Devastating health impacts of racist riots revealed as government urged to act

Today, the government is urged to recognise and address the severe and enduring health impacts on communities most affected by last year’s racist riots. A new report by People’s Health Trust presents a stark picture of the toll taken on mental and physical health in racialised communities.

Over 50 community organisations working with tens of thousands of local people in neighbourhoods worst affected by racist riots of summer 2024 told People’s Health Trust of the devastating health impacts on local people. Racialised communities in particular reported hypervigilance, higher rates of anxiety, chronic stress and fear of accessing public spaces. Almost two thirds of these organisations thought it was likely that people they work with would experience racist hate crime and violence in the near future.

People’s Health Trust heard that many of the social and political conditions that led to the racist riots have deteriorated further in the past year, with rising misinformation, polarisation, and harmful rhetoric including from elected officials, especially online, fuelling more hate and division. One organisation leader said that “very little has changed in the past twelve months - I believe the country is still a 'powder keg' awaiting the next situation where difficulties will arise again.”

Many organisations contributing to today’s report highlighted that Muslim girls and women have been particularly affected, and are experiencing increasing levels of Islamophobia, racism and misogyny. As a result, many have reported higher rates of anxiety and isolation.

A grassroots advice and advocacy service based in London told the Trust that young Muslim female volunteers who used to be active in their communities, attending college and supporting local events have retreated from these activities and their social lives, choosing to stay inside and reporting a significant decline in their mental health. An education and skills charity in West London said: “We have seen Muslim women who have been attacked, [people have] removed their head scarves, insulted and humiliated them. Families have been attacked in their homes and people are frightened for their lives.”

The report also shows a significant impact on people from racialised communities with a learning disability who are less likely to seek the vital support services they need. People with learning disabilities report being advised by concerned family members not to come to activities for fear of being racially abused and being told to “keep their heads down” at all times when in public.

These conditions have also harmed the health of staff and volunteers working in grassroots organisations, some of which report facing serious security risks because of the work they do to support marginalised people, including having to close and take down websites for fear of personal attacks.

An alarming 62% of grassroots organisations surveyed said those they work with are ‘likely’ or ‘very likely’ to experience racist hate crime or violence in the near future — with many describing such abuse as a daily occurrence.

People’s Health Trust today calls on the UK, Scottish and Welsh governments to fully recognise the immediate and longer-lasting mental and physical health impacts of racist violence, including the ongoing impact of the 2024 racist riots. The Trust says this should result in a specific strategy and resources to support people affected and into the type of prevention which communities are saying prevent racist riots in their area.

People’s Health Trust also calls for the government to address some of the known causes of anger, disengagement and health inequalities, including poor housing, insecure jobs and low income, as means of improving life satisfaction and health outcomes. One organisation that was working in Southport at the time of the racist riots told us: “[The] lack of housing, oversubscribed schools and healthcare services, deepening and widening inequality of wealth in this country, along with the cost-of-living crisis, have further exacerbated tensions.”

People’s Health Trust CEO, John Hume said:

“This report lays bare the immediate and longer-term health impacts of racist violence. Last year’s racist riots have left a deep scar, especially in communities already facing inequality, discrimination, and disinvestment. We need to address the root causes of this violence which is both misinformation across the media and social media and the deepening dissatisfaction resulting from decades of austerity, poor housing and cost of living crises.  Now is the time for meaningful coordinated action from decision-makers at a national and local level”

This research, supported through a partnership with the Kurt and Magda Stern Foundation, aimed to find out what has happened in communities since the racist riots – both in places where these occurred and in places where they didn’t – particularly for people most affected. Specifically, it aimed to understand the effects on people’s health and wellbeing and identify solutions to reduce the likelihood of such events in the future. It takes into account important work carried out to date, such as that by Race Equality Foundation.

The Kurt and Magda Stern Foundation’s Chair, Tamsin Hoare said:

“The Kurt and Magda Stern Foundation is proud to have been able to support the People’s Health Trust with this important research piece. These findings shed crucial light on the deep and lasting harms caused by last summer’s violence, and on the conditions that led to it.  We must stand together to prevent this happening again. We hope the recommendations, and clear and powerful calls to action, will inspire decisive change from leaders and institutions, so that all communities can feel a true sense of safety and belonging.”

People’s Health Trust has been working with people living in communities experiencing disadvantage and marginalisation across Great Britain for over a decade. Its goal is to stop people dying too young because of avoidable inequalities in wealth, housing, education, and work. Its focus is on supporting communities at a grassroots level to find vital and timely solutions to tackle the causes of poor health.