Handsworth Grange School Starts To Rebuild

By James Peters


Handsworth Grange Secondary School is splashing the cash and rebuilding the main building in a bid to improve the school.


The popular secondary school is being demolished while the newly built Sports Hall will remain intact. A budget of £3million has been confirmed for the changes to be made.
As well as refurbishing buildings the school will be constructing a brand new accommodation block.


Other improvements will include a new entrance plaza and two new playgrounds.


Headteacher Anne Quaile said: “This is a great opportunity for us and we are very pleased work has now begun on site. The overhaul will be a great boost for all our students in terms of both their education and their well being.” 


Work has already started on the school and is expected to be finished in September 2013.

Ex student Jake Barstow said hes impressed by the plans and lives close so is excited to see how it will turn out. "The school really needs a change so I'm glad the plans are going ahead."

(picture taken from www.hgcsc.co.uk/)

South Yorkshire Police Clean Up Handsworth

by James Peters


South Yorkshire police have been cleaning up the streets of Handsworth as Police UK shows a dramatic decrease in crime in the last 3 months.


Figures show in October there was over 300 crimes committed with antisocial behaviour being the highest reported crime with 189 offences. The figures have decreased dramatically and Handsworth is slowly becoming a safer place to live.


Crime Rates in Handsworth (December 2011)

(Statisitcs by http://www.police.uk/)

Handsworth residents can contact their local police departments by calling on (0114) 2963779 or email woodhouseandmosboroughsna@southyorks.pnn.police.uk

Handsworth Area Community Trust Fund

By Ryanne Smith


Voluntary groups from around Handsworth are being offered the chance of funding from Handsworth Community trust. The trust is offering money to help out volunteer groups based in Handsworth. The registered charity is designed to provide funding for voluntary bodies for specific projects that assist and enhance the quality of life in the area. The application process is accessible and simple, and the trust has given out more than £100,000 already.
For more information or for an application form contact Peter King on 0114 2694037.

A Plan introduced by police flops leaving Handsworth shops at risk

By Ryanne Smith


Handsworth top stores are continuously being the target of crime and burglary. The 'Crime Reduction Plan' was developed to attempt to prevent the situation. Shops are being forced to close and many are left run down and vandalized after crime rates soar around the main strip of shops.
Police officers from around Woodhouse and Mosborough Safer neighbourhood Team (SNT) introduced the 'Crime Reduction Plan' for the shops which have been repeat victims of crime, to help safeguard them against the vandals.
A meeting was held in December where shop owners were invited to discuss the plan further. The shop owners were left 'let down' and 'helpless' after the meeting turned out a disappointment.  
Police have reassured the community that they will increase uniformed and plain clothed patrols in the area as part of their ongoing scheme "Operation Affield."

                   There are many shops being forced to shut as the crime rates continue to increase.

Easter Events at St Mary's

By Kimberley Perry

St Mary's Paris Church is to hold a number of Easter events welcoming more people into the church after reports of a high attendance rate. 

St Mary's is inviting anyone along to undertake a six week course on discovering Christianity starting 29th February, as well as a number of services running throughout the Easter period. 

For more information on events taking place contact: 01142692537.

Free fruit for Handsworth

By Kimberley Perry


Local grocery store 'Veg Patch' have donated fresh fruit and plant seeds for students at St Josephs School for a new project beginning in March.


Year five and six pupils from the primary school will be helping to plant a variety of fruit trees in Handsworth Park which will see them involved in digging holes and learning how to make fruit juice in a 'juice making workshop'. 


Handsworth Forum manager Steve Wylie said: "We want the children to be involved with positive activities, especially in todays society where kids are associated with growing into a knife and gun crime culture." 


Councillors from the East Community Assembly have awarded the Forum £1600 to plant the new fruit trees which will regularly produce free fruit for the community. The School children will also be learning how to crush and press the fruit aswell as helping to plant them. 


The park will see over 50 new fruit trees and bushes which will include apple, cherry and blackberry. 

Eye in the sky reducing crime for Handsworth - Will it be a success?

(Image from South Yorkshire Police)

By Danielle Tucker

South Yorkshire police have been working towards making improvements in police the Handsworth and Woodhouse areas to lower crime rates.

Eye In the Sky


The Air Operations Unit has been working with the Mosborough and Woodhouse Safer Neighbourhood Team to tackle anti-social behaviour in and around the streets of Handsworth Road, focusing on shops and in pubs.

Handsworth Forum Manager Steve Wylie said, "It's great new improvements like this have been put in place."


As a result there has been a visible reduction of reporting of problems with the Air Unit teams providing a high profile deterrent to the problem.  

                                               (Image from Wikipedia Handsworth)


Crime Prevention on the Streets


The helicopter is based at the Old Sheffield Airport, making it possible for these patrolling flights to continue in the future with the base being nearby.

But will these schemes work? Steve Wylie also added that local residents were hopeful. "I've spoke to members of the forum and they hope that local petty crime will now be reduced"

The Air operations team have also been using twitter to communicate with local residents as soon as a crime is reporting, and feed regular updates at @syp_airops. 


DO YOU THINK THESE CRIME PREVENTIONS WILL WORK, OR ARE THEY A WASTE OR MONEY? Leave a comment below!