The funeral of Jonathan Matondo was held on 23rd November 2007. Hundreds of mourners gathered at St Catherine’s Catholic Church to pay their last respects to the young resident shot dead on 17th October 2007 in Nottingham Cliff Park.

Streetworx Project has been working hard to support and engage young people aged 13–19 on the streets of Burngreave.

Some months ago, at the start of the “Better Buses” Scheme, the post box on Burngreave Road, near the junction with Melrose Road, disappeared.

Our three local post offices face possible closure by November 2008.

There’s so much going on in Burngreave that we just can’t fit it all in the Messenger. Our website is now full of extra articles, extra photos and up to date news.

A new cash machine has been installed close to Ellesmere Green, outside the Post Office, operated by the Bank Of Ireland.

On Monday 19th November 2007, the new Inner Relief Road opened, crossing The Wicker at the bottom of Spital Hill, and on the same day the Better Buses scheme in Burngreave was launched. The Messenger has learned of a catalogue of problems relating to this issue.

On the night Jonathan Matondo was killed, it wasn’t the only shooting incident. Earlier that day, residents of Melrose Road heard shots being fired into the young people’s flats belonging to Arches Housing Association and managed by Stonham. Since then, all but one of the residents have been moved out, and the flats boarded up.

Applause reverberated around Verdon Street following the speech by Professor Gus John at the Peace and Reconciliation meeting organised by Rob Smith and the African and African- Caribbean Committee (AACC).

Since the tragic death of Jonathan many young people have expressed their feelings of sadness, grief and loss. Streetworx, Burngreave Youth Council and The Messenger have gathered some young people’s feelings, views and ideas for the future.

Sheffield Live was officially launched on 29th October 2007 after becoming the first ever full time community radio station in Sheffield to be granted an FM licence.

Winnie Bentley has lived at the Toll Bar House at the top of Burngreave Road for 32 years. Built in 1836, the house is a Grade II listed building. As with many other old buildings, there was lead on the roof, but in July 2007, for the first time in the house’s history, this lead was stolen.

Four local primary schools now have new extended school support workers. Extended schools means more activities in schools for parents, children and the community, from computer courses to breakfast clubs to belly dancing to keep fit. Evidence shows if you get involved with schools, your children will do better. So go on, contact your local extended school support worker and ask them for information or better still tell them what you want!

I spoke with Youth Worker Omer Mohammed who, with Imran Ali, runs football sessions every week. Omer stated: “I have been delivering this evening football session for about five years now. Sheffield Futures, who I work for, and Activity Sheffield, that Imran works for, have joined resources to run these sessions.”

New soccer coaching sessions for Y1 at Firs Hill School, Wednesday 6-7pm.

Arriving at Verdon Street Rec I am greeted by Ayesha, the friendly and capable apprentice receptionist. A local resident, Ayesha says she enjoys “every single part” of her job, and is busy welcoming visitors and facilitating children’s activities.

In two years’ time all of Burngreave’s secondary schools could be Academies. Parkwood, Fir Vale and Firth Park are all considering becoming independent from the City Council, run by private companies or trusts.

Support for young people and parents has been top of the agenda this month following the sad death of Jonathan Matondo. Exclusion has been raised as an issue, as young people out of school are more vulnerable.

Around 200 people attended the opening of the “Coal, Frankincense and Myrrh” Exhibition at Weston Park Museum on 30th October. The exhibition celebrated the links between Sheffield and the Yemeni Community that has lived here since the 1950s. Yemenis from all over Sheffield and further afield joined others at the opening.

Firshill Tenants and Residents Association raised hundreds of pounds for Children in Need on Friday 16th November at an event held at the Sheffield United Academy.

I spoke to participants at Swamp Circus Trust’s ‘Circus Skills & Community Leadership’ course, currently running at SADACCA on The Wicker in association with the Point Blank Theatre Company. I was struck by the positive impact this course has had on their lives, and so here, in their own words, is their story.

Members of Sheffield’s black community were rewarded on 2nd November for their services to the community. The awards evening was held at SADACCA to mark the end of Black History Month.

On 24th October the children were entertained by Jamaica’s famous dub poet Jean Binta Breeze and developed their cultural awareness through stories, songs and games. Their enthusiasm was heightened by Jean’s performance and activities and they took centre stage for their own performance on 31st October.

Bonfire night was celebrated magnificently here in Burngreave on the 3rd November at Petre Street as a small fair ended with spectacular fireworks taking place on the field. There was a great turnout considering the cold weather, with approximately 150-200 people.

The first ever presentation evening celebrated by young people’s project Streetworx had a big impact on the 31st October at the Vestry Hall, attracting residents of a wide ethnic background and the majority of the crowd were young people.

SAVTE (Sheffield Association for the Voluntary Teaching of English) recruits and trains volunteers to teach English. They have been delivering this service city-wide for over 30 years. The majority of the students are women and people with disabilities. Many have no experience of formal education and have very little confidence.

The Messenger recently worked with the Council’s Adult and Community Learning Unit on an ESOL course with a difference. Here is some of the students’ writing.

“To a loving Father and a community activist who put the needs of the community as a whole, before his own.”

It's easy to feel pressured into spending more than you can afford at Christmas, so follow the CAB’s Top Tips to keep out of debt.

News from Burngreave New Deal for Communities including:

• Employment and Skills Special

• Media workshops hit the headlines

• Would you like to be a Mystery Shopper?

Latest news from the Area Co-ordinator for the Burngreave Area Panel, including:

• Transforming terraces

• DIY Streets

• New Year's Honours awards

Sheffield City Council have come under fire after local resident Peter Mappin slammed their supposed clean up of Roe Woods and Crabtree Pond.

Another well-produced community magazine is ten years old this November!

• Green City Action win prestigious community award

• Garden gifts for the festive season

• Tool Bank December opening times

Healthy eating has been on the menu at The Furnival as part of a new cookery course hosted by Laila Wragg.

On 24th of April 2007, over 100 older people from minority ethnic groups attended an older people’s consultation day to express their concerns about the lack of services available to them.

A list of social activities open to the entire community taking place at SADACCA.

Listing of just the articles found in the printed (and PDF) December 2007 edition of the Burngreave Messenger.

List of articles exclusive to the website in December 2007, not to be found in the print or PDF edition.

The Credit Union offers a safe place to save and great value loans. To find out more, come to one of the collection points, or call in at Sheffield Credit Union.

The Academy for Community Leadership and Hadfield Institute Invite you to celebrate the season and the success of their management courses for the community. Open Day with light refreshments: Monday 17 December.

Fir Vale School is to open its doors to the local community to offer a wider access to Adult Learning. Come along to the NEW Enterprise Centre on Thursday 13th December.

• Do you have information about criminal activity in your neighbourhood?

• Do you want to report it but don’t want to get involved or give your name?

Then call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111

Keeping the bus lanes free reduces delays and keeps buses moving.

Aged 14-19? Find out if vocational courses are for you.

Could you adopt a child and give them good times to remember, instead of bad times they want to forget?

Do you or your organisation have a new idea that would benefit local residents – would a small grant help to make it happen?

Rock Christian Centre. Lively worship, every Sunday.

Do you need help making your business more successful? Are you looking for help and advice to start your own business?

New boxing classes starting soon.

A FREE 10-session course starting January 2008, and April 2008, for Landlords currently owning/renting any number of properties in Sheffield.

Women's Thai kick-boxing classes with a fully qualified and insured female instructor.

Arches Housing are taking donations for food, clothing and emergency medical supplies.

We are looking for a proactive outward looking individual who can take the centre forward to the next level.

Pakistan Muslim Centre are looking for an EMSAP Co-ordinator to develop and deliver the EMSAP programme.

An experienced administrator is needed who must be conversant with MS Office, able to maintain systems and procedures, good communication and organisational skills.

PMC are looking to recruit experienced tutors that can deliver support to children in schools and within the centre.

A fundraising dinner will take place on Sunday 16th December 2007 to support the people of Bangladesh, who have suffered a second major natural disaster in the space of less than five months this year.

All coaches fully qualified & police checked. Private sessions by appointment. Change to advertised weekday openeing times: 3pm.

Streetworx has an opportunity available for six young people aged from 15-21 years to train as Young Advisors to become future leaders.

A Youth Conference will take place on Saturday 8th December to discuss issues that are affecting young people today. Refreshments will be provided.

A bird of prey, rarely seen in Sheffield, was spotted circling over Scott Road on Sunday 9th December, 2007.

Over 100 people, mostly children, braved the bitter cold to attend the Carnival of Lights, organised by Green City Action, on Saturday 1st December 2007 at Ellesmere Green.

Sunday 13th of January at the Magna Centre on Sheffield Road. This event will be the largest ever gathering of the Muslim community in South Yorkshire.

The Messenger is running a FREE website administration course at the Vestry Hall, starting 5th January 2008.

Listings of Church services taking place locally to celebrate Christmas.

The Rock Christian Centre is to host Sheffield's contribution to Hope 2008, a national event bringing hope for the year ahead to communities nationwide.

South Yorkshire Migration and Asylum Action Group (SYMAAG) has called an emergency protest against the wave of Christmas detentions and deportations in South Yorkshire. Saturday December 22nd 1pm Town Hall.

SUFC Academy are proposing a three-storey, 20,000 sqft development on land next to the club's Shirecliffe Football Academy. An Open Day will be held on January 9 for the community to view the plans.