National News

Archibald and Pidcock take maiden titles in cycling grand prix

Sheffield’s centre was closed to cars and buses as the HSBC UK National Circuit Championships cycling event took place with Katie Archibald and Tom Pidock both first time winners. The cycling grand prix event, held in Sheffield for the sixth year, is one of the highlights of the elite road racing calendar with some of the country’s top professional riders going head-to-head for the prestigious red, white and blue national champions’ jerseys. Seventeen year old Pidcock continued his remarkable rise to prominence by winning the mens’ race while Archibald took the women’s title. Simon Thake reports for Sheffield Live!

Sheffield city centre station confirmed for HS2

Government has announced that Sheffield city centre train station has been approved for connection to the high-speed rail route HS2. The route will provide two trains an hour between Sheffield and London. The decision has been welcomed local businesses and politicians. Baillor Jalloh reports for Sheffield Live!

Sheffield hosts end of season goalball tournament

The English Institute of Sport played host to an end of season tournament and awards event for goalball, the only paralympic team sport designed for the visually impaired. Played with raised markings on the floor, blindfolds are used to ensure an even playing field as players locate the ball through sound. Goalball is played by men and women and Goalball UK has supported a highly successful national women’s team. Simon Thake reports for Sheffield Live!

 

Channel 4 relocation could deliver £1bn to the local economy

Sheffield Council have released details of their bid to bring Channel 4 to Sheffield including visualisations of a TV production headquarters next to Sheffield Station. Sheffield is one of several cities that have thrown their hat into the ring in respond to a government consultation on moving the public service channel out of London. It is estimated a Sheffield headquarters could bring over 4,000 highly skilled jobs to the city by 2027. Azz Mohammed reports for Sheffield Live!

Mobile app launched to tackle child sexual exploitation

An innovative mobile phone app has being launched at an event in Rotherham as part of the national effort to combat child sexual exploitation. The Nimos Safeguarding app is aimed at trusted professionals working in health, education, social services and the voluntary sector. It operates on mobile phones, tablets and desktop devices. The app is designed to assist the collection of non-criminal information and suspicions that might otherwise be missed and which could contribute to the prevention of abuse and the protection of children. Baillor Jalloh reports for Sheffield Live!

Sheffield bids for Channel 4 relocation

Sheffield Council has submitted proposals to bring Channel 4 to the city in response to a government consultation on relocation of the public service television channel. Sheffield faces stiff competition from Cardiff, Liverpool, Bradford and Birmingham, as well as Manchester where the BBC’s Media City is situated. Government is seeking views on relocation of the broadcaster’s activities to an outside London location to help drive creative jobs in the regions. Sheffield Live! reporter Simon Thake spoke to Councillor Mazher Iqbal.

Citizens Advice seeks delay to Universal Credit roll out

Citizens Advice Sheffield has called on the government to fix the new Universal Credit welfare scheme before it is further rolled out in the city. Sheffield has a temporary Universal Credit ‘live service’ for people with straightforward claims but the charity has warned that implementation has been problematic, putting people at financial risk as they wait six weeks or more for their first payment. The numbers struggling to set up on the Universal Credit scheme could grow rapidly from July 2018, when ‘full service’ arrives, meaning anyone still in receipt of older benefits, such as tax credits or housing benefit, has to apply for Universal Credit. It is projected that 69,000 households across Sheffield will be moved to the Universal Credit scheme by 2022. Simon Thake reports for Sheffield Live!

Humanitarian mission to deliver aid from Sheffield to Syria

Humanitarian activist and spoken word artist, Assim Khan, of Darnall, is to embark on a trip to the Syrian border to deliver aid to those displaced by war. The project has taken over six months to plan and will deliver £50,000 of humanitarian aid supplies. Sheffield Live! reporter Azz Mohammed spoke to Aasim Khan about the mission.

Sheffield legend Joe Cocker story told in new biopic

New documentary Joe Cocker: Mad Dog with Soul features never-before-seen footage of the Sheffield soul and blues legend including backstage at the celebrated 1969 Woodstock Festival. The recently released film, which was on show at Sheffield Doc/Fest tracks the star’s musical career and difficult journey to sobriety with archive footage and interviews with close associates. Sheffield Live! reporter Simon Thake spoke to film director John Edginton.