Free activities + celebration

This Is Us

Dance. Paint. Make. Celebrate. Join a season of free creativity across Sheffield, then see it all come together on Sunday 8 November 2026 at Showroom Workstation.

Try breaking, help shape public murals, build giant lanterns and puppets, or come along for the final celebration. No experience needed. Pick what interests you and we’ll send the next opportunities straight to you.

FreeEvery activity
Sun 8 Nov 2026Celebration event
Showroom WorkstationCreative Lounge, Sheffield S1

Stories of our
neighbourhood,
made together.

This Is Us brings local people together to make art about where we live, the people who have achieved here, those who have moved to the area and made it home, our faiths, our heritage and our pride in place.

Young people have already filled the programme with sketches, stories, movement and painted name boards. Now those ideas are growing into two community murals, a mixed-age breaking showcase, sculpture, puppetry and giant lanterns. You can still become part of what we make.

The season ends with a free celebration and exhibition on Sunday 8 November at the Creative Lounge, Showroom Workstation, 15 Paternoster Row, Sheffield S1 2BX. Final timings and booking details are coming soon.

  • Local residents of all ages, you don’t need any experience
  • Young people looking for something creative and positive
  • Mixed-age and intergenerational groups, families welcome
  • Anyone who wants to help tell the story of our area
Where: across North-East Sheffield, Burngreave & Grimesthorpe (including Pitsmoor), Firth Park, Fir Vale & Crabtree (including Page Hall), and Longley.
The story so far

Already moving. More to come.

Community ideas are already becoming artwork and performance. Follow the journey, then register to hear about the next free sessions and celebration booking.

Done Happening now Coming up Dates coming soon
Scroll, drag or use the arrows →

Activities & dates

Choose your way in. Learn something new, contribute to a public artwork, perform, make with your family or simply join the celebration. Every activity is free; register once and we’ll send the opportunities that match your interests.

Industrial Elements
Breaking / dance

Breaking sessions & showcase

Build your foundations, confidence and style with Industrial Elements, then help bring the energy to the November showcase.

Starts Wed 2 SeptemberHype Studio 2, WalkleyAll experience levels welcome
09 Murals
Murals

Community murals & paint day

See local stories become large-scale public art. Help shape and paint two new murals with 09 Murals and a guest artist.

Community ideas becoming mural designsPaint-day dates coming soon
Jo Veal
Making

Sculpture, puppetry & lanterns

Make something impossible to ignore: giant willow and paper lanterns, shadow puppets, masks and recycled sculptures with Jo Veal & Patrick Amber.

October · Spital HillWorkshop dates coming soon
09 Murals
Street art

Street-art tasters

Try spray cans, stencils and boards in relaxed creative tasters woven through the mural and making programme.

Part of selected creative workshops
Jo Veal
All ages

Intergenerational making

Bring a friend, family member or neighbour and create side by side. Everyone is welcome and you do not need any previous experience.

All agesNo experience needed
09 Murals
Celebration

Celebration event & exhibition

One date, every art form. Experience the breaking showcase, live puppetry and lanterns, murals, exhibition, film and community celebration. Free and open to all.

Sunday 8 November 2026Creative Lounge, Showroom WorkstationTimes & booking details coming soon

Partners & people

NHS backing keeps the programme free. SCO CIC brings the team together, and Sheffield artists and coaches turn community ideas into murals, movement and making. Meet the people bringing This Is Us to life.

NHS South Yorkshire ICBFunder +

This Is Us is funded by the NHS South Yorkshire Integrated Care Board as part of its work supporting community wellbeing across North-East Sheffield. Their backing is what makes every session free to take part in.

VASProgramme partner +

Voluntary Action Sheffield helps connect the programme with NHS backing and Sheffield’s voluntary and community network. vas.org.uk

SCO CICLead organisation +

Sheffield City Opportunities CIC brings the artists, partners and neighbourhood activity together, helping local ideas travel from first sketch to final celebration. As a community interest company, any surplus goes back into more projects. scocic.uk

CitedDigital support, in kind +

Cited provides Mosey and digital support in kind, helping the creative team spend more time on activities, participants and the final event. getcited.uk

Akash Hashmi Akash HashmiLead coordination, SCO CIC +

Founder of SCO CIC and the programme lead. Akash brings artists, partners and neighbourhood groups together and helps turn community ideas into the wider This Is Us programme. Read bio

Leigh Redhead Leigh RedheadMural lead, 09 Murals +

Sheffield graffiti and mural artist behind 09 Murals. Leigh leads the two public murals, including a collaborative wall made with participants, from the first designs through to the final seal. Read bio

Chris Brayford Chris BrayfordBreaking lead, Industrial Elements +

Breaking lead and the creative force behind Industrial Elements. Chris runs the all-ages breaking sessions and shapes the performance piece for the celebration. Read bio

Jo Veal Jo VealSculpture, puppetry and lanterns +

Community artist working in giant willow and paper lanterns, shadow puppetry and intergenerational making. Jo co-leads the sculptural strand and helps recruit across the neighbourhoods. @joveal_art

Patrick Amber Patrick AmberCo-facilitator, Creative Outpost +

Sculptor and community artist with Creative Outpost. Patrick co-facilitates the lantern and puppetry workshops and brings 3D elements into the collaborative mural. patrickamber.co.uk

Sam SamAssistant breaking coach +

Assistant breaking coach, supporting the sessions, rehearsals and the final showcase alongside Chris.

Davy DavyAssistant breaking coach +

Assistant breaking coach, supporting the sessions, rehearsals and the final showcase alongside Chris.

We’re also joined by a guest mural artist and by filmmaker Nate, our media partner documenting the programme.

Our workshops are hosted with brilliant local organisations across the North, including Longley 4 Greens Community Centre and Reach Up Youth.

Choose how you want to join in.

Register for early notice of workshop spaces, community paint days and free celebration booking. Pick as many activities as you like. Everything is free and there is no commitment.

Your age group *
If you’re under 16, please ask a parent or guardian to register for you, we’ll always get their written consent before any sessions.
What are you interested in? *

Prefer email? Write to hello@scocic.uk.

Thank you!

You’re on the list. We’ll be in touch with the opportunities you picked and the celebration details.

In the meantime, share This Is Us with someone you would love to bring along.