Sheffield to host unique event demanding action on racism

The Assembly, titled “Race, Unity and Transformation: Community‑Led Change in Sheffield,” will take place on March 21, 2026 at Ellesmere Children’s Centre. Organised in partnership with Operation Black Vote and The Humanity Project, the event has attracted leading national experts on racial justice, democratic participation and community empowerment.

The Assembly will bring together residents, grassroots organisations, researchers and national speakers to examine progress across key areas including health, housing, education, employment, policing and criminal justice. It will also review what has changed since Sheffield’s Race Equality Commission published its landmark recommendations four years ago.

Local voices leading the conversation

Dr Sharon Curtis, chief executive of Ellesmere Children’s Centre, said: “Ellesmere Children’s Centre has always been a place where communities come together to support one another and find solutions to shared challenges. Hosting this Assembly creates a space where residents can speak openly about their experiences and help shape the next phase of work on race equality in Sheffield. Listening to communities must be at the heart of meaningful change.”

David Weaver, Chair of Operation Black Vote, said: “Across the country, communities are demanding a stronger voice in the decisions that affect their lives. These assemblies are about strengthening democratic participation and ensuring that commitments to racial equality translate into real change on the ground.”

Lee Jasper, convenor of The Humanity Project, added: “Four years after the Race Equality Commission, many people in Sheffield are still asking what progress has actually been made. This Assembly creates a space for communities to reflect honestly on where we are, to strengthen accountability, and to ensure that race equality is not just a promise but a reality in people’s lives.”

Part of a growing national network

The Sheffield Assembly forms part of a national initiative led by Operation Black Vote and The Humanity Project to build a connected network of community‑driven assemblies focused on racial justice and democratic voice. Recent assemblies have taken place in Brixton, with upcoming events planned in Hackney and Haringey, linking local experiences into a wider movement for structural change.

The event arrives at a critical moment, taking place just weeks before the May local elections, where candidates will be expected to respond meaningfully to residents’ concerns about systemic inequality, fairness and representation.

Following the Assembly, organisers plan to hold a public Race Equality Hustings, giving political candidates the opportunity to hear directly from communities and outline their commitments to addressing racial inequalities in Sheffield.