Recent Updates

Updated the Essex Sports Link page - with list of activities and forms

 

Added 2 short videos on the success page (boxing and equalities)

 

Updated the abc forum page - with list of activities and forms

 

Updated the conference page - Tom Dollery Suite is confirmed as the venue.

 

The Aspire Project is supported by the Department of Communities and Local Government.

 

Locations- Sheffield

Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, the city has grown from its largely industrial roots to encompass a wide economic base. The population of the City of Sheffield is estimated at 530,300 people (2007 est.), and it is one of the eight largest English cities outside London, which form the English Core Cities Group. The wider Sheffield Urban Area, which extends beyond the city proper, has a population of 640,720.

Sheffield obtained worldwide recognition during the 19th century for its production of steel. Many innovations in the industry were developed locally, including crucible and stainless steel. This fuelled an almost tenfold increase in the population during the Industrial Revolution. It gained its city charter in 1893 and became officially titled the City of Sheffield. International competition caused a decline in traditional local industries during the 1970s and 1980s, and at the same time the nearby national coal industry collapsed, affecting Sheffield's population.

The beginning of the 21st century has seen extensive redevelopment in many UK cities, including Sheffield. The city's GVA (gross value added) increased 60 per cent in recent years and, in 2005, reached £8.2 billion. The overall economy experienced steady growth averaging around five per cent annually and, as such, has been growing at a higher rate than has been experienced in Yorkshire and the Humber in general.

The city is geographically diverse, located at the confluence of five rivers, with much of the city having been built on hillsides with views into the city centre or out to the countryside. With an estimated total of over two million trees, Sheffield has more trees per person than any other city in Europe[3]: 61% of the city is greenspace.

Demographics

The 2005 estimates were as follows 88.7% White, 5.4% Asian, 2.4% Black, 1.8% Mixed and 1.7% Chinese or other race. Sheffield also has large ethnic Polish, Somali, Slovak, Yemeni and Albanian populations. In terms of religion, 68.6% of the population are Christian and 4.6% Muslim. Other religions represent less than 1% each. The number of people without a religion is above the national average at 17.9%, with 7.8% not stating their religion. The largest quinary group is 20- to 24-year-olds (9.4%), mainly because of the large university population (45,000+).

Sports

• Sheffield has a long sporting heritage. In 1857 a collective of cricketers formed the world's first-ever official football club, Sheffield F.C., and by 1860 there were 15 football clubs in Sheffield, with the first ever amateur league and cup competitions taking place in the city. There are now three professional clubs in the Football League two of whom play in the Football League Championship: Sheffield United and Sheffield Wednesday, both of whom formed from cricket clubs, and Rotherham United, who will play at the Don Valley Stadium for the next 3-4 years following a dispute with their previous landlords at Millmoor. There are also two major non-league sides: Sheffield F.C. and Hallam F.C., which also formed from cricket clubs, although Sheffield F.C. now play just outside the city in nearby Dronfield. These are the two oldest club sides in the world and, in addition, Hallam F.C. still play at the world's oldest football ground near the suburb of Crosspool. Sheffield and Hallam contest what has become known as the Sheffield derby, whilst United and Wednesday contest the Steel City derby.

  In April 1989, tragedy struck when 96 Liverpool fans died in a crush during their FA Cup semi final at Sheffield Wednesday's Hillsborough Stadium.
  Don Valley Stadium during the World Student Games in 1991

  The city also boasts the Sheffield Eagles rugby league, Sheffield Tigers rugby union, Sheffield Sharks basketball, Sheffield University Bankers Hockey Club, Sheffield Steelers ice hockey and Sheffield Tigers speedway teams. The track at Owlerton was built in 1929 and the track operated for most of the pre-war era. The track entered teams in 1929 English Dirt Track League, the 1930 and 1931 Northern League. The track operated 1945 to 1950 as members of the Northern League 1946 and National League Division Two 1947 – 1950. It closed early in the 1951 season and staged open fixtures in 1952. It was revived as a member of the 1960 Provincial League and has staged speedway in the majority of seaons since.

  Sheffield is home to climber Joe Simpson. Former athlete and world record holder, Sebastian Coe grew up in the city and began his career as a member of the Hallamshire Harriers. Former England Cricket captain Michael Vaughan also grew up in Sheffield.

  Many of Sheffield's extensive sporting facilities were built for the World Student Games, which the city hosted in 1991. They include the Don Valley International Athletics Stadium which is the largest athletics stadium in the UK with a capacity of 25,000, Sheffield Arena, and Ponds Forge international diving and swimming complex, where Olympic medallist Leon Taylor trains. There are also facilities for golf, climbing and bowling, as well as a newly inaugurated (2003) national ice-skating arena (IceSheffield). The Sheffield Ski Village is the largest artificial ski resort in Europe, and is due to undergo a major expansion soon.

• The city also has three indoor climbing centres. Sheffield was the UK's first National City of Sport and is now home to the English Institute of Sport (EIS), which hosts the Senior Championships of the British Fencing Association. Woodburn Road sports centre is another sport attraction. It's features include a full size playing field for football or athletics. A running track goes around the length of the field while there are all-weather football pitches to play on for a price.

  It was the birthplace of Harry Wright, who was a pioneer in the development of Major League baseball in the United States

Locations