Barnsley Dearne Valley Projects

• Dearne Renaissance Centre - the purchase and refurbishment of the former Lacewood Primary School in Bolton upon Dearne in 2007. The creation of the centre has enabled two local organisations, Dearne Valley Venture and Dearne Community Partnership, to work together in a single location and form an overarching organisation called Dearne Partnership Venture Ltd. The centre hosts a number of local groups, including activities for young people and the older generation, and a suite of computers for learning. Read more about the Barnsley Dearne Community Partnership.

• Goldthorpe Village Masterplan - funded by Yorkshire Forward and Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council, the draft emerging masterplan proposes the relocation and renewal of the village primary school, provision of a new village centre square and market place, improvements to the village retail core, and housing renewal. Click here to read the masterplan.

• Rural Target Fund - small projects funded by Yorkshire Forward’s RMT programme. These have included:
  - improvements of a key public right of way between Bolton and Goldthorpe (due to be complete March 2010)
  - funding towards a healthy eating café in Goldthorpe, which will also see the establishment of a Young Peoples Hub forum
  - funds towards Dearne Electronic Community Village based in Thurnscoe

• Young People's Hub - this project will see the creation of a flexible space for young people in the Barnsley Dearne Valley area, young people that are perhaps disengaged from more traditional youth services. Consultation with young people will be key to its success. This process is currently underway.

• Allotments - in the very early stages of development, this project is looking at how allotments in the vicinity can be better managed and used, and also looking at the potential for encouraging locally grown foods.

• Transport Feasibility Study - a feasibility study is also underway, led by SYPTE, focusing on and mapping out public transport provision across the wider Dearne Valley area.