Story and photo by Amy Palmer
Burngreave Vestry Hall is under threat. Mohammad Issa from ITCSS, the Somali education charity who rent offices there, explained that the building’s tenants were told they would be moved to Sorby House. However, their charity needs the Vestry Hall’s IT facilities and classrooms.
Built in 1846, the grade II listed building has been used as a soup kitchen, polling station and venue for social events before becoming disused in 1997 needing restoration. This was paid for by Burngreave New Deal for Communities and the building was reopened in 2002. It has lately been managed by Sheffield City Council through Kier.
For many the Vestry Hall is the one remaining community asset from the New Deal. IT-CSS and the Vestry Hall tenants have rallied community support and submitted a petition of 400 signatures to the Council who agreed to delay the moves.
The Hall’s closure to the community will not only impact tenants, but also groups running activities.
Margaret Hill from Burngreave TARA, who use the hall for meetings and IT classes said “A lot of people class Sorby House as ‘Council or Housing’ rather than a community building. The Vestry Hall is more accessible, having a kitchen and being available to hire outside of office hours.”
Councillor Mark Jones stated, “Following lobbying from the community we have delayed the decision to hand Vestry Hall over to another agency. We have been given an opportunity to talk to Cllr Jack Scott, Cabinet member for Community Services and Libraries, and will set out our desire to keep Vestry Hall for the community.”
To have your say about the future of the Vestry Hall, please get in touch. Foodbank on the move.