Hi everyone!

I'm a 44 year old single man who will be completely starting again by moving to Sheffield around about the beginning of May. I originally come from London but have lived in Plymouth for the last 8 years - largely because my post graduation finances did not allow me to leave. I have debated moving for a couple of years now but following a bereavement have decided to give my job up to be closer to family who live in the Leeds area. I've been to Sheffield a few times and have found it to be really friendly.

I'm expecting a bit of a 'WTF??!!' reaction to this: I am moving up without a job because I have found that it is almost impossible to land a new job unless you live in the area; I have also been unsuccessfull at interview stage a couple of times. I'm also faced with having to start my new life in a homeless hostel because of the old no job= nowhere to live vice versa catch 22 but am determined to make a success of the venture.

I know this approach may offend certain sensibilities but I have thought about this for a while and would like to welcome any helpful suggestions people may have about how to generally get started from this fairly bleak starting point. The obvious 'Can't your sister put you up?' won't apply as she is currently up to her neck in postgraduate study. I won't be telling her of my move until I am reasonably settled as it would really worry her. I do know however that she would be thrilled to have me living closer as would my niece and nephew. I have found the South West beautiful in it's appearance but fairly cold in it's relationships and feel that I need to do this now or regret if for the rest of my life.

Please regard this as a serious post because it is.

Thanks.

Maybe put a few calls out to agencies. Get some casual work here and there with the agency whilst you find your feet. Usually process you pretty quickly as long as your not work shy and happy to do anything.

Will be tough first few months but gives you the chance to explore Sheffield, Jobs, places to live etc

I wish you well. I certainly have never regretted moving up here. Good luck.

what kind of work you looking for?

Good for you and what an adventure! What type of work are you hoping for? What did you do for a living down south?
I think what you are doing is really brave although it is the risk takers in life who seem to make a go of every oppertunity presented to them. Good luck and let us know how you get on!

Welcome to Sheffield in advance! :)

good luck on your move an hope everything works out for you x:)

Wow Good luck, on your impending adventure, i hope it all works out for you, we are not such a bad bunch of people up here.

Welcome to the North @themanfrom we are all friendly t`up North the South is beautiful but very expensive. I agree the job situation is bad everywhere but just because you are not from the North does not mean you won`t find work. I wish you all the luck in the world with your new life up here I hope you are successful. :) :thumbsup::D

Welcome :-)

I moved here from the Midlands in 1994 when I came to Uni, and I stayed here because I love it. Those who have bad things to say about the town and the people need to spend some quality time in Birmingham lol!

What sort of work are you looking for?

Hi and welcome (in advance) :)

Sorry about your bereavement that has made you decide to leave part of your life behind, but well done on being so brave as to start again miles away from what you know. I'm sure things will be hard for you the first few months, but with determination I'm sure it will all work out, good luck xx :D

Hi everyone!

I'm a 44 year old single man who will be completely starting again by moving to Sheffield around about the beginning of May. I originally come from London but have lived in Plymouth for the last 8 years - largely because my post graduation finances did not allow me to leave. I have debated moving for a couple of years now but following a bereavement have decided to give my job up to be closer to family who live in the Leeds area. I've been to Sheffield a few times and have found it to be really friendly.

I'm expecting a bit of a 'WTF??!!' reaction to this: I am moving up without a job because I have found that it is almost impossible to land a new job unless you live in the area; I have also been unsuccessfull at interview stage a couple of times. I'm also faced with having to start my new life in a homeless hostel because of the old no job= nowhere to live vice versa catch 22 but am determined to make a success of the venture.

I know this approach may offend certain sensibilities but I have thought about this for a while and would like to welcome any helpful suggestions people may have about how to generally get started from this fairly bleak starting point. The obvious 'Can't your sister put you up?' won't apply as she is currently up to her neck in postgraduate study. I won't be telling her of my move until I am reasonably settled as it would really worry her. I do know however that she would be thrilled to have me living closer as would my niece and nephew. I have found the South West beautiful in it's appearance but fairly cold in it's relationships and feel that I need to do this now or regret if for the rest of my life.

Please regard this as a serious post because it is.

Thanks.

Why don't you move to Leeds instead?

To be honest sheffield is a dump, it is like the third world compared to manchester and leeds,
crimes, shootings,stabbings, id move somewhere in the country

Why don't you move to Leeds instead?

It would make a lot more sense. The rail fare between Sheffield and Leeds ain't cheap!

It would make a lot more sense. The rail fare between Sheffield and Leeds ain't cheap!

He might think that we all live in a big mud hut, north of Chesterfield. He might know a northerner called 'Vera' from 1978. :cool: :hihi:

He might think that we all live in a big mud hut, north of Chesterfield. He might know a northerner called 'Vera' from 1978. :cool: :hihi:

Doesn't she live next door to Nora at 1976?

Doesn't she live next door to Nora at 1976?

She moved out due to high rents and scummy landlords! :mad: :hihi:

Hi everyone!

I'm a 44 year old single man who will be completely starting again by moving to Sheffield around about the beginning of May. I originally come from London but have lived in Plymouth for the last 8 years - largely because my post graduation finances did not allow me to leave. I have debated moving for a couple of years now but following a bereavement have decided to give my job up to be closer to family who live in the Leeds area. I've been to Sheffield a few times and have found it to be really friendly.

I'm expecting a bit of a 'WTF??!!' reaction to this: I am moving up without a job because I have found that it is almost impossible to land a new job unless you live in the area; I have also been unsuccessfull at interview stage a couple of times. I'm also faced with having to start my new life in a homeless hostel because of the old no job= nowhere to live vice versa catch 22 but am determined to make a success of the venture.

I know this approach may offend certain sensibilities but I have thought about this for a while and would like to welcome any helpful suggestions people may have about how to generally get started from this fairly bleak starting point. The obvious 'Can't your sister put you up?' won't apply as she is currently up to her neck in postgraduate study. I won't be telling her of my move until I am reasonably settled as it would really worry her. I do know however that she would be thrilled to have me living closer as would my niece and nephew. I have found the South West beautiful in it's appearance but fairly cold in it's relationships and feel that I need to do this now or regret if for the rest of my life.

Please regard this as a serious post because it is.

Thanks.

This is a serious reply. Have you looked into getting a place in a hostel in Sheffield? There are very few direct access places, most have age limits and other criteria for admission. I don't know if this will help, but here's a link to hostel accommodation. https://www.sheffield.gov.uk/in-your-area/housing-services/homelessandhousingoptions/looking-for-a-home-or-needing-to-move/hostels

I am sceptical about this thread. There's a number of things that don't quite add up to me.

A 44 year old 'postgraduate' (they graduated rather late then did they? or are they referring back to 20 years previous?) that hasn't had the finances since graduating (how long ago? last year? 20 years?) to build a life somewhere else. Did they have a house in Plymouth? A job in Plymouth? What kind of work do they do? It doesn't tell us does it? One can only assume they were as 'homeless' there as they are planning to be here.

People's lives do change after a bereavement but it is vague as to why that would be the motivating factor to move somewhere else because we don't understand anything about that relationship. Some of you have summised that it must be a very close personal relationship but there's nothing to suggest that. It would be usual for someone to come out and say, ' I lost my partner/child/whatever' but this person doesn't. Why?

And most of all why Sheffield? Because they've been here "a couple of times and found it friendly?". I've been to Beirut in Lebanon a couple of times and I found that friendly (seriously I have and did) but I wouldn't want to move there. And they say, "to be nearer to my sister" and where's his sister? Leeds! What reason is given for wanting to travel almost 300 miles from Plymouth to Leeds and then stopping 40 mile short of it in Sheffield - a place they've only been to a couple of times?

TBH - I think it's a wind-up. But if it isn't then I wish this person luck because they sure sound down on it - and somehow i don't see any evidence in what's been written, that it is about to change.

I am sceptical about this thread. There's a number of things that don't quite add up to me.

A 44 year old 'postgraduate' (they graduated rather late then did they? or are they referring back to 20 years previous?) that hasn't had the finances since graduating (how long ago? last year? 20 years?) to build a life somewhere else. Did they have a house in Plymouth? A job in Plymouth? What kind of work do they do? It doesn't tell us does it? One can only assume they were as 'homeless' there as they are planning to be here.

People's lives do change after a bereavement but it is vague as to why that would be the motivating factor to move somewhere else because we don't understand anything about that relationship. Some of you have summised that it must be a very close personal relationship but there's nothing to suggest that. It would be usual for someone to come out and say, ' I lost my partner/child/whatever' but this person doesn't. Why?

And most of all why Sheffield? Because they've been here "a couple of times and found it friendly?". I've been to Beirut in Lebanon a couple of times and I found that friendly (seriously I have and did) but I wouldn't want to move there. And they say, "to be nearer to my sister" and where's his sister? Leeds! What reason is given for wanting to travel almost 300 miles from Plymouth to Leeds and then stopping 40 mile short of it in Sheffield - a place they've only been to a couple of times?

TBH - I think it's a wind-up. But if it isn't then I wish this person luck because they sure sound down on it - and somehow i don't see any evidence in what's been written, that it is about to change.

Thank you for all your kind words and encouragement. That in itself is extremely helpful. I have quoted DerbyTup in full as I wish to address all the points they have raised:

I graduated from Plymouth University in 2006 aged 39. I went there as a mature student who thought that University would change their life and new a couple of people down there. Due to having dyspraxia I found it very difficult to work in my final year and ran up debts which had to be paid off. I stayed in Plymouth to try and find work and eventually ended up with the local council. The job provided some stability and security which enabled me to travel between Plymouth and London on a regular basis whilst my Mum's health slowly deteriorated - I did not want to move back to London due to the expense and the feeling that the move would not be permanent. When Mum passed away I decided that I wanted to be closer to my Sister. Things have however become complicated since my Mum died and I have opted for Sheffield as I could never wish for my Sister to put me up, nor would I want to bump into her whilst I am enduring the tricky couple of initial months. I want to move to a nearby city (and believe me when you have often travelled 350 miles to be with someone 40 miles away is vitually on their doorstep.) whilst maintaining complete autonomy and independence. Sometimes relationships run smoother when you're not staying the night and the prospect of being able to pop in for a couple of hours is something we have discussed and suits us both.

My most recent experience is in customer services. I will also be able to go up with a bit of money and can probably afford to live in B&B's for a little while, but would prefer a hostel as it would prove cheaper. I have been living in a shared house down here since graduating so am not giving much up.

I hope this answers the points you have raised, Derby Tup.

If the OP has only just decided to move here, why did he make this one post back in October 2010 and never return?

http://www.sheffieldforum.co.uk/showpost.php?p=6806474&postcount=4

It sounds like a wind up to me as well.

Thanks too for the link Ms Macbeth. The Sally Army will be my first port of call.

You may want to think twice about a move to Sheffield. Its a city on its knees, there has to be better places to relocate than this dump

If the OP has only just decided to move here, why did he make this one post back in October 2010 and never return?

http://www.sheffieldforum.co.uk/showpost.php?p=6806474&postcount=4

It sounds like a wind up to me as well.

I was interviewed for teacher training at the Uni of Sheffield in Feb 2009 and made a conditional offer. (I was doing my maths GCSE at the time) My Mum's health however started to deteriorate and so I decided not to join the course. I did however join the forum because I never really got over the fact that I turned this opportunity down and having been really impressed by the city and helpfulness of the people (particularly the Uni staff who gave me tons of help due to my dyspraxia) I decided to keep my ambitions on the back burner. As a hammers fan I couldn't resist making this particular post! I have only recently started to use the forum again due to the fact that I want to move up there.

Bless you for explaining yourself to a couple of cynics on here! ( you really didnt need to) Some people like to think they are Miss Marple and scrutinise each post and the poster's profile looking for inconsistencies and 'clues' so as to catch them out.
I for one like to take people how i find them; and in your case themanfrom, you seem like a decent chap who is taking a huge risk in order to hopefully better himself. :D

Bless you for explaining yourself to a couple of cynics on here! ( you really didnt need to) Some people like to think they are Miss Marple and scrutinise each post and the poster's profile looking for inconsistencies and 'clues' so as to catch them out.
I for one like to take people how i find them; and in your case themanfrom, you seem like a decent chap who is taking a huge risk in order to hopefully better himself. :D

My feelings as well I wish you all the luck in the word it is a big risk but if you don't take it you might always wish that you had.

Don't let the grumps put you off. Sheffield is a lovely city (at least from my experience) I moved here to study in 2005 and graduated in 2008 and have been living here ever since. I regret nothing! Sure there's a bit of a slump with jobs but you'll find that in any city. Sheffield is the greenest and safest largest city in the UK and I find it to be the friendliest too :) If you're looking for a way to meet new people (because being in a new city can be daunting) reply to my post. I'm organising a group bowling session for Saturday 31st and you are more than welcome to come along and meet some new people :) or visit the facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/events/146814282103616/ xxx

Best bet is find a shared house, sign on and get local housing allowance to cover you while you job hunt, sign up at as many agencies as you can and take work where it's offered and you'll soon be on your feet but at least have a safety net. Don't make yourself homeless when at the very least the DWP would cover you the cost of a room/bedsit in a shared place.

Sheffield is a nice city and am sure you can make it work if you're prepared to do the hard work.

I've successfully moved to Manchester, Dublin and London in the past for an adventure with just a couple of hundred in my pocket to cover my first months rent and food, never even needed to claim LHA (housing benefit) in the end, but it's there as a safety net.

To be honest sheffield is a dump, it is like the third world compared to manchester and leeds,
crimes, shootings,stabbings, id move somewhere in the country

Aaaahhh. We'll be sorry to see you go, but Sheffield's loss is somewhere elses gain....

My most recent experience is in customer services. I will also be able to go up with a bit of money and can probably afford to live in B&B's for a little while, but would prefer a hostel as it would prove cheaper. I have been living in a shared house down here since graduating so am not giving much up.


Use your money for a deposit on a bedsit and claim HB until you find your feet - that is cheaper than both a hostel and B&B. Don't go 'down the ladder'... it is hard to get out of the homeless and jobless trap if you do.

Find a place before you move up permanently - you can get a cheap day return to view properties and make the arrangements.

Sign-on and claim HB the first day.

Get a job, any job (you'll be extremely lucky to land any customer service job in the council), the second day.

Good luck.

Best bet is find a shared house, sign on and get local housing allowance to cover you while you job hunt, sign up at as many agencies as you can and take work where it's offered and you'll soon be on your feet but at least have a safety net. Don't make yourself homeless when at the very least the DWP would cover you the cost of a room/bedsit in a shared place.


Yes... as Daniel says!

Hi Tony

Only a slight bit of truth in there, you have missed what is good about this city !

To be honest sheffield is a dump, it is like the third world compared to manchester and leeds,
crimes, shootings,stabbings, id move somewhere in the country

I will wish you the best of luck with your new life in this great city.

Be careful in passing judgement on Sheffield folk when you read this Forum !!

Good luck on your move.

It took me a month longer than expected but I handed in my notice to day and I move to Sheffield on June 6th. Had notification of a PPI payout last week which is gonna make things a lot easier. Thanks for the support.I'll keep you all posted.

why not look in the flats to let/shared houses on this forum? when we moved back here 2 years ago I did that for my eldest son and got him a place to move up to, he also wasnt working at the time and also moved up from devon!
Good Luck with it all.

Good luck mate, ive been here for a while now, and have had the option of moving away, but never wanted to. As far as cities go, its a pretty good one in my opinion, better than Manchester and Leeds for sure.

As far as networking goes, i personally found football a good way of meeting new friends etc, also the forums. There is loads to do here to keep you busy and entertained, transport is pretty good also, its not a mad maze to learn your way around, although if your driving into the city centre, it can get a bit confuddling.

All the best to you sir. I hope you enjoy your adventure!

Wishing you all the very best - personally as someone that has always lived in Sheffield I think its a great place to live - we have everything - as must have my Dad who came to England in the 50s travelled the length of it and then made Sheffield his home in the 60s.

Thank you for all your kind words and encouragement. That in itself is extremely helpful. I have quoted DerbyTup in full as I wish to address all the points they have raised:

I graduated from Plymouth University in 2006 aged 39. I went there as a mature student who thought that University would change their life and new a couple of people down there. Due to having dyspraxia I found it very difficult to work in my final year and ran up debts which had to be paid off. I stayed in Plymouth to try and find work and eventually ended up with the local council. The job provided some stability and security which enabled me to travel between Plymouth and London on a regular basis whilst my Mum's health slowly deteriorated - I did not want to move back to London due to the expense and the feeling that the move would not be permanent. When Mum passed away I decided that I wanted to be closer to my Sister. Things have however become complicated since my Mum died and I have opted for Sheffield as I could never wish for my Sister to put me up, nor would I want to bump into her whilst I am enduring the tricky couple of initial months. I want to move to a nearby city (and believe me when you have often travelled 350 miles to be with someone 40 miles away is vitually on their doorstep.) whilst maintaining complete autonomy and independence. Sometimes relationships run smoother when you're not staying the night and the prospect of being able to pop in for a couple of hours is something we have discussed and suits us both.

My most recent experience is in customer services. I will also be able to go up with a bit of money and can probably afford to live in B&B's for a little while, but would prefer a hostel as it would prove cheaper. I have been living in a shared house down here since graduating so am not giving much up.

I hope this answers the points you have raised, Derby Tup.

You shouldnt have to justify yourself to anyone. Its nobodys business why you want to move to Sheffield! People can graduate at any age I imagine and peoples personal finances are nothing to do with anyone else.
I wish you good luck in your move and job search. I have lived in Sheffield most of my life apart from a brief period working in Cornwall when younger. I would recommend Sheffield to anyone. I think its is a lovely city and we have beautiful countryside on our doorstep the Peak District (if you like countryside). People are friendly and while there are a lot of run down and not so pleasant areas (arent there in all big cities!) theres lots of nice areas and we are known for our nice parks. I hope you are happy here. :)

Thanks for the support. I've made provisional arrangements to view a property in Glencoe Road (near Granville Road) This Saturday. The day return is gonna cost apx £120 plus I'll be securing the property with a bond. Is this area and proposition worth the money and 10 hour round trip from Plymouth?

I'd like a couple of quick answers as I have a fairly cheap rail price on hold at the mo. Don't want to commit if it's gonna be dodgy.

Cheers!

My brother used to live in a shared house on this road years ago and I really liked the road. I've never lived on it or near it but like most areas there will be good and bad.

I'd like a couple of quick answers as I have a fairly cheap rail price on hold at the mo. Don't want to commit if it's gonna be dodgy.

Cheers!

You call that cheap? Breaking down the journey (which would have got you to Sheffield at the same time and on the same trains) would have helped you.

Bless you for explaining yourself to a couple of cynics on here! ( you really didnt need to) Some people like to think they are Miss Marple and scrutinise each post and the poster's profile looking for inconsistencies and 'clues' so as to catch them out.
I for one like to take people how i find them; and in your case themanfrom, you seem like a decent chap who is taking a huge risk in order to hopefully better himself. :D

I totally agree, you shouldn't have to explain every detail of your life just because someone isn't satisfied with the original post and is using this forum to demonstrate how clever they are. What would someone achieve by posting such a long pack of lies??? It doesn't make any sense (well, not to me anyway, but perhaps if I was as cynical as them I'd deduce that it's the kind of nonsense they probably get up to in their spare time if that's how their minds work!!)

Good luck to you themanfrom, I hope you find everything you're looking for in Sheffield. It's the people that make a place great and for the most part nob heads are a minority in Sheffield (and this forum) however undoubtedly you'll encounter some in both.

I saw the place, and despite it being tiny, I've committed to 4 months there. I move in on the first of June...

well good luck to you. Granville road area isnt bad at all, close to the city centre and station. When you get on your feet I'm sure you'll be able to find something more permanent.

You will find Sheffield to be a fine place to live once you get to know it.


All the best.

good luck hun x hope it works out for you

if you need a chat or any advice not that im good at that sort of thing give us a shout x

Try the recruitment agencies - I moved to Sheffield without a job and they found me one within 2 weeks.

Ignore the doom-mongerers, there are plenty of jobs in customer service/admin/call centres about, not the most glamorous jobs but good enough to pay the rent while you look for something more suitable.

Sheffield is a very easy place to settle in, loads going on and generally a very friendly place. Loads of people move here for uni/college and never leave.

Good luck!

I'm almost there now with the wardrobe/possession cull. So well ahead of schedule and looking forward to my new life!

House party? :hihi:

Good luck - there are plenty of interest groups on here for hobbies and other activities, have a look through them there may be something you fancy doing, a good way of meeting new people and networking with the eventual aim of securing work.

Sheffield's a wonderful place, and being a Hammer I know your allegiances will lie towards S6 not S2! ;)

This is basically what I did in 1990, with three young children ... found myself a job in a supermarket and then found something better. Its probably harder to find work now, but you can only try.

I wish you all the luck in the world, I only moved from Chesterfield to Sheffield and it was like moving to a differant country let alone county.
All the best.

Good luck - there are plenty of interest groups on here for hobbies and other activities, have a look through them there may be something you fancy doing, a good way of meeting new people and networking with the eventual aim of securing work.

Sheffield's a wonderful place, and being a Hammer I know your allegiances will lie towards S6 not S2! ;)

Have to say as a Londoner and a Hammer, I moved to S6 end of this March and liking it a lot esp...its a lot cheaper for a season ticket for the football up here.

good luck to the o/p

Have to say as a Londoner and a Hammer, I moved to S6 end of this March and liking it a lot esp...its a lot cheaper for a season ticket for the football up here.

good luck to the o/p

Why would an hammers season ticket be cheaper "up here"?

Have to say as a Londoner and a Hammer, I moved to S6 end of this March and liking it a lot esp...its a lot cheaper for a season ticket for the football up here.

good luck to the o/p

I know a few Hammers fans here in Sheffield, nice bunch, supporting a proper club and they appreciate decent football. (Big Sam's effective football isn't included in this!) ;)

Nice to hear your 2nd teams now Wednesday, with days like Wycombe last day of the season I can't wait for next season to start now! :)

I know a few Hammers fans here in Sheffield, nice bunch, supporting a proper club and they appreciate decent football. (Big Sam's effective football isn't included in this!) ;)

Nice to hear your 2nd teams now Wednesday, with days like Wycombe last day of the season I can't wait for next season to start now! :)

Cheers Paul, its been one of the better seasons all round :D

Thanks everyone.:)

Been here nearly a fortnight now, and having successfully completed the trials of working out shower/cooker/washing machine I'm continuing to feel more settled.

I bought a supertram for £46 and am amazed at how late all the transport goes on - almost midnight! I've got to know my local area quite well and have found that Morrisons is the best shopping option and worth the tram and bus ride. I also went into a local shop the other day and managed to buy a small bottle of water and a Mars Bar for less than a pound(!)

I'm now working on my CV as I await the arrival of some parcels that I sent up from Plymouth. I may have a little bit of part-time work coming up shortly too.

I've decided that I will initially (at least) become a Blade as it's closer. Sorry Owls!

Good Luck on your move.

I actually spent three glorious happy years down in Plymouth doing a degree.
I loved the place, the people, the weather, the sea.

After graduating I worked in the SW for a while, then London, but ended up back in Sheffield, the city I grew up in.

I am sure you are doing the right thing.

Thanks everyone.:)

Been here nearly a fortnight now, and having successfully completed the trials of working out shower/cooker/washing machine I'm continuing to feel more settled.

I bought a supertram for £46 and am amazed at how late all the transport goes on - almost midnight! I've got to know my local area quite well and have found that Morrisons is the best shopping option and worth the tram and bus ride. I also went into a local shop the other day and managed to buy a small bottle of water and a Mars Bar for less than a pound(!)

I'm now working on my CV as I await the arrival of some parcels that I sent up from Plymouth. I may have a little bit of part-time work coming up shortly too.

I've decided that I will initially (at least) become a Blade as it's closer. Sorry Owls!

Now that is cheap. Though having said that I seem to remember that Stagecoach bought them all for about a quid.

try the recruitment agencies - i moved to sheffield without a job and they found me one within 2 weeks.

Ignore the doom-mongerers, there are plenty of jobs in customer service/admin/call centres about, not the most glamorous jobs but good enough to pay the rent while you look for something more suitable.

Sheffield is a very easy place to settle in, loads going on and generally a very friendly place. loads of people move here for uni/college and never leave.

Good luck!

muahahahahahahaaaaa