You may be aware of several protests organised in Sheffield City Centre on Saturday 13 June. Raise the Colours are holding a protest from 12pm starting in the Peace Gardens. Stand Up to Racism are holding a counter-protest from 11am at Tudor Square.

We understand the importance of dialogue and diverse perspectives, and we fully support our students' right to express themselves peacefully. Our priority is the wellbeing and safety of our entire student body. We support freedom of speech, and we ask that everyone conduct themselves respectfully and in accordance with our Student Code of Conduct.

Officer statement

The Officer team is deeply disturbed to hear about the demonstrations being organised across the country, including in our city. Sheffield is proud to be the first City of Sanctuary; Sheffield Hallam University is a University of Sanctuary. We welcome people from all backgrounds, races, and religions.

At Hallam Students’ Union, we stand firmly against racism, hate, and all forms of discrimination or harassment. We are proud of the diversity within our Hallam community and deeply value the richness that all cultures bring to our University and city.

We remain dedicated to ensuring our Students’ Union, University, and city are places where students from all experiences feel safe, respected, and included, free from intimidation, harassment, or exclusion.

- Molly Pemberton, Hallam Students’ Union President

Your safety and wellbeing are paramount. If you are in any way impacted by the protest, please access the support services on offer:

• Access University wellbeing support if you'd like to talk to someone about how you're feeling.
• Talk with your Student Support Adviser.
• Contact the University's Chaplaincy, who are supportive of all Hallam students.
• Seek guidance from SU Advice if your ability to fulfil academic commitments is been impacted.
• If you need to report a hate crime or incident, we encourage you to use Hallam's dedicated Report + Support service.
• Reach out to your Officers if you'd like to find out more or get involved in our work on anti-racism.

Due to the protests and other large-scale events across the city, we expect Sheffield City Centre to be significantly busier than usual, with high concentrations of people in key public spaces. Stay vigilant while in the city and always check your routes for potential disruption before you travel.