South West Yorkshire Mental Health Trust says: diversity includes you!

‘Diversity includes you!’ was the message from the South West Yorkshire Mental Health Trust as staff and members of the community joined together to celebrate the official launch of the Trust’s diversity strategy at the Al Hikmah centre, Batley.

Chief Executive Judith Young said, "This event was a fantastic chance to join with the community and celebrate our diversity. Diversity is a core value in the day to day running of our Trust services. The diversity strategy will help us improve our services to meet the needs of people living in all communities and help us ensure the diversity of our workforce reflects that of the local community."

One of the highlights of the day was a drumming performance by music therapy charity, ‘Hoot’ and there was also a chance for visitors to try out drumming for themselves.

Visitors had the chance to discuss how the diversity strategy could lead to a more representative workforce and how the strategy could lead to improved mental health and learning disabilities services North Kirklees.

Many local health, social and voluntary organisations were involved in the celebrations including Huddersfield-based Artists in Mind, the Garage Project from Mirfield Day Centre, Social Enterprise, and Experience Counts, all of which work with people mental health problems.