Greenwatch Ranger Team
Green Watch Project
What is the Green Watch Project?
The Green Watch project is an innovative project aimed at addressing the problems of crime and anti-social behaviour in Sheffield’s parks and countryside, by using local green spaces as a focus for social and economic regeneration to provide constructive environment-based projects and tasks for young people.
Green Watch Rangers work with many partner organisations to deliver services to young people throughout Sheffield. Some examples of partners we have worked with are:
- Community Assemblies
- Connexions
- Endeavour Training
- South Yorkshire Police (Neighbourhood Action Groups)
- Sheffield City Council's Childrens and Young Peoples Services
- Chilypep Youth Empowerment Project
- And many others.......
The Green Watch Rangers have facilitated a huge range of projects. Some specific examples include:
- Working with Community Assemblies to facilitate improvements to local greenspace, such as community clear ups and providing activities to enable youth groups to contribute to their areas.
- Offering support to Key Stage 3/4 Extended Schools Unit by providing work placements for students.
- Providing fun activities for young people, such as Grass Sledging and Ranger fun days.
- Working with secondary schools to contribute to the ASDAN qualification.
- A highly successful allotment project at Corker Bottoms with a further project now running at High Wincobank.
- Improving sightlines and personal safety in the Gleadless Valley by cutting back overgrown vegetation.
- Improving greenspace in Sharrow with the Youth Offending Team, through reparation work involving renovating a small park and improving the area for people and wildlife.
From April 2008 to March 2009 the Green Watch Project achieved some remarkable results offering 263 practical sessions, 773 hours of work placement, 52 educational sessions and over 450 hours of reparation with the Youth Offending Service.
Who are the Green Watch Rangers?
The Green Watch Rangers are part of the Parks and Countryside Service. The team consists of four rangers.
Two Rangers are based with the North Ranger Team:
- Hemendra Headworth works in Shiregreen and Brightside
- James Smith works in Sharrow and Burngreave
Two Rangers are based with other Ranger Teams:
- James Musgrave works in the Gleadless Valley
- Jenny Gerrans works in Manor and Arbourthorne
The posts are currently funded by the Area Based Grants.
The objectives of the project are to:
- Divert young people away from the path of crime, by building the confidence and skills of individuals and groups through training and work experience.
- Combat anti-social behaviour and youth nuisance by providing diversionary activities, site monitoring and sympathetic site management.
- Increase the use of sites, by enhancing the programme of community events and activities undertaken by the Rangers.
- Increase the diversity of volunteer placement opportunities and support people at risk, including community punishment orders and young offenders.
How do I get in touch with the Green Watch Rangers?
Sharrow and Burngreave - James Smith, tel (0114) 245 9749,
Shiregreen and Brightside - Hemendra Headworth, tel (0114) 245 9749,
Gleadless Valley - James Musgrave, tel (0114) 283 9195,
Manor and Arbourthorne - Jenny Gerrans, tel (0114) 275 1176,