VCSEP Report: Riots to Resilience
Between 30 July and 5 August 2024, the UK experienced a wave of riots, protests, and civil unrest following a mass stabbing in Southport that tragically killed three children. False online claims that the attacker was a Muslim asylum seeker quickly spread – fuelling violence, arson, clashes with police, and attacks on businesses and places of worship.
In response, the VCS Emergencies Partnership commissioned a report to understand the impact on communities and identify lessons to support recovery. While many such reports focus on recommendations to government and legislative change, we wanted to offer practical recommendations that communities could act on immediately to strengthen their resilience to future unrest.
In February 2025,we collaborated with the VCS Emergencies Partnership and published Riots to Resilience: Five Ways to Turn Lessons into Action. It captured the experiences of 80 local, national, and statutory organisations affected by the racist and Islamophobic riots.
Our Co-Founder and Director Marnie Freeman , said: “Learning from the range of experiences across England has meant we can share strategies to help build resilience in the future.”
The report’s impact has extended well beyond its publication. One of the clearest lessons was the role of mis and disinformation in fuelling the unrest. The riots also underscored the importance of safeguarding community spaces and service users.
A year on, there is a growing consensus that the potential for further unrest remains high. VCSEP’s July Network call, which focused on civil unrest and its impact on migrants and refugees, once again drew strong engagement. The discussion centred on the report’s five key recommendations – particularly the importance of knowing your communities, knowing your sources of information, and knowing your history. These themes continue to resonate deeply, showing that the report is not only timely but essential.
To download the report, click below:
About the VCS Emergencies Partnership
The VCS Emergencies Partnership connects voluntary, community, and public sector partners before, during, and after emergencies – so people and communities are at the heart, from the start. With over 300 partner organisations, we are a leading force for resilience-building across England, fostering trust, sharing knowledge, and developing skills to better support those affected by emergencies. For more information visit VCSEP.org.uk