All partner organisations across West Yorkshire are taking action to support people and communities

At its September 2022 meeting, our Partnership Board considered a paper setting out the impact that the cost-of-living crisis will have on people, communities, and staff across West Yorkshire.

Since then, we have developed a set of immediate actions that could be adopted across West Yorkshire, recognising that a huge amount is already taking place at organisational level in our local places (Bradford District and Craven; Calderdale, Kirklees, Leeds and Wakefield District).

Actions include:

• Supporting the health and wellbeing of West Yorkshire health and care of people who work and volunteer including voluntary and community sector (VCSE) staff, volunteers and unpaid carers (all health and care staff and volunteers can access help and support from our mental health and wellbeing hub)

• Supporting the VCSE to provide ongoing support to people, communities most impacted by poverty and increased cost of living – whilst reducing the risk of losing services

• Supporting the mental health and increased risk of suicide of people because of the Crisis (you can view helpful resources on our suicide prevention website)

• Ensuring that services are taking a proactive approach to identifying and providing support to those who are at risk.

The cost-of-living crisis is having a major impact on people’s lives. At the Partnership Board meeting in December 2002, it was discussed how 10% of people living in West Yorkshire will not be able to pay their bills this winter. The impact on business cannot be underestimated either.

It’s important to note that we will also be taking forward longer-term work, around improving economic growth for all and fair pay.

The Mayor of West Yorkshire and Local Authority members of West Yorkshire Combined Authority are working with local voluntary community social enterprise organisations to reach people most in need of support. This is fully supported by The West Yorkshire Mayor, Tracy Brabin. You can read more on the West Yorkshire Combined Authority Website.

The work of the Mayor of West Yorkshire and West Yorkshire Combined Authority aligns to our Partnership approach to support economic growth, so we have good jobs for good health. The local places (Bradford District and Craven, Calderdale, Kirklees, Leeds and Wakefield District) have developed anti-poverty strategies. The following statement intends to support the partnership work underway.

Statement

West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership (an integrated care system), the Mayor of West Yorkshire and West Yorkshire Combined Authority set out their commitment to support people through the cost-of-living crisis.

The cost-of-living crisis facing our country and area is more than an economic issue. It will have far reaching implications for health and care services across West Yorkshire and will directly impact people, communities, including the staff we employ.

We know that financial hardship directly impacts on the mental and physical wellbeing of people. As more people are pushed into poverty this will increase the number of those who need our support. We also know that a significant proportion of staff in our organisations, as well as carers and volunteers will / are experiencing the impact of the crisis.

This is a priority. All partner organisations across West Yorkshire are taking action to support people and communities during this time.

The collective actions that West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership, The West Yorkshire Mayor and West Yorkshire Combined Authority are implementing immediately to support people during this challenging time focus on.

• Reducing costs to households and providing support to staff in financial hardship

• Supporting voluntary and community sector organisations to help people and communities

• Ensuring mental health and suicide prevention services are providing the appropriate support

• Working together to proactively respond to the impact of the cost-of-living crisis.

It’s important to note that partners will also be taking forward longer-term work, around improving economic growth for all and fair pay.