Tawakkol Karman is a journalist in the Yemen. She came to international prominence during the Yemen uprisings in 2011 and was one of three women to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in the same year.
Tawakkol visited Sheffield recently and gave an exclusive interview to Sheffield Live! We are broadcasting the interview today to mark International Women’s Day, 8 March 2012
Listen to Tawakkol Karmen interview
– Interview by Paul Gregory, produced by Sangita Basudev –
Hello my name is Simon Thake and I present the Monday Uprising here on Sheffield Live 7-9 every Monday morning. I’m running the Sheffield half marathon this year to raise money for Sheffield Live so if you’d like to sponsor me that would be very lovely of you. See the horribly unflattering picture of me above. I’m the one on the left looking red faced and sweaty.
Please use the button below to sponsor me! Thank you for your support.
By Amna Kaleem
Policies on education have been amongst the most unpopular initiatives taken by the coalition government. A look at the tuition fee protests all over the country is enough to gauge the anger of students. While most of the protests were focused on rise in tuition fees, almost every protest had a group of students from sixth form colleges and schools who were out to protest the scrapping of Education Maintenance Allowance.
The EMA is a weekly allowance of £10, £20 and £30 paid to students who are 16 to 18 years old. The amount paid varies according to the student’s family income, those living below £20,817 qualify for £30, those between £20,818 and £25,521 are eligible for £20 and the students whose family income is between £25,522 and £30,810 get £10 per week. The money is paid directly into the students’ bank accounts and is stopped if they fail to be punctual or attend their classes regularly.
The fund which was set up by the Labour government in 2004 is now being scrapped, which means from next academic year around 647,000 students across the country cannot claim their EMA. In Sheffield alone, there are little over 6,000 students who benefit from EMA. There has been a lot of debate on the subject, some feel students spend the money on iTunes and PS3 games, a claim which may not be completely unfounded as some students who qualify for EMA do not need it to support their education. However, there are also students who would not be able to pursue education if this small weekly payment is withdrawn.
At Longley Park Sixth Form College around 75% of students receive EMA. Here is an interview with college students Abby Thompson and Shanice Wright and their teacher James Finlayson:
One of the success stories of EMA is James Mills who used the programme to pursue further education and was able to go to university. James now works as a parliamentary researcher and has started the Save EMA campaign. James talks about how EMA helped him and how the campaign to save this fund is gaining momentum, nationally:
James Mills
For more information on the campaign, visit http://saveema.co.uk/
The report was aired on Communities Live on December 17, 2010.
While the big society initiative may still be limited to speeches made by Prime Minister David Cameron, a Sheffield neighbourhood has already put it to test. Darnall Forum, a Darnall based charity rescued their local post office with the help of the Sheffield City Council. The community-run post office will be inaugurated on Tuesday, August 21. The post office was one of 65 in South Yorkshire, Derbyshire, Huddersfield and Colne Valley selected for closure by Post Office Ltd in 2008.
Sheffield Live! reporter Nick Mosley chats with Rob Russell, manager of the Darnall Post Office about this unique initiative, the effort that went into it and what it means for the local community.
DarnallPostOffice-NickMosley.mp3
The report was aired on Communities Live on August 27, 2010.
Over 1,000 people are reported to have died in recent floods in Pakistan. Many millions have been directly affected. In the aftermath of the floods there is a serious risk to survivors from potentially deadly diseases which will spread as a result of contaminated surface and drinking water.
Sheffield Live! is supporting the UK Disasters and Emergency Committee (DEC) Pakistan Floods Appeal with broadcast announcements in English and Urdu running throughout this month. The money raised will help support the efforts in Pakistan of the DEC’s members which are leading UK aid agencies.
You can donate now online or call 0370 60 60 900.
The Government is to seek additional funds to support community radio, according to Siôn Simon MP, Minister for Creative Industries. The Minister’s comments come in response to a joint letter to the Prime Minister signed by community broadcasters in Sheffield and across the country, calling for a sizeable increase in public funding for community radio.
In the Government reply to the joint open letter, Siôn Simon writes: “the Government recognises the importance of community radio and its contribution to the communities which they serve”. In addition to current Government support, he says: “DCMS will continue to work with other Government Departments and Agencies to identify other sources of funding, specifically where there are community cohesion and social gain objectives, for community radio.”
Steve Buckley, Director of community radio station, Sheffield Live!, said: “We welcome Government recognition that additional funding should be found for community radio but we need more than a vague expression of intent. We are not asking for the sector to be fully, or even majority, publicly funded. All we want is for Government support to be reflected in a funding settlement that reflects the benefits community radio brings to the communities we serve. Government should implement now the recommendations of the Everitt Report.”
Professor Anthony Everitt, author of the 2003 report, New Voices, whose recommendations formed the basis for government legislation, says the sector is “hobbled by its poverty”, and has called on government to implement the recommendations of his report to provide (matched) grant aid of £30,000 per year per station towards core operating costs. Everitt says “this is a modest expenditure when the benefits community radio can confer are taken into account”.
The community radio campaign has gained the support of members of Parliament from all political parties. Lord David Puttnam assured the community radio sector: “…the weight of public support and technological history are with you.” A petition, at http://allthevoices.org, calling on the Government to support the sustainability and growth of community radio by substantially increasing the resources of the Community Radio Fund, has gathered nearly 3000 signatures.
For further information including a copy of the letter from the Minister follow this link
Lord David Puttnam has pledged his “.. absolute support..” to a campaign by community radio stations in Sheffield and across the country who are pressing the government for access to adequate and reliable funds.
Community radio, acclaimed by industry regulator Ofcom as a “broadcasting success story”, is under constant fear of closure, according to Professor Anthony Everitt, author of the 2003 report, New Voices, whose recommendations formed the basis for government legislation.
The Community Radio Order 2004 is currently under review as are the funding arrangements for public service broadcasting content outside the BBC. Funding for community radio has not kept pace with growth in the number of services. The Community Radio Fund was set up in 2005, with £500,000 per annum when there were only 14 community radio licensees. Today there are around 150 community radio services on air, while the Fund has not grown in size.
Everitt, in a letter to the Department for Culture Media and Sport, says the sector is “hobbled by its poverty”, and has called on government to implement the recommendations of his report to provide (matched) grant aid of £30,000 per year per station towards core operating costs. Everitt says “this is a modest expenditure when the benefits community radio can confer are taken into account”, and it is needed “to place community radio on a sound financial footing”.
Community broadcasters have called on government, in an open letter to the Prime Minister, to implement the funding recommendations of the Everitt report to ensure the sustainability and development of community radio. And a petition to the Prime Minister, calling for increased funding for the sector, is also gathering momentum with over 1700 signatures already confirmed.
Lord David Puttnam assured the community radio sector: “…the weight of public support and technological history are with you…”
Sangita Basudev, Chief Executive of Sheffield Live! 93.2 FM welcomed Lord Puttnam’s support and said: “Community radio stations around the country have demonstrated their effectiveness in giving voice to and involving local people from diverse communities. But the growth of the sector needs to be matched by increased investment in line with the recommendations of the Everitt report.”
For further information follow this link
Sheffield MPs are getting behind a campaign for community radio to get a fair share of government funding arrangements for broadcasting. The campaign, launched in July to mark the fifth anniversary of community radio legislation, is led by Sheffield Live! 93.2 FM and by local community broadcasters throughout the UK.
Since legislation was passed, in 2004, more than 200 community radio services have been licensed and around 150 are on air, creating around 400 jobs, involving over 10,000 volunteers, and serving a potential audience of more than 10 million people.
But despite the widely acknowledged success of community radio, stations like Sheffield Live! 93.2 FM are economically precarious with no core funding support. A Community Radio Fund, set up in 2004, has not been increased despite the rapid growth in the number of community radio stations. There is now less than £500,000 per annum to distribute to 150 not-for-profit stations.
Lib Dem Leader and Sheffield Hallam MP, Nick Clegg, who recently visited Sheffield Live! 93.2 FM city centre studios, said: “I am happy to lend my support to your campaign and have written to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on your behalf”.
Sheffield’s Labour MPs have also voiced their support. Sheffield Attercliffe MP, Clive Betts said he is “happy to support the campaign”. Sheffield Heeley MP Meg Munn, Sheffield Hillsborough MP Angela Smith, Sheffield Central MP Richard Caborn and Sheffield Brightside MP David Blunkett have also confirmed they have written to the Government Minister responsible and are awaiting a response.
Sangita Basudev, Chief Executive of Sheffield Live! 93.2 FM said: “We are delighted our local MPs are with us on this issue. We have over 200 volunteers involved in Sheffield Live! 93.2 FM, but it is a day to day challenge making ends meet in the current economic climate. The Community Radio Fund should support our core operating expenses, but with 150 community radio stations on the air there is just not enough to go round.”
For further information follow this link
Sheffield Live! 93.2FM Gig @ the Harley
An event for Sheffield Live’s Summer Appeal 2009
On Monday 3rd August the Harley Hotel & Bar and Sheffield Live! 93.2FM team up again to showcase the city’s freshest and exciting Indie talent. This event is part of Sheffield Live’s Summer Appeal, to support the good deeds we’re doing in the city. Prepare for a night of eclectic sounds to tingle your earbuds!…
RepoMen: acoustic set from Sheffield post-punk new-wavers, putting down their electric guitars in favour of an acoustic and a double bass.
http://www.myspace.com/repomenuk
Sieben: a.k.a. Matt Howden. One man, his violin and loop pedal. Deep, dark, beautiful amd moving. The word genius is often over-used but not here. Has to be seen to be believed.
http://www.matthowden.com/siebenf.html
Party Horse: Ex-Tiny Dancer’s front man Day Kay and wife Ersula ride into town with a fist full of guitar driven power-pop tunes with a metallic edge. “Like a Anglo/Dutch Fleetwood Mac brought up on grilled cheese”. Tasty!
http://www.myspace.com/partyhorsemusic
The night will close with Sheffield Live! DJ sets from the fabulous people behind ‘The Indie Hour’ and ‘The Breakdown.’
Doors open at 8pm and £3 gets you in…
Don’t forget to keep it tuned to Sheffield Live! to hear tracks from all the bands and interviews with all the music makers!
On 20 July 2009, in an Open Letter to the Prime Minister, community radio leaders, media scholars and experts, including 60 community radio stations, called for a fair settlement for community radio including a sizeable increase in the Community Radio Fund.
Now you can add your voice to their call.
A petition has been launched, backed by community radio stations including Sheffield Live! and calling on the Prime Minister “to support the sustainability and growth of community radio by substantially increasing the resources of the Community Radio Fund.”
Support Community Radio!
Sign the petition!
Tell Your Friends!
For updates follow:
http://twitter.com/allthevoices/
For further information follow this link