These are our hopes and dreams for Sheffield in 2019

Claire Moore,  founder of Believe & Achieve Ladies Healthy Lifestyle Studio.

Confession time, I'm not originally from Sheffield. I moved here in 1998 for a job and 20 years later I'm still here, so it's fair to say I love it.

I love how in a world where everyone has gone PC crazy no one bats an eyelid when you call them '˜love' or '˜duck'

I love how we can create an award-winning bar in a toilet, how you are 100 per cent guaranteed a chat with a friendly stranger any time you head out. 

I love random elephants popping up here there and everywhere, buildings covered with Pete Mckee artwork that always make you smile

I love how people run six miles for a Christmas pudding, kids, (and let's be honest some adults), play in the Peace Garden fountains.

I love how our Mayor is so '˜non-mayory', how a group of music lovers can create Sheffield's biggest party that is our own little Glastonbury.

It's the biggest village in the world and I love all of this and more and this is what I hope for Sheffield in 2019; to keep being that little bit different, to keep being so friendly and so resilient and to keep being proud of everything we are.

Patrick Meleady, manager of Pitsmoor Adventure Playground

After an extremely challenging 2018 I firmly believe that in 2019 there is still reason for optimism, because as people here in Sheffield we usually figure out how to emerge from our darker periods.

I hope that Sheffield will not lose sight of the values and social gains hard fought for in past decades by previous generations around protecting the vulnerable and oppressed in our city.

I hope this translates in 2019, into urgent action to eliminate food poverty, SPICE and homelessness in our city '“ curses that have been increasing at unprecedented levels.

I hope that knife crime and other violent crime is eliminated, with increased funding for the police, fire and other emergency services.

I also hope that the erosion of care, education and support services to our older citizens, as well as to our younger ones and their families and the disabled and other vulnerable community members, will cease.

I hope that the Government's promise to do away with the terrible austerity measures that they've been imposing upon Sheffield and other cities, will not be a false promise but will come to fruition and that the finances and resources stripped from Sheffield City Council will be reinstated and increased. 

I hope that, fundamentally, that none of us lose sight of the many things that make Sheffield a great city to live in.

Panni Loh, Sheffield artist

I hope that we celebrate diversity. We continue to be nourished by new arrivals from different countries, including students at both our universities.

My hope is that Sheffield continues to understand the importance of making others from outside welcome and to embrace the skills and experience that they bring.

This in itself upholds Sheffield's reputation as being friendly but in turn Sheffield benefits culturally and economically.

I hope we create more social spaces and value urban and wild green space. I'd like to see more spaces created that encourage people to communicate.

I'd welcome more circular outdoor public seating. We're fortunate in Sheffield to have many parks and I'd love to see them used more like they are in China, where there is large group gatherings early morning or evening for Tai Chi, dancing or running.

I hope for creativity at the heart of education. Our family is blessed by an array of creative expressives from performing arts, visual arts, fashion design to creating digital music.

I hope that Sheffield can make sure that creativity is at the heart of education as it aids problem solving that will equip young people and help us as a city to adapt to change.

Dan Bates, Chief Executive of Sheffield Theatres

I hope we can move forward as a city and make some change for the good.  I love this city, and it would be good to get some consensus as to what being part of the city region means '“ let's agree our differences and make some positive change for everyone.

For my work life, I want to ensure we continue to make brilliant theatre for everyone in the city and to make sure that we can also bring the best possible work to the Lyceum.  

In these times we all need a good night out, and that's what we can offer.

We want to play a bigger part in the life of the city and with our young people in schools, colleges and at universities.  

Personally, I want to make sure that everyone knows the range of work and opportunities that we have at the theatres; from carpenters and costume makers to chefs and accountants.  There really are loads of opportunities, not just acting.

I have had the wonderful chance to travel for work and visited places all over South East Asia. 

I made so many friends and am excited about connecting with artists and theatre colleagues from around the world to help build Sheffield Theatres' reputation internationally next year.