Batley community to join as one during walk

The Walk With Us Friendship Walk aims to celebrate the diversity and unity that is present in the town.

Local people, children and families will meet at 2pm on Saturday (October 15) at Batley Market Place to stroll together to the Batley Bulldogs rugby ground on Mount Pleasant.

The event has been brought together by local organisations representing all the community - including Kirklees Council, Batley Bulldogs, Indian Muslim Welfare Society, Pakistani Kashmiri Welfare Association, local churches and local mosques.

Reverend Mark Umpleby, Associate Priest at United Benefice of Batley, said: “This project began many months ago when I suggested to a few faith leaders that we do visits and events where people from different faiths meet together - but these are not seen by many people apart from those who attend.

“Walk With Us intends to show the existing lovely friendships - which are growing - between people from different faiths out on the streets of Batley.

“It will be an opportunity for people of different faiths and no faith to come together and enjoy a walk together, find out more about one another and sample the refreshments and activities at the Batley Bulldogs Stadium.“

Mohamed Mulla, Chair of the Indian Muslim Welfare Society, said: “Following on from the horrific killing of Jo Cox we decided that we, as an established community organisation, needed to do much more to cement the community cohesion.

“Hopefully the friendship walk will send out a strong message of a united community in Batley and Spen.”

You can follow the walk’s progress on Twitter at @BatleyWalkTalk.