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Sheffield pub gets Christmas boost as officials recommend rejecting supermarket bid

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.

Hallam students crowdfund for homeless man

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.

Trade union campaign says “Sheffield needs a payrise”

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”.

South Yorkshire Police join campaign to end violence against women

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!

Public health campaign seeks to raise HIV awareness

Sheffield’s public health unit is getting behind the national HIV Awareness Week to raise awareness of the disease and the benefits of getting tested. The week long campaign which runs up to 1st December, World AIDS Day will highlight the impact of HIV on people’s lives and promote access to the screening tests available. Sheffield Live! reporter Simon Thake spoke to Greg Fell, director of public health at Sheffield City Council.

Harrassment of councillor’s family condemned by tree campaigners

Deepa Shetty, of Sheffield Tree Action Groups, said there was no place for harrassment of members of a local councillor’s family in the campaign to save Sheffield trees. Councillor Bryan Lodge has defended the Sheffield City Council action to cut down trees in Rustlings Road which left many residents furious. Subsequently it has been reported that the councillor’s family faced harrassment at their home. Baillor Jalloh reports for Sheffield Live!

Film festival marks Transgender Day of Remembrance

Transforming Cinema film festival is being held at venues across Sheffield this weekend to coincide with Transgender Day of Remembrance on Sunday, 20 November. The film festival, produced by E.D.E.N Film Productions, brings together speaker events and films on trans issues and productions from the LGBTQ community. Transgender Day of Remembrance, is an annual memorial to those murdered as a result of trans-phobia, and highlights the violence faced by the transgender community. In Sheffield there will be a vigil at 6pm in Hallam Square. Shamaan Freeman-Powell spoke to festival organiser Claire Watkinson of E.D.E.N. Film production and film producer Taylor Le Fin.

Walkley Library celebrates two years as a community-run library

Walkley Library, which was saved from closure in 2014 after a community campaign, is celebrating two years of running independently as a community library with the support of local volunteers. At an open event to celebrate the achievement members of the public were invited to take part in activities aimed at showing the range of services on offer and to contribute to a survey on further improvements. Shamaan Freeman Powell reports for Sheffield Live!

Chainsaws before dawn as residents wake to police-backed tree felling operation

Residents in Rustlings Road were awoken before 6am as Sheffield City Council contractors arrived with a police escort as part of a controversial tree felling programme. Home owners and occupants, many of whom have campaigned to save the trees, were awoken by police knocking on their doors to remove vehicles from the road as Amey contractors arrived in a surprise nighttime operation. Three people were reported to have been arrested as furious residents sought to prevent the work going ahead. Sheffield Hallam MP, Nick Clegg expressed outrage at the Council’s action. Azz Mohammed reports for Sheffield Live!

PACA wins £130,000 funding award for Page Hall youth project

The Pakistan Advice and Community Association (PACA), based in Page Hall has been awarded £130,000 from the BBC Children in Need fund. The three year funding award will be used to organise activities for communities in the area, engage local youth and to promote integration through English language improvement. PACA provides advice and information services on welfare rights, immigration, debt, employment, consumer rights and housing. The group also offer translation and interpretation services. Sheffield Live! reporter Baillor Jalloh spoke to Ali Hamed, youth worker at PACA.