Author: Laura

Lynn spoke to a lady whilst waiting for her foodbank shopping regarding any concerns she had regarding her energy. The lady lived with her young son in a private rented property. She was on a low income struggling to pay her energy bills and buy daily essential items. The lady confirmed that she had accrued £2,200 in electric arrears over the last 8 months and did not have sufficient income to repay this. The lady had a medical condition and had been declined Personal Independence Payment (PIP) 8 months ago after appealing the decision. The lady had completed all PIP forms and the mandatory reconsideration herself after declining support. They discussed the service our Money Matters team can offer through Citizens Advice, who will be able to provide support with debts and completing PIP forms. They can also look for any support that may be available through charities and trusts etc. They also discussed Green Doctors who can provide support with energy saving i.e., low level draught proofing around windows and doors, foils behind radiators, up to 10 energy saving lightbulbs etc. The lady was happy to refer to our Money Matters team with a follow up referral to Citizens Advice and a referral to Green Doctors. The lady took thermometers on the day. The lady confirmed that she has declined support in the past but was willing to accept the support offered by RotherFed. Lynn also confirmed that they have winter warm packs issued during the winter months and the lady confirmed that she will contact them or call at the foodbank should she feel the need to have one.

Open Arms sessions have been running at Springwell on a fortnightly basis since April 2023. We decided at quite short notice to hold an information session during the school holidays for families to come along to and find out more about the project. We arranged for Making Our Money Go Further to attend with us and they brought along a hamper of shopping to give away to the person who guessed how much it would cost. We also arranged for DB entertainment to provide some games and activities for families to enjoy and provided drinks and snacks too. Posters were put up in local businesses and publicised through social media platforms.

On the day, Thursday 1^st June 2023, we got the main hall set up ready to greet our visitors, not sure how many to expect, but as soon as the doors opened, they were there!

The session was well attended by families who enjoyed the activities and food. From talking to some of them about the project a couple were referred into Citizens Advice by the money team and others said that planned to attend our regular drop-in sessions. Rob spoke to some residents who are interested in setting up a group to run from Springwell.

The session was also attended by Cllr Cooksey, PCSO’s and Jamie from Early Help so people had the opportunity to meet and chat with them too.

As part of the project volunteer community leaders receive training, help and support to be able to help their groups and communities around cost-of-living.

Our first volunteer training session was organised to be held in June at Springwell. We were joined by those interested in becoming community volunteers for Open Arms, to discuss the roles and what community volunteering entails. Other people expressed interest in attending the session too, but owing to other commitments were unable to attend. We therefore hope to run further sessions during the year. The session was fun and interactive with plenty of opportunity to discuss personal experiences of being a volunteer, or being helped by a volunteer, and what impact this support can have on people. We also covered information about the project and what it hopes to achieve, as well as sharing some stories of the people we have helped already.

We are looking forward to welcoming the volunteers at our sessions soon.

Wow what a good morning we had, from cake decorating, making a money box, planting a Sunflower seed and much more!

Community skills workshop day came about through networking and attending a coffee morning at the British Legion in Wath. Whilst chatting to many members we were approached by a volunteer, Sallyanne, who was keen to talk about lots of ideas for a group to run at Swinton.

We agreed to meet to discuss her ideas and plan the best way forward, Sallyanne has previously worked with Rotherham Federation who supported her to set up a uniform swap at her local Church. 

On the day of the meeting Sallyanne had a clear vision on how she wants the group to run. After lots of discussion and sharing ideas, we came up with the title.

The aim of the morning was whatever age you are, have little or no skills, or a hobby and live in the local Community you can come along and pick up/learn a new skill with no cost.

On the day all went well and people learnt a new skill or more than one. Everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves and there was a great atmosphere in the hall, it was very relaxed, and nobody felt any pressure to join in.

Tables were set out so you could choose which activity you wanted to take part from cake decorating, planting a sunflower seed, making a money box and much more. The local community were more than happy to share lot of skills and were willing to give up their free time to do so.

Sallyanne and the team had a debrief after the event.

The day did go well, and Sallyanne would like to do another organised event and link it into the uniform swap morning. The idea is that this would target more families who can learn a new skill together.  

We also said a poster drop to local shops would be beneficial due to not everyone using social media.

Sallyanne is aiming for 29^th July 2023 Saturday morning. Which will be the start of the uniform swap.

Ideas to include Childrens crafts from household junk (COSTING NO MONEY) to Up cycling ideas.

It was a fanatics morning; Sallyanne is hoping this will carry on for the community with the aim to save money with new skills for all the family.

The good news is – this idea will be rolled out at Kimberworth Salvation Army playgroup this September.

The Big Local Gala took place recently. This year’s event was tied in to celebrate the King’s Coronation too. 

It was a fantastic event with over 1500 people attending. There was plenty for everyone to do including fairground rides, axe throwing, a circus workshop, face painting, a magic show, stilt walker, inflatables, stalls, an ice cream van, and a BBQ.  The weather was kind to us and stayed dry all day.

The Big Local project first launched at a Gala in 2012 and has continued every year since, apart from during the Covid period.  Although Big Local will finish this year, it is hoped that the Gala will continue for many years to come.  An events committee has been set up and they are now constituted with a bank account, this will enable them to apply for their own funding to keep the Gala and other events running.  During the Big Local project, a Year 11 fund was also set up and this is money that has been collected/donated at events, this money will now help to fund future activities and events.

The community looks forward to the Gala each year and once again this year they all had a great time.

Quotes from community:

“It was lovey, thank you to everyone who organised it”.

“It’s been brilliant, as always”.

“Thank you to all the organisers, we really enjoyed the day”.

The Silverwood Colliery Heritage Group is a dedicated community organisation that seeks to preserve and promote the rich mining history of Silverwood Colliery and how mining still has an impact on the local community today. The group is led by a committed group of volunteers who all work together to make the vision of having a dedicated heritage centre of their own a reality.

The importance of keeping the history alive is vital to understanding the local communities, for preserving the cultural heritage and recognising the lessons from the miners struggles.

As Neil Bingham, the groups chair, has previously told us “We strongly believe that Silverwood Colliery has a story and a history that needs to be told and displayed for a new generation to see. A story of Hard Work, Pride Solidarity, Blood, Sweat and Tears, Hardships. Memories good and bad, a story of a place that brought unity to our community’s a place that deserves to be remembered, respected, and honoured.”

The group were approached by Clifton Park Museum to put a display into their “Test Space”. This space hosts temporary exhibits that showcase the work, lives, or history of local residents.

To prepare for the event the group ensured that the displays that they had identified to be in the exhibit were fully ready and approached the museum to use their expertise to ensure the display would have the maximum impact on visitors. The exhibit was promoted across social media platforms and local networks.

The exhibition itself offered a captivating experience for visitors, combining historical artifacts, interactive displays, and engaging storytelling. It included displays that showcased the colliery’s history, the lives of miners, the working conditions, and a video that included footage to show some of the most important historical events from the site.

This highlights a remarkable litter pick event that took place in the Ferham neighbourhood of Rotherham, specifically focusing on Union Street.

Despite the modest number of community members participating, the efforts and dedication of those involved led to a significant impact. The litter pick not only demonstrated the collective power of a small group but also showcased the transformative effect that can be achieved in a short amount of time.

The Ferham community continues to face a persistent issue with litter on Union Street. Residents attending the pick highlighted Union Street again which was the location of our previous pick of the area. Although only a few members of the community participated in the litter pick, everyone was ready to get stuck in. The event was organized through a collaborative effort between the Heart of The Community, a member of the S61 Litter picking group and the Sheffield and Rotherham Wildlife Trust and love where you live who provided the necessary tools and resources.

On the designated day, the community members gathered at Union Street armed with gloves, litter pickers, and sturdy bags. Everyone rolled up their sleeves and meticulously picking up litter from sidewalks, green spaces, and hidden corners until we found a litter trap on Union Street. We had found a corner that was overgrown with greenery and weeds and had become a net for catching litter.

In just over 1 one hour, we managed to collect 11 bags of litter. The transformation of the small patch of land on Union Street was quite noticeable. The area for the most part was now visibly cleaner, and we have reported it to RMBC to see if we can get the greenery cut back so that litter can be easily accessed on the next litter pick.

It was a successful litter picking event that had a small impact on Union Street. The involvement of a small group of community members served a small demonstration of what collective action can lead to tangible change. The event prompted conversations among residents, raising awareness about the importance of keeping their surroundings clean and fostering a sense of ownership for their neighbourhood as the issue continues to persist.

Rotherham Healthy Lifestyles believe physical fitness is important at any age, but it becomes even more important as we grow older. However, older individuals from diverse backgrounds often face unique challenges when it comes to accessing fitness programs that address their specific cultural and social requirements. Recognizing this gap, Rotherham Healthy Lifestyles took the initiative to apply for funding from the National Lottery to continue their tailored fitness sessions for men over 50.

The group aims to continue to improve the physical well-being of participants from across Rotherham through a variety of activities that promote cardiovascular health, strength, flexibility, and balance. These sessions are designed and led by qualified fitness coaches who have experience in coaching older individuals. By offering age-appropriate exercises and techniques, the program seeks to increase the overall fitness levels and quality of life for participating men.

As well as the physical benefits, the project also aims to create social connections among the participants. Regular exercise sessions provide a supportive environment for individuals to interact, share experiences, and build meaningful relationships through online sessions as well as in person.

Thanks to the National Lottery funding, Rotherham Healthy Lifestyles, men over 50s fitness sessions will continue to grow over the next year. This project not only focuses on physical fitness but also addresses the unique needs and challenges faced by older men, both within underrepresented community and the wider community. By promoting social connections across multiple faiths, promoting physical well-being, and addressing health disparities, this program will undoubtedly have a lasting positive impact on the lives of many individuals.

Crafty Talk are a local craft group based at Manor Lodge on Highlow View in Brinsworth, S60 5JD. They meet every Monday and Thursday from 10am-12pm.

Working with RotherFed, Rotherham Council and local Neighbourhood Offices, they have undertaken a project to repurpose the old laundry at their Neighbourhood Centre into a functional storage room for the group. The group supported by RotherFed staff and Rotherham Council neighbourhood offices applied to the ward housing hubs to provide Crafty Talk with a dedicated space to store their supplies and materials.

Crafty Talk is a busy community group comprised of around 15 passionate individuals who share a love for arts, crafts, and creativity, they meeting two mornings per week. They aim to provide a platform for people of all ages and backgrounds to come together, exchange ideas, and engage in various craft activities. Crafty Talk faced a common challenge many communities groups encounter, limited space for storing their craft supplies and equipment in the community centre. This constraint reduced their ability to expand the range of activities on offer. Recognizing this need, Crafty Talk started to look to find a suitable solution that would optimize their workspace and give them some much needed storage.

The project has provided Crafty Talk with an essential resource. The dedicated space now enables the group to store their craft supplies, tools, and materials conveniently, allowing them to expand their activities and serve the community more effectively. The transformation has not only improved Crafty Talk’s operational efficiency but has also contributed to a more organized and inspiring environment for their members and visitors.

Crafty Talk’s continuing collaboration with RotherFed, Rotherham Council and Neighbourhood Offices perfectly shows the power of community engagement and resourceful problem-solving. By repurposing an unused space in the centre into a practical storage area, the group has enhanced their ability to engage in creative activities and positively impact the community. This inspiring project serves as a testament to the transformative potential hidden within our neighbourhoods and highlights the significance of collective efforts in building vibrant and resilient communities.

Open Arms sessions have been running at Canklow Pavillion on a fortnightly basis since April 2023. We decided at quite short notice to hold an information session during the school holidays for families to come along to and find out more about the project. We arranged for Making Our Money Go Further to attend with us and they brought along a hamper of shopping to give away to the person who guessed how much it would cost. We also arranged for an ice cream van, who works in the Canklow area, to come along and we had vouchers people could exchange with them for a free ice cream. Posters were put up in local businesses and publicised through social media platforms.

On the day, Wednesday 31^st May, the weather did not look too promising, so we were not sure how many people would attend. We were therefore so pleased when we started seeing families heading towards us outside the pavilion!

In total we had around 10 families come and talk to us about the project, have a go at guessing the price of the hamper, and enjoying a free ice cream. Some people we spoke to were referred into Citizens Advice for support on the day, while others have said that they would prefer to come back and speak to them at our regular drop-in session instead. We were pleased by the success of the event and plan to do more family friendly activities at the sessions.