The Abbeydale and Sharrow Stakeholder Group (ASSG) was formed in 2015 in response to rising levels of crime and antisocial behaviour in Sharrow and along the Abbeydale Road corridor. Information from the community, police and business owners indicated that a lot of the issues were linked to young people and potential gang related activity. Many residents and businesses felt intimidated to be out and about especially after dark, and serious incidents involving fireworks on bonfire night 2015 brought things to a head.
Initially Police and the Council invited local organisations and stakeholders to come together to discuss how to begin to tackle some of these issues. Partners involved include Local Councillors, Community Youth Team, Ignite Imaginations, Football Unites Racism Divides, Sheffield Antiques Quarter, Abbeydale Picture House, MESH (Mediation Sheffield), Who is Your Neighbour and Common Ground. Since its beginnings, community partners such as Sharrow Community Forum have taken a more leading role in the partnership, and statutory services have taken a more supporting role.
Members of the partnership were central to the delivery of the Sharrow Autumn Carnival, which aims to provide positive and safe alternative activities for the community on bonfire night.