Thirty years ago, Operation Black Vote was founded on a simple idea: our vote can make the difference. Since then, we've helped transform who is seen, who is heard, and who holds power in British public life. But representation was never the final destination. As we mark this milestone, we're not just reflecting on the past—we're asking what the next generation needs to take our legacy forward and shape the future.
Watch our Chair's messageOBV is founded in the wake of deaths in police custody in Lambeth.
First MP & councillor shadowing schemes launch a generation of leaders.
A surge in registered voters across marginal seats.
Operation X pushes for greater representation in Parliament.
"A vote is a vote" — the Saatchi & Saatchi referendum campaign.
A global reckoning brings new urgency to the work.
Thirty years on — and the next chapter begins.
OBV is founded in the wake of deaths in police custody in Lambeth.
First MP & councillor shadowing schemes launch a generation of leaders.
A surge in registered voters across marginal seats.
Operation X pushes for greater representation in Parliament.
"A vote is a vote" — the Saatchi & Saatchi referendum campaign.
A global reckoning brings new urgency to the work.
Thirty years on — and the next chapter begins.
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