Burngreave New Deal for Communities - May 2002

These pages are produced by the New Deal executive team

Language support events, Positive Policing in Burngreave, New Deal Director Steps Down, The Mentoring Project

A new four-month adult learning outreach project got under way in Burngreave in February. The project, funded by New Deal for Communities, has been put together by Burngreave Forum’s Adult Learning Working Group with the aim of encouraging and supporting local people to take up learning opportunities.

The 3 outreach workers employed by the project will be based at Burngreave Library on Spital Hill. They will be spend most of their time knocking on doors and meeting members of community organisations as well as setting up local publicity events and an information system on adult education courses.

The project will also be employing someone to consult widely with local organisations and individuals, and to make recommendations about:
• extending the outreach project
• developing a literacy campaign in Burngreave
• establishing a neighbourhood learning centre network in the area.
• This work should be taking place between April and July this year.
If you’re interested in going on a course, but need some more information, you can ring Sheena Clark, Simon Walker or Palorine Williams on 2039003.

The Mentoring Project

Just as we complete the pilot stage of the Mentoring Project, we now have an opportunity to review what we have achieved and how we can improve our future delivery. 

“Identifying ways of giving young people support is only the starting point for this project, but getting things to work well on the ground is the critical challenge for us all,” says Dr. Gregory, the Project Manager.

The project aims to introduce advocacy and support for many of our most disadvantaged young people living in the Burngreave New Deal for Communities area by recruiting and training a team of volunteer parent mentors. The approach, which will be as inclusive as possible, has been widely welcomed by the young people, parents and teachers involved. 

Giving the right help at the right time is seen to be extremely important by young people as it relates to the life circumstances of the young people, and not just problems at school. 

Combining more informal support out of school with more structured learning at school is felt to be an enormous step forward in helping to raise children’s achievements, improve their behaviour at school and reduce the possibility of exclusions from school.

Much of the success of the pilot project is due to the hard work and commitment of Levi Ferguson, supported by school staff and volunteers. Levi is also well known in the community as a member of the Burngreave Partnership Board for New Deal, as well as being an active member of the Burngreave Educational Performance Task Group, recently set up with the support of the Area Panel.

“The project is also a wonderful example of joined up working. It brings together resources from both the Local Education Authority and New Deal, and involves teachers, parents and people from the community working side by side,” concludes Dr. Gregory.

Happy mentoring! 
If you are interested in finding out more about the project, or joining as a volunteer, please contact Dr. Robert Gregory, Sheffield Local Education Authority on 2735734, or phone Levi Ferguson on 2786561.

Burngreave language support agency community events in May….

The language support workers have been busy talking to local residents and language support providers to gain a fuller understanding of language support requirements. 
Now the research phase has come to an end the language support agency would like to invite community members who took part in the research and anyone interested to come and find out what we have learned from and to hear our plans for the future.

The community events take place on Wednesday 1 May 1pm – 3pm at Verdon Recreation Centre (Women only) or Wednesday 1 May 6pm – 8pm at Pitsmoor Methodist Church. 

The work of the Language Support Agency will be displayed at Burngreave Library between Monday 29th April to Friday 10th May.
The next language support meeting is Thursday 16 May 10am – 12pm at St Peters Church, Lyons Street.
For more information contact Kate/ Sally on 275 1737 or Chetna on 271 6978

Positive Policing in Burngreave

You asked for a greater police presence in the area and that’s exactly what you have got.

The Burngreave New Deal for Communities Police Team operates from a small sub-station at the bottom of Andover Street. They have only been there since January but already seem to be making an impact on the area. As Sergeant Adrian Fox who heads up the team said: “There was a 30% reduction in burglary, theft of and from cars and robbery in February this year compared to the same period last year. This is encouraging but we know we still have a long way to go. We’re taking a long-term approach to a long-term problem, building on this early success.”

The team patrols the area on foot as well as by car giving them high visibility in the area. And no enquiry is too small for them to deal with. During my visit a caller popped into the station merely to ask for directions while somebody else came to report a suspected bogus council official in the area.

“We’re here to help improve the quality of life for all residents” said Sgt. Fox. “We are working with the locals to reduce nuisance issues which could be anything from removing abandoned cars to helping groups secure funding for community activities.”

Local residents at the Furnival Café on Verdon Street also welcome the initiative. Nellie, aged 80, has enjoyed living in the area for twenty years. She welcomed the increased presence of police walking the beat. Howard has worked in the area for seven years. He said, “Every neighbourhood has its problems but Burngreave has been unfairly labelled in the past. There are some very nice people living in the area.”

“If we’re really serious about building a vibrant community we must promote the positive aspects.” he added.

A thought echoed by Sgt. Fox who commented “Crime in the area is no greater and often less than other areas of the city. We need to work with residents to address their fear of crime and tackle the negative view other areas of the city have of Burngreave.” 

Another local resident who didn’t want to be named said:”It’s nice to see coppers walking around the area. We’ll have to wait and see if it works.”

Yes we will have to wait and see if it works. But early indications show this could prove to be another major success for Burngreave.

The next New Deal Board Meeting will take place on 29 May at Pitsmoor Methodist Church from 5.00pm to 7.00pm 

New Deal Director Steps Down

Mithu Komarnyckyj is stepping down as Director of Burngreave New Deal for Communities.

In a statement Mithu said: “Owing to personal circumstances and family commitments I have chosen not to remain at Burngreave New Deal for Communities past my probationary period. I have given the New Deal Board Members the maximum notice I can to give them the opportunity to find a replacement in good time. I believe I am leaving the programme on a stronger footing than when I arrived.

“I hope that the Year 2 Delivery Plan, which will see £4.2 million pumped into the area during the coming year, will gain Government approval during the next few days. New staff are being recruited and the programme is now well placed to deliver projects where they matter most, on the ground and to the benefit of Burngreave’s residents.” 

Sheffield City Council’s Chief Executive, Bob Kerslake said: “”Much good work has been done by both Board Members and Mithu during her time as Executive Director to move the New Deal programme on. Clearly we are sorry to see her go but understand that personal and family commitments must come first. The process of recruiting Mithu’s successor will begin soon.”

“The Council remains fully committed to working with the Community to make New Deal in Burngreave a success.” 

Find out more about Local Government and the New Deal in Burngreave. What do you think? Join the debate on our Local Government and the New Deal bulletin board.