Shirecliffe pupils help out with anti-social behaviour work

The Sheffield Homes Neighbourhood Action Team and players from Sheffield United Football Club will be presenting awards to pupils at Shirecliffe Junior School on Wednesday 12 January.

The Neighbourhood Action Team (see notes to editors) took a lesson with each class at the school and worked with pupils on their views and ideas about the effects of anti social behaviour in the area.  After taking part in a variety of activities to encourage them to focus on the issues in their own neighbourhoods, they were asked to draw up community rules that they thought would help to make their area a better, safer place to live. 

Sheffield Homes also ran a poster competition for all pupils.  The winning design will be used as the cover for a booklet containing the rules drawn up by the pupils.  Sheffield Homes will produce a copy of the booklet for each student to take home, spreading the message about anti social behaviour into the wider community.

Paul Webb, Sheffield Homes Area Housing Manager, said: “The work the Neighbourhood Action Team do is fantastic. We use a range of methods to tackle anti social behaviour. which complements the enforcement work of the Anti Social Behaviour Team. I helped with one of the classes and found it really positive. The pupils were incredibly enthusiastic and came up with a wide range of ideas for the community rules. They are our future customers and it was really heartening to see that, even at such a young age, they have the same aspirations for their estate as the adult members of the community.”

The Neighbourhood Action Team are winners themselves. They recently won the monthly Sheffield Homes staff Quality Award for the groundbreaking work they have done with the schools. Working exclusively in the Parson Cross, Foxhill and Herries area of the city at present, they are the only team of their kind within Sheffield Homes.

Andy Pack, of Sheffield United Football Club, said: "The three young players presenting the awards have all come through United's respected Academy system, which is based at Shirecliffe close to the school. The Blades are proud of the way in which they not only produce talented young footballers, but also because the Academy remit includes paying

attention to the boys' educational, social and emotional welfare. Sheffield United are aware that young people today are faced with huge social pressures, and believe that their young players provide good role models who set an excellent example."

Ends

Notes to editors: The Neighbourhood Action Team (NAT) are funded by the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund. They work closely with Tenants’ and Residents’ Associations, the Police, schools and many others to tackle some of the anti social behaviour in the area. The NAT concentrate on prevention, and education. They complement the Anti Social Behaviour Team who are responsible for enforcement action.

Contact: Claire Turner, Communications Officer, on 0114 273 6934