Groups

Burngreave Clean Air Campaign

Burngreave Clean Air Campaign is a community environmental group whose members are residents of Burngreave which aims to raise awareness about the illegal levels of air pollution in our part of Sheffield and to bring about changes to improve air quality. We regard air pollution as a public health emergency which kills 500 people in Sheffield alone each year. Air pollution has been linked to diseases as diverse as childhood asthma, maldevelopment of children’s lungs and brains, heart disease, diabetes, cancers, spread of viral infection and dementia. We monitor local air quality monthly.

Although we are a local group, we are aware that toxic air kills millions around the world each year and that it is closely linked to the climate emergency. Our emphasis is on working with local people by holding stalls at local festivals, fairs and on the streets, organising petitions and protests. We also cooperate with local schools and other organisations including Sheffield Climate Alliance. We work with our local councillors, MP and media outlets. We send out regular emailings to our supporters and also have Burngreave Clean Air Facebook page. We have supported a number of students from the University of Sheffield with their projects from the departments of planning and journalism. We support improvements to public transport and to active travel as means of reducing motor traffic which is responsible for most of the toxic fumes in our area. We are always pleased to hear from people in Burngreave and beyond and so we look forward to hearing from you!”

Climate Communications Hub

The Climate Communications Hub is a supportive and welcoming forum for people interested in developing their skills in communicating about climate change. We are a voluntary group whose aim is to encourage ‘climate conversations’ whether at college, at work, at home, or in public spaces.

CycleSheffield

We campaign for a cycle friendly Sheffield where anyone can choose to make their journey by bike. We want cycling to be inclusive and easy, not limited to the quick and the brave.

DECSY – Development Education Centre South Yorkshire

DECSY promotes education for a just and sustainable world. We are an independent and highly experienced development education centre working across South Yorkshire since 1984 to promote a global perspective in all levels of education. Global Learning is an approach to education that increases understanding of complex global issues and how these affect and are affected by our everyday lives. Global Learning seeks to encourage learners to look at the values of equality, human rights, justice and environmental sustainability. It uses active learning methods to promote enquiry and critical thinking skills and provide support and opportunities to develop non-violent problem-solving skills.

Volunteer roles include research for specific projects, project evaluation, developing teaching resources, fundraising. For a volunteer application form contact: info@decsy.org.uk

Extinction Rebellion Sheffield

We are a group of people in Sheffield taking part in the international Extinction Rebellion movement.

This is a group aimed at promoting non-violent direct action & civil disobedience for action on the climate & ecological crisis.

Actions include creative and dramatic demonstrations, protests, council lobbying, music, community democracy and rewilding projects.

Food Works

We are building a more fair and sustainable food system for Sheffield.

A third of all food produced globally is wasted. We don’t think that is right. It’s not good for people and it’s not good for the planet. We need to do better.

Our aim is to be the first city in the UK with zero food waste.

#ThinkGlobalActLocal

Every Mouthful Matters

• INTERCEPT: Our volunteers rescue surplus food from accross the region seven days a week.
• GROW: We grow sustainable produce right here in Sheffield.
• REPURPOSE: Groceries, meals and artisan products are available to all at our food hubs

Foodhall Project

We are a utopian food project, creating a space for open, public food sharing. We imagine alternative ways we can thrive together by creating food sharing economies, developing systems for cross societal engagement and hosting events and activities. We also have a food delivery project.

We are always looking out for new volunteers. Please fill out the volunteering form on our website.

Friends of the Earth Sheffield

Friends of the Earth are part of an international community dedicated to protecting the natural world and the well-being of everyone in it.  Our national campaigning group leads campaigns, provide resources and information and promotes real solutions to the environmental problems facing us all.  

With the support of the national team, local groups, such as Sheffield Friends of the Earth, work collaboratively to address the climate, environmental and ecological issues facing our particular areas.

We are committed to 

• A peaceful and sustainable world based on societies living in harmony with nature
• Each generation enjoying an environment that’s getting better; a safer climate, abundant nature, healthy water, air and food.
• A growing and diverse network of people coming together to transform our environment into one which is flourishing, sustainable and socially just 

Join us to find out more about the issues that face us here in Sheffield and what we can all do to address these.  Any engagement, big or small, is welcomed! 

Sign up to our database here to keep updated, or check out our website and social media.

Good Food Barnsley

Building a better Barnsley where everyone has the right to the food they need to thrive.
Our aims are:
– Promote healthy and sustainable food to the public
– Tackle food insecurity and diet related ill health
– Build community food knowledge, skills and resources
– Promote a diverse and vibrant food economy
– Transform catering and food procurement
– Reduce waste and the ecological footprint of the food system

We are able to connect potential volunteers with local organisations with foodbanks, FareShare Yorkshire, and other organisations such as those working with youth groups and the elderly too across the borough of Barnsley.

Green New Deal UK, South Yorkshire

We’re building a movement for the Green New Deal – an ambitious national plan to tackle climate breakdown while creating a fair society that works for everyone. In the GND UK South Yorkshire hub, we’re committed to work collaboratively with people from diverse communities, groups and organisations across South Yorkshire to create a vision of what a Green New Deal would look like locally, and campaign together on the practical steps to make it a reality.

We are allied with and committed to the 5 principles of Green
New Deal UK, which works to:

1. Totally decarbonise the economy of the United Kingdom within 10 years

2. Create millions of new well-paid, secure, unionised jobs across the country

3. Transform our economy so the financial system serves the needs of people and planet, with an accountable and democratic government in the driving seat.

4. Protect and restore vital habitats and carbon sinks, including forests and wild areas, and ensure the provision of clean water, air, green spaces and a healthy environment for all.

5. Promote global justice by supporting all peoples and countries to decarbonise quickly and fairly, in line with timeframes set out by science.

GNDSY meet on alternate Wednesdays from 6-7.15 pm. We’d love new people to join so please email us greennewdealuksy@gmail.com or call Joan on 01142 498613

We collaborate to organise events and to lobby local politicians and institutions. New members are always welcome, bring your skills and connections whatever they are.

Sign up to our database for updates and to support GNDSY:
https://actionnetwork.org/forms/join-the-movement-for-a-green-new-deal-3?source=direct_link&

Read the report on our Feeding South Yorkshire event here.

Greener Practice

We are a group of GPs, medical students and others, who recognise that the climate crisis is the leading public health issue of our generation. The group’s aim is to engage our primary care community towards Greener Practice: actions that improve the health of both people and planet.

1. Improves health now – e.g. Active travel reduces air pollution and provides exercise related health benefits. Sustainable diets reduce chronic disease. Spending time in nature through green prescribing has known mental and physical health benefits.
2. Protects future health – e.g. through mitigating health threats from the climate crisis such as extreme weather events, heat stress, vector-borne disease, food shortage, air and water quality etc.
3. Reduces health inequalities  – The climate crisis disproportionately affects the poorest in society and so addressing it reduces this impact. Addressing fuel poverty is an example of where health inequalities and climate change are simultaneously addressed. Another example is through supporting community resilience.
4. Improves workload and costs – e.g. through improved patient health, reduced prescribing/procurement costs, reduced energy use.

Heeley City Farm

Heeley City Farm is a busy Urban Farm with 20 Local Food Growing Project Sites across Sheffield. Volunteers learn about organic growing and promote sustainable farming methods. Our 150 animals are all registered Rare Breeds, and our land management projects promote biodiversity and the protection and enhancement of natural assets and green spaces.

Our Energy Centre on site promotes Renewable Technology and sustainable ways of heating our homes and saving energy, reducing carbon emissions. Our education and training programmes support 100+ learners a year, all carrying out practical work that tackle climate change.

We currently have around 125 volunteers doing gardening/food growing, help in our Garden Centre/Plant Nursery, help our Health and Wellbeing groups activity and show people around our Energy Centre. We have 12 different volunteer roles registered with Voluntary Action Sheffield’s VC Connect Database.

Regather

Regather is a community food business working to create a values based community food system, where land is more productive, food is fair & better quality, money is retained in the local economy, health & environment are improved and people are involved with how their food system, from local to global, can be changed for the better.

If you are interested in volunteering, please email info@regather.net outlining your skills, interests, how much time you would like to make available and your contact details and we will get back to within a 5-10 days. Thanks.

River Stewardship Company

A social enterprise that engages and connects with volunteers, communities and schools through a programme of activities linked to commercial contracting work that improves the ecology, accessibility and flood resilience of waterways and landscapes in the Sheffield region.

Inspiring, Empowering and Connecting Communities.

Riverlution is a programme of activities, delivered by River Stewardship Company, to engage and connect with volunteers, communities and schools. We deliver events and offer skills and support to enable people to enhance their local waterways. This doesn’t just contribute to the environmental legacy we strive for – it creates lasting connections between people and the places that matter to them.

Schools’ Climate Education South Yorkshire

Learning for a sustainable future.

We support students, teachers and schools on their climate education journey. From reducing carbon emissions in their school to moving on in society as active citizens with respect for the world environment.

Schools’ Climate Education South Yorkshire (SCESY) is a voluntary group, set up in the summer of 2019 to organise schools’ conferences in the South Yorkshire region around the central theme of the climate emergency.

One of the concerns highlighted by studies and surveys was that the curriculum, particularly in the secondary school sector, needed reforming to properly reflect the climate emergency. The purpose of these conferences is to raise the profile and celebrate the work of schools in addressing the climate emergency.

If you would like to volunteer, please email admin@scesy.org.uk – let us know about your relevant skills, knowledge or interests, how you would like to get involved and your contact details. Thank you.

Sheffield Greenpeace

Who we are – a movement of people who are passionate about defending the natural world.

Our vision – a greener, healthier, and more peaceful planet, one that can sustain life for generations to come.

Our mission – tackling the Climate Emergency, defending biodiversity, and fighting the causes of environmental destruction.

Our campaigns – Food & Forests, Protect the Oceans, Sustainable Transport, Renewable Energy and Green Recovery.

Work with us – to bring about change by:
• Education through our Speaker Programmes and Events
• Petitioning and lobbying politicians and institutions
• Raising Awareness at local Events
• Taking peaceful direct action
• Raising Awareness at local Events Volunteers assemble climate action starts right here, right now!!

We have many different volunteer roles available.

Political Lobbying Network – contacting local MPs and councillors
Events Coordinator – organising local events
Welcome Coordinator – recruiting and retaining new members
Social Media Coordinator – managing and publicising our platforms
Local Press Coordinator – managing press releases
Street/Online Campaigner – promoting our campaigns
Speaker – giving online and in person presentations

We provide full training and support for all the above roles.

ShefFood – Sheffield’s Food Partnership

ShefFood is the Sustainable Food Places member and cross-sector food partnership for Sheffield – working towards a more sustainable food system for Sheffield & South Yorkshire.

If you would like to volunteer, please email info@sheffood.org.uk outlining your skills, interests, how much time you would like to make available and your contact details and we will get back in touch within 5-10 days. Thank you.

South Yorkshire Fossil Free

South Yorkshire Fossil Free! (SYFF!) is a local campaign group and part of the global Fossil Free movement. Our aim is to persuade public bodies in South Yorkshire to divest their holdings in fossil fuel companies and to reinvest that money in green technologies and investments that promote a green recovery, using a mix of lobbying and creative actions.

Since 2014 we have been targeting South Yorkshire Pension Authority (SYPA) which holds funds in excess of £9 billion – about 5% of the fund is in fossil fuels and mining companies. In September this year SYPA made the exciting announcement that they will become carbon neutral by 2030, the first major UK fund (or is it the first UK local government pension fund?) to make that commitment. So our aim now is to monitor and encourage SYPA’s progress in reducing its carbon exposure and to work with activists targeting the other pension authorities in the Border to Coast Pension Partnership (BCPP) of which SYPA is a member.

During lockdown, we are meeting online via Zoom. We are a friendly group and welcome new members – if you are interested in joining us, or simply keeping up-to-date via our emails (not frequent we promise!) please get in touch on the email address below. And don’t forget to have a look at, and like, our Facebook page too.