[Hills Forum]

It is with regret that the trustees of Hillsborough and Owlerton Neighbourhood Forum ltd has ceased trading. The company has a liquidity crisis in spite of all attempts the trustees are unable to solve. We are proud of our past successes and thank everyone who has been a part of this project over time.

A few of our successes were:

• The forum has in the past created the Hillsborough Town Centre strategy which has been formally adopted by Sheffield City Council and is part of the city wide strategy.
  
• The forum and volunteers successfully turned a derelict piece of land into the Holme Lane Community Garden which it is hoped will continue into the future.
  
• For the last three years Hillsborough was successful in the Yorkshire in Bloom competition as an Urban community entry incorporating the hard work of local people, planters on Hillsborough Corner, the walled garden, park and schools.
  
• They campaigned for the clean up of the weir after the floods of 2007 and oversaw subsequent clean ups of the river.
  
• Did the Christmas tree campaign for local businesses in 2008 providing 25 Christmas trees and leaving traders with permanent brackets for summer hanging baskets and Christmas trees in the future.
  
• Managed and advised on the spend of the pot from the economic fighting fund to spruce up shopping areas, repainting of the railings on Hillsborough corner, refurbishment of litter bins and removal of unnecessary street furniture and the future car park to be developed at the top of Hawksley Avenue.

Hillsborough Forum was supported by an amazing group of local volunteers who enjoyed making things better and we hope they will continue to make a difference in their own special ways in 2012 and beyond.

Happy New Year Hillsborough it was good whilst it lasted.

[steelhead4]

Sad to hear this. Thank you for all your hard work.

[TJC1]

Sorry to hear this. Part of the cuts was it?

[netnikki]

what did it used to sell...?

[GreenManWalk]

haven't they just had some money from the co-op? Will that be given back

http://www.sheffieldtelegraph.co.uk/...ties_1_4095357

[Frank Sidney]

Its always sad when this sort of thing happens. I'm sure a lot of time and effort went into the whole thing. So thanks for that...I think I'm going mental because I don't even live in Hillsborough, but you know what I mean...

[Ms Macbeth]

I was sorry to see the shop was shut last week. I'd like to thank the workers and volunteers who all did their best to improve the environment around Hillsborough. The efforts they put in made a noticeable difference.

[MrsMozzy]

Originally Posted by GreenManWalk

haven't they just had some money from the co-op? Will that be given back

http://www.sheffieldtelegraph.co.uk/...ties_1_4095357

I think it may depend what it was for and how the money was allocated. Forums often don't just get given money; they have to put in a bid and spell out what they will use the money for, usually having a specific project in mind. If that's the case, whatever it was might already have been bought or the money otherwise used for said project. And even if just a cash donation, perhaps again it's already been used for the good of the community.

[sophiec1979]

i heard about this on the grapevine too and im very sorry to hear that the forum has had to be dissolved.

i would like to offer my thanks to the members of the forum, the volunteers and all the good eggs who have helped to improve hillsborough even though i had already fallen in love with it when i first moved here.

Thank You



x

[cgksheff]

Why does a real Community Forum have to vanish because you have no grants?

Dissolve the corporate entity by all means, but why should the "forum" die.

[DJMartin]

I can't believe that Hillsborough Forum has had to close down. I just wanted to take this opportunity to say a huge thank you to all the people involved in this group, you all made a big difference to Hillsborough and the local environment.

What will happen to the community garden at Holme Lane, will any volunteers be able to keep this going or that the end of it?

[Taximark]

Originally Posted by cgksheff

Why does a real Community Forum have to vanish because you have no grants?

Dissolve the corporate entity by all means, but why should the "forum" die.

This. sad to hear but surly it doesn't have to die of death?

[six45ive]

That's a shame. What's happening to the staff? Are they being redeployed or made redundant? Personally I would have liked to have become involved but I find organisations like this very cliquey and as soon as I see a politician muscling in on the 'good news', that's pretty much the nail in the coffin as far as I'm concerned I'm afraid.
I also have a problem with the idea of people doing necessary work for nothing (ie volunteering) when there are people out there desperate for a job and prisons full of people who could be out making recompense to society. It just seems wrong on so many levels.

[Reesh2052]

As a fellow member of the VCF sector it really saddens me to hear this news. The government need to realise that without organisations such as yours the country will get even worse for people in poorer communities or those that do not have the means to help themselves.

[taxman]

In response to both the recent riots, and the Mary Portas report into High St revival, community involvement was heralded as the way forward.

I would have thought the forum was also an example of David Cameron's "Big Society", a volunteer led community charity.

[fake]

Originally Posted by taxman

In response to both the recent riots, and the Mary Portas report into High St revival, community involvement was heralded as the way forward.

I would have thought the forum was also an example of David Cameron's "Big Society", a volunteer led community charity.

Trying to revive the High Street is just a waste of money as they will carry on declining as less people shop in them. The problem also is that very few young people want to be involved in their community now as "communities" are as old fashioned as High Street shops. Most forums are run by older people who still think that the community spirit exists and harken back to "the good old days."

Times and attitudes change and Cameron's "Big Society" idea is an just an example of how those older people think and is just spin and unworkable.

[Lucy-Lastic]

Hillsborough Forum was not run by older people fake (far from it) - it was made up from a wide range of people from the area and outside all with a common goal. The locals seemed to think that it was a council run facility - it wasn't, it was mainly a bunch of volunteers who cared about making the area a better place It will be missed.

[chem1st]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england...shire-16390957

Hillsborough Forum charity in liquidation
A charity that worked to improve streets and support businesses in part of Sheffield has folded after it ran out of funds.

Hillsborough Forum was set up in 2002 and became a charity in 2006.

Its volunteers helped to clean up the area after it suffered heavy floods in 2007 and turned derelict land into the Holme Lane Community Garden.

The charity said it could no longer afford its £20,000 a year rent and running costs.

A statement released by the trustees said it had a "liquidity crisis in spite of all attempts we are unable to solve".

'Such a shame'

[eastbank]

Originally Posted by chem1st

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england...shire-16390957

should have moved to islington....the rent is cheaper

[kenthack]

its £20000 a year rent & running costs not just rent
even charitys have some wages/ expenses to pay