Sheffield Council is launching an urgent appeal for more adoptive parents following release of a government report that reveals the number of children adopted in Yorkshire is at a record low. Government figures reveal only 430 children found permanent new parents in 2018, down from 690 in 2015. Sheffield Council is appealing for more people to come forward to adopt children currently in local authority care including unaccompanied child refugees. Baillor Jalloh reports for Sheffield Live!
Councillor Jim Steinke, cabinet member for neighbourhoods and community safety, told Sheffield Live! there is a need for better quality temporary accommodation for the homeless. His comments came as rough sleepers erected two makeshift tents last weekend at Park Hill flats, nearly two years after the previous “Tent City” was shut down by the authority. Baillor Jalloh reports.
Rail travellers returning to work after the festive holidays have faced a blow as train fares have increased by an average of 3.1 per cent in England and Wales. Campaigners calling for the railway services to be re-nationalised gathered at Sheffield station to greet commuters with leaflets about the change. Baillor Jalloh reports for Sheffield Live!
A Sheffield-based migration rights group is calling on the government to assure safe passage for refugees and asylum seekers crossing the Channel to enter the UK. Stuart Crossthwaite, of the South Yorkshire Migration and Asylum Action Group, said the government should provide a “safe and legal route to allow people to exercise their rights to claim asylum”. The comments came as Home Secretary Sajid Javid announced two additional UK Border Force boats will be deployed to patrol the Channel. Baillor Jalloh reports for Sheffield Live!
Two South Yorkshire women are set to launch a new health and well being initiative for women following news of a start-up grant from the Big Lottery. Zainab Deen and Linda Walmsley have formed Sisters With One Voice to provide peer support and drop-in facilities form women facing challenges in their lives. Baillor Jalloh reports for Sheffield Live!
Sheffield Wednesday have ended the contract of manager Jos Luhukay less than a year after his appointment at Hillsborough. Sheffield Live! asked fans for their reaction. Baillor Jalloh reports.
With debate continuing over the government’s proposals on Britain leaving the European Union, Sheffield Live! asked local residents their views on Brexit and the proposal on offer. Baillor Jalloh reports.
Demonstrations have been held in Sheffield and across the UK in support of 15 human rights activists who were convicted last week on terror offences after preventing a deportation plane from leaving Stansted airport. The Sheffield protests were held outside the Home Office building at Millsands and also marked International Migrants Day which is observed on 18 December by the United Nations. The Stansted 15 activists locked themselves around a Boeing 767 chartered to return undocumented migrants to Nigeria, Ghana and Sierra Leone and held a banner proclaiming “mass deportations kill”. Sheffield Live! reporter Azz Mohammed spoke to Michael Collins of the Right To Remain campaign.
Shadow Policing Minister, Louise Haigh, told Sheffield Live! Labour will not support the government’s Brexit deal following the postponement of a parliamentary vote on the proposals. In an interview with Sheffield Live! the Heeley MP said: “We are not going to support a deal that will hurt our constituents”. Prime Minister Theresa May has told MPs they will now get to vote on the deal in the week commencing 14 January 2019. Baillor Jalloh reports for Sheffield Live!
University students in Sheffield are being warned to be vigilant as a wave of tax scams are circulating using fake university email addresses. HM Revenue & Customs has received thousands of fraud reports from students across the UK with emails telling students that they are owed money and encouraging them to send their personal details. Sheffield Live! reporter Baillor Jalloh spoke to Sherriff Muhammed, education officer at Sheffield Hallam University Students’ Union.