Community Groups - 'Don't panic!'

The Burngreave New Deal for Communities Delivery Plan is due to be submitted in its draft form on 14 Feb and things are really hotting up at the theme meetings, where the ideas are being generated to be included in it.

With all these tight deadlines and the thought of so much money at stake, community groups are getting understandably worried about missing the boat and not getting a look in on the plans or the money. SO…to reassure those of you in this position, here's a brief overview of how the delivery plan's being put together:

1. Theme groups are agreeing long-term aims (outcomes) for their themes.

2. Theme groups will decide which projects can deliver changes that will meet these outcomes and will prioritise those that can deliver in the first year (i.e. which are ready to go) and will get more detailed costings for them.

3. Those projects which are not yet ready to deliver because for example the group needs more members, resources, training etc (more capacity) can still be part of the plan, but may spend the first year developing their capacity so that they can deliver their project at a later date.

4. The I.P.B. (Interim Partnership Board) will decide priorities for inclusion in the final plan, which will be submitted, to Central Government in mid March.

A lot of the first year's activity and spending will be on preparation for development such as consultation, feasibility studies, capacity building, etc.

Unlike SRB, the implementation of the New Deal delivery plan will be flexible. That means that projects can be changed, money diverted, timescales altered if necessary to best meet the outcomes.

Your group need not be named in the Delivery Plan to be included. Make yourselves known to the New Deal Project Development Workers:

Chris Birks,
(Crime & Housing Themes)

John Lawson
(Health & Employment Themes)

Mazher Iqbal
(Education, Employment & Business )

Helen Warburton
(Environment )

Contact the New Deal Team at:
Spartan House, 20 Carlisle Street,
S4 7LJ. Tel.: 2796932

Early Wins Successful Bids

Capacity Building Grants

Firshill Education Centre £4975
Ellesmere Children's Centre £3270
Black Men's Group £605
Pitsmoor Citizen's Advice Bureau £4980
Somali Education Breakthrough £3400
Sheffield African Caribbean Mental Health Assoc £3085
Refugee Care Association £4980
Burngreave Messenger: Lets Get Wired £4157
Burngreave Messenger £4407
Ellesmere After School Project £6252
Somali Physically Disabled Support Group £4630
Hindu Samaj and Community Centre £4700

Small Grants

Green Fingers Gardening Club £470
Pitsmoor Lunch Club £500
Burngreave Parent and Toddler Group £1000
Adventure Playground Users Group £800
North East Sheffield Permaculture Forum £800
ACME £770
Friends of Burngreave Chapel and Cemetery £855
Burngreave Vestry Hall Trust £550
St Peter's Church Ellesmere £1000
Green City Action Round City Walk Booklet £500
Green City Action £522
Workhorse Short Film Projects £726
Arab Youth Group £1000
Burngreave Somali Women's Group £1000
Steps Social Drop-in Group £500

Short Media Skills Course for Somalis in Burngreave

ISRAAC Somali Community Association and Workhorse Short Film Projects are running a short course in Media Skills Development aimed at young Somali men and women in the Burngreave area. The course runs throughout March, and will involve basic tuition in video production, photography and sound recording, leading to a practical video project.

Eight free places are available. Applicants should be living in Burngreave and be aged 19 or over. Any previous experience in video or other media activity is welcome, but not essential. The most important ingredient is enthusiasm!

For more information, or for details of how to apply, contact either:
Ahmed Mohamoud ~ tel. 2589158 or 07787 943988
or Robin Forsyth ~ tel. 2207162 or 2617558.

A Brighter Station
Another opening for local talent has been found. NDfC theme groups have been concerning themselves with the visible projects that will be the first seen by people living and travelling through the area. Although these small projects are extra to the overall 10 Year delivery plan, making a permanent difference is still the priority.
Spital Hill petrol station forecourt was identified from the Road Shows as one of the major eyesores people wished to see changed. With this in mind a redecoration of the entire plot is taking place at the end of March. A local business has been asked for a quote and is ready to complete the contract. Further to the initial refreshing of the site's visage there is a chance for artists in our area to produce bold details promoting the improvements ordinary people can contribute to their own environment. But before the decoration the site needs to be thoroughly cleaned. A ' Bring Your Recycling ' day is going to be organised as part of the cleanup operation, with one of local Blue Box Company Waste Stream's kerbside collection vehicles in attendance. Volunteers are hoping for fine weather and refreshments, we're sure something will appear.
To join the day's activities contact the Environment Group at NDfC, Spartan House, 20 Carlisle St, S4 7LJ on 279 6932

Pitsmoor Adventure Playground Users Group

The Adventure Playground was established 25 years ago and provides play provision for 4-15 year olds. Its is a unique facility in the Burngreave area providing a second home for children who use it regularly and an additional play space for different types of play for local groups and those from further a field.

Pitsmoor Adventure Playground have got £800 for a special event to attract people to the Users Group and raise awareness of the value of our facility to the Burngreave Community. We are also hoping to have £4,250 Capacity Building money including £1,200 to train members of the Users Group. Watch this space!
For more information, contact Sam on 2039394

"Great Party"

Over a hundred kids were treated to a full sit down Christmas meal at Verdon Recreation Centre in December. Children from all over Burngreave were invited to enjoy free food and entertainment at the centre. The whole place was decorated especially for the occasion and Father Christmas brought presents for everyone.

Firshill Out of School Club
has recently received New Deal funding to help improve its facilities. They will be buying pond dipping equipment, sports equipment, and storage for art materials. The club is currently full to capacity, so lots of young people will benefit from this new equipment.

Happy Chinese New Year from Green Stars.
Green City Action's Multicultural Environment Club for 8-14 year olds has recently received New Deal money for equipment and materials.

£60 Computers for those on benefit

The DfEE are working with local partners to provide Internet Compatible computers with printer for only £60 to "assist in finding, training for or retaining employment".
The computers are reconditioned and have a real value of around £300.
They come with Windows '95 or '98 installed, though no backup disks for software are provided. The processors are Pentium 1, so not the most up to date, but not bad.

The computers are available to those on the following benefits:
· Job Seekers Allowance
· Income Support
· Incapacity Benefit
· State Pension with minimum income guarantee

(Benefits evidence must be produced)

In Burngreave the DfEE is working with the Black Community Forum (BCF) through SPAT-C to get the computers out to members of the community.

For details of how to get hold of your computer please contact: SPAT-C
Tel.: 2756815, 2634404 or 2737177
Phone/Fax: 2768292
Email: info@spat-c.com