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West Yorkshire

West Yorkshire Citizens

Who are we?

We are West Yorkshire Citizens - a chapter of Citizens UK.

We’re a diverse alliance of civil society organisations across Leeds, Bradford and Wakefield including school trusts, student unions, community groups, and faith institutions, working together to create meaningful change across our region.

Stronger Together
Across West Yorkshire, our members collaborate to take action on the issues our communities care about most. Our broad representation gives us the power to listen, organise, and drive real change.

Since our founding, West Yorkshire Citizens has:

  • Won the real Living Wage for Leeds City Council staff and other local employers, a £13.2 million investment in local workers, and led campaigns for a real Living Wage for care workers.
  • Influenced the introduction of mental health liaison practitioners in GP surgeries across Leeds.
  • Improved dementia care for racialised communities.
  • Secured road safety improvements in local neighbourhoods.
  • Won over £500,000 in repairs to homes on the Beckhills Estate and campaigned for improved rubbish collection across the estate.
  • Secured £50,000 of improvements to Brickfield Park, including new play equipment.
  • Launched the successful Pandemic Recovery Summit, turning the big-picture concerns of young people into clear, actionable priorities for decision makers.
  • Gained commitments from key leaders, including the Mayor of West Yorkshire, who pledged to involve young people directly in her policy-making committee.
  • Presented to 300 local and national policymakers, leading to an invitation from the Leader of the Council’s office for young people to help shape decisions that affect them.
  • Secured a commitment from Bradford Council’s Health and Wellbeing Board to work with us to address gaps in mental health provision in schools across the District.

…and much more. We continue to organise, listen, and take action to create a fairer, more just West Yorkshire.

What are our priority campaigns?

Hate Has No Seat Here

Hate Has No Seat Here is currently the priority campaign for our chapter, voted for by members at our Delegates Assembly in January 2026. The campaign aims to tackle hate crime on buses and has three asks:

WE ASK that the West Yorkshire Combined Authority work with West Yorkshire Police to create different mechanisms for reporting hate crimes on buses, including a live chat with a QR code to link in; a text number and an incident line which people can call.  

WE ASK that reporting mechanisms are simple and that if people report a hate crime they receive feedback on the action taken within 10 days.   

WE ASK that all bus drivers be given anti hate crime and trauma informed training so they won’t perpetuate hate crime, can spot it if it happens on their bus and are better prepared to support those who experience it.  

Mental Health Community Support and Spaces

Mental Health Support and Community Spaces is an emerging campaign, with the issue being voted on as a priority issue at our Delegates Assembly in January 2026. The campaign aims to organise a movement of people across the region who can bring fresh ideas for the spaces and support for mental health in the community.

West Yorkshire Employment Exchange

Our employment campaign is a developing campaign, with leaders currently organising around the issue of barriers to employment and disconnect between potential employees and employers.

Our members:

  • Beckfoot Academy Trust
  • Better Leeds Communities
  • Bradford Diocesan Academies Trust
  • Complete Woman CIC
  • Co-op Academy Leeds Yorkshire
  • Dixons Academy Trust
  • Elevation Church
  • Leeds Beckett Students' Union
  • Leeds North & East Methodist Circuit
  • Leeds Sanctuary
  • Leeds South & West Methodist Circuit
  • Leeds Trinity University
  • Leeds University School of Politics / Applied Ethics
  • Priestly Academy Trust
  • Roma Roots CIC
  • St Mary's Church Beeston
  • Stainbeck United Reform Church
  • Trinity Academy Cathedral
  • The Rohingha Association UK

Our Staff:

WANT TO JOIN OUR CHAPTER?

We know everyday people have the ability to shape the world around them and we're always looking for new members to join us!

Find out more about the benefits of becoming a Citizens UK member.

Get in touch with our local Community Organiser, Becky Howcroft (becky.howcroft@citizensuk.org), and fill out our form below to hear updates from our Chapter.

Keep in touch

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