Hundreds take part in community youth projects launched after Manvers hotel disorder
The fund was created by the government following rioting in the summer of 2024
Projects set up in the aftermath of violent disorder in Rotherham have engaged hundreds of young people and helped improve awareness of issues such as hate crime and extremism, a council report says.
The update on the borough’s community recovery fund will be discussed by councillors at the Improving Lives Select Commission next week.
The fund was created by the government following disturbances in the summer of 2024, including an incident outside the Holiday Inn Hotel in Manvers on August 4.
Rotherham Council was awarded a share of the £15m national programme to support community cohesion and help areas affected by the disorder.
Two projects have been delivered through the council’s children and young people’s services: Together for tomorrow and building bridges together.
According to the report, together for tomorrow has worked with schools to help pupils understand conflict, challenge bullying and build stronger relationships between communities.
The initiative, delivered by the Rotherham School Improvement Service with specialist partners, uses lessons within the PSHE and religious education curriculum to help pupils explore issues such as misinformation, social tensions and online safety.
So far, 43 per cent of schools in the borough have taken part in the programme.
More than 130 young people also took part in ambassador training at Skills Street, where they learned about recognising bullying, resolving conflicts and building empathy.
Schools involved have also run their own initiatives, including kindness challenges, community clean-ups and assemblies focused on online safety.
A second scheme, building bridges together, has focused on outreach work with young people in community settings.
A team of engagement workers has delivered workshops, youth discussions and community events aimed at addressing tensions and helping young people reflect on the events of 2024.
As of February 2026, the programme had delivered 15 workshops involving 214 young people, as well as activities at events including the Rotherham Show, Maltby Community Festival and the town’s Christmas lights switch-on.
Feedback collected from participants suggests the sessions had a positive impact.
According to the report, 86 young people said they believed people from different backgrounds can live together peacefully, while many also reported a better understanding of extremist narratives and greater confidence in challenging them.
Awareness of hate crime also improved, with 98 young people saying they had a better understanding of what it is, and 95 reporting they felt more confident about where to seek help or report incidents.
Council officers say the work has helped create safe spaces for young people to discuss their experiences and rebuild trust within communities.
A celebration event involving sports, art and dance activities is planned before the programme ends to showcase the work completed and strengthen connections between the groups involved.
Councillors are expected to review the progress of the projects when the report is presented at the Improving Lives Select Commission on March 17.