Decision Maker:

Outcome: Recommendations Approved

Is Key Decision?: Yes

Is Callable In?: No

Date of Decision: February 23, 2026

Purpose:

Content: 13.1 The Executive Director Neighbourhood Services submitted a report setting out  a proposed citywide Campaign designed to strengthen belonging, and reinforce Sheffield’s identity as a welcoming, inclusive and compassionate city. The proposal draws on the commitments in the Council’s Communities Strategy, engagement with Community Leaders and the learning from the 2024–25 Community Cohesion and Resilience Programme (CCRP). It responds to the Resolution agreed by Council on 5th November 2025 “Standing Together Against Racism and For an Inclusive Sheffield”.   The Campaign will celebrate the different communities that make Sheffield such an amazing city. It will seek to unite existing events and activities that bring people together across communities, both those delivered by the Council and by partners, under a unified message: “One Sheffield, Many Communities”.   The Committee is asked to approve the development and delivery of this campaign, via engagement with partners, ahead of the 2026 programme of events and the upcoming 20?year anniversary of Sheffield becoming the UK’s first City of Sanctuary in 2007.   The report also provides an update to Committee about the work with Community Leaders to develop our response to community cohesion challenges across the city.     13.2 RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: That Strategy and Resources Policy Committee:-       (a) approves the campaign concept “One Sheffield, Many Communities” as a positive citywide narrative and the development of unified branding and communications to be co-designed via further engagement with partners; and   (b) approves the development and delivery of this campaign, via engagement with partners, ahead of the 2026 programme of events and the upcoming 20?year anniversary of Sheffield becoming the UK’s first City of Sanctuary in 2007.      13.3 Reasons for Decision     13.3.1 The proposal in the report supports the delivery of our City Goals, the Council Plan and our Communities Strategy. It responds directly to the Council Resolution of November 2025 “…to work with communities to develop a bigger, citywide, programme of events and activities for 2026 that bring people together, strengthen cohesion and celebrate our diversity”.     13.3.2 Importantly it responds to and reflects work that has taken place with Sheffield’s community leaders and partners to address challenges in terms of cohesion and discrimination in the city.     13.4 Alternatives Considered and Rejected     13.4.1 Alternative Option 1: Do Nothing The option to do nothing has been rejected. Doing nothing would result in a lack of response to the agreed Council Resolution and undermine the Council’s Community Strategy and the work undertaken with community leaders over the last year.     13.4.2 Alternative Option 2: Narrow project?based interventions There is an option to continue with events and activities that bring people together without a unifying narrative campaign. Whilst the individual pieces of work would undoubtedly deliver benefit, the opportunity to amplify the wide range of work, both within the Council and outside of it, would be lost. The priority work, identified by community leaders and partners, to ensure the Council and the city has a strong narrative in this area, would not be delivered.