New year, new funds for Burngreave · New year, new funds for Burngreave Pitsmoor Adventure ... Fran Belbin, Helen Brown, ... of animals and other creations including

Voice of the Burngreave CommunityIssue 118 • January 2016 • Free to everyone in Burngreave www.burngreavemessenger.org

New year, new funds for BurngreavePitsmoor AdventurePlayground

The fun doesn’t stop at PitsmoorAdventure Playground, but funding canbe harder to come by. So children,volunteers and staff are thrilled that BBCChildren in Need have awarded a majorgrant to the playground.

The £111,000 grant will fund threeplayworkers and sessional staff over thenext three years, and pay for therefurbishment of the kitchen.

A further donation of £1000 from localresident Mandy Boyce has also beengreatly appreciated. Mandy donated inmemory of her father, Brian Giblin, whowas involved in building some of theoriginal playground equipment. She said:

“I thought about having a plaque on abench to remember Dad, but donating themoney to the playground seemed a morelasting tribute to his memory.”

Mandy’s gift has already funded theinstallation of a tractor swing that wasdonated by local firm, Timberplay.

In more good news, trustees YaninaKoszalinski and Alan Hancock, andvolunteers Diane Johnson, Glenda andPeter Giblin, each received a LordMayor’s Civic Award for their worksupporting play in Burngreave.

Meanwhile the children have had plentyto keep them busy! Regular clean-ups ofthe area around the playground havehelped to keep Burngreave tidy. AtHalloween, they made shadow puppetswith artists Patrick Amber and ZoeWright and put on a spooky show. Theyheld a big celebration for St Nicholas’ Dayon 6th December, and finished off theyear with a Christmas party.

The Burngreave Messenger

The Burngreave Messenger’s future hasbeen secured for three years thanks to agrant from the Big Lottery Fund:Reaching Communities.

The £330,000 grant means there will besix issues of the Messenger in 2016, risingto eight issues in 2017 and 2018.

Chair of Trustees Fran Belbin said:

“We’re delighted to have been awardedthis grant. People in Burngreave tell usthat the Messenger is important forsharing what’s happening, championinglocal successes and supporting residentsto address the issues that affect theirlives.”

Steve Barnard hasbeen appointed to therole of ProjectManager/Editor.Steve has a strongbackground incommunitydevelopment roles,most recently asEnterprise ProjectManager at the High Green DevelopmentTrust. Steve told us:

“This is an exciting new start for theMessenger. I am looking forward todeveloping the work, supporting thevolunteers and ensuring that it continuesto serve the Burngreave community intothe future.”

A Volunteer Development Worker will beappointed to improve the experience andtraining of volunteers and support themto develop skills that they can use in otheraspects of their lives - to gainemployment, to set up a local group orcampaign, or simply to become moreactive in their community. Recruitmentis also under way for a ProjectAdministrator.

The Messenger would like to thankeveryone who has helped the project sinceour previous funding came to an end in2014: the Kathleen Hannay MemorialTrust, Burngreave councillors andadvertisers for financial support; and ourProject Co-ordinator Amy Palmer,volunteers and partner organisations,who have worked so hard to keep theMessenger going.

Want to get involved with yourcommunity newspaper? To applyfor a job at the Messenger seewww.burngreavemessenger.org/archives/january-2016-news/two-new-jobs-burngreave-messenger.Contactmail@burngreavemessenger.org orphone 0114 242 0564 to discuss ourvolunteering opportunities.

The official opening of the tractor swing by Uriah Rennie at the Adventure Playground’s Christmas party

2 BURNGREAVE MESSENGER

ISSUE 118 • JANUARY 2016 3

Misery

on the busesStory: Graham Jones | Photo: John Mellor

On 1st November following ameeting between SheffieldCouncil and the South YorkshirePassenger Transport Authority“improvements” were inflictedupon Sheffield’s bus services.

There were radical changes to routes andtimetables, in order for travellers to“enjoy a much more integrated servicethat delivers greater flexibility,connectivity and value”, according toSheffield Bus Partnership. However,these sweeping changes have beenperceived by the public as ‘bus cuts’ withan estimated loss of 10% buses from ourcity’s roads, including many double-deckers.

Passengers in Burngreave have remarkedon longer waits, more crowded buses andfewer double-deckers. Some routes havebeen redrawn or even totally withdrawn,such as the M20 route.

Since 1st November the 83/83a routes viathe Firshill estate, which have a highproportion of elderly and disabledresidents, have been diverted via RockStreet, depriving travellers of a direct

route to Spital Hill services includingshops, doctors surgeries, dentists andpharmacies. We have also lost thefrequent service to the main interchangewhich was provided by the 47/48 routes.

A public petition was signed by over12,000 people, forcing the council to holda special debate on 2nd December 2015.Subsequently, Travel South Yorkshireissued some information about minorimprovements to some routes includingour area’s 20, 75, 76, 97 and 98. Thesituation will be reviewed by the Councilon 29th February.

This state of affairs is not the fault ofdrivers and other front line bus staff. Thechanges have been a nightmare for themtoo, not least because of the unthinkingrudeness and impatience from somefrustrated passengers. Please don’t blamethem for policies which may have beenmade far from Sheffield.

Better buses for north Sheffield?Story:Amy Palmer

Sheffield City Council wants to reduce the delays on bus routes inBurngreave. The junction at Rutland Road/Pitsmoor Road and Spital Hillhave been identified for traffic improvements to reduce congestion. TheCouncil has decided on the final scheme after a public consultation.

Rutland Road/Pitsmoor Road junction

The widening of Rutland Road extends the right turn lane onto Cooks Wood Road fromPitsmoor Road, and adds new markings and an island for pedestrians crossing at thejunction. The Messenger has been informed that the work is likely to happen duringsummer 2016.

Spital Hill bus stops

Buses stopping opposite Sorby House often have to pull up in the road due to on-streetparking. The bus stop heading out of town will be moved opposite Hallcarr Street, withthe loss of two parking spaces to create an area to pull in.

The Messenger put forward a concern about the additional walk from the shops fordisabled people but the council decided to keep to the plan and preserve parking spaces.

Spital Hill/Savile Street junction

The stretch of bus lane between Tesco and the junction will be removed and the offsidelane will become right turn only for all traffic except buses. The changes on Spital Hill willstart as early as January 2016.

To view the plans visit www.sheffield.gov.uk/roads/works/schemes/north-sheffield

Next issue deadline: 15th March

Issue published: 2nd April

Burngreave Messenger Ltd, Abbeyfield Park House,Abbeyfield Road, Sheffield S4 7AT.

Tel: (0114) 242 0564

[email protected]

www.burngreavemessenger.org

Follow us on Twitter@TheBMessenger

The Burngreave Messenger is acommunity newspaper with editorialindependence, which has receivedfunding from local residents, advertisersand grant-making bodies.

Registered Charity: 1130836

All content is copyright BurngreaveMessenger Ltd or its voluntarycontributors, not to be reproducedwithout permission.

This issue’s team:Steve Barnard, Fran Belbin, Helen Brown,Michelle Cook, Jo Gallacher, SaleemaImam, Douglas Johnson, Graham Jones,Jamie Marriott, John Mellor, Amy Palmer,Abbie-Joelle Skliarsky and Gaby Spinks.

Messenger info

On 28th November the BurngreaveMessenger held our annual generalmeeting. Now with our lottery support wewere able to treat the formality as acelebration.

All our trustees have agreed to continueso our management committee is:

• Fran Belbin, chairperson• Richard Belbin, treasurer• Douglas Johnson, secretary• Graham Jones• Anwar Suliman• Abtisam Mohammed• Michelle Cook• Tim Neal

The meeting was rounded off with adelicious lunch.

Many thanks to all those who attended.


Beacons lit upStory: Neill Schofield & Saleema ImamPhotos: Sea Scouts & Graham Jones

More than 200 people cameto Parkwood Springs andmade the first ever ‘BeaconsLantern Procession’ onSaturday 17th October a greatsuccess!

In the afternoon Watercliffe MeadowSchool, St Catherine’s Guides andBrownies, Sheffield Sea Cadets,Pitsmoor Adventure Playground,Mount Tabor Cubs and the Friendsof Burngreave Cemetery Chapelfinished their creations, whilefamilies arrived and made their ownwith the help of local artist PatrickAmber.

Friends of Parkwood Springs organisedthe event and were represented by theParkwood Deer.

After talking to various participants andlistening to the opening sounds of thesamba band, the Lord Mayor led theprocession through the woods with hisown lantern.

At the look-out spot the marchers weregreeted by a giant kestrel made bychildren from Pitsmoor AdventurePlayground, which joined the menagerieof animals and other creations includinggiraffes, penguins, a jelly fish, shark,angler fish, submarine, owls, a fox on abike trailer, a 20 foot caterpillar, a frog, apirate ship and a pineapple.

“Marvellous!”, “Wonderful evening” and“We’re going to start making a lantern fornext year. There will be a parade nextyear won’t there?” were amongstcomments heard as people set off home.

You can see more photos on theevent page on Facebook, BeaconsLantern Procession.

There is also a YouTube clip byMartin Currie athttps://youtu.be/KgclXdU1oqM

Art in the AshramStory:Amy Palmer | Photo:Anwar Suliman

Burngreave Ashram has a newpainting called Christ inBurngreave: the Lord’s Supper,portraying the Ashram communitymeal. The four-by-five foot work isa modern version of the LastSupper, in which Christ shares ameal with his disciples.

It was painted by international artist, RosNorsworthy who specialises in Christianchurch related artwork. She wascommissioned by Reverend Doctor JohnVincent after he saw her 40 foot painting‘The Resurrection’ at Victoria HallMethodist Church.

The picture took over a year to paint. Shehas left it up to the public to decide whichperson represents Christ. She says shefinds painting passages from the Biblemoving and rewarding. John Vincent hashad a brass plaque engraved to hang next

to the picture which hangs over the door.Anyone wishing to see the work can visitthe Ashram on Spital Hill.

The free Ashram community meal is heldevery Wednesday at 6pm at the Ashramon Spital Hill and is “totally open door”.


Mushroom walkStory & photo: Graham Jones

On 26th October ZiggySenkans, the Sheffield CityCouncil bio-diversityofficer, led a walk to lookat the varieties of fungi inBurngreave Cemetery. Itwas an inspiring walk ona beautiful autumnafternoon.

We saw an amazing range of fungi and Ziggy’s specialistknowledge was put to the test as he managed to identify them all.Fungi come in a range of shapes, sizes and colours withuncounted thousands of species in the UK alone.

They range from the microscopic to the massive Armillaria ostoyaof Oregon which is the largest organism in the world. It occupiesthe equivalent of 1,665 football fields, or nearly four square miles(10 square kilometres).

The fungi have such lovely names too: nitrous bonnet, brownrollrims, honey fungus, snowy waxcap, and ugly milkcap - toname but a few.

Of course, some are poisonous to humans, and others will causeyou stomach problems; so don’t go out picking them for a veggiefry up if you don’t really know what you’re doing! Some are alsofatal to trees.

I found out that there’s much more to fungi than than thecontents of a tin of mushroom soup.

Claiming back

Burngreave cemetery

Story: Gaby Spinks

In September last year there was a series of robberieson members of the public walking throughBurngreave Cemetery. What made these attacksmore shocking was that they were so violent andunprovoked.

The first two victims were both men who walk through thecemetery as a short cut, like many of us. Jim Bruce, the firstvictim, said that he heard a noise behind him as he was gatheringberries, and before he could turn round he was on the floor beingbeaten by three youths who then stole his wallet. Jim was reallyshaken up and as yet has not returned to the cemetery. He toldme that if he had known that he was going to be robbed he wouldhave given them his wallet, but he wasn’t given the chance.

In early December the police released a statement saying that two17 year old youths had been arrested and released on bailregarding the attacks. No date has yet been set for them toappear in court. As a resident of Pitsmoor for 20 years I feel thatwe as a community mustn’t let these incidents bring us down.Yes, Pitsmoor has its problems but more importantly Pitsmoorhas a great vibrant community and we need to nurture it.

Don’t stop using our beautiful green spaces, even if it meansdragging a friend and a dog round too!

Please contact 101 quoting incident number 792 of 22ndSeptember 2015 or 582 of 26th September 2015 if youhave information that might help.

Friends of BurngreaveCemetery paraded withspooky lanterns onHalloween.

Crafty Christmaswith VictoriaSmith took placeat the end ofNovember,making tabledecorationsusing evergreensfrom thecemetery.

Apple Day antics at thebeginning of Octoberwere preceded by anexhibition about citycrematoria.

Get in touch with the Friends group if you areinterested in joining our Sunday gardening group.


Litter picking

wins prizes!In November Petra and Jozef, twointerpreters working in Page Hall,raised £240 in a crowdfundingcampaign to reward children forlitter picking in the area.

Petra and Jozef write:

We have been working as Slovak/Czechinterpreters for a number of years in thePage Hall/Firth Park area. During thistime we got to know the community andpeople within it. We feel that there is somuch that can be done to help thecommunity through small volunteeringprojects.

We would like to help by cleaning thelocal area and bringing local peopletogether through their children. Throughthis the children will learn not to throwlitter on the floor. We have already donethis twice very successfully and theturnout was brilliant. We had around 20

children joining us without even askingthem and they all worked very hard tohelp make their streets look better.

We are tired of constant negativepublicity about Page Hall and tensionbetween the residents. A small project likethis could go a long way to improve andstrengthen the community as thefeedback we have so far from thecommunity has been very positive.

Each child will get a card where they willcollect stamps each time they will help topick litter. We will buy rewards for thechildren who turn up to help on threeconsecutive Saturdays. This might includea trip to the cinema or town, colouring-inbooks, books, pencils or stickers. We willalso take pictures of children helping andprint the photos for them to keep athome.

By making litter picking a regular event,we hope to help bring the communitytogether and at the same time make thestreets cleaner. We are hoping that byseeing their own children cleaning thestreets this will send a positive message tothe community and people will stopthrowing litter.

Crabtree Ponds

get a makeoverStory: Steve Barnard | Photo: John Mellor

Longley Park Sixth Form Collegestudents have designed newwrought iron railings in CrabtreePonds Nature Reserve. Theyworked on the project withSheffield Wildlife Trust whoreceived £23,000 from VeoliaEnvironmental Trust to rebuildfences around the boundary ofthe site. They were officiallyopened at a celebration event inDecember.

The art and design students incorporatedplants and wildlife found on the reserveinto their design. They then worked withCampbell Design & Engineering Ltd attheir workshop in Doncaster to makemoulds and casts.

Demi-Kay Gurnill, one of the students,said “I have enjoyed having a chance towork in a professional environment.”

“Working on a proper real live project hasbeen great” said Matt Baker. “It has beena great opportunity to create a piece ofartwork in the community that will be onshow for the public for years to come.”

Rachel Stevenson, Community WildlifeRanger at Sheffield Wildlife Trust said,“The students have created beautifulrailings which really improve our pondand enhance the Victorian stone wallsand boundary features on site; and -thanks to Veolia - we’ve also given thesestudents some practical, hands-onexperience in design and engineering.”

Winter fayre at

Whiteways Story: Usha Blackham

Whiteways Primary Schoolorganised our first winter fayre forsome time on Friday 11thDecember.

Every class in school was responsible fortheir own stall and there were some veryenterprising ideas ranging from ‘Frozen’themed buns to a tin knockdown, sellingraffle tickets, hand-crafted soap bags andlots more!

The children really enjoyed coming upwith their own ideas for games and prizesand everyone had an amazing time. Therewere also several community stalls. Therewas even a special appearance by Santaand his elves who took time out of theirbusy schedule to visit our grotto, whichhad been magically decorated by a smallgroup of our parents.

Santa spent time asking what the childrenwanted for Christmas, giving gifts andhaving his photo taken with the children.Santa brought two reindeer with him,Perry and Elvis, who enjoyed meeting thechildren.

The event proved extremely popular andthe school raised over £1,300.


Safety first at Byron Wood Story: Farham and Abbas (Y6) Photos: Smaira Sadique & Mr Saleh

Road safety is a much-spoken about topic at themoment. Did you know Burngreave is one of the‘hotspots’ for road accidents in Sheffield? At ByronWood School, we have been doing lots of things toraise awareness of road safety issues.

We found out that a child living in the north-east of Sheffield isfive times more likely to be involved in a pedestrian road trafficcollision than those living in the south-west. Firth Park andBurngreave each had between 136 and 184 collision casualtiesaged under 16 since 2005.

This is the main reason the School Council decided to highlightthe importance of driving safely, especially around schools.

We invited a road safety official to come into school to speak toeach class about road safety and being safe. We then had anassembly about car accidents and how to cross roads correctly.

One of the main issues recently has been parents parking on theyellow zigzags outside school. People shouldn’t park therebecause it means there are too many people outside school atonce. It is difficult to see all the children when they are crossing.Our School Council group stood outside school every day for awhole week and tried to stop the parents parking where theyshouldn’t. We waved posters at them and gave them a thumbs-upif they did the right thing. We made sure we came outside twice aday so the drivers wouldn’t forget. We also made leaflets to giveout to parents raising awareness of the issue.

Please remember to drive safely and don’t park on theyellow zigzags. Safety of children comes first!

Firs Hill falls back into

special measuresStory:Amy Palmer

After its second OFSTED inspection in two years, Firs Hill Primary School has been classified as‘inadequate’ and special measures will be put inplace to take action on the problem areas, especiallypupil safety, leadership, and bullying.

Previous inspections

In 2002 the school was put into special measures and came underthe leadership of Dina Martin. She was awarded an OBE in 2012for her work there.

The 2013 OFSTED inspection found improvements were neededat Firs Hill. The major concern was the children’s writing abilitybut positives in the behaviour and leadership were also identified.At the time Mrs Martin explained that she was not disappointedin the result as the school was facing challenges and ninety oneper cent of parents surveyed said they ‘would recommend theschool to another parent.’

When Dina left, the school could not find a replacementHeadteacher. Instead, the school put in place a part-time schoolleader, Fiona Rigby, headteacher of St Catherine’s School, tooversee Firs Hill as well.

OFSTED results

In 2015, an OFSTED inspection took place to monitor the school’sprogress. The school was rated in five areas:

• Effectiveness of leadership and management - Inadequate

• Quality of teaching, learning and assessment - Requiresimprovement

• Personal development, behaviour and welfare - Inadequate

• Outcomes for pupils - Requires improvement

• Early years provision - Good

While children in nursery and reception are enjoying ‘Good’education, the inspectors were worried about the rest of theschool being without its own headteacher since Mrs Martin left.The temporary part-time ‘executive’ head, Fiona Rigby, has madesome improvements but the school needs more help.

Most worryingly the inspectors found ‘Personal development,behaviour and welfare’ to be lacking, commenting “Too manypupils do not feel safe, and are not safe.” Bullying, racism andhomophobic name calling were found among much badbehaviour both in class and in the playground.

A new executive head, Becky Webb from Tinsley MeadowsPrimary School, has now taken charge.

One parent of three Firs Hill pupils said,

“Now there is a real effort to put into place the support thatstaff and children need. This is a challenging school and it’s notsurprising that leadership got a bad rating as there wasn’t a full-time Headteacher. My children are very happy here and thereforeso am I.”

If parents have concerns, they should contact the school andspeak to Senior Leadership.


Sheffield Roma

Network Story:Andy Christian

Since June 2015 Andy Christian has beenemployed at the Pakistan Advice &Community Association (PACA) todevelop the Sheffield Roma Network.

Andy, previously a Cohesion Officer at SheffieldCity Council, explains that the aim of the projectis to ensure the Roma community have a voice inSheffield and that their presence is representedand taken into account.

In preparation for the role Andy visited Romagroups in Luton, Derby, Manchester andBradford. He learned that for the network to besuccessful, it needs to be developed from theground up.

“It’s about the Roma doing something forthemselves rather than people doing things to orfor them. My ultimate aim is for the whole thingto be run by the Roma community and for me tomake myself redundant! I am facilitating it,developing and guiding the process.”

The Sheffield Roma Network is made up of anumber of Roma facilitators/volunteers fromacross Sheffield. The aim is to improvecommunication between the Roma communityand organisations like the Council and emergencyservices, and to develop knowledge amongst theRoma of how to address problems for themselves.

The project is supported by a website developedby Tomas Tancos, a Roma young man alsoemployed at PACA.

To find out more visit the websitewww.sheffieldromanetwork.com, SheffieldRoma Network on Facebook or [email protected].

Greentop reaches outStory:Andy Christian

On 11th December Greentop Community Circus hosted theReaching Out project’s Christmas Show. Supported by the ArtsCouncil and the Big Lottery Fund, Reaching Out encourageschildren from the local community to learn circus skills.

Greentop is very committed to its role as a community circus, and has been ablyassisted in the project by Terezia Rostas, whose skills in both the English andRomani language enable her to work with the adults and children. Over themonths many local children have benefited from the classes at Greentop and afantastic show was put on by the children.

True meaning

of JihadStory & photo: Mariam Khalid

The Muslim Youth League sisters inSheffield organised a peaceseminar that took place at theBurngreave Vestry Hall inDecember and was entitled‘Jihadi Bride - To be or not to be’.

The seminar was open to all local womenand it looked into the true meaning ofJihad in Islam. It clarified manymisconceptions and negativeconnotations associated to the concept ofJihad, due to the term being misused andabused by radical extremists.

During the presentations and discussion-based sessions, young women had theopportunity to discuss issues such astackling radicalisation in the localcommunity.

This is one of many projects beingimplemented through the PeaceEducation Programme which waslaunched by Dr Muhammad Tahir ulQadri in order to tackle extremistideology on the grassroots level throughacademic and community initiatives.

For further information about localevents please contact the MuslimYouth League sisters [email protected]


Building

learning power Story & photos:Amy Palmer

In November I was lucky enoughto be invited to a very specialmuseum created by the pupils ofOwler Brook and Whitewaysprimary schools.

Deputy headteacher Miss Rudd showedme around the school hall which hadbeen transformed into exhibits fromdifferent times in history. An enthusiasticgroup of Year 5s led me through the1960s, where I met a very lifelike NeilArmstrong, the first man to walk on the

moon, and heard a short concert from theBeatles.

Year 2’s project was on castles, completewith knights, a queen and a horse. Otheryear groups had covered the 1950s andthe Victorians.

The children made all of the objectsthemselves as part of a creative projectcalled Building Learning Power, whichYahia told us was “all about teamworkand building things”. The childrenexplained the four ‘R’ skills that made upthe project as ‘resilience’ to carry on whenthings went wrong, ‘reflection’ to see whatwent well and what could be done better,‘resourcefulness’ for building from

everyday objects and ‘reciprocity’ forhelping each other as a team. Thechildren worked independently on theirown ideas - as Osama said, “We’re grownup and we know what we’re doing!”

Year 5 focused on the Vikings and a hugeViking longship was sailing through thehall, which everyone was very proud of.Yahia told me that they had been‘resourceful’ by making the oars out ofcricket bats wrapped in tissue paper.

Parents had also been invited to themuseum and everyone was veryimpressed with the pupils of Whitewaysand Owler Brook.

Musical MacbethStory & Photo: Zabeda Hussain

This half term, Year 6 children atPye Bank Primary School havebeen studying Macbeth byWilliam Shakespeare. As part oftheir learning they haveperformed an adapted musicalversion of the Scottish play.

Children used a range of dramatechniques and threw themselves into thechallenge of becoming Shakespeareancharacters. They blew the audience awayand produced the best play Pye Bank hasever seen!

Brand new to

Byron WoodStory: Gabriel (age 10) | Photo: Kelly Jacobs

On the emotional day of July 18th2015, my Mam and I made a lifechanging move from a small townin Derbyshire, called Shirebrook,to the amazing city of Sheffield.

In Shirebrook, there are mostly twodifferent languages, English and Polish,but here there are a wide variety ofdifferent languages and it is mindblowing. We quickly became friends withour Muslim neighbours. We had nevermet any Muslims before and used tothink they were mean because of what wesaw on telly. But all of that isn’t true,they are just amazing.

At my old school, Langwith BassettPrimary School, there were only aboutone hundred children, but at Byron Woodthere are around five times that many. Ithas been really tough moving but I amsurprised how quickly I have settled in.

I have become a member of the cubs (wedidn’t have that either in Shirebrook) andwe have been introduced to some new

foods, like chapatis. Shops in Burngreavesell things we have never even heard ofbefore. The thing I enjoy most is seeingpeople walking around with their ownstyle. If you were different at Shirebrook,you would get judged, but here you arefree to be who you want to be. I am alsoway more confident thanks to myfantastic drama lessons! We have settledin to a new church called St Peter’sEllesmere. Everyone there is so lovely andI have no regrets moving.

In my opinion, life is like a board game,sometimes you make a good choice,sometimes you make a bad choice, butthis is the right choice for me. Mind you,these hills and steps are a pain to get up -I don’t think I’ll ever get used to them!

10 BURNGREAVE MESSENGERPage sponsored by Sheffield City Council’s

Healthy Communities Programme

Chronic PainSupport Group

These thriving groups haveincreasing number of ladiesattending the sessions at SorbyHouse and St Cuthbert`s Church.

They enjoy soothing massages from ourtherapist Lynn, and our own volunteerGlynis. They also learn about the ‘ChronicPain Toolkit’. This gives an understandingof the types of pain, and how to manage itin their daily life.

The women also learn from Glynis andAlmas about the benefits ofcomplementary methods to manage painincluding essential oils, reflexology, handmassage and hand soaks usingHimalayan and Epsom salts. One of theladies attending the group, Gwen said:

“The pain group is a really valuableservice provided by caring people thatwork hard to help those with chronicpain. The group helps to reduce isolationthat often affects people living in chronicpain. I have fibromyalgia, and thecondition makes socialising verydifficult. Having somewhere to go, wherepeople understand me, is important formy mental health. The group gives peoplean incentive to get out of the house. Withthe help of this group, and volunteeringat Burngreave Library, I am now in aplace where I can think about returningto work and accessing all the benefitsthat come with it.”

The groups celebrated Christmas with theladies bringing in delicious treats toshare.

These groups are accessed via GPreferral only, so if you would like toattend please speak to your doctor.

Sorby House12.30-2.30pm.

• 12th & 26th January• 9th & 23rd February• 8th & 22nd March

St Cuthbert`s Church12.30-2.30pm

• 19th January• 16th February • 15th March

Women OnlySupport Group

This group enjoys a number ofactivities to improve wellbeing. Thisincludes the ‘Five Ways toWellbeing’, baking, and a healthcourse.

These are run by SOAR`s through the‘Learn Well, Live Well’ project. They learnabout assertiveness, managing sleepproblems, dealing with stress, improvingconfidence and coping strategies in theirdaily life.

Sofia (not her real name) said, “I foundthe group really helpful, as I struggle withsleep problems and wanted to be moreassertive. I’m practicing the tips thatDawn Young, our trainer talked about. Ithas helped me to build my confidence.

Saira motivated me to achieve mywellbeing goals including visiting the jobclub to help me with my CV. Shafaz andAlmas have both inspired me to become avolunteer as a further step towards mygoals.”

St Cuthbert`s Church10-12pm

• 11th & 25th January • 8th & 22nd February • 7th & 21st March

Springboard BurngreaveSocial Café

The Burngreave Social Café, led byHelen Warren, provides aprogramme of activitiesencouraging men and women toparticipate more in theircommunities.

These activities target anyone strugglingwith mild to moderate mental healthconditions such as stress, anxiety,depression, low mood, or panic attacks.

This group will benefit fromopportunities to meet with others, in astructured scheme that will reduce theirisolation, improve their mental wellbeingand enable them to manage their livesand conditions better.

Fortnightly at the Vestry Hall10am-4pm

• 14th & 28th January• 11th & 25th February• 10th & 24th March

Free women-only exercise classesrun on Mondays (term time only) atVerdon Recreation Centre, Verdon Street,Burngreave. Please call Shahina on 07909598 018

International Women`s Day will becelebrated on Wednesday 9th March atVerdon Recreation Centre, Verdon Street,Burngreave at 10-3pm. To book a healthstall please call Saira Nadeem/MichaelaHarmston on 07960 084 119/07495 839891.

This year`s theme will be viewingwomen`s life journeys - their challenges,strengths and achievements. Please comeand join us at this free event!

The Community Wellbeing Programme is commissioned by Sheffield CityCouncil and SOAR and consists of the chronic pain support groups, thewomen-only support group (for women affected by domestic violence), andwomen-only exercise.

I would like to thank the ladies for bringing their warmth and commitment to thesessions. Without their support, we could not have achieved half as much!

For all activities contact:

Saira Nadeem

Telephone: 0114 213 2591

Email: [email protected]

Ladies recreate their coping tacticsin clay.


Love food, hate wasteStory: Saleema Imam | Photo: Michelle Cook

Despite a husky throat Peter Hellawell delivered alively, informative session about the Love Food, HateWaste project to an enthusiastic group onWednesday, November 4th at Burngreave Vestry Hall.

An array of materials were provided for us to cascade down to ourlocal communities - leaflets, posters, recipes for leftovers, top tipsand video clips, all showing how much money can be saved byminimising waste and helping reduce climate change at the sametime.

Some shocking facts revealed that wasted food costs the averagehousehold £470 per year and that in total homes in the UK wastearound £12.5 billion worth of food. We went away clutchingcertificates proving we too now have the knowledge to help othersto hate food waste.

If you want to know more visit the Love Food HateWaste website at www.lovefoodhatewaste.com forrecipes, waste reduction tips and more.

Page Hall surgery

a special caseStory & photo: Graham Jones

The threat to funding at Page HallMedical Centre may be lessened,as the Clinical CommissioningGroup has confirmed that thepractice will be considered as a“special case” and that they maycommission some of the Centre’sservices.

A Parliamentary Select Committee onHealth visited the Medical Centre inNovember to find out more about howthe loss of the surgery would affect peoplein the area. After a film, presentation and

case studies showing the impact of cuts,they talked with staff, patients and aHealthwatch representative.

Fifteen GPs from around the country whohave submitted cases to the enquiry werealso present. They explained that theylove their jobs, but have grave concernsabout unmanageable workloads, patientsafety and falling morale amongst GPs.

Members of the Health Committee werewell informed, keen to hear suggestionsand seemed to grasp the key messages.The Page Hall practice has alreadysuffered a devastating hit throughchanges to GP funding; the traditional GPfunding formula does not take sufficientaccount of deprivation and the needs ofnon-English speakers who make up alarge proportion of Page Hall’s patients.

Immediate action is needed to tackle theinterim funding crisis and the long-termsecurity of services.

Ellesmere Youth volunteersPhoto & story: Sonam Nawaz

Ellesmere Youth Project’s (EYP) Annual GeneralMeeting was held on Thursday 26th November.

As well as the usual business, the opportunity was taken torecognise the volunteers for their outstanding work. ChrisBristow, EYP chairperson, presented the volunteers withcertificates and gift vouchers for their extensive and valuablework. He spoke highly of their efforts, saying:

“Our inspiration comes from the understanding and commitmentto continue our work in one form or another regardless of thefinancial situation. Currently, our work is largely supported bya pool of volunteers.”

Board members discussed with the volunteers why they chose toget involved and how volunteering fitted in with their everydaylives. Young people said they took part to develop their skills, tohelp make a difference and to have fun. They also enjoyed

meeting and exchanging ideas with others who help out withdifferent EYP activities.

EYP thanks all its volunteers for the hard work and dedicationthey have shown throughout the projects and the understandingand adaptability they demonstrate when working with groups.

EYP runs projects throughout the week, if you would like moreinformation please contact us on 0114 213 3120.

Age Better Christmas lunchStory: Nasreen Suleman

Age Better were onhand to host two freeChristmas Day lunchesfor older people whowould otherwise havespent the day alone.

Age Better in Sheffield aimsto reduce loneliness andsocial isolation faced bypeople over 50. They arestarting a campaign torecruit volunteers who will help co-design a toolkit. Project Leadfor Age Better in Sheffield, Gareth Parkin said:

“We want the toolkit to be the thing that will break downbarriers and get neighbours to start thinking about people wholive in their area who may be isolated.”

Anyone interested in getting involved should contact NasreenSuleman on 0114 270 2651 or email [email protected]. Tofind out more about the project visit www.agebettersheff.co.uk.


Eden by candlelight Story & photos: Nikky Sentance

On 12th DecemberEden Fir Vale, aChristian youth andcommunity team, ran alantern makingworkshop in WensleyCommunity Centre,followed by a lantern-litparade around thearea.

32 talented young peoplecreated some fantasticlanterns, before heading outinto the streets on a journeyto discover the Christmasstory by candlelight.

Eden Fir Vale, part of theInternational Eden Network,now has a team of 11volunteers, all committed toliving in and investing inPage Hall and Wensley. Aswell as organisingcommunity events like thisone, they have an after-school kids group, footballsessions, a group for teenagegirls, and they regularly take assemblies in the local primaryschools.

For any more information about Eden email Nikky:[email protected]

Parkwood Springs festive lunchStory: Paul Howard

On 16th December, ParkwoodAcademy opened its doors tothe local community for theirannual Community ChristmasDinner.

Nearly 70 local residents attendedthe event and guests also includedthe Deputy Lord Mayor and GraceBrierley from the St. Luke’s HospiceFundraising Team. Voluntarydonations to St. Luke’s were collectedand a grand total of £250 was presented to the Hospice. Quotesfrom our guests summed up the day perfectly:

“Today has been a lovelyday and reflects the truespirit of Christmas. Acommunity together! MerryChristmas!

“All the people and stafffrom Parkwood werefriendly and supportive. Thestudents in particular werekind and helpful.”

Rosebank carolsStory: Philip Ireson

Rosebank residential care home came alive to thesound of festive carols on 15th December.

Children from Pye Bank school visited the elderly residents tobrighten their Christmas. Both the school and the care home haveclose links with Christ Church Pitsmoor, who visit the home everymonth to take a service.

Festive gatherings


Plates and PizzaStory: Green City Action

In early autumn SheffieldCity Council supportedGreen City Action (GCA)to host two free potteryworkshops at the Schoolfor Vegetables site onGrimesthorpe allotments.

Local potters Emilie Taylor andVictoria Dawes ran theworkshops as part of the People’sPottery Project, whichencourages pop-up potterieswhere communities can use pottery to tell their stories about foodwith a delightful practical outcome.

Emilie and Victoria supported locals to make and decorate theirown plates, drawing inspiration from the allotment. The sessionswere followed by pizza making using the new wood fired oven.The participants then had the pleasure of eating their own pizzasfrom dishes they had made and decorated themselves.

For more informationabout activities around food growing please visit theGCA website: www.gca.burngreave.net.

Harvesting for

Fir Vale food bankStory: Edgar Lowman | Photos: Owler Brook primary school

In October 2015, pupils from Owler Brook andWhiteways Primary visited the St Cuthbert’s food bankto donate food from each of their harvest festivals.

The two primary schools had been working together sinceSeptember to learn about the harvest season. They took part injoint assemblies to learn where food comes from and how it isgrown, and all the pupils enjoyed the time working with the otherschool.

The Messenger visited Owler Brook and saw three large tablespiled high with cereal, fruit and vegetables, tins and pumpkins, injust one school! Lots of children and families donated and thevolunteers at the food bank were very pleased to receive theirgifts. Traditionally, the harvest festival is a time to celebrate theproduction of plentiful food, and to donate what isn’t needed tothe poor.

Jemma Rudd, deputy head of Owler Brook, extended her thanksto all the children and families that donated. The children arealready looking forward to the next harvest.


VolunteeringStory & photo: Helen Brown

Sam Humphrey and VayaniPalliyaguruge are both newvolunteers at Burngreave libraryon Spital Hill. The library is stillsearching for more volunteers,and Sam and Vayani are eager toencourage others to join.

They both volunteer three days a weekbut they started at the library for differentreasons. Vayani was directed here by thevolunteer centre in town. Havingvolunteered in various places in the lastyear she found Burngreave Library to beher favourite because: “Everybody isfriendly, they really are like a family andI’m very happy here.”

Though books were not a hobby forVayani, she has found being at the libraryhas encouraged her to read much more athome. Her most recently borrowed bookwas Nora Roberts’ A Bed of Roses, a

thriller novel, and she enjoyed it thoughshe usually prefers to read romances. Herfavourite recent read was OprahWinfrey’s advice-style book.

Vayani said that she was initiallysurprised to see how many children stillcame in on a frequent basis, taking outlarge piles of books every week. It pushedher to encourage her own children to readmore. She says also that local childrenoften recognise her and say hello in thestreet, which she thinks is lovely.

Sam on the other hand already had apassion - enjoying reading and writing inhis spare time. He has only recentlymoved to the area, and he wanted tovolunteer partly as a way to meet people.

He has found that the library is essentialto the community - a constant hub ofactivity. Sam says that the large numberof computers they have available for freeuse are incredibly important becausemany essential forms can only be filled inonline and local teenagers come to do

their homework in a safe environment(children over the age of 16 can comeunaccompanied and use the computersand the internet for free).

Sam thinks that books themselves are stillvital. He believes that we can encourageyoung people to read more by remindingthem that their favourite films probablycame from books - and the book can beenjoyed for weeks rather than a couple ofhours. Sam loves that books can immerseyou in a whole new world where you cantime travel or visit space, and he pointsout that they even have a range of graphicnovels available for borrowing - arecommended way of introducingchildren into reading who may not beexcited by reading full novels.

One of Sam’s favourite books is thegraphic novel Arkham Asylum, by GrantMorrison, which he says has been madeinto a successful computer game. Hisother favourites are Moby Dick, byHerman Melville, and Dancers at theEdge of Time, a sci-fi novel by MichaelMoorcock.

Whatever your favourite genre is there isplenty available at Burngreave library. AsSam says, “it is a place full of interestingideas that stimulates your imagination.”And if anyone is interested involunteering, Sam and Vayani encouragethem to come down and enquire. AsVayani says, “It is a very nice place, wealways welcome new-comers, and alltraining is given so don’t be scared!”

StorytellingStory: Sam Humphrey Photo: Marcia Layne

12th December saw the first of aplanned series of storytellingevents at Burngreave Library.

‘Storytime at Burngreave Library - for theyoung and young at heart’ is just one ofthe new ideas for local communityactivities being implemented by the newlibrary coordinator Marcia Layne at SorbyHouse.

The magnificently costumed storytellerwas Gwen Mitchell, a library volunteerwho has had a keen interest in the artfrom a young age.

“Everyone is a storyteller. We narrateour day at work, at school, people maynot realise that’s what they are doing.”

Around the turn of the millennium therewas a resurgence of interest instorytelling in the folk music scene.

Gwen, who also plays instruments, verymuch enjoys these evenings.

“There is something so nice about sittinground a fire, eating and drinking andthinking about far-off lands. Storiesenrich our lives and imagination. Thereare also many interesting connections instories between peoples who have nevermet. Most cultures have a mermaid, orselkie, character for example.”

The story/children’s area is very brightand comfy with lots of cushions for kids

and parents to relax on whilst choosing abook. At 11.30am Gwen appears andenthrals the audience with stories frommemory and some from books including‘Snow White and the Seven Dwarves’from Roald Dahl’s ‘Revolting Rhymes’.

Hafsa Noor Khan (age 8), who attendedwith her mum and sister Ameer (age 5),said:

“I loved it. People should come downbecause it’s a really fun place.”

Pop in on Monday, Wednesday,Friday or Saturday to find out moreabout a whole range of new thingsto see and do at your local library.

Citizen subscription:

Burngreave Library still needs morefunds to secure the future of theservice. To donate please visit;https://localgiving.com/charity/soar

The library comes to life


Story: Steve Barnard | Photo: Seema Ghazal

Fir Vale School welcomedparents, staff and governors,alongside former and currentstudents in a celebration ofachievement at their AnnualPresentation Evening.

The guests of honour were Lord MayorCouncillor Talib Hussain and the Masterof the Company of Cutlers, Mr CraigMcKay, who presented the prizes.

The evening consisted of awards, laughterand wonderful speeches from the school’scurrent Head Boy and Head Girlreflecting on the previous year and whatthe new year would bring. The class of2015 celebrated their record A*-A successreceiving their GCSE certificates andspecial prizes. Awards were alsopresented to Year 8 to Year 11 students.

It was an event to remember foreveryone, reflecting the greatachievements made by the students.

Learn well,

live wellStory: Nicola Thorpe

The Learn Well Live Well project isplanning a series of excitingcourses and workshops betweenJanuary and March 2016,including creative writing atBurngreave Library.

The pilot project delivers communitylearning to adults experiencing mental illhealth in north-east Sheffield. Thelearning opportunities are shaped by thelearners themselves through sharing theirneeds and aspirations with tutors. 150learners have already attended projectevents.

To find out more please visitwww.facebook.com/learnwelllivewell/ orcontact Nicola Thorpe,[email protected],07960 084 251.

Aspiring to healthStory:Abtisam Mohammed & Steve Barnard

We arepleased toannounce thatafter manyyears’ hardwork theHealthy LivingCentre on EarlMarshal Roadopens on 15thFebruary

It was the high health inequalities in thearea that prompted us to work with thecommunity to research local needs anddevelop a strong plan for the Lottery’s‘Reaching Communities Capital Build’programme and we were very fortunate tobe successful!

The Healthy Living Centre has been anambition of the Yemeni CommunityAssociation for the last five years. Thework on the Healthy Living Centre hascoincided with a name change for us aswe have become Aspiring CommunitiesTogether. We feel this reflects our newvision to serve the diverse changing needsin the local community to ensureinclusivity for all. We will continue to putthe needs of Fir Vale and Burngreave atthe heart of everything we do.

The centre will offer much needed womenonly gym and fitness classes.

“I have known about this project fromthe start and I can’t wait for it to open. Ineed somewhere local and where the factit has childcare there is even better!”Samia Iqbal

“We’ve always needed something likethis in our area. I can’t believe it’shappening and we can’t wait to join.”Nadia Rahman

What’s more as a not-for profit charitablecommunity provision all the incomegenerated will be re-invested in thecommunity. More funds will be raisedthrough our attractive, modern andwelcoming café (open Monday to Friday8.30am-3.30pm) which will providevolunteering opportunities, free wi-fiaccess as well as workshops in healthyeating, basic cooking skills and cookingon a budget. We also have a range ofrooms available to hire.

The gym’s opening times are: 8am to8pm Monday - Friday (10am to 5pmweekends). For further details regardingmembership options please see theHealthy Living Centre page on our newwebsite www.actsheffield.com or contactSophia on 0114 251 8900.

You’ve got skillsStory & photo: Nichola Thorpe

The Skills Swap Group atBurngreave Children’s Centre hasproved to be a great success,with growing numbers each week.

It is a project designed by HannahAdewale who is volunteering for SOAR asa Health Champion. Hannah is doing aMaster’s degree in occupational therapyand was inspired to create a project thatcould be taken over by the community.

Everybody who participates is encouragedto share a skill in a confidential and safeenvironment. Confidence is alreadygrowing amongst people who did not feeltheir skills were worth sharing!

Skills swapped so far have includedlanguages, games and tips, with the focusvery much on what the participants want.It is clear that there is a lot of talent inBurngreave.

For more details, please contact MichaelaHarmston at SOAR on 0114 213 4075 [email protected].

Celebrating achievement at Fir Vale


A quilt of memoriesPhoto & story: Graham Jones

Members of the United Reform Churches in Sheffieldgot together to commemorate family membersinvolved in the First World War through making quilts.Mother and daughter, Freda and Ann Dukinfield of StJames’ Church, Scott Road got out their old photosand documents to make a wonderful tableau quilttelling their family story.

Both worked on this project for many hours, with Freda, 92,doing the machine work and Ann doing the appliqué work andwriting a poem about it.

Around the turn of the 20th century in Keynsham, Somerset, thelocal butcher, George Fisher, and his wife, Alice, had thirteenchildren; eight boys, including Freda’s father, and five girls. In1914 the boys all joined up to fight in the First World War andagainst the odds, all of them returned safely. However, theSecond World War broke out and Freda joined the Civil Nursingreserve to look after wounded soldiers.

She was stationed at Aldershot where she met Leslie Dukinfieldfrom Sheffield. Queen Mary came to visit but there was someconfusion about who came through which door and anembarrassed Leslie managed to knock the Queen on to the floor!

After the war Leslie and Freda married. Leslie wore his Sergeant’suniform but Freda wore a dress that the hospital matron lent outto a succession of brides among her nursing staff becausematerial was in short supply!

They came back to Pitsmoor where Freda has lived ever since andwhere Ann has lived since she was born. Using skills learnt in thewar, Freda became the plaster technician at the “potting shed” atNorthern General Hospital. Cricketer, Geoffrey Boycott was oneof her patients.

There was a display of all the quilts at Sheffield Central UnitedReform Church and The Lord Mayor, Burngreave councillorTalib Hussain, was so interested in the story that asked to meetFreda and was invited for tea. There was a display of some of thequilts in John Lewis’s but these family treasures are definitely notfor sale.


Page Hall

petitions for fundsStory: Mohammed Nazir | Photo: SohailMumtaz

On 3rd October local businessesfrom Page Hall met with theirmember of parliament, HarryHarpham. The meeting wasorganised so businessrepresentatives could formallypresent him with a petition to taketo the relevant minister atWestminster to ask for funding tohelp regenerate the area.

The meeting heard from local businessrepresentatives that the area has goneinto decline and needed government helpinitiating a face-lift scheme, like thosecompleted on Spital Hill and in Darnall,

to revitalise the area and increaseeconomic activity. Organisers have beenvery active assessing the area, visiting andtalking to local businesses and collectingsignatures. Abdul Khayum, a Sheffieldcommunity advocate who helped facilitatethe meeting with Harry Harpham MP,said the Page Hall area is unique andadditional resources are therefore neededto help alleviate some of the pressures.

Harry Harpham MP said that heunderstands and appreciates the concernsthat people have raised and would behappy to take these concerns toWestminster and hand the petition to theminister for local government. All thepeople present showed tremendousappreciation to Harry Harpham MP andthanked him for coming to meet withthem and listen to their concerns.

For more information visit ‘Guestwith Nazir’ on Facebook. Roads repaired

but trees lostStory:Amy Palmer

Work will be taking place onsome Burngreave roads in spring2016, but some trees have alreadybeen felled.

Burngreave ward has been split into threeareas for the work, which includes roadand pavement resurfacing, as well as themaintenance of street lighting and trees.Burngreave streets to the west ofBurngreave Road are part of the‘Neepsend’ zone where the works will behappening.

While the resurfacing of streets (includingNottingham Street, Fox Street, RockStreet, Spital Lane and Verdon Street)will be welcomed by most, the felling oftrees is less welcome. Eight trees in thisarea have been cut down, including sixmature cherry trees on Fox Street andtwo trees near Andover Street.

SAGE

centre stageStory: Diana Tottle Photo: Chris Carter

SAGE took centre stage in TheWinter Gardens when they wereasked to launch World MentalHealth Week.

The focal point was a large globe wovenfrom willow by SAGE members fromwhich the public hung comments abouthow nature improved their well-being. Aproduction line was pressing applesharvested from Burngreave trees withhelp from charity, Abundance.

A third charity, Artlings, supported theevent by creating a mandala forrelaxation. The funds the Council paidSAGE to run this event have beenchannelled back into horticulturaltherapy and arts activities in Burngreave.

If anyone is interested in joining orvolunteering please visit:www.sagesheffield.org.uk or phone0114 274 3651.

Fifty-nine homes

for Fir Vale

In April 2016 Sheffield HousingCompany hopes to be startingwork on fifty-nine new two to sixbedroomed homes on land nextto Fir Vale School.

The company are committed to hiringlocal people and 25% of the new homeswill be accessible for disabled people.


Boxing in the chapelStory & photo: Carrie Hedderwick

After much hard graft to clear pigeon poo, plaster,and more, Ali Hamed converted the derelict righthand chapel in Burngreave Cemetery into the ABCboxing gym.

Ali’s vision is for it to become a hub for local youngsters and heworks with the adventure playground to provide boxing and lifeskills training. Sessions are aimed at 8 to 20+ year old boys andgirls. Although fewer girls attend, the presence of regular coach,qualified sports therapist and St John’s Ambulance worker Lisaprovides some gender balance!

Legendary Brendan Ingle in his Wincobank gym inspired bothLisa and Ali in their youth. Shazad, the third coach, encouragedyoung boxers in a sparring session when I was there. Otherswere busy with the punch bag and footwork.

Ali Hamed, a professional boxing trainer manages three youngboxers, including Muheeb Fazeldin, the Central Area Championin the super bantamweight class and a contender for theCommonwealth and British Empire title. All boxers need asecure gym base, regular training in and out of the gym andnurturing by an experienced manager whether they are amateur,professional, or casual. Ali strives to provide this and is currentlyfundraising to lower the cost to his young boxers. If anyone canoffer financial advice or practical help, this would be muchappreciated.

The ABC gym opens 3.30pm to 6.00pm Monday toFriday - fees £5.00 per week.

Meet Zeeshan Maughal -

fighting fit!Story: Carrie Hedderwick | Photo: Freddie Everett

Zeeshan started boxingat sixteen. At seventeenhe fought six rounds towin the Senior NoviceNationalChampionships as afeatherweight. He isnow nineteen withtwenty-one fights underhis belt.

Zeeshan got into boxingbecause as a chubby schoolkid he needed to get fit and lose some weight. Three times a weekhe both runs and does sessions at the Sheffield Lane Top gym runby Keith Palmer, a stalwart trainer and manager.

It is so important that there are gyms available for local kids sothat they have somewhere, safe, friendly and disciplined to goclose by . It is also essential that Keith and others like him, arenot having to pay high rents for premises, as any charge canprove a barrier for the kids.

The number of fights dictates which competitions a boxer canparticipate in. Zeeshan had twenty fights so was entered for theSenior Development National Championships where there is noage limit; and you can face someone much older and moreexperienced. In September Zeeshan won the Yorkshire finals andwent on to win the national quarter-finals, but was injured in thesemi-finals; a blow from his opponent’s head caused a gash abovehis left eye and the fight was stopped.

Zeeshan, a very confident second year student at Sheffield HallamUniversity, recommends boxing to other boys, including his eightand four year old brothers, because it provides a real focus.Zeeshan appreciates the dedication of his trainer and recognisesthe spirit of cooperation and hard work fostered at the gym,which helped his personal achievements.

An Iranian in ParisStory & photo: Helen Brown

Ali Nekooi was born in Iran andhas lived in Burngreave since the1980s. He has been an activistand supporter of the NationalCouncil of Resistance of Iran(NCRI) since 1985, when he washanded literature in the streets ofSheffield.

The organisation is a collective workingtogether for democracy, freedom of beliefand expression, freedom of the press, andequal rights for men and women in Iran.

Ali’s donates his time raising awareness,helping with fundraising and attendingthe large annual NCRI gathering in Paris.This year 120,000 people attended fromall over the world - including three

coaches of people from Burngreave. Alisays some people from Burngreave camefor humanitarian reasons as the regime inIran has executed over 120,000 peoplesince it came to power in the 1980s. Aliexplained that the gathering is held inJune to commemorate those that died inJune 1981 when a peaceful demonstration

of 500,000 people protested against theKhomeini Regime mixing religion andgovernment rather than having ademocratic state. The day ended in 200being massacred by the IranianRevolutionary Guard, with many moreexecuted later.

The gathering in Paris is importantbecause they are trying to raise awarenessof the current and historical issuesregarding the Iranian regime that are notfeatured in the news.

“There is a lot of pressure on us to giveup,” Ali says, and this is why they willkeep trying. He states, regarding why theorganisation must keep going, “TolerantIslam is the most effective way ofconfronting groups like ISIS/Daesh, andother forms of extremism. You have topresent a better ideology, a betteralternative.” And this is what the NCRIhopes to do.

Councillor SurgeriesLocal councillors, Jackie Drayton, TalibHussain and Ibrar Hussain (left to right)share surgeries on a rota basis.

21st January: 2pm-3pm, Pakistan Advice Centre, Ibrar Hussainand Talib Hussain

13th February: 11am-12.15pm, Burngreave Library, Jackie Drayton

18th February: 2pm-3pm, Pakistan Advice Centre, Ibrar Hussainand Talib Hussain

13th March: 11am-12.15pm, Burngreave Library, Jackie Drayton

17th March: 2pm-3pm, Pakistan Advice Centre, Ibrar Hussain and Talib Hussain

Contact detailsCllr Jackie [email protected]: 0114 243 5388

Cllr Ibrar [email protected]: 07866 571 750 Mobile: 07866 571 750

Cllr Talib [email protected]: 0114 273 5588


Contact: 0114 203 7562www.sheffield.gov.uk/northeast

Public Meeting on 22nd October 2015 On the 22nd October Burngreave Councillors held a public meeting atBurngreave Vestry Hall. Councillor Ibrar Hussain chaired the meeting.Councillor Jackie Drayton and Councillor Talib Hussain were also inattendance to discuss current issues and answer questions.

Dave Metcalfe the School Organisation Project Officer from Sheffield City Council’sInclusion & Learning Services came to discuss increasing primary and secondary schoolplaces in the area. This is in response to an increase in population meaning there aren’tenough local school places for the children.

The public asked for reassurance that any new school will fit the needs of the communityand respond to the needs of vulnerable young people.

Councillors feel a new school would be great news for the community as we want to beable to get siblings into the same schools and this is an issue that comes up again andagain. We all want outstanding, inclusive schools in our local community.

Details of the proposals and the consultation survey can be found atwww.sheffield.gov.uk/schoolplaces.

The consultation closed on 20th November 2015. The results are being collated andanalysed and a decision will be made by 17th February 2016.

Inspector Burgess who leads the North East LPT came to talk about current crime andcommunity safety issues in the area and about how the new policing team operates.

The North East Policing Team covers Burngreave, Chapeltown, Ecclesfield, Firth Park, FirVale, Foxhill, Grenoside, High Green, Parson Cross, Pitsmoor, Shiregreen, Southey andWincobank.

Burngreave residents expressed their concerns over the recent robberies that haveoccurred in Burngreave Cemetery. Residents wanted to know what the police were doingabout these attacks and how they can be vigilant. Inspector Burgess reassured thecommunity that the police were taking these crimes very seriously and will work hard tocatch the perpetrators.

Police and councillors agreed that tackling the reasons why people commit such crimes isextremely important. A meeting with councillors, police and youth workers has alreadyhappened to pull a strategy together looking at prevention.

There was a clear message that community needs to report everything as the police needthe evidence. There was some frustration reporting things via 101. People said calls gounanswered for too long.

Since the meeting South Yorkshire Police have made an email address available as analternative to 101 - [email protected]. Your e-mail will be answeredwithin 24 hours. If you are reporting an emergency always call 999.

Councillors were united in their message that Burngreave is a great place to live. Thereare so many positives. Let’s work together to claim it back and be proud of where we live.

Burngreave NewYear’s Honours 2016Burngreave councillors Jackie Drayton,Ibrar Hussain and Talib Hussain wouldlike to hold an awards event in Februaryto recognise the valuable contributionpeople make to the Burngreavecommunity.

Do you know an individual or group thatdeserves recognition for the differencethey make to Burngreave ward? Avolunteer, a paid worker, a goodneighbour, a lunch club, a youth group, anew project, a longstanding project? Wewould like to hear about them all.

Please email nominations [email protected] orcall 0114 203 7562

Councillors would like to wish everyonein Burngreave health and happiness for2016.


My Pye BankStory: Barbara Warsop

My maternal grandparentsThomas and Lucy Walker lived onSkinnerthorpe Road in the 1890s.Whilst living there they had fourchildren, but one died. Thesurviving children were calledFred, Doris Madelene, and Ruth.

The photo of Skinnerthorpe Road outsidethe shop was taken in 1906. It’s a schoolphoto, my Aunt Doris is on the back row,second right of the teacher, wearing awhite apron, and my aunt Ruth Walker issat front row second from right, also witha white apron.

My grandparents later moved to 13Reginald Street, Pitsmoor, where mymum Mary was born in 1912. My mumwas born 12 years after her next youngestsister, Aunt Ruth. I suppose grandmacould have lost some babies in betweenbut who knows. Mum always said she wasthe little runt of the family, being bornwhen Grandma was in her 40s.

She went to Pye Bank School. This is herclass photo from 1922, when she was 10years old. She is in the second row fromthe top, fifth from the right. The otherphoto is a school drama group, whichlooks like a nativity, but I don’t knowanything more about it. The house shewas brought up in was a back to backhouse with not much space for a big

family. On the ground floor it had onesmall living room and a tiny slop kitchenon a lower level.

There was nowhere for a growing lad toescape a baby, so when Fred was about17, he said he was fed up with thescreaming baby and went and joined up.He found himself in the 5th Royal IrishLancers at the beginning of the FirstWorld War. He is the young soldier in thephoto. He was gassed but lived.

The 5th Royal Irish Lancers Regimentwas disbanded in 1921 but the squadronwas reconstituted in 1922 andamalgamated with the 16th Queen`sLancers to become the 16th/5th QueensRoyal Lancers.

Later, Fred married a widow called Nellie,who had a daughter also called Nellie.Together they had Dorothy, my cousin,and lived at 44 Burngreave Road. Whenshe left school, Dorothy went to work forthe photographer Fred Knaggs. Sheenjoyed the job so much that when she

got married to a man called Denis Bell,they opened up their own photographybusiness from her parent’s home.

I was born in 1938. My father was calledup in 1940 so Aunt Doris and Grandmacame to live with us during the war formoral support for my Mum. Grandmapassed away during that time and AuntDoris never went back to Reginald Street.She stayed with us until she passed awayin 1962. Grandma and Granddad plusDoris, who never married, are all buriedin Burngreave Cemetery.

I don’t know if my cousin Dorothy Walkerstill lives as I have lost touch with heryears ago, she would be 89 or 90 yearsold now. The last time I saw Fred was atmy mum’s funeral, she died aged 51 yearsin 1963. Before she died my Mum alwayswent to see Fred. So Fred out-lived mymum by quite a few years.

Lilian BamforthBorn 10th May 1931Died 9th November 2015

Memorial by Gabriel Kaden Jacobs,age 10

Lilian lived in Sheffield all her life.She first lived in the Brightside areaand then moved to the Pitsmoor areafor the last 46 years.

Lilian’s family

Lilian had two sisters and two brothers, a son called Kevin andtwo grandchildren. She also had five great-grandchildren.

Lilian’s life

Lilian went to a church that she absolutely loved called St Peter’sChurch in Ellesmere. Everyone loved her there. She was amazingto all of us. I was lucky enough to catch some information aboutLilian. This is what her friend said, “Lilian liked to gamble. Shecould always have a good laugh.” She had an amazing personalityand she was just a lovely person to be around. Lilian had afantastic sense of humour and loved to be the centre of attention.

Being new to the area and the church, I hadn’t known her longbut she loved to embarrass me when I arrived at church bygrabbing me and giving me a big hug and a kiss and telling methat she wanted to adopt me. Very embarrassing to a nine yearold but I still loved her anyway.

She was a lovely lady that will be missed greatly by those whowere fortunate enough to meet her.

Barbara wrote this article as part of thelocal history group. Their next meetingis 10am Friday 22nd January at St.Catherine’s School. Just turn up!

Class photo from 1922, whenBarbara’s mum was 10 years old.

School drama group.

Fred in the 5th Royal IrishLancers.



No human being is illegalAs reported in October’s Messenger, Stuartand Fran visited the refugee camp in Calais inNovember, taking over donations of aid theycollected in Sheffield.

Fran Belbin writes:

We spent five days in Calais - half the time volunteeringat the warehouse where aid donations are sorted andprepared for distribution to refugees, the rest of the timehelping out in the camp itself.

The camp was better organised than we had imagined,thanks to the hard work of refugees and volunteers.They have built structures out of wood and tarpaulins,including a library, a school room and an informationcentre, as well as small huts for the most vulnerable. Butmany are still relying on flimsy tents to live in andeverything is really fragile.

While we were there, the wind and rain were horrendous,tents were flying all over the place and the roof was beingblown off the library. With so many people relying oncandles for light, fires are frequent and very damaging:40 homes were destroyed by fire on the last night wewere there.

As long as there is no political will amongst governmentsto resolve the situation, the need for aid will be ongoing.The volunteer organisation we worked with is currentlyappealing for donations of food and cash to feed the fewthousand people in the camps at Calais and Dunkirk.

We will certainly be going back. We still have donationsto take over that wouldn’t fit in the van first time aroundand money that we have collected to fund future aidtrips.”

For the full story of Fran and Stuart’s trip readthe blog, pitsmoorcalais.wordpress.com. Todonate to the Calais kitchens appeal, go towww.youcaring.com/refugees-in-the-calais-refugee-camp-492878.

Festival in Pitsmoor for 2016?

What happened to Abbeyfield Park multicultural festival in 2015? The firstmulticultural festival was organised by Panni Loh and Green City Action in1999. It was such a great success that it became an annual event, with thelocal community taking over the running of the festival in 2008. In 2014there was a fantastic, two day mega-festival to celebrate the Tour deFrance. Then in 2015... nothing.

There have been wonderful traditions at the festival: Betty’s tea stall, tastyspicy food stalls, local musicians and dancers (particularly the Yemenimen). Held in July, it can be a wondrous, chilled special day spentmeeting friends and neighbours. Though not always - in 2007 it wascancelled because of the floods, and moved to September, and in 2005 abomb scare meant the park had to be cleared.

Going further back to the early 1990s, the parents group at the AbbeyfieldPark Playground Campaign organised three summer fairs in the park, witha brass band, bouncy castle and ice creams; the famous and populartombola, donkey rides and face painting. There was also a PitsmoorFestival in the early 1980s, organised by local people, in my recollectionjust some music and a few stalls on a sunny day.

I found evidence of even older events on the Pitsmoorians of the pastFacebook page. Jim Jones remembered going with the Andover Streetchurch on the Whitsun walks to Firth Park from Pitsmoor in the 1950s and60s, with all the churches and Sunday schools behind banners with bands.

This history of local people from different cultures and community/faithorganisations getting together to organise festivals should be celebrated!All that hard work and effort has helped bring people together andinstalled a sense of community pride. So maybe we need a new PitsmoorSummer festival? Should it be smaller, bigger, different? What do youthink?

Clare Burnell

The Messenger replies:

In recent years Abbeyfield Festival has usually been organised by acommittee of local volunteers. If any Messenger readers would like to beinvolved with making a festival happen in 2016 please get in touch [email protected] - hopefully enough people will comeforward to form a Festival Committee!

Spital Hill art -

love it or hate it?Story & photo:Amy Palmer

The long awaitedsculptures have finallyarrived outside theVestry Hall andCaborn’s Corner. Thegiant knots by artistMichael Johnson havecaused quite a stir.

The sculptures are madefrom stainless steel and werefunded through planningagreements with Tesco andArches Housing. Councillor

Jackie Drayton spoke highly of theartworks, saying:

“The knots are there to remind usnever to forget the past with thethreads leading us on to ourambition for the future - building a

vibrant and welcoming community, andSpital Hill continues to be an excitingplace to live, work, visit, shop and eat.”

Customers at nearby shop Aden Corner,however, had mixed opinions. Oneexpressed his gratitude for all the hardwork the Council has put into Spital Hilland Ellesmere Green, but another greatlydisliked them, saying simply, “They’re toobig.”

Others who have spoken to theMessenger have expressed concern thatmoney is being spent on public art at atime of so many service cuts.

What do you think? Let us know bytweeting or writing to theMessenger, or comment on ourFacebook page.


Zero budget,

infinite

possibilities Story: Edgar Lowman

Cheap Thrills Film Festival is in itsfifth year and has grown rapidlythanks to Martin Currie, aBurngreave resident of 20 years. Itbegan in 2011, after Martin’s teamwon the short film competition‘2Weeks 2Make It’.

His team so enjoyed their creative effortsthat they decided to use the prize moneyto make more videos. However themajority of the ideas they came up withwere for short films, locally shot and setin the present day. They found that theydid not need a great deal of financialbacking, and so ‘Cheap Thrills’ becamethe driving philosophy. As Martinexplained, “We take the zero budgetphilosophy seriously, not paying for orcharging for anything. We even give awaythe popcorn.”

He went on, “I called it a festival as ajoke, Sheffield being home to so manyvery serious and important film fests. Weare local, hand-crafted, not at all serious,and very, very unimportant.” Theyscreened the shorts in the unassumingchapel within Burngreave Cemetery. Thereception from spectators wasoverwhelmingly positive and subsequentevents have only been more rewarding.

Each year a small team of hard workersbring the show together. “Janet Currieand Clare Burnell do a lot of preparatorywork and try to interest Sheffield’ssometimes lazy press with a genuinelypositive Burngreave story. Steve Poolprovides constant support and essentialtechnical rig, and Peter Applerock hasbeen with us from the start.”

While the festival has in the past receiveda small number of entries from overseas,this year it was deluged with over 320internationally-made films spanning 42countries. While it’s positive to have themessage of Cheap Thrills spread so far,films from local residents take priority,and he “intends to run an event later inthe year, showcasing some more of thesewonderful films”. Although with such amass of creative talent, he tells me he’dlike to “have a little nap first”.

For the 2015 event I arrived at thecemetery early, while volunteers were stillbusy setting up decorations andrefreshments. I was greeted by a largepaper fox, lit from the inside towonderfully contrast with theapproaching dusk. Various other animalshad also been brought to life in lanternform by Burngreave artist Patrick Amber,and hung around the chapel tocomplement the high ceilinged 1860sarchitecture, softening the contrast ofbright screen to blackened surroundings.It was a marvellous scene.

I just managed to find space on a pew,next to a couple who had travelled fromLondon for the event. There was a mix of

short films - some animated, some liveaction, all showing ingenuity inovercoming the lack of budget. Afavourite of mine was a simple live film,shot in the maker’s garden, where theordinarily unexciting movements of snailswere given life through the sounds ofhooting steam trains and the clatter ofwheels on tracks as they sped past oneanother. Comedy ensued as a particularlylarge snail chuffed through the framewith a low honk, straight over another.This was one of the highlights for me,with the audience thoroughly entertainedby such a simple film. A zero budget filmcould produce as much laughter from thecrowd as a big budget movie.

The whole evening really showcased theBurngreave community at its best,bringing the occasion to fruition simplyfor the fun of it. With artists, filmmakersand volunteers all playing equallyimportant roles, it’s just one example ofthe area’s progress in the right direction.It’s heartening to see such a diversepopulation coming together as a creativecollective for a night of cheap thrills.

Messenger collaborates

with Now Then magazineEdgar’s article, a version of which appears above,originally grew out of a collaboration between theBurngreave Messenger and Now Then, the freeSheffield arts magazine.

As a long-standing Messenger volunteer, Edgar was encouragedto share some of his positive experiences of writing aboutBurngreave with a wider Sheffield audience.

He told us:

“I really enjoyed writing this article, and speaking with somewonderful characters in the process of doing so. Martin himself

is an inspirational pillar of the Burngreave community, with onemajor project after another being brought to life by his ambition:Cheap Thrills, TEDx Pitsmoor, Raygun consultancy, who knowswhat may be next?

“Sam, Editor of Now Then, was very supportive of my vision forthe article, and helped me to realise Burngreave’s spirit for abroader Sheffield readership. Hopefully this is a step in the rightdirection for us to shake our somewhat rough reputation as anarea, and I would urge any writers,artists, singers, and creative Pitsmoorresidents to really put themselves outthere like this to get their names known.

“Burngreave is a concentrated area ofwonderful and creative individuals, and ifone of them is you, get out there and showit!”

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Next deadline:

15th March.

Issuepublished:2nd April.

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Documents

New year, new funds for Burngreave · New year, new funds for Burngreave Pitsmoor Adventure ... Fran Belbin, Helen Brown, ... of animals and other creations including