Organisations and volunteers from Sheffield’s Black community have come together to support vulnerable people across the city. Adira Mental Health and Wellbeing Services, Gems Hygiene Cleaning Services, Sheffield African and Caribbean Mental Health Association, Church of God Prophecy, SADDACA and New Testament Church of God have joined together to provide fresh food, hot meals and other support for vulnerable people. Baillor Jalloh reports for Sheffield Live!
This year’s Sheffield International Documentary Film Festival has been postponed due to the coronavirus outbreak with some activities to be held online and others to take place later in the year. The festival, which in previous years has brought thousands of delegates to Sheffield from across the UK and worldwide, will be replaced with a series of a virtual events in June and smaller weekender activities planned for later in the year. Sheffield Live! reporter Baillor Jalloh spoke to festival director Cintia Gil.
Seven Sheffield men have joined a fundraising drive for the Sheffield Hospitals Charity by taking the bold step of having their heads shaved as part of a Support Your NHS appeal. With NHS hospitals under increasing pressure due to the coronavirus pandemic Ryan Smith, Adam Cone, Ricky Brunt, Thomas Billam, Liam Howard, Marcus Pike and James Kirkby aim to raise funds for the local hospital to buy additional protective equipment for frontline workers. Baillor Jalloh reports for Sheffield Live!
Sheffield Trades Union Council has called on trades unions, professional associations, campaign groups and others to form an action group to support workers and vulerable people affected by the coronavirus crisis. Baillor Jalloh reports for Sheffield Live!
Over 100 MPs have signed a letter to Universities Minister Michelle Donelan calling for support for students affected by the coronavirus outbreak. The MPs have called for a flexible approach to assessment, refund of rents on unoccupied accommodation and a temporary suspension of rules preventing students claiming universal credit. Speaking to Sheffield Live! Paul Blomfield, MP for Sheffield Central, said thousands of students have lost their casual jobs due to the coronavirus. Baillor Jalloh reports.
Greg Fell, Director of Public Health, told Sheffield Live! the city’s hospitals are treating hundreds of Covid-19 patients but are coping with the surge. There have been 822 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Sheffield as of 6 April, according to Public Health England, but thousands more are likely to have been infected by the coronavirus. There have been 51 Covid-19 related deaths reported in Sheffield hospitals. Baillor Jalloh reports.
A Sheffield nurse has spoken to Sheffield Live! about the challenges facing doctors, nurses and other NHS staff and has called on people to follow the public health guidelines on staying at home. Rosaline Bazzie, who works as a staff nurse at the Northern General Hospital, said the job has been challenging recently due to a lack of sufficient personal protective equipment but she said there has been significant improvement over the last week. Baillor Jalloh reports for Sheffield Live!
Paul Blomfield, MP for Sheffield Central, is among local MPs welcoming news of the election of Sir Keir Starmer as new leader of the Labour Party. The 57-year old defeated Rebecca Long-Bailey and Lisa Nandy in a ballot of party members, trade unionists and registered supporters and will succeed Jeremy Corbyn as opposition leader. The lawyer, who became an MP in 2015, won on the first round of voting, with more than 50% of ballots cast. Baillor Jalloh reports for Sheffield Live!
Volunteers have been coming forward across the city to support the vulnerable through local voluntary organisations and neighbourhood-based mutual aid groups. Sheffield Live! spoke to volunteer Julian Hales who has been delivering food to vulnerable and isolated people in the S5 area. Baillor Jalloh reports.
Age UK Sheffield have launched a fundraising campaign to raise £50,000 to help deliver food, prescriptions and other basic necessities to the city’s most vulnerable people during the coronavirus outbreak. The charity says it is helping over 1000 vulnerable people in the city and demand is increasing. Sheffield Live! reporter Baillor Jalloh spoke to Steve Chu, chief executive of Age UK Sheffield.