The past few years have led to increasing debate about climate change and the environment but 2007 is the year for us to stand up and begin to take real action to reduce the impact of climate change.  This means both trying to prevent and mitigate against climate change and to adapt to the reality of its existence.

 

Sheffield is often talked up as a green city and is seen to have good environmental credentials.  The city has already established itself as the location of choice for leading edge companies in the sustainable energy and technology sectors and our District Heating Network is the largest of its kind in the UK.

 

However much more needs to be done, and we must look to lower our carbon emissions, recycle more and make the small changes that can make a big difference as well as providing solutions to bigger long term issues.

 

In February, Sheffield First Environment got the ball well and truly rolling as it hosted, along with a range of local partners, the highly successful “Sheffield is My Planet Week” which brought Al Gore to the city and opened up the climate change debate further.

 

Following up on this momentum the Sheffield First Partnership sees its role as the lead regeneration agency in the city as a unique opportunity to make a big difference in the climate change agenda.

 

A task and finish group is being set up to work closely with Sheffield First Environment and partners to drive swift action in Sheffield on the climate change issue.  This group will consider how issues of sustainability and the need to mitigate and adapt to climate change could be reflected in key policies within the city’s future.

 

Jane Brown

Director, Sheffield First Partnership

 

Both universities agree a major shift of image is needed, communicating the current positive changes in the city and to improve out dated negative perceptions of Sheffield.

 

Kevin Bonnett, Pro-Vice Chancellor, Sheffield Hallam University says, “The Station gateway and improvements to Howard Street all the way up to the Peace gardens and Barkers Pool have made a dramatic impact on the city centre and Sheffield is now much more attractive.”

 

“The recent changes are fantastic for Sheffield but the momentum needs to continue and we need to let people know how much the city has improved.”

 

Ruth Arnold, Head of External Relations, University of Sheffield thinks that it is important to define what Sheffield is known for, “Students who visit Sheffield come here and find that it is surprisingly better than they thought and it moves up their list of preferred choices.”

 

“The important thing now is to show people how great the city is without them having to visit and that can only be done with important and effective city marketing.”

 

City marketing falls under the key functions of Creative Sheffield which has recently undergone a recruitment process for its Marketing Director. One of the key roles of this new appointment will be to develop strategic plans with partners for marketing the city, as part of the Economic Masterplan. Creative Sheffield will act as the lead marketing agency for Sheffield and will aim to achieve a positive shift in perceptions of the city's image and reputation.

After a long period of a decline in numbers, Sheffield’s population has seen a gradual increase in since 2002.  The profile of the population is also changing rapidly. Key developments in the Sheffield population include:

• Sheffield’s population is increasing and this is projected to continue to 2025 and beyond
•  Sheffield has an increasingly diverse population, with the local Black Minority and Ethnic population growing as a proportion of the population
• The population is ageing, with the number of retirees increasing and projected to continue to increase to 2025 and beyond
• Sheffield’s 80+ population is projected to increase by 10,000 in the next 20 years.
• The working age population is set to increase by 20,000 over the next 20 years
• Student numbers continue to increase

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OFFER, the community empowerment network in Sheffield, launched the Sheffield Faiths Forum this month.  Speakers at the launch included the The Lord Mayor of Sheffield, Councillor Jackie Drayton and Rt Revd Jack Nicholls, Bishop of Sheffield. 

 

The Faiths Forum has been set up to enable faith communities to increase their impact on regeneration and community cohesion, and influence and link to key bodies such as Sheffield First Partnership and the Yorkshire and Humber Faiths Forum.

 

A Faiths Forum consultation identified the following priorities:

 

OFFER is also running the successful ‘How Your City Works’ course for people active in the voluntary, community and faith (VCF) sectors.

 

‘How your City Works’ helps people find their way through the complex decision making structures in the city and give participants an understanding of who holds power, how the council and VCF sector currently work together and how they can influence decisions and change things.

 

There are over 5000 VCF sector organisations in Sheffield, actively contributing to improving quality of life in the city, through areas such as housing, education, environment, regeneration and the arts.

 

An event took place last month celebrating the VCF sector’s increasing influence in Sheffield’s regeneration and the success of this groundbreaking training programme helping them to achieve this.

 

For more information or details of how to get involved visit www.offer.org.uk.

Sheffield City Council and Sheffield First Health and Well-being Partnership have unveiled their new physical activity campaign, ‘The People’s Movement’, which encourages people to make positive choices around increasing the amount of physical activity they do.