24 January 2023
Welcome to the Rotherham Round-up, your regular email update with news, video and events from Rotherham Council.
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 Do you remember the John Lewis TV advert this Christmas?
It was about a man learning to skateboard for the first time so, as it later became clear, he would have something in common with a young teenager in care that he was about to foster. The campaign raised the profile of children in care and the need for more safe, loving foster families needed for them to thrive.
Inspired by the campaign, the Council recently teamed with the House Skate Park and Bench Buddy Arena, to offer local Rotherham foster carers the chance to have a go at skateboarding themselves.
VIDEO: Watch our film to hear from our foster carers and see how they got on.
Despite some slips and trips, everyone emerged unscathed and with a great new skill to share with the children they care for!
If you have the love in your heart and the room in your home to foster a local child, we want to hear from you. Our foster carers receive excellent support, payment and training every step of the way.
Please find out more about the opportunities to foster with the Council at our Fostering Rotherham website - skateboarding skills are not essential!
 Click the image to view the video from the official opening event
The Mayor of Rotherham, Councillor Tajamal Khan has officially opened the new Elements Academy in Dinnington.
Elements Academy is the borough's first dedicated, specialist school for children with social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs.
Based at the former Dinnington College Campus, the school has 135 students, aged 7-16 years old, who all have an Education Health Care Plan (EHCP).
The Council invested around £3m to create Elements Academy, which is operated in partnership with Ethos Academy Trust (EAT). EAT has a proven track-record in the development of high quality, nurturing provisions to enable a broad range of pupils with SEMH needs to thrive and succeed.
See the Elements Academy website for more information about the school.
VIDEO: Watch our film from the official opening event.
 Click the image to see a video update on progress of the £4.5m Newman School redevelopment
The £4.5m redevelopment of the much-loved Newman Special School in Whiston is progressing well and set to be complete in time for the new school year in September.
The old Upper School site, which was no longer fit for purpose, has been demolished and work is well underway on the construction of new, modern school buildings which will transform the learning environment for students
Council Leader, Councillor Chris Read visited the school last week to check on progress of the Council’s investment in the new school and meet staff and students at the Lower School site.
VIDEO: Councillor Read and Head Teacher, Paul Silvester talk about an exciting future for Newman School.
 Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs) across Rotherham are set to return to in-house operation, giving the Council direct control over the service it provides to residents.
The proposed change would allow greater flexibility over the operation of sites, including opening hours, and the ability to improve reuse and recycling while providing value for money and social value* to residents. Plans will also see the Council maintain its commitment to paying staff the real living wage.
Read the full story.
Rotherham Council Cabinet has approved the use of a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) to acquire the burnt-out buildings on Corporation Street in Rotherham town centre.
Previously the buildings at 3-7 Corporation St were used as a nightclub and restaurant but have been derelict following a fire in 2007. Since then the Council has encouraged the landowners to redevelop the building and make the area safe for members of the public.
Read the full story.
From 11 to 19 February 2023, we’re filling Rotherham with music!
Nine amazing days of gigs, concerts, music-making workshops and more – for everybody, for free.
For the full programme and to book your place at any of our ticketed events. Booking in advance is recommended but drop-ins are welcome.
Light Organ
Tuesday 14 – Saturday 18 February, Rotherham Minster, S60 1PD
A stunning light and sound installation coming to the heart of Rotherham. Drop into the Minster anytime to experience the Light Organ, or come along to our free programme of workshops and performances:
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2 – 5pm, Tuesday 14– Thursday 16 February: music and singing sessions suitable for all ages and experience levels. Sing, clap and play the Light Organ in these workshops with singer Thabo Mkwananzi and pianist Aron Kyne.
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1 – 1.30pm, Friday 17 February: our very own Care Home Choir in a special, one-off concert with the Light Organ.
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3pm – 8pm, Friday 17 and Saturday 18 February: talented young musicians from across Rotherham perform with the Light Organ, alongside Thabo Mkwananzi and Aron Kyne.
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10am – 1pm, Saturday 18 February: children aged 1-to-5 and their families are invited to join musician Thea Jacob on a journey of self-expression. During this creative workshop you’ll explore different ways to communicate through music, colour and sound.
Advance booking recommended for the Light Organ workshops and performances, but drop-ins are welcome!
AMP UP
12 – 8pm, Sunday 19 February 2023, The Bridge Inn, S60 1RB
A full-day showcase of some of the most brilliant young bands and singers in Rotherham, playing alongside a top-secret headline act (watch the Children’s Capital of Culture and Rotherham Music socials for line up announcements!). And our Music Makers – young people aged 16-to-25 who are helping shape our February programme – will be putting on creative workshops for gig-goers to enjoy. Tickets are free but booking is recommended as capacity is limited.
Young band or singer interested in performing at AMP UP? Apply now.
Pop-Up and Play
Brilliant bands, musicians and DJs popping up in beloved locations across the borough. Keep an eye out during February half-term for amazing musicians appearing across Rotherham!
The Rotherham Map
This February, we’re kicking off a two-year project that will see us working across Rotherham’s 25 wards to create a digital map celebrating the places that children and young people love.
Are you a school that would like to be part of this project? Email ccoc@rotherham.gov.uk to find out more.
This is a partnership project between local young people, Rotherham Music and Children’s Capital of Culture. Book now for any of our ticketed events.
'Ordinary People’ is the theme for Holocaust Memorial Day 2023. This theme will highlight the ordinary people who let genocide happen (as bystanders), the ordinary people who were active perpetrators in genocide, and the ordinary people who were persecuted.
Through the theme, we are also prompted to consider how we can all make decisions to challenge prejudice, stand up to hatred, speak out against identity-based persecution, or even to just shop responsibly.
This will be the 8th annual public Holocaust Memorial Day event held by Rotherham Council and will be hosted by the Mayor of Rotherham.
Read full story.
Rotherham Council is making a a significant investment in children’s residential services, so that more of our children in care can live locally, close to their families, schools and local communities.
Three homes have been successfully opened so far, all rated Good by Ofsted, with plans to open more soon.
Around 30 new jobs are being created at the homes, which will support some of our most vulnerable children.
For more information on the roles available, what we do and how to apply please visit the Residential Homes recruitment website.
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