LCVS Chair Sonia Bassey becomes Honorary Fellow at LJMU

From everyone here at LCVS, we would like to extend our heartfelt congratulations to our Chair, Sonia Bassey, on being awarded the prestigious title of Honorary Fellow at Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU). This well-deserved recognition is a testament to Sonia’s decades of tireless work in promoting race equality, social justice, and community development.

As a proud graduate of LJMU with a degree in business and finance, Sonia’s return to her alma mater as an Honorary Fellow marks yet another remarkable achievement in her illustrious career. Her leadership, both at LCVS and beyond, continues to inspire.

We are incredibly proud of her accomplishment and look forward to seeing her continued positive impact on society.

Here’s what LJMU wrote in their profile about Sonia:

Sonia Bassey MBE. Chair LCVS; Chair Mandela 8; Community Activist and Artist

A graduate in business and finance from LJMU, and former Director of Public Sector Transformation for Cheshire and Warrington until retirement in 2022, Sonia earned an MBE for her community service in Liverpool and was winner of the LCRCA 2023 Inspiration Award – Lifetime Achiever for her 40+ years in promoting race equality and social justice through the arts and neighbourhood and regeneration services.

Her recent projects have included: Liverpool 8’s arts corridor, featuring the Nelson Mandela mural, transforming Princes Avenue embedding the Black community history into the very fabric of the design; becoming a founding member and Director of L8 Matters Community Land Trust and a Trustee of the National Community Land Trust Network; and leading the BLM March in Liverpool in 2020.

Sonia is the first Black Chair of LCVS and former Chair of Africa Oye and is currently Chair and one of the founding members of Mandela8. Sonia has been instrumental in the Mandela Memorial installation in Princes Park, bringing the Mandela family to Liverpool, the annual Mandela Day celebrations and programmes in schools and for youth at risk of exclusion.

LJMU will celebrate the inspirational achievements of Sonia and 16 other new honorary fellows in a special ceremony later this year. Click here to learn more.

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