Alison Lowe facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Alison Lowe
OBE |
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| Deputy Mayor of West Yorkshire for Policing and Crime | |
| Assumed office 18 June 2021 |
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| Appointed by | Tracy Brabin |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Leeds City Councillor for Armley Ward |
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| In office 1990–2019 |
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| Preceded by | M. P. Roberts |
| Succeeded by | Lou Cunningham |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1964 Leeds, England |
| Political party | Labour |
| Children | 2, including Adam |
| Residences | Birstall, West Yorkshire |
| Education | Leeds East Academy |
| Alma mater | University of Leeds |
Alison Lowe is a British politician from the Labour Party. She is currently the Deputy Mayor of West Yorkshire for Policing and Crime. Before this, she made history as the first black woman to become a Leeds city councillor, serving from 1990 to 2019. She also led a mental health charity called Touchstone for many years.
Alison Lowe has received awards for her work. In 2014, she won the Forward Business Woman of the Year award. The next year, in 2015, she was named Stonewall Senior Champion of the Year by the Stonewall charity.
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About Alison Lowe
Her Early Life
Alison Lowe was born in 1964 in Leeds, England. Her father moved to Leeds from St Kitts in 1956. Her mother, Kay, was born in Leeds and had Irish family. Alison grew up in Seacroft with her three siblings. She attended Parklands Girls High School. She has described her family as very diverse, like "Heinz 57 Varieties."
When she was 20, Alison got married. She had her two children, a son and a daughter, when she was 21 and 23 years old. They lived in Chapeltown. Her oldest child is a poet and writer named Adam Lowe.
Her Education
Alison Lowe started studying history at the University of Leeds in 1987. This was just three weeks after her second child was born. She earned her first degree in 1990. Later, in 1993, she completed a master's degree in medieval studies.
Alison also has a distant relative named Annie Elizabeth Kaye. Annie was an Irish immigrant who became the first woman councillor and Council Chairwoman in her district in South Yorkshire. She was also the first woman Magistrate in Doncaster.
In 1999, Alison and her family were part of an ITV television show called Family Life. Alison has some Nigerian family history on her father's side.
Her Career in Public Service
Starting in Local Politics
While she was still at university, Alison Lowe was elected to Leeds City Council in 1990. She represented the Armley area. This made her the first black woman to serve as a councillor on the Leeds City Council. During her time as a councillor, she held many important roles. She was the Deputy Lord Mayor and a member of the council's main decision-making group, called the cabinet. She also led the West Yorkshire Police and Crime Panel, which checks on the work of West Yorkshire Police.
Working for Mental Health
Alongside her council duties, Alison Lowe worked for charities that help people without homes. In 2004, she became the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Touchstone. This charity in Leeds helps people with mental health issues. She led Touchstone for more than 17 years. In May 2021, she decided to leave Touchstone to take on a new role.
Becoming Deputy Mayor
After serving as a councillor for 29 years, Alison Lowe stepped down from the council in 2019. In 2020, she was given the special title of honorary alderwoman of Leeds. One of her first tasks in this role was to review statues in the city. This review was in response to discussions about city statues and the Black Lives Matter movement.
Alison Lowe had tried several times to become a Member of Parliament for the Labour Party. However, she was not chosen to represent her area in the national elections.
On May 12, 2021, Alison Lowe was chosen to be the first Deputy Mayor of West Yorkshire for Policing and Crime. She was appointed by Tracy Brabin, who was the first West Yorkshire Mayor. Her role was officially confirmed on June 18, 2021.
Awards and Recognition
In the 2022 New Year Honours, Alison Lowe was awarded the Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE). This award recognized her important work for mental health and wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In July 2022, the University of Leeds gave Alison Lowe an honorary Doctorate of Laws. This was to celebrate her dedication to helping people who are often ignored. It also recognized her efforts to encourage open talks about mental health.
