The government has, today (22 November), launched a £7 million fund with Arts Council England (ACE), Pears Foundation and NHS Charities Together to help people access more volunteering opportunities across a range of sectors including the arts and sport.

The Volunteering Futures Fund, which includes almost £6 million directly from the government, and £1.15 million contributed by Pears Foundation and NHS Charities Together, will provide opportunities to a diverse range of people across the country, recognising that some people face barriers to volunteering. The fund will have a strong focus on young people, those experiencing loneliness, those with disabilities and those from ethnic minority backgrounds.

Organisations who run projects across the arts, heritage, museums, libraries, sport, civil society and youth sectors are encouraged to apply. These include nationwide projects to create placements for young people, in addition to regional and local projects, such as those working with a particular football club to provide volunteering opportunities.

ACE will be distributing £4.7 million of the fund provided by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), and have today launched their competition for Expressions of Interest, welcoming bids for £100,001 or above, for organisations to fund the training and support necessary to deliver high-quality volunteering projects.

In addition to the £4.7 million in grants which ACE will administer, DCMS has awarded Pears Foundation and NHS Charities Together with £1.15 million. The two grant makers are also adding to the total themselves with a further £1.15 million, bringing the combined fund to £7 million.

Councils are encouraged to disseminate this information as appropriate.

Announcement:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-increases-accessibility-to-volunteering

Broomhill & Sharrow Vale – Councillor Priorities and Ward Pot. 

Ward pots aim to support stronger, successful communities by making grants available to local voluntary, community, and self-help groups and projects. If your organisation can contribute to your local area, you may be eligible for funding.

Groups and organisations applying to the ward pots must comply with Covid-19 guidelines and have any necessary Covid risk assessments in place for applications to be considered.

Please refer to the Governments national guidance that applies across England.

Funding of between £250 and £1,000 is available to apply for, although Councillors may consider higher bids for larger or joint working projects.

You can access the funding applications and ward priorities on the council webpage by clicking on the following link – Ward pots (sheffield.gov.uk)

Please send completed applications to centrallac@sheffield.gov.uk

Walkley Ward – Councillor Priorities and Ward Pot. 

Ward pots aim to support stronger, successful communities by making grants available to local voluntary, community, and self-help groups and projects. If your organisation can contribute to your local area, you may be eligible for funding.

Groups and organisations applying to the ward pots must comply with Covid-19 guidelines and have any necessary Covid risk assessments in place for applications to be considered.

Please refer to the Governments national guidance that applies across England.

Funding of between £250 and £1,000 is available to apply for, although Councillors may consider higher bids for larger or joint working projects.

The Walkley ward priorities are listed below:

Community Infrastructure and Engaging Communities

• Create a network of community organisations that are connected to City Council

• Encourage neighbourhoods to work together and build community resilience

• Improve digital skills amongst younger and older people

Health Inequalities

• Establish a network to identify and tackle main issues

Environment and Public Realm

• Encourage local ownership of small green spaces

• Encourage use of green spaces

Services and Facilities

• Promote shop local initiatives and encourage local business involvement in the community

Social Isolation of Older People

• Match volunteers to local projects

• Raise awareness of activities and services

You can access the funding applications and ward priorities on the council webpage by clicking on the following link – Ward pots (sheffield.gov.uk)

Please send completed applications to centrallac@sheffield.gov.uk

The Community Covid Bus will be out and about at the locations below soon, providing information and support on testing, self-isolation support and vaccination:

Mon     15-Nov-21       Fitzalan Square                       

Mon     15-Nov-21       Aldi – St Marys Gate              

Tues    16-Nov-21       St Marys Church                    

Weds   17-Nov-21       Tesco Saville Street

Weds   17-Nov-21       Crystal Peaks atrium             

Thurs   18-Nov-21       Thorncliffe Leisure Centre

Thurs   18-Nov-21       Devonshire Green                 

Fri        19-Nov-21       Fargate Street Site                

Fri        19-Nov-21       Fox Valley Retail Park                                          

Sat       20-Nov-21       Fargate Street

Sun      21-Nov-21       Fitzalan Square  ( Xmas lights switch on ) 

Find out more at http://bit.ly/CommunityCovidBus

#CommunityCovidBus

In last year’s referendum the people of Sheffield voted for a change to how our Council is run – choosing a committee system to replace the leader-cabinet model. 

We’re now holding public engagement sessions to get your thoughts on how the new system should work – the next one will be online this Tuesday 26 October 17.30-19.30.

Click the book now button below to reserve your place.

The engagement sessions are happening weekly, swapping between in-person and online from now until December 2021.  As soon as we have venues and times confirmed we will provide the opportunity to book through our Eventbrite pages.

As a council we want to improve how we listen and respond to communities, making it easier for people to contact us and raise any concerns, both as individuals and as communities.

Over the coming months, we want to talk to communities about what matters to them; how they can approach the council, the ways we are changing in terms of decision making and how we can make it easier for people and communities to get involved and influence things that happen both locally and city-wide.  We are committed to engaging, empowering and enabling communities, connecting with, listening to and involving people right across the city.

We would like to hear about the things that are important to you – please take 5 minutes to complete our short survey.

How we make decisions

As you may be aware, the way the Council makes decisions is changing. Following the result of the Governance Referendum on the 6 May 2021, we are moving from a Leader and Cabinet model to a Committee System of governance.  We are one of the first major cities to do this and we want to work with everyone in Sheffield to make this successful. You can find out more information about these changes here.

Local Area Committees

Another important change is the launch of Local Area Committees, we have established seven Local Area Committees (each covering four electoral wards) as part of our Empowering Communities Programme.

Local Area Committees will be the Council’s primary route to work with local people to address local issues and to enable more opportunities for local people to influence what happens in their areas. Local Area Committees will be led by local Councillors. They will offer a range of opportunities for involvement, recognising that people want to get involved at different levels and in different ways. This will include holding regular public meetings in the community, with the first meetings due to take place in September / October 2021.

The feedback you give will help shape Local Area Committees and will also inform the development of a Local Community Plan – one for each of the 7 Local Area Committees – which will outline local priorities and the actions that will be taken.  

You can find out more about Local Area Committees here. 

Why your views matter

We would like to hear about the things that are important to you.  

This survey is just the start of this conversation.

We will continue to talk to communities and partner organisations, including the voluntary, community and faith sector over the coming months to gather your views. 

We will also be looking at the feedback you have given us so far, including through the Big City Conversation.

Thank you for taking the time to complete this survey and share your views.

Give us your views

Online Survey

St Mary’s Social Supermarket is a place where people who
are struggling to afford to feed themselves and their
family can shop weekly for food.

Members of the Social Supermarket can access activities,
help and support to make positive life changes for an
initial period of 12 weeks.

It costs £3 each time you do a shop, and you will get to
choose from the items available often worth over £20*
*(depending on availability and what you choose).

What does membership mean?

 You will be able to shop in the supermarket up to
once a week. You will be able to choose your own
food from each section of available items. Each time
you shop it will cost only £3, and if it will help you to
manage your money you can purchase vouchers for
future use.

 We have a café for members with reduced price
lunches and cakes available when the supermarket is
open. Members can also join a breakfast club,
community meal, and some other activities like gardening and keep fit.

 There are debt advisors on site and the option to
take part in 1 to 1 coaching, money or stress management and confidence building workshops. You may be able to get involved with some volunteering
or helping us to organise an event or project.

 Membership is initially for 12 weeks, after which
time you will be invited to a review meeting to see
how your situation has been improving.

If you think St Mary’s Social Supermarket can help you, you
can ask your support worker or other organisation to refer
you, or you can refer yourself.

You can contact us using by phone: 0114 2230223
Email: admin@stmarys-church.co.uk

Once you get to the top of the waiting list (usually no longer than a few weeks), someone from St Mary’s will call you and ask you a few questions about your situation, if we think you will be eligible to join you will be invited to come
in for your sign-up meeting and assessment.

We will tell you what you need to bring with you to your appointment.
At your meeting a decision is in most cases made straight away and a member of
staff or volunteer will show you around the supermarket.