As part of Deaf Awareness Week, the RNID charity, which supports people with hearing difficulties, is calling for more support for people who are deaf or have hearing loss. The campaign aims to increase public awareness in the workp;ace and daily lfe about the nature of deafness and the communities, cultures, languages, and sign languages of deaf people. Sheffield Live! reporter Bailor Jalloh spoke to Teri Devine, director for inclusion at RNID.
Pupils and parents faced another day of disruption this week as teachers in England went on strike again over their ongoing pay dispute with government. Members of the National Education Union (NEU) in England were out of their classrooms on Tuesday for the fifth day of national strike action this year. On previous strike days, dozens of schools in South Yorkshire were either fully or partially closed. Sheffield Live! reporter Baillor Jalloh spoke to Toby Malinson, joint branch secretary for the NEU Sheffield branch.
Thousands of Muslims across South Yorkshire celebrated the end of Ramadan, known as Eid Al-Fitr, on Friday and Saturday. The festival follows 29 days of fasting in which Muslims are not allowed to eat or drink from dawn to dusk. Baillor Jalloh reports for Sheffield Live!
A report by MPs on the Women and Equalities Committee has called on the government to speed up the process to tackle what it described as “appalling” higher death rates in childbirth for black women and those from deprived areas. Hora Soltani, professor of maternal and infant health at Sheffield Hallam University said the report is timely and it is important the disparities are addressed. Baillor Jalloh reports for Sheffield Live!
Junior doctors across South Yorkshire joined others from across England in a four day walkout over pay and conditions. The British Medical Association (BMA) is calling for junior doctors to be given a 35 per cent pay rise to make up for years of below-inflation increases. However, the government has argued the union’s pay demands are unaffordable. Sheffield Live! reporter Baillor Jalloh spoke to BMA representative Peter Jackson.
Teachers in England are set to go on strike again later this month and in early May after the UK’s largest education union voted overwhelmingly to reject a new pay offer from the government. The National Education Union (NEU) has rejected the latest offer and described it as an “insult” to teachers. The offer, which the government has descrbed as “fair and reasonable”, consisted of a one-off payment of £1,000, a 4.3% pay rise and an increase in starting salaries to £30,000. A ballot of NEU members resulted in 98% in favour of turning the deal down. Sheffield Live! reporter Baillor Jalloh spoke to Simon Murch, joint secretary of the Sheffield branch of the NEU.
Floral tributes have been laid at Sheffield’s Peace Gardens and a book of condolence opened in the city’s Town Hall for public tributes following the death of Queen Elizabeth II at the age of 96. Baillor Jalloh reports for Sheffield Live!
The Lord Mayor of Sheffield Sioned-Mair Richards said: “On behalf of the City Council and the people of Sheffield I want to express our great sadness at the news of the death of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth today. Our sincere condolences go to members of the Royal Family at this time of sadness and personal loss. Her reign will be acknowledged in history as one of the greatest of all monarchs and, through years of major challenges and difficulties for the country, she retained a true sense of dignity throughout.
“I recall the enthusiastic welcome given by the people of Sheffield when the late Queen visited the city in April 2015. It will be an event that many will remember for the rest of their lives and will always be a significant day in Sheffield’s history.
As a mark of respect, flags are to be flown at half-mast on civic buildings. Books of Condolence will also be opened in Sheffield and Stocksbridge Town Halls from 9am to 6pm, Monday to Friday until the day after the funeral. There will also be an eBook of Condolence on the City Council’s website and the Royal website at royal.gov.uk.
Floral tributes may be laid in a specially designated area of the Peace Gardens in the city centre.
Britain’s longest-reigning monarch has died, aged 96.
Her eldest son, now King Charles III, said: “The death of my beloved mother, Her Majesty The Queen, is a moment of the greatest sadness for me and all members of my family”.
Sheffield rail travellers spoke to Sheffield Live! following the government decision to axe the eastern leg of HS2. The plan to connect leeds and Manchester to the the HS2 network are to be replaced with the Integrated Rail Plan (IRP) which promises faster train journeys between the East and West Midlands, Yorkshire and the North West, with £96bn expected to be invested into the upgraded rail network. Baillor Jalloh reports.