A Liverpool charity will lead a range of activities across the city to celebrate the life of Nelson Mandela this week.
The celebration is a citywide initiative that encourages ‘acts of kindness’ led by Mandela8 in collaboration with Liverpool City Council and Liverpool BID Company.
Mandela Day, marked internationally on 18 July, celebrates the life, work and values of Nelson Mandela by encouraging people to take 67 minutes of action for social justice and community improvement, representing the 67 years Mandela dedicated to public service.
The annual celebration remembers Nelson Mandela’s achievements in working towards conflict resolution, democracy, human rights, peace, and reconciliation, promoting the idea that everyone has the ability to make an impact and do something in their own way to change the world and the world of those around them.
Activities this year will focus on two key areas – Education & Literacy and Active Citizenship.
The former will look at improving access to books, learning opportunities and mentoring, whilst the latter encourages volunteering and civic engagement to address poverty and inequality.
Schools, local businesses, institutions and community and voluntary sector organisations and individuals across the city are all encouraged to get involved.
Interim Chair of Mandela8, Michelle Cox MBE said:
“Mandela Day offers Liverpool a powerful opportunity to demonstrate how the values of Nelson Mandela remain relevant today. It is great to see schools, communities and civic institutions get involved every year. Mandela Day reminds us that everyone has the power to make a difference.
This is a unique opportunity to demonstrate how Mandela’s values can be translated into practical action across Liverpool, continuing to support our annual campaign to encouraging people to celebrate our diversity and differences.
Those wanting to take part can plan activities to take place across the whole of Mandela Week (14–18 July 2026).
Mandela8 are also holding a free guided walk starting at the Kuumba Imani Millennium Centre in L8 at 3:45pm this Saturday. With a special emphasis on the experiences of the Toxteth community, the walk guide will provide a series of links to online videos, podcasts and websites that enable you to gain a deeper comprehension of the history, heritage and culture of the area and the people who have settled there.
The walks will be guided by Robert Awork Jr. who is a lifelong inhabitant of L8 and also a witness to the uprisings of 1981 in Toxteth. His working life has been focused on activism in the areas of arts, culture, youth work and community development.
To book a free place on the walk, those interested can do so via Eventbrite.
For ideas on what you can do for Mandela Day, please go to the Mandela8 website www.mandela8.org.uk and don’t forget to tag Mandela8 when posting online about your Acts of Kindness. Please use the hashtag #MandelaDay2026 so the charity can see all your fantastic ideas.
Categories: 2026 | Arts & Culture | Community & Participation
