3rd September 2003
‘IT’S HAPPENING IN BARNSLEY’

The public is being encouraged to contribute their ideas towards the future development of community and social enterprises in Barnsley and find out what is happening already.

Barnsley Development Agency’s Community Economic Regeneration Team (CERT) and VAB (Voluntary Action Barnsley) Barnsley Community and Voluntary Network are holding a seminar on Wednesday 24th September to celebrate the success of the social and community enterprises within Barnsley. The ‘It’s Happening’ seminar will be held at Priory Campus, Lundwood from 10am till 3.00pm to develop and strengthen the network of professionals, volunteers and the community.

In addition the general public, community enterprises, voluntary groups, community partnerships, funding organisations and other professionals working within this sector have been invited. The emphasis of the event will be to focus on the diverse methods of income generation of social and community groups instead of depending on grant funding.

The Worshipful the Mayor of Barnsley Councillor William Newman will be opening the event. Five local community enterprises will then outline the social benefit of their organisations, the support they have received and their aspirations for the future. These organisations include, Athersley Community Association and Football Club, a community resource for groups and individuals. They have set up a highly successful football team and help organise the community gala and bonfire and bingo nights. Then there is Rabbit Recycling: a kerbside recycling service to be launched in mid October covering 9000 houses in Royston and Carlton. Hoyland Community Enterprise Centre, a classic stone church building, which has been transformed into a community centre. Little Dearne Credit Union, a credit union providing affordable loans and promotion of responsible money management. Scout Dike Activity Centre, a 72-bed residential outdoor pursuit centre offering primary school children residential courses in environmental studies and outdoor activities. Janet Bibby, chief executive of the Coalfields Regeneration Trust will provide the closing speech, before a buffet lunch and time for networking.

If you require any further information about the ‘Its Happening’ seminar then please contact Annette Martin-Meigh at CERT on 01226 784444 or Darren Ward at Barnsley Community and Voluntary Network on 01226 785564.


www.barnsleydevelopmentagency.co.uk

Press Contact: Sarah Hopwood
Marketing & Communications Assistant
Barnsley Development Agency
Telephone: 01226 640 086
Facsimile: 01226 286 606
Email: shopwood@barnsleydevelopmentagency.co.uk


Notes to editors – Details of Speakers/ Community Enterprises

Athersley Community Association & Football Club – Pete Goodlad
The Association’s aims are to develop their 10.5 acre site into a well used community resource for groups and individuals, managed by members of the community and generating revenue to keep this centre available for used indefinitely. Already a highly successful football team, the association will help to advance football and other sporting activities in the area, promoting fitness and active recreation. The Association’s activities include soccer school training and coaching, senior and junior boys and girls teams. More recently they have increased their activities to include the wider community in helping to organise the community gala, the community bonfire, bingo nights and summer and bank holiday activity sessions. Funding received during the past year has enabled the club to lease and secure the site, provide extensive drainage, maintenance and a programme of environmental improvements. They are now in process of attracting funding to enable them to have a purpose built building with changing facilities/showers/community room etc. to complete their objectives.

Little Dearne Credit Union – Angie Taylor
Little Dearne started as Thurnscoe Credit Union approximately 14 years ago. Over the past 3 years they have developed shop front premises enlarged their common bond area and employed three staff to coordinate the credit union. They provide affordable loans and promote responsible money management.

Scout Dike Activity Centre – Frank Gledhill
Scout Dike Activity Centre is a 72 bed residential outdoor pursuit centre offering primary school children residential courses in environmental studies and outdoor activities. They have recently extended their portfolio to include Multi Activity Days for children throughout the school holidays and are now in the process of setting up a corporate arm to include renting of kayaks/boats on Scout Dike Reservoir, Quasar, community swimming pool and tree top climb.

Hoyland Community Enterprise Centre – Pam Fudge
In 1995 Pam along with 3 other members of the community purchased and transformed a classic church stone building into a centre for the community. They are in their third year of operation and have a very successful café/luncheon club and rent out meeting rooms to other organisations. They are in the process of applying for funding for new job vacancies and are considering purchasing the scout hut adjacent to the Centre to refurbish and extend the various activities, classes currently carried out at the Centre.

Rabbit Recycling – Rebecca Speight
Rabbit Recycling is due to be launched in mid September by the team at North Barnsley Partnership. It will provide a kerbside recycling service for the North Barnsley Partnership area of Royston and Carlton covering approximately 9,000 houses. The service will collect textiles, paper, glass and ferrous and non-ferrous metals and aims to be sustainable from bulk sales of recycled materials and landfill tax credits within three years.

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