Staff at the University of Sheffield’s Students’ Union have expressed disappointment at university plans to reduce the wages of furloughed staff to 80 per cent during the coronavirus pandemic. Sheffield Live! spoke to Josh Berlyne, who works part-time in a student union cafe and is a Unite the Union representative at Sheffield University Students’ Union. Sean Johnson reports.
Sheffield Council has responded to pressure from teachers and parents by extending until 15th June the date on which schools are planned to re-open. Government advice was to reopen on 1st June however over thirty local authorities in England have pushed back the re-opening date while schools in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are not planned to re-open before September. Sheffield Live! reporter Azz Mohammed spoke to Toby Mallinson, district joint secretary for the National Education Union.
Rotherham-based animal rescue charity Rain Rescue is facing an uncertain future due to the impact of the coronavirus on its fundraising and donations. Since its foundation in 2002 the charity has saved the lives of thousands of cats and dogs including abandoned and unwanted animals for which its rescue centre provides space and support to recover while a new home is being sought. Sheffield Live! reporter Azz Mohammed spoke to Shelley Richmond, chair of Rain Rescue.
Sheffield Royal Society for the Blind has furloughed 80 per cent of their staff to cope with the lockdown and reduced revenues. The charity provides support, friendship and services to over 3,600 blind and partially sighted people in Sheffield with over 300 weekly visitors in normal times to its Mappin Street premises. Sheffield Live! reporter Azz Mohammed spoke to Joanne Arden, deputy manager for Sheffield Royal Society for the Blind.
Local perspectives and reports on the coronavirus crisis from the UK’s Local TV Network and internationally. A Channel 7 co-production.
Yorkshire Cancer Research has launched a new stop smoking service offering 12 weeks of personal support with an NHS advisor and access to nicotine-based aids to help smokers quit. Sheffield Live reporter Azz Mohammed spoke to Leah Holtam, cancer insight manager for Yorkshire Cancer Research.
A group of retired doctors, GPs and former public health directors have completed a trial phase in Heeley and Meersbrook of a community contact tracing project that aims to reduce the spread of the coronavirus. The pioneering scheme has been coordinated with local GPs to engage with individuals who have been infected with Covid-19 together with their recent contacts and to train community-based volunteers to offer personal support and guidance. The initiative has benefited from support of local community organisation, Heeley Development Trust, who have already been providing food, medicines and other support for vulnerable people in the neighbourhood. Building on the lessons learned, the scheme could be rolled out further across Sheffield and elsewhere. Sheffield Live! reporter Azz Mohammed spoke to retired GP, Dr Jack Czauderna.
Teachers have had to adapt to the lockdown by putting learning and support online to keep pupils engaged pending the reopening of schools. Sheffield Live! reporter Azz Mohammed spoke to Roger Pope, spokesperson for the National Get Into Teaching Campaign.
A popular Spring Bank Holiday arts workshop series for 7-12 year olds run by Ignite Imaginations in collaboration with Sheffield Libraries is to be run this year as a virtual event. A series of daily, free, artist-led activities will be available online from Monday with a video and online activities sheet for each workshop. Sheffield Live reporter Azz Mohammed spoke to Vicky Rolley, project coordinator for Ignite Imaginations, and Claire South, senior young people’s officer for Sheffield Libraries.
A Sheffield woman is facing a strict lockdown in Colombia after a business trip to the country left her unable to return due to cancelled flights and the closure of airports. Natalia Welch is the founder and manager of Pura Panela which imports handcrafted sugars. She is now staying with family in Colombia under a strict lockdown with just an hour of exercise allowed per day and keeping in touch with her Sheffield partner by video conference. Azz Mohammed reports for Sheffield Live!