Sheffield News

New year Tramlines Festival dates announced following fundraiser success

Tramlines has announced that almost £20,000 was raised for Sheffield charities in last weekend’s online fundraiser as well as confirming festival dates for 2021. The money raised will go to Roundabout, I Forge, Disability Sheffield, Sheffield S6 Food Bank and Cavendish Cancer Care. The weekend online celebration of Tramlines took place on dates previously in the calendar for this year’s festival but cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic. Sheffield Live! reporter Azz Mohammed spoke to Tim Cleasby, operations director at Tramlines Festival.

Sheffield strip club dancers drop court case

Lap-dancers at former Sheffield strip club Spearmint Rhino have dropped their privacy case which followed secret filming inside the club by campaign group Not Buying It. The film allegedly showed the dancers sexually touching customers in breach of licensing rules. Sasha Rakoff of Not Buying It told Sheffield Live! they are pleased the case has been closed. Spearmint Rhino, who did not respond to a request for comment, were reported to have agreed to pay nearly £50,000 in legal costs. Baillor Jalloh reports.

GP service provides home visits for the vulnerable

Sheffield GP practices who make up the Seven Hills Primary Care Network have set up a new home visiting service for those shielding from the coronavirus pandemic or otherwise unable to get to a surgery. Over 700 vulnerable people in Sheffield have so far benefited from the service set up by a group of GP practices and funded by NHS Sheffield Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG). With the easing of the lockdown, doctors’ surgeries have reopened but on a strict appointment basis. Sheffield Live! reporter Azz Mohammed spoke to Lucy Cormack, GP and clinical director for Seven Hills.

Support services failing for women refugees and asylum seekers

Women asylum seekers and refugees are facing multiple challenges including mental health conditions and homelessness linked to the coronavirus pandemic according to a Sheffield-based support group. In a new report, the social enterprise Development and Women’s Advancement (DEWA) found 82 per cent of women interviewed reported their mental health had worsened and 20 per cent had faced homelessness. Among the problems encountered were difficulties accessing food and accommodation and a lack of language support to enable access to information and services. Sheffield Live! reporter Azz Mohammed spoke to the co-founder and development director of DEWA Ibtissam Al-Farah.

Beth Tweddle’s gymnastic curriculum comes to Sheffield schools

Former Olympian Beth Tweddle’s gymnastics programme is to be made available to school children in Sheffield from September following a successful launch in the North West. The new 10-week online programme focuses on physical literacy, as well as the values of friendship, respect and determination. The programme is aligned to Key Stages 1 and 2, with outcomes across the educational curriculum. Baillor Jalloh reports for Sheffield Live!

Covid-19 walk-in test centre opens in Rotherham

A new mobile testing centre has been opened in Rotherham to encourage residents to get tested if they show any symptoms of Covid-19. The new walk-in local testing site on Forge Island is funded by the Department of Health and Social Care and is open from 8am to 8pm seven days a week. Baillor Jalloh reports for Sheffield Live!

Sheffield boy completes second marathon challenge

A nine-year-old boy from Sheffield who has cerebral palsy and autism has raised over £137,000 for charity by walking two marathons. Tobias Weller, known as Captain Tobias, was cheered by hundreds of fans including Olympic gold medallist Jessica Ennis-Hill as he used a walker to cover the 52 miles on the street of Abbey Lane. The money will be shared between Sheffield Children’s Hospital and the Paces special school where he attends. Baillor Jalloh reports for Sheffield Live!

Covid-19 funding appeal raises £900k for community projects

South Yorkshire Community Foundation has raised £900,000 to support community projects responding to Covid-19 since the lockdown began in March. Along with funding from the National Emergency Trust, members of the public have donated to support those affected by the pandemic including community organisations, charities and social enterprises across South Yorkshire. Sheffield Live! reporter Azz Mohammed spoke to Sam Caldwell, head of grants at SYCF.

Volunteers sought to help with tree conservation

Sheffield’s Street Tree Partnership, set up to oversee the city’s new trees strategy, is inviting those who are passionate about trees and wildlife to join a network of community volunteers. The network will help monitor the health of existing street trees and support the planting and care of new young trees to help maintain and increase the street tree canopy. The new trees strategy aims to improve the neighbourhood and city-wide environment by identifying trees that are dying or diseased and proposing locations and species for the planting of additional young trees. Sheffield Live! reporter Azz Mohammed spoke to Darren Butt, the account director for Amey’s Streets Ahead programme.

Tramlines Festival weekend charity fundraiser

Sheffield Tramlines festival has teamed up with Leadmill, Jon McClure and others to raise money for Sheffield causes on what would have been the weekend of Tramlines festival 2020. The event featured a host of online activities from pub quizzes to charity raffles as well as the music. All money raised is to go to Sheffield causes including Roundabout, Sheffield S6 Food Bank, Disability Sheffield, iForge and Cavendish Cancer Care. Sheffield Live ! reporter Azz Mohammed spoke to Alex Deadman of Tramlines Festival.