Every ten years, the Census provides a full view of people and households in the UK. It asks the same questions nationwide, allowing us to compare groups and areas consistently. This consistency makes it vital for the West Yorkshire Combined Authority and district partners. It supports decisions on policy, strategy, public services, and funding.
This page gathers the Census 2021 results for West Yorkshire. It shows how the region has changed over the last decade in areas like population, housing, labour market, ethnicity, language, religion, migration, sexual orientation, and gender identity.
Areas of Research Interest (ARI) list the questions we most need research to help us answer. Our health and wellbeing pilot asks researchers, universities and others to share what they know and work with us on healthy work, active travel and creative health.
We built the pilot with our policy teams, academic partners, Yorkshire Universities and West Yorkshire councils. It shows where research could help us make better choices about policy, services and spending, and improve health and wellbeing for people across the region. What we learn from the pilot will shape how we work with researchers and use evidence in the future.
Healthy working life – helping more people to find good, inclusive work, stay in it and progress, in ways that support their health.
Active travel and sustainable transport – finding out how walking, cycling and sustainable transport can improve people’s health, help them reach jobs and other opportunities, and be better for the environment.
Creative health – building a creative health system that lasts and can grow, so that arts, culture and creativity help to improve people’s health and wellbeing.
The full document sets out the questions under each theme, the policy context behind them and where there are chances to work together.
Download the health and wellbeing Areas of Research Interest pilot
The pilot is a starting point for working together. We would like to hear from you if you:
have research, evidence or insight linked to one of our themes or questions
are doing or planning research in these areas
would like to explore working with us or sharing knowledge
Where we have capacity, we may be able to help by putting you in touch with our policy teams, advising on regional priorities or writing letters of support for funding bids. The pilot is not an invitation to tender, and it is not a commitment to commission or fund research.
When you get in touch, please tell us:
who you are and which organisation you work for
which theme or question your enquiry relates to
a short summary of your research, evidence or insight
whether the work is finished, ongoing or planned
any ideas you have for working together
Email us at ARI@westyorks-ca.gov.uk
We developed our pilot in conversation with West Yorkshire councils, but it does not replace their own Areas of Research Interest. Each council has different duties, priorities and evidence needs. Where your work is relevant to more than one of us, we welcome conversations that include our council partners too.
