Sheffield News

Teachers’ strikes continue over pay dispute

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.

Sheffield young artists’ exhibition opens

An art exhibition displaying over 900 paintings submitted by students aged 5 to 18 years from 46 schools in Sheffield is on display at Central United Reformed Church on Norfolk Street. The annual Sheffield Young Artists Exhibition, established 20 years ago, is organised by Abbeydale Rotary Club. Sheffield Live! reporter Baillor Jalloh spoke to organiser Ken Marshall and student artist Liesha Barle.

Foodbank calls for more support for families in need

Hillsborough-based charity S6 Foodbank has welcomed the new cost of living payment to help struggling families but say more support is needed. Speaking to Sheffield Live! Alison Wise said more help is needed for poor households as the number of people using their foodbank has rocketed in the last 12 months. Millions of people on means-tested benefits including Universal Credit and Tax Credit will receive the £301 instalment by mid-May or earlier. Baillor Jalloh reports for Sheffield Live!

Charity opens helpline to support bereaved families

Sheffield based charity, Diverse City Development Trust, has opened a new help line to support bereaved families in the city. Here to Hear, is a multi-lingual and multi-faith bereavement listening service for those struggling to come to terms with loss and grief. Sheffield Live! reporter Ballor Jalloh spoke to helpline support coordinator Rida Shoukat.

Sheffield Muslims celebrate end of Ramadan

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!

Care home seeks donations to enter gardening competition

Firth Park care home Abbey Grange is asking for donations of plants, shrubs, trees and garden tools to help their bid to enter the annual Country Court in Bloom competition. Winning the competition will mean securing extra funding for their comfort fund which provides days-out for residents. Sheffield Live! reporter Baillor Jalloh spoke to Michael Nicolls, well-being coordinator at Abbey Grange care home.

Charity founder’s concern at rise in gun and knife crime

Sahira Irshad, chair of Mums United, a charity that works with parents and young people, spoke to Sheffield Live! after the recent killing of 25-year old Abdullah Hassan in Sheffield. Irshad said she is concerned that knife and gun crime is on the increase in the city. Hassan died after officers found him on Callow Drive in Gleadless Valley on 16 April. A post-mortem examination found he died from a single gunshot wound and police are treating his death as murder. Baillor Jalloh reports.

Local charity to distribute healthy meal packs

Sheffield charity Element Society has completed a successful crowdfunding to teach cost-of-living kitchen skills and provide ingredients for 1800 meal parcels. The project, started during lockdown, was originally funded to give young people the kitchen skills to cook from scratch, so they were able to help support their families with healthier food options. Sheffield Live! reporter Baillor Jalloh spoke to Element Society project advisor Shaun Davies.

Burst water mains hits Burngreave businesses

A Burngreave-based business owner has called on the local authority and Yorkshire Water to investigate the cause of a burst water main in Spital Hill which he says is affecting his business. Yousif Karda, owner of Sudan Tech on Spital Hill, told Sheffield Live! burst water pipes in the area were becoming frequent, with road closures affecting footfall for local businesses. Baillor Jalloh reports.

Stannington residents’ frustration over repair delays

A Stannington resident told Sheffield Live! she is still waiting to have her electric cooker refitted, more than three months after gas pipes were flooded following a water main burst. Mary Aston said there has been no communication or support from Yorkshire Water. More than 2000 properties in Stannington were left without gas in December 2022 following the flooding. Hundreds of domestic gas appliances such as boilers and fires were damaged by water entering the gas main, with many residents seeing water flooding out of their cookers and gas meters. Yorkshire Water said: “We’re doing everything we can to get the issues resolved for customers in Stannington. We can understand how frustrating it must be to still have a damaged gas appliance”. Baillor Jalloh reports.