OBV

17/07/2026

The face of British politics has changed 🇬🇧

Lord Simon Woolley, OBV Co-Founder and First Director, reflects on three decades of progress a from a Parliament that included just Diane Abbott, Paul Boateng, Bernie Grant and Keith Vaz, to one that now includes a Black leader of a political party and a brown former Prime Minister.

16/07/2026

🎉 30 years ago today, OBV was launched.

Since 1996, we’ve worked to increase participation, strengthen representation and ensure that Black communities have a voice in public life.

Today, we’re celebrating that journey.

But we’re also looking ahead.

Over the next year, we’ll be marking our 30th anniversary through a programme of events, conversations, campaigns and initiatives focused on the future of participation, representation and democracy.

As co-founder and Chair David Weaver reflects in this video, this milestone isn’t just about celebrating the past. It’s about shaping the future.

Here’s to the next chapter.

03/07/2026

Sheffield spoke. We listened.

Now it’s time for Phase Two. 🗣️

In March, Sheffield’s first People’s Assembly brought residents, community leaders and civic partners together to talk honestly about race equality in this city.

What we heard:
😤 Frustration at promises made and not kept
💸 Economic exclusion and a lack of real representation
🚔 Over-policing and under-protection
📚 Education and health inequalities that aren’t being addressed

But also this 👇

💪 A community ready to organise, build alliances, and lead.
Phase Two is where we turn that into action. Come and be part of it.

📅 Saturday 18th July
🕚 11:00am – 4:00pm
📍 Ellesmere Children’s Centre, 4 Maxwell Street, Sheffield, S4 7JN

Sign up via the link in bio ☝️

11/05/2026

Democracy is sending a message...

Are we listening?

Last week’s local elections sent a clear message: communities are losing faith in the people who govern them.

For Black and minority communities, that feeling is nothing new.

Despite decades of progress, the inequalities that OBV was founded to challenge — in housing, health, education, policing — have not disappeared.

They have simply found new expressions.

As we mark 30 years of civic engagement work, these results remind us why that work matters more than ever.

We cannot be idle passengers in our democracy.

The work continues — and so must we.

Our Chair, David Weaver’s, full statement is linked in bio 🔗

30/04/2026

Today’s the day!

Over 100,000 Black, Asian, and ethnic minority residents call Sheffield home. Enough to decide who controls this council.

Tonight, party representatives are in the room and so are you — if you show up.

Sheffield’s Local Election Hustings

Tonight • 6–8pm • St James Church, Scott Road S4 7BG

🔗 Link in bio

27/04/2026

Majority. Not minority.

In City ward, half of all residents are Black, Asian, or from an ethnic minority community.

Your vote is the most valuable thing they want right now.

Use that.

Sheffield’s Local Election Hustings

30 April • 6–8pm • St James Church, Scott Road S4 7BG

🔗 Link in bio

26/04/2026

Darnell didn’t wait to be represented…

In 2024, this ward changed its representation entirely.

61% of residents here are BAME.

That’s not a footnote — that’s the reason it happened.

Communities move results when they show up.

Thursday is your opportunity to ask the questions that matter.

Sheffield’s Local Election Hustings
30 April • 6–8pm • St James Church, Scott Road S4 7BG

🔗 Link in bio

24/04/2026

Your ward. Your vote. Your moment.

2 in 3 Burngreave residents are BAME — the highest of any ward in Sheffield.

That’s political power. Use it.

Sheffield’s Local Election Hustings — 30 April, 6–8pm, St James Church, Scott Road S4 7BG.

Come, question the candidates, and vote with your community behind you.

🔗 Link in bio

Join Operation Black Vote (OBV) and Sheffield community partners for a public hustings on Race and Equality

05/04/2026

Happy Easter from us all at OBV

The Christian story at the heart of Easter - sacrifice, resurrection, redemption - reminds us that even in the face of suffering, hope can rise and new life can emerge.

At Operation Black Vote, we honour the richness of faith and belief across our communities, holding this as a moment for reflection, unity and shared humanity.

May this Easter bring peace, renewal and a deepened sense of hope and ultimately, freedom, justice and equality on this earth ✊

26/03/2026

On Saturday, something happened in Sheffield.

OBV, alongside .uk and , hosted the city’s first People’s Assembly.

At a time when distrust is high, tensions are real, and a race equality report still hangs unresolved, this was needed.

Local people came together to speak openly about the issues shaping their lives and turn that dialogue into practical ideas, solutions and clear asks for local leaders.

People left feeling heard, empowered and hopeful.

We’ll be sharing the full report, key findings and next steps soon. More to come!