Just West Yorkshire

Just - welcome

JUST – West Yorkshire is an exciting initiative to promote racial justice in West Yorkshire. Throughout the UK, there is a great deal of energetic and committed work being done to promote racial justice. But for many people the practical improvement in day-to-day life is limited and slow.

The Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust (JRCT) has set up a think-tank to fill the gap in strategic thinking and in capacity.
A group of 12 people is being challenged to address the question: what practical steps are needed to promote real racial justice in West Yorkshire?

The group, drawn from across the region, includes men and women from different ethnic backgrounds, of different ages, and with a range of professional expertise. All are committed to justice, have a sound understanding of race issues, and are keen to find effective ways of working for change.

JUST – West Yorkshire aims to work strategically with individuals and organisations that reflect all areas and sections of society in West Yorkshire in order to promote racial justice and achieve greater race equality. JUST promotes a strategic approach to work that will ensure racial justice is embedded into policies and practices across the region, and will achieve outcomes that have a long-term impact.

JUST successfully organised two major conferences in March 2004 and September 2004. The first conference entitled Citizenship. Race & Identity aimed to engage young people and policy makers on these important issues. The second conference – Race: The New Agenda examined and debated important developments in the ‘race’ agenda.

JUST’s ultimate goal is to make a positive difference to people’s lives by helping to promote a just society.

The Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust (JRCT) is an independent grant-making body based in York. It funds work in the UK, Ireland and South Africa with a particular focus on justice and peace.

The Trust’s Racial Justice Committee (RJC) oversees grants made for work on racial justice, including at a national level and within West Yorkshire.