Mayoral Election Opportunity to Create a Fairer Society

By Kate Hainsworth, CEO of Leeds Community Foundation and GiveBradford

 

It is expected that the election of the first West Yorkshire Mayor will attract around £38m investment a year for the region. This paves the way for a potentially more prosperous horizon, venturing out on the road to ‘levelling up’ this part of the country: welcome news indeed.

 

Sadly, the Coronavirus pandemic has exposed more inequalities across our region. So, while there is an opportunity ahead of us, the risk is that unless this investment is distributed fairly, while advocating for communities properly, further deeper inequalities in our communities are created as a result.

 

How can this be avoided? Well, in my view it’s vitally important for public, private and Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) organisations to work together in ensuring that our most vulnerable and marginalised members of society are not left behind. Now is the opportune moment for leaders to create a fairer society: to ensure that the catastrophe of the last year is completely averted – not simply postponed.

 

‘Inclusive growth’ is a term that’s been much discussed for several years; which can only be achieved via a collaborative and transparent approach. Like many colleagues and peers in the VCSE sector I’m passionate about ensuring this becomes a reality so that all areas of our society can thrive.

 

This is why in the coming months, a group of VCSE stakeholders working alongside public and private sector supporters, are looking to convene a meeting with the new West Yorkshire Mayor, Tracy Brabin. This discussion will focus on how to work together to ensure support and funding is distributed in a straight-forward and workable manner, via the already-established and successful community groups that make a difference daily to the lives of people living right across our region.

 

Research by The Health Foundation released in April found that there are inequalities between and within city regions and that metro mayors can influence social rebalancing in terms of jobs, skills, housing, transport and air pollution.  It calls for mayors to focus on boosting skills and jobs, better quality homes and healthier transport options to address inequalities. I also urge the need for collaboration with already established public, private and VCSE sectors to really strive for these improvements to be distributed and invested evenly across each area of our region.

 

Leeds Community Foundation and GiveBradford distributed more than £5.7m across Leeds and Bradford in 2020, via programmes which identified need for community support. This funding supported 478 Community Organisations, with 907 grants distributed and an average grant size of £5,000. All programmes have set outcomes to be achieved for individuals – helping with their health, education, jobs, skills, and much more – so that we can track the positive impact and difference made at a local and collective level. And we’ve been investing in our local community for years: over £44m since 2005. We find that it is that continuity of service, and faith in trusted relationships, that’s absolutely central to successful change.

 

Community groups, who are the experts in supporting individuals and families, apply for funding via Leeds Community Foundation to address issues and inequalities they experience at the grass roots. At any one time, around 50 programmes are being managed. Funding for services supported by the foundation is secured from private, statutory and philanthropic sources; public or private money going straight to people who need it most to improve local lives today.

 

We work very closely with private companies and individuals, so they can see how their input directly makes a difference to the lives of thousands across our communities. They generously contribute time and money to the community programmes which are helping people to get back on their feet.

 

What has to be recognised is that it is the communities themselves who are absolutely best placed to identify and mobilise the right support mechanisms. These groups are our partners, who channel our funding and expertise to build a better future for their beneficiaries. We work with hundreds of charities and voluntary groups to address inequalities. Those groups were there in the middle of their community before the pandemic, and with support from us, continued to be their beating heart – the glue – through even the darkest days, providing vital support for the most isolated and vulnerable. Through thick and thin, they have been there to reach out and build trust. They give time, tailor and mobilise support programmes in a generous, professional and localised way.

 

In doing this, VCSE groups and public sector provisions are absolutely complementary and interdependent. Both employ passionate people working to make a real difference. People who feel vulnerable or uncomfortable reaching out beyond their community can postpone any call for support until it is too late. Community groups can provide early intervention through knowing individuals and family circumstances and helping them to get the help they need. The VCSE groups help prevent things reaching crisis point; but if they do, the groups help to signpost to the right service – be it the NHS, police or their local council.

 

This combined approach links people to the right support, quickly – which achieves the best health and wellbeing outcomes. It also has the ability to reduce long-term reliance on public services. Precious resources must absolutely be balanced and by working together in this way, we have seen some incredible examples of amazing support.

 

Alongside other VCSE partners, I have been working closely with public sector colleagues to promote the opportunity and value of ‘inclusive growth’ to deliver real job opportunities, good pay and life chances for all. As an Inclusive Growth Champion for Leeds City Council, a board member of the Leeds City Region Local Enterprise Partnership and the WY Economic Recovery Board, I’ve seen how committed our region is to levelling up and delivering on behalf of all our diverse communities. I am really proud to see inclusion at the heart of our recovery plan and as a key measure for our combined authority. This vision for equity of opportunity sets West Yorkshire apart as truly visionary.

 

The VCSE is keen to work closely with elected local authority councillors, who themselves have an important role in providing a voice for their communities. Rightly, they become that voice and understand the complexities of their locality. But it’s important not to re-invent the wheel here, as described above, VCSE community groups also work closely with the most vulnerable and isolated in society, and by working together we achieve so much more.

 

When the Institute of Health Equity recently called for the country to build back fairer to address socio-economic and health inequalities in England which have been exacerbated by the Coronavirus pandemic, it concluded that there is an urgent need to do things differently. It concluded: “To build a society based on the principles of social justice; to reduce inequalities of income and wealth; to build a wellbeing economy that puts achievement of health and wellbeing, rather than narrow economic goals, at the heart of government strategy; to build a society that responds to the climate crisis at the same time as achieving greater health equity.”

 

To achieve such an overarching strategy, the private sector absolutely must have buy-in and involvement. I’m pleased to say that the upcoming meeting with the West Yorkshire Mayor is supported by a plethora of private sector businesses from across the region, who want to see a fair distribution of investment so prosperity is more equal than ever before. They are, understandably, particularly keen to ensure that opportunities are available for all to access education, skills and employment.

 

Tom Bridges, director at Arup Leeds and a Leeds Community Foundation Trustee, will be part of the group looking to meet with Tracy Brabin. He told me the importance of creating a fairer society in West Yorkshire has never been starker. He added: “After an incredibly tough period throughout the pandemic, it became clear that marginalised parts of society could become even more isolated.  Now is the time to come together and distribute wealth, prosperity and opportunity equally across our fantastic region. Meeting the newly elected mayor, I believe, will expedite this as they have the devolved power to make a difference.”

 

We’re very happy to open up the discussions to more businesses and VCSE organisations across the region who would like to get involved. Alternatively, they can share questions with us to raise on their behalf. We’d love to hear from as many leaders as possible so that there’s an incredibly powerful message that an inclusive, fair society is achievable. Please do get in touch via info@leedscf.org.uk