By KLTV Newsdesk –

New cohort of ambassadors to be trained in leadership, communications and community safety as part of regional drive to combat violence

Community ambassadors across West Yorkshire are taking a leading role in tackling serious violence, thanks to a pioneering leadership programme run by the West Yorkshire Violence Reduction Partnership.

Now in its third year, the Community Leader Programme is offering 20 new participants the chance to develop vital skills through a free, three-month training course.

The initiative focuses on areas such as project management, managing complex change, effective communication and network building.

Applications are currently open (apply here) for aspiring changemakers across Leeds, Wakefield, Bradford, Kirklees and Calderdale, with the deadline for submissions set for 27 July 2025.

Equipping Communities with Tools for Change

West Yorkshire’s Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime, Alison Lowe OBE, underlined the importance of investing in local leadership: “Communities are our greatest ally and by equipping people with the relevant skills and knowledge, we can make a genuine difference on the ground.

“This will be the third group to be trained as leaders, adding to our growing network of ambassadors across West Yorkshire.

“It means our young people have positive role models who they recognise, delivering the right messages in the right way to ensure our region remains safe, just and inclusive.”

Trusted Faces, Real Conversations

The network aims to bring trusted, relatable figures to the forefront of local conversations around violence and safety.

Chair of the Community Leaders West Yorkshire network, Joshua Alade, emphasised the importance of trust and representation: “We must confront serious violence at every level. Having trusted conversations and interactions with familiar faces can tip the balance.

“It is also vital that the network is representative of the communities it serves, ensuring we have a diverse group of leaders who can influence and support local people.

“There are already so many good examples of the impact of this programme, which is helping to change lives.”

Recognition and Results

The programme’s growing impact was recently recognised by The Lord Mayor of Leeds, Councillor Dan Cohen, who commended the network’s contribution to improving local communities.

Deborah Jones, Programme Director of the Community Leader Programme, highlighted the value of collaboration and innovation in addressing community safety: “Public services need to think creatively about how to partner with citizens to increase community safety and reduce the factors that contribute to threats in neighbourhoods.

“There is a real need for collaboration and collective leadership.

“Past participants tell us that the programme has boosted their self-confidence and sense of agency, already we have seen new collaborations across the districts of West Yorkshire with participants writing winning bids for funds, winning awards and launching new services.

“It’s exciting to see how these leaders are delivering programmes to support survivors of domestic abuse and using new technologies like Virtual Reality to divert young people away from carrying knives.”

Apply

To apply for the next cohort or find out more, visit the West Yorkshire Violence Reduction Partnership’s website before 27 July 2025.