Schools Sing Praises of Sheffield Volunteers
Cheerleaders, singers and a steel band will help mark the achievements of volunteers dedicated to improving Sheffield's communities, in the first event of its kind in the city.
Around 150 people who devote their time without pay on behalf of 9,000 council tenants in the Parson Cross, Foxhill and Herries areas will attend an awards ceremony to highlight the role they have played in improving the quality of life in neighbourhoods.
Almost 100 children from Southey Green Infant, Southey Green Junior and Chaucer Comprehensive, will lay on the entertainment with a mixture of music and dance.
Sheffield Homes wanted to come up with a new way of recognising the important work of Tenants' and Residents' Associations (TARAs) in tackling issues like anti-social behaviour and the environment of their area.
Paul Webb, Area Manager for Sheffield Homes, said: "We want to show the whole of Sheffield that volunteers working together can achieve great things.
"There are many examples where the time and commitment of TARA representatives has led to visible improvements at a very local level, where it can have a particularly positive and direct impact on people's daily lives.
"It is the first time we have put on an event like this but we think it is crucial that this work gets the recognition it deserves and we wanted to do that by arranging something a little different."
The 15 TARAs in the area have played pivotal roles in dealing with issues like youth nuisance and by being a driving force in projects like creating community gardens and building a skate park.
The awards ceremony, which includes categories like Best Overall TARA 2005 and the Involving Everyone Award, will also provide the setting for a 'networking session' when TARA representatives and the schoolchildren will have the chance to meet and chat about the issues that matter where they live and to discuss how they can do something about them.
There will also be talks by Sheffield Homes' Neighbourhood Action Team, Anti-Social Behaviour Team, Investment Team and Estates Team.
The event takes place at Colley Club, Margetson Road on Thursday 30 June 2005.
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PRESS CONTACT: Ian Waugh on: 0114 225 7080 office or 07855 723305 mobile.