Kirklees Council has won an award for how it supports and empowers the local community.

The council won the ‘Keep it Local’ Award at the national Locality Awards 2021 for how it works with partner organisations to unlock the power of the community.

The Locality Awards recognise and celebrate the incredible impact and innovation shown by local community organisations and councils across the country. The awards were given as part of Locality Convention ’21 – the biggest community sector event of the year.

Keep it Local is Locality’s campaign – in partnership with Lloyds Bank Foundation – calling for councils to move away from bureaucratic commissioning and big outsourcing contracts.

Kirklees Council demonstrated how it worked with partners and was also successful for the way it works in neighbourhoods to involve local people in decision-making.

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One of the projects to be praised were Place Partnerships where local councillors work with local people and organisations to find local solutions.

These partnerships have already invested £1 million in local projects to improve people’s mental wellbeing and £400k in helping to tackle domestic abuse.

Huddersfield Civic Centre

Clr Cathy Scott, deputy leader of Kirklees Council and Cabinet member for housing and democracy, said: “For us, this award is recognition for all our amazing community partners in local places across Kirklees.

“We’re committed to building on the strengths and capacity of local communities and working alongside each other to find local solutions to issues which affect us all.

“It’s about putting our relationships first – all of us working as citizens who are connected in our local place. Kirklees Council are continuing to invest in projects and activities that are led by local citizens and organisations, so that whoever is best placed to do something is supported in that. We are incredibly proud to work alongside so many inspiring community partners in Kirklees.”

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Tony Armstrong, chief executive of Locality, said: “Huge congratulations to Kirklees Council for winning the Keep it Local Award. At Locality, we passionately believe in the power of community to create a fairer, more equitable, more sustainable world.

“Kirklees Council are the embodiment of our vision. It is wonderful to see a council who put so much energy and thought into their community engagement – and who are so dedicated to including local people in decision making.”

Kirklees Council was joined by five other award winners, each making a difference to the lives of people in their communities across England. Each Locality Award winner has also been awarded £1,000 to invest in their community.