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.
Abundance
A project to harvest local fruit like apples, pear and plums left because people don't notice them, or can't harvest them, mainly between August and October. Abundance is a team of volunteers who help to gather city fruit and redistribute on a non-profit basis to community cafes, nurseries, Surestarts and individuals. They also make juice, jams, chutneys and preserves. If you have a fruit tree and want help, get in touch, you will get the first share. Harvester volunteers, processors and distributors also welcome.
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.
Ask My Community
Ask My Community is new web site (2010) under development. Like a local Facebook, it offers facilities like blogging, promoting events and campaigns, conducting opinion polls, discussions and networking. It's all free. It seems to have links with Rotherham voluntary organisations and businesses.
Aspire
Aspire is a Hillsborough based charity and social enterprise which provides stable supportive work for vulnerable or marginalised people. Supported in part by funders and volunteers it aims to become self supporting through business activities. The range of activities includes recycling and re-selling donated items, and a pack-and-post service. Contributions of items are welcome, and if you're looking out for computer or something, check them out.
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 have a group, and Barnsley's was started in 2010.
BitFixIT Cafe
A group of great volunteers who enjoy mending computers to help the community. Free computer-fixing workshop on Saturdays from 12pm-3pm. Bring your broken computer, or just your questions. Based in Burngreave, walking distance from city centre, see website for directions.
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!
Chesterfield Freegle
Please do not throw your old stuff away. Someone, somewhere may still find it useful. 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 have a group, and this is Chesterfield's.
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
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.
Equinox Co-op
Equinox is a new co-operative that offers a professional coaching and advocacy service for long term unemployed people and people who suffer from any kind of discrimination. This co-operative has an ethical base and is really innovative. Have a look at the website and see how you can get involved.
Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) Sheffield
The IWW is a grassroots, democratic union helping to organise all workers in all workplaces. Unlike traditional trade unions, they believe that workers have greater voice if organised within our own industries. (For example teachers, cleaners and secretaries who work in a school should be classed as education workers, and all be in the same union.) The IWW is not full of stifling bureaucracy or linked to any political party, nor led by fat-cat salary earners who carry out deals with bosses behind your back. Their aim is to see society re-organised to meet the interests of all people, not just shareholders and corporations.
Laser Credit Union, Rotherham
Credit unions are member-owned cooperatives for saving and borrowing. Much better than any bank for ethical savings and cheap loans. They are closely regulated by the government authorities for security, and they provide excellent benefits and services. Membership is open to all in Rotherham.
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.
Mutual Aid Sheffield (MASH)
MASH is a voluntary group providing solidarity and support through direct action, for members with problems like crap landlords, housing issues, benefit claims, problems with access to public services, bullying and victimisation, sexual harassment, discrimination and unpaid wages, strikes, workplace actions and community struggles. The group is open to anyone, working or unemployed. It is non-hierarchical, independent of all political parties and trade unions, non-profit and self-organised.
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 a Sheffield co-operative, trading locally made products and services, with a shop, a van, a trike and a website, and opportunities for local volunteers, students and community organisations. Membership offers the benefits of mutual trading, share dividends and voting rights. Like all co-operatives it promotes the values of fairness, co-operation and common wealth.
RotherFed
Federation of Tenants and Residents Associations in Rotherham, a good active and inclusive local group.
Rotherham Foodbank
13 million people live below the poverty line in the UK. People go hungry for various reasons ranging from redundancy to receiving an unexpected bill whilst on a low income.
Rotherham Foodbank, launched by Hope Church, provides emergency food and support. Non-perishable donated food is sorted and packed into emergency food boxes. Frontline care professionals such as doctors and social workers give to people in crisis foodbank vouchers exchangeable for 3 days of food. Foodbanks also take time to listen and signpost clients to further support.
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
Sharrow Tool Library
You don't need to spend money on tools to decorate your house, collective ownership is better. This project is for anyone in the Sharrow area. To borrow tools (or to donate tools, you can still use them at any time) call 07704 507046 or email sharrowtoollibrary@googlemail.com
Sheffield Anti Cuts Alliance (SACA)
An autonomous and independent organisation fighting all cuts to jobs and services in Sheffield. It's made up of workers, students, the unemployed, pensioners, trade unionists, volunteers, and residents. The group was initially proposed by the PCS trade union, quickly gaining support from plenty more, as well as the trades council and the Labour and Green Parties. Whilst it remains independent from all of these, members can be from any background with an anti-cuts agenda.
Sheffield Credit Union
Credit unions are member-owned cooperatives for saving and borrowing. Much better than any bank for ethical savings and cheap loans. They are closely regulated by the government authorities for security, and they provide excellent benefits and services. Membership is open to all in the city.
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 for Democracy
This is an informal group campaigning for greater democracy, citizens rights, a fairer voting system and more accurate representation of the public will in Parliament. It welcomes supporters of all political parties or none.
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 Gay Scene
Since 2005 Sheffield Gay Scene has offered a really full guide to what's on and what's where, with links to loads of helpful organisations.
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 Uncut
Sheffield group of the UK Uncut movement. They organise protests against the brutal, unnecessary, ideologically motivated cuts, inflicted by the current Government, serving the rich elite and damaging the rest of us. Now is the time to get angry, to get organised and to build a resistance to austerity
Sheffield Voices of Resistance
A YouTube channel run from Sheffield, with videos of local people and protests. Further videos are being added.
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
St Vincent's Furniture Store
This large furniture store at 280 Queens Road offers FREE help to furnish the homes of vulnerable families and individuals referred by statutory and voluntary agencies. They help over 3500 people a year, including single-parents, elderly, disabled, ex-offenders trying to go straight, asylum seekers, and many others who through no fault of their own find themselves in crisis. It is the only service of its kind in Sheffield, and is only possible thanks to staff, volunteers and people who donate items.
St. Wilfred's Centre
St. Wilf’s does wonderful work for the homeless, vulnerable and socially excluded in South Yorkshire, bringing dignity and a feeling of belonging. People are taught skills – from domestic skills to help them to live independently, to skills that bring them back to work. And surprisingly they produce hand-made clocks and signs.…
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
Update: This sadly appears to be CLOSED now (since 2011)
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. 229 London Road, Sheffield S2 4NF. Tel. Sheff. 258 1131
The Fargate Speaker
This long-running bi-monthly publication of the Anarchist Federation in Sheffield now in the form of an online blog, and print newssheets on an occasional basis. Regular reports on events, anarchist news and views from the steel city.
The Naughty Pixies Cosmic Community Yurt
With a huge yurt (handmade traditional nomadic tent) the pixies provide a magical autonomous space at events. They share skills, ideas, fun and creativity in DIY low impact living, ancient and recycled crafts, native wild foods, medicinal plants and herbs, survival skills and direct action, not to mention art and music, flow and peace, all in balance with nature.
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.
