Burngreave Community Action Forum (BCAF) was formed in 1997 to give a voice to all local people and to build communications and community spirit. The Forum held well-attended meetings every three months with lively discussion about the area.
In 1998 BCAF set up BCAT to act as its ‘delivery arm’, in the belief that the Forum would then be more free to campaign on issues affecting the area. BCAT was a separate charity with its own board of voluntary Trustees. It employed staff and received funding. It managed funds for a number of smaller projects, helping them to develop, as well as supporting the Forum’s meetings and working groups. BCAT also managed £800,000 of Objective One funding for Firvale.
BCAF was widely credited as being the reason that New Deal funding came to the area. BCAT was originally seen as the natural successor to New Deal, owning and managing New Deal’s assets after the end of the programme, assets which now Include Sorby House; Forum House and the Vestry Hall.