Category: environment

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Low Carbon Grants Available for Crosspool Businesses

Following a recent decision at Sheffield City Council’s Economic Development and Skills committee, businesses in Crosspool and across South Yorkshire can now apply for funding from a £3.4m grant to help reduce carbon emissions, be more sustainable and protect jobs.

Running until March 2025, the council fund will provide support to 260 small and medium-sized businesses across the region to help understand the opportunities available to reduce carbon emissions of small and medium-sized businesses.

Local Crosspool businesses could benefit from a free energy audit to identify potential energy-saving improvements, such as low-energy lighting systems or insulation. The low carbon grants are available to help invest in solutions to reduce energy consumption and costs, become more productive, resilient and environmentally friendly. As part of the package of support, specialists will provide comprehensive advice and support throughout the process.

With the rising cost of energy, we know how important it is for businesses to be able to access climate initiatives that reduce bills and carbon emissions at the same time, which is why this scheme has been designed.

Councillor Minesh Parekh, the lead spokesperson on the Economic Development and Skills committee, said: “We know that businesses across Sheffield want to be leaders on the climate crisis and to play their part to help reach net zero. “These Low Carbon Grants will help small businesses reduce their energy usage, cutting their bills and carbon emissions at the same time. With energy costs at record highs, it’s so important for climate initiatives to deliver cost savings and environmental benefits.”

Delivered by South Yorkshire’s local authorities, the project is partly funded by the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority’s Shared Prosperity Fund allocation, with Sheffield City Council acting as the Accountable Body for the Low Carbon Grant project, on behalf of Barnsley, Doncaster and Rotherham MBCs.

To find out more, including whether your business is eligible for support, please contact Business Sheffield at 0114 224 5000 or via lowcarbonproject@sheffield.gov.uk

Further information about the grant, including eligibility criteria and types of support available is included here: https://www.sheffield.gov.uk/uk-shared-prosperity-fund-low-carbon-project.

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South West Local Area Committee Survey

About Crookes & Crosspool • Dore & Totley • Ecclesall • Fulwood (LAC’s)

Hanging baskets in Crosspool precinct
Crosspool precinct

LOCAL AREA COMMITTEES  give you the chance to raise your views, share your opinion on what the council does in your area and contribute to making changes in your neighbourhood. As a resident living in South West Sheffield, this is your opportunity to say what you would like to see improved.

How you can get involved

Your South West Local Area Committee is conducting a survey to see if there has been any change in the priorities identified in the community plan. Any new priorities will be considered and relevant projects can be developed.

Your South West Local Area Committee would love to hear your views on what’s most important in the South West Local area. 

Survey

Please click on the button for more information and to complete the survey.

 For additional information Email:- SouthwestLAC

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Vulnerable Sheffield Children Down on the Farm

Vulnerable Sheffield children with serious issues will receive help and
support down on the farm thanks to Yorkshire Freemasons

James H Newman OBE, the Head  
Freemason in Yorkshire,

Hundreds of vulnerable children and young people from across the region will receive
support on a working farm to overcome a range of serious issues and return to education,
thanks to a grant from Yorkshire West Riding Freemasons to Whirlow Hall Farm Trust.

The £54,000 grant will see well over 300 local children spending extended periods at the
farm near Sheffield where they will work to overcome mental health and physical illness and the aftermath of life-changing events such as bereavement.

The children who are referred to Whirlow Hall Farm are disengaged from education due to
the issues they are facing. Whirlow provides activities which are fun, engaging, and tailored to the needs of learners, with every young person having their own goals and
achievements.  They are supported to reduce their anxieties and reengage with education.
They may return to their school, secure a place at a new or special school, or gain
qualifications during their time at Whirlow to support them to access further education.

The children and young people get involved in real farm jobs and activities based on their
age, abilities and interests. This could be anything from egg collecting to moving large
animals around the farm to helping with lambing. Each youngster has their own needs and
interests and attends between one to three days per week for a minimum of 12 weeks but
most stay much longer. The activities are all linked to the curriculum and learning is
embedded throughout. Additionally, there are classroom-based activities to support their
learning and for when the weather is not suitable for being outdoors all day.
The results of the programme are extremely positive, with 85 per cent of children who have attended the Farm showing a reduction of anxieties after 12 weeks. For those who stay for longer, at 6 months this increases to 95 per cent. Once they are back at school, 70 per cent reported improved behaviour and better engagement in lessons leading to a reduced chance of exclusion. Last year, 86 per cent progressed in a way that was suitable for them. The team at Whirlow expect this to be at least 90 per cent at the end of this academic year.
The grant from Yorkshire West Riding Freemasons comes through the Masonic Charitable
Foundation, which is funded by Freemasons, their families and friends, from across Englandand Wales.

Ben Davies, Whirlow’s Chief Executive, said:
“We’re very grateful to Yorkshire West Riding Freemasons for their generous grant, which
will allow us to help hundreds of very vulnerable children and young people get back to
school. The therapeutic activities on our working farm are a proven way to help them
overcome all manner of serious issues ranging from physical and mental health problems
through to bereavement. Thanks to the Freemasons we can continue to provide this vital
service.”

James H Newman OBE, Head of Yorkshire, West Riding Freemasons, said:
“I’m delighted Freemasonry has been able to support the Whirlow Hall Farm Trust in their
hugely valuable work with children who have serious and complex needs. Providing them
with a safe, relaxed, and fun environment, by which they can recover their confidence and
health, and ultimately re-engage with education, is absolutely crucial to their long-term
future. The remarkable results of the Trust’s programme speak for themselves.”

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Crosspool Christmas Tree Shredding

Recognising the importance to dispose of our real Christmas trees sustainably rather than end up in landfill, which is both costly to the taxpayer and the environment,

On Sunday morning 8th January, the Crosspool Forum had arranged a brief window for the community to drag their discarded Christmas trees to the forecourt in front of local travel agents “Direct Travel.”

The huge number of Christmas trees brought for recycling were soon reduced to wood chippings for mulch, outdoor firewood, animal bedding and pathways locally.

It was gratifying to hear the residents of Crosspool appreciate the hard work of the volunteers and the convenience of being able to dispose of their Christmas trees environmentally friendly.  

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Crosspool Christmas Tree Recycling

Crosspool Forum loves shredding real Christmas trees and encourages you, for a small donation, to recycle your discarded Christmas tree.

Andrew Clayton, a Local tree specialist, will provide Christmas tree recycling for the Community of Crosspool between 10am & 11.30am this Sunday 8th January 2023

The Crosspool Forum would like to take this opportunity to give a big thank you to ”Direct Travel”, for allowing us to use the space in front of their premises.

Please observe social distancing when dropping off your tree and suggested donation.

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Local Councillors Press for Clarity

Local councillors press for clarity on the Active Neighbourhood trial in Crookes and Walkley

Councillors have issued a statement about the Active Neighbourhood trial currently running in Crookes and Walkley. The councillors support the aims of the trial but say the implementation has been ‘unpredictable’ and ‘confusing’. At a meeting with the ​​Council’s Head of Strategic Transport and Infrastructure, (Tomorrow Tuesday, September 27th) they will call for more clarity to be given on the trial and for local residents to have a say on how it progresses.

A Joint statement from Ruth Milsom and Minesh Parekh (Councillors for Crookes and Crosspool ward) and Tom Hunt and Ben Curran (Councillors for Walkley ward):

“All of us want to live on streets that are safe for pedestrians, drivers and cyclists. We want streets where children are safe to play out and that aren’t busy cut-throughs. That’s why we support the aims of the Active Neighbourhood trial in Crookes and Walkley. It was set up to try out ideas for how to make streets more liveable.

“But right from the beginning we have heard serious concerns from residents and businesses. People who like the changes as, well as people who don’t, have all told us that the initial public engagement and design process should have been better.

“We are now three months into a six-month formal consultation period, and too many of the trial measures still haven’t been implemented.

“Residents are frustrated with the uncertainty about what is happening and concerned about the implementation of the scheme. We share those concerns. No-one is satisfied with the current situation, whether they like the trial or not.

“When we meet the Council’s Head of Strategic Transport and Infrastructure we will press him for clear proposals for implementation, better communications with residents, and a programme of meaningful public involvement. The trial will have better outcomes and more legitimacy if the next steps are clearly informed by local public opinion”