Councillor Jim Steinke, cabinet member for neighbourhoods and community safety, told Sheffield Live! there is a need for better quality temporary accommodation for the homeless. His comments came as rough sleepers erected two makeshift tents last weekend at Park Hill flats, nearly two years after the previous “Tent City” was shut down by the authority. Baillor Jalloh reports.
Rail travellers returning to work after the festive holidays have faced a blow as train fares have increased by an average of 3.1 per cent in England and Wales. Campaigners calling for the railway services to be re-nationalised gathered at Sheffield station to greet commuters with leaflets about the change. Baillor Jalloh reports for Sheffield Live!
Campaigners gathered at the Old Heeley Bank school to support the People’s March for Education, a three day walk from Sheffield To Nothingham promoted by the National Union of Teachers. The NUT said the aim of the march is to highlight a “crisis” facing schools and the education system. According to the Union the Government has cut school funding by £2.2 billion since 2015 and plans to cut another £3 billion by 2020. The NUT claims ninety-nine per cent of schools will suffer funding cuts. Baillor Jalloh reports for Sheffield Live!
Sheffield based charity Roundabout are celebrating 40 years of helping vulnerable young people at risk of homelessness in Sheffield with an anniversary fundraising campaign. The registered charity is asking supporters to donate forty pounds each to contribute towards their annual fundraising target of two hundred thousand pounds. Sheffield Live! reporter Sham Powell spoke to Tracey Jackson, deputy chief executive.
Ochre Dike Playing Fields in Waterthorpe has been granted official recognition through the Fields in Trust scheme which protects designated open spaces against commercial development. Located near Crystal Peaks shopping complex, the playing fields are an important green space for those who live, work and study in the area and have been the focus of a campaign by local councillors and residents for the site to stay in public use. Fields in Trust status protects a diversity of open spaces across the UK from sports pitches to children’s playgrounds, bicycle trails to country parks. Ochre Dike Playing Field was formally accepted in 2015 and has now been presented with the official designation plaque at a special ceremony. Simon Thake reports for Sheffield Live!
Former teacher Brian Jackson from Greenhill, Sheffield has pledged to wear a kilt for the whole of 2017 to raise money for motor neurone disease. Brian is known as Bare Legs Brian after undertaking a similar campaign back in 2015 when he wore shorts all year round. Brian’s wife died from motor neurone disease and he is determined to raise money for this fatal disease. Simon Thake reports for Sheffield Live!
Campaigners fighting to save a Sheffield pub received an early Christmas present this week when council officers said plans to turn it into a shop should be rejected. Sainsbury’s revealed its plan to convert The Plough at Sandygate in August, confirming the fears of many living nearby. A community campaign was launched to save the pub and it was successfully listed as an asset of community value, meaning planning permission would be required for any change of use and the community would have six months to bid for it if it went up for sale. Planning officers have now recommended that the Council should reject Sainsbury’s plans. Sheffield Live! reporter Simon Thake spoke to Peter Duff, Chair of the Save the Plough group.
Three young student entrepreneurs from Sheffield Hallam University have launched a crowdfunding campaign to fund the rehabilitation of a homeless man. Their aim is to raise £3,000 to provide three months accommodation, clothing, personal and employment support. Sheffield Live! reporter Simon Thake spoke to James Radford and Jordan Smith.
Campaigners gathered on Devonshire Green on Saturday for the Sheffield Trades Union Council ‘Sheffield needs a pay rise campaign’ in support of the city’s low paid workers. The campaign, focussing on shop workers over the christmas period, is calling for the living wage to be raised to £10 an hour. Orgreave justice campaigner, Barbara Jackson, said “Low pay, zero hours contracts and uncertain work goes back to the defeat of the miners in 1985”.
International Day for the elimination of violence against women, also known as White Ribbon Day, marks the beginning of an annual 16 day international campaign against violence against women. This year South Yorkshire Police are supporting White Ribbon Day with officers and an independent sexual violence advisor available in the police mobile hub in Sheffield City Centre to provide support services and answer questions from the public. Baillor Jalloh reports for Sheffield Live!