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Nightclubs and music venues remain shut with many at risk of permanent closure as pubs, bars and barber shops re-open under government guidelines for hospitality venues. Iconic Sheffield venues The Leadmill and Corporation are among venues at risk according to the Music Venue Trust. Meanwhile Sheffield Council has apologised for a swiftly withdrawn tweet which surprised pub landlords by warning coronavirus “will already be there waiting for you”. Sheffield Live! reporter Azz Mohammed spoke to Mark Hobson, managing director of Corporation and Trafalgar Warehouse.
Trades unionists and campaigners held a rally outside Royal Hallamshire Hospital in support of the NHS ahead of a nationwide ‘clap for carers’ planned for Sunday at 5pm as the NHS celebrates its 72nd birthday. Sheffield Live! reporter Azz Mohammed spoke to Ruth Milsom of Sheffield Save Our NHS and Martin Mayer, secretary of Sheffield Trades Union Council.
Pubs and other hospitality venues are set to reopen from this weekend but with distancing and other measures in place bars to reduce the risk of coronavirus transmission. Maurice Champeau, manager of Crookes Social Club has welcomed the news but told Sheffield Live! the venue will have to drop its indoor capacity by 40 per cent and has converted the outdoor bowling green for customer use. Azz Mohammed reports.
Cancer Research UK is reopening its charity shops and asking the public to donate unwanted items having been forced to close during the coronavirus lockdown. The charity shops provide a major source of income to the charity whose research labs and clinical trials were also put on hold. Sheffield Live! reporter Azz Mohammed spoke to Nicky Embleton, regional relations officer for Cancer Research UK.
Disability campaigners have called on the government to extend beyond the end of June the suspension of benefit sanctions and other financial measures to assist the most disadvantaged. As the coronavirus pandemic took hold the government introduced temporary measures to assist people on Universal Credit and other benefits including a deferred timetable for repayment of overpaid benefits and suspension of the sanctions regime for those on Job Seekers Allowance. These arrangements are due to expire at the end of June but campaigners argue they should be maintained for the time being to help those in financial difficulty. Sheffield Live! reporter Azz Mohammed spoke to Jennifer Jones of Disabled People Against Cuts – Sheffield.
Charities and community hubs in Sheffield have written to the government calling for more support for community-led responses to Covid-19 including in the track and trace strategy and follow-up support. Voluntary Action Sheffield and 25 other charities and community organisations have written to health secretary Matt Hancock highlighting the community-based track, trace and isolate scheme piloted in Heeley. Sheffield Live reporter Azz Mohammed spoke to retired GP Dr Jack Czauderna.
Lifestyle and behaviour changes during lockdown including reduced travel and lower consumption could, if sustained, aid a green recovery, according to environmental experts. Anna Hawkins, lecturer in environmental social science at Sheffield Hallam University, told Sheffield Live! that individual changes such as eating less meat and travelling less can benefit the environment but structural changes are also needed by large organisations. Beth Gavaghan reports.
The Orgreave Truth and Justice Campaign organised a virtual rally attended by 100s of activists to mark 36 years since the events known as the Battle of Orgreave during the 1984/85 miners’ strike. Although many involved have since passed away the campaign is continuing its call for a public inquiry into the events of June 1984 when miners were assaulted and arrested by police on charges later dropped after allegations emerged of fabricated evidence and police brutality. The virtual rally included speakers from the Hillsborough Justice Campaign and Justice4Grenfell. Sheffield Live! reporter spoke to Chris Peace, event organiser and activist with Orgreave Truth and Justice Campaign.
Sheffield’s UnShut Festival of Performance is set to launch a three day virtual events programme of radical and experimental new performance art, online, by post and in the streets. UnShut began as a theatre festival in Sheffield in 2017 and is now home to an array of new talent which is to be showcased in the first week of July. Sheffield Live! reporter Azz Mohammed spoke to Lydia Cottrell, marketing officer for UnShut Festival.