Welcome to Darnall Forum's Community Website

Valentine's Day

2012-01-25T14:23:00.001Z

Why not visit our post office to see our wide range of Valentine gifts and cards?

We also offer

passport check and send
foreign currency
travel insurance
home, car and business insurance
moneygrams
parcelforce guaranteed next-day delivery
the full range of parcel and postal services
stamps
cards, stationery, toys and confectionery

Community First Programme: Neighbourhood Matched Fund

2012-01-23T20:18:00.001Z

Community First is a funding programmefrom the Office of Civil Society.

£30 Million is now available nationwide to fundcommunity projects in some of the most disadvantaged areas of the country.

Community First Neighbourhood MatchedFund is an initiative that provides local communities with the means toaddress their own priorities. Communities will set up local panelsin each eligible ward, which will decide upon projects for funding in theirarea.

It is a matched fund programme, whichmeans that every £1 provided in funding must be matched by a similar amount ofin-kind donations (this means donations of cash, services, free products orvolunteer time).

TheEast Community Assembly Area has £339,100 in total with £56,240 to be allocatedby 31^st March 2012. If your group is in the Arbourthorne, Darnall,Manor Castle or Richmond ward and you are interested in applying for a grant ofbetween £250 and £2500, contact the East Community Assembly Team on 01142735708 or communityassemblyeast@sheffield.gov.ukto find out more.

Please Join us for a Community Meeting on Wednesday 25 January at 7pm

2012-01-16T17:28:00.002Z

We’ll Discuss Parking Problems Caused By Tenants of Davy Markham and the ‘Twenty’s Plenty’ Campaign for Staniforth Road

Please join us for a community meeting with your three local councillors on Wednesday 25 January at 7pm at Darnall Forum, next-door to the post office. The meeting will report on the progress that has been made in tackling on-street parking by tenants of the Davy Markham office block at 722 Prince of Wales Road.

The meeting will also consider proposal to create a Twenty’s Plenty zone in the streets around Staniforth Road. Darnall has historically been a neighbourhood where there was a higher than average number of road accidents involving children. Twenty’s Plenty is an initiative which is designed to make local streets a safer place for children to play, run errands and visit their friends and family.

There will also be a chance to raise any other issues which you are concerned about.

Clover Group Patient Group

2012-01-16T17:22:00.005Z

The Clover Group of GPs is setting up a Patient Group. They say:

We want our patients to be consulted on the way we run our services. This will enable us to look at how we can play a bigger role in creating a healthier community.

If you're a patient, it’s up to you how involved you want to be. You can become:
• A full member. This will involve attending occasional meetings and providing feedback.
• A virtual member. The Clover Group will email or post you information for you to give them your opinions.

The Clover Group says:

We value your input
We’re proud of our practice but know it can be even better with your help.

For more information please contact Anna on
0845 121 4313 or at anna.majchrzak@nhs.net

Meeting about fire station closure, Thursday 12 January at 7pm

2012-01-11T17:37:00.001Z

South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue (SYFR), Darnall Forum and the East Community Assembly have work together to arrange a public meeting for residents in the Darnall area about the proposals to cut management and administration costs for the Fire Service by a quarter. The proposals include a new full-time fire station near to the Sheffield Parkway, to replace Darnall and Mansfield Road fire stations in Sheffield, and the meeting will give local residents a chance to comment and ask questions.

The meeting will be held at The Church of Christ, Station Road, Darnall, Sheffield S9 4JT, on Thursday 12th January 2012, at 7.00pm.

The proposals currently out to consultation, together with other internal staffing changes, will save around £4million per year following a one-off investment of £3.65million, including two new fire stations.

The public consultation document, and related business cases, can be viewed on the Service’s website, www.syfire.gov.uk.

To make their views known, residents can either attend the meeting or
• Write to: Public consultation, South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue, 197
Eyre Street, Sheffield, S1 3FG
• E-mail: serviceplan@syfire.gov.uk
• Twitter: @syfr
• Facebook: South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue

Annual General Meeting of Darnall Forum & Post Office

2010-11-03T15:00:00.000Z

The annual general meeting of Darnall Community Forum, which runs Darnall Post Office and a number of other projects, takes place on Tuesday 9 November at 6pm in the meeting room in the Darnall Forum offices next to Darnall Post Office.

This is a chance for local residents to have their say about how the post office is run and to comment on other issues that concern them.

The meeting elects the Board of volunteer trustees who run the Forum and are responsible for the post office through their trading company, Darnall Forum Trading.

To become a member of the Forum people have to live or work in Darnall.

Customer Service Consultant / Counter Clerk

2010-07-09T15:38:00.000+01:00

x 3 (Part Time or Jobshare),

Darnall, Sheffield

An excellent opportunity, working up to 16 hours per week on a rota between 9.00am - 5.30pm over five 1/2 days, has arisen at the new post office in Darnall. Subject to who else is appointed to the team there may be scope for agreeing certain set hours each week.

The main duties are serving customers, selling Post Office products and services, cash handling and advising on other Post Office related matters. You will also conduct general customer service and retail duties. Any keyboard, EPOS and proven communication skills with the public would be of great benefit. The appointee will be able to work quickly and accurately in a busy environment and preferably have cash handling experience. Patience and a helpful, friendly manner are essential attributes.

If you want to know more, please apply today by contacting alicia.lloyd@cffe.org.uk or Nazia on 0114 249 0099

Post Office Manager

2010-07-09T15:36:00.002+01:00

Darnall, Sheffield

An excellent opportunity has arisen to manage a busy Post Office in Darnall, Sheffield.

Darnall Forum currently have an exciting opportunity for a Post Office Manager to join their new Post Office team and manage the day to day operational activities whilst looking to utilise the positioning and footfall of the Post Office to provide additional retail based income streams.

You will need to have previous Post Office, finance or retail experience, experience of team leadership or management and must be passionate about driving sales and delivering excellence in customer service.

This is a fantastic opportunity for you to really get involved with a business and work autonomously as a manager, looking at ways to increase sales and generating year on year improvement.

The post office turnover runs on low weekly margins, so it is vital that you have the correct number of staff available at all times to ensure the best possible levels of customer service and that all aspects of the business are handled efficiently and effectively. It is key that the whole range of post office services and the other income streams are brought to customers' attention as appropriate to aid sales and turnover.

Key skills will include a strong work ethic, the ability to delegate, attention to detail, excellent numeracy, being an excellent communicator across a diverse customer and staff base, the ability to think on your feet and an entrepreneurial flair.

If you have previous Post Office or retail or finance experience, and are looking for a full time, permanent position then please apply today by contacting alicia.lloyd@cffe.org.uk or Nazia on 0114 249 0099

New Post Office To Open At The End of August

2010-07-09T15:31:00.002+01:00

Darnall's new post office will open on Tuesday 31 August. It will be based in Darnall Forum's offices at 245 Main Road, which are being remodelled to make room for a modern post office and shop with four counters. The post office will provide

passport checking
foreign currency
travel insurance
home and car insurance
moneygrams
parelforce guaranteed
next-day delivery
the full range of parcel and postal services
stamps
cards, stationery, toys and confectionery

The People's Post Office

But this will be a post office with a difference. Neil Bishop, Darnall Forum's Manager said, 'This really will be "The People's Post Office" because it belongs to the people of Darnall. Anyone who lives or works in Darnall, Attercliffe and Acres Hill can join Darnall Forum and have a say in how the post office is run because Darnall Forum owns the new post office and any profit we make, after we have paid the post office staff and all the bills and running costs, will be ploughed back into local services for people in Darnall. And it is the members of the Forum who decide the sort of services which the Forum should provide at our annual general meeting.'

Local councillors have been instrumental in helping the post office to open for business again. They persuaded the East Community Assembly to make a grant of £10,000 towards the set-up costs. MP Clive Betts has also given the Forum his support and campaigned to get Post Office Ltd, which runs the post office network, to agree a groundbreaking deal which will allow Darnall Forum itself to be responsible for the post office instead of a sub-postmaster.

Chair of the Forum, Sylvia Hamilton, said, 'Darnall needs a post office. Many people here found it very difficult to travel to Attercliffe or Handsworth, or into town, to get the things they need. And the local shopping centre needs a post office, too. That's why we decided we had to do something to help.'

Mr Betts told The Herald: "The Darnall Forum team deserve a great deal of credit for a superb achievement."

The post office will open for business on Tuesday 31 August at 9am. Its opening hours will be 9 - 5.30 on weekdays and 9 - 12.30 on Saturdays.

COUNCIL BACKS DOWN ON GYPSY AND TRAVELLER SITE ON ROSS STREET, THANKS TO PRESSURE FROM LOCAL COUNCILLORS AND DARNALL RESIDENTS, BUT NEED FOR VIGILANCE

2010-07-09T15:24:00.003+01:00

COMMUNITY MEETING ON 20 JULY

Local councillors are calling another community meeting, at 6.30pm on 20 July in Church of Christ, Main Road, Darnall to bring local people up-to-date on what is happening about the proposals for a Gypsy and Traveller site in Darnall. The proposal to use the Ross Street site has now been dropped by the Council after pressure from local residents and councillors, but Cllr Mary Lea warned that there are other sites which the report identifies in our area. "We need to be vigilant about this," she said.

The City Council has announced that the consultation about Gypsy and Traveller sites is on hold until later in the year, while it waits to hear from government about new planning guidelines. However, Councillor Harry Harpham said, "Although we are no longer being consulted about this, and although Ross Street is no longer being considered, the issue has not gone away. Your councillors share the concerns of local people about creating a new Gypsy and Traveller site in Darnall and are 110% behind you. It is critical to keep collecting signatures on petitions and reminding the Council about how we feel."

Councillors and local residents are concerned that Darnall does not have the health and education facilities to cope with a Gypsy and Traveller site on top of other new housing developments which have already caused concern, especially about school places in a part of the city with a relatively young population. Cllr Lea said, "These proposals were called in for scrutiny and we want to be able to tell residents exactly what happened at the special scrutiny board meeting, as well as what we did with the petitions which people have collected."

Community Meeting 24 June 2010 10am Church of Christ

2010-07-09T15:20:00.003+01:00

Chair: Councillor Harry Harpham

Councillor Mary Lea in attendance plus 16 residents, 3 council officers, 1 officer from the PCT and 1 Forum officer.

The following statement was made by planning officers:

The Council are no longer consulting on the three proposed sites for Gypsy and Travellers, including the one proposed for Darnall, as part of its current consultation on the Sheffield Development Framework. The Council has called the decision to include the sites in the draft consultation documents in for scrutiny. This means that the issue of Gypsy and Traveller sites will be looked at in more detail by members of the Scrutiny Committee on 6^th July.

The City Council, as local planning authority, is currently required to allocate enough land in its development plan to meet future needs for Gypsy and Traveller sites. However, the Government has recently announced that they will be making changes to the process giving councils more local discretion. This may have implications for the assessment of need and the number of sites that are required. The Council expects to be doing more work on this issue, including consultation, but until the new guidance is published it is not clear what the Council will be required to do, so they have shelved this issue for the time being. The Council has in the meantime kept all the concerns which were sent to them.

Questions from members of the public:

Question: What are we to do with the petitions which the Councillors have circulated?

Councillor Harpham said that although we are no longer being consulted about this, the issue has not gone away. The Councillors share the concerns of local people and are 110% behind them. It is critical to keep collecting signatures on petitions. This will mean residents can be kept informed by letter about what is happening. There will be another public meeting after 6^th July. The Councillors will hand in the petitions collected so far at the next Council meeting and they will continue to present them on a rolling basis.

Question: What about the Gypsies who are already living in Darnall without permission?

The concerns of residents were noted.

Question: Why had a meeting been called during the daytime when a lot of people cannot come?

Neil Bishop explained that we are holding a few daytime meetings as well as our regular evening meetings to help a wider cross-section of residents to get their views across. Evening meetings are not always well attended.

Question: How many sites have been proposed in areas where Liberal Democrat voters are in the majority?

Seven

Question: What about the problems that have been associated with other Gypsy and Traveller sites?

Residents noted that a lot of money has been spent on other sites – such as Woodburn Road – and then they have closed. Concerns were expressed about anti-social behaviour affecting local residents. There was a feeling that money had been wasted on Gypsy and Traveller facilities which then were not used.

Lyn Brandon said that Gypsy and Traveller sites are now being managed by Sheffield Homes. The PCT has found from its work that Gypsies and Travellers have much poorer health than other people and face a lot of racism. She is working on sites at Redmire and Mosborough which are very well run and where families stay for a long time. There are already Gypsies living in Darnall and they don’t cause any unusual problems.

Question: Could new bus companies be brought into Darnall? First Bus is not an adequate service provider.

The comment was noted but this is not a matter which the city council to decide.

Question: When is the regeneration of Darnall going to begin? It doesn’t seem likely in the lifetime of older people.

A resident commented that she did not wish to stereotype Gypsies and Travellers as she knew that many must be good citizens but the experience of people in Darnall had unfortunately been a lot more negative and we need to make sure that people living on sites are willing to conform to social norms and laws. Councillor Harpham said the real issue was about whether the area had the capacity to absorb a significant number of extra Gypsy and Traveller residents given the pressures on local services.

Sheffield Development Framework

Debbie Merrill from Development Services gave a presentation about the latest stage of the Sheffield Development Framework. She presented a draft of the City Policies and Sites document and Proposals Map now available for consultation and comment. The draft plan presents guidance on how the city should develop in the future and the presentation was made with particular reference to Darnall and the surrounding neighbourhoods. The documents can be read on the Council website or at Darnall Library. Comments on the draft documents can be made to: www.sheffield.gov.uk/sdfconsult or by email to sdf@sheffield.gov.uk

There is a formal six week consultation period until the 30^th July. Changes will be made to the documents after the consultation. A final version will be sent to government next year and should be approved by December 2012, so we are very much at a draft stage of the process.

Question: Nothing ever seems to happen at the end of all the reviews and plans. It all seems utopian. When will we see regeneration happen?

Debbie Merrill said it is a legal function of the Council to put plans in place. However, these plans are often affected by 1,001 other issues including the economy. Maria Duffy said it is not an investment plan; it is a planning framework so that if developers come forward with proposals we can see how they might fit into the vision of what the council would like to happen in the area.

Question: Are we still going to get the new primary care clinic?

It is going through legal processes within the PCT and the Strategic Health Authority to get the necessary permissions in place.

Question: Residents of Handsworth Crescent had a battle royal, helped by Clive Betts, to get someone to remove an unauthorised scrap yard from greenbelt land. Why were planners not more aware that this was happening?

Councillor Lea said she had been reporting the issue for a long time, but the businessman concerned was very clever and it was difficult to enforce the removal of the scrap yard. Councillor Harpham said the Council cannot employ enough people to patrol all the greenbelt sites in Sheffield so we are reliant on local residents. Council officers then need to take action.

Question: We have some of the worst air pollution in the country. Could the railway bridge be widened on Prince of Wales Road to relieve the bottleneck there, which causes increased pollution?

Councillor Harpham said this was a highways issue.

Councillor Lea asked if 40% of new homes still need to be affordable housing?

Regional planning guidance has been abolished but the Council is now awaiting new national planning guidance.

Darnall Post Office

Neil Bishop gave an update about the Post Office, which will reopen soon in Darnall Forum’s premises.

Community Meeting – Gypsy and traveller site Tuesday 8 June, Church of Christ 6.30pm

2010-07-09T15:12:00.003+01:00

Attendance: Cllrs H Harpham, M Iqbal, M Lea and 110 members of the local community.

Cllr Harpham gave an introduction and some background information about the sites mentioned in the report and the reason for the proposals. There had been no previous discussion with local councillors and they found out 10 days ago before it went to cabinet. The public meeting has been arranged to give the public the chance to air their views. The councillors personally leafleted the area to let people know about the plans and this meeting.

Cllr Harpham said we want to argue against the proposals and explain why it is wrong to have a site in Darnall. We feel that there has not been enough consultation as no one knows about the plan. It is wrong that the owners of the land didn’t even know about it and the whole community found out by reading it in the press. The purpose of meeting was

1) to receive views from the public on why we believe it is wrong

2) to apply pressure on the council

3) to encourage residents to attend the scrutiny board and cabinet meeting and sign the councillors’ petition.

If we don’t voice our opinions then the proposal will go ahead. Darnall Forum sill help to represent people’s views.

The following views/concerns were raised by members of the community:

Q1) Why not take a show of hands? The purpose of the meeting was to listen to the arguments for and against, however it was clear that the meeting did not support the findings of the report.

Q2) We already have a site, why are we getting another? Councillors and residents agreed that we can’t afford to have a site in Darnall because it is already a deprived area and it will disadvantage it even more.

Q3) Would you like it outside your door? Whitwell Street has had major problems for 33 years and nothing has been done. It has been linked to anti social behaviour, fly-tipping and prostitution and it is overrun with rats and so it doesn’t seem a suitable location for a group of vulnerable people. Councillors reminded the meeting that there has been no consultation at all about the choice of sites.

Q4) We shouldn’t just leave it to the councillors. Shouldn’t we all do something collectively to keep up the pressure up about the sites in Darnall?

Q5) What about the purpose built site near Centertainment which was wrecked/destroyed/vandalised?

Q6) How will the Lift project be affect ed?

Q7) Why should we have a site in Sheffield anywhere? What legislation is there for this? Have we voted for a site? The requirement to consider appropriate sites came from central government but councillors were not consulted about the criteria which should be followed in selecting what is an appropriate site.

Q8) Where will we park?

Q9) Can we have a list of email addresses or contact details to whom we can write? Residents can drop off comments or letters to Darnall Forum ans these will be passed onto councillors

Q10) Doctors’ surgeries are already over crowded and schools are full. Aren’t traffic problem going to increase with travellers here as well?

Q11) How can we sustain an additional community group when we already desperately need regeneration?

Q12) Why provide new sites when the previous ones have sometimes been closed?

Q13) How much will it cost for infrastructure for the site? Approximately 1 million pounds. The Council would expect Sheffield Homes to maintain the site.

Q14) What are the potential sites in Darnall? Senior Road, Greenland Road, Darnall Way, Ross Street/ Whitwell Street, the LIFT project site on Main Road, Prince of Wales Road, Ouseburn Road, Shirland Lane.

Q15) Why have so many sites been selected in our area and not in areas where the Lib Dems are in control? Why have they identified the site chosen for our medical centre?

The meeting agreed unanimously that Darnall was not a satisfactory location.

The councillors went on to say that they will do as much as they can as local representatives of the community and they are 110% behind this decision. They can represent the views of the community but their influence will be stronger if the community is seen to be behind them, which they are.

Councillors also said that it is Important to have a steering committee drawn from the public with about 5-8 members to represent Darnall to the scrutiny board and the full council meeting, and to present the petition on behalf of Darnall.

Mary Lea – Post Office Update

Darnall Forum has developed a social enterprise to run the local post office. For months now Neil Bishop, the manger, has looked into loans and funds and the Forum has also received £10,000 backing from the Council for this. He attended an interview and has been successful in his application to reopen the post office which should hopefully be completed by September. There must be an 8 week consultation process to see if the community are happy with the idea.

A show of hands was taken and everybody supported the Post Office.

The Lift Project is still going ahead.

The Ward Brothers have been asked to revise their plans and are meeting with the Council.

It was agreed that the community can come into Darnall Forum to get contact details for local councillors and also use Darnall Forum as somewhere to leave comments – so councillors can pick them up and collate the information.

2010-07-06T21:46:00.003+01:00

Mushtaq Tufail (BBC SHEFFIELD) interviewing Clive Betts MP at High Hazel's Park in Darnall on Sunday 13 May during the the Boshaki Mela which celebrates the new year. Despite funding issues the local community managed the event on a shoestring budget with a small grant from the East Community Assembly. The majority of the cost was sponsored by the businessmen who paid for stalls and exhibitions.

Up-Coming Community Meetings

2010-06-08T12:36:00.002+01:00

Tonight at 8pm there will be a meeting at the Church of Christ on Main Road Darnall to discuss proposals to site a permanent car park for Travellers in Darnall.

The next general community meeting will be held on Thursday 24 June at 10am. The venue is to be confirmed. The main item for discussion will be planning issues, including the future of Darnall Centre.

Notes of the Community Meeting on 15 April

2010-06-08T12:34:00.000+01:00

Notes of the Darnall Community Meeting held on Thursday 15 April at the Darnall Forum offices and chaired by Cllr Mazher Iqbal with Cllr Mary Lea and Sylvia Hamilton (Chair of Darnall Forum) in attendance

Simon Kirk from Sheffield Primary Care Trust gave a short presentation about two current issues:

1) The York road Surgery has made a business decision to more to the former Wellington Public House. There is no basis in the contract they have with the NHS to compel them to use the new health centre. They successfully appealed against the Council’s decision to refuse planning permission. Their plans for the new building must be approved by the PCT so they will have to refurbish to a high standard. The service must be the same as they currently provide or improved. They are also entitled to reclaim the cost of their premises from the NHS as long as they can agree a reasonable figure with the PCT.

2) The ground for the LIFT Project has been cleared and site investigation is on going. The LIFT Company will build the health centre and rent it to the PCT for 25 years, after which there will be an option to buy. The District Valuer has to confirm that the cost of the deal is value for money. The difference which the facilities make to the health of local people is part of the calculation which the PCT must also make if the DV has any reservations. The Strategic Health Authority must also approve the PCT’s decision.

There will be a stakeholder group to help drive the project forward. Local people will be involved. It will be convened when the project reaches ‘financial close’, ie. the price is agreed with the Company and the DV and the Strategic Health authority accepts that it is value for money.

New international accountancy rules did look as if they might potentially derail the scheme, but that threat has gone away. National government could also change the rules but there is no indication of that. The project is in the PCT’s five year plan.

Questions

1) Drs Mehrohtra and Swinden have told patients that they will have 18 parking spaces but this was in a draft consultation document which is now being revised. Patients will have to walk or go by public transport unless they are disabled.

2) They have got planning permission to redevelop their existing surgery.

3) The Council has cut almost £100,000 from its budget for public health promotion (the APHC Project). In Darnall’s case it is losing £10,000 from a £51,000 budget.

4) The stakeholder group will include Darnall Well Being, The Forum, councillors, the LIFT Co., The GPs’ practice, the public health team etc.

Jenny McPhail gave a presentation about the Council’s Insulation Scheme which provides free loft and cavity wall insulation for residents of Darnall Ward and also special categories of people throughout the city (eg. over 70s). EAGA Insulation is the only approved contractor for the scheme. If minor pointing needs doing or scaffolding needs erecting, EAGA will do this. Clients of the scheme will have a personal password which only the official contractors know. Cowboy insulators won’t be able to quote this password.

The team can also provides other green energy and fire safety advice. They link in with the Green Doctors. Email: insulation@sheffield.gov.uk or phone 0800 9159096

Questions:

1) If you have less than 8” of insulation the Council can top it up to 12”. The survey is free. It includes insulation of the hot water tanks and associated piping; and cold water tanks if they are in the loft.

2) Report cowboy firms who are trying to capitalise on the programme

3) The funding comes from the CERT (Carbon Emissions Reduction Project)

Councillor Iqbal and Neil Bishop gave an update on the negotiations to reopen the post office. The Forum is submitting an application for a loan to pay for the set up costs for reopening the post office. The Community Assembly are looking at ways to help by making a grant for Social Enterprise. The main benefit of this would be to encourage the lender – the Yorkshire Key Fund – to invest in the project. Commercial banks are now reluctant to fund Post Offices. Sylvia Hamilton explained that the Forum is a voluntary organisation and exists to promote the regeneration of Darnall.

High Hazels Park

The Café has now opened in High Hazels House.

30 young lads have been playing cricket as part of a Cricket Tournament funded by South Yorkshire Police and supported by advice from Darnall Forum, which is funded through the Community Assembly. Residents said how nice it is to see children in the park again.

COULD YOU BE A VOICE FOR PATIENTS AND THE PUBLIC?

2010-04-03T21:20:00.003+01:00

Sheffield Teaching Hospitals are looking for members of the community to join the team of Trust Governors. Becoming a Governor is an exciting opportunity to support your local community by representing the needs and views of patients and the public. Governors work with the Board and have an active say in how our Hospital’s services are developed and how the organisation is managed. They represent the views of the 8,800 Sheffield public and patients who have registered to become a Member of the Trust.

The next Elections are coming up on 24 May and anyone who is interested in finding out more about this important role should contact Jane Pellegrina, Foundation Trust Membership Manager as soon as possible. Information and briefing sessions (details will be provided with nomination packs) are being provided but here are the answers to some frequently asked questions:

What is a Governor?

As a Governor you will play a very important role. You will act as a link between the Trust Members and the Board of Directors. You will have a number of key responsibilities, such as:

• helping to plan for the future

• ensuring the Trust is accountable to patients and local people

• recruiting and encouraging new members

• Influencing decisions by sitting on and contributing to various committees

An effective Governors’ Council is crucial to the success of the Trust and we will help you develop the skills you need to carry out your role as Governor.

What will my responsibilities be as a Governor?

1. to bring new ideas about how services can be improved and provided in ways that meet the needs of patients

2. to discuss strategic plans and new developments

3. to share information about key decisions with other Trust Members

4. to represent the interests of Trust Members (other members of your local community)

5. to appoint the Chairman and Non-Executive Directors

6. to set the pay levels for the Chairman and Non-Executive Directors.

Will I get paid?

No, similar to a school governor you do not receive a salary but you are paid expenses.

Do I need any special skills or experience?

You do not need any particular skills or experience but a passion for making NHS services better will help you enormously. The Governors elected will be supported by staff from within the Trust who are experienced in public involvement and communication. You will also be working alongside staff Governors and those appointed by the local councils, other parts of the NHS and the voluntary sector. The Governors meet regularly as a group and often work as a team.

How will the Elections be run?

We have appointed the Electoral Reform Service to run our elections for us. As well as making sure that we follow a robust process, it also means that the Elections are independent. We will give notice of an Election and invite any nominees (people who wish to stand as governors) to register their interest.

Anyone putting themselves forward will be asked to answer some simple questions. This information will be included on our website, and on the voting papers which are sent to all Members. Once the closing date is reached the votes are counted and we will then announce the results publicly.

Will support be available?

We are happy to discuss any training or support that you may need to help you stand as a Governor, or to fulfil the role should you be elected.

How much time is needed to fulfil the role of a being a Governor?

A Governor is expected to attend the quarterly Governors’ Council Meetings (the expectation is that you will attend at least 3 out of 4) and the Annual General Meeting. All Meetings are held at the Hospitals. Time will also be required to read papers provided for each meeting. Apart from these minimum expectations, there are many opportunities to participate in committees, visits and other activities such as recruiting Members, all of which contribute

to making the Governor’s role useful and interesting. The amount of time a Governor spends in the role is entirely up to him/her and may only become clear after several months in post. Attendance at induction and training events will be required.

How long will my appointment last?

An appointment as a Governor will be for a three year term up to a maximum of 2 terms.

Are there rules I have to follow? How will I know if I’m doing it right?

We will give you the training and support you need to be an effective Governor.

If you are interested in finding out more please call Jane Pellegrina on

0114 2714322 or email jane.pellegrina@sth.nhs.uk

Reply to the Anonymous Blogger

2010-03-14T17:05:00.003Z

Someone has posted an anonymous message to the blog accusing us of concentrating on 'planters, fruit trees and "touchy feely" stuff' instead of the real issues which confront local people, and claiming that the trustees are not local residents.

Actually, all but one of our trustees live in Darnall. The one trustee who does not live locally works for East End Quality of Life, and has been involved in environmental and community work in Darnall for many years.

The blogger correctly forecast that his, or her, message would not be published. This is because it is anonymous. Tell us who you are, and we will be happy to publish your post. This site does not accept anonymous messages of any kind.

Neil Bishop

Darnall Community Meeting

2010-03-11T17:24:00.003Z

Notes of the community meeting held at 7pm on Wednesday 20^th January 2010

Living Waters, Main Road

The meeting was chaired by Councillor Mazer Iqbal.

Councillors Mary Lea and Harry Harpham were also in attendance. 43 Officers and members of the public were present for all or part of the meeting.

POST OFFICE

Mark Barker spoke about his job working for the council to enhance the Post Office network in Sheffield. The Post Office closed in August. Post Office Limited, which runs the network, has been investigating different locations for a new post office and has been asked to help with the setup costs. Since the Post Office closed the remuneration for sub-postmasters has dropped. There will need to be a 12 week consultation process before the post office can reopen somewhere new.

In answer to questions, Mr Barker said that:

· The post office cannot reopen where it is now for legal reasons.

· The Station Road Council offices are not suitable.

· The Council does not know why the post office closed.

· The Council does not have a massive influence on Post Office Ltd.

Members of the meeting noted that:

· There has been a massive reduction in trade in all the local shops.

· Manor Top Post Office has closed as well.

· Handsworth and Attercliffe Post Offices are not convenient for the residents of Darnall.

Councillor Iqbal said that the Council has a 500,000 Post Office Fighting Fund for reversing post office closures. Darnall Forum was being considered as one option for keeping the Post Office alive in Darnall because Darnall Forum is a not-for-profit organisation and might be able to operate with lower profit margins. The Chair, Sylvia Hamilton, said the Forum would hope to make a profit from the Post Office and reinvest in things like training for the community and the Darnall Carnival. Mike Roberts from The Darnall Traders’ organisation said he would support the Forum running the post office. Sylvia Hamilton said that if the post office were to be relocated to Darnall Forum the date that was being discussed was June, partly because of the consultation period that the law requires. However, there are other hurdles to cross. Mark Barker said the consultation period might be able to be reduced. He said that not a day goes by when he does not remind the Post Office about Darnall.

Clive Betts, the councillors and the CEO of the Council are among those who have written to the managing director of Post Office Ltd. Members of the meeting were encouraged to write to Post Office Ltd.

DARNALL CENTRE REDEVELOPMENT

Debbie Merrill, the lead planning officer for the area, said that progress has really slowed down over the last year because the developer is still looking for a food store to work with them. They firmly intend to bring forward a new scheme and have already sent the planning department some very sketchy proposals.

Members of the meeting asked:

How can a developer be allowed to buy so many properties that they effectively control the future of an area and get the power to close shop units?

Councillor Iqbal pointed out that owners have the right to sell to a developer but the developers have been asked to avoid blighting the area as much as the can. The recession has created undoubted difficulties for the developer. In the final resort, the councillors do have powers to compel the developers to make environmental improvements.

Questions were asked about what the Forum is doing to put pressure on the developers. Neil Bishop said the Forum had helped residents to comment on the original proposals and had also raised the issue on tonight’s agenda. Concern for the health of the shopping centre was one of the main reasons why the Forum is considering running the post office in Darnall.

Debbie Merrill felt the council’s City Development Team might be able to pressure the developers to find suitable tenants for their empty properties or improve neglected shopfronts, but the planners are not in a position to do this and they share the frustration of traders and residents about the continuing blight of the centre.

A resident commented that it will be difficult to sell new houses in Darnall if the district centre is not redeveloped.

Councillor Lea pointed out that councillors had worked hard to try to keep Morrison’s open in Darnall and are working hard to address the situation but there are no quick and easy solutions available.

A resident asked whether it is true that Forward Investments are getting a concession off their rates while the properties they own are vacant? Councillor Harpham said the councillors would find this out and report to the next meeting.

MATHER ROAD PAVILION / NURSERY DEVELOPMENT

Alan Williams talked about the redevelopment of the Mather Road upper and lower pavilions. They had been badly vandalised but are being refurbished. The Football Foundation and the City Council are funding the refurbishment of the lower pavilion with the Children’s Centre. A youth project has addressed the vandalism. A friends group has been established, meeting in the upper pavilion. Community Services and the Police are working closely with the friends. Darnall Nursery is providing 16 OFSTED registered places for 3-5s from this year. A drama group and a youth club also meet. There is an after school club. It is planned to start the refurbishment of the lower pavilion in July. Alan acknowledged that problems with vandalism are on going but he isn’t giving up. A handful of young people are a problem but new football facilities and a new sign are planned very soon.

In answer to questions he agreed to get some of the piles of vegetation moved which were left by the people who cleared the site. Some old benches are being replaced by solid steel benches set into concrete. There is a problem with wheelie bins being set on fire, but councillor Iqbal pointed out that the police treat these issues in Mather Community Park as a priority. When young people get involved in the regeneration of parks they help to prevent damage from happening.

Councillors asked if it could be minuted that everyone involved in the Mather Road Project is doing an excellent job.

DARNALL PARKS & GREEN SPACES

Sarah Pilkington updated the meeting about the other parks and green spaces.

It is proposed that High Hazels House be redeveloped for use by the the community and the golf club – with a café, offices and meeting rooms. Heritage Lottery fund may contribute.

70 Acre Hill is a natural landscape. Highland Cattle keep the grass down.

There are water rails, sparrow hawks and newts.

Phillimore Park/Darnall Community Park will be refurbished next month after a delay caused by the weather. There will be new play facilities for young people and children. There is an art project which is employing an artist to create youth shelters, seats, land mounds and vehicle barriers with the help of young people and a women’s ESOL group.

Kettlebridge Action Group has a Green Pennant – a quality mark for small neighbourhood parks.

Darnall Neighbourhood Park is the latest neighbourhood park and the committee members are bidding for funds. On 15^th February and 9^th March at 2pm there will be two opportunities to meet the designer for the Park’s master plan.

There was concern among residents about the difficulties of feeding the calves on 70 Acre Hill during the snow but Sarah observed that they have survived.

Sarah was thanked for her work and the friends of the parks were thanked for their support.

Members of the meeting said how pleased they were about Darnall in Bloom. Neil Bishop explained it is paid for by the councillors and managed by Darnall Forum, who are hoping to arrange a spring planting. Residents said it would be nice if the railings could be painted too.

NEW HEALTH CENTRE

The health centre plans have been approved. The PCT are looking for residents to serve on the management committee for the health centre. Councillor Iqbal said it was wonderful to see the health centre now being developed.

Members of the meeting asked how far will it benefit all the residents of Darnall? Patients of one of the surgeries can look forward to being relocated in the former Wellington Public House!

The Practice concerned has bought the Wellington and successfully appeaedl against the decision to refuse planning permission, but the PCT also has to assess their application and no one was present from the PCT to comment on progress.

Cllr Iqbal explained that some health services will be available to all residents of Darnall in the new health centre. The councillors will ask the PCT to send a representative to the next meeting. The local health improvement specialist practitioner did not attend tonight because of ill health.

FINDINGS OF THE HEALTH IMPACT ASSESSMENT

Only 11 people from Darnall attended the health impact meeting. Residents asked why it was held on a Thursday afternoon. The PCT will be asked to comment.

A resident asked why male patients have to explain their health issues to female receptionists before they can get an appointment.

Healthy, Wealthy and Warm in Darnall

2010-01-26T13:20:00.000Z

The Church of Christ, Station Road, Sheffield S9 4QB

Thursday 28th January, 10:30am till 1:30pm

Free Powerdown plugs

Prize Draw

Free Refreshments and Buffet Lunch!

Find out more on Sheffield City Council's Free Insulation Scheme

Plus

Fire Safety Advice • Benefits Information • Healthy Living Advice • And much more!

Drop in and have a look around

In partnership with NHS Sheffield

Wednesday 20 January Community Meeting to Explore Re-opening of Darnall Post Office

2010-01-19T06:41:00.004Z

The next community meeting organised by your Darnall councillors and Darnall Forum will focus on the future of the post office in Darnall, which has been closed since the beginning of August. Cllr Mary Lea, who has been leading the campaign to get the post office reopened with her colleagues Cllr Harry Harpham and Cllr Mazher Iqbal, said: 'Elderly people have been forced to travel outside the area and local businesses have lost trade, so this is high on our agenda and we feel it is imperative that Royal Mail steps up its efforts to reopen the post office.'

She went on to say, 'A local post office is an essential service for people who haven't got their own transport, or who find public transport difficult to use. We want Darnall to flourish and this isn't helping. Royal Mail might be saying they are doing all they can to reopen the local post office service in Darnall but we would like them to do more and we hope they will be at the meeting to explain how things are going. Officers from the City Council, who have been working hard with local councillors and MP Clive Betts to resolve the situation, will certainly be there,' she added.

The meeting will take place at the Living Waters Centre, 81 Main Road, next-door to the former Industry public house. It starts at the later time of 7pm. Previous community meetings have begun at 6.30pm.

Other items on the agenda will be updates for local residents and traders on

the proposed redevelopment of Darnall Centre
the parks in Darnall,
the Mather Road Pavilion and nursery development,
the plans for a new health centre,
and the health impact assessment carried out as part of the consultation to decide what services will need to be delivered there.

Local residents will have an opportunity to ask questions and also to propose subjects for discussion at the next community meeting with your councillors in April.

The minutes of the last meeting can be found in the archive of posts for November. They are also on the East Community Assembly website.

A Happy Christmas to the People of Darnall!

2009-12-21T08:41:00.002Z

In the Gospels Jesus asks his followers, 'Who do people say that I am?' Various answers are given but Jesus isn't satisfied until Peter tells him, 'You are the Messiah, the son of the living God.' Christians still stand by that answer, but for Muslims only the first part of Peter's reply is true.

The Muslim understanding of Jesus is simple. He was a man, born of a virgin, (the account in the Qur'an's third chapter is very similar to the account in some of the Christian Gospels). He was given prophethood by God from birth and performed miracles during his life by God's leave. Muslims do not believe that Jesus died on the cross; in fact the majority orthodox belief is that he did not die at all and will one day return. But Christians might ask, 'How is it possible to accept the virgin birth of Jesus and yet deny that he is part of what it means to be God?'

Despite these differences of opinion about Jesus, perhaps the fact that he is so important in both faiths can make him a bridge between the two at Christmas. To find out more about this debate, visit the Christian Muslim Forum website at www.ChristianMuslimForum.org.

Happy Christmas!

Art in the Park presents Art Bytes!

2009-12-07T23:14:00.002Z

www.artbytes.artinthepark.org.uk

Art in the Park is an organisation which offers free environmental arts activities in parks and green spaces around Sheffield. We aim to develop links within communities and allow more creative use of spaces. You will be able to explore your creativity and have fun while working with our artists and volunteers.

Arts Bytes is an opportunity for adults to learn new art techniques and meet people!

This winter why not come join our arts and crafts activities; these sessions:

Are FREE!!
Are open to all adults (Children are welcome, but must be accompanied by an adult)
Include a FREE trip to the Yorkshire Sculpture Park.
Give you the chance to create your own online blog and step by step art guides

You don’t have to sign up for every week
You don’t have to have any arts or IT experience or be from the area where the sessions take place

This is a real unique and exciting opportunity for anyone who wants to learn new art techniques and get involved in a city wide project

If you would like to attend either just turn up or contact Luisa on 01142686813 or luisa@artinthepark.org.uk

Below are the full dates of all the sessions in Darnall - the technique mentioned will be the focus for the first four weeks. An update for the last five weeks will be sent out before Christmas!

Drawing & painting with a creative mark making angle. Looking at miniatures - a traditional Asian art form

Pakistani Muslim Centre, Woodbourn Road Every Wednesday 10-12.30pm Nov 25th, Dec 2nd, 9th, 16th, Jan 6th, 13th

MEETING ABOUT HEALTH IMPACT ASSESSMENT OF NEW HEALTH CENTRES

2009-12-07T20:57:00.001Z

NHS Sheffield has put forward proposals for LIFT developments to deliver new health centres for Darnall, Foxhill and Norfolk Park. If you are registered with one of the three GP Practices, or you are a resident in one of these areas, you are invited to share your views on the potential health impacts of the proposals. The purpose of a Health Impact Assessment is to identify the potential impacts that the projects may have on health, and to make appropriate recommendations.

The PCT is keen to ensure that members of the community are able to express how the project will impact on them, to ensure that potential health impacts and community views are included in our assessment. As well as a general presentation, we plan to organise as much of the meeting as possible around small group discussion so everyone can have an input.

The date for the meeting in Darnall is:

Thursday 10th December 2009, 2:00 pm - 4.30 pm at Living Waters, 81 Main Road, Darnall

Eid Mubarak

2009-11-27T13:46:00.003Z

Today is the 10th of Dhul Hijjah, the Eid of al Adha (Eid of Sacrifice). For those on Hajj (pilgrimage) they will be coming to the end of their pilgrimage and Muslims throughout the world will be remembering the way of Abraham and celebrating Eid with family and friends. All of us at Darnall Forum would like to extend our sincere prayers or good wishes for a successful Hajj, and Eid Mubarak.

Eid al Adha is of particular relevance to the Christian and Muslim traditions, because the story of Abraham is shared by both faiths. Abraham's way is one that we are all encouraged to follow as Christians and Muslims. It is a story of trust, reliance and patience, shared by both faiths. Christians remember figures like Abraham as Advent approaches (this weekend) and they prepare for Christmas and its message of sacrifice and peace.

(Spiritual reflections courtesy of the Christian Muslim Forum)
www.christianmuslimforum.org

Darnall Library will be CLOSED for re-decoration

2009-11-25T13:02:00.003Z

Darnall Library will be CLOSED for re-decoration from Friday 11 December and will reopen on Monday 4 January.
A mobile library van will visit the LIDL car park from 3 till 4.15pm on Wednesday 16 and Wednesday 23 December.
Borrowers can also take out up to 25 books over the holiday period.
The library service is sorry for any inconvenience caused and wishes everyone a very happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year.

Faith & Families' Fun day

2009-11-25T13:00:00.001Z

Thursday 3rd of December between 9.00am and 4.00pm at Darnall Children’s Centre and Greenland’s Nursery and Infants School
Enjoy a day of fun packed activities for you and your family.
Arts and Crafts
Henna
Islamic Calligraphy
Puppet and Card making
Story telling
Cracker making
Learning and Information Stalls
and refreshments
For further information contact
Nazia or Shabana at Darnall Forum on 0114 249 0099.
Everybody welcome!

Free Health Checks on 25 November, 2, 9 & 16 December

2009-11-20T11:46:00.001Z

On Wednesday 25 November, the first of four free health check session will be launched at the PMC (Pakistan Muslim Centre), Woodbourn Road, Darnall.

The sessions are open to men and women over 40 and include blood pressure, diabetes, cholesterol, weight checks and lifestyle advice and will run from 10.00-4.00.

The sessions are free and easily accessible, local people can turn up on the day to make their own 30 minute appointment, or to book in advance call 0114 2436091

MINUTES OF THE COMMUNITY CONSULTATION MEETING ON TUESDAY 27.09.09 AT LIVING WATERS CENTRE, MAIN ROAD DARNAL

2009-11-20T11:15:00.007Z

In attendance:

Cllrs Harry Harpham, Mary Lea, Mazher Iqbal & Martin Lawton (Chair of the East Community Assembly), Andy Christian (officer, East Community Assembly Team), 4 officers of the PCT/LIFT Project and 10 members of the public.

Darnall Health Centre

Simon Kirk from the PCT introduced the LIFT Project. He introduced Neil Charlesworth from Community First, the company which is building the health centre and Lyn Brandon and Elaine Needham, colleagues from the PCT.

The Urban Design Review Panel has considered the application to build the health centre and has decided that it must be a significant presence when viewed from Darnall Centre. A stained-glass window from the existing GPs’ surgery at Darnall Community Health will be incorporated into the new building.

A pharmacy and community facilities will be included. Over time more services could be provided from the Centre and it could be expanded in future. This process will be driven by the GPs’ consortium. Darnall Well-Being will have offices on the first floor as well as a public desk in reception.

The timescale is to sign contracts in March 2010 followed by a 12 month build period.

There are 67 car park spaces. Cllr Harpham asked about the travel plan to encourage staff to use public transport. Cllr Iqbal said it would be possible to monitor the use of the carp park. Simon Kirk explained that many staff need to be mobile because they move in and out of different health centres. In answer to a further question, it was stated that undercroft car parking would be too expensive.

It was pointed out that there is restricted parking on the opposite side of the road and residents have been in the habit of parking their cars on the site which the health centre will occupy. Cllr Iqbal said that Highways Officers are already supposed to be considering the restricted parking on Main Road.

A question was asked about the planting of the site. Would it become a shelter for anti-social behaviour? It will be sensitively fenced.

A question was asked about traffic management when residents will be trying to turn out of Elmham Road while patients and staff are trying to turn into the health centre. This will increase congestion on Main Road. The 52 bus service will pass the Centre. Everyone should be encouraged not to use their cars. The Forum will pass this comment to the Planning Officers.

There was discussion about better use of the courtyard by glazing it to enable all-weather use. This would have heating and lighting consequences for the building, as well as affecting privacy in the consulting areas.

Dr Czauderna introduced himself as Chair of Darnall Well-being and a retired GP. He commented on the absence of a green roof. It is Sheffield City Council policy to require these on public buildings of this size. It was also a fantastic opportunity to create additional public space for more creative use of the area currently set aside for the courtyard. He was concerned about co-ordination of the way the building is managed. Darnall Well-being would be able to deliver this service and make the Centre a well-being centre rather than a health centre, where all the services are joined up. He gave ‘stop smoking’ services as an example of something which is the responsibility of more than one user of the building.

The management of the building is being considered. The courtyard will not be covered. The building design achieves an excellent environmental standard. A green roof will reduce the amount of run-off rainwater that can be recycled. It will also require more maintenance. The heat and power will be provided by recycled cooking oil, achieving a 100% reduction in carbon use compared to current facilities. Surplus heat can be sold back to the grid. Air circulating round the generators will be used to warm the building in winter and cool it in summer.

Neil Parry from East End Quality of Life observed that green rooves have been found to be compatible with rain water collection in other buildings in Sheffield and Rotherham. The name of the centre should reflect the fact that it is about public health rather than treatment. The two overlap anyway through services such as social prescribing.

Public consultation will continue after the planning process ends.

There will be no surgical suites in the Centre, but there will be elbow room for consultations, etc. A diabetic treatment centre could, for example, be located in the health centre. Chronic conditions should not have to be managed in hospitals. Cllr Lea encouraged the PCT and Community First to get on with the project.

One GP practice will not be moving into the new health centre. Local pharmacies will be invited to tender to move into the pharmacy space in the centre, but it will have to be leased to the highest bidder.

Funding for Green Issues

Grants of £500 to £50 000 are available. Application forms will be available from the Forum office.

Small Highways Fund

There is £100,000 available for the East Community Assembly Area. The Assembly will not consider individual requests but it will consider community proposals.

There are still problems with the junction between Mather Road and Prince of Wales Road, but it is not a small highways project. The ceiling for a small highways project is £10,000.

There are not enough yellow lines on Oliver’s Drive. An obstruction caused an accident.

Bring out your Rubbish

There will be a BOYR day on 7^th October in the Kettlebridge Area. The roads involved but they have already been leafleted.

Community Chest Fund

Application forms are available. A question was asked about the suggestion of having a ‘meet your neighbour’ day. This is an example of what the Councillors will fund. Neil Bishop said the Forum had some funding available for ‘meet your neighbour’ activities which bring people together from different faiths.

Public Questions

Problems with fly-tipping on Infield Lane. This could be a future agenda item. Neil Bishop pointed out there is a fly-tipping initiative.

Overloading of trams and use of the disabled/elderly persons’ seats by people who do not need them. Buses not stopping at bus stops. Cllr Iqbal said he was concerned abut overloading of trams.

Friends of Mather Community Park have no chair. There was an appeal for people to join a management committee so that they can apply for funding.

Neil Bishop 10/11/09

Annual General Meeting Tuesday 27 October

2009-10-13T22:55:00.004+01:00

Darnall Forum’s AGM, will be held on
Tuesday 27th October 2009
6-7.30pm
Darnall Forum
245 Main Road , Darnall

The meeting will celebrate the achievements of the Forum during the past year and give you the chance to raise any issues about Darnall, or about our work, which concern you at the moment. It will also be your opportunity to elect officers and trustees for the coming year.

An Annual Report will be distributed on the evening and copies of the last minutes and agenda will also be provided at the meeting - please contact us if you would like one.

We would also like to take this opportunity to thank you for the support you have shown the Forum during the past year, and hope this will continue into the next year.

20 Years of the PMC!

2009-10-04T14:41:00.001+01:00

Wednesday 7th October 2009
Venue: PMC
Woodbourn Road, Darnall, Sheffield, S9 3LQ
Time: 6:30pm

The PMC would like to invite you to celebrate the festival of Eid and the signing of the Lease Ceremony marking 20 years of the PMC! Please encourage friends and family to attend.
The event will commence at 6:30pm.

Hot food will be served after the event!

Community Consultation Meeting on Wednesday 30 September at 6.30pm

2009-09-24T18:07:00.003+01:00

The first community consultation meeting between you, the local residents of Darnall, and your local councillors will be held on Wednesday 30 September at the Living Waters Centre, 81 Main Road, (next-door to the former Industry public house). The meeting will start at 6.30pm and will cover issues such as health care in Darnall, the proposed redevelopment of Darnall Centre, the recent closure of the post office and other important concerns.

This meeting will pick up where the extremely popular Area Panel meetings left off when they came to an end in March. The LIFT (Local Initiative Finance Trust) plans for a new health centre will be top of the agenda for this meeting, which will also deal with:

public questions
the community chest fund
funding for green issues
small highways
bring out your rubbish

If you can't come to the meeting, you can make your concerns known, about these or any other issues, by posting a message on this blog.

Councillors Fund Community Work

2009-09-24T16:04:00.002+01:00

The East Area Assembly and our local councillors, Harry Harpham, Mazher Iqbal and Mary Lea, have provided an extra £34,000 for community work in Darnall until March next year. This will help to pay for:

more work with young people, especially by volunteers
more trees and flowers instead of derelict land, as part of Darnall in Bloom
essential feasibility work for the refurbishment of the Staniforth Neighbourhood Centre
more local consultation with the community by our councillors
and the publication of the Darnall Herald

There will be three consultation meetings where you, the residents of Darnall, will be things that matter to you about this area.

PLANS FOR NEW HEALTH CENTRE IN DARNALL

2009-09-24T15:55:00.003+01:00

Exciting plans for a state-of-the-art health centre on Main Road have been announced and, on 13 August, a three month consultation process began to get the project underway.

The plans can be viewed at Darnall Well-Being opposite Wilkinsons' and show the ambition of NHS Sheffield, Community 1st Sheffield and Darnall Community Health to offer a wider range of health services to local people in a landmark building.

Construction will commence in 2010.

If you would like further information, come to the Darnall Councillors' Community Consultation Meeting at Living Waters on Wednesday 30 September. The meeting begins at 6.30pm. Living Waters is next-door to the former Industry Public House at 81 Main Road. The meeting starts at 6.30pm.

Air Pollution Protest in Darnall

2009-09-24T15:39:00.002+01:00

New Community Language Resources at the LIbrary

2009-09-14T09:14:00.002+01:00

Discover the latest list of community language book collections. Books free to borrow in 25 languages,
http://www.sheffield.gov.uk/libraries/community-languages/books

Join the library using our new translated membership forms available in 25 languages,
http://www.sheffield.gov.uk/libraries/using-the-library/joining/translatedapplicationform

Prepare for the citizenship test using our free online course,
http://www.sheffield.gov.uk/libraries/refugees-and-asylum-seekers/lifeingb

Ramadan Mubarak

2009-08-25T10:39:00.000+01:00

The Muslim holy month of fasting - Ramadan - began on 22 August. The Forum wishes our Muslim sisters and brothers a blessed Ramadan - Ramadan Mubarak - and God's peace.

Request from Jim Lambell

2009-08-20T23:51:00.003+01:00

Jim was born and raised at number 17 Wilstrop Rd.Darnall 81 years ago. At the age of 39 Jim and his wife Dorothy, with their children Roy, Alan, Jim and Keith, emigrated to Australia.

Dorothy has since died and two-and-half years ago he remarried, to Joan. They would like to hear from any one at all who knows Jim from the old days, or who wishes for news from OZ.

To make contact with Jim, send an email to the Forum or give Neil a ring on 249 0099.

Darnall Post Office

2009-08-20T11:14:00.003+01:00

Councillors Mary Lea and Mazher Iqbal are shown here consulting with some of the disgruntled local customers who have been inconvenienced by the temporary closure of the Main Road Post Office in Darnall. They are having their picture taken by a photographer from the Sheffield Star.

If you have been affected by the closure of the Post Office, please let us know how it is affecting you so that we can pass this information on.

DARNALL CARNIVAL & THE BAISHAKI MELA

2009-08-20T09:55:00.003+01:00

This year's Darnall Carnival attracted around 5,000 visitors during the course of a very sunny Saturday afternoon. The event took place back-to-back with the annual Baishaki Mela, a regional event celebrating Bengali culture, which attracted about 10,000 visitors from across Yorkshire, the Humber and the East Midlands on the following day. The pictures show a little girl crossing High Hazels Park in front of some of the carnival attractions, and strollers in the summer sunshine enjoying the Carnival atmosphere.

Stop Smoking for Ramadan

2009-08-19T14:46:00.000+01:00

Preparing for Ramadan?
Want support to stop smoking?

Planning for success
Relaxation strategies
Managing cravings
Nicotine Replacement Therapy – it’s your choice
Improving your health
Ongoing Support for you

Monday 10th August 1 – 3 Darnall Well Being
Wednesday 12th August 1 – 3 Darnall Well Being
Wednesday 19th August 10 – 12 Darnall Library
Confidential service 1 to 1 or group support

Make an appointment or drop in 0114 2496315

Road Safety in Darnall

2009-06-19T20:02:00.000+01:00

Road traffic accidents are the largest cause of accidental death or serious injury for children. Darnall and Burngreave are areas of Sheffield which have a particularly high number of child casualties. 232 children were injured in these wards between 2004 and 2008, 18% of Sheffield’s child road casualties in this time period.

The road safety team work in schools, with parents and with other agencies to improve the way children cross roads and stay safe within a car. If you would like any further information, please contact the Road Safety team on 2736162.

Many schools have taken up the offer of working with published poets to produce road safety poetry. Children's road safety poems have been compiled into an anthology which is available for £2 from the team now.

Aisha A, aged 9, from Firshill Primary School wrote:

It was an accident ...

It was an accident ...
I didn't listen to the Road Safety Officer
It was an accident ...
I was texting Vicky
It was an accident ...
I was also listening to music.
It was an accident ...
I crossed at the red man
It was an accident ...
I didn't look both ways
It was an accident ...
I got run over
It was an accident ...
That I was nearly in a coma
It was an accident ...
I'm lying in hospital
It was an accident ...
I'm now paralysed
It was an accident ...
I may not get out alive
It is NOT an accident ...
I'm sorry
Sorry
Sorry.

East Community Assembly Meeting

2009-06-18T12:51:00.000+01:00

Thursday 18 June 2009
6.30 pm – 8.30 pm
Springs Academy
Hurlfield Road
S12 2SF

Agenda items to include:-
• What is a Community Assembly?
• Public questions
• Area Based Grant funding
• Community Involvement Action Plan
• Development of Community Assembly Plan

There is an opportunity for you to submit any public questions prior to the meeting. Please submit your questions to communityassemblyeast@sheffield.gov.uk or telephone Judith Coyle / Lisa Lyon, Joint Community Assembly Managers on 2736734.

If you require transport please ring our office number above.

DYSLEXIA AWARENESS DAY

2009-06-09T09:37:00.001+01:00

Darnall Children's Centre
Friday 5 & 12 June
£10 per session for professionals
Free for parents

Speak to Val on 0114 244 8497

DARNALL CARNIVAL & THE BAISHAKI MELA

2009-06-09T09:27:00.002+01:00

DARNALL CARNIVAL Saturday 13 June 12 - 5pm
@ High Hazels Park
Stilt Walker
Clowns
Funfair Rides
Fire Engine
Stalls
Silver Band
Kabaddi
Climbing Wall
Bouncy Castle
Football & Sports Activities
Hot & Cold Food & Drink
100 Years of Greenlands School
Information Marquees

For more information contact Darnall Forum

BAISHAKI MELA Sunday 14 June 11am - 6pm
@ High Hazels Park
Funfair Rides
Clothes & Food Stalls
Live Music
Family Fun

Publish Post

Information Stalls
Bouncy Castle

For more information contact Shahin on 07816 042133

MP to Speak at Community Meeting in Darnall Called to Stop a Right-wing Extremist Being Elected to the European Parliament in June

2009-04-07T11:17:00.003+01:00

A community meeting will be held at the Darnall Forum Centre, at 245 Main Road, at 7pm on Wednesday 15 April, as part of the campaign across Yorkshire to stop an extreme right-wing candidate from being elected to the European Parliament.

Darnall Forum manager Neil Bishop said, 'A lot of people who have never lived in a neighbourhood like Darnall don't know how friendly, stimulating and vibrant a multi-faith and multi-cultural community can be. They can easily fall victim to messages of fear or hatred spread by right-wing extremists trying to win votes.'

There is a good chance, at the next European Election on 4th June, that a right-wing candidate will be elected to the European Parliament. This is because the election will be conducted by proportional representation, and any party which wins more than 10%, or one in every ten, of the votes cast is likely to get a candidate elected.

'To stop this from happening,' said Mr Bishop, 'People in places like Darnall, where different faiths and cultures get on well together, need to turn out in large numbers to vote for candidates who don't have a message of hatred or fear. It doesn't matter who you vote for, so long as you don't vote for an extremist candidate, but it is important that you do vote.'

This is what local people had to say:

We all need to respect and appreciate each other more. (Saheed Siddique, Sheffield Health Centre)
Darnall is a richly diverse community, let us look to enjoy the richness of that diversity rather than let others enjoy turning diversity into division. (Revd Pete Whittingham, Vicar of Darnall)
We have worked very hard to bring residents together. Let's make sure we all use our votes to maintain this togetherness. (Sylvia Hamilton, Chair of Darnall Forum)
Unless you register you have no vote . Unless you vote you have no say. Lets all vote and say we want a community united and working together. (Clive Betts MP)

Speakers at the meeting will include Clive Betts MP and representatives from Unite Against Fascism and The Islamic Society of Britain .

To register to vote or obtain a postal ballot form, residents of Sheffield should ring Sheffield Town Hall on 0114 273093 or log on to www.sheffield.gov.uk/your-city-council/elections/contact-us

NEW OPENING TIMES

2009-04-07T10:53:00.001+01:00

Please note that, until further notice, our opening times will now be
10 - 4 Monday to Thursday
This change is because of a reduction in our Council funding

Potty in the Park

2009-04-07T10:50:00.002+01:00

1 -3 pm Thursday 28 May
in High Hazels Park
Come and plant up hanging baskets to take home for
DARNALL in BLOOM

Do you think it’s time you learned how to use a computer?

2009-04-07T10:42:00.001+01:00

Don’t put it off!
Computer Courses start here at Darnall Forum in April 2009.
If you are interested please see the staff and give them your details
or attend the enrolment session 1.00 - 2.30pm on 21 April
These will be 10 week IT courses that will lead to a qualification.
This learning opportunity is provided by Sheffield City Council's Lifelong Learning and Skills' Service

From 1 April, the Council won't be funding our "community engagement" work

2009-03-29T17:41:00.001+01:00

What this means for Darnall:

Darnall Forum staff will be working on short-time until we get more funding and could lose their jobs in November
The Forum offices will be closed on Fridays from April and will only open 10 till 4 Monday to Thursday
The Darnall Carnival will be greatly scaled down compared to last year's event
We will have to spend less time helping people who drop-in for advice in order to meet our other commitments, such as getting people into jobs and training
We may have to leave our current offices at 245 Main Road and find somewhere smaller
This may affect the number of lifelong learning classes we can run
This month's edition will be the last Darnall Herald delivered to your door for the foreseeable future

If you're not happy, send an email or letter to the Leader of the Council, Cllr Paul Scriven (paul.scriven@sheffield.gov.uk) or the Deputy leader, Cllr David Baker (david.baker@sheffield.gov.uk).

A Sense of Belonging

2009-03-11T15:15:00.000Z

Lifelong Learning and Skills and Darnall Forum
present a short course on
A Sense of Belonging
This programme of discussions explores the subject of individual identity in a troubled world
Who are we?
What is a Sheffielder?
How do we get to know each other?
Course details
Starts 18th March for 6 weeks – childcare available
To book a place please contact Darnall Forum
Venue: Darnall Forum
Darnall Learning Centre
245 Main road, Darnall, S9 4QD
Time Wed. 5.00pm-7.00pm
Contacts
Graham Burkin – Tel: 0114 258 6326

Nazia Fazil – Tel: 0114 249 0099

Shabaz Abbas – Tel: 0114 229 6158

An Open Letter from Darnall Health Centre

2009-03-10T16:20:00.002Z

This is an open letter to the people of Darnall and surrounding areas.

The issue of the redevelopment of the Centre of Darnall is currently in the spotlight and as a result of interest from the Ward Brothers / Sheffield City Council, working in tandem, plans have been drawn up to essentially re-establish the Centre as a modern easily accessible environment. (See the plans available on the Sheffield City Council website).

Along with the new Centre for Darnall the Primary Care Trust has proposed to build a new Health Centre for the GPs of the area—this plan was first put forward in 2001 and the PCT have told us throughout that the build would start ‘soon’.The proposed build would be funded via the LIFT Scheme. Since this has the backing of Central Government, all could have gone as planned. However, the administration of the scheme has not gone forward and as a result the news from the organisations involved – that they are now ready, once more, to proceed – is difficult to accept, as its credibility is tainted by the history of this affair.

Set against this background is the fact that the current Health Centre on York Road has been targeted by repeated acts of vandalism and thefts, which have caused thousands of pounds of damage. As a result the police have given a special dispensation to have razor wire fitted around the roof and, with the fence which completes the scene, the Centre is now reminiscent of a prison area.

Plans for a 100 hour pharmacy were put forward to Sheffield City Council for the York Road site and these plans were rejected, due to the fact that the site was deemed ‘unsuitable’.

The case is therefore being made for a move from these unsuitable / unacceptable premises to a more central location in Darnall and to this end the former Wellington site has been retained with a view to a move, (pending suitable planning permission), in the latter part of the year (Plans are available on the Sheffield City Council website.)

Disasters Emergency Committtee Gaza Appeal

2009-03-04T22:13:00.003Z

Will you help us to repair shattered lives?

Darnall Forum & Estikutum
ivite you to a FUNDRAISING DINNER
on Tuesday 24 March at 6.30pm
£15 per head (£8.50 goes to DEC for work in Gaza)
3 course halal set menu including soft drinks
vegetrian / special diets available on request
Tickets available from
Darnall Forum on 249 0099
or Estikutum on 244 9199

WANTED - Old Photos of Darnall

2009-02-02T13:54:00.002Z

If you have any old photos of shops on Main Road in Darnall this resident would love to hear from you. To get in touch either put a post on the blog, or phone Anne at the office on 0114 249 0099.

My family had shops on Darnall Terminus from Victorian times to the 1980's,the last one to survive was the fish and chip shop at I think 150 Main Road,though it was there still with new owners on my last visit.That was run firstly by Fred Lomas and latterly by his son Jack.Fred also owned the wool shop at 156 Main Road which was run by his daughter Elsie.My Grandparents ran a tripe shop at 158 Main Road which sold hot pies and peas at night for folk going home from the cinema,dog track and pubs.My Grandmother Edith Lomas ran the pie and pea side of the business alone,which were all home made,until the late 1970's.I spent much of my childhood there in the 1950's and can still name every shop on that side of the terminus from Fisher Lane round to the Staniforth Road end of Irving Street.The home made pies were sold hot with mushy peas and gravy + hendersons relish,she would also open two lunchtimes and customers would often go on to Storey's bakery for one of their egg custard tarts for afters.I wonder if your readers could help me,I would dearly like a copy of a postcard or photograph of any of the family shops but especially the hot pie/tripe shop if anyone has this or could email me an attachment.The shop was at 158 Main Road and faced the top of Britannia Road.

The New Darnall Herald Asks: 'What is Darnall Forum All About?'

2009-01-19T12:48:00.003Z

To read the rest of the articles in this month's Herald please go to our website, www.darnallforum.co.uk.

To find out what Darnall Forum is all about, please read on!

Darnall Forum brings together people who live and work in Darnall, Acres Hill and Attercliffe. Its vision statement is:

To create a listening space for the community, and
To work in partnership with other agencies and organisations to improve local services and help regenerate Darnall.

Anyone who lives or works in Darnall can become a member of the Forum simply by filling in one of our membership application forms.

The members of the Forum Board, who run the Forum, are all volunteers from the different faith and ethnic groups in the area. They are elected by the members of the Forum at its Annual General Meeting. The Forum Board has 14 members, nine male and five female. Ten are from Black Minority Ethnic backgrounds and four are White. The Forum also has six full-time staff who work with local people.

Darnall Forum used to be funded by the European Union and still receives some public funding from the City Council, including the local councillors who sit on the Darnall Area Panel. This is to help the Council deliver local services and consult local residents. However, a growing proportion of our income comes from ‘social enterprise’, which is work we do for other organisations in Sheffield and across the region. Any profit that we make is ploughed back into providing better services for people in Darnall.

Darnall Forum is a voluntary sector organisation. It is a not-for-profit company and a registered charity.

If you need this article in another language or format call 0114 249 0099

MEETING ABOUT NEW HEALTH CLINIC IN DARNALL FINDS COMMON GROUND

2009-01-19T12:36:00.002Z

A public meeting organised by Darnall Community Forum on Tuesday 6 January has reassured members of the public about plans for a new health centre in the community.

The meeting addressed local concerns about the size of the new centre, and also one local general practice’s plans to relocate to a different building. Local MP Clive Betts said: “I have a pretty strong view about where Darnall's new community health centre should be built. It has to be easy for everyone to get to and ideally it should have room for all the local primary care services.

Simon Kirk, the Director of Strategy at NHS Sheffield, said: “ NHS Sheffield is not able to compel all local GP s to come together under one roof. Our priority is to create a new facility for the 21st Century, with a minor surgery suite, counselling rooms which could also be used by the community, an office base for the Darnall Well-Being organisation - a local charity - paid for by the Trust, and treatment rooms for services like podiatry and physiotherapy.

"We're not building a community centre, but we do want a great health centre that will be flexible and meet people’s needs. We have identified three sites where it would be possible to accommodate the centre - Staniforth Road , Station Road or Main Road . We are keen to gather the local community’s thoughts on these locations, including feedback from this meeting, as well as further community consultation, and then showing the community more detailed plans, before making a final decision.”

In response to a suggestion from Mrs Sylvia Hamilton , Chair of Darnall Forum, he said that he would consider asking the Forum to carry out soundings for the PCT with different community groups in Darnall. Mr Kirk went on to say that the new health centre should be open by the end of 2010.

Cllr Mary Lea said, "Darnall centre is where people come to shop, to visit the library and to drop into the forum, it’s also well served by buses, and we need to keep the centre of Darnall thriving – that’s why the Darnall councillors and Mr Betts would like the new health centre to be built in the centre. This isn't just a question that affects the health of the people in Darnall, it's vital to the health of Darnall as a community."

Speaking for the residents of the Littledale Estate, who would be the most adversely affected if the new Centre is built on Staniforth Road , Mr s Val Lancaster said: "We sometimes feel like the forgotten community." Residents of the estate pointed out that there was no direct bus service linking them to Staniforth Road .

Clive Betts added: "I think we may need a community gym on people's doorsteps to encourage them to adopt a more healthy lifestyle." He said that the government's 'Change of Life' initiative could help to fund a gym inside the new facilities.

Cllr Mazher Iqbal said that he believed Darnall Well-Being would be able to run a gym as a social enteprise. He said: "Darnall Forum could help them to set up a not-for-profit gym, and we, the councillors of Darnall, could work with the current administration to see if we can get things moving quickly so NHS Sheffield can take advantage of the recent drop in land values and construction costs."

Mr Kirk pledged to be creative in his thinking, "But I'm also trying to be entirely realistic," he said. "There's been a long history of people in Darnall discussing what they would like in a new health centre; now we've got to the point of deciding what we can actually afford, however, I will consider very seriously any proposals that are put to me."
ENDS

Taxi Drivers Needed as Health Champions!

2009-01-19T11:48:00.004Z

Are you a taxi driver from the South Asian Community (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka)?
Do you know you are 50% more likely to develop heart disease compared to other ethnic groups?
Do you have a family history of heart disease or diabetes?
Would you like to be one of our Health Champions?
If the answer is 'yes' then why not book a place on our Coronary Heart Disease Awareness training?
Tuesday 3rd and Wednesday 4th of February 2009
9.15am —3.30 pm
The PMC (Pakistani Muslim Centre) on Woodbourn Road.
Keynote Speaker: Dr Mahendra Patel
(South Asian Heart Foundation & Bradford University)
For further information and to book a place please contact:

Permjeet Dhoot on 0114 3051081 / Lyn Chafer on 0114 3051069

Resurfacing of Staniforth Road Postponed

2009-01-14T10:15:00.002Z

The resurfacing of the Staniforth Road carriageway that was scheduled to be carried out between Tuesday 20th January and Friday 23rd January has now been postponed because some other work is being done first on the gas main.

Please contact the Council's Highway Programme team - Phil Cawthorne or Barry Goforth on 0114 2736562 for any further information.

Happy New Year!

2009-01-04T15:40:00.001Z

As Christians come to the end of the important festival of Christmas, which is also a time for family reunions and the giving and receiving of presents for many other Darnall residents, we wish you all a happy new year!

Why not resolve to get more involved in what's happening in our community, starting with the meeting about community health facilities on Tuesday? (See the 22 December post for more details.) Or why not sign up for a course or become a community volunteer? Please get in touch to find out more!

Darnall Community Meeting with NHS Bosses

2008-12-22T17:21:00.010Z

Local residents of Darnall, working through the community forum, have come together with the three Darnall councillors and their MP, Clive Betts, to set up a meeting with senior managers from the Sheffield Primary Care Trust about the proposals for new community health services in Darnall.

The meeting will take place on Tuesday 6 January in the Darnall Forum Community Learning Centre, which is at 245 Main Road in Darnall Centre, and will begin at 6pm.

Clive Betts said: “The people of Darnall deserve health facilities fit for the 21st century and which are easily accessible by all. It’s important that what is provided really meets the needs of people in the area, so come along and put your point of view."

Councillor Mazher Iqbal said: 'This project will serve people's health needs in Darnall for many years to come. It's important that we get it right, so I would encourage everyone to come, ask questions and have their say.'

Chair of Darnall Forum, Sylvia Hamilton, said: 'This development is long overdue, both for the people of Darnall and the health providers in the area - so let's work together to make it happen.'
ENDS

From Area Panels to Community Assemblies

2008-12-22T13:37:00.004Z

7 new Community Assemblies will replace the current 12 Area Panels.

For Darnall, this will involve changes to the current boundaries. The relevant Community Assembly area will consist of 4 complete wards: Manor Castle, Arbourthorne, Richmond and Darnall.

Each Community Assembly will have a staff team of 5: A Community Assembly Manager with overall responsibility for the Assembly; a Planning and Performance Officer who will help to develop a Community Plan and ensure that services are adapted to local need; an Assembly Officer who will ensure good communication and consultation with local residents and groups; a Safer Neighbourhoods Officer who will work closely with the Police; and a Team Support Officer. Staff for these teams are currently being recruited. The Assembly will also be supported by a team of people from other services and partner organisations.

Community Assemblies will differ from Area Panels by having greater influence on how council budgets are spent in the area, and by deciding how local services will be provided to meet local needs. Councillors will have more power to make local decisions, based on the views of residents. The Assemblies will use public meetings as well as more innovative events and methods to reach local people. These will include Assembly Roadshows in each Ward and 2 way communication via Assembly websites.

The new Community Assemblies will come into being in May 2009.

Do you think it’s time you learned how to use a computer?

2008-12-18T11:34:00.001Z

Don’t put it off!
Computing for Beginners starts at Darnall Forum in January 2009.
If you are interested please call the office on 0114 249 0099

or attend the enrolment session

at 1.30pm on 13th January

This will be a 10 week introductory IT course for complete beginners and will lead to a qualification.

What we said about the proposed Waverley Township and office park in Rotherham

2008-12-17T22:42:00.003Z

The trustees of Darnall Community Forum are concerned about educational provision, especially for Year 7s and above. While we understand that Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council has spare capacity in some of its schools we are concerned that the main pressure for additional places will fall on those schools – both in Sheffield and in Rotherham – which are closest to the proposed development.

We wish to support the view of Darnall Ward councillors that the whole project should be dependent on the provision of a sustainable plan for traffic management and public transport provision, which we believe requires the implementation of a bus rapid transit system, a tram service or a rail link between Rotherham, Waverley and Sheffield.

What we said about the re-development of the Wellington Public House in Darnall

2008-12-17T22:40:00.000Z

At the Darnall Forum AGM concerns were expressed about access to and from the car park for the doctors’ surgery which it is proposed should be located in the Wellington public house. If cars are going to access the car park from Main Road it was felt that this could create an additional hazard in an already very complicated set of road junctions.

We understand that the Practice is saying that the majority of users will access the site from Station Road, however, the intersection between Station Road and Main Road is already very busy and it might be necessary to reconsider the design of the whole junction between Station Road, Main Road and Staniforth Road.

Both of the existing public car parks on Main Road and Station Road, as well as the on-street parking spaces on Station Road, are often fully utilized. There is also some concern, therefore, as to whether the car park for the Practice will really be large enough to cater for all of the patients and staff. If not, the increased traffic is certain to cause inconvenience to local residents and business, although we have no doubt that – if these concerns can be addressed – traders will appreciate the influx of potential customers into the centre of Darnall. One particular concern, however, is that patients might be tempted to park their cars on any adjacent private land.

Darnall Children’s Centre Official Opening

2008-12-17T12:46:00.002Z

Come along on Saturday 24th January 2009 from 10:00am to 1:00pm

to the new Children's Centre at

563 Staniforth Road
Sheffield
S9 4RA
Tel: 0114 2423510

An opportunity to find out about services and look around the Children’s Centre and Darnall Community Nursery
Light refreshments
Everyone welcome

The European Elections & The BNP

2008-12-15T22:20:00.002Z

Abdool Gooljar from the Islamic Society of Great Britain and the Sheffield organiser of Unite Against Fascism have asked for our support in a new effort to encourage people to vote in the European elections next June. They are concerned that, if the turnout is very low, the BNP may manage to get at least one of their candidates elected, which would give them special privileges such as access to town halls. They want to carry out a publicity campaign in places like Darnall to encourage as many people as possible to vote, for whichever party they prefer. The higher the turnout, the more votes that the BNP will need to attract in order to get an MEP elected.

If you share their concern, you are invited to a meeting at our offices at 6pm on Monday 26 January.

Darnall Forum Takes its Employment Roadshow onto the roads around Sheffield

2008-11-26T12:03:00.002Z

Darnall is blooming - even in the Autumn

2008-11-06T16:31:00.001Z

Darnall in Bloom will be launched next week by community groups and local volunteers working with Darnall Forum, Darnall Green Spaces Regeneration Project, Darnall Community Forestry and Streetforce.

Outside Darnall Library between 11am and 1pm on Wednesday 12 November you can meet volunteers and workers involved in Darnall in Bloom, as well as picking up some FREE seed sticks to take home. Inside the library there will be a special collection of books on gardening, wildlife, and cookery for anyone who wants to get more involved. Darnall residents can also find out how to get their hands on FREE fruit trees to plant in their gardens.

From 1.30pm there will be a tree planting session in Darnall Cemetery. Two majestic pin-oaks will be planted at the entrance to the Cemetery. This pyramidal tree is one of the most graceful of oaks, with its slender branches gently drooping at their tips, and a stunning red autumnal colour. Please join us and get green-fingered! Learn how to plant a tree and provide benefits to local people and wildlife. All tools are provided but bring sturdy footwear and dress for the autumn weather.

Local children have also been doing their bit, drawing flowers to form part of a banner and getting their hands dirty by planting bulbs and trees. An example of their art work is attached.

Councillor Mary Lea said “This has been the culmination of a lot of hard work by local people. The local area panel, made up of councillors for Darnall Ward, decided that it was time the street scene in Darnall got a makeover and we hope that residents appreciate the changes that have already been made.” As a prelude to the official launch there have been barrier troughs and lamppost wraps of flowers funded by the council, Forward Investment and the Open Gate Trust.

Annual General Meeting Monday 6 November

2008-10-31T12:59:00.004Z

Why not come and have your say about what Darnall Forum does and how it is run? Our Annual General Meeting takes place at 6pm on Monday 10 November in our Learning Centre at 245 Main Road. (See below for directions.) Light refreshments will be served before the meeting and everyone is welcome.

To become a member of The Forum just send us an email with your name and address. Membership is open to anyone who lives or works in Darnall.

SPECIAL DARNALL IN BLOOM EDITION OF THE HERALD

2008-10-31T12:52:00.001Z

A special "Darnall In Bloom" edition of the Darnall Herald has been published this autumn. If you haven't already had a copy delivered to your door you can find it on-line at www.darnallforum.co.uk. Just click on the link to The Herald and you will be taken to this month's edition, plus a full archive of earlier editions.

As well as all kinds of news about the environment The Herald still continues articles about The Carnival, staff changes at The Forum, our Women's Conversation Club and help for jobseekers.

Help for Jobseekers

2008-10-09T17:54:00.001+01:00

Please click on the poster for a closer look.

New Developments at Darnall Wellbeing

2008-10-09T11:55:00.003+01:00

DWB have recently recruited two new Community Outreach Play Workers.
The two workers, Debra and Mehrun will be working in Darnall for 9 hours a week during the weekends, late afternoons, early evening and holiday times. The new play workers are currently out and about meeting children and seeing some of the play activities already happening in Darnall and Acres Hill. This project will support the Play Darnall group in developing new play opportunities for children and working with children and their families to encourage informal play. The workers are based at DWB Office, 35 Clipstone Road but can be contacted through the
Family Development Project Tel 0114 2448497.

Darnall Well Being Activities
Health Walk every Monday, meet at Old Cafe in High Hazels Park (Free)

DWB Community Gym Sessions at PMC, Woodbourn Road
Monday 9.30-11.30 Women Session with childcare £1.50 plus £1 per child
Monday 2-4 Mens Session £1.50
Monday 5-7 Women Session £1.50
Thursday 5-7 Women Session £1.50
Women Only Chairobics - Wednesday 12-1at SUBUD Centre £1
Tai Chi - Thursday 1.30-2.30 atDarnall Horticultural Club £1.50
Crafty Crafters Card Club - Friday 10.00 at Darnall Baptist Church £1
Women Only Swim Bus - Friday 10.00 Transport to Upperthorpe Swimming Pool £1.50 for transport £1.60 for swim session

Darnall Area Panel

2008-10-09T11:51:00.002+01:00

Just a reminder that the Area Panel meets tonight at 6.30pm in the Subud Centre on Swarcliffe Road. On the agenda for tonight's meeting is a discussion about the new Community Assemblies.

Eid Mubarak!

2008-10-01T10:30:00.003+01:00

Today, or yesterday for some, is Eid al-Fitr, the celebration and festival - or 'feast day' - at the end of Ramadan, the Muslim holy month of fasting. This is an opportunity for all of us to recognise and admire the devotion of those who fast and spend time in prayer. These are features of other faiths, too, though they are usually practised less intensely.

Christians in Darnall are moving from the season of Harvest, a time of thankfulness to God for crops and the fruits of all human industry and learning, to the period of preparation for Christmas, culminating in the season of Advent which begins at the end of November.

(With acknowledgement to the Christian Muslim Forum)

Darnall Reading Week

2008-09-17T13:21:00.003+01:00

YOU ARE WHAT YOU READ

Tuesday 23 September 3.30 - 5pm Story in the Park at Phillimore Park
Join the Park Ranger for story telling and craft activities. Have a go at making sock puppets and bookmarks for Reading Week. For more details ring Claire on 244 6548

Wednesday 24 September 1 - 3.30pm Family Reading Event
Exciting storytelling sessions in Urdu, Bengali, Arabic and Somali. Other activities include creating finger puppets, library puzzles and designing a family reading challenge. For more details ring Yasmin on 243 6091

Friday 26 September 1 - 4pm Poet Performance
Craig is a professional poet, writer and performer who tours the country sharing his passion and infectious enthusiasm for words. For more details ring 203 7429

Saturday 27 September 10am - 4pm Story Telling Open day
Storytelling, craft activities, Chinese writing and much more. For more details ring Janet on 244 8497

Proposal for Section 30 Dispersal Order

2008-09-10T10:23:00.001+01:00

1. Introduction

Due to issues in and around Bonfire night, particularly the misuse of and anti social behaviour related to fireworks, the Darnall, Tinsley, Attercliffe and Meadowhall Safer Neighbourhood Team will be applying for a Section 30 Dispersal Order.

2. Powers

Once an application has been successful, if a police constable or police community support officer has grounds for believing that the presence of a group of two or more people in a public place is likely to result in member(s) of the public being intimidated, harassed, alarmed or distressed, the officer can give the following directions: -

· Require the group to disperse;
· Require those who do not live within the relevant locality to leave the area;
· Prohibit those who do not live in the relevant locality from returning for 24 hours.

Refusing to comply with a direction from an officer is a criminal offence.

If you would like to comment on this application, or if you have any questions, please contact the Safer Neighbourhood Team on 0114 2964439

Youth Facilities Promotion Event Phillimore Park 28 August 12 noon - 3pm

2008-08-22T15:47:00.001+01:00

Come and join Darnall Green Spaces Regeneration Project (DGSRG) on Phillimore Park to promote the soon to be implemented Youth Facilities project. View the presentation drawings produced by Environmental Planning and talk to us about timescales of the project.

Craft activities with DGSRP and sport with Activity Sheffield will be provided on the day for children and young people. We are planning to ask young people/children what colours and designs of equipment they would like to see provided.

New Opening Times

2008-08-18T07:25:00.002+01:00

Please note that our opening times have changed. You can now drop in to see us between 10am and 4pm from Monday to Thursday. It is no longer possible to drop in on Fridays. However, if you have arranged to attend a lifelong learning course or meeting on a Friday, the Centre will be open just before the start time.

We are sorry that these changes make it more difficult for residents of Darnall to get in touch with us. They have been forced on us by changes in the way we are funded. The European funding which used to pay for our drop-in service has come to an end, and it has not yet been replaced by funding from the City Council or other sources.

Small Grants for Small Groups

2008-08-12T11:50:00.002+01:00

Do you want to set up a new group?
Does your small group need help with running costs such as room hire or materials?
Or is your group looking to do something new or attract new people?

The Council Small Grants Fund is a simple, fast track grant scheme for projects that want to make a difference in their local community. The Council is keen to fund small voluntary, community and self-help projects run by and for local people. They prioritise activities that:
· Benefit the welfare needs of people who are at risk of social exclusion because of age, gender, race, ethnicity, disability or sexuality;
· Are based in areas of the city where the local population is disadvantaged when compared to the city average;
· Promote integration and greater understanding between people of different backgrounds and cultures;
· Promote inter-generational activities that bring older people and younger people together;
· Promote health and well-being;
· Encourage people to be active in their local communities by volunteering and developing new skills.

You do not need to have a formal constitution or be a registered charity to apply but you do need to have a bank account in the group's name with at least two unrelated signatories. In your application, you need to show that your project or group has at least 15-20 members, aims to tackle a particular need and involves local people working together to solve a problem.

The Council will fund a wide range of costs and activities. Some frequently requested items are:

Room hire
Tutor/speaker/entertainer costs
Volunteer expenses (out of pocket expenses like bus fares)
Trips
Equipment and materials
Administration costs (printing, post)
Regular transport costs for disabled members

They do not give grants for food, costs for the benefit of individuals, or groups with large unrestricted funds or a high annual income.

We are available if you need help to fill in the application form. For more information about the Small Grants Fund and an application pack please contact us.

Voluntary Sector Liaison Team Town Hall, Sheffield S1 2HH
Tel: 0114 273 4113 Fax: 0114 273 6421 Email: vslt@sheffield.gov.uk
You will find more information about us and the Small Grants Fund on the Council Website: www.sheffield.gov.uk/smallgrants

Darnall in Bloom

2008-07-15T14:36:00.005+01:00

There are some of the new 'barrier troughs' full of "blooms" which have been paid for by the Working Neighbourhoods Fund, Forward Investment, who own many of the shop premises in Darnall Centre, and the Open Gate Trust. Together they have kindly agreed to sponsor this year's 'Darnall in Bloom' programme, which is the first of its kind.

The Working Neighbourhoods Fund for Darnall has been allocated by the local councillors for Darnall Ward, Cllr Harry Harpham, Cllr Mary Lea and Cllr Mazher Iqbal. They have asked Darnall Forum to work with Street Force to provide the blooms on Darnall's streets this summer.

If you would like to get involved in helping Darnall to bloom, please contact Anne.

Conversation Club

2008-07-15T14:09:00.003+01:00

By popular demand the Darnall Women's Conversation Club will be returning in the Autumn. The Club is a group for women in Darnall who want to make friends and need to practise their English.

It happens at Darnall Forum on Thursday mornings at 10am and the Autumn sessions will begin on 18 September. Free on-site childcare is available but you must book a place in advance.

Activities include word games, learning about different religious festivals and about Bonfire Night, cooking food for Eid, and picking apples and learning how to make a traditional English apple pie.

For more information please contact Anne or Shabana.

Telling it how it is!

2008-07-15T13:14:00.003+01:00

As we fight for the funding to continue our current range of activities, this is the question, and the background information, which our Chair - Sylvia Hamilton - recently presented to the Cabinet of Sheffield City Council.

Given our current funding gap, does the Council see community organisations like the Darnall and Tinsley Forums playing a key role in the development of community assemblies and continuing to be key players in the economic regeneration of priority neighbourhoods such as Darnall and Tinsley?

Background Information for Cabinet Members

The Darnall Forum Board has Somali, Pakistani and White members and is majority BME.

Some of the trustees have worked for ten years to get this point.

We have carried out a community consultation, drawn up a community action plan and developed a robust business plan for future sustainability.

For the last two years we have employed a team of seven people, funded by ERDF and the Single Pot.

During that time they have made a real impact on Darnall

More than 840 local residents have received information and advice
More than 275 residents have been helped to get jobs
More than 250 have received informal training
More than 100 have accessed e-learning at our centre
More than 80 new volunteers have been recruited
More than 25 community groups have been supported

This means that Darnall Forum has out-performed all of its targets for economic regeneration.

The team has been working with us to find secure ways of sustaining the project in the future.

These are largely dependent on social enterprise, at which they already have some expertise.

They have already secured £230,000 of grants plus contracts worth £240,000 over the next 3 years.

Our expenditure over the same period will be around £935,000, if we continue to work at our current capacity.

We are already halfway to securing the total income we need, and we expect more contracts and commissions to be awarded to us in the coming months.

The Council has, in principle, agreed with Yorkshire Forward a programme of contracts and commissions ring-fenced for services that will be delivered by voluntary and community sector organisations in the City’s “priority” wards.

Darnall neighbourhood comes out No. 1 in the Sheffield Neighbourhood Information System when seven measures of disadvantage are averaged across the City.

Yorkshire Forward has already made an offer to the City Council to allow flexibility of additional resources for Darnall Forum, (letter from Thea Stein to John Mothersole, 2/07/08).

Council officers know already, from past performance and the new contracts already secured, that we are almost certain to emerge as the right people to deliver the work that is needed in Darnall.

We have a professionally managed, highly competent and experienced team in place to deliver the work.

We know the local community and are trusted by it.

As things stand, we do not need to borrow any actual funds from the City Council.

We are for the time being in a position to lend money to the City Council, instead!

However, because we are a registered charity and a company limited by guarantee, we do not have the freedom to use our reserves in this way without firm guarantees in writing from the Council that contracts will eventually be awarded to us and back-dated.

This means that any money which we continue spending now would need to be treated as if it were a loan from the Council.

If the Council does NOT feel able to help us, you will need to ask yourselves:

How will the Council fill the gap left behind when our services are cut back?

Will it cost you more money in the longterm to put in place a team of people with a similar level of competence and experience?

Will there be any volunteers left in Darnall who are prepared to help and support you?

Carnival 2008

2008-07-15T12:24:00.009+01:00

The Darnall Carnival on 5 July wasn't a washout but it was affected by rain. After an overcast morning, with scattered showers, the event got off to a slow start and attendances were down on last year, with about 3,000 people estimated to have visited the event compared with 5,000 visitors in 2007. The picture (by "React Multimedia") shows a heavy shower in progress in the middle of the afternoon, but otherwise the sun shone!

There were all the usual attractions at this year's Carnival - information marquees, stalls, rides and live performers. This year we had a live installation about life in a beehive, and local artists taking part in our very own "Darnall's Got Talent".

One of the highlights, as ever, were the sets performed by the visiting artists, among them the Shaan Punjabi Dancers, Tariq Khan from Legacy and the inimitable "Juggy D". Two of our staff, Nazia (left) and Sidrah (in the centre) are pictured joining in the spirit of the dance!

Celebration Event

2008-07-15T11:30:00.008+01:00

On Thursday 26 June about 40 people came together to celebrate the achievements of Darnall
Forum over the past two years.

The Forum has been funded by Objective 1 and Yorkshire Forward since 2006 and has:
• involved 70 volunteers
• given advice and information to over 800 people
• helped more than 250 people to access training
• helped over 230 people towards finding a job
• and helped 25 community groups to develop.

The event was attended by members of the community, funders and organisations that the Forum has worked with over the past two years.

Sylvia Hamilton, chair of Darnall Forum said, “It’s been wonderful to watch the Forum develop into a place where all the community feel welcome. During our recent matrix assessment a number of people even said that they felt the forum was their family in a strange country.”

Neil Bishop from the Darnall Forum added “It is a privilege to work for Darnall Forum. The trustees have been really supportive and helpful and the staff are a fantastic bunch of people. Not only are they really good at what they do but they’ve been totally committed to their work.”

The picture shows some of the people who attended.

(First published in the Darnall Area Panel Newsletter)

News From The Safer Neighbourhood Team

2008-06-04T15:02:00.007+01:00

Inspector Tony Dobson (pictured) currently leads our Safer Neighbourhood Team. Our Safer Neighbourhood Officer is Roger White. They are based at Attercliffe Police Station. To contact our local Safer Neighbourhood Team please leave a message on the 24hr voicemail service – 0114 252 3995

Crime and disorder levels fluctuate for many reasons. Specially trained analysts closely monitor any emerging trends. If you have any concerns or want further explanation of this information, please contact our Safer Neighbourhood Team.

The Local Priorities for our area are:

1. Community Cohesion.
2. Auto Crime.
3. ASB – Environmental, graffiti and flytipping.
4. ASB – Youth Nuisance.
5. Nuisance Motorcycle.

Crime and Crime Prevention Overview for Previous 12 Months to 30 April

House Burglary - down by 42%
Damage - down by 52%
Robbery - down by 60%
Theft from Vehicle - down by 26%
Theft of Vehicle - down by 57%
Assaults - data not available
Racially Aggravated Crime - down by 100%

ALL CRIME down by 32%

Darnall's Got Talent!

2008-06-03T10:56:00.001+01:00

“For a moment we thought that the X Factor Judges had dropped into Darnall Forum on their way to the Don Valley Stadium. But no, it’s Darnall Forum’s own talent contest judges, Shabana Sajer, Neil Bishop and Anne Shirling.”

Darnall Forum is challenging the talented people of Darnall to perform at this year’s Darnall Carnival on Saturday 5 July, alongside headline act Juggy D.

‘We’re offering local people a chance to show they’ve got talent in a five minute slot on stage,’ said Shabana, who is managing the celebrity acts for the annual Carnival in High Hazels Park. But, to take part in the Carnival, local people will have to audition before the judges on Thursday 26 June between 4.30 and 6pm.

‘We’re expecting lots of interest,’ says Anne, who works with Shabana as a community engagement officer for the Forum, ‘So if you want to perform at the Carnival you will need to come along to the Forum offices at 245 Main Road on that afternoon and show us just how much talent you’ve got!’

The Baishaki Mela

2008-05-23T09:38:00.002+01:00

Sunday 8 June in High Hazels Park

craft, bouncy castle, stalls, face painting, kids rides, activity centre, live music, performing artists

For more information contact the event manager

Mothiur 'Shahin' Rahman on 07816 042133

(And don't forget the big Darnall Carnival on 5 July)

Babies and Toddlers Love Books

2008-05-15T14:55:00.005+01:00

Come and join us at Darnall Library, Britannia Road for 5 FREE weekly workshops to take part in with your baby or toddler

The first session is on Wednesday 4th June 9.45am until 11.45am

Interested?

For more information and to book a place phone Michelle at Darnall Forum 0114 249 0099

Meeting About Traffic, Air Quality and Public Transport in Darnall

2008-05-12T15:31:00.006+01:00

6pm Tuesday 13 May, Living Waters Centre, Darnall
Do you or your children suffer from asthma or other respiratory problems which are made worse by pollution? Come to a public meeting to talk about traffic pollution and air quality in Darnall and the Don Valley, and how things can be improved?

Do you have anything you want to say about public transport in Darnall? The meeting will be attended by a representative from the South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive. Hear what they have to say about local public transport issues and put your questions and comments to them.

You will also be able to hear about plans to build 4,000 new homes in the area. These plans might make traffic and pollution worse, unless the new home owners are encouraged to use public transport, so we need to know what the developers and the SYPTE are going to do about this.

Darnall Community Park Nature Area Opening Event

2008-05-08T16:34:00.001+01:00

Saturday June 7th 1.30 - 3pm
To celebrate the new Nature Area in Darnall Community Park we are having an official opening event on Saturday 7th June from 1.30 - 3pm. There will be a brief tour of the Nature Area and after there will be events for children including refreshments.
Improvements on site include:
Mosaic art features made with Greenlands Junior School children and artist Amanda Wray
A wildflower meadow
Information board
New trees
Wavy benches
New pathway
Shrub clearance
Vehicle barriers
Come and join us to celebrate the improvements and meet our new Project Assistant, James Starky.
Regards, Darnall Green Spaces Team

Visitors to the Employment Roadshow which toured Darnall last week

2008-04-30T11:08:00.003+01:00

Darnall Forum Team Visits Parliament

2008-04-30T10:36:00.005+01:00

Members of the Darnall Forum team are pictured with local MP Clive Betts on a fact finding visit to the Palace of Westminster. They are standing with Portcullis House and the tower of Big Ben behind them.

Mr Betts conducted the team on a lightning tour of the Palace and explained some of its workings. Over lunch on the members' terrace, overlooking the River Thames, he then answered questions about how MPs can work with local people and community forums to strengthen local democracy and make sure that people's wishes are heard.

The first pictures shows, from left, Clive Betts with Michelle Wood, Neil Bishop, Anne Shirling, Shabana Sajer, Sidrah Ahmad and Nazia Fazil. The second picture shows the team posing on the terrace before lunch. The extra member of the group in the second picture is our social work student, Ellen Sellars.

Plan to stop health project in Darnall is discussed at hustings meeting

2008-04-30T10:31:00.002+01:00

Local residents held an old fashioned hustings meeting in Darnall last night. The meeting was organised by Darnall Forum and all the local election candidates for Darnall were invited. Two of the candidates attended, Mary Lea from the Labour Party and Julie White from the Greens. The UKIP candidate, Charlotte Arnott, was represented by her husband Jonathan.

Mary Lea told the meeting that the Liberal Democrats intend to sell land in Darnall which has been earmarked for a new intermediate care centre for older people. 'This is in their budget proposals and it will stop the project from going ahead in Darnall,' she said. Although both the Green and UKIP candidates have reservations about the sort of public and private finance initiative which will be needed to pay for the new centre, all three candidates at the meeting agreed that the new centre should be built in Darnall.

It was also alleged at the meeting that the LibDems have pledged to take resources away from more disadvantaged parts of the city to spend in Dore and Totley.

Challenged by local residents to say what they would do if a minority LibDem administration was proposing to take resources away from Darnall Ward, neither Julie White nor Jonathan Arnott would answer what Mr Arnott called 'a hypothetical question'. 'I don't know yet what the Greens will do if there is a hung Council,' Dr White said. Mr Arnott said that UKIP would have 'to look at things on a case by case basis'.

In a remarkably good natured meeting, all of the candidates praised some aspects of each other's policies. 'This sort of meeting is a really good thing and it should happen more often,' said Julie White. The meeting heard that Misbah Chowdhury, the LibDem candidate, was too busy to attend.
ENDS

The picture shows Mary Lea making a point to the meeting as (left to right) Richard Arnott from UKIP, Marie Gregory from Darnall Forum (who chaired the meeting) and Julie White from the Green Party look on.

Election Meeting in Darnall

2008-04-23T15:43:00.006+01:00

Local residents have called for an old fashioned hustings meetings in Darnall to meet the candidates who are standing for election on 1 May. Half of the candidates have already agreed to attend, including Mary Lea, who has held the seat for Labour for the past four years.

The meeting will be held at Darnall Community Forum, which is based in the former Rose and Crown public house on Main Road. It will take place on Tuesday at 7pm.

Residents have already framed a set of questions for the candidates to answer, which are based on the Community Action Plan they have devised. Concerns have been raised about crime and safety, education, employment and training, the environment, local health facilities and activities for children and young people. 'But anyone is welcome to come along and ask their own questions, too,' says Marie Gregory, who will be chairing the meeting.

'I think this is a really great idea and I am delighted to attend,' Mary Lea said. 'It is good to get back to some old fashioned politics and I look forward to answering people's questions.'

The other candidates who have so far agreed to attend are Julie White from the Green party, who says she is always happy to answer questions, and Charlotte Schofield from UKIP who says that she is also happy to be involved. The Liberal Democrat candidate, Misbah Chowdhury, said, 'I will try my best to attend.'

Mary Lea is pictured on a visit to the Darnall Forum employment roadshow, which has been parked in different parts of Darnall this week.

Are You A Wednesday or United Fan?

2008-04-21T22:40:00.002+01:00

Dear Darnall Forum,

I've got a favour to ask. I am currently researching the United-Wednesday football rivalry in Sheffield and would like to get a perspective on this from the black and Asian communities. I thought Darnall would be a good place to start.

If you know any ethnic minority United or Wednesday fans, could you please circulate this questionnaire to them, to be returned to your email address and forwarded to me? There are 16 questions in total. Thanks in advance, Joe

1. Name (optional):
2. Male / Female:
3. Ethnic origin:
4. Where in Sheffield do you live?
5. Do you support United or Wednesday?
6. At what age did you go to your first match?
7. Who did you go with?
8. Did you find it an intimidating place? Were there any other non-white faces there?
9. What did your parents think about your interest in football?
10. Did you try to persuade other non-white friends to come to matches as well?
11. Do you think the traditional 'drinking culture' of football fans is a problem for Muslims who might be interested in going?
12. Among ethnic minority kids in your area, would you say there is more support for United & Wednesday or Man United & Liverpool?
13. Among ethnic minority fans, how strong is the United-Wednesday rivalry?
14. Do you think United and Wednesday would attracted more black and Asian support if a local black or Asian lad made it into the first team?
15. Would you say there has traditionally been a strong link between hooliganism and black and Asian fans? Is this changing?
16. Do you think that some parts of the ground are 'safer' than others? Do you feel as though you have to 'blend in' with the white majority?

Employment Roadshow Monday 21 - Thursday 24 April (click on the images for a closer look)

2008-04-19T19:26:00.009+01:00

Jobs, Jobs, Jobs!

2008-03-26T15:42:00.002Z

STRUGGLING TO FIND THE RIGHT JOB?
Come and search for jobs and apply on-line at our e-job shop every Thursday afternoon from 2 till 4pm. Ring Sidrah now on 0114 249 0099 to make an appointment and click your way to a job.

INTERESTED IN BEING SELF-EMPLOYED?
Do you have an enterprising idea but need some advice on how to go about it? Become part of the new BIG initiative. Fur further information, contact Sidrah on 0114 249 0099.

JOBS, JOBS, JOBS
The Source is providing courses and guaranteed interviews for Darnall residents who want to go into retail work, customer service or call centre jobs. Only a six day course, and it's FREE! Please ring Sidrah on 0114 249 0099 to find out if you're eligible.

BLOOMING DARNALL

2008-03-26T15:39:00.003Z

A group of people who live or work in Darnall have come together to raise funds for planting trees, shrubs and flowering plants in Darnall. Activities may include bring out your rubbish days, graffiti removal and anything else that will make Darnall a greener, more pleasant place to live and work.

We need you! If you would like to get involved in any way, or have any ideas about how we could take these plans forward, please contact Anne or Nazia on 0114 249 0099.

DARNALL CARNIVAL 5th July 2008

2008-03-26T15:35:00.001Z

For more information, or to get involved, call Anne or Shabana on 0114 249 0099

Happy Easter!

2008-03-22T16:13:00.002Z

A happy Easter to all our visitors. Our Centre will be open as usual after Bank Holiday Monday.

THE STORY SO FAR

2008-03-13T18:15:00.002Z

Tell Us What You Think of Darnall Forum
Monday 17 March 2008 6.30pm
At the Darnall Forum Communty Learning Centre

Are you happy with our services?
What do you think are the main issues for Darnall:
Schools and Education?
Crime and Safety?
Rubbish and Fly Tipping?

Come along, meet the staff and have your say.
Call Neil or Anne on 0114 249 0099 for more information.