On April 7th 60 people from grassroots organisations got together on zoom for Listening to West Yorkshire. People joined the session from Baildon, Batley, Birstall, Bradford, Burley in Wharfedale, Dewsbury, Guiseley, Hebden Bridge, Huddersfield, Hunslet, Ilkley, Leeds, Morley, Otley, Pontefract, Shipley and Sowerby Bridge.

We invited everyone who wanted to to give a two minute introduction the themselves and the work their organisation is doing ( or post the same in the chat), with the aim of sharing knowledge and information between different parts of West Yorkshire and making unexpected new connections.

Four of the candidates for West Yorkshire mayor joined the session, Bob Buxton, Yorkshire Party; Andrew Cooper, Greens; Stewart Golton, Lib Dems; and Matthew Robinson, Conservatives. Tracy Brabin, the Labour Party candidate, declined our invitation.

After the introductions, the candidates for West Yorkshire mayor gave their responses to what they had heard, followed by further discussion.

At the end of the session, Tiffany Holloman of Same Skies asked the candidates to commit to regular meetings with grassroots groups if they were elected:

"If elected as Mayor, I'll commit to keeping one half day per month free to talk directly to grassroots organisations across West Yorkshire.

I'll publish afterwards which groups I have met."

All of the four candidates were happy to commit to that, and suggested that if anything it wasn't enough.

The day after the session, we emailed everyone to ask "What stayed with you from Listening to West Yorkshire?"

The responses to that question are below (alphabetical order by second name).

Greg Bond, Evoke Kirklees

"Session was great, very well facilitated. Really enjoyed meeting other people.

I guess it went slightly downhill for me when the candidates began answering questions. No fault of any individual or the session, just reminded me how large the West Yorkshire area is, how many different priorities there are of all the people working there, and, realistically, how little resources/power the Mayor will have.

But I am glad you requested that there be a regular session for grassroots organisations to be listened to. It would mean a great deal if the Mayor did commit to this."

Lynda Kitching, Leeds Parks and Green Spaces Forum

"Thanks for organising the event - worthwhile, with the use of zoom an advantage in drawing in people from across the area. Attendees inc candidates were all able to have a say."

Gemma Hobbs, Keighley Creative

"It was really interesting attending the event. It is the first political campaign event I have ever been too.

A few things stood out:

A brilliant mix of people from across West Yorkshire, representing different places and activities.

A surprisingly high number of arts organisations! Or maybe this is very usual for events like these?

Tiffany's fantastic chairing of the event... "Devolution is for us!"

The need for our Mayor to fight for Universal Basic Income.

That thinker-doers are "Imagineers"!

The phrase "Hyper-Local" I liked that.

Collaboration, not consultation."

Liz Leach, Imagineer

"What stayed with me was the passion of some of the candidates who clearly want a better deal for the region, i think the repeated message regarding the lack of resource available to lead on projects and implement change was a resonating message for me. There is need for a big shift in the current systems and structures to lead to a healthier society and with better connected and included citizens can not be achieved on thin air

Thank you for hosting the event - I really appreciated the opportunities to learn and engage."

Sylvia Shatwell, Kirklees Young Carers

"Sorry for the late reply. I thought it was a really fascinating session with some strong, linked themes including pollution, biodiversity, green spaces , mental health and wellbeing, housing, buses and transport, diversity. For example young people are affected by lack of transport, poor housing, in turn linked to poor emotional health not only in childhood but as they grow into adults. It is well evidenced that green spaces promote biodiversity and sequester carbon and are good for everybody's mental health and well being and yet our green spaces are under threat from housing and transport. What really struck me is that people or organisations are trying to address these issues in isolation, and build their campaigns around specific areas of interest or party politics. In an ideal world we could join forces , reduce waste and better spend our collective resource is if these themes were integrated or at least approached in a better integrated way.

There was a brief reference made to involving children and young people and I will be interested to see how this actually plays out in real life. I wonder how well resources will be used for those families who have been most disproportionately affected by covid?

My final reflection is on the idea of collaboration rather than consultation. All candidates said that they would commit to monthly meetings . If they are true to their word this would be an excellent opportunity to try and develop initiatives that integrate more than one theme.

I'd be very interested in coming to further meetings."

Ludi Simpson, Bradford-Shipley Travel Alliance

"Dear Andrew and Same Skies I joined 5 minutes late so may have missed it, but what reason did Tracy Brabin give for not attending? Was she given the opportunity to send a representative, if she had other engagement? If so, what did she say to that?

I'm concerned as a Labour member! And I noticed a Labour local candidate on the zoom too."

Ryan Swift

"I had to dash just before the end but all of the candidates there came across well and keen to engage - it's a shame that Tracy Brabin didn't attend."