Equality Action Annual Public Lecture 2025 - Community: after the riots

5th Mar 2025

On February 20th, Equality Action, in partnership with Loughborough University, hosted the Annual Public Lecture 2025, featuring Baroness Ruth Lister as the keynote speaker. This year’s theme, "Community: after the riots," explored the complexities of community cohesion, the challenges that threaten unity and the strategies needed to rebuild trust and resilience.

For those who couldn’t attend, this blog post summarises the key themes from Baroness Lister’s powerful address, the insights shared by our expert panel and the crucial steps we can take to create stronger, more inclusive communities.

Who is Baroness Ruth Lister?

Baroness Ruth Lister of Burtersett CBE is a renowned expert in social policy, a Labour Peer in the House of Lords and an Emeritus Professor of Social Policy at Loughborough University. Throughout her career, she has been a leading voice on poverty, citizenship, asylum and inequality, shaping both academic thought and public policy.

Before entering academia, she spent 16 years at the Child Poverty Action Group, including eight years as Director, campaigning for structural solutions to poverty. She remains President of the organisation, continuing to advocate for fair social policies and economic justice.

In 1994, she joined Loughborough University as a Professor of Social Policy, where her work was instrumental in the University receiving the 2005 Queen’s Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education. Even after retiring in 2010, she has remained actively engaged in policy development, research and advocacy.

Her Influence in Parliament

Appointed to the House of Lords in 2010, Baroness Lister has used her platform to champion social justice, equality and human rights.

She has served on:

• The Joint Committee on Human Rights
• The Select Committee on Citizenship and Civic Engagement
• All-Party Parliamentary Groups (APPGs) on Domestic Violence, Poverty & Inequality, Migration, Refugees and others.
• The University’s Living Well Inquiry Advisory Board

Her parliamentary work remains deeply connected to grassroots activism, academic research and policy reform, making her a powerful advocate for communities across the UK.

Understanding ‘Community’

Baroness Lister began her lecture by questioning what we mean by "community."

Baroness Lister highlights that "community" is one of the most important yet ill-defined concepts in social sciences. While it evokes a sense of belonging and shared values, it can also be used to obscure inequalities, exclude marginalised groups or romanticise an idealised past.

Communities can be:

• Geographically based (neighbourhoods, cities, local networks)
• Interest-based (shared hobbies, activism, online communities)
• Identity-based (ethnic, religious, LGBTQ+, disability communities)

She warns that political rhetoric often portrays communities as harmonious, ignoring internal divisions of power, gender and age. For example, Southall Black Sisters have long criticised how patriarchal power structures within some ethnic minority communities can silence issues such as domestic violence.

At the same time, community can be a powerful force for inclusion, bringing people together despite differences. Belonging is not about sameness but about connection and fostering spaces where people can meet across differences helps break down prejudice.

"Mutual respect and integration are enhanced by people getting to know each other more, while prejudice is fuelled by a lack of experience of people with apparent differences."

The Riots & What They Revealed

The riots of last summer exposed both the strengths and the vulnerabilities of our communities.

On one hand, we saw acts of solidarity, with people coming together to protect their neighbourhoods and support those affected. On the other, we witnessed coordinated far-right violence targeting minorities, fuelled by racism, misinformation and economic frustration.

• David Olusoga described the riots as “organised violence against minority communities.”
• Sara Khan, author of an official report on social cohesion, has highlighted the role of far-right groups in exploiting local tensions for political gain.
• The Financial Times analysis found that seven of the ten most deprived areas in England witnessed riots, showing a direct link between poverty, economic insecurity and social unrest.

Key Threats to Community Cohesion:

• Far-right extremism & misinformation – Exploiting grievances, scapegoating migrants.
• Poverty & economic insecurity – Weakening trust, creating competition for resources.
• Disinvestment in social infrastructure – Loss of youth centres, public spaces and civic engagement opportunities.

"Living in poverty is not an excuse to riot, but it’s a factor."Neal Lawson, Compass

Strengthening Communities: Where do we go from here?

The government has announced a Community Recovery Fund and other initiatives to address the underlying causes of social division, which reflects calls for community rebuilding to go beyond a law and order response.

Key Strategies for Strengthening Communities:

• Tackling poverty & economic inequality – A stronger social safety net, fair wages and investment in deprived areas.
• Rebuilding social infrastructure – More funding for youth centres, green spaces, libraries and cultural spaces.
• Fostering community dialogue & democratic participation – Inclusive policymaking and everyday democracy that gives people a voice.
• Challenging racism & xenophobia – Addressing divisive political narratives and ensuring anti-racism is central to policymaking.

Panel Discussion and Q&A

Following the keynote, our expert panel shared their perspectives and engaged in an open discussion with the audience.

Panellists:

• Dr Jeevun Sandher – MP for Loughborough, economist & Treasury Select Committee member
• Richard Herrick – Immigration Policy Officer, East Midlands Councils
• Helen Carter – CEO, Loughborough Wellbeing Centre & mental health advocate
• Veronica Moore – Director of Equity, Diversity & Inclusion, Loughborough University

The discussion focussed on:

• The role of economic inequality in community breakdown.
• How misinformation and media narratives shape social division.
• What communities can do to take ownership of rebuilding trust and inclusion.

Thank You

We would like to extend our thanks to Baroness Ruth Lister, our panellists, Loughborough University for hosting the event, our attendees and everyone who helped organise and support this evening’s discussion.

How You Can Get Involved 

At Equality Action, we work year-round to support communities, challenge inequality and promote inclusion. Here’s how you can be part of our work:

Become a Member

Join our network and support our work tackling inequality and promoting inclusion. Members receive regular updates, event invitations and the chance to help shape our projects.

Volunteer with Us

Use your time and skills to support our community projects, from helping at events to engaging with local initiatives that break down barriers and create opportunities.

Partner with Us

Whether you're a local organisation, business or service provider, we welcome collaborations and ensure underrepresented communities get the support they deserve.