An action group that branded a community council building a “near-empty husk” and “a place just used to feed pigeons” has announced a celebration of Iftar daily in the under-used Burngreave Vestry Hall.

A community campaign was launched in September called Take Back Vestry Hall, amid claims it was unaffordable for local groups to use – and sat empty 86 per cent of the time.

According to the council report on Thursday 18th April 2024, Mishanth Feinstein said: ” We believe Vestry Hall could and should be a community hub for Burngreave, instead of an near-empty husk which at the moment is best known in the area as a feeding place for pigeons.”

Community outrage was sparked after the hall was barely being used despite it being in a prime location, and in an area needing facilities, causing the ACORN Sheffield union to start  the #Takebackvestryhall campaign.

The Clean Zone Community Group, who are hosting the event, and offer other support such as mental health and advice to those with type 2 diabetes have been unable to due to the high hourly rate of the venue as they finance these events out of their own bank accounts.   

According to the council report, Elissa Thomspon, who co-runs the group, said: “ We understand the complexity of social and mental health issues in the north of Sheffield and have excellent links with the community, we feel we can offer our community some vitally needed support.”

The group currently uses Abbeyfield House but due to the location and lack of disability access means alot of community members cannot attend. 

According to the council report Lois Cole said: “ There is nowhere safe and welcoming where local residents can mix and meet and get involved in local activities, this is why we need to make vestry hall a community hub.”

Burngreave currently has a 46.8% islamic population and 12.3% on attendance allowance following the 2024 consensus causing outcry for community facilities. 

According to the council report a spokesperson for the strategy and resources policy committee said: ” Vestry hall has been a prominent and proud place in Burngreave and we are putting in place a new community building policy so that there is an open, transparent and consistent process to enable the management of community buildings.”

The event, to break a daily fast in the month of Ramadan, is set to run between March 30th and April 30th at 9pm each night with tickets available at https://allevents.in/sheffield/month-of-ramadan-iftar/10000863667832737