October 2009 Issue 84

For 2008-9, we have waited for the dust and noise to settle but, at last, the new school buildings are up and running.

Pye Bank’s extension now houses Y5 and Y6 classes and a large hall. the increase in pupil numbers.

Parkwood Academy is the new Parkwood High School, as students returned in September 2009.

The controversial ‘section 30’ order for Fir Vale has been extended until November 2009.

On the 20th August, businesses from the Fir Vale and Page Hall Traders association came together to express their frustration with Parking Services, who have been handing out numerous tickets in recent months.

On 6th August 2009, four young men were jailed for killing Tarek Chaiboub, who was shot dead on Spital St in July 2008.

In June 2009 we reported on residents’ concerns about companies selling mobility equipment at extortionate prices and falsely claiming to be from social services.

Our thanks go to Ian Clifford, who recently left the Messenger management committee and editorial team to voyage around the world to Nepal, where he will be teaching English.

A new survey shows big changes in the way Burngreave people see themselves, though little real change around poverty and jobs.

Things are changing at the Forum. We have just registered as a limited company and on 24th October 2009 we will hold our first Annual General Meeting.

Following a petition to the full Council, a public meeting was held on 10th August about the maintenance of the cemetery. Bereavement Services staff attended, with Councillors Ibrar Hussain and Shaffaq Mohammed, cabinet member for the environment.

The Hallcar Tavern closed as a pub this summer, and was sold at auction in September 2009 for just £52,000. It is such a landmark in the area and has stood through so many changes over the years. We reflect on a time when the local pub was the heart of the community.

One of the very large trees near the entrance of Abbeyfield Park was removed in September 2009 for safety reasons.

SADACCA International Community Cultural Day was held on 31st August to showcase some of Sheffield's best community based acts and to share culture together as a united community.

Local youngsters are being invited to express their creative sides with SPLAT, a drop-in arts and crafts group aimed at 8-13 year olds.

The Sheffield Young Advisors is a group of young people who have been trained to provide a supportive service to the community.

Burngreave Children's Centre held a graduation ceremony on Friday 21st August for parents who have completed the OCN (Open College Network) accreditation for their Positive Parenting programme.

Sheffields celebrations for UK's first ever interfaith week will be launched on Sunday 15th November 2009 at Burngreave on the theme of 'Faith, Work and Food in Fellowship.

I met Nuria Quintilla at her office in the SYAC building on the Wicker. Here Nuria is the Director and Senior Counsellor of the Women's Resource Centre which services and workshops for women from Black and Ethnic minorities

Over the last two years, local craftswoman Fathima Khan has devoted a lot of her time to raising funds for various charities. In 2008 she took part in the'Race for Life', helping to raise over £1,000 in sponsorship, and she got the fun-raising bug.

This November, Burngreave resident Tina Ball will trek over 70 kilometres across the Sinai Desert, Eqypt, aiming to raise over £1000 for the Alzheimer's Society.

A young resident shot dead. The funeral car slowly approaching up Burngreave Road, followed by family, friends and songs of mourning. In October 2007, Pat Regan from Women Against Violence, speaking from the experience of losing a son, told a meeting at the Adventist Church, “The problem is the gun”.

Sheffield Wednesday Community Programme is inviting all young people aged 8-16 years old to get involved in our weekly sporting activities taking place in and around Burngreave.

Young people were spoiled for choice this summer, with a great list of activities to enjoy with Sheffield Futures’ Streetworx.

Parents around Verdon Street took matters into their own hands this summer, to make sure their children were involved in positive activities in their community

The summer’s young firefighter’s course really put two groups of young people through their paces, testing their skills to the limits. The final display after 5 days of training showed their friends and family it had all been worth it.

After a year of hard studying, young people from Burngreave After School Study Support Project spent the summer having fun. The Yemeni Community Association’s project took over 300 young people on well earned trips and residentials.

This summer, with the help of 8-13 Positive Activities funding, Reach High 2 Study Support provided a whole range of valuable activities for young people

Do you want to improve your English, Maths and Science and have fun? Then Reach High 2 Study Support is for you! Starting from 3rd October 2009.

Nottingham Cliff Park has been the place to be this summer (2009), with Christchurch’s youth group, ‘the Hangout’.

This year (2009) Ellesmere Youth Project ran a three week programme of summer holiday activities, which involved sport, art and craft, dance and circus skills.

Earl Marshal Connexions Centre ran a wide variety of activities in the summer weeks of 2009, which were well attended, mainly by local Slovakian young people.

Late July saw young people flock to Osgathorpe Park to celebrate the new climbing boulder.

It was a real summer of cycling in Burngreave with every youth group getting out on bikes. Pitsmoor Adventure Playground hosted a number of Bike Days to help children get their own bikes up to scratch.

Fir Vale Fun Day was a great event organised at Fir Vale school on 19th July 2009 by local people to celebrate the summer and the community of Fir Vale.

The Tae Kwon Do students at Verdon Recreation Centre have excelled yet again. On Sunday 6th September every student who took their grading exam passed with flying colours.

Parents and children enjoyed a summer Carnival at WATOTO pre-school in August 2009

SAGE (Support, Arts, Gardening, Education) Greenfingers held their annual Open Day on September 16th 2009 at the Grimesthorpe Allotments.

In the spring of 2009, Green City Action and Friends of Abbeyfield Park planted up the border in front of the cricket pitch. But now they need help!

Transition Burngreave has been focusing on how we can respond to climate change and energy depletion. In October 2009, there will be a number of events.

Brahma Kumaris is providing FREE meditation, self esteem and positive thinking courses.

Across from Abbeyfield Park, on Abbeyfield Road there is a derelict lodge, have you ever wondered what it was part of, or why there is a lodge there? The lodge was originally just a small part of a much bigger estate, with a grand house called Holtwood House.

Surprises in Burngreave are often just around the corner, as I discovered recently when looking for the Curry Canteen run by Rupert Ellis. It is within about 3 minutes’ walk of the Ellesmere Road shops, tucked away among the old cobbled streets behind John Heath’s Funeral Parlour. To get to it, you walk down Hallcar Sreet, take the first left, then first right into Dorking Street.

After 14 months’ hard work, local caterer, Mr Imtiaz, was delighted to finally open Pizza Cottage Cafe and Takeaway on Lyons Close, Ellesmere on 3rd August 2009. Free food was served between 2 and 6pm on the opening day.

News from Burngreave New Deal for Communities including:

• BNDfC succession plans

• Free computers

• Vestry Hall open again

News from the first North East Community Assembly meeting. Including Councillors' Surgery Dates.

Muno began writing creatively at about 12 years old and by 14, encouraged by her teachers at Fir Vale School, was producing poetry in the English language and winning school competitions. One of her poems about the Iraq war also won a prize in an American Competition.

If you’d like to learn something new, now is the time to get on a course.

Letters from our readers.

A number of residents have contacted us with concerns about the number 20 bus, which travels along Scott Road.

Sheffield Live presenter, Irini Apostolidou, has been talking to local residents about the effect New Deal has had on the Burngreave Community.

Pakistan Advice and Community Association wish to recruit a

Senior Youth Worker

• Salary: £18852 pro rata (18 hours pw) and a

Youth Worker

• Salary: £15408 pro rata (18 hours pw)

Closing date for both posts: Monday 12th October 2009

Want to gain the management experience necessary to help you progress up the career ladder? Or do you just have an interest in what's happening in your local area and want to take a more hands-on approach?

Volunteering with PACA is about more than just helping out a good cause. Volunteers gain valuable skills and experience which they can use when applying for jobs.

The Urban Theology Unit on Abbeyfield Road is offering a Foundation degree in Theology and Ministry through York St John University.

A free health event for men in the Burngreave and Firvale area. Come and fnd out more.

Would you like to become a Community Mentor? If you would like to support children and young people who live or go to school in Burngreave and have a couple of hours spare per week, we would like to hear from you.

Index of additional October 2009 photos.

Index of extra content for the October 2009 edition of the Messeneger.

Less than a mile north of Sheffield city centre lies a vast area of open land, almost as big as the city centre itself. Yet few people know of Parkwood Springs, its secret places and its enormous potential as a country park in the city. October 2009 issue.