A dedicated Burngreave resident has finally landed his dream job – the chance to play a major role in the regeneration of his part of the city.
Leroy Betts (31), who has lived in Burngreave all his life, has just taken up the position of Community Engagement Officer with Burngreave New Deal for Communities (BNDfC).
It's an encouraging fact that almost 50 per cent of the posts created by the BNDfC programme have been filled by local residents such as Leroy which is playing an important role in the regeneration of the area.
Since BNDfC started in 2001, the programme has resulted in 270 jobs – the BNDfC programme team consists of 25 members of staff and 245 people are employed on projects funded by BNDfC. In all, more than 12 ethnic backgrounds are represented.
Says Leroy: “I have worked in regeneration before, in other parts of Sheffield and outside of the city and I always came back home to Burngreave and thought something needed to be done here. It was my goal to work in Burngreave and help drive the change. Over the past three years things have started to happen and now I am part of it which is great.”
Leroy thinks the key to regenerating Burngreave is getting local people involved. In his new role he wants to try and engage as many people as possible, especially those in the groups that are hardest to reach such as young people, so they have a say in what happens in their area through the New Deal programme.
He believes the central element to all this work is the self-development of local people, getting them involved and introducing them to training and job opportunities, for example.
“I want to empower local people so we can work together to make the changes we all want to see. Burngreave is a fantastic area to live and work – the diversity is brilliant and it is bubbling with vibrancy.”
He also recognises the importance of raising the profile of BNDfC and making people aware of the opportunities that are now open to them.
Says Leroy: "I had to do it the hard way – New Deal was not around when I was younger, I knew what I wanted to do but it took me until I was 25 to get my first job. This would not be the case now – I can't stress to people enough what a difference they could make to their own life by taking advantage of what is on offer for them.
"I've lived in Burngreave for a long time now and seen people struggle year after year – through New Deal we now have the opportunity for people to develop themselves in areas that they are interested in and build a profession for themselves like I have done in regeneration.
“I am really loving the job so far and can't wait to get stuck into it and help people get the opportunities they truly deserve to develop themselves and, in turn, our wonderful community,” he added.
John Clark, Chief Executive of BNDfC, said: "One of our main aims is to give people from Burngreave access to appropriate training opportunities. We want to ensure that local people are getting the right skills and experience so they can access jobs in Burngreave, at BNDfC or elsewhere in the city.
“Leroy is an excellent example of a committed member of our community who is now putting something back into Burngreave through the New Deal programme. We need more role models like him who young people can look up to and see what they can do and achieve,” he added.