Events and opportunities

Yet more great opportunities coming up so you can learn skills, have your say, get into recycling/reusing groove, find out about home energy improvements, and discuss possibilities for change.

Fri 21 Mar 2014, BIG Energy Upgrade – Final Event

9.30am-1pm, Halifax Hall, The University of Sheffield

This event will showcase the findings of the BIG Energy Upgrade Project and look at the overall impact the project has had including the effectiveness of retrofitting work, the structure of the supply chain and the influence on the behaviour of residents within different communities, and how best to design future projects of the same nature.

BIG Energy Upgrade is Yorkshire and Humber’s first ‘whole house, whole community’ renovation programme. For the past three years the scheme has helped support some of the region’s most deprived and fuel poor communities with a wide range of energy saving services.

For further info and to register, go to online info sheet www.sheffield.ac.uk/bigenergyupgrade.

From Sat 22 Mar 2014, 10-1pm, Organic Growing Master Classes

Organic growing classes from the experts of Heeley City Farm, in partnership with the Soil Association.

Venue: Wortley Walled Garden, S35 7DB

Starts Saturday 22nd March and covers different themes for six Saturdays – soil, compost, propagation, crops, herbs & wildlife, and fruit each session. £15 per person per session or £75 for all 6 sessions. Concessions available. Please book in advance. Contact Darrell Maryon for more info: 07768 932613, email: darrell@heeleyfarm.org.uk

Sat, 29 March, 10am – 4pm, Repair Cafe, Heeley City Farm

In partnership with Repair Sheffield and Transition Sheffield.

People who can mend stuff to bring their tools and people with broken stuff bring it and learn skills and get stuff mended over a cuppa. Bring: Small electrical appliances, toys, shoes, clothes, pots, kitchen equipment, computers, bikes, audio equipment, furniture, etc.
The event is free, but donations to cover costs of materials are asked for if your item is successfully repaired – all fixers are volunteers and the project has no funding.
For info see: http://repairsheffield.org/w/doku.php?id=events

Every Thursday, 2-3 pm, Free drop-in workshops for women in using tools

Would you like to gain confidence in using tools?

- Have a go at using a wide variety of tools

- Make a planter for your garden

- Work at your own pace in a supportive environment

At: Green City Action Tool Bank, Abbeyfield House, Abbeyfield Rd

Contact: Sarah Emberson 0114 244 0353 / sarah@greencityaction.org.uk

Sat, 29 March, 10am-2:30pm Fruit Tree Grafting Weekend

Greave House Farm Trust, Stocksbridge
Come and learn the art of fruit tree grafting from expert tutors from Grow Sheffield/Abundance. Free tree to take home for everyone. Bring a packed lunch and we will provide refreshments. Cost: £30. This is to cover costs including tutors.
Greave House Farm is a charity supporting vulnerable people to grow food and care for animals.

For more details see http://www.greavehousefarmtrust.org.uk/,

Community Involvement and the Sheffield Local Plan

Sheffield City Council is consulting (from 17 March to 17 April 2014) on changes to the “Statement of Community Involvement”, and is starting to work on a new Local Plan.

There will be a stakeholder workshop in the Town Hall on On 1st April.5:30-6pm.
Find out more and book on the workshop.

Friday 11th April, State of Sheffield 2014 Workshop

10:30am to 1:00pm, Reception Rooms, Town Hall, Pinstone Street, Sheffield S1 1WB

Discuss key trends, challenges and opportunities facing Sheffield in 2014 and beyond: This workshop will outline the findings of the State of Sheffield 2014 report, which indicates that although Sheffield remains resilient in response to the impact of austerity and the recession, it also faces major challenges in 2014 and the coming years. The author of the report, Professor Gordon Dabinett, will lead a presentation and discussion on these issues.
This is a key report for Sheffield, outlining the challenges and opportunities faced by the city. [Could be a chance to raise questions about improving the cities resilience in food growing, energy generation, and re-use of materials?]

For the agenda, speakers and booking form see https://www.sheffieldfirst.com/

Carbon Conversations – next discussion group starts Mar/April

Interested in coming to a discussion group in the autumn looking at ways to reduce our carbon emissions? The first two Carbon Conversations groups which kicked off last autumn have had great feedback:

“The board games were enjoyable and brought issues to light in a memorable and interesting way.”

“I enjoyed the sharing and the no-guilt approach.”
“Coming together with people from different backgrounds was eye opening and encouraging.”.
See more information about the Carbon Conversations approach, and fill in a quick survey if you’d like to express an interest in the next group.

Closing date 4 April: Sheffield Climate Alliance: Climate Campaign Worker

Sheffield Climate Alliance are recruiting for a Climate Campaign Worker on a temporary part time basis, 15 hours per week.
The key documents can be viewed online or downloaded:
Job Description and Person Specification for Climate Campaign Worker View online / Download
Application Form – Climate Campaign Worker View online / Download

7 April and beyond: Green Homes Sheffield – find out more / can you help?

The Transition Cafe event on 7 April will be a great opportunity to find out more about Green Homes Sheffield and catch up with other Transitioners.

The details of green homes are gradually getting loaded on to the website: http://sheffield.greenopenhomes.net/. and the open homes events in April and May will provide opportunities to explore what these green householders have found useful in terms of insulation, efficient heating, renewables and other key aspects of the green homes journey. Bookings will open soon, so keep checking back!

Also, there is a call out from Green Homes Sheffield for volunteers to help make it possible for householders to share their experience in making their homes more energy efficient and comfortable. You’ll help with all the practical things that need doing – e.g. putting up signs, making tea, greeting visitors when they arrive. If you can be available for at least two of the opening dates, plus one training day, then please contact jenny.patient@regather.net

Sunday 27th April 2014 at 11am: Totley Yard Sale

In the spirit of recycling, 50-60 people in Totley will be selling things from their front gardens, with the proceeds going to Totley Open Gardens.
A map can be purchased from 16 The Grove from 10.30am (not before) showing addresses of the sellers participating. Cost 50p. Come and get a bargain!
Enquiries: 236-2302 Email: jennie@hadish.f9.co.uk

Call for participation in a Permaculture Allotment, Meersbrook

A retired couple, resident in Sheffield but these days living much of the year in Avila, Spain. rent a joint allotment (which therefore has a lot of space), in Meersbrook, Sheffield. Our idea is to develop it along the lines of permaculture cultivation, and as we now and always pay for the allotment, to share it as a project for any interested persons. As we are not there much of the year, it seems a pity not to use its potential which we think might be a great opportunity. We’ll be in Sheffield from April 3-20 and would love to show the place and talk further. More info c/o saleema.imam141@googlemail.com