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Rother Vale neighbourhood update

The latest news and information from Catcliffe, Treeton and Waverley.

March 2023

Waverley Academy get on their bikes! 

Rother Vale Ward Councillors Amy Brookes and Firas Miro, visited Waverley Junior Academy to join pupils who were taking part in cycling lessons delivered by Cycle North.

Your ward councillors are keen to see children use their bikes and scooters to travel to school each day. The councillors have funded a number of initiatives designed to make this easier and to encourage more children to get on board. 

Community Leadership Funding was used to purchase bike marking kits and councillors delivered these to the school so that they could be handed out to all the pupils. 

The kits enable the children and parents to mark their bikes with a special ultraviolet pen and stickers to keep them safe. 

The Councillors also match funded a number of bike racks and scooter pods that have been fitted in the school grounds to provide children with a safe place to store their bikes and scooters when traveling to and from school. 

Jaimie Millner, the school's Active Travel Coordinator met up with the councillors to show them the new facilities, which are proving to be very popular with the children. 

What makes a thriving neighbourhood? The chance to have your say

Rotherham Council is seeking the views of residents to help shape the delivery of its updated Thriving Neighbourhoods Strategy, which was agreed by the Council’s Cabinet in November 2022.

Our vision is for every neighbourhood in Rotherham to be a thriving neighbourhood, where people are able to work together to achieve a good quality of life. So that residents are:

• Happy, healthy and love where they live
• Safe and live in a place with a good community spirit
• Able to use their strengths, knowledge and skills to contribute to improving the things that matter to them

We would like to know how this can best be achieved together in your neighbourhood and understand what is most important to you.

We would like to invite you to come along to the Coffee Pot at St Mary’s Church, Catcliffe on Tuesday 25th April at 10.30am

Join us for a cuppa and a chat, to find out more and have your say.

Alternatively, you can have your say by completing a short online survey. Your feedback will help to shape the Council’s Thriving Neighbourhoods Strategy and the ward priorities for your local councillors.

To complete the survey, click here.

Catcliffe Toddler Group meet the animals 

Catcliffe Toddler Group were very excited when they had some unusual visitors drop in to meet them last week. 

The group secured funding from Rother Vale Ward councillors' Community Leadership Fund, which will enable the group to prove a number of learning opportunities for their little ones. 

This week, they were joined by Animal Encounters, who brought along a number of animals and reptiles for the children to meet. Lots of people joined in the fun and the children were very patient waiting their turn to gently touch and pet the animals.

The group have lots more exciting things planned for the coming weeks, so if you have a baby or toddler then call in on Wednesday mornings at 9.30am at Catcliffe Memorial Hall and join in the fun.

Waverley Dig and Chat 

Waverley Community Council and the Waverley Buds Garden Group will be holding a 'Dig and Chat' event on Sunday 2nd April from 10am to 1pm. 

They would like to invite people to come along and visit the community garden on the day.

There will be refreshments available at the event.

If you would like to help with weeding and gardening then you are more than welcome to get involved on the day, just bring along suitable footwear and a pair of gloves.

The gardening group are always on the lookout for new members and volunteers to help maintain the garden and keep it looking its best for all the residents.

If you would like to find out more contact Rachel, or visit the Waverley Community Council website. 

Creative activity sessions in Catcliffe - FLUX Rotherham

Next month, creative activity sessions are taking place in Catcliffe. 

Come along and learn circus skills and create carnival costumes.

The sessions take place at Catcliffe Rec on Saturday 15th and Sunday 16th of April, from 12noon to 4pm.

All materials are provided and it's free to attend. 

More information is included on the poster above.

Become a Public Governor - Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust

Public Governor elections are taking place, offering the opportunity for local people to stand in an election to become a public Governor for the Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust.

Governors act as the eyes and ears of the NHS, ensuring that the Foundation Trust carries out its duties in line with NHS principles and values.

Our Governors decide to take up the role for all kinds of reasons but they all share a common mission:

“The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust Public Governors aim to represent the public voice and diversity of the local community. They influence the continuous improvement of health services for the people of Rotherham.”

The nomination form to stand for election to these positions will be available from Monday 27 March 2023 and can be obtained from the Returning Officer in the following ways:   

• Online: https://www.cesvotes.com/rotherham23
• Telephone: 0208 889 9203
• Email: ftnominationenquiries@cesvotes.com
• Text: Text 2FT ROTH and your name and address to 88802
• Post: Civica Election Services The Election Centre 33 Clarendon Road London. N8 0NW

The nomination period will open on Monday 27 March and close at 5pm on Wednesday 12 April 2023.

If you would you like to be part of something bigger and help to make a real difference then we want to hear from you.

Ever thought about fostering?

Now is the perfect time to join Rotherham Council’s fostering family.

Foster carers come from all walks of life and your experience could uniquely help a child in need. There’s no such thing as a 'typical' foster carer so whether you are working, retired, a parent, a grandparent or carer we would love to hear from you.

We’re looking for people who have enough space in their homes and their hearts for some of Rotherham’s most vulnerable children. It’s easy to start your fostering journey. You could foster if you are married, single, in a same sex relationship, homeowner, council tenant or rent a property.

If you have a spare bedroom and over the age of 21 years, you are eligible to apply.

For more information, pop down to our information stand at the following venues:

• Thursday 20 April, 10am to 12noon at Rotherham outdoor market (situated in the entrance)
• Neighbourhoods Roadshow, Monday 24 April, 1pm to 4pm at Kilnhurst Resource Centre, Victoria Street, Kilnhurst

You can also find out much more about fostering online at www.fosteringrotherham.com, or give us a call on 01709 357370.

UPLIFT Rotherham Skate and Art Festival returns with an action-packed programme!

Rotherham town centre will be transformed into an urban playground for the UPLIFT Rotherham Skate and Art Festival on Wednesday 5 to Friday 7 April.

Rotherham Council is bringing back this popular event for young people which is set to be even bigger this year, with the addition of a pop-up roller rink hosted by the Roller Girl Gang which will also include an amazing DJ line-up, and two arenas for skateboarding and BMX. Entry to UPLIFT is free, and the majority of activities will run from 11am until 3.30pm, with headliner bands playing until 4.30pm.

The festival features demonstrations from three amazing professional skateboarders including Skateboard Great Britain national team member, Alex deCunha, plus, Tommy Corbridge and Adam Kay. Pro-BMXers Antonio Smallwood and Brandon Steele will be riding alongside the pro-skaters in the Effingham Square Skate Arena from 2.30pm until 3.30pm each day.

During all three days this year, there will be live music performances from bands including Blood Stained Reputation, Paper Scenes and Friday’s headliner, the Sheffield rock beasts, Black Spiders.

A number of creative workshops will take place as part of the UPLIFT art activities. Everyone has the chance to join artists Ed Syder, Natasha Clarke and Phil Padfield and flex their artistic muscles whether it’s the first time trying an activity or if they’re an accomplished artist.

Rotherham Council has teamed up with The Teenage Market to offer free stalls to young people aged 16 to 25 years, so be sure to check out the market, where you will find handmade jewellery, hand-drawn posters, clothing and more. The town centre is a vibrant place, well-used by young people and students.

You can find out more on the Rotherham Council website.

Councillors for Rother Vale ward

Councillor Amy Brookes Email: amy.brookes@rotherham.gov.uk Tel: 01709 255943 | View all details about Cllr Brookes

Councillor Firas Miro Email: firas.miro@rotherham.gov.uk Tel: 01709 807960 | View all details about Cllr Miro

Contact your local Neighbourhoods Team

Mandy Ardron

Neighbourhood Coordinator for Rother Vale
Email: mandy.ardron@rotherham.gov.uk
Tel: 01709 254325

Andrea Peers

Senior Neighbourhood Coordinator for South Rotherham 
Email: andrea.peers@rotherham.gov.uk
Tel: 07717 450973

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Thanks for reading! 

We hope that you have enjoyed this update. We'd love to hear back from you if you have any comments or questions. Let us know too if there are any items of community news you'd like us to be aware of. We can't promise to include everything, but we'll do our best. Email us at neighbourhoods@rotherham.gov.uk

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