Igniting Sheffield's Future
A Deep Dive into the City Goals Blueprint Workshop
Earlier this evening, I joined a vibrant and engaged group of Sheffielders gathered for the Sheffield City Goals: Exploring Draft Blueprints Workshop, a pivotal event hosted by Opus Independents as part of the Festival of Debate. The energy in the room was palpable, fueled by a shared desire to collaboratively shape a better future for our city. This wasn't just a talk; it was an active, hands-on session designed to gather crucial feedback on the infrastructures needed to bring Sheffield's ambitious City Goals to life.
The Vision: A Citizen-Powered Sheffield
Simon Duffy, a key architect behind the Sheffield City Goals, kicked off the main session by reiterating the core philosophy: these goals are not top-down directives but a framework built by and for the people of Sheffield. The 18 City Goals aim to create a more equitable, sustainable, and thriving city for everyone. Tonight, the focus was on the "how" – exploring four (plus one distinct format) draft "infrastructures" or systems designed to support the achievement of these goals.
Exploring the Blueprints: The Workshop Sessions
After a "Gallery Walk" where attendees could familiarise themselves with the proposed infrastructures, we broke out into smaller workshop groups, each dedicated to one blueprint. Here’s a snapshot of the discussions:
Neighbourhood Conversations (Led by Simon Duffy):
Focus: How do we bring the City Goals to life at a local level across Sheffield's 147 diverse neighbourhoods? This group explored making neighbourhood action more effective by organising to make these positive changes happen.
Key Discussions: The importance of genuine local ownership, moving beyond consultation to co-creation, and developing practical ways for communities to identify priorities, access resources, and take action. The challenge of ensuring all 147 neighbourhoods feel empowered and connected, not just the "usual suspects," was a strong theme. There was a lot of discussion around existing community anchors (like day centres, faith groups, libraries) and how to leverage them. The idea of "citizen-led" vs "council-led" was debated, with a strong feeling that genuine power needs to shift.
Metrics That Matter (Led by Debs):
Focus: Moving beyond traditional statistics to measure progress in ways that are human, relatable, and truly reflect the well-being of Sheffield's citizens.
Key Discussions: How do we define and track success for the City Goals in a meaningful way? The group discussed the limitations of purely economic indicators and the need for metrics that capture social value, happiness, health, and environmental quality. The challenge is creating metrics that are both robust and easily understandable, and that can genuinely hold institutions accountable. The idea of "relatable things" that people can connect with was central.
Next Generation (Led by James):
Focus: Ensuring young people are not just consulted but are integral to stewarding, shaping, and responding to the City Goals, moving away from systems that often exclude future generations from decision-making.
Key Discussions: This group explored how to create genuine pathways for youth leadership and influence. Ideas ranged from youth-led funding panels and mentorship programs to embedding youth perspectives in all City Goal activities. The conversation highlighted the need to go beyond tokenistic engagement and build trust and real agency for young people.
Demonstrators & Investment Fund (Led by Richard):
Focus: How can we create a financial infrastructure (combining public, private, and civic sources) to accelerate change and support tangible "demonstrator" projects that exemplify the City Goals in action?
Key Discussions: The practicalities of funding ambitious projects, the need for innovative investment models, and how to ensure that these projects are truly community-driven and deliver widespread benefits. The group explored how a central fund could support diverse initiatives, from community energy schemes to local food hubs.
(Distinct Format - Led by Alvin):
This group had a more open, discursive format, delving into what a "good life" in Sheffield looks like and the intrinsic motivations for community action. It touched upon the need for a paradigm shift in how we view community, responsibility, and the role of institutions. The conversation highlighted the power of intrinsic motivation and the need for systems that support, rather than stifle, grassroots energy.
Cross-Cutting Themes & Insights:
Across all workshops, several powerful themes emerged:
The Power of Connection & Collaboration: A strong emphasis on breaking down silos and fostering genuine partnerships between citizens, community groups, the council, and other institutions.
Genuine Empowerment: Moving beyond consultation to true co-design and citizen leadership. Catherine’s passionate intervention about the need to reach and empower marginalized voices and not just "do to" communities, referencing the "Big Voice" initiative, resonated strongly.
Accessibility & Inclusion: Ensuring that all processes and outcomes are accessible to everyone, considering transport, digital inclusion, physical access, and cultural differences. Bex from Disability Sheffield made critical points about the lived experience of disabled people needing to be central.
Overcoming Cynicism: Acknowledging the existing cynicism towards large-scale initiatives and the need to build trust through tangible action and transparent processes.
Practical Action & Tangible Outcomes: A desire to see these goals translate into real, visible changes in communities. Examples like tool libraries (mentioned by Jeff) and community retrofitting schemes were popular.
Storytelling & Communication: The need to effectively communicate the City Goals and the progress being made in a way that inspires and engages all Sheffielders.
The Atmosphere: A Buzz of Constructive Energy
The workshop was characterized by lively discussions, a willingness to share diverse perspectives, and a genuine commitment to finding solutions. It was clear that attendees weren't just there to listen but to actively contribute their insights, experiences, and even their frustrations, all in a constructive spirit.
What's Next for the City Goals & Project Ignite?
This workshop is part of an ongoing process. The feedback gathered will be used to refine these draft blueprints.
For us in Love Sheffield and Project Ignite, this is a crucial moment. The Sheffield City Goals provide a framework that aligns perfectly with our mission to foster positive change and community spirit.
Stay Informed: Keep an eye on the Now Then Magazine and official Sheffield City Council channels for updates on the City Goals.
Get Involved: Look for future opportunities to contribute your voice and skills as these infrastructures develop.
Connect Locally: Think about how these city-wide goals can translate into action in your own neighbourhood. What small (or large!) steps can you and your neighbours take?
Share Your Ideas: Let us know your thoughts on these blueprints and how Project Ignite can support the City Goals.
Tonight was a testament to Sheffield's collaborative spirit. The journey to achieving these ambitious goals will be long, but with the passion and dedication shown this evening, we're moving in the right direction.
Let's keep the conversation going and work together to build the Sheffield we all want to live in!
Kind regards,
Brian Mosley
Founder, Love Sheffield & Project Ignite
Author of "Uniting Hearts, Igniting Change"