Rotherham CouncilRotherham Round-up header


16 July 2021

Welcome to the Rotherham Round-up, your regular email update with news, video and events from Rotherham Council.

If you would like to comment on any articles included in this bulletin, or suggest what you’d like to see in future issues, please drop us a line at corporate.comms@rotherham.gov.uk 

And don’t forget to follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Linked-in and YouTube for more regular updates. See the links at the bottom of this email.

Civic 2

VIDEO: Rotherham Civic Theatre renovations

There’s been some exciting changes at Rotherham Civic Theatre.

We’re looking forward to welcoming audiences back in September.

Take a look at the changes in the film here


Rotherham Show

Rotherham Show back this year!

As Covid restrictions begin to ease, we AREplanning to welcome you back to the Rotherham Show this year!

The annual event held in September brings thousands of people together from our borough and further afield – and after being forced to cancel last year’s event, we can think of no better way to relaunch Rotherham’s cultural offer.

This year, the event will be held over three days – 3rd -5th September with traditional favourites and a host of new attractions planned. An extra day has been added on Friday 3rd September as a quieter day for audiences who may be more nervous about a return to events, the site will be reconfigured to open up the spaces, reducing queues and crowding, and sanitisation stations will be available across the site.

What’s more, we are also planning to welcome you back to the newly refurbished Civic Theatre at the same time. Watch this space for more details about exciting plans for this September!


Food vouchers

Free school meal vouchers extended this summer

Almost £1m worth of vouchers will be provided to 10,000 children eligible for free school meals this summer holiday.

Almost £1m worth of vouchers will be provided to 10,000 children eligible for free school meals this summer holiday as the Council extends support to families on low incomes.

Continuing the provision made throughout the last four school holidays to families who are struggling in the wake of the Covid-19 crisis, the council is providing £90 supermarket vouchers for each child to cover the six-week break. The money is roughly equivalent to the cost of providing a child with a free meal at school.

Read more


Shared Ownership video

Click the image to watch the video and hear from some Rotherham residents who have opted for Shared Ownership

VIDEO: Shared ownership, for a place to call home

With an increase in the cost of housing, people are increasingly considering shared ownership as as a way of getting an affordable foot on the property ladder.

Shared Ownership gives you the ability to buy a small share of your home, and allows you to increase that share over time if you want to. It is ideal for first time buyers and older people who may be currently renting alike.

You can buy an initial share of your home, from 25% and you will pay rent on the remaining unpurchased share. As your share increases, the rent is reduced.

There is no pressure to buy outright unless you feel able to do so. The total monthly payments are usually lower than you would need for full home ownership or private rent.

Visit the Rother Living website for more information about Shared Ownership and how it can work for you.

And hear from some local people who have opted for Shared Ownership of their home in this video.


Riverside Library

Riverside Library to re-open with other libraries returning to normal opening hours

Riverside Library is set to reopen on Monday 19th July for the first time since closing its doors in March 2020 due to COVID 19.

During this time the building has been used as a foodbank site and to support the community as a Lateral Flow Testing Centre (LFT)

Other libraries across the borough will also revert back to their usual opening hours.

Read more


Rotherham Libraries are for everyone – young and old

Home Library Service videoTwo schemes available in Rotherham are making our Libraries available to everyone – young and old.

Our free Home Library Service is for residents who cannot get to a local branch due to ill health or disability.

Contact your local library to arrange an assessment for eligibility. The service takes into account any specific interests and needs; whether that is large print or ordinary print books (both fiction and non-fiction), talking books on CD or as a download from our catalogue. The Home Library Service will then pick your items and deliver them to your door

Watch our video to find out more about the Home Library Service and other ways in which the Council is making Library Services more accessible.

Wild World HeroesMeanwhile, younger people, who might be discovering a love of books for the first time, are being encouraged to take part in this year’s Summer Reading Challenge.

As part of the project, we’re encouraging children to read six books this Summer – find out more by clicking the image and sharing the Summer Reading Challenge video and then visit your local library to take part.

The theme for this year’s challenge is Wild World Heroes – don’t miss out!


Cllr Beck road safety

Council backs more local road safety schemes

A further seven new measures have been identified as part of the Neighbourhood Road Safety schemes across Rotherham.

The projects, which will be presented to the Council’s Cabinet on 19th July, include the installation of speed signs, road humps and carriageway resurfacing to include speed restricting road markings.

Subject to approval, these will be the third set of works funded by the Council’s £450,000 Neighbourhood Road Safety Scheme programme. A three-year capital scheme to provide smaller scale road safety improvements in areas identified by the public.

Read more


Greasbrough MUGA

New Multi Use Games area opens in Greasbrough

Greasbrough’s new £126,000 Multi Use Games Area (MUGA) has been officially opened.

The MUGA, which has been funded by the Football Foundation, Veolia Environmental Trust and Rotherham Council was opened by the Deputy Mayor of Rotherham – Cllr Tajamal Khan, Greasbrough Ward Councillors – Cllr Sarah Allen and Cllr Rob Elliott and Rotherham United Assistant Manager Richie Barker.

Youngsters from two local Primary Schools, Greasbrough Primary and Rockingham Primary, took to the field beforehand in a mini football tournament.

Read more


Cycling

Two public consultations go live on Rotherham Cycling

Rotherham Council is asking for comments on its draft cycling strategy and its proposals to create cycle tracks along the A6178 Sheffield Road.

The Council has launched public consultations into two elements of its plans to improve the borough’s cycling provision and encourage more people to make more journeys by bike.

Details of both consultations can be found at https://www.rotherham.gov.uk/consultations

Read more

Your opinion matters

Did you know the Council is regularly asking local residents and businesses for their views on a huge variety of topics?

From taxi licensing to cycling strategies and our annual budget to local plans, we would really like to hear your views on what’s happening locally, what you support, what you’re against – and why. Public opinion matters.

All our live consultations are available to view on our website, which is regularly updated.


Energy

Sustainable Warmth questionnaire

  • Is your household income below £30,000?
  • Do you receive means tested benefits?
  • Does your property have an Energy Performance Certificate rating of E/F/G?

Rotherham Council is looking to secure funding to help improve home energy efficiency.

Register your interest here