The whole world in a park
5000 people, 70 stalls, 250 volunteers, food, dancing, games and music
form all corners of the globe. All brought together in our beautiful park
and even sprinkled woth the odd ray of sunshine.
This year’s festival, the second organised by Green City Action, succeeded in bringing together and celebrating the rich diversity of different cultures, skills and talents of the Burngreave community.
Leading the Way
The result was a day of real pleasure. Smiling children, a chance to relax and talk, meet neighbours and marvel at the range of activity within our community. A huge range of performers, musicians, workshops, projects and organisations, children’s groups and cooks, all brought some of their history and culture to help make it a day of inspiration and friendship. Burngreave has again shown that far from being a ‘problem area’, it can lead the way and produce surprising and imaginative work and enjoy itself along the way.
Too Many to Mention
Too many people contributed time and work to acknowledge them all here, hundreds out of our community of only a few thousand, but there are more pictures and some particular ‘thank you’s on page 4, but even if you just dropped by to enjoy it, congratulations on contributing to a huge success, and see you next year!!!
No CCTV for Bressingham?
Bressingham is no longer earmarked for CCTV. I
went to speak to an irate tenant living in Bressingham Road.
The old man who opened his door to me in Bressingham
wasn’t shy in expressing his views and got straight to the point by
first explaining how long he’d been resident in Bressingham and how
he now lived alone since his wife’s death.
“It’s not right to say things are fine. Bressingham has been a notorious
drug spot for many years.”
Accepting a cup of tea and referring to the reason I
was there, I took the chance of asking about CCTV.
“ Oh yes.. We were talking with the Police and others some time ago...
There was definitely a need for CCTV round here see..Don’t let anyone
tell you otherwise... If not for the bollard blocking the road we’d
still have drug trafficking through our area...”
He was referring to the mock bollards preventing traffic
flowing through Bressingham Road, a temporary measure to check out whether
we want proper bollards for good. He was for them and so were many of
his friends and neighbours.
“ A young lad was knocked down before they went up.” the man added.
What the old man was saying seemed to contradict information gathered from our local police, there had been consultation in Bressingham about CCTV and Inspector Dyson may have been on the right track. Maybe, because the temporary bollards have worked, reducing the areas troubled drug spot, it left a CCTV project not quite sure where to place itself.
I was even more intrigued as to where the CCTV was going to be installed and which sections, if any, of our communities have been consulted? At my interview with Inspector Dyson later that week, I hoped to clarify things. My next port of call was Attercliffe police station.
Police say Spital Hill and parts of Verdon Street earmarked for CCTV
“Within the next week, we’ll have our decision from
government and word is in favour of the bids..”
My arrival at Attercliffe police station was well
overdue and shaking hands with the man in the uniform, I was invited
to follow him upstairs to their cafeteria, where we sat to discus the
issue of CCTV and hopefully touch on police action in and around Burngreave.
Why here?
Inspector Dyson explained the plans are part of a project funded by
the Home Office. It covers the city centre and is planned to be extended
all along Attercliffe Road as far as Tinsley, as well as Spital Hill
and parts of Verdon Street.
The people involved in CCTV planning for Sheffield (the SWISS project) were looking at extending the city centre scheme when the government said there’s more money available, “make ya’ bids.” So with the view of offering the benefits of the city centre scheme to other areas around Sheffield, bids were put in for Darnal, Tinsley, Firth Park, Firvale and Burngreave.
Okay, but would you say the decision was made on our
ethnic/multicultural working class content Inspector..?
“ No because you’ve also got an ethnic and multicultural population
at Darnal and Tinsley and it’s going there as well. It is very much
about promoting public safety in the streets and giving people confidence
in areas.”
Is drug dealing the real target?
In relation to police activity targeting drugs offences, whether it
be dealers or simple possession, Inspector Dyson said there were separate
means of authority for gathering that intelligence, cameras and pictures
that aren’t part of the CCTV network.
“I don’t believe this was done to target the drugs of Burngreave and
therefore that’s not the purpose of this project at all......the whole
of Attercliffe Road is going to be covered right out to Tinsley, and
no one’s suggesting this was part of a drug problem. Now clearly you’re
making the links to drugs and it would be wrong for me to say if something
happening out on the street was caught on camera, we wouldn’t hope to
use that information.”
Are civil liberties threatened?
I mentioned some of Peter Hurley’s concerns about civil liberties and
our community café. I believe the Inspector and I agreed that there
were many people with opposing stances in our community. Having heard
from people eager for the installation to begin the Inspector informed
me that the CCTV project has a strict code of conduct, as to those who
operate the cameras and who has access to the tapes.
Inspector Dyson went on to explain about the latest technology that prevents the camera focusing in on certain space and objects. Giving him time to finish, I suggested that if that be the case, then the public need to be shown and made aware of this so called new technology.
This, I said optimistically, may dispel some fears of intrusion of privacy.
Further consultation planned
I asked if the people who live in the Verdon Street community had been
consulted. “No..But within the next week, we’ll have our decision from
government and word is in favour of the bids.. Then we will move into
consultation with the people of the affected areas, yes..”
Although I’m clearer about what the plans are for this project, I still have a doubt it may not be a coincidence that all three areas earmarked for the extension of CCTV contain large multicultural communities. Although assurances have been given about who monitors the recordings and how it will be used there are still concerns from many about privacy and civil liberties. But most of all I hope when consultations take place that they do not become just a paper work exercise.
This is Rob Smith, still reporting an issue that matters, for the people of Burngreave.
Special Festival Thanks
I would like to give thanks and some recognition
to some people who helped make theAbbeyfield Park Multicultural Festival
2000 so successful.
Firstly the Green City Action Staff, Panni Poh Yoke Loh, Festival Organiser, Steven Rumbol, Stage Manager, Tina Smith, Festival Information, Julian Brandram, Festival Information and my self, Lee Furness, Site Manager. The GCA staff worked beyond what could be expected, changing roles as and when needed and working extremely long hours.
Secondly GCA Volunteer Management did a tremendous job. Betty Smally, Stephen Cook, Laila Wragg, Andrew Phillips, Sarah Nickson, David Peck andthe Festival Planning Committee for the work put in before the day.
A few more people need mentioning for working extremely hard to keep things going; John Dawson PA, Andrew Healy, DJ, Deborah Wright, Information, Trevor Bailey, Special K and Bounce FM crew.
On the day we had 20 stewards, first aid cover with 6 volunteers, 12 litter picker/recyclers on the day and 22 children from Firs Hill Junior School who helped clean up after the event. Workshop leaders; Circus, Carnival and Green Stars parade teams all pulling together to make the festival happen.
Thank you everyone for helping to make this years Abbeyfield Park Multicultural festival such a good event, it re affirms my belief in what a wonderful community that I live in.
Lee Furness Green City Action Manager
Herries School to reopen as ‘Fresh Start’ school, Parkwood High
New head John Leam said:
“To be ready to start the new term as a new school has taken a mammoth
effort from the staff and senior managers, and LEA officers. For many
staff it has been a difficult time but their professionalism has been
greatly valued. There are exciting times ahead, plenty of hard work
but the pupils are worth it and deserve the best.
It is important to instil a sense of pride and identity in the school. The Fresh Start is about looking forward, raising aspirations and ensuring the very best educational opportunities for all the pupils and the local community. We are determined to succeed, raise achievement and become the focus of a regenerated, learning community.”
Jobs Jobs Jobs
Everyone agrees that jobs are one of the most impotant
parts of regeneration.
At the July 13th New Deal for Communities Partnership Board meeting they approved an outline plan to train and employ a team of workers from the community. Plans are not complete yet but things are moving fast and there is a need to employ a team soon. In our new jobs column Jane Grinonneau, Chair of Burngreave Sure Start, explains how these jobs might be aimed at local people, breaking the cycle of no qualification, no work experience, no job. We also have details of jobs at BCAT and will carry full details of any New Deal jobs.
Are you talented, able, with loads of potential but few qualifications? Then read on.
Jane Grinonneau, chair of Burngreave Sure Start describes
a radical new approach to job recruitment being developed in Burngreave:
“Ever done any administration? NO? But you will have managed the place
where you live and the money you get, and you will have contacted a
range of services like housing, gas, phone and the doctor. Ever done
teaching? Maybe not, but if you have children you will have taught your
child to do a wide range of things. Skills and knowledge developed in
one area of life can be ‘identified’ and transferred across to other
areas of life.
New Deal and Sure Start ~ how to make them a good deal!
If there really is to be a “New Deal”, then the people who are frequently excluded from jobs and training MUST be helped to access these new opportunities.
If recruitment is based on certificates
and work experience only, then a huge percentage of the people of Burngreave
will miss out yet again.
Recruitment must be based on raw competencies - the things people can
do or need to be able to do in order to accomplish a task - combined
with a positive attitude to getting the necessary skills. This way local
people can break the cycle of no qualification, no job, no work experience
etc.
Sitting with Nellie!
People taking these new opportunities need to be supported while they
learn the job (the old apprenticeship model, sometimes called “sitting
with Nellie”). Working mentors could accompany the new recruit and provide
ongoing support combined with learning packages. Support would reduce
as the individual gained in competence. This way, Burngreave people
would be the paid agents of changing and developing the area. Sustainable
development? Yes! Yes! Yes! Sure Start has already made a commitment
to this style of working, and the Government office has already given
us approval to go ahead - so why not recruit the New Deal in the same
way and make it really a ‘NEW DEAL’? Jane Grinonneau – Chair of Sure
Start
Please don’t let the education
system of yesterday speak for the youth of the future.
As one of the earliest refugees in Sheffield, it’s
sometimes hard for me to live in this area and this has nothing to do
with the people, who come from different communities and different cultures
that I’ve benefitted from. But when I first came to Burngreave I was
a refugee child and somewhere in my childhood, locked away, is a dream
that still haunts me. Many years have passed since then, but my questions
still lay unanswered and I want to know why certain things happened
to me the way they did all those years ago.
Dreams waiting to be born
Within our community I’ve blended with so many who are warm, friendly
and passionate about their dreams and who they are.
Whereever I go, I know that somewhere within every home is an awesome talent and within me a hope that someone’s dream is being born.
In the streets I walk I find people from different backgrounds producing music, with heavy beats. Laying down Hip Hop; R’n’B; Drum & Bass; Techno and Jazz. This street network brings together graffiti artists, writers, poets, sculptors, the list goes on.
Haunted
I walked slowly to that place just opposite Pitsmoor Adventure playground
and mounted that steep hill overlooking the cemetery on my left. I reached
the top of that hill and there, in front of me as I turned, stood my
nightmare.
A brown bricked building that represented for me many years of haunting. The place where things really started to go wrong. I could almost hear that school bell ring, mingling with shouts and running feet, grey skirts, shorts and jumpers, all rushing to enter the place once called Burngreave School.
I was the refugee, who couldn’t
speak, read or write any English
I was the refugee and I saw the images of my childhood clear. The bullying
and the crying. So much noise that no one else could hear my cry for
help. I was the refugee, who couldn’t speak, read or write any English.
I was the prodded, the mimicked and the skitted.
I wanted to share my dreams, tell someone what was happening to me at my home. Replaying it all over again those images caused me to choke and grab my chest. I bit my bottom lip recalling my first day at Shiregreen Middle School. Different uniform same situation. I still couldn’t read or write. No one found out because no one really paid attention to the work I was doing and I was doing nothing.
If any letters did arrive no one
could read them anyway
No letters from school ever came to my parents’ doorstep. After all
they were also refugees and for them the language barrier was even wider.
If any letters did arrive no one could read them anyway. I was the only kid whose parents never ever attended open evenings. My father worked seven days a week in the steel industry at River Don and had very little time to notice my problems. I also guess he had problems of his own and I continued trying to bluff my way through school.
I wanted to tell her I couldn’t
read or write
An event that will always haunt me is being confronted about there being
no work in my exercise book. The teacher began to go crazy. I wanted
to tell her I couldn’t read or write, that I didn’t understand what
she was saying. But she kept on with more words I couldn’t understand.
I knew from her face that I was in trouble. I also recalled one assembly
and being spotted not singing in this language that was alien to me.
Again I was chastised. The teacher was now shouting and I stood and
walked out of school, as she screamed demands for me to stop.
The beginning of hanging around the
streets
No more bullying and prodding for me. This was the beginning of hanging
around the streets. Firth Park, Spital Hill and anywhere but school.
It was out on the street that I found I wasn’t alone.
I’m now thirty four years of age and have just completed writing a book and creating my own comic strips. My fame and fortune lying in the design business and producing music. For me it has taken a long time and I often wonder what my life would have been if someone had taken time to understand the plight of a refugee, listened and helped me foremost to receive the education I hungered for and needed.
Anonymous
Elections - What’s going
on?
There is uncertainty surrounding elections for
the New Deal for Communities. BCAF and the community, at the July 1st
quarterly meeting, have worked hard to produce a proposal, but some
issues remain unresolved.
The plan was to have elections in the autumn, but it is not clear that an electoral register could be ready in time. The Interim Partnership Board is just starting to get used to working together and there is a lot to be done in the next few months. We bring you details of the election proposals and the issues surrounding them.
Whats going on?
There is uncertainty surrounding elections for the New Deal for Communities.
BCAF and the community, at the July 1st quarterly meeting, have worked
hard to produce a proposal, but some issues remain unresolved.
BCAF had been working on proposals and these were taken to the BCAF Quarterly Forum meeting. Approximately one hundred people heard about the plans and some of the areas of uncertainty. These were then discussed in workshops and the results presented to the meeting. They were then taken away and a BCAF group worked out a proposal for the elections:
Election proposals
-
Five people with the highest number of votes from a poll of the full electorate to be elected to the Partnership Board.
-
A specific NDfC Electoral Register to be created.
- Everyone over 15 years old who lives in the Burngreave ward to be eligable to vote.
- Elections held every two years.
- To stand, candidates must be aged 18 years or over, and be nominated by ten voters.
- Voting cards to be issued by post to everyone on the register.
- Votes can be cast by post or at a public meeting.
- Elections to be run by a professional service, for example, The Electoral Reform Service.
- Elections to be separate from BCAF elections.
Sticking Point
The Interim Partnership Board broadly welcomed the plan at their June
13th meeting, but one issue could not be agreed on.
The New Deal funding is aimed at only part of the Burngreave Ward, and
cannot be used to fund projects outside those boundaries. BCAF felt that
because it would effect the whole of Burngreave, especially through help
for local schools, for instance, everyone should have a vote. The representatives
from the statutary agencies felt that it would raise people’s expectations
if they voted, but projects in their neighborhood couldn’t benefit. No
agreement was reached at the meeting, but it was still planned to have
elections in the Autumn.
Tight Deadlines
The plan was to have elections in the autumn, but it is not clear that
an electoral register could be ready in time.
The Interim Partnership Board is just starting to get used to working together and there is a lot to be done in the next few months. As Daniela explains above, the Board will have to decide how to employ and train people, as well as starting the process of making a plan for Burngreave. If the Board changes after autumn elections it may disrupt this phase. The plan has to be completed by March.
Are elections necesary?
Since the Partnership Board meeting it has emerged that there may not
be an obligation to hold elections in the autumn, or possibly at all.
There have been suggestions that as the community members are already
elected onto the BCAF Coordinating Committee a second election is not
necessary. This again brings up concerns, felt by some, that BCAF does
not currently equally represent all sections of the community. This was
part of the reasons for the original decision to separate the BCAF and
New Deal elections.
It would be disappointing and suprising if after all the work put in at a community level no elections were held, but a delay to allow the current Board a chance to get the work underway, to agree the process and work towards an electoral register seems necessary.
The Pitsmoor Adventure Playground has been busy since I first stepped into the place. Children are busy having fun in expressing their ideas, their dreams about what they would like to see in their own community called Burngreave. It is as I have always understood that children need to always play a apart in the building process of their community. They will feel accountable, responsible and also when a community has achieved their goals, they will also feel that they have achieved because they played a major part in the role of building towards a brighter future.
An opportunity came to use my skills as a graphic designer, graffiti artist and cartoonist to help with the team for the children to express what is their dream of having at the Pitsmoor Adventure Playground and also in Burngreave itself. What would they like to see in their community. They are, after all, like many children; the future and the next generation that will play a major part in all our lives in the years to come.
The team are working hard to created ways for helping the children to express their ideas in a way that they are playing, still enjoying and creating a positive atmosphere. What amazes me is the many ways they have created for the children to do just that as well as expressing their ideas for Burngreave. I walked in and started to sketch away as the children watched me carefully and as I expected they suddenly wanted to join. There is Daniel Simpson who is bright and loves his art. He is ten years old and always eager. I asked him ‘what would you like to happen in Burngreave or what what you like to see happen’. A Sea Saw that dips into the water as you go down. A slide where you suddenly splash into the water is what he wanted to have in the Adventure Playground. Suddenly a picture was banged on table in front of me. It was a picture of a bus with faces shining through their windows. she and many others in the Playground wanted more trips. They wanted to go and see different cities, galleries and exhibitions.
I was jumped by another boy who had been standing behind me for a
while. Now he has been studying me and wondering what am I doing here,
in his Adventure Playground. He came up behind me with a large grin
and joined in, and said ‘I know what I would like to see in the Burngreave’.
‘What would you like to see Jamie?’ I replied.
‘I don’t to see anyone burgaling houses. I don’t want things like
happen anymore in Burngreave.’ He got a paper and drew the burglar
and the house, and gave me a another grin and autographed it for me.
I thought I was gonna have it easy but the children kept coming as they sat around the table drwaing as fast as they could to show me what they wanted. One of them who is very confident slapped his painting on my folder while holding a Pool Cue and shouted ‘I want a bigger Playground. Its too small, too small when there is a lot of us. The drawing showed me a bigger playground and he was scoring a goal as the opposite side shouted ‘Boooo Booo.’ He is right though. There are so many children coming to the Adventure Play ground and the way things are going, there are going to be a lot more yet to come.
As my day finished on Thursday at 7pm and the children left to play football or play pool, I realised how important it is that the children at the Pitsmoor Adventure Playgound have the chance to not only express themselves but gain skills using the latest equpiment. This is the time, they are young and eager. They learn quicker at this age and what better to use different workshops and come out with an end product to be used by so many organisations showing different ways to get the children involved to express their ideas. I went back home and relaxed for a while and I smile. I smiled because I could still hear the voices of the children telling me what they wanted in Burngreave. I took the pictures that they painted or drawn and scattered around my table. I looked at those paintings and I have to say this; yes, these ideas, their dreams that they painted with eagerness to show me would definitley bring a brighter future for Burngreave. It would help towards enriching their lives and also enrich our lives too.
Layout/Writer One Dark Angel
CELTIC BURNGREAVE...THE CAMP AT ROE WOOD
The earliest evidence of people living in Burngreave is from the
Iron Age – maybe 2500 years ago. These people – sometimes called the
Celts – originally came from what is now southern Germany. The Celts
were farmers, brave and warlike. From time to time they would set
out to settle new lands. From 450 to 250 years BCE (Before Common
Era) they were the most powerful people in Europe, living in France
and Spain in the west, Britain and Ireland in the North, Italy and
Greece in the south and Turkey to the east.
The hill fort
which existed in Roe Woods was built and lived in by Celtic people.
The fort was demolished in the 1930s and is now under the tennis courts
on the Forgemasters sports ground. In the 1920s though, you could
still see the mounds shown. Local people used the 200 foot wide circle
for bare knuckle fights. Originally the Celts may have defended this
hillside position. The Celts were some of the first people to have
horses and may have rode them in and out of the fort.
“About quarter
of a mile to the north-east of Shirecliffe Hall, Pitsmoor, is a wood
known as Great Roe Wood. Near its western edge is a nameless earthwork,
hitherto little noticed, but once or twice described as a “camp.”
This earthwork originally consisted of one large circular mound and
an outer ditch” S. O. Addy “Hall of Waltheof” 1893
The Celts were a proud, brave people, quick to defend their honour
and warlike in spirit. They often got involved in cattle raids and
disputes and were trained to use weapons from childhood. Women had
a strong role in Celtic society. Women had legal rights to own and
inherit property and warrior women were given high status. Celtic
beliefs involved the druid religion which involved animal and probably
human sacrifice. Water was also important in Celtic beliefs. The tradition
of throwing coins into wishing wells and well dressing comes from
the Celts. The King Arthur story reflects Celtic beliefs with strong
women characters and a sword thrown into a pool.
Roman pottery
was also found at the Roe Wood hill fort. Next month we ask whether
Burngreave was the front line between the Romans and the Celts at
the time when warrior Queen Catimandua wielded power in the Pennine
area
.
Write to us at Abbeyfield Park House, Abbeyfield Rd, S4 7AT or email us at burngreavem@hotmail.com by August 14th. If you can, give us a copy of your letter on a disc, but we'll try to use any letters we recieve. We may need to edit them for space, but we want the Messenger to be your voice.
Ashamed of the litter
Dear Sir/Madam,
I have recently read the Burngreave Messenger and found it really
interesting and informative. My family and I have lived and worked
in Burngreave for most of our lives, but since I moved from Coupe
Road to my present address 11 years ago, I have felt isolated from
the community. I was really pleased to realize that whoever delivered
the Messenger, still considers Norwood to be in Burngreave.
What did concern me however, was the fact that every article was new to me. All this wonderful work going on in our area and I didn’t know about it. Thank you for having the foresight to put the information together, as I am sure that many more people aren’t aware of what is going on in their own area.
I was particularly pleased to read the articles on regeneration, the Green City Action group and the Urban Sustainability Centre idea. You even included an article about my pet hate – litter and rubbish!
It’s easy to blame the Council for not cleaning it up but they don’t
drop it all. Do people not realize that the money spent by the Council
on street cleaning could be spent elsewhere? The only time that I
am ashamed to live in Burngreave is on the bus when people comment
on the rubbish everywhere. Have the litter droppers no pride in their
environment?
Yours faithfully, Doreen Rushforth (Mrs.)
Distribution problems
Dear Sir/madam,
I thought for future reference, you might be interested to know that
many copies of your July issue of “Burngreave Messenger” have been
dumped near Crabtree pond,
Yours faithfully, a local resident
Dear local resident,
Many thanks for your comments, and to all the others who have brought
problems with distribution to our attention. We organise the deliveries
ourselves. We felt the companies who’ve been used in the past didn’t
do a good enough job and always missed some areas.
Our distribution isn’t perfect yet, we’d like to apologise to everyone who hasn’t got their copies, but we’ve acted on all your comments and are improving our system. We always need more people to help, the more people who get involved, the better the Messenger will get. Do get in touch if you could help with this or any other part of the paper’s production.
If you’ve got anything to say about the Messenger or anything else happening in Burngreave, write to us.
Dear Editor
Burngreave cemetery is a jewel in the environment of the north of
Sheffield.
Can dog owners not be persuaded that to use it as a dog defecation
area is irresponsible, anti social, and some might say is a desecration
of a burial ground?
Yours fraternally, Derrick Harrop.
Next month, Dog walkers fight back:
Five Golden Rules for dog walkers Manifesto for a Community - Council partnership to develop local ownership of the cemetery Funding bids for cemetery dog loos
Konfereniskii Mshruuca Somali Mental Health ee Burngreave oo guul ku dhammaaday
Kulankii ama konfereniskii labaad ee mashruuca Somali Mental Health iyo kumunitiga Soomaalida ee lagu qabtay St Peter’s Church, Lyons St, taariikhdu markay ahayd 20kii bishii Juun ujeedadiisu waxay ahayd:
In mar labaad la iftiimiyo korodhka dhibaatada mental healthka (xanuunnada waalida) ee ka jira Soomaali kumunitiga dhexdeeda.
In hay’adaha la shaqeeya kumunitiga Soomaalidu ay is dhaafsadaan akhbaarta iyo habka wanaagsan ee loola shaqeyn karo Soomaalida.
In loo soo jeediyo talo iyo tusaale Mental Healthka Qaranka.
Konfereniskan waxaa ka soo qeyb galay in ka badan 50 qof oo ka kala
socday hay’addo kala duwan iyo kumunitiga Soomaalida.
“Waxaa dadka Soomaalida ka dhaadhacsan in midab – takoorka, luqo la’aanta,
dhaqan kala duwanaanta iyo kala duwanaanta araa’du ay sabab u tahay
inaan Soomaalidu ka qeyb qaadan adeegyada dhaqanka xasaasiga ku ah.
Taasi mar walba dhab ma ah, laakiin waa carqalad jirta. Haddaba shaqo
ayaa looga baahan yahay kuwa adeegyada fidiyo siday u kasban lahaayeen
kalsoonida kumunitiga.”
Hadalkan waxaa yidhi Dr. Pettinger oo dhakhtar ka ah Hanover Medical Centre
Waxaa kale oo konfereniska ka hadlay Saciid Cabdi oo ka socday Mashruuca Somali Mental Health iyo Chris Bently oo ka socday Caafimaadka Sheffield.
Wixii akhbaar dheeraad ah iyo warbixintii konfereniskaba kala soo xidhiidh mashruuca Somali Mental Health – 2758556.
The Furnival Project on Verdon Street is a focal point for a large section of this community, Peter Hurley, one of the project workers was very agitated when he saw me.
Peter is very concerned that the image of the cameras
will stop people coming to the community café, by alienating and making
people watch over their shoulders.
“ Sitting outside on the benches, people don’t want cameras looking
down on them...it’s an infringement of their civil liberties .”
I asked Peter if, with the business regeneration around Spital Hill,
the protection of CCTV might help entice investment from the wealthy
business sector as well as provide protection and security for the new
project.
“Ah, but cameras don’t regenerate businesses”.
“No..But maybe they protect them..” I suggested.
“ Yeah, but I’ve heard arguments both for and against it..I mean it’s
an infringement of my civil liberties, to be watched coming to work
everyday..I live on Verdon Street, shop on Verdon.. If people wanted
to do something, they’d go round the corner and out of sight of the
cameras”
I heard that and guessed it all depended a lot on how small it was you
got to hide and how big that corner was. On that note I had to spell
out another point, the grave instances where CCTV has been instrumental
in the protection of life and capturing those who take it such as the
Bulger case and more recently the London nail bombings,
“ If you’re going to put up cameras to stop child abduction, nails bombings
or criminal activity, why put them on Verdon Street. We don’t have a
problem with those things.. Why is Verdon Street being targeted, why
not every street in Burngreave ”
There is a suspicion that they will used to supply information
about cannabis. Peter stressed that the Furnival Project does not promote
the use and or selling of any sort of drug. He also acknowledges there
is as much as a drug issue on Verdon Street as many other streets.
“If there’s drug dealing going on, its out there Rob, and as a community
café we’re open to all people..We’re not going to exclude anybody for
what ever reasons..If a drug dealer happens to want a cup of tea, then
he’ll get a cup a tea..Or a ‘Full Monty’, whatever..”
Area Coordinators Column Isn’t it amazing how
quickly the Messenger comes round again ?
Anyhow, first of all I want to thank all of you who responded to my last article about roads in need of cleaning up. Your comments are much appreciated and the roads you named will be covered by the blitz in September.
In case you didn’t see the last edition, I’ve repeated the form at the bottom of the page for you to use to let me know of any roads with environmental problems that we could tackle.
Summer Play and Sport Activities
The Council have now pulled together their list of events to take place in Burngreave over the summer holidays, it’s in the summer activities box on the back page. We all hope you’ll find something of interest in there to join in with.
This Month’s Council Service: Environmental Services
This service has a very local base at Gayton Road, Osgathorpe. From this base the following services operate :-
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Environmental nuisance including noise nuisance control
- Private drainage clearance
- Dog warden service
- Pest control
- Action against people caught dumping illegally
- Clearance of build-ups of waste likely to cause health hazards and other public health issues.
Environmental Services are the people who are there to look after our health and environment on a practical level.
Another section of this service is also undertaking a Health Audit in Burngreave in conjunction with the Health Authority and the City Council. They are currently collecting information on what services are available locally. After that, they will be coming out to speak to the public on what matters to you, what changes you’d like to see in health provision. So watch this space!
Area Action Plan
In conjunction with local Councillors , I’ve now got together a City Council Action Plan for Burngreave. This says what we’re going to be working on over the next year as our priorities. Our five key aims are going to be around:
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The Environment
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Employment
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Young People
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Community Safety
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Partnership Working
DJ Ranxs kicks the floor at a place called Orchis on Wednesday nighs at Carver Street. I hear the sweet melodies and rhythm of Garage as it kicks in after the Ragga flava. An hour later DJ Rugged steps in and moves the floor to the bass line of RnB and hardcore Hip Hop. As I moved with the different flava’s I wondered how many young artists are fighting for their dreams. I had to find a way to raise Sheffield’s talents especailly within Burngreave and when an opportunity came I started searching. In a matter of just two hours I was sitting down with a band that’s is making a difference. This is a band I felt have more than just talent. They got the determination and the right attitude to go all the way and open the doors for so many other artists in Burngreave. They call themselves by no other than...X Cell..!
When did you start singing as a
band?
Some of us went to the same school and some of the band met at college,
or Verdon street Youth Centre; that taught us about music and production.
The way friends usually meet. What style of music
you do?
RnB, House, Garage, Ragga and Dance. Our music is black orientated.
We might also choose to remix some of the tracks. Yah know, you must
have heard some RnB tunes mixed into Garage tunes. Whatever that’s in...!
Have you done any gigs?
Loads! We did our 1st gig at Rotherham Radio Show. We also sang for
Prince Charles 50th birthday in Sheffield. We sang at the Nelson Mandella
Building (NMB) and the last one was at fruit cupboards in Leeds. We
also won the Apollo night and did Music in the Sun in 1999.
Who’s helping you at the moment?
Chill-Out has been great. He promotes us and also Charlenes dad called
Paul Mason. He’s really put a lot of time and work in a big way. Helped
us with most of gigs out of town. It’s like a family helping each other.
What do yah think to the Garage,
RnB, Hip Hop vibe in Sheffield and rest of UK?
It is increasing but not enough. It needs more recognition and a lot
of it is underground. It needs to start kicking.
What do you think is needed to make
it easier for other talents to get recognised… and open door for them?
The opportunities are not there even with all the studios in
Sheffield.They are just not up to scratch or studios are not ready for
recording. We have to travel to Huddersfield to produce and record our
tracks. There are so many that could help but it’s all about money to
them. They don’t see that when we make it big then it’ll help them.
We would help them and invest in them. Unfortunately not many see it
that way. This attitude has to change.
Yah heard about the New Deal Money
in Burngreave. You live in the area so what would you like the money
spent on?
A recording studio that has a proper management system and their
aim is to help and train talented artists. It’s got to be run professionally.
No more laid back kind of thing. They got to take every artist whoever
he/she maybe seriouly and not see it that they are doing it as hobby.We
want more opportunities to grow and learn quickly. The The engineers
who teach us should be professionals and have contacts in the music
industry. There’s so many who are crying out for the opportunity to
become professional artists. It is just not happening. We want them
to take the music business seriously..!
What advise would yah give to other
artists who wanna follow your steps?
Have faith and don’t give up. Keep trying and enjoy it but don’t take
it as a little thing. Don’t abuse your talent. Don’t let anyone tell
you can’t do it. Stay strong and take critisms so that you learn to
grow.
It’s Show Time.. You just can’t walk into a studio even if you wanted to because you just don’t know where to start. Well all yah, the One Dark Angel has the recording studio waiting for you. To win £200 worth of time at an awesome computer suite at a Recording Studio called Yellow Arch. All you have to do is send me a demo tape. Yah don’t have to go a studio to do that. I will know if yah got talent. All yah have to do is put a tape in your system and sing, hum or whatever it takes to express yah idea on tape. Send it to One Dark Angel at the Burngreave Messenger. Don’t forget to put your name, telephone number and address and I’ll get back to you. Watch out for this space for the New Deal Competition. It’s gonna be awesome in Burngreave. Time to make it happen and it will only happen with you sending yah demo. You wanted support, well, yah got it and all it takes is me recieving yah demo tape. Just believe in yah self...!
One Dark Angel
New Deal for Communities may seem quiet after the Roadshows,
but Daniela Hawryliuk from the Community Partership Unit explains whats
happening behind the scenes, as a plan to make Burngreave a better place
to live is developed.
‘Quick Win’ money available soon
Details are awaited but around £200,000 will soon become available for
‘Quick Win’ projects, to be spent by March 2001. Although no decisions
have yet been made, the money will be for low cost projects that make
a big difference and form part of the New Deal strategy.
New Deal for Communities – Work Goes On It might seem quiet......
It may seem that things have gone a bit quiet on the New Deal for Communities front since the Roadshows in April. This is not so, a lot of work is going on by all those involved in the Partnership to make sure we get the foundations right for a New Deal in Burngreave over the next ten years.
Government gives go-ahead for Phase
2
The decision from Government Office to go through to the next stage
of the New Deal for Communities process finally came through in June.
We are now into Phase 2. This means that by March 2001, a detailed plan
needs to be written which identifies and explains the problems and opportunities
in the neighbourhood. It will also include plans about what needs to
be done to make Burngreave a better place to live, how much this will
cost, and how the scheme will be run and managed locally. Only once
the plan is accepted by Government Office will Burngreave be able to
receive up to £50 million to begin making these changes.
Getting Involved
Work is now underway collecting all the information about Burngreave,
this includes thorough reviews of local transport, business, services
and community activity, as well as pulling together all the ideas you
have already given us about making improvements in the area. The Partnership
is also looking at how local people can benefit from New Deal for Communities
job and training opportunities.
Once this work is done there will be more consultation events arranged. Not everyone is able to, or be comfortable with, attending public meetings so we are also looking at different ways of making sure that everyone has their say about plans for the future. We will publicise planned events in the Burngreave Messenger.
‘Quick Win’ Projects
Government Office has told us that around £200,000 will soon be available to spend on quick win, low cost projects that make a big difference. We are waiting for more details on this, but we do know that the money needs to be spent and projects completed by March 2001 and that all projects are assessed by Government Office. As soon as we have more information on this we will let you know.
Daniela Hawryliuk Sheffield City Council, Community Partnership Unit.
Successful Somali Mental Health Conference in Burngreave
The second conference on mental health issues and the Somali Community, held at St Peter’s Church, Lyons St on June 20th, aimed to:
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Highlight again the increase in mental health problems within the Somali Community
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Share information and good practice between organisations working with the Somali Community
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Provide recommendations for the National Standards Framework for Mental Health.
“There is a perception in the Somali community that, due to racism, stereotyping, language and cultural issues they are unable to access culturally sensitive services. This is not always the case, but acts as a barrier in itself. Work is needed by the service providers to gain the community’s trust.”
Dr Pettinger Hanover Medical Centre Other speakers included Saeed Abdi from the Somali Mental Health Project and Chris Bentley from Sheffield Health Authority. For more information and conference report contact Somali Mental Health Project – 2758556.