Sheffield Pride in Place projects – local people lead the way in deciding £20m improvements for their communities
Two disadvantaged Sheffield areas that are each benefiting from £20 million of government funding are being encouraged to join in the discussion about how the money should be spent.
The neighbourhoods of Batemoor, Jordanthorpe and Lowedges, plus Parson Cross and Fox Hill, will each receive funding for community projects over the next decade.
The scheme, which has been welcomed by Sheffield Heeley MP and first secretary of state Louise Haigh, will be run in each area by a local committee with backing from Sheffield City Council.
Dave Luck, community services manager for the council’s south local area committee, said that he has been working with constituency MPs Louise Haigh and Gill Furness to appoint independent chairs for each local board.
He said the boards are made up of a diverse group of people who live and work in each area. They will need to sketch out an initial plan of what they want to do for submission to the government by November before detailed work begins.
Council staff have been spreading the word about the chance for people to have their say by putting leaflets through doors and going to local events and community centres.
A Sheffield Wednesday community project run during the summer holidays at Lowedges Community Centre on Gresley Road has been funded by Pride in Place. That has given both young people and their families a chance to join in the conversation about what they think their community needs, said Dave.
“If there’s an event we’re there, if there’s a shopping centre, we’re there,” he added.
“This has to be built on what local people tell us,” he stressed.
Dave said that local school students have also been asked for their views. “We asked them ‘what do you love about the area?’ and ‘how do we make it better?’ and we’ve been asking their parents if they’ve done the survey.”
Councillor Brian Holmshaw, who chairs the council’s communities, parks and leisure policy committee, said Pride in Place is a big partnership.
He said that many different council departments will be involved in working to support the local boards, “doing the heavy lifting, as they should do”.
“What I’m really impressed by is the boards,” he said. “Looking through the list you can see voluntary organisations, churches, residents’ associations, food bank volunteers, community centres, local councillors, Sheffield Wednesday, local schools.
“It’s a wealth of talent there working together.”
He said that topics covered may well include housing, work and tackling unemployment, community cohesion, improving local facilities or celebrating local heritage.
Louise Haigh said: “I am so proud that over the next 10 years we will be seeing transformational change in Batemoor, Jordanthorpe and Lowedges.
“As your MP I am working closely with the fantastic local neighbourhood board and independent chair, who are overseeing the programme and creating plans for the future of our community.
“This £20 million investment is a huge opportunity to deliver the improvements local people want to see in their neighbourhoods and ensue our communities received the long-term support they deserve.
“That’s why I’m encouraging residents and community groups to have their say in how the funding should be used and complete the survey. The survey closes on September 6, so if you’ve not completed it, there’s still time.”
The survey for Parson Cross and Fox Hill is available at https://haveyoursay.sheffield.gov.uk/pride-in-place-parson-cross-and-foxhill. It closes on September 20.