Recognising awareness days and events on Social Media

We serve and support a diverse community of people in West Yorkshire. Throughout the year, there are many awareness days and events acknowledged and celebrated by people living in West Yorkshire. These events can often relate to a person’s protected characteristic. For example, an awareness day or event could be associated with a person’s faith or religion, gender, ethnicity, or sexual orientation. 

We share information internally about some of these key dates and events in a diversity calendar. We do this so we are informed and educated about events and factors which impact members of our community. We might also share information on our website and social channels, wishing well to those who are observing or celebrating an event. The information we share will not always be relevant to every individual living in West Yorkshire, but it has a purpose and is intended to resonate and communicate with certain demographics.  

By educating ourselves on the events and causes that are important to people living in West Yorkshire, we are better equipped to understand, serve, and protect them. Having a better understanding of our communities makes us better police officers and staff. By showing our support for these events and causes, we are living our values of fairness, integrity, and respect. 

Awareness days help to shine a light and give visibility to many important issues that affect individuals and groups of people in society. They help to increase people’s understanding of different topics, offer different perspectives, and provide a safe space for people to be their true selves. Often these events exist to increase awareness of issues faced by some of the more vulnerable groups in our society. Showing support and allyship for vulnerable people is not making a political statement. We stand in solidarity with all those we serve and employ, and we embrace our responsibility as a public serving organisation to raise awareness of issues that impact often the most disadvantaged people.

 
There are hundreds of awareness days and events observed by people in West Yorkshire every year. By publicly acknowledging one and not another, we are not inferring the other is less important. We don’t discriminate against anyone. We are an ethical organisation, and our Code of Ethics is at the heart of everything we do. 

If you’d like to talk to us about an awareness day or event, please contact the Diversity, Equality and Inclusion team on: [email protected]