go! magazine - autumn 2009

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SOUTH YORKSHIRE’S GOT TALENT Tomorrow’s superstars unveiled We team up with Hallam FM’s BECKY & OLLIE HAYES ISSUE 5 • AUtUmn 2009 • FREE COPY grin up north donny rovers sheffield showtime £1000s WORTH OF PRIZES PAGE 30

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Page 1: Go! Magazine - Autumn 2009

SOUTHYORKSHIRE’S GOT TALENTTomorrow’s superstars unveiled

We team up with Hallam FM’s

BEcKY & OLLIE HAYES

ISSUE 5 • AUtUmn 2009 • FREE COPY

grin up north • donny rovers • sheffield showtime

£1000s WORTH OF pRIzES

pAGE 30

Page 2: Go! Magazine - Autumn 2009

Autumn 2009 3

Traveline 01709 51 51 51travelsouthyorkshire.com/go1

oneticketthree waysto travel

Save time and moneyAre you fed up with being at the wheel in long traffic jams, and the high cost of city centre parking?TravelMaster could be just the ticket you are looking for.

TravelMaster allows you the freedom of public transport at a competitive cost. So leave the stress of driving and parking behind – use TravelMaster instead.

Feeling the pinch?

Page 3: Go! Magazine - Autumn 2009

contact us:If you’d like to find out more about Go! Magazine or register your interest in receiving future issues, please email [email protected] or write to us at the following address:Go! Magazine FREEPOST NEA3487 Sheffield S2 5ZQ

The Go! TeamEDITOR Paul Wells DESIgN William Winder COPywRITERS Juliet Shaw Rebecca Sheppard PhOTOgRAPhy Jack Eames

As the nights start to draw in and a chill descends on the air, the Go! Team can always be relied upon to brighten up your autumnal nights!

And this issue, we have help from some exceptional Bright young things – a new generation of talent who show extraordinary promise in their chosen fields, from sport to pop to business. meet them on page 12 and prepare to be inspired!

We’ve got a few laughs to look forward to too – what better way to warm your cockles than with a night in the company of the best comedians around. Grin up north returns to Sheffield for a 31-day festival of fun featuring 60 top and upcoming artists in venues all around the city. See our preview feature, Brothers Grin on page 22, to meet the guys behind the funnies.

there’s plenty on for the children as well – Don Valley Bowl plays host to the annual After Dark party on bonfire night, and magna has all sorts of spooky goings on with its Spooky October Half term special week. For more ideas for family days out, turn to page 8 to see What’s on across the region, or check out our centre spread for a Grand day out in Sheffield.

In profile (page 10) you get two for the price of one! Hallam Fm DJs Becky and Ollie Hayes give us all the gossip from behind the scenes on their radio shows and tell us why they love nothing more than a good old walk in the South Yorkshire countryside.

Our Last stop is at Keepmoat Stadium, where on page 33 we find out just how much effort goes into Doncaster Rovers’ community programme.

Don’t forget your chance to win £1000s worth of prizes on page 30. And as always, we’d love to hear your views on Go! Magazine too – give us your feedback in our Reader survey (page 31) and you could be in with a chance to win free bus, tram and train travel in South Yorkshire for a year!

Happy reading!

the Go! Team

partners:South Yorkshire Passenger Transport ExecutiveCouncils: Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council Sheffield City CouncilOperators: First South Yorkshire Stagecoach Yorkshire Supertram Northern Rail Arriva Yorkshire B Line Dennys Isle Coaches Powells Sheffield Community Transport South Yorkshire Motors T M Travel Tates Veolia Wilfreda

Welcome

Autumn 2009 3

WELcOME Autumn 2009

Page 4: Go! Magazine - Autumn 2009

4 Autumn 2009 Autumn 2009 5

this issue...FEATURES

12 Bright young things From tumbling to tyre tracks – Go! discovers the region’s most promising young talent.

18 Grand day out there’s oodles to do in Sheffield this autumn. Get out and about with our handy guide of where to go and what to see in the Steel City!

20 Get real We find out just how easy it is to get around South Yorkshire in the 21st century.

22 Brothers Grin Local funny guy toby Foster and events manager Scott Barton talk to Go! about the comedy festival that’s taken Sheffield by storm!

26 Riding it out Go! learns how public transport is “getting personal” in the midst of the recession.

33 Last stop Donny Rovers shine the spotlight on the importance of working with the local community.

Look out for our expert travel tips for the best way to get around by Bus , Train or Tram . For further travel tips call Traveline on 01709 51 51 51 or visit travelsouthyorkshire.com

REGULARS

5 News What’s going on in the world of public transport?

8 What’s on Our pick of the region’s best events this autumn.

10 profile Hallam Fm DJs Becky and Ollie Hayes catch up with the Go! Team.

29 A day in the life of... We stop by Doncaster Park & Ride and meet Customer Service Officer, Adrian Priestly.

30 competition Win £1000s worth of prizes!

31 Letters If we print your letter you get free travel for a month – get writing!

32 Reader survey Give us your feedback and be in with a chance to win a year’s free travel on South Yorkshire’s public transport (worth £850!)

cONTENTS Autumn 2009

10

18

12£1000s WORTH

OF pRIzES pAGE 30

Page 5: Go! Magazine - Autumn 2009

newsSouth YorkShire PaSSenger tranSPort executive (SYPTE) was named one of the most forward thinking transport organisations in the country as it won the technology prize in the industry ‘Oscars’ this summer.

SYPTE and its partners in the scheme (Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council, Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council, Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council, Sheffield City Council and the Highways Agency) were the winners for the Get There Sooner project at the National Transport Awards in London.

And SYPTE was also highly commended in the Most Innovative Transport Project Award for the TravelMaster ticket, which it administrates on behalf of transport operators.

Get There Sooner is a state-of-the-art system that provides up to the minute updates on travel information, such as congestion on the roads or parking availability.

Judges at the National Transport Awards 2009, held at the Grosvenor Hotel in London, were impressed by the suite of information systems which allows users to have information sent direct to their mobile phones or made available on the internet.

The system was developed using funding from EU Objective One and already has around 1,000 subscribers – despite not even having its official launch. This is planned for this September when a new website will go live with additional travel information. Variable messaging signs are also being installed throughout South Yorkshire to give advice to people on the move.

Get There Sooner is considered to be just the beginning in what is planned as a continual evolution of SYPTE’s intelligent transport systems – offering the public the

best quality information.David Brown, SYPTE Director

General, said: “It is a great honour to have won this award, which is testament to all the hard work we and our partners have put in to developing this project.

“People increasingly want information delivered in a variety of ways and Get There Sooner aims to ensure that people have it at their fingertips so as to enable them to make the best travel options

possible and keep our roads flowing smoothly.”

The National Transport Awards were hosted by writer, broadcaster and television presenter Hardeep Singh Kohli and drew over 700 transport professionals to the ceremony.

Paul Clark MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Transport, gave the opening address to the ceremony.

He said: “The National Transport

Awards is one of the very few ceremonies that unites the whole transport sector, and celebrates the many local authorities and businesses who have made a real difference to transport over the past year.”

For more information on Get There Sooner, visit travelsouthyorkshire.com/gettheresooner

SYPtE ‘gets there first’ at national awards

4 Autumn 2009 Autumn 2009 5

Page 6: Go! Magazine - Autumn 2009

...in brief Extra buses for Dearne Valley Bus services in Dearne Valley have been

beefed up in a bid to improve access to employment opportunities in the area.

South Yorkshire Passenger transport Executive (SYPtE) is paying for more services to run, using funding which it has won from

the European Regional Development Fund – provided by the European Union to support economic development in the region.

the extra services are part of a raft of initiatives, known as Access to Opportunities, aimed at increasing the travel options available to people looking for work, as well as helping

Drive to improve air qualityStagecoach Yorkshire has become the first public transport company in the UK to sign up for a new scheme designed to improve local air quality.

The leading bus operator has become part of the Care4Air ECO Stars Fleet Recognition programme in South Yorkshire.

The scheme recognises fleet operators who are using lower polluting vehicles and effective fuel management.

Stagecoach, which operates services across South Yorkshire, received a three-star rating following an assessment of individual vehicles and overall road transport operations.

Paul Lynch, managing director of Stagecoach Yorkshire, said:

“We are proud to become the first public transport company to sign up to Care4Air ECO Stars and play our part in making a positive contribution towards improving local air quality.

“The three-star rating is recognition for our commitment to improving the efficiency of vehicles, reducing fuel consumption and reducing emissions, all helping to improve air quality. We also hope to set an example to local organisations and highlight to others the importance of investing in lower polluting vehicles.”Photo: Stagecoach Yorkshire’s managing director Paul Lynch (left) and Alan West, ECO Stars Coordinator.

Green light for better bus driving

GREEN LIGHT: The journey is smooth enough to read Go! Magazine.

First is announcing the installation of ground-breaking new technology across its entire UK fleet of 9,000 buses that will help improve driving styles and reduce the carbon footprint of its buses.

The move follows a successful trial of ‘DriveGreen’ on 1,000 buses in London, Bradford and Glasgow. Buses involved in the trial were fitted with the latest GPS technology that can detect dozens of driving movements per minute and immediately lets the driver know how well they are driving.

All First’s 580 buses in South Yorkshire (Sheffield, Rotherham and Doncaster) will now be fitted with the technology in the next couple of months.

The equipment picks up on acceleration and braking patterns as well as corner, lane and speed handling. A ‘traffic light’ LED monitor on vehicle dashboards flashes green if the driver is driving correctly, or amber or red if a bus driver carries out an unwanted driving manoeuvre such as heavy braking or unnecessary acceleration.

The driver can then make immediate changes to their driving to ensure buses travel more efficiently to produce fewer CO2

emissions as well as travelling more smoothly to improve the journey experience for passengers. For the

passenger this means:Green – the journey is smooth

enough to read a newspaper.Amber – the passenger has to look

up from their newspaper.Red – the passenger has to hold a

handrail to steady themselves.First claim that DriveGreen

decreases the number of unnecessary driving manoeuvres carried out by drivers by 70% and that this has led to a significant decrease in the levels of CO2 produced by buses. Each driver will use around 500 litres less fuel per year which equates to 1.2 tonnes less CO2 .

Brandon Jones, Deputy Managing Director for First in South Yorkshire, said: “This is a significant step in our efforts to improve the comfort and safety of our bus services as well as making a real environmental difference.

“The great thing about this project is that our drivers are the ones who can make a significant difference. By using DriveGreen to change their driving habits – even just in a small way – then the gains in terms of environmental efficiency are huge, as well as in areas such as the cost of fuel to the business (which means we can keep bus fares down), and the safety and comfort of our passengers.”

6 Autumn 2009 Autumn 2009 7

Page 7: Go! Magazine - Autumn 2009

DYnAmIc DuOAway game with your brother? Shopping trip with your best mate? Northern Rail’s Duo ticket gives you one return train ticket, plus a second for half price, when two adults travel together and return on the same day – that’s a saving of 25%!Available from selected stations on certain routes, including: Dronfield to Sheffield/Meadowhall; Hull to Sheffield via Doncaster; and Lincoln to Sheffield/Meadowhall.The Duo ticket can be purchased from the station ticket office and is valid on Northern Rail trains departing after 0930 on weekdays, but excludes trains from certain stations departing between 1600-1800, and any time at weekends and Bank Holidays (apart from in December).For more information visit northernrail.org/offers

those already in work, or simply looking to travel to the area for leisure pursuits.For comprehensive travel advice in South Yorkshire call Traveline on 01709 51 51 51 or visit travelsouthyorkshire.comA full guide to all the changes is available at stagecoachbus.com/yorkshire

Swimming successnewly-released government figures show

that Doncaster has the fifth highest number of over 60s and under 16s swimming for free in the UK.

In total 87,611 over 60s and under 16s took advantage of the free swimming offer between

April and June. Doncaster was only beaten by much bigger cities including Birmingham, Leeds and Bradford.

the free swimming for over 60s and under 16s began in January and has been funded by Doncaster Council, nHS Doncaster and central Government.

Sing when you’re winningOne lucky bus-goer celebrated winning a bundle of prizes in Travel South Yorkshire’s Tramlines competition, by having a sing-a-long with South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive’s Director General, David Brown.

Joshua Darling, 16, from Crookes in Sheffield, bagged a Nintendo Wii and the Rockband game after entering a prize draw at July’s Tramlines music festival, sponsored by Travel South Yorkshire.

“I caught the bus to Tramlines and recognised the Travel South Yorkshire logo at their stall on

Devonshire Green, so just thought I’d have a go at the competition,” said Joshua. “I never expected to win – I think I’ll be jumping on the bus more often!”

Joshua challenged David Brown to a contest on the game that involves forming a rock band by playing musical instruments and singing.

David said: “I’m delighted for Joshua – we had a fantastic time getting involved with Tramlines and encouraging everyone to think wisely about their travel options.”

Plans for new bus rapid transitSouth Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive, Sheffield City Council and Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council, are calling for the public to give their views about the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) scheme – a proposed high-frequency, limited stop service between Sheffield and Rotherham.BRT would combine high-quality vehicles with bus priority measures to get people to their destinations quicker.

The service would feature modern vehicles with environmentally-friendly engines and low-floor access. The interior would be attractive and could have features like recorded next-stop announcements, comfier seating and double glazing.

Journey times and punctuality would be improved by having limited stops between Rotherham and Sheffield. There will also be improved junctions and new traffic signal technology to reduce delays.

The route would link Sheffield and Rotherham passing Meadowhall and the Lower Don Valley and would help to foster economic growth along the corridor by helping people access jobs and opportunities. It would also serve the planned £300 million River Don Development.

Consultation has already been held on the southern route of the scheme, which would run from Sheffield city centre, along the Parkway to the proposed new development at Waverley and onto Rotherham Interchange.

Councillor Gerald Smith, Cabinet Member for Economic Development, Planning and Transportation for Rotherham Borough Council, and a member of South Yorkshire Integrated Transport Authority, urged the public to take part in the consultation.

He added: “I am sure that anyone with an interest in public transport, particularly those who travel between Rotherham and Sheffield,

will want to have their say on this issue.

“The Bus Rapid Transit will be much faster than the current services because of the limited stops between the two destinations. This is all explained on the website and the Integrated Transport Authority wants to hear the public’s views so they can develop more detailed proposals.”

David Brown, SYPTE Director General, said: “The growth and success of Sheffield and Rotherham rely upon high quality transport links which provide access to jobs and services.

“The introduction of BRT North will provide a reliable, clean and fast means of transport between the two centres, serving key existing and future employment sites.”

Have your say at sy-busrapidtransit.co.uk or call 0845 602 7747.

6 Autumn 2009 Autumn 2009 7

NEWS Autumn 2009

Page 8: Go! Magazine - Autumn 2009

Sept-nov ‘09

The Ladbrokes St Leger FestivalWith the kids back at school, adults can enjoy the excitement of a day at the races. the Ladbrokes St Leger Festival at Doncaster Racecourse includes a day for the ladies to get their hats out on thursday and the Doncaster Cup Day on the Friday. 9-12 September. If you’re feeling lucky and want to place a bet phone 01302 304200 or visit doncaster-racecourse.co.uk for your tickets.

Massive Attack at O2 Academymassive Attack perform at the O2 Academy in Sheffield and make a triumphant return with their first full UK tour in three years and mark the release of their new studio album, due for release this month. 21 September. Visit o2academysheffield.co.uk for details, or call the box office on 08444 77 2000.

Bus services 25, 55/55B, 57, 59, 91, 99, 707 & X19 every 5mins, Mon-Sat until 6pm; every 30mins evening and Sundays.

Bus all services to Sheffield city centre.Train All services to Sheffield Station (7mins walk).Tram all routes (Castle Square).

Yorkshire Open Ballroom and Latin American Dance Festival at Ponds Forgethis year sees the first Yorkshire Open Ballroom and Latin American Dance Festival taking place at Ponds Forge International Sports Centre, Sheffield, with dancing from 9am until midnight accompanied by Ross mitchell and his band and singers. 19-20 September. Tickets from £15. Call Nigel or Janice Horrocks on 0161 728 4939 for details.

Bus all services to Sheffield city centre.Train All services to Sheffield Station (5mins walk).Tram all routes (Fitzalan Square/Ponds Forge).

8 Autumn 2009 Autumn 2009 9

Page 9: Go! Magazine - Autumn 2009

1-31 October Grin Up North: Sheffield comedy Festivalcheck out our special feature on page 22.

For further travel tips call Traveline on

01709 51 51 51 or visit travelsouthyorkshire.com

Elton John at Sheffield ArenaIn a rare chance to see one of the classic British performers of the last thirty years, Elton John brings his Red Piano tour to Sheffield Arena. 23 October. Tickets from £55. Call 0114 256 56 56 for details, or visit sheffieldarena.co.uk

Spooky October Half Term at MagnaSpooky October Half term with spooky science workshops and a Halloween Sleepover for children aged 5 -11. Are you afraid of the dark or do you want to join in the fun? 26-31 October. Visit visitmagna.co.uk or call 01709 720002 for more information.

Halloween Fireworks at Renishaw HallEveryone loves a bonfire and what better way to stay warm on a cold autumn night. Renishaw Hall has its very own bonfire along with Spectacular Halloween Fireworks and a mini funfair, but watch out for the ghosts and ghouls. 31 October. Admission free for under-5s; under-16s £6; adults £8. Call 01246 432 310 for more details.

Around the World in 80 Ways at Whirlow Hall FarmPatron of Whirlow Hall Farm michael Palin is making a rare appearance at Sheffield City Hall performing his Around the World in 80 Ways show. the evening promises to be a witty adventure with the tales of his travels around the world via various forms of transport. 23 November. Tickets £29.50. Call 0114 2 789 789 or visit sheffieldcityhall.co.uk

Sheffield Doc/FestSheffield Doc/Fest is the only place in the world where you will meet sectors of the whole of the British documentary industry under one roof and offers the perfect opportunity to amateur and experienced filmmakers to learn about producing documentaries and pitch projects to commissioning editors, distributors, funders and other executives from the UK, Europe and the world.

the event, which last year featured a michael Palin masterclass, consists of workshops, addresses and interviews from some of the world’s leading documentary filmmakers and broadcasters. there’ll be presentations of five awards including Sheffield Innovation Award, Sheffield Doc/Fest Audience Award and Student Doc Award, and also the chance to party with peers.

this is the 16th Doc/Fest with around 1,200 film-buffs attending over the five day event, including directors, producers, buyers and commissioners.4-8 November. To register (before 8 October) and for more information visit sheffdocfest.com

Bus all services to Sheffield city centre.Train All services to Sheffield Station.Tram all routes.

Bus services 30, 65 & 272 every hour daily.

Bus service 69 runs every 20mins Mon-Sat until 6pm; every hour evenings and Sundays.Tram yellow route runs every 10min until 6pm, then every 20mins.

Bus services 69 & A1 every 20mins Mon-Sat until 6pm; every hour evenings and Sundays.

Bus service 53 (Mansfield) every 1-2 hours daily.

8 Autumn 2009 Autumn 2009 9

WHAT’S ON

Page 10: Go! Magazine - Autumn 2009

So you live in Sheffield?Becky: Yeah, we have done for about three years now – we love it. People really seem to have adopted us as their own. I’m originally from Herefordshire, but it’s so friendly up here that we’ve made it our home.ollie: Yes, the people definitely make South Yorkshire what it is. And we love getting out into the countryside – it’s fantastic to have the Peaks on your doorstep.Have you always wanted to work in radio?o: I really wanted to be a journalist. I started as a trainee when I was sixteen – I lied about my age to get the job! After a while of learning about the news and becoming a hands-on journalist I realised it was more fun to be a presenter! So I stayed behind after my shift to use the spare studio, working through the night to record demos. Eventually it paid off and I got a job reading the news and doing the traffic. Then it kind of grew from there – I’ve always been comfortable talking to people and communicating, and presenting a radio show is part of being around people, even if you can’t see them.B: I did work experience at a station when I was at school – I enjoyed every minute of it, and decided there and then that I wanted to make a career out of it. Work experience is a great way to get your foot in the door.Any advice for budding presenters?B: Write to your local station – or even one that’s

BEcky OLLiE

Becky and Ollie Hayes are Hallam Fm’s husband and wife presenting team. Since they met on a radio station nine years ago, their careers have gone from strength to strength, and they’ve added many more strings to their bows. Go! chats to them about flirty boybands, talking to teddies, and how tom Jones is responsible for bringing them together…

10 Autumn 2009 Autumn 2009 11

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not local – and just make sure you’re keen and helpful when you’re in there. After my work experience I did hospital radio, which is a great way to practice and also get used to hearing the sound of your own voice, which is strange at first. o: Yes, talking to an empty room is definitely difficult to get used to! I had a couple of surreal moments now and again where I’d be talking away into the mike and then think, ‘is this thing on, can anyone actually hear me?!’B: Different presenters have different ways of getting through it. Some have a picture in front of them so they can pretend they’re talking to someone. There’s one very well-known national radio presenter who takes a teddy into the studio and talks to that!You have different slots on the radio. That must make it hard to find time for each other?o: It’s very difficult – I do mid-mornings, Becky does afternoons and weekends. I also DJ in nightclubs, so yeah, it’s hard. Becky’s great at making sure we get to spend quality time together though.Have you considered working together?B: Hmm – I’m not sure! We filled in for a week on Big John at Breakfast, and we thought we’d end up killing each other, but instead we really enjoyed it.o: The problem is when you live together it’s difficult to get that freshness you get if you haven’t seen your co-presenter for the weekend, where you can ask them where they’ve been or what they’ve been up to. We’d more than likely ask each other if we’ve remembered to put the bins out or feed the dogs!Which is your favourite aspect of your work?B: I would say doing the live events, when Hallam FM puts a concert, for example. I really enjoy that interaction with the audience.o: Yes, you feed off the audience’s energy and the more you hype them up they hype you up, and the hairs on the back of your neck stand up. Anything from a village fete to a stadium crowd of 80,000 at a pop concert – it’s just great to get on stage and make it happen.You both have other careers outside your shows, what with Becky’s mod-elling and Ollie’s DJing. How do you manage to fit it all in?o: Fortunately the jobs we do can have a social feel to them, so it’s not like we’re stuck behind a desk in an office where we can’t ring each other or send Facebook messages.B: It’s a fun job – we enjoy it and it doesn’t seem like work. It is hard to fit it all in but you get used to it. I certainly couldn’t imagine working nine-to-five, but then people who do that probably look at us and wonder how we can work daytime and evenings and weekends!

o: This weekend was a typical example. Friday night Becky was doing the late show and I was running an event in Hull. On Saturday I got up and did the breakfast show and Becky was on in the afternoon, then in the evening I was DJing at club in Rotherham! I got in about 3am, then at nine in the morning I was on stage in Doncaster doing Race for Life, and Becky was on the radio again in the afternoon!Ollie, you also run Gosh, an artist and event management agency – tell us about that.o: At one point I was getting so many offers

of work that I’d recommend my friends if I couldn’t manage it. I realised quite quickly that I was good at matching artists with jobs, so

I thought why not make a business out of it? The next logical step was to put on my own events. The latest project, which I’m really excited about, is Freedom: the UK’s biggest club night for 13-17 year olds, held in Sheffield, Hull and Leeds. It’s a

brand that parents really trust – we say ‘why not let us look after your

kids, let them have the time of their lives in a safe environment, film it all and

post it on our website [freedomclubnight.co.uk]. It’s proved really popular.

In your line of work, you must meet lots of celebrities – any memorable mo-

ments?B: I once interviewed Lee Ryan [from boyband

Blue] and the guy who I was presenting with popped out to get drinks. Lee suddenly started flirting with me (I mean, really flirting!) when we were off air – it really caught me off guard, I went bright red and started acting like an idiot, David Brent style!o: For me, the one with the most ‘wow’ factor must be Tom Jones. We met him backstage at a pop concert we were working at. In fact, that’s where Becky and I first got together – maybe it was Tom’s songs that got us together!So what’s next for Becky and Ollie, any ambitions?B: I’m getting into voiceovers and TV and I’d love to make that a more regular thing. I’m also really keen to travel, I’d love to see the world but it’s difficult with our jobs and the dogs. I’d love to be a presenter on a holiday or a property show – I’m obsessed by those sorts of programmes.o: I love my radio career and the live stuff, but now I’ve reached the ripe old age of 30 I get more excited about being behind the scenes. So my efforts and ambitions are more about the management company. I want to stay in the realms of media and showbiz but take more of a backseat.Finally, if you could sit next to anyone on a long bus journey, who would you choose? Except Lee Ryan or Tom Jones, of course!o: Ha ha, what a question! I’d pick Becky Hayes. Cheesy, I know, but a long journey just wouldn’t be the same without her!B: Well, that means that I’ve obviously got to choose Ollie! If he wasn’t available though I’d have Clive Owen. Definitely.o: I couldn’t believe it – the other day I was looking on her laptop and Clive Owen was her screensaver! Major crush going on there…!

Catch Ollie on Hallam FM, 10am-2pm on weekdays, and Becky every Friday night 10pm-1am, Saturdays 2-6pm, and Sundays 12-4pm.

It’s a fun job – we enjoy it and it doesn’t

seem like work. It is hard to fit it all in but you get

used to it. I certainly couldn’t imagine

working nine-to-five.

Go! is offering one lucky reader four VIP passes to Ollie’s popular Freedom Club Night for 13-17 year olds at Sheffield’s O2 Academy. The passes allow free entry, jump-the-queue and a celeb meet-and-greet! Turn to page 30 for your chance to win!

O2 AcademyBus all services to Sheffield city centre.

Train All services to Sheffield Station (7mins walk).Tram all routes (Castle Square).

10 Autumn 2009 Autumn 2009 11

pROFILE BEcKY & OLLIE

4 vip pAsses for freedom

cLUB NIGHT

pAGE 30

Page 12: Go! Magazine - Autumn 2009

BRiGhT yOUnGThinGS

Big hits, smart moves and glittering prospects.Go! unveils South Yorkshire’s newest rising stars...

the MedAlist Gymnast Jemma Saunders, 11, from Doncaster, is already twice British tumbling Champion, and is hotly tipped as a future star of the floor.

the stYlist Fashionista Fuchsia Darley is a star in the making – the 23 year-old’s make-up artistry has already been seen on mtV and L’Oreal’s runway. Watch this space.

the heAdliners Brothers Simon (above) and Paul Thompson (right) from Rotherham, are half of local four-piece Alvarez Kings. Championed by nmE and courted by the music industry, the Kings are on the verge of their big break.

Autumn 2009 1312 Autumn 2009

Page 13: Go! Magazine - Autumn 2009

the hOtshOt At just 19, Sheffield entrepreneur Ruth Amos is quickly making waves in the business world, and has already been listed as one of the most influential women under 35.

the speed deMOn Russell Danzey, 15, is fast becoming one of the most promising young racing drivers of his generation, and could soon be flying the flag for South Yorkshire on the tracks of Formula 1.

the cOntender the latest protege to emerge from the stable of boxing supremo Brendan Ingle, 19 year-old Barry Awad is expected to be big news when he turns pro later this year.

Autumn 2009 13

FEATURE tALEnt

Page 14: Go! Magazine - Autumn 2009

RuSSELL DAnzEY, 15Fifteen year-old Russell, from Sheffield, has

ambitions to take the Formula 1 world by storm. And he’s not far off. From an early age he was taking part in national races – now he’s knocking on the door of the big time.

“I’ve been interested in motorsport for as long as I can remember. But I developed a real love for it when I started karting when I was ten. My friend had a karting day for his birthday and I’d never heard of it before that.

“I liked it so much I persuaded my dad to take me to the PFI circuit in Newark. I loved it – the thrill of it was amazing. I got spotted by a coach who suggested I join a league. I started pretty much straight away, and quickly moved up to the junior league of the Super 1 National Carting League which is one of the highest classes you can drive in for my age group, so that was a huge achievement. Then it all snowballed from there.

“Obviously, it has been difficult to fit it all in with my GCSEs, but they’re both really important to me so I just find the time. On exam days I don’t train, but I do extra at weekends. Luckily, my school [Westbourne School in Sheffield] is very supportive. Sometimes I think my mates don’t realise just how much time and effort I put into it, or how physically challenging it is – but it’s all worth it, I do manage to get a good balance. There are loads of skills needed to be a good driver, the

most important ones are a good attitude towards the sport and who you’re racing with. It’s a very physical sport as well, so I exercise every night.”

This year, Russell is competing in the Formula Kart Stars Championship, which is officially backed by Formula 1 boss Bernie Eccleston and current champion Lewis Hamilton. The Championship is seen as the natural entry route to Formula 1 racing and Russell has quickly moved up the ranks. His success this season has seen him hailed as a genuine title challenger.

“I won my last two races which took me from fifth in the Championship to second, so I’m close to taking the lead. If we keep on doing as well as we are I’ll be going to the first ever World Championships at Sarno in Italy. I’ve been all over the world with my competitions – I’ve been testing with the Italian team at the Lanato track in Lake Garda, which is my favourite track, I’ve raced in Monaco on the Grand Prix track and I’ve just been to France for the European qualifiers. Sometimes it’s all a bit hard to believe – I’m so lucky to be doing something that I love.

“My ultimate ambition would be to be in Formula 1. I just love everything about the sport; the adrenaline, the speed, the rush of being two centimetres away from the floor doing 85 mph – I can’t get enough!”russelldanzey.co.ukRussell supports Neurocare, a Sheffield charity funding technological advances in neuroscience.

ALVAREz KInGSIn the last year, Alvarez Kings, four friends

and brothers from Rotherham and Barnsley, have played the O2 Wireless Festival alongside Kaiser Chiefs, they’ve supported (amongst others) The Enemy and Sheffield’s Reverend and the Makers, and have headlined at the renowned London venue Koko.

The Kings have been quoted as ‘one of the hardest working unsigned bands around’ and, under the prestigious Club NME banner, the launchpad for bands including The Gossip, Klaxons and Glasvegas, they were named ‘gig of the week’ by the music industry bible.

“We’ve been gigging since our schooldays,” says lead singer Simon Thompson, 23. “The first gigs were for college friends and family – now we’re playing festivals and have just been offered a management contract. There’s a lot of label interest, apparently there’ll be representatives coming to our next gigs so we hope to sign a deal sometime this year.

“We’d love to give up the day jobs and make this a full-time career. It’s amazing to hear the crowd singing our lyrics back to us. With some more hard work and bit of luck, the next step will be to get signed, put out a single and album and play our music to as many people as possible.”myspace.com/alvarezkings

turn to page 30 for your chance to win an ‘arrive and drive’ at PFI kart circuit in newark, plus one-to-one tuition with Russell for two people.

14 Autumn 2009 Autumn 2009 15

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BARRY AWAD, 19When 19 year-old Barry Awad, from Sheffield,

started boxing four years ago, his only ambition was to keep himself out of jail. Excluded from school, banned from buses and trams and in constant trouble with the police, he was desperate to turn his life around. When he started going to his local boxing gym to pass the time, he discovered a passion for the sport that would do just that.

Supported by boxing legend Brendan Ingle, who propelled Prince Naseem Hamed to stardom in the 90s, and expertly coached by his son Dominic, Barry transformed from an angry teenager into a disciplined, determined and talented young man. This year, he became super flyweight NABA British Champion and fully intends to go all the way.

“When I was younger I was always getting into trouble. I was fighting in school, I was barred from social clubs, public transport, youth groups – I was a bad kid. I’d just go round looking for a scrap, mostly with blokes on their way home from the pub.

“When I got kicked out of school I needed something to do. I used to go to a gym in town years ago and I enjoyed it, so my mum told me to go to Brendan Ingle’s gym. When I got there, Brendan said I could carry on going, but I’d have to be there at 6am every morning!

“Straight away, I just loved it. I used to get in the ring for hours on end and Brendan told me if I kept it up he’d turn me into a world champion. I

thought it would be my ticket out of there, out of trouble and the way I lived, so I took it. I had my first fight soon after going to the gym, which I won. I then went on to win my next seven fights – and I was up against kids who’d won titles.

“Boxing’s not just about the physical – it’s the smart fighters who come through. I love getting in the ring and outsmarting people, out-thinking a good fighter. Everyone’s got different abilities in their life – mine’s boxing.

“I’m about to have my first pro fight very soon. In the next 12 months I’d like to be English Champion, and in the next two years become British Champion.

“Ultimately, I’d like to be World Champion at three different weights. Naz was supposed to have done it but everything got to him – money got to him, he thought he didn’t need to train any more. I’m not like that, he was too easily intimidated, had too many idiots around him telling him he didn’t need to train and he started to believe it. Brendan and Dominic keep me grounded – if Naz had stuck it out with them he’d have been as big as Mohammed Ali.

“I know I’m going to make it – I don’t know how long it’ll take, could be ten years, could be more, but I’ll do it.”

Go! has stepped into the ring with Barry’s mentor and boxing guru Brendan Ingle and is offering a two-hour one-to-one boxing session with the man himself! turn to page 30 for your chance to win!

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ONE-TO-ONE BOXING & KARTING

SESSIONS pAGE 30

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FucHSIA DARLEY, 23Make-up artist and stylist Fuchsia Darley,

from Abbeydale in Sheffield, is making real waves in the fashion world. She tells Go! how her commitment to her craft has paid dividends, and how the catwalks of London, Paris and Milan are firmly in her sights.

“I’ve always loved playing around with make-up, and I’ve had a ‘busy box’ since I was a kid. My mum made it for me to keep me occupied, and filled it with bits of fabric, ribbon, bottle tops and a sewing kit. I’ve always been creative and really enjoyed making things out of nothing.

“One day a friend of my sister, who was directing a play, asked to meet me as he was looking for a make-up artist. That was my first big break – I was thrown right in at the deep end, with 20 people to style in corsets, wigs and white faces, but I loved every second and the producer loved my work.

“I got a real taste for it and, pretty soon, I’d qualified in Media Make-up at Sheffield College. The support I’ve received since has been amazing, the college has put me forward for lots of events.”

Fuchsia even managed to impress Dragon’s Den entrepreneur Peter Jones when he saw her work while visiting an event at the college.

“As soon as it had finished, one of his aides took me to one side and asked me if I’d work for him

at the official launch of his National Enterprise Academies next year – I was so honoured!

“I’ve also received a huge amount of support from Sheffield Independent Film, particularly from Deborah Egan, one of the Directors there. She’s introduced me to a lot of people, including music video director Simon Green of Mute Records. He was shooting a video for Sheffield band XX Teens and asked me to do the make-up. It went on to be voted MTV video of the week.

“I feel so passionately about what I do, and I know how incredibly lucky I am to be able to make a career out of something that I love. My dream

is to work on London Fashion Week and in Paris, Milan and New York on the big runway shows.

“Although I’m not quite there yet, I’m really enjoying the journey. Over the last few months I’ve worked on productions at the Lyceum and I’ve done make up for L’Oreal’s national hair show. I’ve also done a lot of work with Creative Sheffield – they’ve recently had some of my work blown up and put on billboards – I can’t describe how fabulous that feels, to see my work right in the middle of Sheffield!” fuchsias-creations.com

RutH AmOS, 19Ruth Amos, from Sheffield, turned a GCSE

design project into a profitable business. Her StairSteady, a product that helps people with mobility problems get up and down stairs, is sold around the UK, and this July became the youngest person ever to appear in Management Today’s ‘35 influential women under 35’ list.

“My teacher’s dad had a stroke and couldn’t use stairs, but wanted to keep active. A stairlift seemed excessive, he still wanted to be able to walk up and down, so I got to work on some ideas.

“He was so impressed with my design that he entered me into the Young Engineer for Britain competition and I went on to win the national final. By 7am the next day I was on BBC Breakfast, BBC News 24 and Five Live radio – it was bizarre!”

“We started trading in September last year, and we’re working with councils and occupational therapists, as well as establishing potential partnerships with a well-known stairlift manufacturer. We’ve had distribution offers from America and Europe but I want to get a bit more established in the UK before I go global.

“People on the way said I couldn’t do it – one bank I went to refused to even give me a brochure for a business account – but the people close to me have been so supportive, and that’s been the key.“Oh, and my GCSE project? I got an A.”stairsteady.net

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JEmmA SAunDERS, 11Eleven year-old Jemma Saunders from

Doncaster has been tumbling, a discipline of gymnastics which sees the gymnasts perform a series of gravity-defying acrobatics along a 25 metre-long track, since she was eight. Jemma is the reigning British Tumbling Champion, and is on course to go the World Championships in Russia this year. She tells Go! about her triumphs on the tumbling track.

“My mum used to do gymnastics and I really wanted to do it – I could do the splits and I’m quite bendy anyway. I go to a gym where there’s a special tumbling club there because I really wanted to do that – I’ve got the right build for it, with strong arms and strong legs. It’s the best in the country, and the coach there is the coach for the national team.

“I train five times a week for three hours; I go after school on a Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday and on Saturday mornings. If I have homework to do and I know I’m training I just stay in at break-times to finish it. I always find time to go out and play with my friends because I have Thursday off, half of Saturday and all of Sunday.

“In the training we start with running, then move on to the eight moves you have to learn which we do on the track – they’re flips and doubles and twists – and then we end with

conditioning exercises to get stronger.“I’ve done loads of competitions – I’ve won the

British Championships last year and this year, coming first out of about 25 people. I was really, really chuffed to win that – very happy, and really proud. Next I’ll be doing trials at the Lillishall National Sports Centre, if I get through those I’ll be going to the World Championships in Russia so I’m training really hard to get there. To be a tumbler you have to be really confident and have no fear. It can go wrong and you can hurt yourself, but you just have to get up and do it again, and have determination.

“It does cost a lot of money though, my mum and dad have to pay for all the training fees and flights and everything, so if I could get a sponsor it would make it a lot easier to train for the World Championships.

“They don’t do tumbling at the Olympics, but the Gymnastics Association is trying to get it included – I’d love to get there if it was. What I’d really love to do when I grow up, though, is to join Cirque de Soleil. Two of the girls who used to train at my club have gone there – that’s my ambition.”

Photographs taken with kind permission of Abbeydale Picture House, Abbeydale Road, Sheffield. abbeydalepicturehouse.co.uk

pIcTURE pERFEcTAbbeydale Picture House hosts a variety of events to raise funds to help restore the building to its former glory. Why not jump on the bus and come on down…

English Heritage open days 12-13 September. Admission free. Coffee morning, 10.30-12.30pm. Limited tours of the building, 1.00-3.45pm.

Keith Peters Big Band 29 September, 7.30pm. tickets £6; concessions £5. A charity concert in aid of the Restoration Fund.

Night at the Big Top 24 October, 7.30pm. tickets £5, all proceeds to the Restoration Fund. A quality line-up of acoustic/blues/jazz and funk acts and very special guests. Join the mailing list for further details: [email protected]

For more information about Abbeydale Picture House and future events, visit abbeydalepicturehouse.co.uk

Bus services 75, 76, 97, 98, 218 & 293 every 5mins Mon-Sat until 6pm; 15mins evening and Sundays

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Sheffield

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Treat yourselfSheffield is, without a doubt, a shopaholic’s dream! make the most of the Steel City sunshine and head to the city centre. take a trip down Fargate and browse through major stores such as topshop, River Island and marks and Spencer, before taking a well deserved coffee break in the beautiful Peace Gardens . the city centre regularly hosts market stalls too, selling everything from local farm produce to European delicacies. For more unique boutiques and captivating cafes,

Devonshire Street and Ecclesall Road are just the ticket.

If the typical British weather strikes and the heavens open, fear not, there’s always the shopping mecca, Meadowhall ! Since opening almost twenty years ago on the site of a former steelworks, meadowhall has been the place to shop in South Yorkshire, attracting 800,000 visitors every week. With 280 stores to choose from, selling everything from a little black dress to blue suede shoes, you’ll find all you need under one big roof.

sheffield stAtiOn/interchAngeBus all services to Sheffield Interchange.

Train all services to Sheffield Station.Tram Blue/Purple routes (Sheffield Station/Hallam

University) every 10mins Mon-Sat until 6pm, then every 20mins.

Get on board thethe Sheffield city centre bus that’s quick, easy and most importantly FREE! Every 7 minutes to popular city centre locations, from 0700 to 1900 weekdays and 0800 to 1900 on Saturdays. For more information visit travelsouthyorkshire.com

Meadowhall Bus all services to Meadowhall Interchange.

Train all services to Meadowhall Interchange.Tram yellow route (Meadowhall Interchange Park & Ride)

every 10mins Mon-Sat until 6pm, then every 20mins.

don Valley Bowl/sheffield ArenaBus service 69 runs every 20mins Mon-Sat

until 6pm; every hour evenings and Sundays.Tram yellow route runs every 10min until 6pm,

then every 20mins.

HIDDEN GEM #13

Fancie, Sheffield Perfect for lovers of all things sweet and sticky, Fancie is

bringing scrummy, home-baked cupcakes to the masses. With

flavours from carrot to cappuccino and praline to pink velvet,

there’s sure to be something to satisfy all sugar cravings!

Served with tea, coffee, milkshakes and ice cream, everyone

deserves a treat now and again. Open Mon-Sat, 10am-5pm.

Sharrowvale Road, Sheffield; 0114 266 7238; fancie.co.uk

Bus services 65, 80, 81, 82, 83, 85, 86, 88 &

272 every 5mins Mon-Sat until 6pm; every

15mins evenings and Sundays.

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As England’s fifth largest city, it’s hardly surprising that Sheffield offers more things to do than you could shake a shiny, steel stick at! Prepare for a scare with ghoulish Halloween activities, or indulge in a taste of the good old days with vintage fairs and museums. the only problem you’ll have is knowing where to start…

Broaden your horizonsSheffield Arena has played host to all sorts of incredible acts, including U2, Elton John, Lionel Richie, Kylie minogue and many many more. But it also has a lot more to offer. On 7-8 October the Arena opens its doors to the region’s biggest hands-on careers and skills event, Skills Yorkshire and the Humber. this interactive, exciting event for 14-19 year olds is perfect for helping to make those difficult career decisions. the event is free and runs from 9.30am-3.00pm – family, friends, carers and teachers are welcome. make the most of your weekends and school holidays and hop on board the Art Cart at Museums Sheffield Weston Park for tons of creative fun. With painting, sculpting, sticking and much more, now there’s even more reason to look forward to the weekend! Suitable for ages 4-11 years and completely free of charge! Call in every Saturday and Sunday (and every day during the school holidays) from 11.30am-4.35pm. Carers are asked to accompany children.

A break from the normLive music venue O2 Academy Sheffield

has been an incredible success since it opened last year with acts such as Kt tunstall and the Kooks. But on October 4 the main auditorium will have a few more unusual things to offer. The Vintage Fair will feature 65 stalls of affordable vintage clothing and accessories for men and women, jewellery, crafts, cupcakes, art, handmade clothing, local designers, home-wares, printed t-shirts and much more. to top it off there will also be a Vintage tea Party, hosted by Fancie Cupcakes. Sit down with a spot of tea and enjoy one of their amazing cupcakes and other sweet treats. Adult tickets just £1.Finally, you may have seen it before…but never like this! From the producers of the smash hit Sing-a-long Sound of Music comes Sing-a-long Rocky Horror Picture Show, a thrilling and action-packed version of a cult classic that will have you timewarp-ing to your heart’s content at City Hall on 25 October! Fancy dress is not obligatory but highly recommended, so don your most outrageous outfit and really let your hair down! All tickets £12 (certificate 12).

Get into the spiritWith autumn upon us it’s time to grab your broomstick and fly over to Sheffield’s legendary Fright Night, Britain’s biggest Halloween party, on 25 October from 3.30-9.30pm. It’s quickly becoming as much of a Sheffield institution as the Arctic monkeys and Henderson’s Relish! With street theatre, ghost tours, live music, funfair rounds and much more, spread right out across the city centre, there’s plenty to keep you and your little horrors spooked all night long. Get into the spirit and dress up… if you dare. then rocket your way to Yorkshire’s number one fireworks spectacular on 5 november at Don Valley Bowl’s After Dark party . Attracting over 18,000 people every year, this fantastic event offers live music, a funfair, food stalls, fire spinners, a bonfire, and an amazing fireworks display.

direCtoryThe Vintage Fair sheffieldvintage.co.uk

Skills Yorkshire and the Humber sheffieldarena.co.uk

Sing-a-long Rocky Horror Picture Show sheffieldcityhall.co.uk

Fright Night & After Dark sheffieldevents.com

Meadowhall meadowhall.co.uk

Museums Sheffield Weston Park museums-sheffield.org.uk

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he YourNextBus service, part of SYPTE’s Realtime initiative launched in 2006, uses satellite technology to track more than 80% of bus journeys, sending up-to-date information to

customers as a text message.Tim Rivett is SYPTE’s Head of Information and

Technology, and he’s received fantastic feedback from customers using the service. “YourNextBus gives people more certainty about their journeys, helping them out of their cars and onto cheaper public transport,” he says. “We’ve had comments from people telling us that they’re actually using the bus more often because they’ve got that element of control. It’s stressful for people to be standing at a bus stop, not knowing when they’re going to arrive at work or school, and YourNextBus removes that uncertainty.”

YourNextBus uses satellite technology in buses which is fed automatically to SYPTE’s

control centre. Customers can then text the eight digit number of their bus stop (given at the top of each bus stop sign) to 64422 for 12p plus the standard network rate, and will immediately receive the details of at least the next four buses due to arrive. Although not every operator uses the scheme, more than 80% of journeys in South Yorkshire can be tracked using YourNextBus.

However, although the service costs pennies, there is an alternative, cheaper option. Users with a WAP function on their mobile phone can go to tsy.acislive.com/wap and enter the bus stop or service number to receive live information that’s updated every 60 seconds.

There’s also a free alternative for people with digital TV. Sky and Virgin subscribers can access YourNextBus via their remote control.*

Since the service was launched in September 2006, more than 1.1million text messages have been sent, and almost 50,000 journeys every

month are tracked using YourNextBus. There are also 170 bus shelters across South Yorkshire with electronic displays giving details of buses.

YourNextBus is also being extended to include information about cancelled services, serious delays and adverse weather conditions.

“As well as giving the passenger control over their journey, we’re able to use the information we gather from YourNextBus to adjust schedules and ensure that they reflect the actual times taken rather than an estimate,” says Tim. “And we’ll continue to improve the service to make sure that when people travel by public transport it’s the most stress-free and reliable option.”

*For more information on YourNextBus, or other Realtime services, visit travelsouthyorkshire.com/go8

GET REALFor those who value the security of jumping in the car, the thought of standing in a bus shelter wondering helplessly

when the next bus may appear could be a little daunting. But, as Go! finds out, bus travel in South Yorkshire has moved firmly into the 21st century, and advances in technology ensure that the days of uncertainty are long gone...

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20 Autumn 2009

travelsouthyorkshire.com/go8

By textGet bus times on your mobile using YourNextBusJust text your stop number to 64422Each text costs up to 12p plus your standard network rate 0609_0788

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BROThERS GRinWhen local comedian toby Foster met event management guru Scott Barton at the bottom of a garden

while looking at large German rabbits, little did they know that within 12 months they would establish what has now become England’s largest comedy festival.

Go! caught up with the duo as they prepare for this year’s Grin up north...

fter a second meeting on Toby’s radio breakfast show, the pair quickly realised that they had the combined skills and experience to stage an event that would

bring the country’s finest comedians to South Yorkshire, and create around them a festival that would become one of the region’s defining events with a huge economic impact.

“When I met Scott, I was doing a piece about Mayfest,” remembers Toby. “It was one of the outdoor events he organised, and we were doing a broadcast about rabbits – don’t ask. Seeing as he was running a festival in May in one of the rainiest places on the planet, I suggested he might like to consider a festival somewhere with a roof.”

Scott takes up the tale; “I really enjoy comedy, I’d been to Toby’s club and it seemed like a good fit – I thought, ‘Toby does comedy, I do marketing and sponsorship, lets make it happen, it could be great for Sheffield’.”

“And,” Toby interrupts, “I knew what made people laugh and he knew that you couldn’t punch sponsors, so it seemed we were meant to be together and we said, ‘let’s do it!’”

And do it they did, with the result being Grin Up North. Over the last five years the festival, held at venues around Sheffield, has broken the likes of Michael McIntyre, Alan Carr and Jason Manford onto the UK comedy scene and has become the largest comedy festival in the UK. In 2009, Grin Up North is bigger

and better than ever and throughout October comedy heavyweights including Julian Clary, Jimmy Carr, Eddie Izzard, Al Murray and Alistair McGowan will appear across Sheffield alongside local critically acclaimed newcomers such as Lady Garden (see page 24) and Tom Wrigglesworth in a 31-day festival of fun.

“Peter Kay, Al Murray, Alan Carr – they all started up here,” says Toby, who is effortlessly amusing and nothing less than a perfect host despite having slept for just three hours before rising at 5am on the morning of our interview to present his BBC Radio Sheffield breakfast show, then dashing to a meeting about Grin Up North with Scott and then onto rehearsals for his appearance in the English Mystery Plays. “And then I’m going to do rehearsals for pantomime,” he laughs, shaking his head.

But it’s Toby’s infectious enthusiasm and desire to bring comedy to the masses that has ensured Grin Up North is the success it is, with household names clamouring to take part. And

We’ve been named by the council as one of

the leading events in South Yorkshire that will

bring revenue into the area.

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despite his hectic schedule and lack of sleep, Toby manages to appraise each act individually and book each of them himself – which is Grin Up North’s quality assurance standard.

“A lot of the comedy scene is about trust and I’ve been here a long time so I know the people who will work and they know they can trust me”, he says. “I’ve been in comedy for 12 years and I know what makes people laugh. But I can never be entirely certain, and sometimes you do have to take a risk. Alan Carr said I was one of only three promoters who were prepared to book him when he first started out, but he was just as funny then as he is now. He hasn’t altered at all and has the same confidence now as he did when he performed to 1,300 people at Grin Up North five years ago.”

But having such a hands-on approach can cause problems for Toby – last year, he spent the majority of the festival on a scooter nipping

around town to ensure he personally welcomed each guest. Which is why, this year, the festival has expanded from 18 days to 31, taking in the whole of October with 60 artists and an increased ticket allocation from 17,000 to 84,000.

“Last year, we had up to five acts on a night, so it got a bit hectic!” says Toby. “But spreading it out over the month gives people the time to get babysitters, take time off work and plan a whole night out around the acts they want to see.”

The expansion of Grin Up North isn’t just the result of supply and demand. The pair started the festival with a clear vision to create an annual event that would put Sheffield firmly on the comedy map, rivaling Montreal’s Just For Laughs festival and ultimately bringing the city vital revenue and a reputation for comedy excellence.

“From day one we’ve always said it had to be an annual thing,” says Toby. “You’ve got to approach things with the right

attitude – you can’t be tentative; no-one ever got anything done by being tentative. Right from the beginning, we knew this had to be an annual event or it wouldn’t work.

“When I opened The Last Laugh there wasn’t a comedy club in town. I had to spend £15,000 on a sound system before I’d even sold a ticket, and if it hadn’t worked there’d have been a sound system for sale the next day. But if I hadn’t bought the sound system, people wouldn’t have come back because they wouldn’t have been able to hear anything and it would have failed.

“So you have to be serious, put your all into it, get the city involved, work together with artists and venues and partner organisations to promote the festival and get the word out.”

And the faith in South Yorkshire’s sense of fun has paid dividends. “South Yorkshire has welcomed Grin Up North, and the fact that we put so much into the first few years has made people see the huge potential it has,” says Toby.

“It’s good for the people, the region and the economy,” he continues. “The involvement of new partners has given us the confidence to expand, and Paul Scrivens, the leader of Sheffield City Council, has been a fantastic help. We’ve been chosen as one of five leading events in South Yorkshire that will bring revenue into the area, along with the snooker, Doc/Fest, Galvanise and the Literary Festival. Because of

this Creative Sheffield have given us their support which has been fantastic and given us the confidence to make a massive leap this year”.

And thanks to the hard work of the team, which remarkably numbers just four full time members of staff – Scott, Toby,

I knew what made people laugh and he

knew that you couldn’t punch sponsors, so it

seemed we were meant to be together.

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Julian Wasley and Billy Heaton, Grin Up North is set to bring in more than £3.5 million to the city’s coffers this year alone.

So with all the goodwill pouring into South Yorkshire as a result of Grin Up North, surely Toby and Scott must want something in return?

“What we want is to see comedy being brought to everyone,” says Toby. “There’s a lot of reverse snobbery with some comedians; they’ll go into Jongleurs comedy club and see 30 girls from accounts sitting there and they’ll say they don’t like it, but all they should care about is the end result – are they laughing? Everyone has the right to be made to laugh.”

But after a moment’s reflection, the pair decide that there is something they would like. “Well, whilst we’re never going to make a fortune organising a comedy festival we’re not exactly doing this on an entirely altruistic basis. We hear that [Sheffield songwriter] Richard Hawley got an honorary doctorate from the University, so we want one too! Although we would settle for an honorary GCSE.”

Travel South Yorkshire is supporting Grin Up North. For more information visit travelsouthyorkshire.com/go9

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LADY GARDEn After a successful debut at the Edinburgh

Festival last year, female sketch comedy group Lady Garden has appeared all around the UK, including a performance at this year’s Glastonbury. Ahead of their appearance at Grin Up north, founder and Sheffield local Eleanor thom tells Go! how they have gone on to become one of the hottest properties on the comedy circuit.

“I always did theatre stuff with my dad [BBC Radio Sheffield stalwart Rony Robinson] and my brother’s a street performer so he introduced me to comedy.

“I realised when I was about 19 that I much preferred making people laugh, so I started to write bits of material.

“the turning point for me was doing work experience on The Royle Family. I got to see the whole process, from pre-production to filming and editing, and that was the moment I thought, ‘this is what I want to do’.

“When I went to university I decided to see if I could stage a few small shows. With the help of the Drama Society, and co-producer and fellow Lady Gardener Camille Ucan, I staged a night with 25 different people each doing their own original short pieces. It worked, so we transferred it to the Comedy Store, manchester, a year later and it sold out!

“that got a bit of interest from some industry people, who suggested we take the concept to the Edinburgh Festival. I asked five of the women I had worked with from the previous show if they’d be interested, and then we became Lady Garden.

“It was brilliant to perform in Edinburgh,

because I’d been there in the audience so many times. there are so many characters we all play, I really loved performing my character stand-up Bev, a vivacious, brash 30-something from South Yorkshire. A lot of our material is observational but skewed in some way. Our show went down amazingly well, we’d gone there as the underdogs, funding it all ourselves and we didn’t even expect such audiences, let alone get the great reviews, so it was a very exciting time.

“As soon as we got back from Edinburgh we started to book loads of gigs, one of our favourites being as part of last year’s Grin Up north. We got an incredible response, and went on to do the Hackney Empire new Act of the Year and it just snowballed from there. We were even lucky enough to get a slot at Glastonbury.

“We’re back at Grin Up north this year and we’re going to do some Sheffield-based material – it’s a totally new show. Grin Up north is an astonishing festival and I’m really proud to be a part of it – the idea you can see that many acts in such a short space of time without leaving the city is brilliant.

“We’d love to do radio at some point, and maybe eventually we’ll go into tV, but we’re enjoying and learning so much from live performance at the moment that we would love to carry on doing this for as long as possible.”

Catch Lady Garden at Sheffield City Hall on 8 October; box office 0114 278 9789.

sheffield city hallBus all services to Sheffield city centre (Church

Street/High Street).Tram All routes (City Hall).

Turn to page 30 for your chance to win a table for eight at the Christmas Last Laugh Comedy Club.

Alan carr said I was one of only three promoters who were

prepared to book him when he first started out, but he was just as funny

then as he is now.

24 Autumn 2009

FEATURE GRIn uP nORtH

Page 25: Go! Magazine - Autumn 2009

24 Autumn 2009

travelsouthyorkshire.com/go9

Have you Heard tHe one about tHe bus, tHe tram and tHe train?

if you would like a cHance to

win 2 tickets to tHe last laugH comedy club, send us your jokes about public transport by 1 october 2009. we’ll also publisH our favourites on our website.

for your cHance to win enter your joke at travelsoutHyorksHire.com/go9

Page 26: Go! Magazine - Autumn 2009

hen former Conservative employment secretary Norman Tebbitt told the unemployed to get on their bikes and look for work in

1981, he didn’t exactly tune into the mood of the then recession-hit nation and he faced a public backlash.

But fast forward 28 years, and his advice may not be as irrelevant as it seemed back then. When employment choices are limited, the onus is on access to opportunities*, and within South Yorkshire the advice is much more tailored towards practical help, whether that means providing safe cycle and walking routes or working with businesses to provide bus routes to ensure customers have a safe and pleasant commute.

Alan Nicholson is the Business Development Manager for South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive (SYPTE), and part of his remit is to help customers overcome barriers to employment by providing solutions to their commuting dilemmas.

“We’re working with many job agencies and providers to help people get over the barrier of transport to get the interviews to new jobs,” he says. “It can be a vicious cycle; if you don’t have work you can’t get work because you can’t get to

work – we can help with that.” And the difference 28 years on from Norman

Tebbitt’s much-derided speech is that it’s not just rhetoric – there is plenty of practical help available, and many people are surprised to learn that it can be personal to their own travel needs.

“When people come to us we really want to know the detail from them so we can build up a picture of what they need,” says Alan. “Then we can personalise their journey and give them the options that will suit them – it won’t just be a case of, ‘this is your bus’: it’s finding the best way to get them to where they want to be. Whether it’s giving information about safe cycle or walking routes, advising about the Wheels 2 Work scheme where people can borrow a moped, or working with other organisations providing a bus route – there are a whole range of possibilities.

“A rather corny way of putting it is we’re putting the personal into public transport, but that’s exactly what it is; everyone’s different, people travel from and to all sorts of places and there isn’t one size fits all. ”

SYPTE’s free travel planning service isn’t just available to individuals – many businesses have taken up the service to gain practical and financial support for their employees. Under the salary sacrifice scheme, cost-conscious

RiDinG iT OUT

As the recession bites deeper and employment opportunities are becomingfewer and farther between, Go! finds out what is being done to help in South Yorkshire...

26 Autumn 2009 Autumn 2009 27

It’s all about making sure we look at every conceivable way to make journeys

as simple, cost-effective and trouble-free as we

possibly can.

Page 27: Go! Magazine - Autumn 2009

businesses can deduct the cost of a one year travel ticket from employees’ salaries, and as it’s deducted at source, the firm saves, the employee saves and the taxman foots the bill. And, as well as advising people on how to get from A to B, Alan and his team can advise them how to avoid the need for travel altogether.

“The advice we give to businesses is the same we give to individuals – totally personalised

to their needs,” he says. “We have a team of specialists who can advise on things like video conferencing and home working and other ways of getting around transport problems. Although we are South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive our remit moves way beyond public transport and more into sustainable travel. We accept that public transport isn’t always the answer, and we don’t claim to be experts in everything, but what we can do is give free

advice to anyone who wants it and if we can’t help we can refer them to someone who can.”

Surprisingly, that advice also includes travelling by car. “If people have a car, then it can certainly be part of the answer,” says Alan. “I’m a car user myself, and I used to drive from Pontefract to Sheffield every day. But the most expensive part of my journey was the last mile, sitting in congestion in the city centre taking as long to drive the last mile or two as it did to drive the first 25. Now it’s a short drive to Adwick Park &

Ride and half an hour later I’m into Sheffield. That’s why we’ve introduced more Park & Ride schemes – it’s all about making sure we look at every conceivable way to make journeys as simple, cost-effective and trouble-free as we possibly can.”

And it’s not just commuters that are benefiting from SYPTE’s financially savvy strategies. Small and medium-sized businesses that supply services to the organisation and rely on regular cash flow are noticing a speedy turnaround in the payment of invoices.

SYPTE’s Chief Financial and Systems Officer, John Smart says: “We’ve really sharpened our policy to make sure that payment systems are as prompt as possible.

“That’s always been the case within the Finance department, but what we’ve done is to impress upon the line managers that sitting on invoices isn’t acceptable – people are struggling, so we have to ensure that we get the cash out of the door.”

Although SYPTE doesn’t operate any commercial travel services, it spends more than £10 million a year to ensure that services which would otherwise be discontinued are kept running. “If operators discontinue services that aren’t economically viable, then we will always do our utmost to keep that route open,

We’re putting the personal into public

transport – everyone’s different, there isn’t one size fits all.

FEATURE

26 Autumn 2009 Autumn 2009 27

Page 28: Go! Magazine - Autumn 2009

*the Access to Opportunities project has been developed by travel South Yorkshire. Part-financed by the European Regional Development Fund programme and the Coalfields Regeneration trust, the project aims to build transport infrastructure and services, improving access to work, training and education, by providing:

• dedicated travel advice and support, promoting sustainable travel options;

• enhanced bus services in the Dearne Valley area, increased frequency and extended routes; and

• motor scooters, through the Wheels 2 Work scheme, when viable public transport links are not available.

For more information visit travelsouthyorkshire.com/go10

28 Autumn 2009

says John. “The less people that travel during a recession, the more likely it is that services will cease, but that’s the last thing we want to happen, so we’ll look at the population numbers, whether there are any viable alternative routes that can pick up the route and determine what we think is the minimum service that needs to operate. Then we’ll put that route back out to tender and operators can bid for it again and ensure there is a service.”

The overriding ethos behind SYPTE’s service is that of integration. The organisation works closely with local authorities, schools, police and communities to ensure that the services provided are relevant to the people who use them.

“We don’t want to tell people what to do, that’s not why we’re here,” says Alan. “We don’t assume we know what our customers want – we ask what they need, and then do our utmost to provide it.”

For more details on personal travel planning and sustainable travel visit travelsouthyorkshire.com or call Traveline on 01709 515151.

Traveline 01709 51 51 51travelsouthyorkshire.com/go10

FEATURE

Page 29: Go! Magazine - Autumn 2009

’ve worked here since the Park & Ride opened in September last year, and I really enjoy the interaction with the public,” he says. “There’s space for 400 cars,

and I’m on hand to advise people how to use the ticket machines, keeping an eye on their cars as part of the Car Care system that we operate for the customers, and that the site is clean, secure and safe. That includes fire checks and monitoring the CCTV cameras, which are situated throughout the premises.

“I arrive at 6.30am and perform the initial site checks to make sure there have been no unwelcome visitors during the night, and then at 7am the passengers start coming in.

“Throughout the day I get timetable queries from customers, so I’ll use the journey planner to make sure they know the relevant times for each stage of their journey, whether that’s bus or train. It can be difficult if people don’t speak English, but we always work it out and get them where they need to be!

“As well as making sure all the customers are happy and looked after, I replace and renew all the posters on the site that give details of travel tickets and making sure that

none of the offers have expired.“Although I work on the site alone, it’s not

a lonely job and I never feel isolated. I check into the control office five times a day, and as it’s a busy site there are always passengers coming in for help and advice, and I deal with all the contractors, bus operators and management requests so it’s rarely quiet. The buses depart every eight minutes so there are always people coming and going.

“It is a long day, but I’m well looked after! My office is air conditioned in the summer and heated in the winter, and I have home comforts such as a kettle, microwave and a fridge. Although I love the interaction with passengers, I’m quite happy with my own company so it really is an ideal job for me.

“The only thing that’s difficult is getting up at 5.45am every morning! But as I’m the proud new dad of a baby boy I imagine I’d be doing that anyway!”

For more information on Doncaster Park & Ride, visit travelsouthyorkshire.com/go2Go! is offering readers one week’s free Park & Ride in Doncaster, worth £12.50. See back cover for more details.

On site from 6.30am to 7.30pm, customer Service Officer Adrian Priestly aims to make sure people using Doncaster Park & Ride are comfortable and happy.

Go! drops by Parrot’s corner to talk about his typical working day...

HIDDEN GEM #14

Belluga Bawtry, DoncasterBeautiful food, fine wines, fun, laughter and friendship are what makes this former delicatessen utterly unique. Unlike most restaurants there is no set menu, simply tell staff what you would like and they will make suggestions to suit your appetite. With renowned hospitality that is second to none, you’ll be glad you discovered this little gem.Swan Street, Doncaster; 01302 710006; bellugabawtry.com Bus services 25 & 99 every 30mins Mon-Sat until 6pm; every hour evnings and Sundays.

28 Autumn 2009 Autumn 2009 29

A dAy in the life of...

Adrian PriestlycuStOmER SERVIcE OFFIcER

Page 30: Go! Magazine - Autumn 2009

1. How many visitors does Meadowhall shopping centre attract each week?

2. Eleanor Thom, founder of comedy group Lady Garden, did her work experience working on which BBC sitcom?

3. You can get bus times on your mobile phone, using the YournextBus service, by texting your bus stop number to which 5-digit number?

4. How many years does Barry Awad reckon it will take him to be a world boxing champ?

5. Which Monty Python star is making an appearance at Whirlow Hall Farm in November?

the answers to these questions are in the magazine somewhere - get them right and you could win the following prize bundle:

• 3 months’ free travel on South Yorkshire’s buses, trains and trams• A one-to-one boxing coaching session with Brendan Ingle• An ‘arrive and drive’ at the PFI karting circuit in Newark, plus one-to-one

tuition from Russell Danzey for two people• Coffee and cakes for two at Fancie

cOMpETITION ENTRYto enter, fill in your answers and contact details below, cut out and send to: Go! Magazine, FREEPOST NEA3487, Sheffield S2 5ZQ. Or email your answers to [email protected]

Your answers: Your details:

5.

4.

3.

2.

1.

We would like to keep your contact details to send you information on public transport, travel cards/ticketing and promotions. If you would prefer NOT to be sent such information, please tick this box. Please note we will not use your contact information for any other purposes or pass your information on to any third parties.

Page no.

sudoku

QUIz

TIcKET HUNT

A B c D

Briefly describe where the ticket appears:

Name

Address

Postcode

Tel

Email

Date of birth

WIN £1000s worth of prizes

sudoku QUIz

3 A 7 4 1

2 9

8 6 2 B

9 5 8

9 4 c 5 2

1 7 2

3 8 9

3 7

6 9 2 D 3

Crack the puzzle to reveal the digits in the yellow squares. Four lucky winners will receive a limited-edition Go! mug and 1 month’s free travel on South Yorkshire’s buses, trains and trams.

TIcKET HUNTSomewhere hidden in this issue of Go! Magazine is a very special ticket (pictured here)…

Find it and you could be the lucky winner of:

3 months’ free travel•

on South Yorkshire’s buses, trains and trams• Four VIP passes to Freedom Club night for 13-17 year-olds at the O2 Academy

• Four tickets to see Doncaster Rovers v Watford on 16 January 2010• A table for eight at the Christmas Last Laugh Comedy Club

This competition is not open to employees of South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive or their family members. All entries must be received by 30 November 2009. By entering this competition you agree to the publication of your name in subsequent editions of this publication should you be a prize winner. The decision of South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive shall be final. No cash alternative will be given.

30 Autumn 2009 Autumn 2009 31

cOMpETITION

Page 31: Go! Magazine - Autumn 2009

Have your sayTravelMaster is the answer

In order to encourage use of public transport, surely the main transport operators could help by getting together to produce daily and weekly tickets at attractive prices that could be used on any bus or tram. Passengers would have no need to wait for certain buses and I’m sure it would help passengers and bus companies. L Richardson

thanks for your letter. Residents of South Yorkshire can already benefit from a ticket that does indeed allow passengers to travel on buses with all operators, on the Stagecoach Supertram, and on South Yorkshire trains – all with just one travelmaster ticket! the travelmaster is available in daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual passes from a number of travel South Yorkshire Information Centres. For more information visit travelsouthyorkshire.com

pukka prizes!I would like to thank everyone at Go!

Magazine for the wonderful prizes I won in your competition (Winter 2008). The meal at Tankersley Manor was excellent, and we were treated very well. I have started going to the gym and, although I ache all over, I’m positive it’s doing me some good!

My daughter’s partner is over the moon with the TravelMaster, and my wife is now cooking some excellent meals using the Jamie Oliver cook book. Thanks again and best wishes. Roy Robinson

We’re so pleased you and your family are happy with the prizes. We’re also glad you’re reaping the benefits of Jamie Oliver’s cook book – but make sure you keep up the good work at the gym to burn off those extra calories! For more chances to win fantastic prizes, check out this issue’s competition on page 30.

Write to us:If you write us a letter and we print it, you’ll receive one month’s free travel on South Yorkshire’s buses, trains and trams.Email [email protected] or post your letter to Go! Magazine, FREEPOST NEA3487, Sheffield S2 5ZQ.

30 Autumn 2009 Autumn 2009 31

LETTERS

reAder surveyWe want your feedback!

turn over the page and tell us what you think about Go! and what you’d like to see more of in

future issues, and you will be entered into a prize draw to win free travel on South Yorkshire’s public

transport for a whole year, worth £850!*

Please return your completed survey by 16 October 2009 to Go! Magazine, FREEpOST

NEA3487, Sheffield S2 5zQ.

Page 32: Go! Magazine - Autumn 2009

32 Autumn 2009 Autumn 2009 33

reAder survey

1. How often do you usually use the following kinds of transport?

2. As a result of reading Go! Magazine, do you feel that you are now more aware of the name Travel South Yorkshire?

3. do you feel that you are now better informed about public transport in South Yorkshire?

Why? (please give reasons for your answer)

4. do you think Go! Magazine has encouraged you to consider using public transport more often?

Why? (please give reasons for your answer)

5. Thinking about the content of this magazine, which of the following features did you…

6. Are there any particular features that you’d like to see in future editions of Go! Magazine?

7. In what ways do you think the magazine could be improved?

8. Are you…

9. How old are you?

10. What is your home postcode?

11. How many cars or vans are available to members of your household, including yourself?

5 or more days a week

3-4 days week

1-2 days a week

Once a fortnight

About once a month

Less than once a month

never

CycleCar (driver)

tramtrainBus Car (passenger)

Your details:Name

Address

Postcode

Tel

Email

Date of birth

We would like to keep your contact details to send you information on public transport, travel cards/ticketing and promotions. If you would prefer NOT to be sent such information, please tick this box. Please note we will not use your contact information for any other purposes or pass your information on to any third parties.

*If you wish to enter the prize draw without completing this survey, please send your name, address and contact telephone number on a postcard to the address on the previous page by 16 October 2009.

news

What’s on

Profile Becky & Ollie Hayes

Bright young things

Grand day out... Sheffield

Get real

Brothers Grin

Riding it out

A day in the life of... Adrian Priestly

Last stop Community counts

Read Enjoy the least?

Find most informative?

Enjoy the most?

Yes no

Yes no

Yes no

male Female

Under 1630-39

16-1940-49

60 or over50-5920-29

nonethree

OneFour or more

two

Page 33: Go! Magazine - Autumn 2009

cOmmunItY cOuntSWhen Doncaster Rovers were promoted to the Football League championship from League One last year, attendance swelled from 8,000 to 12,000, and season ticket sales more than doubled.

Yet the success on the pitch was only part of the story. Go! stops by the Keepmoat Stadium to catch up with Rovers’ community team...

ince 1998, when current Chairman John Ryan took over Rovers, the club has made it a priority to work with, and for the benefit of, the community. The club’s mission

statement is “to be an ambitious and successful club of which the community is proud” and that ethos has paid dividends in terms of support for the club and the wellbeing of the community.

As Eric Randerson, community manager of Doncaster Rovers’ Sports Foundation says: “When we first started community schemes if we went into schools and saw a boy or girl with a Rovers shirt on it was unusual – they were all wearing Leeds or Manchester United tops. Now, every kid we see when we go out coaching or in the town centre has a Rovers shirt on. We’ve got a new generation growing up with the club and being fans for life.”

But the community work isn’t a cynical marketing ploy from a big-bucks club wanting to relieve loyal fans from their hard-earned cash. The schemes run by Doncaster Rovers’ Community Sports and Education Foundation (more commonly known as Rovers in the Community), which is a registered charity, provide education for children and young people from primary school age up to young adults looking for employment, using football as an analogy to help deliver education.

Eric Randerson explains: “We’re not taking anything away from teachers or parents, but if it’s their football club that’s delivering the lessons then they tend to take more notice. If people don’t respond well to the usual method of lesson delivery, put it in a football context and suddenly they get it. To put it in its simplest terms, if I asked a kid what ten times three is they’d just look at me blankly. But ask

how many points Doncaster Rovers would get if they won ten matches, and straight away they’ll fire back at you – 30.”

As well as delivering after-school clubs in primary and secondary schools, Rovers in the Community works with the local Connexions employment service to deliver an e2e (entry to education) programme which gives opportunities to young people aged 16 or over. The 22-week course, which is held at the stadium, is tailored for people who had fallen behind with their education or dropped out of school and placing education in the context of football really helps to engage those who struggled with a typical classroom environment.

“If we talk to young people about the importance of healthy eating and the downfalls of smoking and drugs, they respond incredibly well to one of the club’s

32 Autumn 2009 Autumn 2009 33

LAST STOp ROVERS

Page 34: Go! Magazine - Autumn 2009

players who’s telling them he wouldn’t be able to play if he didn’t take care of himself. Young people tend to switch off to preaching, but put them in an informal environment with a professional footballer and they’re going to listen – they feel like an equal, rather than a naughty child being lectured.

“We use a similar method with primary school children – we go into schools and have a half hour chat about what a footballer would eat to encourage them to eat healthily – not just if they want to be a footballer, but to have a fit and active lifestyle.”

Healthy living plays a vital part in Rovers’ community work, and the club works with Doncaster Council to promote healthy meals. But rather than just putting their names to marketing campaigns, the club’s players have a very hands-on approach and frequently attend schools, clubs and other events to

deliver the message personally.Shaun Lockwood is the marketing manager

at Doncaster Rovers. He explains: “When the council asked us to endorse healthy school meals, we didn’t just want to put our logo and pictures of players on the menu, it would have been easy but not right. Instead we decided that the entire squad should visit the school to have lunch to highlight the importance of eating healthily. The players love the interaction with children and young people, and they make time for at least one squad appearance within a school every month.

“We also have an academic study centre in the stadium with state-of-the-art Apple Mac computers which is geared towards helping children and adults develop IT skills. They can come in and meet the players, talk to them about their lifestyles and healthy living and use the computers to look up everything they need to know to be able to adopt a healthy lifestyle. The children find the environment fascinating and really respond to it.”

Although the Doncaster squad plays a very important part in the club’s community work, there is a team of people working behind the scenes to create a healthy community through

a network of breakfast and after-school clubs, links with children’s charities, Saturday and holiday clubs, match-day experience, partnerships with local authorities and sponsored sporting events.

And despite the emphasis being firmly on fun, the club is working within the National Curriculum and its tutors are qualified to deliver NVQ qualifications in sports leadership for children aged between nine and thirteen.

“Although we’re a football club, we want to make sure that the education we’re delivering supports the school curriculum,” says Eric. “The feedback we get from teachers is fantastic, they see our courses and clubs as a great incentive for children and an excellent way to encourage leadership and communication skills.”

As a community club, Doncaster strives to ensure that everyone can be involved in its activities and there are no limitations in terms of age, gender or ability: the Ability Counts sports club for children and young adults works with social services and special educational establishments to help people develop physical skills; a group for adults with mental health problems meets weekly at the club; and social activities for older people, such as tea dances and bowls, are being planned in the near future.

“The work we do within the community is essential to Doncaster Rovers,” says Eric. “Everyone who works here prides themselves on being a family club and a community club, and we have a chairman who has personally funded Rovers in the Community because he knows just how important it is for the club, the fans and the whole town.

“We will continue to push the good work we can do and hope that people see it and realise that Doncaster has a team to be proud of, and that they’re proud to be associated with the club.”

For more details on the Rovers’ work in the community, visit doncasterroversfc.co.uk

If I asked a kid what ten times three is they’d just look at me blankly. But ask how many points

Rovers would get if they won ten matches,

and straight away they’ll fire back at

you – 30.

Keepmoat stadiumBus services 72 & 75/75A* every 20mins Mon-Sat until

6pm; hourly evenings and Sundays.*special services may operate matchdays – for more details call Traveline on 01709 51 51 51.

Turn to page 30 for your chance to win four tickets to see Doncaster Rovers take on Watford at the Keepmoat Stadium on 16 January 2010.

34 Autumn 2009

LAST STOp ROVERS

4 TIcKETS TO SEE rovers v wAtford

pAGE 30

Page 35: Go! Magazine - Autumn 2009

34 Autumn 2009

Hate driving?Love park & ride

travelsouthyorkshire.com/go2Traveline 01709 51 51 51

Buses every seven to • ten minutes or better

Extra limited stop buses • at peak times calling at Doncaster Racecourse, Doncaster Dome and town centre bus stops

Bus priority measures • speeding up journey times into Doncaster

Brand new buses •

Address

Postcode

Name Tel

Email

Date of birth

We would like to keep your contact details to send you information on public transport, travel cards / ticketing and promotions. If you would prefer NOT to be sent such information, please tick this box. Please note we will not use your contact information for any other purposes or pass your information on to any third parties.

Terms and conditions: Only one voucher per person. May be exchanged for one week’s free parking and travel (individual or group ticket) from the York Road (Doncaster North) or Bawtry Road (Doncaster South) park & ride sites. Free travel only available to people parking a vehicle at the park & ride sites. O� er available on a � rst come, � rst served basis. Voucher valid until 31 October 2009. Photocopies not accepted. The Travel South Yorkshire partnership reserves the right to withdraw this o� er at any time.

Usual travel method

Car Bus Train Cycle Walk

One week’s FREE park & ride in Doncaster worth up to £12.50Fill in and take this voucher to the York Road (Doncaster North) or Bawtry Road (Doncaster South) park & ride sites to exchange for a free week’s individual or group park & ride ticket.

Page 36: Go! Magazine - Autumn 2009

Traveline 01709 51 51 51travelsouthyorkshire.com/go3

Travel made so easy - it’s child’s playWhether you want to plan a new journey or find out how you could save money and time off your daily travel, contact us today.