# Sheffield (Somali diaspora)

> Somalis in Sheffield: steelworkers from the 1940s, refugees from 1988, Census 2021 counts by ward, two Somali-heritage Lord Mayors, charities and ties home.

Source page: https://calankii.com/en/diaspora/sheffield/
Last checked: 2026-11-12
Publisher: Calankii (https://calankii.com)

Sheffield's Somali community is one of the oldest inland communities in Britain. The first Somalis settled in the 1930s. More came to work in steel in the 1950s and 1960s ([Sheffield City Council, Somali community study guide, 2015](https://www.sheffield.gov.uk/sites/default/files/docs/libraries-and-archives/archives-and-local-studies/research/Somali%20%20Community%20Study%20Guide%20v1-2.pdf)).

## How many Somalis live in Sheffield?

The census gives several counts:

- **Somali or Somalilander write-ins:** 4,696, or 0.8% of 556,516 residents ([Nomis, Census 2021 TS022](https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/api/v01/dataset/NM_2095_1.data.csv?date=latest&geography=TYPE154&c2021_ethnic_288=0,63,64,85,276,277&measures=20100)). Of these, 1,800 wrote "Somalilander", 38% (same table).
- **Born in Somalia:** 2,575 in 2021 ([Nomis, Census 2021 TS012](https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/api/v01/dataset/NM_2032_1.data.csv?date=latest&geography=TYPE154&c2021_cob_58=26&measures=20100)), up from 1,333 in 2001 ([Sheffield City Council, 2015](https://www.sheffield.gov.uk/sites/default/files/docs/libraries-and-archives/archives-and-local-studies/research/Somali%20%20Community%20Study%20Guide%20v1-2.pdf)).
- **Main language Somali:** 1,384 residents aged 3 and over ([Nomis, Census 2021 TS024](https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/api/v01/dataset/NM_2043_1.data.csv?date=latest&geography=E08000019&measures=20100)).

Earlier estimates varied widely. The council's archive guide records 2,000 Somalis in 1995, between 1,400 and 10,000 in 2003, and 2,372 in 2011 ([Sheffield City Council, 2015](https://www.sheffield.gov.uk/sites/default/files/docs/libraries-and-archives/archives-and-local-studies/research/Somali%20%20Community%20Study%20Guide%20v1-2.pdf)). A 2021 local report gave about 5,000 ([Sheffield Tribune, 25 September 2021](https://www.sheffieldtribune.co.uk/we-came-here-and-we-started-our-lives/)).

## Where in Sheffield do Somalis live?

Census 2021 ward counts, Somali and Somalilander together ([Nomis, TS022 by ward](https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/api/v01/dataset/NM_2095_1.data.csv?date=latest&geography=E08000019TYPE153&c2021_ethnic_288=63,64,85,276,277&measures=20100)):

- **Burngreave:** 1,520
- **Darnall:** 624
- **Broomhill and Sharrow Vale:** 484
- **Firth Park:** 397
- **Walkley:** 371
- **Nether Edge and Sharrow:** 279

In 2001, most Somalia-born residents lived in Broomhall ([Sheffield City Council, 2015](https://www.sheffield.gov.uk/sites/default/files/docs/libraries-and-archives/archives-and-local-studies/research/Somali%20%20Community%20Study%20Guide%20v1-2.pdf)). The council names Broomhall, Burngreave, Darnall and Firth Park as the main community centres (same guide).

## How did Somalis come to Sheffield?

**Seamen and the 1930s.** There is evidence that some Somalis settled in Burngreave in the 1930s ([Sheffield Museums, Burngreave Voices](https://www.sheffieldmuseums.org.uk/burngreave-voices/immigration.html)). Somali seamen had settled in Sheffield as well as port towns before 1960 ([Hirsi, University of Minnesota, 2026](https://conservancy.umn.edu/server/api/core/bitstreams/e55f591b-f183-4b83-aaef-5e9433da9155/content)). See [The first Somalis abroad](/en/diaspora/somali-seamen-and-early-migrants/).

**Steel, 1940s to 1960s.** Labour shortages after the Second World War drew Somalis to Sheffield, often to work in steel ([Sheffield City Council, 2015](https://www.sheffield.gov.uk/sites/default/files/docs/libraries-and-archives/archives-and-local-studies/research/Somali%20%20Community%20Study%20Guide%20v1-2.pdf)). After the Merchant Navy declined in the 1960s, many seamen moved north to the steel city ([Sheffield Tribune, 2021](https://www.sheffieldtribune.co.uk/we-came-here-and-we-started-our-lives/)). On 30 June 1961, a celebration of the first anniversary of the [Somali Republic](/en/states/somali-republic-1960-1969/) was held at the Azena Ballroom, Gleadless ([Sheffield City Council, 2015](https://www.sheffield.gov.uk/sites/default/files/docs/libraries-and-archives/archives-and-local-studies/research/Somali%20%20Community%20Study%20Guide%20v1-2.pdf)).

**Family reunion and refugees, from 1988.** When war broke out in 1988, UK family reunion rules let relatives of Sheffield Somali families join them ([Sheffield City Council, 2015](https://www.sheffield.gov.uk/sites/default/files/docs/libraries-and-archives/archives-and-local-studies/research/Somali%20%20Community%20Study%20Guide%20v1-2.pdf)). Many 1990s refugees chose Sheffield because a community already existed there (same guide). In 1991 a local trust worked to reunite Sheffield families with relatives fleeing the war (same guide).

Census 2021 shows when Sheffield's Somalia-born residents arrived ([ONS Census 2021, year of arrival, Sheffield](https://api.beta.ons.gov.uk/v1/population-types/UR/census-observations?area-type=ltla,E08000019&dimensions=country_of_birth_60a,year_arrival_uk)):

- Before 1981: 18
- 1981 to 1990: 188
- 1991 to 2000: 637
- 2001 to 2010: 1,253
- 2011 to 2021: 480

The 2000s wave included people moving on from mainland Europe. In 2021, 271 Somalia-born residents held a passport from a smaller EU country ([ONS Census 2021, passports held, Sheffield](https://api.beta.ons.gov.uk/v1/population-types/UR/census-observations?area-type=ltla,E08000019&dimensions=country_of_birth_60a,passports_all_27a)). See [Leicester](/en/diaspora/leicester/).

## Do Somalis in Sheffield have work?

A significant share of the community worked in the steel industry, the council's archive guide says ([Sheffield City Council, 2015](https://www.sheffield.gov.uk/sites/default/files/docs/libraries-and-archives/archives-and-local-studies/research/Somali%20%20Community%20Study%20Guide%20v1-2.pdf)). No Sheffield-only Somali employment rate has been published. Across England and Wales in 2021, 10.3% of Somalis aged 16 to 64 were unemployed, against 4.4% overall ([ONS, 4 October 2023](https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/culturalidentity/ethnicity/articles/somalipopulationsenglandandwales/census2021)).

Local studies have followed this closely. The guide lists a 2000 report on Somali education, training and job needs, and 2006 community research ([Sheffield City Council, 2015](https://www.sheffield.gov.uk/sites/default/files/docs/libraries-and-archives/archives-and-local-studies/research/Somali%20%20Community%20Study%20Guide%20v1-2.pdf)). In 2021, 1,904 of 2,575 Somalia-born residents held a UK passport ([ONS Census 2021, passports held, Sheffield](https://api.beta.ons.gov.uk/v1/population-types/UR/census-observations?area-type=ltla,E08000019&dimensions=country_of_birth_60a,passports_all_27a)).

## Who speaks for Somalis in Sheffield?

**Lord Mayors.** [Magid Magid](/en/people/magid-magid/) (Green) became Lord Mayor in May 2018, the city's first Somali-born mayor and its youngest ([The New Arab, 19 May 2018](https://www.newarab.com/features/meet-sheffields-first-somali-lord-mayor-magid-magid)). He came to Sheffield aged five after months in an Ethiopian refugee camp (same article).

Councillor Safiya Saeed (Labour, Burngreave) became the city's 128th Lord Mayor on 19 May 2025 ([Sheffield City Council, 2025](https://www.sheffield.gov.uk/news/2025/welcoming-safiya-saeed-new-right-worshipful-lord-mayor-sheffield)). She came to Sheffield in 1985 and is the second Lord Mayor of Somali heritage ([Hyphen, 3 June 2025](https://hyphenonline.com/2025/06/03/safiya-saeed-first-black-muslim-woman-lord-mayor-sheffield/)).

**Organisations.** The council's archive guide dates these groups ([Sheffield City Council, 2015](https://www.sheffield.gov.uk/sites/default/files/docs/libraries-and-archives/archives-and-local-studies/research/Somali%20%20Community%20Study%20Guide%20v1-2.pdf)):

- **1981:** Somali Community and Cultural Association (Israac)
- **1987:** Somali Community Association
- **1994:** Somali Women's Association and Welfare Group
- **2000:** Somali-Tec, a South Yorkshire umbrella for Somali trainers
- **2007:** Somali Community and Cultural School began Somali classes at King Edward VII school

For 2025 to 2026, the Lord Mayor chose Israac as her charity ([Sheffield City Council, Lord Mayor](https://www.sheffield.gov.uk/your-city-council/lord-mayor)).

## What do Somalis in Sheffield face now?

- **Housing, 2021:** 58.8% of Somali households in England and Wales were overcrowded, against 8.4% overall ([ONS, 2023](https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/culturalidentity/ethnicity/articles/somalipopulationsenglandandwales/census2021)).
- **Language:** 1,384 residents gave Somali as their main language in 2021 ([Nomis, TS024](https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/api/v01/dataset/NM_2043_1.data.csv?date=latest&geography=E08000019&measures=20100)).
- **Health:** local studies on Somali mental health (1998) and TB (2010) are held in the city archives ([Sheffield City Council, 2015](https://www.sheffield.gov.uk/sites/default/files/docs/libraries-and-archives/archives-and-local-studies/research/Somali%20%20Community%20Study%20Guide%20v1-2.pdf)).

## How is Sheffield tied to home?

Sheffield Somalis held Independence Day celebrations at the Town Hall in June 1986 ([Sheffield City Council, 2015](https://www.sheffield.gov.uk/sites/default/files/docs/libraries-and-archives/archives-and-local-studies/research/Somali%20%20Community%20Study%20Guide%20v1-2.pdf)). On 2 April 2014 the city council passed a motion calling on the UK government to recognise [Somaliland](/en/states/somaliland-1991-to-2026/) ([UNPO, 2014](https://unpo.org/article/17010)). A petition from Sheffield's Somaliland community backed it (same report).

Burngreave residents pool money for weddings, travel and funerals, a 2021 report found ([Sheffield Tribune, 2021](https://www.sheffieldtribune.co.uk/we-came-here-and-we-started-our-lives/)). For money sent home, see [Life after leaving](/en/diaspora/life-after-leaving/).

## Related pages

- [The first Somalis abroad: seamen and traders](/en/diaspora/somali-seamen-and-early-migrants/)
- [United Kingdom (Somali diaspora)](/en/diaspora/united-kingdom/)
- [Other UK cities (Somali diaspora)](/en/diaspora/uk-other-cities/)
- [Cardiff (Somali diaspora)](/en/diaspora/cardiff/)
- [Manchester (Somali diaspora)](/en/diaspora/manchester/)
- [Leicester (Somali diaspora)](/en/diaspora/leicester/)
- [Why and how Somalis left](/en/diaspora/why-and-how-somalis-left/)

## Sources

1. Sheffield City Council, Libraries Archives and Information. "Sources for the Study of Sheffield's Somali Community." v1.2, September 2015. [sheffield.gov.uk](https://www.sheffield.gov.uk/sites/default/files/docs/libraries-and-archives/archives-and-local-studies/research/Somali%20%20Community%20Study%20Guide%20v1-2.pdf). Checked 2026-11-12.
2. ONS via Nomis. Census 2021 TS022, Ethnic group (detailed), local authorities and Sheffield wards. [nomisweb.co.uk](https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/api/v01/dataset/NM_2095_1.data.csv?date=latest&geography=TYPE154&c2021_ethnic_288=0,63,64,85,276,277&measures=20100) · [wards](https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/api/v01/dataset/NM_2095_1.data.csv?date=latest&geography=E08000019TYPE153&c2021_ethnic_288=63,64,85,276,277&measures=20100). Checked 2026-11-12.
3. ONS via Nomis. Census 2021 TS012, Country of birth: Somalia. [nomisweb.co.uk](https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/api/v01/dataset/NM_2032_1.data.csv?date=latest&geography=TYPE154&c2021_cob_58=26&measures=20100). Checked 2026-11-12.
4. ONS via Nomis. Census 2021 TS024, Main language (detailed), Sheffield. [nomisweb.co.uk](https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/api/v01/dataset/NM_2043_1.data.csv?date=latest&geography=E08000019&measures=20100). Checked 2026-11-12.
5. ONS. Census 2021 custom datasets: Somalia-born residents of Sheffield by year of arrival and by passports held. [Year of arrival](https://api.beta.ons.gov.uk/v1/population-types/UR/census-observations?area-type=ltla,E08000019&dimensions=country_of_birth_60a,year_arrival_uk) · [Passports](https://api.beta.ons.gov.uk/v1/population-types/UR/census-observations?area-type=ltla,E08000019&dimensions=country_of_birth_60a,passports_all_27a). Checked 2026-11-12.
6. Office for National Statistics. "Somali populations, England and Wales: Census 2021." 4 October 2023. [ons.gov.uk](https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/culturalidentity/ethnicity/articles/somalipopulationsenglandandwales/census2021). Checked 2026-11-12.
7. Sheffield Tribune. "'We came here and we started our lives anew'." 25 September 2021. [sheffieldtribune.co.uk](https://www.sheffieldtribune.co.uk/we-came-here-and-we-started-our-lives/). Checked 2026-11-12.
8. Sheffield Museums. "Burngreave Voices: Immigration." [sheffieldmuseums.org.uk](https://www.sheffieldmuseums.org.uk/burngreave-voices/immigration.html). Checked 2026-11-12.
9. Hirsi, I. "The First Somali Diaspora: A Transnational History of Migration, Race, and Colonialism." PhD dissertation, University of Minnesota, 2026. [conservancy.umn.edu](https://conservancy.umn.edu/server/api/core/bitstreams/e55f591b-f183-4b83-aaef-5e9433da9155/content). Checked 2026-11-12.
10. The New Arab. "'Anything is possible': Meet Sheffield's first [Somali Lord Mayor](/en/diaspora/british-somalis-in-public-life/) Magid Magid." 19 May 2018. [newarab.com](https://www.newarab.com/features/meet-sheffields-first-somali-lord-mayor-magid-magid). Checked 2026-11-12.
11. Sheffield City Council. "Welcoming Safiya Saeed, the new Right Worshipful Lord Mayor of Sheffield," 19 May 2025 · "Lord Mayor." [sheffield.gov.uk](https://www.sheffield.gov.uk/news/2025/welcoming-safiya-saeed-new-right-worshipful-lord-mayor-sheffield) · [sheffield.gov.uk](https://www.sheffield.gov.uk/your-city-council/lord-mayor). Checked 2026-11-12.
12. Hyphen. "Sheffield's first Black Muslim woman lord mayor tells of pride in her new role." 3 June 2025. [hyphenonline.com](https://hyphenonline.com/2025/06/03/safiya-saeed-first-black-muslim-woman-lord-mayor-sheffield/). Checked 2026-11-12.
13. Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization (UNPO). "Somaliland: Sheffield Recognizes Independent Somaliland." April 2014. [unpo.org](https://unpo.org/article/17010). Checked 2026-11-12.

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