Our Journey Before Becoming Valley Youth Hub CIC

Before formally becoming Valley Youth Hub, our team had already been delivering children’s activities and community support across Gleadless Valley for over three years, as Flava Fun Parties, which is a children's entertainment business that Emma from Valley Youth Hub has been running for the past 16 years, and in the previous years was supplying the local community through HAF based activities. These early years laid the foundation for what would become a thriving, child‑centred organisation. We saw first‑hand the need for safe, inclusive, and accessible provision for children and families, and we committed ourselves to meeting that need. Building partnerships, and championing Play for the children of the area.

We have seen a big divide within the area of provisions for children.

Age : 0 to 5 - local playgroups and Family Hub network; 12 to 18 - local council-led youth provisions. The only group that was providing for children from 5 to 18 years was a local Dance group that provided dance classes once a week.

We saw the gaps, and with guidance and support, Valley Youth Hub has laid the foundations to bridge the gaps between age group provisions

Becoming Valley Youth Hub CIC with the help of Sheffield Play Partnership

Our transition into a Community Interest Company was made possible through the exceptional support of Sheffield Play Partnership (SPP). Their guidance has been instrumental in every stage of our development.

SPP supported us to:

• Access vital funding streams

• Register and establish ourselves as a CIC

• Navigate challenges with unlimited professional support

• Build strong playwork knowledge and best practice

• Strengthen our governance, safeguarding, and operational systems

The knowledge we have gained from Sheffield Play Partnership has been outstanding. Their mentorship has shaped our organisation, improved our delivery, and ensured our work remains rooted in high‑quality, inclusive play. We look forward to many more years of partnership.

What have we accomplished in 2024

Over a period of nine months, Valley Youth Hub delivered monthly Pop‑Up Play Sessions across two locations:

• Hemsworth Site: 3–4 children per session

• Gleadless Medical Centre Green Space: 10–15 children per session

These outdoor sessions provided free, accessible play opportunities for children who often have limited access to safe green spaces. They helped build confidence, independence, and community connection.

2024 – The First Year

We launched the Gleadless Valley Christmas Light Run, inviting local drivers to decorate their cars and join us on a festive route around the estate. Children met Santa and The Grinch, and each child received the First Bell of Christmas.

• 116 children attended

• 5 decorated cars and 3 bikes took part

• Huge positive impact and community excitement
  

Listening to Families & Children – Community Consultation

October 2024 General Meeting

We held an open meeting inviting parents and children to share their ideas for future provision. Attendance was low, with only two families attending, but it highlighted an important learning point: families prefer to give feedback during active sessions rather than separate meetings.

Consultation During Holiday Sessions

During our October holiday provision, we asked families and children again what they wanted. This approach was far more successful, and we received strong, clear feedback.

What Families Asked For

Indoor activities:

• Nerf

• Arts & crafts

• Discos

• Festive celebrations (pumpkin carving, Santa’s grotto)

• Family fun days

• Talent shows

• Acting and singing

Outdoor activities:

• Football

• Bike track

• Summer fun days

• Sports

Trips & outings:

• Zoos

• Aquariums

• Seaside trips

• Farms

• Pantomimes

We listened — and every year we continue to ask children what they want, ensuring our provision remains child‑led.

2024 Holiday Provision Delivery

2024 Holiday Provision

• 27 sessions delivered

• 20–25 children per session

• Activities included cooking, baking, arts & crafts, acting, singing, discos, games, and sports days

2024 Trips

• Pantomime at Sheffield City Hall – 15 families

• Eureka! Children’s Museum – 20 families

Costings For 2024

A Year of Establishing Identity, Expanding Reach, and Strengthening Community Voice

2024 was a defining year for Valley Youth Hub. It marked the transition from three years of informal community‑led children’s provision into a formally recognised organisation with a clear identity, stronger partnerships, and a growing presence across Gleadless Valley.

2024 was a year of:

• Formal establishment

• Growing attendance

• New traditions

• Stronger partnerships

• Child‑led planning

• Expanded holiday provision

• Increased visibility across Gleadless Valley

It laid the foundations for the significant growth seen in 2025 and 2026.

Case Study

Wrote about Valley Youth Hub By Sheffield Play Partnership

Valley Youth Hub was set up by a local activist to run pop-up play sessions on a voluntary basis. The Partnership engaged with the leader, Emma, during a consultation event and subsequent meetings on the Valley. It became apparent that she was engaging with a large cohort across 3 areas of the estate (Old Hemsworth Site, Herdings Park and Spotswood Place), but was struggling with time and costs. The Valley Youth Hub offered an ideal opportunity for the Play Partnership to test the mechanisms that could be offered to support emerging provision. The Play Partnership successfully applied for funding through the South LAC to pay for further provision and at the same time used core funding to support Emma and her work. This also included the support and coaching from Sarah, our Play Ranger, to aid delivery. Emma was also offered and took up the opportunity of Play training through the Play Partnership. In the latter part of 2024, Emma constituted the Valley Youth Hub, became a member of the Gleadless Valley Play Partnership (this feeds into the main Sheffield Play Partnership) and has delivered a range of pop-up play sessions across the valley. The Sheffield Play Partnership has now offered further ‘seed’ funding through its core finance to continue the support and has ensured Emma has continuous support from the Play Ranger over the next 6 months. The view would be to fund her more fully from the next tranche of funding to allow the Hub to develop further play provision in the Valley and to become a full member of the Sheffield Play Partnership. One of the key visions and aspirations for the Sheffield Play Partnership is to support the development of emerging centres. This work on the Valley (A key development area: see Diagram 1, Sheffield Play Partnership 2024/25) is an excellent example of how the principles/ethos of the Partnership is played out. Growing consistent and professional play provision is crucial to making Sheffield a centre of excellence

Our Directors and Committee Members

Our strength lies in our individuality. Set up by Esther Bryce, the team strives to bring in the best talent in various fields, from architecture to interior design and sales.

Emma Merrick, CEO & Director

Deborah Sheppard, Director

Sally Pedley, Director

Sally Pedley has a lifetime of experience working with our local community, as she was the Chair of our Local Tenants and Residents for 5 terms. She has lived and worked with the residents, with experience in children's community development, policies and procedures, and overall community engagement

Emma is the main face and brains behind Valley Youth Hub, with tireless dedication to play and provisions for the children of the estate. Over 16 years of experience working with children of all ages and over 14 years of running her own business.

Deborah Sheppard works for National Rail. She has previously lived in Gleadless Valley and seen the decline of the area. Deborah brings HR and IT knowledge, knowledge of the area, and also age experience.

Testimony from one of our users

We are 2 retired nans who have taken our grandson H to the valley hub and stayed with him. Over the last 4 years, he has attended most of the sessions offered. Which he has really enjoyed he was nervous at first not knowing anyone but quickly developed new friends and look forward to seeing them at holiday times. Emma and her team have welcomed us all as a family, never judging us as a same sex couple. We also look forward to the sessions and have met many of the young people and families who have also become friends. We are happy to support when we can. Don't know what we would do without the sessions in the holiday time; it's such a fantastic service our community offers. Over the last 4 years, we have made lots of memories together with emma her team. Children and families by going to the hub. Thank you, Angela-Jacky -H x

Community

Supporting youth activities in Gleadless Valley.

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Impact report 2024

Impact report 2025 and 2026