After 1945, Kirklees became home to people from across the globe, including the Caribbean, India, and Pakistan. Many of these groups found work in factories and public services. Beyond their economic contribution, this migration also reshaped everyday community life in the borough. These groups brought with them vibrant cultures, foods, and traditions which influenced local neighbourhoods and contributed to a more diverse local identity. At the same time, both migrants and long-standing residents had to navigate challenges such as discrimination, social integration, and low wages.
“I worked in the combing department… The workers in that department were the lowest paid and the wages were so small you had to work a minimum of 12 hours a day to make ends meet” Miya Patel, born in Africa and arrived in Batley 1966
Many South Asian families responded by forming close-knit communities centred on family, faith, and mutual support. Religious institutions, like the Jumma Mosque in Batley, funded by the local Gujarati community after their arrival in 1957, provided spaces for worship, education, and community life, helping newcomers settle and thrive.
“When I come here… there is no mosque. Then we all collect money… [and] we buy Bradford Road… Jumma Mosque… we make it there, you know. Everyone come to first mosque in Yorkshire in Batley” Ismail Bobat arrived from Gujarat in 1957
In Huddersfield, St. John’s Road and the surrounding neighbourhoods became home to new residents from Jamaica, Barbados, and other Caribbean islands after the arrival of the ship Empire Windrush in 1948. Many of these migrants were recruited to fill labour shortages in post-war Britain, particularly in the newly created NHS. Caribbean nurses and healthcare workers played a vital role in hospitals across West Yorkshire, though they often faced prejudice from both colleagues and patients while providing essential care.
During the 1950s and 1960s, large numbers of Caribbean men took jobs as bus conductors and drivers in cities like Leeds and Huddersfield. This was not without struggle; racist hiring practices and resistance from some trade unions made it difficult for Black workers to gain employment. Persistent campaigning eventually broke down these barriers, and the region’s transport network became a significant employer of Caribbean workers. At the same time, many Caribbean women found work in West Yorkshire’s woollen mills and clothing factories. Though the hours were long and conditions tough, their labour sustained an industry already under pressure from global competition.
Alongside their economic contributions, Caribbean communities played a key role in shaping local culture and social life. In Huddersfield, spaces such as the Venn Street Club became important meeting places from the 1960s onwards, where sound systems, music, and social gatherings helped sustain community ties and express shared identities. The first Caribbean carnival in 1976 brought these traditions into public space, adding colour and energy to the borough’s streets. Community organisations, including the United Caribbean Association in Huddersfield, also developed to provide mutual support, challenge racial inequality and strengthen Black identity in the region.
Following Poland and other countries joining the EU in 2004, Kirklees saw the arrival of Eastern European migrants and a growing Kurdish community. In 2010, it officially became a Town of Sanctuary, meaning it committed to welcoming and supporting refugees and asylum seekers by promoting inclusion, safety, and access to local services.