Write-Place

“MORE than 3,000 troubled children have turned for help to the NSPCC Sheffield Young People's Centre” The Star’s headline has just shouted at me. The building in the city centre, a former bank on George Street, was opened seven years ago with support from readers of The Star, who raised £250,000. The centre now helps 450 children a year , aged between nine and eighteen, who are or have suffered bullying, family breakdowns, bereavement, physical, emotional and sexual abuse. It provides a safe and welcoming place for troubled young people and has counselling rooms, play areas and a relaxation lounge.It also has a children's rights service and visiting services for children who have little contact with their family http://www.thestar.co.uk/news/3000-kids-helped-at-NSPCC.5204164.jp for full report and contact details. The Young People’s Centre is, of course a great achievement and a wonderful support service for people in need. Many youngsters will, I am sure, be able to lead ha...

RE: Letters to Rotherham Advertiser, page 2, Friday 24th April, 2009 Thankyou Don Buxton, for your detailed and interesting ornithological information, in your letter. Some of the birds mentioned I have not actually seen in the flesh - specifically the Tennesse Mountain Bird , which I have no choosing to see, I may add. Others I have had glimpses of in my day to day doings and can confirm your descriptions of their behaviour. The Bumbling Bee Down Sat Parachuting Bird, though may be rarely seen in Wickersley of late, is VERY prevalent in Maltby. I had occasion only yesterday to happen on this creature in the MTC offices, and I have to say that experiencing the spreading of it's enormous wings, as you describe is a sight to behold. On this occasion the spreading of it's wings was not in preparation for descent, but in show of it's delusional assumption of power and intimidation. The meeting of this bird is not for the faint hearted, and I would suggest that initiates to wat...

"Things" have been rather hectic lately (or maybe this is again me at my best procrastination ) I have been busy reading numerous documents, repoorts, plans and proposals and attending more and more meetings in connection with the future of Maltby and it's residents. As I have not quite mastered the art of adding a link to my website and have to rely on "others" to do the honours, I must post this link here, for now. http://rothervalley.wordpress.com/ This is a well researched, in depth, up to date blog on the goings on of our elected members of council and parliament and it is a pleasure to know that many are concerned. Take heart, Maltby ! As has been said on many occasions "The truth will come out"

Today, many people celebrate Easter Day, when according to Christian scriptures, Jesus was resurrected from the dead after his crucifixion. It is a concept which I was brought up on, my father being a lay preacher in the Methodist Church, but a very difficult one (for me) to believe in or understand. Over the years as I have grown up, my beliefs and opinions have changed dramatically from total belief through total lack of understanding and all the possible feelings in between. If I am asked now exactly what I believe, I have to say that I am not sure – I am still learning. It is not easy to put aside an almost inbred culture and way of life that I have known since childhood, despite my study and struggle to understand. Some days I have great respect for those who have such a strong faiths; other times I am confused at how such intelligent minds can believe in such things. But then, that is faith. Whether we have a faith or not, there can be no doubt that the Christian message is one ...

This week, as always, we have watched and read of reports of unpleasant events and incidents – economic crises, government morality, crime and also natural disasters. Many of us go through a range of emotions ranging from shock and horror to disgust and despair. Yet amidst these situations, I would like to tell of a small incident that occurred yesterday. I hope it does not appear too sentimental as it is, just facts. In my neighbourhood (as many others) we have been experiencing a particularly bad spate of inappropriate behaviour by youths and younger children. We are, however, “lucky” that we are surrounded by fields and countryside, where people are able to walk their dogs. As I was doing this yesterday, I realised that I had lost a fob from my keyring – not valuable but a personal momento. I began looking back along the way I’d walked, not expecting to find it in the long grass and mud. A group of young people shouted across to me “What you lost?” I shouted back and they came over ...

Dear Mr Barron, Thankyou for the Rother Valley Parliamentary Newsletter, which I received this week. I am interested to read about the positive work that you have been doing within the Rother Valley community, including the backing of local business in Dinnington, justice for miners in their compensation payments and supporting schools in Wales, Anston and Rother Valley College. I wish you continued good luck in the future with these projects. Unfortunately, I am very concerned that you do not feel the need to mention the major upheaval and recent discussion regarding the secondary school and primary schools within your home town of Maltby. I appreciate that your workload is great and that you must prioritise with the issues that you handle, yet, as you well know, there are currently major areas of concern on a number of issues in Maltby, Bramley and Wickersley, which mainly come under the heading of “Consultation and Acting on Public Views (or not) ”. Your newsletter states that yo...

The Muddies , Maltby, Rotherham was once a small wood with a small pond.It lies on the outskirts of Maltby and is surrounded by housing and farm land. For several months of the year it is very wet and supports a variety of water amphibians including frogs and newts. The Great Crested Newt has used the land for breeding for at least forty years, but the land is under threat from development by RMBC. Residents in the area have at last persuaded RMBC to erect a fencing along one boundary, in an attempt to prevent damage caused by "youths" congregating there. This has and is continuing to be a long and difficult struggle on the part of residents. I am allowing myself some light relief today from the constant stream of emails and phone calls that this entails. I present : The fencing cometh (with apologies to Flanders and Swann) ‘Twas on a Monday morning that the Muddies fence began And Streetpride came along to clear the rubbish, with their van. They looked and saw the mess was ...