Study support campaign continues

Story: Lisa Swift, Emily Haimeed, Nasira Amin, Asha Mohammed

Local parents and study support organisations have been campaigning to prevent Burngreave's four study support projects from coming to an end.

Their current funding comes to an end in March. A massively reduced service may continue until July. After that the projects have no funding in place. Children have written letters and parents have started a petition in the hope of saving the provision. Residents attended Full Council to express their concerns. Addressing the Councillors, Miriam Yafai, a young worker with Burngreave After School Study Support, said:

“Study Support is really important for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds, and that includes my sister who couldn't read after being in a mainstream school. She learned to read at Study Support. You are cutting things for the future generations. I'm asking you not to make these cuts.”

Data shows children in study support did better than predicted in their GCSE, increasing the number of local children who gain 5 GCSEs A-C. However it has been difficult to convince schools to invest money. The support groups and local parents met with David Blunkett MP in January to discuss the issue, who said:

“I can feel the passion and commitment in the room, and the huge importance this has for you. However I can’t pretend I can solve this problem. I know you are working with schools, who are themselves struggling for money. I will support you to talk to them. Perhaps we can identify a range of different funding for the projects. These are very hard times, but good times will come again.”

Education is an investment

Diana Yehya Shaibi works at Byron Wood School supporting children with maths and literacy.

I am a proud, Yemeni-British citizen living in Burngreave. I graduated from Sheffield Hallam University in November, studying BA Education Psychology.

I attended the Burngreave After School Support Project whilst I was a student at Fir Vale School. The after school project encouraged me to work hard and motivated me to succeed in anything I wanted to do. The project had fantastic teachers and mentors that pushed us that little bit extra in helping us in exam preparations and coursework. It also helped me gain confidence in myself to stretch my potential. The project had a great social atmosphere which made it a happy and safe place to be. Staff at the project made it clear that education leads you into your desired profession and is the key to life's challenges.

I strongly believe education is like an investment that gains interest over time, and I will definitely reap the benefits. I am hoping to return to university to undertake a post graduate degree in teaching.

Supporting younger children

Asha Mohammed volunteers at Somali Education Breakthrough and is doing well at school.

I am 12 years old, I go to Parkwood Academy. I went to Somali Homework Club because I was very weak in my English and maths and by attending twice a week, I have improved so much. I am now one of the top students in some of my subjects, I have a lot of confidence to study on my own, I am very much focused in meeting my targets and I get positive feedback from my tutor. My mother suggested that I volunteer to help out younger kids. I thought it was a good idea to help those children including my little 8 year old brother Sami.

These children have got a chance to improve like I did and for the club to give them so much one to one attention that they need. It would be a shame to close it down. What will those kids do?

Springboard into University

Mohammed Ali (pictured right) is in his 3rd year of Bio Medical Science at Sheffield Hallam University

I attended ITCSSS Study Support from year 6 until year 10. I was new to the country. Many Somalis had come from different parts of Europe and we needed help with basic skills, especially with English. We were behind in school, Study Support gave us the environment where we felt comfortable, as we didn't feel like the brightest students at the time. We got one to one support, there was a good work ethic and we were working with older students as well; that helped us get ready for secondary school. It was a huge spring board, now I'm doing a degree and I would like to teach science, hopefully in a secondary school. When I was in Year 10, I helped teach at Study Support and this was definitely an inspiration for me.

Inspired to study dentistry

Sadaf is a volunteer at Reach High 2, and is a 4th year Dentistry student at Sheffield University.

I attended Reach High Study Support Project to improve my school grades and get that extra help in the areas I was finding difficult at school. When I was deciding what I wanted to do at University, Reach High held a “careers day”. There was a Dental workshop held by the Science Teaching Assistant, called Shazia, who was also a Dental student. This inspired me into Dentistry. Shazia was a great role model, she was able to answer my questions and guided me on what subjects and grades I required. After my GCSEs, Shazia and Reach High continued to be a great support. I was given help with my personal statement, University applications and interviews. Reach High was a huge factor in getting where I am today.