Open door issue1 all

The Civic a great day ‘art’... Page 6 & 7
In a class of its own...
Page 12 & 13
What’s on... Page 16 & 17
BARNSLEY
Metropolitan Borough Council
BE AMAZING,
BE A FOSTER CARER.
YOU CAN REALLY MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE
AND CHANGE A CHILD’S LIFE
We need foster carers for children of all agesbabies to teenagers; for brothers and sisters; for
disabled children and children with complex needs:
and for mothers and babies. We especially need
foster carers for children who need long term foster
placements.
You don’t need qualifications. You can be single or living
together. You may have your own children or not.
What’s important is who you are as a person and your
commitment to giving high quality care to a child.
We welcome applications from all sections of the
community and all ethnic backgrounds. We want foster
carers to reflect the diversity of the community in which
children live.
We provide:
• Financial support for the child
• Training
• Support and supervision
• Specialist health and education support
• Fee payments are available through training and
fostering experience.
Our Care Plus scheme for older children and children
with complex needs provides fees from the start.
BARNSLEY
Metropolitan Borough Council
MAKE A DIFFERENCE
FOSTER A CHILD, FOSTER A FUTURE
Call us on 01226 775876
Welcome
of the council. It’s therefore
acknowledged that at the same time
as continually working to improve
the quality and delivery of our
services we also need to improve
how we inform our communities
about what we are doing and why.
Opening the door to greater
understanding.
We continue to look at how we keep the
people of Barnsley informed about what
the council is doing and, just as
importantly, keep a close eye on how much
we are spending on getting that
information out into the community.
However, it continues to be the case that
while in a great many areas of activity, we
are providing services that are well
received by the customer; overall, that
effort is not reflected in what people think
Front cover: One of a series of
photographs commissioned by the
Department for Children, Schools and
Families (DCSF)
Open door is published by Barnsley
Council and all content is correct at time
of going to print.
As part of that work for the past
two years we’ve published an A to
Z of our services which has been
well received. We’ve also worked
to make the information on council
tax more informative. At the same time
we’ve also been reviewing how, overall,
the money used for this type of activity –
advertising, communications, PR – could be
better spent.
That work is beginning to bear fruit and
see us spending less overall, and at the
same time using that spend more cost
effectively. The launch of ‘open door’ is the
latest stage in that work.
Replacing the tabloid newspaper Barnsley
Matters the aim is to keep our communities
informed about what the council is doing
and to also encourage the reader to have
Your comments and views are welcome.
Contact Bob Williams, Head of
Corporate Communications, Town Hall,
Barnsley S70 2TA
Tel: 01226 774586 Email:
[email protected]
If you need help understanding this
document please contact corporate
communications on 01226 773443
3
their say; to give an opinion; to have the
opportunity to share in the issue and ‘do
their bit’ to help improve a particular
situation.
However, our aim also is that ‘open door’
won’t just be the title of a publication.
We’re working to ensure that it will signal
a new approach that will see the council –
its members and its officers - being even
more open about what they do, how they
do it and why they do it. We’re looking to
build even greater trust and understanding
of the council and its work amongst our
communities. At the same time we want to
gain an even greater understanding of
what concerns our communities and how
together we can make improvements.
We therefore hope you find this first issue
of open door of interest; and that, as it says
on the cover, it will help keep people - from
Dunford Bridge to the Dearne - in the know.
Cllr. Stephen Houghton Phil Coppard
Leader
Chief Executive
Are smokers
really getting a bargain?
Cheap cigs might be saving your pocket, but they are
also damaging your health.
In a time when every penny counts,
some smokers may be tempted to take
up the offer of that man down the pub or
in town selling cheap cigs and hand
rolling tobacco.
But counterfeit tobacco goods can
seriously damage the health of people
who smoke them.
While fake cigarettes do contain
tobacco, there are also several other
ingredients in there too that you may not
have bargained for. It’s not uncommon to
find sand, plastic and other materials.
That’s not good, but it’s not dangerous in
the way other things are. Fake cigarettes
have been analysed by laboratories,
and it’s estimated they contain 75%
more tar, 28% more nicotine and about
63% more carbon monoxide than those
from legitimate manufacturers, which
greatly increases the chances of cancer
and other diseases for those who smoke
them. Suddenly that ‘bargain’ doesn’t
seem so good as you are buying a
product that is far inferior.
Many people who smoke counterfeit or
smuggled products do so in the belief
that no one gets hurt. However it is not a
victimless crime and is deemed a social
offence. Counterfeit tobacco products
lose the government millions of pounds
in revenue. One in the eye for the
taxman you might think, but it actually
means less money is available to be
pumped into communities like yours. And
while it puts a greater burden on the
health service, through increased chance
of cancer and diseases, less government
money is available to fund treatment.
Prosecution for selling or dealing in
counterfeit tobacco products can be an
unlimited fine or up to ten years in prison.
So, if it’s saving money you are after, it’s
probably better to consider cutting down
or giving up altogether than risk smoking
the inferior and more harmful counterfeit
products. If you want help to give up
smoking please contact your GP or call
Barnsley Smoking Cessation Service –
01226 288540.
In a bid to tackle the problem of
fake cigarettes in Barnsley, the
borough has a new tobacco
enforcement officer.
Working for both the council and the
PCT, the responsibility of the tobacco
enforcement officer is to combat
people acquiring counterfeit
cigarettes and tobacco products.
This involves visiting retailers to
verify their stock, cracking down on
street sellers and co-operating with
other enforcement agencies such as
HM Revenue and Customs and the
police.
The role of the enforcement officer
depends on information from the
public. To report the sale of
counterfeit cigarettes or tobacco
products in confidence, please call
01226 772468.
4
A new way to
deal with waste
People across South Yorkshire are being
encouraged to continue to work hard to
reduce and reuse household waste and
boost levels of recycling. The call comes
from the Barnsley, Doncaster and
Rotherham, (BDR) Waste Partnership, set
up to jointly plan for the future
management of leftover household waste.
When absolutely everything possible has
been reused or recycled there is still some
waste remaining that needs to be dealt
with.
Barnsley, Doncaster and Rotherham
councils have joined forces to tackle this
issue. They have successfully secured
£77.4 million of Private Finance Initiative
(PFI) funding through the government, and
are now exploring the best options for
dealing with this waste in the most
effective and most environmentally friendly
way.
A host of new technologies is now
available, some of which can make
leftover waste a positive resource, saving
public money and creating new jobs.
Local councils are under increasing legal
pressure from Europe and risk heavy and
increasing fines from the government if
they do not plan effectively for how to deal
with this waste – so doing nothing is not
an option.
The country is running out of landfill sites
and such sites create methane gas one of
the most environmentally damaging of all
‘greenhouse gases.’
A vitally important part of planning ahead
about leftover waste is to talk to local
people about their views about where any
new treatment sites should be.
Plans are being developed to continue to
consult with communities over the coming
months. Watch local media for details of
events in your area.
Hot on the trail
Experience the exhilarating fresh air of the great
outdoors, get fit, see the countryside and find some
of the borough’s hidden treasures by taking a trip
along the Trans Pennine Trail (TPT).
The TPT stretches right across the north of England
but Barnsley is the area where sections of the trail
from north, south, east and west meet, making it the
ideal recreational base – a prime position to explore
the route by foot, bicycle or horse.
The easy gradients and surfaced paths also make
much of the trail suitable for people using pushchairs
and lots of it is traffic-free, making it perfect for
families. There are lots of interesting places to see
and visit along this Pennine route.
1. Dunford Bridge
Feel on top of the world at the highest point (435
metres) on the whole of the trail, right on the edge of
the Peak District National Park. An ideal place to
access the trail with facilities including car, or horse
box parking and horse hitches.
2. Wortley
Home to the
magnificent 18th
century country house
Wortley Hall, an early
14th century church,
village inn, store, tea
room and garden
centre. Britain’s last
water-powered heavy
iron forge, Wortley Top
Forge, is open Sundays
(except in Jan and Feb). Telephone 0114 2887576 or
visit www.topforge.co.uk for more information.
3. Cannon Hall, Park and Gardens
Charming country house set in 70 acres of historic
parkland which houses some fascinating displays,
including a beautiful collection of Moorcroft pottery. The
Hall also houses the Regimental Museum of the
13th/18th Royal Hussars (Queen Mary's Own) and the
Light Dragoons. Visitors may also like to visit the nearby
garden centre and open farm. For more information
please call 01226 790270.
5. Worsbrough Mill and Country Park
Historic mill mentioned in the Domesday Book.
On milling days, water-powered machinery
grinds wheat to produce wholemeal flour which
can be purchased from the site along with the
locally made Worsbrough Mill loaf. The mill is
set in an impressive country park with reservoir,
which attracts a great variety of birds and other
wildlife. Contact 01226 774527.
6. Monk Bretton Priory
Founded in the 1150’s, Monk Bretton Priory is
an English Heritage property with views over
wooded countryside. The site still conveys the
feeling of peace and tranquillity that benefitted
monastery life. Visit:
www.monkbrettonpriory.org.uk
7. RSPB Dearne Valley - Old Moor
Situated right at the heart of the Dearne Valley,
Old Moor is a wonderful place to watch
wildlife. The café offers wonderful home cooked
food and lovely views of the birds from the
terrace. Telephone 01226 751593.
4. Wentworth Castle Gardens
The only grade 1 listed landscape in
South Yorkshire, Wentworth Castle
Gardens celebrates its 300th
anniversary this year. With its
atmospheric views, woodland walks
and majestic follies there is something
for everyone to enjoy. Contact
01226 776040 or visit
www.wentworthcastle.org
6
3
4
8. Elsecar Heritage
Centre
The Heritage Centre is
located in the former
ironworks and colliery
workshops of the Earls
Fitzwilliam. Restored
buildings now house
everything from an
antiques centre to shops
selling arts, crafts and
music. Telephone 01226
740203 or visit:
www.elsecar-heritagecentre.co.uk
7
5
2
1
8
5
The Civic
- a great day
This season’s performance programme
will take place in the Assembly Room,
the heart of The Civic, with its beautiful
plaster cornices, stunning ceiling roses,
high windows and sprung dance floor.
Drama, music, dance, comedy,
exhibitions and family shows:
The Civic – formerly Barnsley’s
historic Civic Hall – is inviting
audiences of all ages and artistic
tastes to enjoy an exciting,
diverse yet sometimes
challenging programme of
entertainment.
Anyone expecting a refurbishment of the
old theatre space will experience a
dramatic difference on their first visit.
Overlooking Mandela Gardens, the new
entrance to The Civic on Hanson Street
welcomes visitors to the Assembly Room
via a magnificent staircase which spans
three floors in a single flight.
The spring programme sees the
exhibition ‘Revolutions: from Gatefold to
Download’, the art of the album cover
continuing until 1 May. Held in The
Gallery@, a purpose-built exhibition
space, Revolutions charts the history of
album cover artwork from the 1930s to
the present day. In the coming months
The Gallery@ will stage exhibitions of
contemporary art, design and crafts,
alongside the work of national and
international artists.
Renowned actor, director and writer
Steven Berkoff brings his West End hit
‘Shakespeare’s Villains, A Masterclass in
Evil’ on 2 May, in what is sure to be one
of the hottest tickets in The Civic’s drama
schedule. Spymonkey bring their newest
comic creation ‘Whale’ to the venue on
the 21-22 May, captivating the audience
with their exuberant mix of superior
physical skills and spirited dialogue to
create a piece that is full-on, fast paced
and hilarious! Roger Llewellyn precisely
embodies the famous detective in
‘Sherlock Holmes: The Death and Life’
on 24 June.
Contemporary dance is also featured in
the programme. StopGap bring ‘Portfolio
Collection’, a programme of short dance
pieces which fuse together serene chaos,
sinister loveliness and shocking beauty
on 9 May. For the more street savvy
younger adults, there is an extraordinary
mix of hip-hop style dance choreography
and dialogue in the shape of ‘Flhip
Flhop’, presented by the Rannel Theatre
Company on the 29 April.
The spring music programme also
includes pan-African folklore from singerguitarist Laye Sow and his electroacoustic band on 22 April, while the
Bollywood Brass Band, the UK’s first
6
Indian wedding brass band, play a
London masala of hits from Indian films,
Bhangra beats and jazz on 4 June.
A full programme of entertainment for
families with young children has also
been assembled for this spring, with
tickets priced just £4 for children and £6
for adults. Highlights include ‘Old
Mother Hubbard and Her Cupboard’ as
you’ve never seen her before from Garlic
Theatre on 3 May, ‘Horseplay and
Hoof!’ - crazy animal antics and lots of
equine fun set in a virtual stable - by
Nikki McCretton from 14-17 May, a
hair-raising re-style of the Grimm
fairytale in ‘Rapunzel and the Tower of
Doom’ by Theatre Widdershins on
31 May and ‘Butterflies’ by TPO from
the 7- 9 June, which takes the audience
through the lifecycle of the butterfly using
an interactive Children Cheering Carpet,
immersing them in the centre of the
action. Many of the performances
involve audience participation and
interaction to delight young audiences
with colour, music and laughter.
NEWS IN BRIEF
‘art’…
The Council has been
awarded three out of four
stars for its overall
performance in 2008, and is
improving well according to
the Audit Commission’s
annual assessment of single
tier and county councils
across England.
To ensure all communities
have an opportunity to have
their say about services, the
Council and its partners are
working with the Barnsley
Black and Ethnic Minority
Initiative (BBEMI) to set up a
Barnsley BME residents
panel.
Significant improvements in
educational attainment,
falling crime levels and high
performance in key publicfacing services are
recognised in the report.
High performance has been
sustained in adult care,
housing and benefits
services.
200 residents from the town’s
black and ethnic minority
communities have already
joined the panel. More
people are needed,
particularly those over 55 and
from the Chinese community.
The report also highlights
improved access to council
services and more
consistency in meeting the
needs of minority
communities. The Council has
a clear focus on value for
money and is reviewing
services to ensure resources
are directed towards
community priorities.
Full details of these and many other
performances, plus The Civic’s comedy
programme, can be found in the
spring/summer 2009 brochure,
available to download at
www.barnsleycivic.co.uk, by phone
(01226) 327000, or call at The Civic
box office in Hanson Street.
The Council has been
recognised as an equal
opportunities employer,
meaning that no matter your
age, gender, sexual
orientation, ethnic background,
disability or religious beliefs
you will have an equal
chance of getting a job and
doing well in that job. The
council has been recognised
by a group of peer assessors
from other councils and by
the award of a Positive about
Disability logo.
As well as enjoying performances, you
can become involved through The Civic’s
volunteering programme. Run in
conjunction with Voluntary Action Barnsley,
this will enable those interested in arts
and culture to assist with box office
work, event stewarding, technical aspects
including lighting and exhibition work.
In addition, The Civic is taking part in
‘A Night Less Ordinary’, a free theatre
initiative from Arts Council England
which enables people under 26 years
old to apply for free tickets to the
performance events. More details about
the scheme are available from The Civic.
7
People who join the panel
receive a small number of
postal questionnaires each
year, and occasional
invitations to take part in
discussion groups about
services or topical issues.
Expenses are paid for
attendance at focus group
discussions; panellists who
complete questionnaires are
entered into a prize draw.
If you live in Barnsley and
want to find out more please
contact Jayne Venables on
(01226) 775797 or email
[email protected]
The new Policing Pledge
from South Yorkshire Police is
out now. The pledge lists a
number of promises and
standards that will dictate the
way the police and local
Safer Neighbourhood Teams
work and are held to account.
The full pledge can be seen at
http://neighbourhood.southy
orks.police.uk/pledge
It’s a dirty job…
A day in the life of an ERU field officer
Chris Platts has always enjoyed the great outdoors, spending a lot of
his free time hiking. After feeling cooped up as a call centre worker and
dismayed at the amount of waste and litter he noticed out while on
walks he decided to begin an environmental science degree through the
Open University in a bid to get a job where preserving the environment
was at the forefront.
He has now worked as a field officer for
the council’s Environmental Regulatory
Unit for just over two years and loves
every minute of it, despite it being a job
that would make even the strongest
stomach turn on occasions.
‘open door’ pulled on a pair of gloves,
donned some protective glasses, took a
deep breath and joined Chris for the day
in the Dearne – just one of the areas of
the borough covered by a team of six.
9.30am
I’ve been at work since about 7am –
I like to get my paperwork sorted and
then map out my route for the day.
I cover the Dearne area of the borough
and a day can involve patrolling,
investigating reports of dog fouling, litter,
fly-tipping or abandoned vehicles. Every
day is different, which is what I enjoy
about the job. Let’s get out there and see
what this one has in store.
8
10.02am
A depressing sight awaits me at Goldthorpe
railway embankment. There are over 160
bags of fly-tipped household waste which
has turned the area into a dump. The
land is privately owned by Network Rail
and last year the council issued them
with an order to clear it up which cost
the company £40,000. What a shame
to think that within 12 months it’s just as
bad again. There are some documents in
the bags with names and addresses on
so I’ll be looking into that. I’m thinking
this might be a ‘duty of care’ issue.
People give their rubbish to individuals
who say they are waste carriers in good
faith, thinking it will be disposed of
responsibly. However, many are not
licensed and the rubbish ends up fly-tipped.
This has become one of the biggest
problems in the borough. It’s the original
owner of the waste that ends up getting
fined, so I would urge people to check
they are using a licensed waste carrier on
08708 506 506 (Environment Agency).
…but someone’s
got to do it
11.15am
12.30pm
Someone has dumped a load of rubbish
right at the side of the road on Dearne
Valley Parkway. Frequently, we are able
to track down the owner of the waste
but, we also rely a lot on assistance from
the public, including witness statements. I
would urge anyone with information to
come forward – these selfish fly tippers
are ruining the environment for everyone.
I’ve spotted an illegal fly poster so have
pulled up the car to check it out. I’ll take
some photographic evidence and record
the details of the company so I can
contact them about it. Then down
it comes! Companies who persist in
putting posters up like this can find it an
expensive way of advertising as fixed
penalty notices can add up to thousands
of pounds.
11.40am
1.30pm
Commercial waste at a privately owned
site in Goldthorpe. Unfortunately it’s
become a bit of a hotspot area. There
are a couple of old bath tubs, a stack of
bathroom tiles and surreally, a bag full of
cuddly toys. As with all the investigations
I carry out, everything is written down in
my notepad and any evidence collected
in a special bag – eat your heart out
CSI! On a more serious note, fly-tipping
can be a costly offence. There is no
fixed penalty – cases go straight to the
Magistrates Court. In more serious cases
where it goes to Crown Court, the
offender could be looking at five years
in prison or a fine of up to £50,000.
Back to the office to go through today’s
visits and findings. It’s not always about
issuing penalties; a big part of the job is
also about educating people. We often
go into schools to speak to pupils about
littering – a lot of them do not know that
you can be issued with a penalty notice
from 11 years old. We are also trying to
crack down on dog fouling, which we
receive a lot of complaints about. We try
to patrol areas the best we can, but would
love it if more people thought about the
effect of not picking up after their dog.
Not only is it unsightly but dangerous too.
Toxocara is a roundworm commonly found
in dogs and cats. The dog roundworm
(Toxocara canis) can be transmitted to
humans and endanger their health - human
Toxocariasis causes flu-like symptoms
and in very rare cases, blindness.
I’d like everyone to think before they act
when it comes to the environment, whether
it’s picking up after a dog or making
sure a cigarette end or chewing gum is
disposed of properly. I know if no-one
dropped litter or committed any other
enviro-crimes I might be out of a job, but
until then I’ll keep working towards a
cleaner, safer and better Barnsley.
People can help us by
reporting enviro-crimes on
01226 772468. If there is a
problem in your neighbourhood,
please let us know.
9
Your life, mi card
Under 18? Want to get out and
about to meet friends? Fancy a
swim but the nearest leisure
centre is a bus fare too far
away? Well, we have some good
news for you: You can now do
something about it.
The new mi card scheme, which starts on
Saturday 25 April, sees young people
able to travel free on buses between
9am and 9pm on weekdays and all day
at weekends, providing their journey
starts or finishes anywhere in the
borough. This means you can travel from
Goldthorpe to
Penistone,
Sheffield to
Darton, Royston
to Rotherham,
all for
absolutely no
cost.
The card will also allow you to free
swimming at any time at any of the
following BPL facilities in the borough:
•
•
•
•
•
Dearneside Leisure Centre
Hoyland Leisure Centre
Metrodome Leisure Centre
Royston Lesiure Centre
Wombwell Swimming Pool
01709
01226
01226
01226
01226
If you haven’t already applied for your
mi card, you should:
880
744
730
722
753
040
063
060
991
896
• Still at school – request an
application form from your school.
• Left school, or go to an
independent school or one
outside the borough – get a
form from your local library.
It can also be used as a library card
across the borough, so you can also use
it to take out books, CDs and DVDs.
This is an opportunity that’s way too
good to miss. They say that the best
things in life are free and, for once, they
could be right.
This is the
first scheme
of its kind
outside
London to
introduce free
bus travel to
younger
people, and
we believe it is
the first of its
kind anywhere
in the UK to
incorporate so
many uses on the
one card.
You can get more information on mi
card, keep up with the latest mi card
news, check out some frequently asked
questions and see the conditions of use
by visiting www.barnsley.gov.uk/micard.
To contact us, you can email
[email protected], or call us on
01226 775656.
We would like to thank our partners in the
scheme - South Yorkshire Passenger Transport
Executive, local bus operators, and Barnsley
Premier Leisure – for their hard work and kind
co-operation in making this scheme happen
10
Back to work
If you feel caught in a maze of personal
problems, help is available from
Barnsley Development Agency's Options
Team. Experienced, dedicated
keyworkers are a voluntary service who
listen to people’s problems and work
together to resolve them. The keyworkers
support Barnsley residents to remove
barriers and move people forward
towards a better future.
The team‘s service is designed to help local
people back into employment, training and
education by offering free and confidential
professional information and advice. The
aim is to break down the barriers which
prevent individuals from returning to
employment. This is achieved by offering
a complete service dealing with any
issues that may prevent an individual
from realising their long-term goal.
One keyworker explains
“A gentleman was referred to me as he
was suffering from low self esteem and
confidence. He had lost his previous job
due to losing his driving license which
had resulted in him getting into debt with
a credit card.
I explained to him about the programme
and told him that we could work
together to address any barriers that he
felt were stopping him from moving
forward. We drew up an action plan
and decided that the first thing we would
address would be his debt with the
credit card. With advice from CAB we
were able to get his payments to a
manageable level.
We then went on to look at the fact that
he had lost his licence and how this had
impacted on him. At this point he also
told me that he had a few convictions
and a criminal record but had never
disclosed this to any employer. I
emphasised the importance of doing this
and we went through what to do.
His passion was food and hospitality, but
he had a stutter and this was a problem
as when he was nervous it made it
worse. By attending a food hygiene
course his confidence was boosted as
well as gaining a qualification that
would help him find work in the field
where his passion was. Over the
Christmas period he applied for and was
offered a job at a public house.”
ARE YOU ELIGIBLE?
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Over 6 months unemployed
Incapacity or income support benefit
Lone-parent
Minority ethnic groups
Ex-offenders
Drug or alcohol issues
Any other barrier
If you want to find out if you are eligible and require assistance call 01226 704070 and speak to a Barnsley Options Keyworker.
NEWS IN BRIEF
The council’s website at
www.barnsley.gov.uk is using a new
search engine tool. SmartLogic software
– which is used by a number of government
departments, local authorities and private
industries, such as yell.com - now sits
behind the ‘search’ facility, meaning results
will be quicker and much more accurate.
Over 60s
have been
taking up the
opportunity to
get free
swimming at
BPL facilities
throughout the
borough. You
can qualify for free swimming if you are
over 60 and have a Passport to Leisure.
For more information on Passport to
Leisure, contact 01226 774444.
Council tax payers in Barnsley will
see a 2.5 percent rise this year – well
below the current Consumer Price
Inflation (CPI) rate of three percent. The
Band D council tax has been set at
£1,358.37. This includes £1,171.30 for
the Council's services, plus fire and
police precepts. This sees Barnsley
continuing to have significantly lower
average council taxes than many other
metropolitan areas.
TWO mine cars, sometimes called
coal tubs, used as flower planters in Peel
Square over the last few years will be
given a new home on the Churchfield
roundabout. Businesses in the area have
suggested they would like to see the Peel
Square area opened up more for people
to use and the tubs were in need of
some renovation.
Elsecar Railway Heritage Group has
kindly offered to renovate them before
they are relocated on the roundabout
and planted with flowers.
The council has asked for a
restatement of financial offers from the
four developers who originally sought to
deliver the major Reema project for the
Thurnscoe estate. This is to ensure that
the competition process that was used to
select the developer in June 2008 can
respond to the challenges presented by
the downturn in the economy, thereby
reducing the risk of challenge to the
council and maximising opportunities for
Thurnscoe.
The Regeneration project, delivered
through Barnsley’s Housing Market
Renewal Programme (HMR), will see the
demolition of 190 non-traditional houses
at Reema Estate completed and 900
mixed tenure homes built over a 15 to
20 year programme.
Search online at barnsley.gov.uk/jobs for a council job
11
In a class of
What Remaking Learning and Building Schools for the Future
Remaking Learning is about transforming people’s lives. The Building Schools for the
Future (BSF) programme will help do this – and much more besides - by providing nine
new Advanced Learning Centres (ALC) and two special schools. The aim is to use this
once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to deliver high quality services right into the heart of
communities, not just for children and younger people, but for everyone.
We want all our young people to be
able to use ICT to support their learning
anytime, anywhere. To help with this, the
ALC will have wireless access and people
will be able to get online via wired, secure
connections in every learning area.
Whatever stage of life you are at and
whether or not your children attend the
ALC, there will be a facility or a learning
opportunity for everyone.
and be supported by up to ten Primary
Learning Centres, which will replace our
traditional primary schools. In turn, these
will be linked to Children’s Centres.
Working with Barnsley Partnership for
Learning (BP4L) we are rising to the
challenge of delivering excellent learning
and teaching that meets the ambitions of
all in the 21st century.
Both the ALC and some Primary Learning
Centres will offer a range of services for
young people and the community, over
and above those of a traditional school,
via newly-formed Wellbeing Teams. This
will enable easy access to support
services, such as health workers or family
support advisers. In addition, each ALC
will have the very best facilities for other
learners - including post-16s on the new
Diploma courses, adult and community
learners – as well as additional support
for pupils who need it.
•
Skills essential to the world in which we
live – such as ICT and team working will be developed alongside the
traditional and new secondary subjects.
•
What is Remaking Learning?
Remaking Learning seeks to transform
learning for young people at every stage
of education. At the heart of this
transformation lie the Advanced Learning
Centres, which are being designed by
some of the best educational design
teams in the country.
At some stage during the next three
years, a new Advanced Learning Centre
will be constructed near you. Each ALC
will be the focal point of a learning zone
12
What will BSF mean for Barnsley?
Our young people should have outstanding
educational experiences, so the ALCs will:
•
•
•
•
have flexible learning spaces
together with relaxing and pleasant
social and dining spaces.
incorporate new environmental
control systems ensuring students’
comfort, increasing concentration
and enjoyment.
be energy efficient, provide a low
carbon footprint and be sustainable.
sit in landscaped grounds with public
spaces right up to the entrances.
be fully maintained and secured over
the life of the buildings to ensure they
remain community hubs.
be safe environments where security
arrangements are discrete but highly
effective.
its own
means for Barnsley, for your family and for you.
Such an ambitious building programme
will bring considerable employment
opportunities to the area, contributing to
the regeneration of the borough. A
‘Construction Skills Academy’ will be set
up to provide training for the significant
numbers employed within the construction
programme, including at least 40
apprenticeships for young people.
Each ALC and special school will have a
unique vision, reflecting the best of what
they currently provide and any
specialism which they already have.
They will also provide personalised
learning for all young people so that
they can follow the pathway of their
choice and learn in the way best suited
to them.
What will BSF mean for you and
your family?
It is hoped ALCs will be open from 7am
to 10pm, 5 days a week, with additional
opening at weekends for up to 48 weeks
per year. When appropriate, many parts
of the ALC facilities, such as the library
(now known as Learning Resource
Centres), sports facilities and cafe will
hopefully be available to the community
during the day and evening, as well as
at weekends and during holiday periods.
There will be facilities for a variety of
events, from cultural events to
conferences.
Mobile and fixed ICT devices will enable
learning resources to be accessed
through a computer software
environment called the learning platform.
This will also contain work areas where
learners can store their own work and
access information about their
achievement targets. Teachers will be
able to use the same system to plan
lessons, set work, mark it and update
learners’ progress information. This
system will be accessible both in the ALC
and from home via the Internet.
Whatever your
child’s interests or career choice,
there will be an ALC to support them.
Common timetables will enable your
child to complete part of their studies in
their local ALC, but also travel to a
different ALC to study the Diploma of
their choice. Smart cards will give them
the access they need for their studies
and perform a variety of other functions
as well – for instance cashless catering,
registration and library access.
For further information please see:
http://www.barnsley.gov.uk/bguk/Educ
ation_Skills/Schools/bsf
Or contact: [email protected]
The contract with Barnsley Partnership for Learning (BP4L) will include
management and maintenance of the facilities for 25 years, taking the
total investment to in the region of £1.1bn.
13
Looking ahead in
Some key developments and changes that will have an
impact on Barnsley town centre over the coming year
Barnsley Markets Project update
Discussions are continuing between
project sponsors the Council and
Yorkshire Forward and the 1249
Regeneration Partnership on the approach
and programme needed to bring the
Barnsley Market Project forward.
1249, the developers, remain committed
to delivering the project and are
currently working up revised designs to
reflect the changing requirements of their
retailers, driven by the changing
financial climate. The majority of service
diversion works have now been
completed to allow the development to
go ahead and advanced discussions
have taken place regarding the highway
works needed for the scheme.
Subject to a successful bid for funding to
Yorkshire Forward, the first activity in the
programme will be the demolition of the
former CEAG building opposite Gala
Bingo and the former Carpet World
retail unit at Lambra Road. In the longterm, the CEAG site is earmarked to
accommodate a multi-storey car park as
part of the markets redevelopment. In the
meantime, the plan is to lay out the site
as a temporary car park. A funding bid
to cover the cost of demolition, the
creation of the car park and highways
improvements is being considered by
Yorkshire Forward with a decision
expected very soon.
With a new tarmac surface and white
lining, the temporary car park will
accommodate around 200 vehicles. A
pay-on-exit system will be installed to
encourage visitors to spend more time in
the town centre without the pressure of
having to return to their vehicles before
their ticket expires.
14
The provision of good quality car
parking in this location will help to
encourage new visitors to the town.
Similarly, the demolition of disused
buildings with no prospect of being
brought back to life will improve the
appearance of the town.
Improvements to public space
Several key public spaces in the town
centre will soon be transformed,
replacing traditional streets and
pavements and creating places for
people to enjoy and spend time.
Designed by landscape architects Estell
Warren, the project will see the
transformation of Royal Street, Regent
Street South, Hanson Street, Eastgate
and Eldon Street, connecting several
completed Remaking Barnsley projects
including the Civic, Mandela Gardens
and Transport Interchange.
The area will be reinvented including a
concept, first put forward in the Alsop
Masterplan, called the ‘Green Sprint’
2009
which will help draw pedestrians from
the Transport Interchange to the Town
Hall and around other key town centre
locations. The new town centre public
spaces will lift the spirit, will be easy to
use, will inspire activity and attract
investment and, above all, will provide
great places for people.
The designs will create a unique and
attractive environment using a mixture of
natural and man made materials that
contribute to and complement the
regeneration of the town centre. The
base of the public spaces will be created
using Yorkstone, with a central panel
containing granite and weathered
copper stripes that will bleed green onto
the granite surface over time. A mixture
of cherry, clipped and copper trees will
line the public spaces and at night the
area will become a pool of green light
that will create a vivid coloured corridor
throughout the town centre. The modern
lines created in traditional materials will
bring the old and the new town centre
together, creating a connecting thread
along a number of different streets.
Trees, seats, sculpture and lighting will
bring individuality to the streets, creating
echoes of continental Europe, but with a
Barnsley twist.
15
New office space, hotel and car
parking at Gateway Plaza
The construction of this exciting new
development is well underway. Landmark
Development Projects and Quest Property
have recently appointed Browns
Construction Group to build a 110-bed
Premier Inn hotel and associated bar and
restaurant as part of this £70 million
mixed use development in Barnsley. The
Premier Inn will be the town centre’s first
purpose-built hotel. When Gateway Plaza
is fully completed in 2010 it will
incorporate open-plan offices, 188 one,
two and three-bedroom apartments, retail
and leisure space and a 548-space car
park, in addition to the Premier Inn hotel
and restaurant. However, the development
will be completed on a phased approach,
with the first phase offices and car park
due to be completed in spring 2009.
What’s on
To book your place or for more information contact the individual venues.
For a full events listing visit www.barnsleylive.co.uk
Cooper Gallery - 01226 242905
Wentworth Castle and
Gardens – 01226 776040
Saturday 11 April, 10.30am to 1.30pm
Saturday Art Club Also 9 May,
6 June, 4 July. £5, booking essential.
Tuesday 7, Thursday 9 April, 10am to noon,
and 1pm – 3pm Children’s Easter Crafts:
Bird Feeders and Spring Gardens £5 per
child, booking required.
Sunday 19 April, 10am to 5pm Car Rally
Enjoy vintage cars of yesterday.
Wednesday 15 April,
10.30am-12 or 1.30pm-3pm Creating
Clouds A fun and
creative workshop for all the family.
Saturday 11 April to Friday, 22 May South
Yorkshire Open Art Now in its 27th year.
Saturday 25 April, 10.30am to 1pm Food
and forage walk £2.50 per person. Booking
advisable.
Thursday 30 April, 1.30 pm Discover
Wentworth: Lady Mary Montague. By Harry
Leigh £8.50, booking required.
Saturday 23 &
Sunday 24 May
2009 - Oogly
Boogly An event,
a performance,
and a game for
toddlers of 12–18
months with
fourperformers.
Takes place in a
soft inflatable
tent. £3 per
toddler. Places
are very limited
so please book early by calling
01226 787771 or alternatively email
[email protected]
16
Until Saturday 2 May Cloudscapes An
exhibition of weather paintings from the
Cooper Gallery and Cannon Hall.
Worsbrough Mill - 01226 774527
Monday 6 to13 April, 10.30am to 2.30pm
Easter Bunny’s Treasure Basket Mission £1
per go.
Wednesday 8 April, 10.30am to 2.30pm
drop-in sessions From Caterpillar to
Butterfly Make a mobile of a caterpillar-tobutterfly life cycle. £1.50.
Monday 13 April Milling Demonstrations
Free admission.
Wednesday 15 April, 10.30am-2.30pm
Finger Puppet Making Design an animal to
fit on your finger. £1.50 per head.
Sunday 26 April, 9am to 1pm Birds and
Butterflies Turn a wooden peg into a delightful
butterfly or kingfisher, robin or blackbird.
Elsecar Heritage Centre –
The Civic - 01226 327000
contact number listed or call 01226 740203.
Thursday 9 April, 7.30 pm
Three Films plus One Mix of
live dance performance, live
music and film.
Tuesday 7 and 14 April Victorian
Classroom Experience Explore teaching
and learning in the Victorian era.
01226 740203
Sunday 19 April The Sun Has
Got His Hat On Sing-along
romp of musical storytelling.
Sunday 12 April Elsecar Megameet VW Car
Show 07941 132681
Monday 13 April Antique and Collectables
Fair Adults £1.25, concessions £1.
01226 744425
Monday 20 April, every
Monday evening during term
time Qdos Creates at The
Civic Free dance-based
activities.
Sunday 26 April, 4pm to 5pm Illustrated
talk: Green and Pleasant How great artists
have been inspired by the natural
environment. 01226 741817
Wednesday 22 April
Laye Sow Hot and melodic
pan-African folklore and
rippling world beats.
Sunday 24 & Monday 25 May Noddy &
Friends Come and meet Noddy, Tessie Bear
and Bumpy Dog. Admission charge.
01226 740203
Town centre markets &
Springboard events
- 01226 772149
Markets
5 April,
Flower and Garden
19 April,
Local Produce and Speciality Food
23-26 April, Continental market
3 May,
Flower and Garden
10 May,
Craft
17 May,
Local Produce and Speciality Food
24 May,
Antiques and Collectables
31 May,
Fashion
Saturday 4 April,11am to 4pm The Great
Barnsley Bounce Off! 300 Space hoppers
will be set loose in Barnsley town centre, they
need people to help them bounce.
Dance Sundays in the Mall - Outside the old
Woolworths / new Iceland
22 March, Jive Sunday
29 March, Bollywood Sunday
05 April,
Ballroom Sunday
Free open sessions 11am – 12 midday,
1 – 2pm and 2.30 – 3pm. A fun and healthy
way to let your hair down for half an hour.
Sunday 31 May, 12noon to 7.30pm
Springboard Sunday. A day of dance and
music! Make sure you visit the stage on
Mayday Green for High School Holiday - a
blockbuster production
with cutting edge
dance moves and
current songs from the
best of Disney’s High
School Musical, Lil
Chris and his band
and much, much more.
Cannon Hall Museum Park &
Gardens - 01226 790270
Wednesday 8 April, 11am and 2pm Easter
Craft Activities £2.50 Sessions, booking
essential.
Thursday 23 April
The Factory Exploring themes
such as the commercialisation of the female
body.
Wednesday 29 April, 7.30pm Rannel
Theatre Company – Flhip Flhop Two
decorators compete to entertain each other.
Sunday 12 April Dance with the Fairies and
Goblins Join the search for fairies around the
gardens.
Sunday 12 Monday, 13 April Easter Bunny
Fun The rabbits have escaped. Can you find
them all?
Wednesday 15 April, 11 am or 2pm Cook
Easter buns on a Victorian range £2.50.
Booking essential.
Tuesday 28 April, 10.30am to 4pm Cannon
Hall Wedding Fair Free admission.
Saturday 2 to Monday 4 May and Saturday
23 May to Sunday 7 June Funky Fairies and
Grotty Goblin family trail Entertainment for
all the family.
Sunday 3 May, 11am to 4pm The Great
Cannon Hall Bounce Off! 300 Space hoppers
are set loose over Cannon Hall Museum Park
and Gardens.
Barnsley central library 01226 773915
Thurday 9 April, 5.50pm. Local author Milly
Johnson speaking about her new book ‘A
Spring Affair’
Tuesday 21 April, 7pm - 8.30pm.
Parliament: it’s about you. To book contact:
[email protected]
17
Thursday 30 April Jon Holmes –
Rock Star Babylon The co-creator of Dead
Ringers reads from his book of rock n’ roll
rumour.
Saturday 2 May
Shakespeare’s
Villains: A
Masterclass in Evil
Stephen Berkoff
explores some of
Shakespeare's most
villainous characters.
Sunday 3 May Old
Mother Hubbard and
her Cupboard Fresh
and funny adaption.
Thursday 4 June, 7.30pm Bollywood Brass
Bollywood meets brass meets Bhangra.
Concerned
about debt?
People all over the country are feeling the pinch
as Britain enters a period of recession. Barnsley is no
different, and the council and its partners will do what they
can to help. If you are experiencing financial worries, plenty
of support is on offer from the council and organisations we
work closely with – whether it’s finding a new job, securing
affordable credit or getting some emotional support and
counselling through tough times.
Housing and council tax benefits
If you are struggling to pay the bills, council
tax and housing benefits could help. It
isn’t just those on income support or job
seeker’s allowance that can make a claim.
If you are retired, or even if you are
working, you could still be entitled to both.
If you need advice on housing and council
tax benefits, please ring the Benefits
Helpline on 01226 774743. You can
also check online whether you might
qualify by using the benefits calculator.
This can be found on our website
www.barnsley.gov.uk by clicking on the
economic and finance section, and then
the housing and council tax benefit page.
tax bill. Call 01226 774774 for advice
or to report any change in your
circumstances.
If you are having trouble paying your
council tax, please contact us
immediately on 01226 774774 so we
are able to help straight away.
If you need help completing your
application form, Barnsley Connects will
be able to help you. Offices are open
Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm. Contact
01226 770770 for details of locations
or check the council website.
Welfare Rights
Are you getting all the benefits -including
tax credits – that you are entitled to?
Barnsley Welfare Rights Team can help
you find out. They offer information and
advice on all benefits and for all
circumstances. For example, retirement,
redundancy, bereavement, disablement,
maternity, low income, starting work etc.
Call the free dedicated advice line on
0800 915 3339 between 10am and
4pm (mobile phone operators may
charge for using 0800 numbers) or call
01226 775656 during office hours.
Chop your council tax
If you are the only adult living in a
property, you live with someone who is
on a low income, or your home has
been adapted because you are disabled,
you could get a reduction in your council
Other benefits
If you are working but on a low income,
tax credits could put some extra cash in
your pocket. If you have children you
probably qualify for child tax credits. You
could also get help with your childcare
18
bills. Call the helpline on 0845 300 3900
or visit www.hmrc.gov.uk/taxcredits
Debt advice
Debt advice is available over the phone
from Barnsley Citizen’s Advice Bureau
on 01226 206492 on Monday,
Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday,
1.30pm to 4pm and Tuesday mornings,
10.30am to 12.30pm. It also holds
open door sessions across the borough.
The National Debt Line – 0808 808
4000 – is open Monday to Friday, 9am
to 9pm and Saturday, 9.30am to 1pm.
The Consumer Credit Counselling Service
also offers advice on 0800 138 1111.
Barnsley Credit Union can offer a
cheaper alternative to doorstep lenders
and some high street shops. Contact
01226 734945 in Barnsley or 01709
897487 in Goldthorpe.
If you are having problems with loan
sharks, or have been approached by
doorstep lenders, speak in confidence to
the illegal money lending team on 0300
555 2222.
Back to work
There’s advice out there if you’re looking for a job. For help
finding work contact Barnsley Job Centre, Cooper House, 59
Peel Street. Open weekdays, 9am to 5pm and Wednesdays
10am to 5pm. Wombwell Job Centre - 01226 263333.
Councillor email addresses:
Central Ward
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
North East Ward
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
Facing barriers to employment? Contact the Options team at
Priory Campus on 01226 280728 or Thurnscoe Business
Centre, 01709 881567.
Cudworth Ward
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
Old Town Ward
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
What about working with kids? Thinking about starting
work, returning to work or simply changing your career
path? Barnsley Adult Learning Service may be able to help
you gain a childcare qualification. For more information
please call the Eldon Centre on: (01226) 775270.
Darfield Ward
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
Penistone East Ward
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
Dearne South Ward
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
Penistone West Ward
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
Dodworth Ward
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
Rockingham Ward
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
Hoyland Milton Ward
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
Royston Ward
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
Darton East Ward
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
St. Helens Ward
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
Darton West Ward
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
Stairfoot Ward
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
Dearne North Ward
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
Wombwell Ward
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
Kingstone Ward
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
Worsbrough Ward
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
Help with school costs
As many parents and carers know, school can be expensive,
so it’s worth finding out if you qualify for free school meals.
Your child may be entitled to free school meals if you get
one of these:
• Income support
• Income-based job seekers allowance
• Asylum seekers allowance
• Child tax credit – if you have an income of less than £15,575
• The guarantee element of state pension credit.
Families claiming working tax credit are not entitled to free
school meals.
Application forms may be available at your child’s school.
Alternatively, contact the council on 01226 773513.
Emotional assistance
If you need emotional help or counselling, MIND provide a
drop-in service to help support mental wellbeing through
difficult periods. Call 01226 211188.
Don’t keep your worries to yourself – there is always
someone who can help you out.
Monk Bretton Ward
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
Save money around the home – top tips – it all
adds up!
• Don’t keep electrical equipment on standby
• Pull furniture away from radiators so warm air can
circulate
• Turn lights off when you don’t use them
• Don’t overfill your kettle
• Heat the room you use the most and turn heating down
in others
• Keep lids on saucepans when cooking
• Close curtains after dusk. If they are over a radiator,
tuck them behind to keep warmth in
• Only put full loads in the washing machine
• Set your hot water to 60 degrees – hot enough for
bathing and washing
WANT TO MEET YOUR COUNCILLOR?
Barnsley’s councillors hold regular advice sessions or
‘surgeries’. These sessions give you the chance to raise any
problems or discuss issues with them.
If you want to find out when your councillor is next holding
an advice session - ring:
01226 787890
Or go online at www.barnsley.gov.uk
BARNSLEY
Metropolitan Borough Council
Or visit any Barnsley Connects office
19
Council members
Margaret BRUFF
Michael STOKES
Doug BIRKINSHAW
Tel: 01226 388308 Tel: 01226 286036 Tel: 01226 243716
1
Central Ward
Sharon HOWARD
Linda BURGESS
Alice CAVE
Tel: 01226 743906 Tel: 07968 696321 Tel: 01226 297021
5
Darton West Ward
Trevor NAYLOR
Barry LIPSCOMBE
Michael BRANKIN
Tel: 01226 750544 Tel: 01226 743433 Tel: 01226 743727
9 Hoyland Milton Ward
Joseph HAYWARD
Charles WRAITH
Steve HOUGHTON
Tel: 01226 712443 Tel: 01226 712135 Tel: 01226 717348
Janice HANCOCK
Alan GARDINER
Jennifer WORTON
Tel: 01709 889936 Tel: 01709 898266 Tel: 01709 893036
Donna HOLLINS
Geoff BOWDEN
Malcolm PRICE
Tel: 01226 208778 Tel: 01226 200990 Tel: 01226 286892
2
6 Dearne North Ward
10
Trevor SMITH
David WAINWRIGHT
Ronald FISHER
Tel: 01226 270617 Tel: 01226 752700 Tel: 01226 758266
May NOBLE
Kenneth SANDERSON Sharron BROOK
Tel: 01709 880577 Tel: 01709 898728 Tel: 01709 894315
Ken RICHARDSON
Margaret SHEARD
Grace BROWN
Tel: 01226 206006 Tel: 01226 283271 Tel: 01226 286923
3
7 Dearne South Ward
11 Monk Bretton Ward
Jack CARR
Brian PERRIN
Phillip BIRKINSHAW
Tel: 01226 294235 Tel: 01226 246127 Tel: 01226 232404
Dorothy HIGGINBOTTOM
Dave NORTH
Danny GILLESPIE
Tel: 01226 758410 Tel: 01226 712703 Tel: 01226 714126
Cudworth Ward
Darfield Ward
Harry SPENCE
Roy MILLER
John PARKINSON
Tel: 01226 381289 Tel: 01226 385064 Tel: 01226 384496
4
Darton East Ward
8
Dodworth Ward
20
12
Kingstone Ward
North East Ward
2009-2010
Peter MIDDLETON
John LOVE
Bill GAUNT
Tel: 01226 286282 Tel: 01226 282063 Tel: 01226 214002
13
Old Town Ward
Tim CHEETHAM
Bill NEWMAN
Graham KYTE
Tel: 01226 723159 Tel: 01226 722191 Tel: 01226 726453
17
Royston Ward
Robert BARNARD
Paul HAND-DAVIS
John WILSON
Tel: 01226 382861 Tel: 01226 767968 Tel: 01226 243497
David BOSTWICK
Jenny PLATTS
Len PICKEN
Tel: 07792 782419 Tel: 01226 294690 Tel: 01226 200001
14 Penistone East Ward
18
Eunice TAYLOR
Betty BARLOW
Gill CARR
Tel: 01226 247195 Tel: 01226 297143 Tel: 01226 294235
21
Worsbrough Ward
St. Helen’s Ward
Barnsley Metropolitan Borough
Council currently has 63 councillors,
Andrew MILLNER
Stephen MARSH
Steve WEBBER
Tel: 01226 763772 Tel: 01226 763173 Tel: 07890 313043
Jim SMITH
Karen DYSON
Fred CLOWERY
Tel: 01226 212508 Tel: 01226 287056 Tel: 01226 217150
15 Penistone West Ward
19
Stairfoot Ward
three for each of the 21 electoral
wards. The overall council
representation by the different political
groups of councillors is:
Labour
32
Barnsley Independent Group 22
Jim ANDREWS
Steve SYLVESTER
Mary BRANKIN
Tel: 01226 743906 Tel: 01226 748595 Tel: 01226 743727
Denise WILDE
Richard WRAITH
Margaret MORGAN
Tel: 01226 754259 Tel: 01226 755570 Tel: 01226 753515
16 Rockingham Ward
20
Wombwell Ward
21
Conservative
6
Liberal Democrat
1
Non-aligned (no political
group membership)
2
Concerned about the
welfare of a child?
The welfare of children is always taken seriously
and thoroughly investigated.
If you have concerns and
are already in touch with a
professional who works
with children - for example,
a teacher, health visitor
etc. - then you should
speak to them.
Alternatively, contact a
social worker.
In most cases, it’s in the
child’s best interest for
them to remain at home
with their families. This is
where problems are sorted
out most effectively, and
help is given so that this
can happen.
Sometimes agreement is
reached for children to
stay with their extended
family for a short time
while enquiries are made.
If necessary, social workers
can apply to the court to
protect the child if there is
danger of significant harm.
If the police believe that
the child is in immediate
danger they can be taken
to a safe place, which may
include a family member, a
family friend, a foster carer
or sometimes a hospital.
If you are concerned about the
welfare of a child who already
has a social worker and you
know how to contact them,
then do so. In all other cases:
9am-4pm Monday to Thursday,
9am-4.30pm Fridays
(excluding Bank Holidays)
• Barnsley West Assessment
Team, Wellington House,
01226 772423
• Barnsley East Assessment
Team, Cudworth Centre,
Carlton Street, Cudworth,
01226 438831/438852
Any other time, contact the
Emergency Duty Team on
08449 841 800.
You can help us help the child
if you know some or all of the
following information.
•
•
•
•
The child’s name
Age
Address
Name and address of the
child’s parent or carer.
• What has happened to
cause your concern.
You don’t have to give your
own name and address, but we
will be much more likely to be
able to take action if you do.
Barnsley is the safest town in South Yorkshire
– help us to keep it that way!
Barnsley has nine Safer
Neighbourhood Teams (SNT)
with police officers, police
community support officers and
neighbourhood wardens
working together to tackle the
issues that matter most to you.
In the five years since the teams
were introduced, crime in the
borough has dropped by 20%.
That means:
less victims of
• 1,852
burglary
less victims of theft
• 1,167
from a motor vehicle
less victims of vehicle
• 1,880
crime
Each Safer Neighbourhood
Team has a network of Crime
and Safety groups, where
residents and community groups
can discuss their views on local
issues face to face with officers
from their local Safer
Neighbourhood Team and assist
in solving problems. To find out
more about your local Crime
and Safety Group, contact the
Community Safety Service on:
(01226) 774950.
To report antisocial behaviour,
disorder or incidents, contact
the teams using the following:
Cudworth SNT
Manor Road, Cudworth, Barnsley
email:
[email protected]
01226 736592
Dearne SNT
5 Barnsley Road, Goldthorpe, Rotherham
email:
[email protected]
01709 832138
Dodworth and Darton SNT Blacker Road, Mapplewell
01226 736395
email:
[email protected]
Hoyland SNT
Hoyland Road, Hoyland Common
email:
[email protected]
01226 736457
Penistone SNT
Station Road, Penistone
email:
[email protected]
01226 736387
Royston SNT
Station Road, Royston
email:
[email protected]
01226 736361
Town Centre SNT
Commerce House, Westgate
01226 736395
email:
[email protected]
Wombwell SNT
Park Street, Wombwell
01226 736408
email:
[email protected]
Worsbrough SNT
Rae House, Cypress Road, Kendray
01226 736387
email:
[email protected]
Always use
999
in an
emergency!
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Listed below are the main council numbers you are likely to need. If you can’t find the number you need, please call our main switchboard
Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm. Our staff will be happy to help. All numbers are 01226 unless specified.
A Abandoned Vehicles . . . . . . . . . . . . 772468 D Disabled People
Bus Passes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 775656
Car Badges (blue badge) . . . . . 775656
Dog Fouling. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 772468
Dog Warden . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 772468
Drains (blocked)
Council housing (Berneslai Homes) . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 787878
Flooded roads. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 773555
Private (commercial service). . . 774198
Public sewers – Yorkshire Water. . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 08451 242429
Dumping (illegal) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 772468
Adoptions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 775879
Adult learning Eldon Centre . . . . . . 775270
Allotments Lettings . . . . . . . . . . . . . 774351
B Benefits
Housing benefits. . . . . . . . . . . . 774743
Benefit Fraud 24hr Hotline
(Report a cheat) . . . . . . . 08001382940
Building Control
General enquires . . . . . . . . . . . 772678
Inspection (24 hours) . . . . . . . . 772699
Business Units for Rent
Athersley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 732911
Kendray Business Centre. . . . . . 249894
Mount Osbourne Business Centre 732911
Oakwell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242044
Thurnscoe . . . . . . . . . . (01709) 881951
Bus Passes
Disabled persons . . . . . . . . . . . 775656
Elderly Persons. . . . . . . . . . . . . 213314
Business Rates
(Non domestic enquiries) . . . . . 774765
E Education
General Enquires . . . . . . . . . . . 773500
Early Years & Childcare (Barnsley Choices)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 775977
Playgroups (Barnsley Choices) . 775977
Child minders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 775977
School Meals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 773513
Education Premises
Out of hours . . . . . . . . (01709)895571
Education Welfare Service . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . 773543 / 773191 / 773542
Elections Office . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 773070
C Cemeteries & Crematorium . . . . . . 206053
Central Call Unit
In Touch/Community Alarm Service . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 775671
Cesspools, septic tanks . . . . . . . . . . 774118
Child Protection Unit . . . . . . . . . . . 772400
Community Resources
Athersley (Roundhouse) Centre . 244528
Cudworth Centre of Excellence . 717531
Dearne Enterprise Centre . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (01709) 881181
Grimethorpe Acorn Centre. . . . . 712575
Kendray Resource Centre . . . . . 293264
Blackerhill Lifelong Learning Centre . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 749543
Wombwell Centre . . . . . . . . . . . 753406
Worsbrough Common Centre. . . 771099
Consumer Advice . . . . . . . . 08454 040506
Councilors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 773451
Council Meetings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 773451
Council Tax Helpline . . . . . . . . . . . . 774774
Councilors Surgeries. . . . . . . . . . . . 787890
Country Parks
Cannon Hall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 790270
Carlton Marsh Nature Reserve . . 772646
Dearne Valley Park . . . . . . . . . . 772646
Neverwood Country Park . . . . . 772696
Trans Pennine Trail (Barnsley). . 772142
Trans Pennine Trail (outer areas) 772574
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F Fly posting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 775656
M MOT & class VII Test Station . . . . . . 774194
Museums & Art Galleries
Cannon Hall Museum . . . . . . . . 790270
Cooper Gallery . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242905
Worsbrough Mill Museum . . . . . 774527
Food/Hygiene/Health & Safety . . . 772468
Footpaths (roadside) . . . . . . . . . . . 773555
Fostering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 775876
G Golf Courses
Barnsley Municipal Golf Course . 380358
Wombwell Golf Course . . . . . . . 754433
Governor Development Services . . . 281961
Graffiti . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 775656
Grants
Further Education . . . . . . . . . . . 773595
Higher Education . . . . . . . . . . . 773570
Smoke & Diesel . . . . . . . . . . . . 772458
Gritting/snow clearing . . . . . . . . . . 773555
Ground Maintenance (grass cutting) 775656
H Home Care Services . . . . . . . . . . . . 775858
Homeless . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 773870
Emergencies/out of hours 08449841800
Housing
Berneslai Homes . . . . . . . . . . . . 775555
J
Job Vacancies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 772250
Land and Property enquires (except housing)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 774611
Leisure Centres (these are not BMBC,
operated by Barnsley Premier Leisure)
Athersley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 299907
Dearnside . . . . . . . . . . (01709)880040
Dorothy Hyman, Cudworth . . . . 710736
Hoyland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 744063
Metrodome . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 730060
Penistone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 766025
Royston . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 722991
Wombwell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 753896
Library – Central. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 773930
Licensing
Taxis, raffles, street collections . 772468
Litter
Bins & Street Sweeping . . . . . . . 775656
Local Partnership Teams- Golden Lines
Central . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 736395
Goldthorpe . . . . . . . . . (01709) 832138
Hoyland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 736457
Penistone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 736387
Royston . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 736361
Longcar Professional Development Centre .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 281961
N
Noise /Pollution Complaints . . . . . . 772468
Neighbourhood Pride . . . . . . . . . . . 775656
Highway weed killing . . . . . . . . 775656
S
School transport . . . . 773584 / 773590
Social Services
General enquiries . . . . . . . . . . . 775656
Emergency/out of office hours . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 08449841800
South Yorkshire Mining Advisory Service . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 772689
Sports Pitches (hire) . . . . . . . . . . . . 774353
Street Lighting (24 hour service)
Faults & enquiries . . . . . . . . . . . 774200
Substance Misuse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 787316
T
Taxi Testing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 774194
Tourist Information . . . . . . . . . . . . 787888
Trading Standards
Quality, price & safety . . . . . . . 772468
Traffic Signals- (24 hours service)
Faults & enquiries . . . . . . . . . . . 773555
Transportation enquiries . . . . . . . . . 772176
Treework . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 775656
W Waste & Recycling
Recycling general . . . . . . . . . . . 772045
Commercial waste . . . . . . . . . . . 772050
Household waste recycling centre 774215
Refuse Collection . . . . . . . . . . . 772045
Special Collection . . . . . . . . . . . 772045
Waste disposal . . . . . . . . . . . . . 772045
Weighbridge, public . . . . . . . . . . . . 774138
Welfare rights advise . . . . . . . . . . . 775656
Freephone Advice Line . . 08009153339
Y Youth Service
General enquiries . . . . . . . . . . . 773632
Youth centres/staff . . . . . . . . . . 753406
P Parks, open space& playgrounds. . . 774353
Pest Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 772468
Planning enquiries . . . . . . . . . . . . . 772000
Public Convenience . . . . . . . . . . . . 775656
Public Health . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 773348
Public Right of Ways . . . . . . . . . . . 772142
R Registrars
Births, Deaths & Marriage . . . . . 773085
Rent Allowances
Private . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 774743
Road Repairs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 773555
S Schools
General Enquires . . . . . . . . . . . 773500
School Meals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 773513
Selections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 773689
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The main council switchboard number is
770770
Z