Name: Richard Langford
District: Kirklees & Calderdale
Specialist area: Food, Poverty & Mental Health

I think the most important part of what I do is that I’m a single parent doing my best to bring up two young ladies and to make West Yorkshire a little nicer for them. Let’s be honest there’s a lot to do in this regard, but there is hope and I’ve seen first hand how things have changed (generally for the better) in recent years.  

I work as a professional community and outreach worker for a Huddersfield charity “The Branch at Jubilee Centre”. I lead the community food related projects and on average the team provides 50,000 meals each year. The impact of this work cannot be understated. It helps reduce local crime, including violence, because hunger is a major driving force in why some people living in poverty, offend. I work with people from all kinds of backgrounds, but much of my work involves people who are either affected by poverty (including chaotic lifestyles) or by loneliness and isolation. 

I also teach cooking skills, run employability projects and provide mentoring –  helping empower people to improve their own lives. Helping them build tangible skills and gain confidence. 

I have a variety of skills and qualifications which combined with my personal lived experiences help me to perform my roles effectively. 

I have a desire to help people improve their lives, I always have and these days I’m pretty good at it. 

Before I started working in the community sector in 2020 I worked for 8 years in food and beverage service and 7 years in a specialist customer service role. I have done freelance photojournalism work, mainly for trade magazines and some of my work has been published internationally. 

Committee work:

I am part of the West Yorkshire Police Calderdale District Independent Advisory Group (IAG),West Yorkshire Police Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG)  Independent Advisory Group (IAG) and until very recently when the group disbanded I was part of the North East Counter Terrorism Unit Advisory Group (CTAG). 

In the past I have been a Trustee of two charities – a Youth and Community Charity and Charity which provides financial assistance to people in need using a War Memorial Endowment Fund.  

Memberships:

I am a member of the National Council for Civil Liberties also known as Liberty. 

I’m also a member of the National Union of Journalists (NUJ).

I’m also a member of Community Leaders West Yorkshire (CLWY).

Organisation: The Branch

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