Friendliness

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Friendliness

Friendliness: something we're proud to be known for

How on earth do you describe something in-built into the characters of people from diverse communities across a city of over 600,000 people?

The best way is just to say this: most days you’ll have a conversation with a stranger.

If that puts you off, then fair enough - but to everyone here that’s part of the charm. We might not always get on and there’ll be plenty of disagreements, but that doesn’t mean you can’t be friendly.

Make yourself at home

We welcome people here, and this video which features Shauna Coxsey, GB Climber at the Tokyo Olympics 2021, hopefully gives you a bit of a feel for the city whilst also giving you the impression that we're a nice bunch.

Writing for GQ in 2019, David Levesley got it spot on: “It's a city of people who immediately behave as if they’ve been putting up with you for years. This is a city that isn't trying to be London.”

Some of that probably traces back to industrial times when Unions in the city were like blood ties, and the sense of community was everything. More recently it’s possibly to do with our badge of being ‘The people’s republic of South Yorkshire’, which stemmed from the left-wing leaning local politics and a stubborn, steadfast belief in doing things our own way.

GQ Magazine, 2019

“Sheffield’s particular brand of Northern kindness is worth the visit alone.”

The People's Republic of South Yorkshire

A group of people, out walking, stop next to a rocky outcrop to have a photo taken.

State of Sheffield Report

Every year the Sheffield City Partnership puts together a State of Sheffield report to try and present things in black and white - so that authorities can listen and learn and ultimately work together. In March 2020 we were met with the unprecedented crisis of COVID, which had profound implications for the ways in which all of our organisations were working day-to-day and for life across the city. Sheffield’s communities, services and businesses have pulled together in unprecedented ways. We wanted to tell the story of how the city has risen to the challenge and what we need to learn for the next phase.

State of Sheffield Report

Equality Hubs

On top of this there are outstanding Equality Hubs representing diversity across many communities, and around 3,300 voluntary and charitable organisations and groups in the city at last count.

Equality Partnership

Neighbourhoods

As you’ll find out if you visit, and as our Neighbourhoods section starts to uncover, there are lots of distinct characteristics about the many unofficial towns and villages which make up the city. And this is all compounded by a belief to try and do the right thing.

Walk with Amal

As the first City of Sanctuary, it was only fitting that we welcomed Amal on her journey from the Turkey/Syria border to highlight the realities of what refugees undertake. Her welcome - and the preparation behind it - is documented in this video.

Meet Aleena and see why she chose to come to Sheffield

"The people here are so friendly and always willing to go out of their way to help you."

That’s why we feel it’s so important to highlight the role that Civil Society plays in shaping the character of the city… often people can’t put their finger on why it’s friendly here and how it feels different to other cities, but it could be down to the fact that for the most part people in Sheffield have a passion for caring, doing the right thing, and accepting those around them.

More Togetherness

More examples of friendliness and community in our city