Category: In Your Community

By Sharon Smith, Community Energy Advisor

I met with A at Springwell Gardens community centre for a meeting that was arranged two weeks earlier.

A attends the Deaf Futures group that is held at Springwell each Friday and at an earlier session he had made colleagues aware he was struggling to understand his energy bills. A meeting was agreed, and a sign language interpreter was booked.

A was asked to take a picture of his electricity meter on the day the appointment was arranged and then again on the morning of the appointment and bring them with him along with his energy bills.

He lives in a 1-bedroom council bungalow in Thrybergh which he moved into in March 2022. As well as being deaf he has limited eyesight which makes using online sign language tools impossible and it’s impossible for him to contact his energy supplier as he struggles to use a phone. He does not have gas at the property and uses electricity for all heating, cooking, and hot water.

He had received a bill from British Gas for £366.84 and he believed this was wrong as it seemed very high. The bills he brought were looked at and placed in date order for him. He was struggling to understand why his bill was so high although he had paid all previous bills.

The readings he brought pictures of were 31151 (two weeks ago) and 31314 on the morning of our appointment – this equates to @ £30.00 per week usage including standing charges so his bill which was ‘estimated’ reflected this average usage for the billing quarter.

The bill which he thought was high was in fact ‘estimated’ however the estimate was lower than his actual usage – he had used quite a bit more electricity and had the meter been read (or when it is read at some point in the future) he will have used @ £300.00 more…

With the help of the sign language interpreter, Leanne we were able to explain this to A and also show him that his electricity bill from the same period last year was in fact over £500.00 however, as the government help scheme was still in place he received just over £200.00 towards this quarterly bill so it did appear on the face of it to be lower than this one.

We discussed his energy usage, and it appeared that he likes to spend a lot of time in the shower which is powered by electricity – he spends 10-15 minutes per day showering and has an electric oven and storage heaters. When asked if he knew how to turn down his thermostat on his heating system, he confirmed that he did.

A has been informed that when his meter is next read it will result in a large bill, so he is aware. He has been encouraged to pay this one as it is and then start to either put aside money in preparation for the upcoming large bill or pay weekly/fortnightly now towards it using an old bill which he can just take to the post office along with his cash.

He has been encouraged to turn down his heating thermostat a little and try to turn it off just a bit earlier, take a maximum of 4 minutes in the shower and consider buying an air fryer or slow cooker so that he is not using his oven every day.

Reducing his energy usage and paying a little towards the next large bill will hopefully help. He was given a hot water bottle to help him keep warm or use in his bed if he turns the heating off early. His bills were sorted into date order and placed in a plastic wallet for safe keeping.

He was very grateful that he received an explanation of the situation even though his bill will be much higher than what he has received he has the opportunity to reduce his usage before the next bill is due.

By Lee Lazenby, Community Engagement Officer

During a session at Greasborough Library the Open Arms Hub was busy due to a fair few people in the library, Lee remembers one elderly lady who will stick in her mind for some time.

The librarian came over to the table and asked if we could speak with an elderly lady, she had popped into the library as a warm space, the weather was atrocious that day, it was blowing a gale and Rotherham had seen a flurry of snow hours earlier.

The lady was called Jane and she really unsettled. She told Lee that she had been diagnosed with dementia the day before and she hadn’t slept all night as she had been mulling over the thought of how this would affect her as time went on. Jane went on to say she had always been independent up until a few years before when she was starting to feel unsteady on her feet and now relied on a walking stick to get about.

She still drives but sometimes she feels as though she is not up to it but still wants to get out and about to socialise with her friends. Lee made the lady a cup of tea before listening to her worries, she suggested the “door to door”, a service that Jane said she had tried using but had been turned down, Lee reiterated she did actually qualify to use the service and suggested she go back to them.

She asked us to write down the info, Lee spent a while chatting and as time went on could tell in her voice she was relaxing and starting to feel more positive. As Jane continued to talk away, we came up with a few more suggestions of ways she could help herself (It was obvious Jane was a very independent lady and found it difficult to ask for assistance when required, although no doubt, she would offer help to others at the drop of a hat. She said she felt overwhelmed how a complete stranger was willing to spend time with someone they had never met before. Lee stated it was all part of the job. Jane couldn’t thank the team enough and was so grateful. We parted ways with her, leaving her with a list of social groups and other help in the area.

By Rob Gooding, Community Engagement Officer

In a heartwarming display of dedication to their community, members of Peregrine Way Tenant and Resident Association, working with RotherFed staff and Rotherham Council Neighbourhood teams have gone above and beyond this month. Their commitment to the local centre in Harthill, Rotherham, has been evident as they lovingly completed a makeover of the centre.

The centre has received a fresh lease on life, thanks to the funds provided by the TARA members. Not stopping at a lick of paint and a spring clean, they arranged a thorough deep cleaning of the soft furnishings revitalising the space for all who use it and bringing the carpet and chairs back to their former glory and prolonging the life of the items.

The group arranged for local trades people to undertake the work to bolster the pride in the area for the centre and ensure that local people are talking about the amazing projects that are held there.

By Rachel Cole, Senior Projects Officer

On Saturday 24 February from 2pm until 6pm, Thurcroft Big Local held a celebratory event at the Thurcroft Hub to celebrate what has been achieved since 2012 when the Big Local started.  The event was very well attended by many residents in the village, members past and present and organisations who have been involved in the project over the years.  A buffet and refreshments were provided, there was free face painting for the children and a magician who entertained all ages of the crowd.  The walls were decorated the photographs from across the years and there was a slideshow showing other photographs that have been taken during the past 12 years.  Everyone received either a Thurcroft Big Local pen or torch keyring to keep.  It was a fantastic event and one to remember!

Although the project has now officially ended, I am certain that with the residents/volunteers committed to the village, the community will continue to benefit from the great things that the Big Local project started. 

By Dan Barron and Sam Dixon, Heart of the Community Project Workers

We had first found out about the Peer support for all group whilst speaking with the neighbourhood coordinator for Boston Castle so arranged a meeting with them.

The group were already holding informal sessions at Hygge but felt that they wanted to find a venue better suited to what they wanted to achieve. They wanted to be able to hold numerous sessions with space for people to talk, share their stories, support each other as well as getting involved in activity geared towards supporting positive mental health.

The committee members all have lived experience of being involved with different support services from delivery to being a group member. The group came together by sharing their different experiences and wanting to create something less prescribed and open to more engagement from community members. A place where participants feel safe and secure enough to share their stories and worries with other people that may be experiencing the same issues.

After months of searching for a venue that would be viable to run the group, the committee enquired about the Wellgate court building, which is the base for RMBC Adult Social Care and is run by Craig Pullen. At a meeting between the group and Craig, they discussed what the group wanted to achieve and how they could work together. Craig agreed that it seemed a good fit for the usage of the building as well as a partnership that could be advantageous for both the group and RMBC Services. Craig put in an official request on behalf of the group and a few weeks later they now have a license to operate in the venue.

The group have hosted 4 sessions and they have already managed to support 20 people. They are now starting to prepare for their funding application and will be consulting their participants on what they would like to do at sessions.

By the Open Arms Community Enagement Team

Over the February half term, a variety of events was organised. These were aimed at families and were free to attend. The took place at Open Arms sessions, so while they were there staff could speak to them about the project and the support they could access.

Bookings were done in advance, with the information shared through various channels. Most of the events were fully booked, with people coming to one or more of the activities. The average attendance for the large venues was 60 and 30 for the smaller ones. Over the week we welcomed 112 adults and 161 children to the events.

We saw lots of new people attend the sessions and had great feedback from them too.

By the Open Arms Community Enagement Team

After encountering one of our staff members at his local miners’ welfare club, Tom learned about the vital support services offered by our team at the Maltby Library’s Open Arms session. With plans to relocate to Maltby, Tom faced the daunting task of establishing essential healthcare services in his new community. His physical disabilities and dyslexia added an extra layer of complexity, making the process of filling out forms a daunting challenge. Upon visiting us at the Maltby Library, our team worked closely with Tom to navigate the paperwork, ensuring that he was able to complete all necessary forms accurately and efficiently. Grateful for the swift and uncomplicated support he received, Tom expressed his heartfelt appreciation for our services. With our assistance, Tom is now equipped for success in his new home and life stage in Maltby, setting an example of the positive impact community support can have on individuals in need.

By Rachel Cole, Senior Projects Officer

In 2011 Thurcroft was selected by the Local Trust, as part of their Big Local Initiative, and received £1 million pound.  The aim of this money was for the local community to get involved in making their community a better place to live, then and in the future.  Where and how this money was spent was entirely up to the local community and has been guided by a Partnership Board which has comprised entirely of local residents and people who are passionate about Thurcroft.   

The Big Local Project launched at the Gala in August 2012 and over the next 6-12 months a steering group/partnership was formed, a community profile was written, lots of consultation took place in the village to speak to residents about the project and to hear their ideas on how they would like the money to be spent.  The first formal plan was then written and submitted to Local Trust.  Since then, plans have been written every couple of years and funding has always been spent on projects identified in the plans.  The three core themes in the Plan have remained the same, Community Pride, Children and Young People and Making Big Local Happen.   

Over the years, lots of exciting things have taken place and many improvements have been made in the village.  Some examples of these are a Big Local information centre, litter picks and skips, allotment, youth clubs, luncheon club, employment advisor/jobs fairs, memorial benches, Covid 19 and food parcels, small grants and events which include gala, ice rink, fireworks, tea dances, day trips, summer play scheme and events for Christmas, Easter, and Halloween.  The greatest achievement was the opening of the Thurcroft Hub in March 2017, this will be the Big Local legacy and will hopefully be successful for many years to come. 

The youth group, events committee and the luncheon club are all now constituted groups, run by volunteers, who can now draw down their own funding to ensure that these services still continue for the community to enjoy in the future. 

A celebration event has been booked and planned for February 2024 where everyone who has ever been involved in the project can get together and celebrate what they have achieved over the past 12 years! 

This has been an amazing project and I feel privileged to have been part of it, I still can’t believe how quickly the years have gone! 

I have met some amazing people in Thurcroft, without the support of the local residents and their volunteering the Big Local project wouldn’t have been the success that it has.   

I wish Thurcroft and all its residents lots of luck for the future, as a community, they should be very proud of themselves!   

“A few from over the years” 

By Janet Malsch, Community Engagement Officer

In an uplifting start to the year, Janet organised a New Year’s Workshop at the Unity Centre on both January 19th and 26th. The sessions were attended by a diverse group of 12 participants, creating a vibrant and inclusive atmosphere.

The goal of the workshop was to reach out to new individuals, including council tenants and residents, and to learn more about RotherFed and the opportunities to get involved. This new approach workshop delved into the importance of establishing good routines, tracking habits, and focused on reflecting on the highlights of 2023, aspirations for 2024, and letting go of certain things to foster a positive and healthy year ahead.

The workshop attracted a total of 15 participants, including four council tenants and one BAME member. The overall feedback was highly positive, with participants expressing that they found the workshop beneficial with many creating positive habits going forward.

by Dan Barron and Sam Dixon, Heart of the Community Project Workers

Kaz has been attending sessions of the Community Tree and their craft sessions since they started. Although previously a resident of Canklow, Kaz hasn’t lived on the estate for many years. Kaz finds the sessions very beneficial and currently travels from the Kimberworth Park area to attend the group. This means relying on 2 different bus services as there are no direct routes from one estate to the other.

“I’m like a homing pigeon…. a homing pigeon always returns home…. Even though I don’t live here anymore, I still come back.”

Kaz loves to be involved in all manners of activities and will regularly seek out new groups to keep herself busy.

“This group is great! It has given me the opportunity to learn new things and meet new people, even the kids join in when they’re here!!”

“We get to swap tips and ideas, we even swap materials so that we can complete our own projects!”

Kaz has a diagnosis of Parkinsons which affects not only her movement and mobility but also has an impact on her mental health. The sessions impacted Kaz positively through meeting new people with similar interests or speaking with others in a safe environment.

“I like Arts and crafts and everything…. I can do everything, just slower…. I always say got to have the bad to enjoy the good.”

“My diagnosis of Parkinsons can be detrimental to all aspects of what I do, but I have found everyone in this group to be so supportive and accepting…… I love it. All walks of life come to the group and its nice to mix with others.”

“The group helps with my mental health…. By coming to the group, I find that it perks me up and lifts me up…… “

Kaz intends to keep coming to the group as long as she can, she thinks it’s important not just for her but for everyone. She’d like to see the group widen their offer by offering a bit more variety in their activities.

“Games, like board games, or a book club. We could have someone in, once a month, to lead sessions on something new.

Something for the kids on the estate would be good……… and possibly a disabled group to support those people.”

The group are listening to suggestions coming from their community and intend on looking at different ways to expand. They also plan to work with partners locally to offer cost of living support and energy saving tips.