In 2026, Voluntary Action Sheffield (VAS) celebrates 100 years of supporting communities across the city. To mark this milestone, VAS is launching VAS 100, a project in partnership with the Lord Mayor of Sheffield’s Office, led by Lord Mayor Safiya Saeed, highlighting Sheffield’s rich history of community action.
VAS 100 invites people to share their stories of local activism – from neighbourhood mutual aid and youth clubs to campaigns for disability rights, anti-racism work, and environmental projects. Contributions can include personal memories, photographs, objects, or accounts of projects that shaped Sheffield’s communities. While the exhibition will feature 100 stories, every submission will help preserve Sheffield’s history of collective action, recognise the contributions of volunteers and local groups, and inspire future community engagement through a storybook, exhibition, and celebratory events.
Helen Sims, CEO of Voluntary Action Sheffield, said: “For a century, VAS has worked alongside Sheffield’s communities to make the city fairer and more inclusive. VAS 100 is an opportunity to honour those who have led change, and to show how collective action – whether through a small neighbourhood project or a city-wide campaign – can make a real difference. We want to capture the voices of everyone who has played a part in Sheffield’s story of solidarity and change.”
Lord Mayor of Sheffield, Cllr Safiya Saeed, said: “Sheffield’s identity has always been shaped by the actions of its people. From neighbourhood organising to grassroots movements that changed the course of our city’s history, our communities have shown again and again what is possible when people care enough to act. As we mark 100 years of Voluntary Action Sheffield, we are celebrating not just an organisation, but the countless individuals whose compassion, determination, and solidarity have made Sheffield stronger. It begins in communities, in small acts of care that grow into something bigger. I am honoured to help champion this project and to ensure these stories are recognised, preserved, and passed on to the next generation.”
The project will include an exhibition of 100 stories, and celebratory events..
VAS 100 reflects Sheffield’s history of solidarity and collective action, encouraging all residents to participate and share their experiences.
Submissions can be made via the project’s online form: https://forms.gle/xqzVmgBp3znhabWeA
