Standing Firm in Power and Pride: Celebrating Black History Month 2025

This October, the West Yorkshire Combined Authority is proud to join the nation in celebrating Black History Month. The theme for 2025, “Standing Firm in Power and Pride,” is a powerful tribute to the resilience, strength, and unwavering commitment to progress that defines the Black community in Britain and across the world.

This year's campaign focuses on the innovators and pioneers who broke boundaries and shaped our history. 2025 also marks key anniversaries, including the 60th anniversary of the Race Relations Act—the UK's first legislation against racial discrimination—and the 62nd anniversary of the Bristol Bus Boycott, a powerful reminder of the ongoing journey towards equality.

A Legacy of Standing Firm: The 1963 Bristol Bus Boycott

The story of the Bristol Bus Boycott is a vital part of British history and perfectly embodies this year's theme. In 1963, the Bristol Omnibus Company operated a 'colour bar', refusing to employ Black or Asian people as drivers or conductors.

In response, four young West Indian men; Roy Hackett, Owen Henry, Audley Evans, and Prince Brown, with their spokesperson Paul Stephenson, organised a four-month boycott of the city's bus services. Their courageous stand drew national attention to the reality of racism in Britain and was a key catalyst for the Race Relations Act of 1965. The boycott ended when the company overturned its discriminatory policy, hiring its first non-white bus conductor, Raghbir Singh, in September 1963. This was a victory won by a community standing firm in its power.

Our Commitment to Representation in West Yorkshire

Inspired by this legacy, we are committed to building a more inclusive future here in West Yorkshire. Our region is defined by its cultural richness, with around 20% of our community coming from Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic (BAME) backgrounds.

The Combined Authority recognises that to serve our community effectively, we must build a workforce that represents it. We are honest about our journey; currently, our workforce is not as balanced as it needs to be, and we are actively working to change this. This commitment is central to our mission.

Empowering Voices Through Our Embrace Network

A key part of our strategy is empowering our colleagues. Embrace, our staff network for colleagues who identify as Black, Asian, or Minority Ethnic, was formed in 2020 to provide a nurturing and supportive space.

Staff networks are critical to our diversity and inclusion efforts. They are effective mobilisers who empower colleagues, raise awareness, and inform decision-making. Embrace works directly with our Senior Leadership Team to implement real solutions around recruitment, progression, and communication that will promote equality and address the imbalance in our organisation. We believe in transparency on this journey, which is why we publish our ethnicity pay gap report annually.

Our commitment is reflected at the highest levels. In 2022, Deputy Mayor of West Yorkshire, Alison Lowe, CBE, spoke at the ceremony for the installation of a Leeds Civic Trust Blue Plaque for David Oluwale, commemorating a vital and poignant part of Leeds' Black history.

Join Us in Shaping the Future

Black History Month is not just about remembrance; it is a call to action. It invites us all to help shape a world where Black voices are heard, valued, and celebrated. As the official campaign states, “Pride reflects cultural identity, heritage, and the celebration of black excellence... It’s about knowing where we come from, embracing our history, and walking boldly into the future without compromise or apology.”

If you share our commitment to building an inclusive West Yorkshire and want to be part of an organisation dedicated to positive change, we invite you to explore a career with us.

Click here to view our current vacancies and join us on our journey.