Are you being heard?

The recent Household Survey showed people feel we’re starting to see real changes and that our area is becoming a better place to live in. Despite that arguments continue about how we are represented.

Here the Messenger brings you a guide to some of main organisations that represent and work for the Burngreave Community.

Of course these are only a few of the groups active in the area. Firvale has recently set up its own forum, similar to BCAF and there are a range of Tenants’ and Residents’ Associations and other groups representing parts of the community. Other services often have ways the public can be involved.

Burngreave Community Action Forum

BCAF is a community-run organisation which represents Burngreave residents and organisations. Many local organisations are affiliated to BCAF and they run ‘Working Groups’ which seek action on issues like ‘Health’ and ‘Children and Young people’. They run quarterly Forum meetings which attract 70–100 residents and hears reports from projects and debates, problems and solutions in the area. They are run by a Co-ordinating Committee, chosen at their AGM. To get involved with BCAF you can attend the Forum meetings.

Sheffield City Council and Burngreave Area Panel

Many services in the area, environmental maintenance, schools, housing etc as well as schemes like the Masterplan are run by the Council. The Council is funded by taxation and run by elected councillors. More and more the Council’s local work is influenced by the Area Panel who have funds for their own work and to support local organisations. You can raise issues with the Area Co-ordinator, attend the Area Panel meetings or your Councillor’s surgeries (see page 16). Most residents over 18-years-old can register and vote for the councillors in local elections.

Burngreave Community Action Trust

BCAT is a large charity that belongs to nearly 100 community members. It is run by a Board of Trustees chosen at their AGM. They employ all the staff and run the office on Burngreave Road. They run projects for New Deal and other funders, including the New Deal Grant Scheme (see page 18). They have a close relationship with BCAF through the Co-ordinating Committee, but are a separate organisation.

Burngreave New Deal for Communities

The New Deal is a regeneration programme. Central Government are providing £50 million over 10 years, aimed at 4,000 households in Burngreave. We are now in Year 5. New Deal is directed by a Partnership Board made up of Community, Statutory and Voluntary Sector Representatives and is run by the staff team under Chief Executive John Clark. The ten Community Reps are elected from all adults over 15 years in the New Deal area. Residents can attend Theme Groups, the Information Shop, the Community Reps’ surgeries or the six-monthly public meetings. The Partnership Board have also set up a Limited Company so they can run their own projects. See pages 14 and 15 for details of the upcoming New Deal elections and how to get involved.