only as a housing association, but also through our charity “Newground Together” so we’re delighted to get behind a campaign that aims to tackle racism in the places where it really matters most, the communities in which we live and work.”
Lisa McCabe, Co-chair of Harrogate District Foundation Trust BAME & Ally Staff Network and part of the co-production team said: “Please get involved in this important, meaningful, and powerful movement developed with my colleagues by registering your support at https://bit.ly/2TuH5Tp to access free resources so you too are ready for the launch in August. By working together as one we can root out racism”.
Visit www.wyhpartnership.co.uk/get-involved/root-out-racism/toolkit
Twitter @wyhpartnership #WYHRootOutRacism