Links
Community
20s Plenty For Sheffield
Sheffield branch of the growing movement arguing for a 20mph speed limit in all residential areas, for all sorts of good reasons.
Action for Involvement
A Sheffield-based think tank which runs free events, open to everyone, to stimulate debate and educate people on ways to get involved in community decisions to improve the quality of their lives. It's all about increasing value for money from service providers through greater community involvement, corporate social responsibility, public-private partnerships etc....
Art in the Park
Art in the Park is a community environmental arts organisation to inspire people and strengthen communities. Established in 2003 by local artists for creative activities and regeneration, it now extends to open-access art events in green spaces around the whole of Sheffield. They welcome volunteers and community artists to develop different skills and confidence, giving opportunities for creative play for both adults and children. A great forum for people to interact with different members of the community and their everyday environment.
Barnsley Freegle
Freegle means Free Giving, Locally, Easily. It's an online re-use network, an alternative to Freecycle, for people to keep stuff out of landfill by giving away things they don't want, to people who can use them. Joining involves having a Yahoo account, which is free and easy. Most towns has a group, and Barnsley's was started in 2010.
Burngreave Community Radio
Uniting, informing and entertaining the community, including community projects and languages, broadcasting on 103.1 FM. Founded by local legend Aisha Special K
Burngreave Messenger
Quite simply the best community news service in the city, great website as well. If you live in North Sheffield check out what's going on. If you don't, move there!
City of Sanctuary
Sheffield was the first UK city to become a City of Sanctuary. The organisation involves dozens of groups working to build a culture of hospitality and welcome for asylum-seekers and refugees.
They provide information and activities from offering friendship, advocacy and language exchanges, to organised walks, solidarity protests and emergency accommodation
There's a nice short video which says it all, Click to view video
CommunityNet
A small project based in Sheffield to assist groups and individuals to learn the skills and make the contacts required to make a difference in their communities. Providing zero or low cost internet hosting and development, and zero cost blogging facilities.
East End Quality of Life Initiative
Air quality in the east of Sheffield is at shockingly poor levels. The East End Quality of Life Initiative (EEQOL) is a community led project campaigning about this and other issues.
Launchpad
Cafe project aiming to provide a friendly place for people less integrated into society, the elderly, recovering mental health patients, single parents and the disabled (there is a wheelchair friendly lift), refugees and asylum seekers. Learning disabled adults help to prepare and serve the food. Situated within the Vestry Hall on Burngreave Road, Sheffield and open from 9 till 3.
MESH Community Cohesion Services
A charity based in Sheffield dedicated to the use and promotion of mediation as a means of conflict resolution. That means getting both sides working together to sort out disputes, good common sense.
Mule
Mule is "News with a kick", a not-for-profit, grassroots, project committed to using media production and mass distribution as a tool for promoting social, environmental and economic justice and peace. And it's based not far away, in Manchester. Well worth a look.
New Beginnings Refugee Project
This project helps refugees and asylum seekers to get into worthwhile volunteering opportunities. It also offers help to organisations wanting to involve refugees and asylum seeker volunteers through advice, good practice guidelines and translated resources. It is run by The Volunteer Centre Sheffield, part of Voluntary Action Sheffield.
Now Then
A free pro-active community magazine for Sheffield. An excellent read, with adverts only from independent traders, community groups and good causes. Available around the city and also downloadable back issues
Regather
Regather is an independent, non-for-profit local service co-operative which provides a range of services to people and organisations who want to get things done. They're big on event organisation, but also moving into employment, training and skills development and social media networking stuff.
RotherFed
Federation of Tenants and Residents Associations in Rotherham, a good active and inclusive local group.
Rotherham Freegle
Freegle means Free Giving, Locally, Easily. It's a new online re-use network, an alternative to Freecycle, for people to keep stuff out of landfill by giving away things they don't want, to people who can use them. Joining involves having a Yahoo account, which is free and easy. Because the Yahoo Group interface isn't totally easy to understand, there's a useful Rotherham Freegle Message Maker, so make a note of this web page if you sign up. Each Freegle group is a grassroots co-operative run by and for local people. Rotherham's also has a Freegle Café Group for members to chat about anything and to promote local businesses.
Rotherham MB Forum
Online Rotherham discussion forum, which seems to have disappeared recently. Anyone know of ANY Rotherham forums operating please email us ... thanks.
Safe in South Yorks
Hate Crime reporting site, bringing together the local community and agencies working together for a safer place for all to live, work and socialise including the LGB&T and minority ethnic and faith communities. Run by South Yorkshire Police
Sheffield Equality Trust
We live in a very unequal city, in one of the most divided developed countries on Earth. As one example, some northern and eastern areas of Sheffield have an average 14 year shorter life expectancy than the wealthier west side. Sheffield Equality Trust plans to change this situation.
Sheffield Forum
Well-organised, long established and lively forum for discussion about Sheffield and stuff, hundreds of lovely down-to- earth Sheffield people online
Sheffield Freegle
Freegle means Free Giving, Locally, Easily. It's a new online re-use network, an alternative to Freecycle. It enables people to keep household goods out of landfill by giving away things they don't want, to people who can use them. Joining involves having a Yahoo account, which is free and easy. Each Freegle group is a grassroots co-operative run by and for local people. Sheffield's also has a "Freegle Café Group" for members to chat about anything and to promote local businesses.
Sheffield Humanist Society (SHS)
Humanists care about social and moral issues from a freethinking, non-religious (atheist or agnostic) perspective, rejecting the supernatural and believing that humanity must find its own solutions to life's problems. The Sheffield group is one of the largest and most active in UK and holds monthly meetings open to the general public.
Sheffield LETS
This is a community-based mutual aid network in which people exchange all kinds of goods and services, without the need for money. In fact they use a currency called "Stones". It works - find more information on the website or Tel. Sheff. 221 6804 (office open 7:30 to 9pm Wed. evenings, leave a voicemail at other times)
Sheffield Social Centre
Sheffield Social Centre is a collective for libertarian DIY space in the city. If you're interested in getting involved with the social centre project (or are intrigued by it at the very least) you're very welcome the project is open to all who share its core principles of non-hierarchy, anti-capitalism and equality/non-discrimination.
Sheffield South and East Freecycle
Freecycle enables people to keep household goods out of landfill by giving away things they don't want, to people who can use them. Joining involves having a Yahoo account, which is free and easy. Each group is part of The Freecycle Network, an international and UK charity aiming to keep good stuff out of landfills. Sheffield South and East Freecycle also has a "Café Group" for members to discuss issues of recycling, the environment and so on.
Sheffield Zone
Ex-Online discussion forum is sadly no more ... SADLY CLOSED late 2009, but see Sheffield Forum for genuine local discussions going on all the time.
Side by Side Intercultural Drama Group
An award-winning, user-led Sheffield community drama group which aims to promote intercultural understanding, integration and cohesion between people of all social, ethnic, cultural and faith backgrounds. It uses drama as a tool for developing confidence and self-expression, building friendships and exploring themes that are important and relevant to members. No previous theatre experience or English language skills are necessary, refugees and asylum seekers are particularly welcome to join.
Email admin@sidebyside.me.uk or call 079438 12382
Talk Sheffield forum
Newly launched (2009) forum online for general discussion, of anything and everything, as well as Sheffield-related discussions and fun ... just don't expect the highest standards of politeness and intelligent debate!
An addition to the field alongside the excellent long-running Sheffield Forum
The Co-op Café
A community café and arts venue with a garden behind independent from the venue and open to community use. Local artists can display and sell their work, art and craft activities and kid-friendly menus.
The café is looking for ideas, involvement, enthusiasm and creativity… Open 7 days a week. 229 London Road, Sheffield S2 4NF. Tel. Sheff. 258 1131
Transition Porter Valley
A new (2009) group in the S10/S11/Porter Valley area of Sheffield, getting a local transition group going. This will cover stuff from growing fruit and vegetables locally, to awareness raising of the problems with fossil fuels and climate change.
We Love The Earth Centre
The Earth Centre is a large site on a former colliery, next to Conisbrough railway station (on the way to Doncaster). In the 1990s it was opened as an environmental visitor attraction ... then later it closed. What happens to it now is up in the air, so 'We Love The Earth Centre' is campaigning to make sure it's kept for community-based, sustainable use.
We Want Our Buses Back
Campaign to get South Yorkshire's buses back to what they used to be - public services, not unaccountable, cut-back, rip-off private companies.
Not enough buses or trains in your area? Write to your local council to ask for better services that will help people avoid unnecessary car journeys. Campaigns have shown that hand-written requests really help to bring about change.
Wildscapes
A Community Interest Company, Wildscapes offers services in land management, ecology and landscape design (from habitat and protected species surveys to storm water, river and moorland management. You name it, they do it!) They work to support the environment and biodiversity, and also involve volunteers and encourage a sense of ownership towards green spaces and the natural world.
