Who Are We and Who am I?  Neena Punnu talks about the importance of racial justice in the North. 

I’m Neena, I live in Leeds and have been working with Bradford Council since 2004.  

I’m an active People’s Powerhouse Racial Justice Network (RJN) member.  

The network is made up of people from across the north, who zealously want to strengthen the voices of Northern people and communities – with a vision of making racial equality, economic and social inclusion a reality. We support the People’s Powerhouse to be truly representative, build connections between organisations to understand and address racial justice; encourage and support our residents to get involved in the People’s Powerhouse work and engage powerholders to address racial injustice.  

Since, my time as an RJN member, the People’s Powerhouse has held three fantastic conventions at the last one (in Manchester) I spoke about myself, hope and aspirations. Which I share here:  

 
“It is not right that where you are born, who your parents are, or where you went to school should determine your outcomes in life.” Integrated Communities Strategy Green Paper (2018) which recognises the need to tackle the inequalities and injustices that hold people back. 
 
My parents migrated from India in the 60s. I was born in West London, I studied in the West Midlands, and I now live in West Yorkshire. I grew up in poor conditions and with domestic abuse. 

Dad had a severe mental health illness. So mum was mum, and she was dad too. Mum could not speak English well but worked day and night to bring us all up. There were four of us. Yes, life was tough, I never really had a toy and started working at a young age. Adding to all this my academic progress was a little slow as I struggled to focus - but with blood, sweat and tears I managed to get a degree. I must admit this was all down to mum’s perseverance, pushing me and supporting me all the way through. What really helped in those days was that higher education was free, so those less advantaged families got much needed help. So, mum being mum made sure we grabbed every opportunity we could. 
 
Coming back to mum. You see she was forced to get married when she was 16 and was stopped from studying – this was a cultural norm.  So, she promised herself that her children will get a decent education, no matter what and no matter how difficult things will get.  
 
Then I became a mum and I wanted a better life for my wee ones. We set off to the North hoping just for that. I love where we live. LS17 has great schools, lovely friendly neighbourhoods, it’s safe and I want to add how amazing our doctors are. 

You know all these things really do matter; they really do help shape your life. At work I managed to get in higher paid jobs, and it was my education that enabled this to happen. It was at that point in my life I realised the value of education. 

 
You know I thank my mum every day.  
 
So, when my son was applying to the University of Cambridge, I said mum don’t get too excited as ‘things like this don’t happen to people like us” But guess what? They do! Yes, life was tough, but mum’s hard work, hope and aspirations has today got us to a good place. So, going back to the earlier statement.  
Things can change so people can have better lives, 

YES, we need HOPE, 

YES, we need ASPIRATIONS 

But we also need EQUITY  
We do not all start from that same place; this must be acknowledged and acted upon today for our future. 
 
The north made and shaped my family and gave me the quality of life I was searching for. Now I have the same hope and aspirations for every other family living across the north, for people of colour, for migrants and new communities, for women, those living in single parent homes, those living in poverty, those living with ill health or disabilities- SO THAT NONE OF US ARE LEFT BEHIND!   

The work of People’s Powerhouse is doing just that!