Film and Photography Workshops
As part of the build up to this year's Abbeyfield Park Multiculktural Festival, Workhorse Short Film Projects recently ran small-scale film and photography workshops in Burngreave, in collaboration with local environmental group, Green City Action. Although numbers on each workshop were limited, the places were free to local residents.

Developing Camera Skills

Two workshops were on offer. One gave a chance to develop 35mm photographic camera skills, while the other offered the chance to try out a film camera, using super 8 as a practical example rather than video.
It would have been easier to use video in some ways, I suppose,
said Robin Forsyth of Workhorse, who organised and ran the workshops,
but film is more precious and requires more discipline. It teaches people to think about what they're filming more carefully before they go ahead and film it. Besides, super 8 is really easy to use and it has a quality all its own.

Both workshops involved looking at technical aspects of the various cameras, composition and assignments including the Abbeyfield Park Multicultural Festival.
The assignments were intended to get people thinking, not only about the technical aspects of using a camera, but also about the creative side, and then to let them have a go for themselves and see what they could produce, explained Robin.

Future Workshops

Maybe there will be more workshops of this kind in Burngreave in the future.
Yes, I hope so, responded Robin.
From the interest we got in these, I'd say there is certainly a demand for them, and looking at the results, a good deal of untapped creative energy waiting for an opportunity. I also think the workshops highlighted the need for more arts-based facilities in the area, for local people to take adsvantage of.

Workhorse Short Film Projects is keen to organise more media-based workshops in Burngreave. If you are interested in joining future film, video, sound or photography workshops, or have ideas or suggestions as to what form they should take:
Contact Robin Forsyth at; Workhorse Short Film Projects, c/o The Burngreave Messenger, Abbefield Park House, Abbeyfield Road, S4 7AT.

For details of BCAF meetings, contact BCAT office; 12 Burngreave Road, S3 9DD.

Neville, Neville who?
Verdon Street gets a lot of stick and is never far from the news, but is it all bad? Last months Messenger carried an article about the proposal for CCTV cameras in the area and the opposition to it from myself and others locally. As we all know the reputation of Verdon Street continues to be negative and unfortunately mud sticks.

I would like this opportunity to brush off a bit of that mud, not from the area but from the eyes of those who are looking and to show the real side to life on Verdon Street. Much has happened in the last four years that has impacted on the life of the residents. The Furnival is an organisation in which members the local community provides many of the services that address the local need, the most important of these being the Café. Open four days a week with a lunch club for the elderly on Mondays, it is a popular place with a growing reputation for its atmosphere and quality of food. Pitsmoor Credit Union has a collection point and the CAB and Joblink both host drop in sessions for their services.

Verdon Street Enterprises

Utilising the three empty shops at its side, that have been handed over by the City Council to the community, we have founded a company limited by guarantee, with charitable status pending, called Verdon Street Enterprises. Following a recent launch we now have a Launderette, a Nearly New Shop and a Help and Information Centre all in top class premises following some quality refurbishment by SCC Direct Services. These all complement the existing, valuable resource of a Post Office, a Newsagent/Food Store and Verdon Recreation Centre, which in economic and people terms puts any minor 'informal trading' into perspective. Unfortunately this is not the view that people appreciate unless they make the effort and visit this local shopping precinct.

Neville who?

However the most exciting development is just taking off. If you bump into anyone related to Verdon Street Enterprises, the Furnival or Housing Special Tasks you will be asked if you have heard about Neville. Oh course you will say Neville, Neville who? He is however, no mystery person, no elusive man down the pub but Neville Drive, the block of 66 flats running parallel to Verdon Street.

As you may have noticed Neville is empty and boarded up, save for the two remaining tenants, and will shortly enter into the stock reduction programme and will be lost forever leaving a big hole, albeit one that will afford new views of the city. There is another option, a solution that will not only save a valuable building from demolition but one that will enhance the area and be a visible sign of regeneration and community sustainability.

Real opportunities

More exciting than this will be that it will provide real opportunities for training and employment of the like not seen in this part of the city. Building on the strength, vision and commitment of the local community the Neville Drive Development is breaking new ground in partnerships for the provision of a centre of excellence for the work with the 'under 3's' and their parents, a Healthy Living Centre, a Neighbourhood Learning Centre, an IT training suite, enterprise workshops and office space. All these projects will be job rich and provide countless opportunities for accessing quality training.

Ready to go

The development is fairly advanced in terms of concrete action, looking towards having builders on site early next year, without having the proposals set in stone and the Steering Group is wanting to widen the consultation with the community.

I encourage you to look afresh at Verdon Street and when people mention the name you will not immediately think of the negative but will stop and say, hang on isn't that where Neville is.

Anyone wanting to discuss the proposals or to find out more about how it will affect them and the community are welcome to contact Peter Hurley at the Furnival. The Steering Group meets on the 1st Monday of the month at 6.15pm at the Furnival to which people are invited.
Peter Hurley