On a rainy day in the spring of 2016, Livia Barreira stood at the taxi rank outside the train station, bags in hand, ready to start her new life in Sheffield. She’d traded her hometown of Fortaleza in Brazil, surrounded by skyscrapers, beaches and family, to build a new life in the Steel City. She was both excited and terrified in equal measure.
Fast forward to 2024, and Livia is firmly rooted in her second home here in Sheffield and has formed her own community for those who felt just like she did back on that damp day outside the station.
Livia had created a successful career back home in Brazil as a journalist. Her most notable gig was for a local newspaper, ‘Diário do Nordeste’, as a business reporter. After several years reporting, she decided she was ready for a change and wanted a break from the daily grind of working in the newsroom and took a sabbatical to learn English in Dublin. During her time in Ireland, she studied, explored and engrossed herself in the culture, before returning back home to Brazil as a press officer for the local government. Organising some of the biggest events in Brazil became her new beat. She worked on all the best gigs, from organising press for one of Brazil’s New Year’s Eve parties on the Fortaleza beach, to the FIFA Fan Fest for the FIFA World Cup in 2014.
Livia was determined to make this place feel like home.
But what pulled Livia to Sheffield goes back to 2012, when she met eyes with her now-husband Dean, in a five-floor nightclub in Prague. A born and bred Sheffielder, Dean was on a holiday with friends and caught Livia’s interest with his warm Yorkshire charm … and perhaps a drink or two. It was then that Livia knew there was something special about Dean; she felt as though they’d known each other forever. They met up again during their short visit to Prague and kept in touch through Facebook. Their unlikely meeting blossomed over time and ultimately went on to be a four-year long-distance relationship, which they sustained as Livia travelled and studied until, eventually, they decided to move to Dean’s hometown and tie the knot. The following year, the couple married in a civil ceremony at Sheffield Town Hall, surrounded by a small group of friends and family.
In the early days of Livia’s life in Sheffield, she quickly made friends and felt the warmth and friendliness of the people here, despite it being so cold. That said, Livia still felt alone in many ways. She feared the unknown, she missed the sun, and although felt welcomed into her new life, being a migrant in an unfamiliar city was at times a lonely experience. Being the strong-willed, tenacious woman she is, Livia strove to change that. She signed herself up to as many classes as she could, including English classes and conversation clubs at community centres across the city, not only to strengthen her English but to meet new people and immerse herself in the local culture. She spent a lot of her time volunteering at Volunteer Action Sheffield as well as her local charity shop and playgroups, too. Livia was determined to make this place feel like home.
“I just want to see everyone feeling happy, integrated and respected”
Shortly after arriving here, she created her Instagram profile, @Livinginsheffield, not only as a way to connect with people online, but to share experiences of living in the city as a migrant. What started off as a means to express and connect with others has grown to a source of support and guidance for those who felt just like she did when she arrived in the UK.
Her love for the city and desire to help and support others led Livia onto a fruitful career working in community engagement and as a Sheffield Ambassador for seven years now. She’s also written a book, sharing stories of women migrants in Sheffield from several countries, all with the aim of spreading positivity and the understanding of the migrant experience.
Livia regularly sells-out inclusive events, many of which she puts on for women, those who identify as women and, of course, migrants living in Sheffield. One of her many hats includes Audience Development Manager for the Migration Matters festival. She’s worked for the event for two years now, helping it to reach new audiences and tap into different communities – quite a fitting role for Livia.
Her mission is clear. Though she came to Sheffield in search of community and connections, she now offers just that to those who felt like she did all those years ago.
“Always be someone who can welcome people, and I try my best to give back,” she tells me. “I just want to see everyone feeling happy, integrated and respected, regardless of who or what they are.
Everyone deserves a chance in life to be happy.”
Find Livia on instagram here @livinginsheffield
Words: Xanthe Palmer
