By Voices of Ashbrow Newsdesk –

On Friday, 22nd November, the Ashbrow Ward in Kirklees witnessed a pivotal evening dedicated to fostering change and empowering the community with the joint launch event of the Ashbrow Parents Advocacy Network (APAN), Scrutiny for Police Action on Race in Kirklees (SPARK), as well as the one-year update of the Kirklees Police Race Action Plan.

The event, hosted by Dr Milton Brown from Kirklees Local Television, saw people from across Ashbrow and the wider Kirklees area gather for the launch of several new initiatives in the Ashbrow Ward, which aim to transform the local community and improve relations.

The event saw many distinguished guests in attendance, such as the Deputy Mayor of Kirklees Councillor Liz Smaje.

Ashbrow Parent’s Advocacy Network

APAN aims to empower parents and advocate for every child’s well-being in Kirklees.

The initiative offers one-to-one support, online resources, and dedicated training to strengthen families and uplift the community. The evening featured a presentation by Vice Chair Christopher Morgan, showcasing the mission, vision and goals for APAN in 2025 and beyond.

The launch event provided an opportunity for community members and key stakeholders to learn more about APAN’s mission and vision and discover ways to get involved.

Speaking on the evening, Christopher said “Bringing together parents and the police to address these important issues hopefully shows our commitment to making a real difference in the Ashbrow Ward.

“The energy and engagement from everyone present were truly inspiring, and it was a privilege to share all the hard work from the APAN team over the last nine months”

For those interested in learning more about APAN and potentially getting involved. Please visit the APAN website at www.kirkleeslocaltv.com/APAN or email ashbrowpan@gmail.com

Police Race Action Plan

In addition to APAN, the event also featured a one-year overview of the West Yorkshire Police Kirklees Division’s Police Race Action Plan, presented by District Commander Chief Superintendent Jim Griffiths and Chief Inspector Rebecca Calpin.

The plan addresses the complex history of police race relations within the community and aims for significant change.

Alarming statistics highlight the disparities faced by Black individuals, such as being penalised at rates three times higher than their white peers and being disproportionately affected by stop-and-search practices.

Despite having over 11,000 staff, the West Yorkshire Police Force only has 25 Black officers.

Speaking after the event Ch Supt Griffiths said: “It’s a big thing for me that when people come to these events, they see that we are here, and that we are listening and wanting to engage.

“I hope that eventually, they think, ‘I am going to trust them, and I am going to reach out to them’. That is what we aim to achieve, and it’s been great to see so many people here tonight.”

Scrutiny for Police on Race Action in Kirklees

The Police Race Action Plan, initially launched in 2022, aimed to address these disparities and improve community relations.

A key initiative born out of this plan, SPARK — Scrutiny for Police on Race Action in Kirklees — focuses on fostering open dialogue about discrimination and enhancing race relations.

SPARK’s Chair, Edwin Baker, provided attendees with an insightful overview of the role the SPARK team will be taking on.

The event provided a platform for community members to voice their experiences and collaborate on improving relations between the police and the Black community.

Edwin, speaking after the event, said: “As the Chair of SPARK, I was really pleased by the turnout and the overwhelmingly positive response we received during our launch.

“This gathering marks not just the beginning of an important dialogue between the West Yorkshire Police and the diverse communities of Kirklees, but also a powerful commitment to fostering trust, understanding, and transformative change that will hopefully lead towards a more equitable future for all.”

For those interested in learning more about SPARK and potentially being involved on the panel, email Edwin Baker at SPARKKirklees@gmail.com.

Bringing the Community Together

Alongside the inspiring panels, networking opportunities, and engaging discussions, attendees also enjoyed a free dinner provided by Lion’s Kitchen, a beacon of the local area, making the event both informative and community-centric.

Many of those in attendance shared their positive thoughts on the evening.

Lousie Lewis, a prominent Ashbrow community activist and mother, said: “I feel like tonight’s event was really well received by the community, because it was a lot more open and transparent.

“Everyone came across as genuine about the changes that need to be made in the area, which hasn’t come across before.”

Representative for the Ashbrow Ward, Councillor Amanda Pinncok, added: “The event was excellent, and a great showcase of the power of the community.

“The job of the police is about cohesion and making sure that people feel safe, and this can’t happen without the community’s involvement.”

The event was ended with sincerity from the Deputy Mayor of Kirklees, Councillor Liz Smaje.

Speaking at the event, Cllr Smaje said: “Progress brings its own challenges and is often difficult to appreciate the many dangers that young people face.

“The problems and solutions are often complex, and getting access to support can be confusing and disheartening.

“That’s where I think the Ashbrow Parent’s Advocacy Network can come in. Working with others and empowering parents to advocate for their children’s education and overall wellbeing.”

Positive Results

Feedback after the event was overwhelmingly positive, with over 60% of attendees leaving valuable feedback for the teams.

Over 90% of respondents found the event very satisfying, and very well organised. The majority also found the presentations to be engaging and informative, with clear plans of action that they found reassuring.

Many respondents left positive messages and shared their key takeaways from the event. Some examples include:

“Good to see groups coming together to tackle gang culture”

“It’s great that the police were honest about the history of race relations in Huddersfield. Finally, they want to do something about it. Working with APAN and SPARK is a good start”

“There was a positive vibe with everyone wanting to help improve and a willingness to change from all involved.”

“Well done to everyone who contributed to making it worthwhile for me to attend.

APAN, SPARK and West Yorkshire Police would like to thank all those involved in making the evening a great success, including Local Services 2 You and Northfield Hall for the venue, the Violence Reduction Partnership, The Ashbrow and Greenhead Members Local Project Fund and Dalton Together.