Imagine a music festival line up with headliners Red Hot Chili Peppers, Oasis and Queen, all appearing under a giant marquee in Endcliffe Park. It’s Sheffield Fake Festival 2017. Top tribute acts Really Hot Chili Peppers, Oasish and Flash performed hits of the music industry giants as part of an all day festival of tribute bands in Sheffield this weekend. Simon Thake reports for Sheffield Live!
More than 500 young people from eight different primary schools from across the city have come together to form a mass choir. They will be showcasing their musical talents supported by teachers and the professional music educators at the Sheffield Music Hub.The experience has not only given the children an exciting opportunity it has brought together young people from a range of backgrounds and cultures allowing them to grow and share their musical journeys together. Simon Thake reports for Sheffield Live!
Lord Mayor of Sheffield, Denise Fox, was present at the awards ceremony to recognise residents from Parsons Cross and Loxley involved in Activity Sheffield. The programme supports people and communities in the most deprived neighbourhoods to keep active and to access work. Sheffield Live! reporter Azz Mohammed spoke to Lee Smith, team leader for Activity Sheffield.
Ochre Dike Playing Fields in Waterthorpe has been granted official recognition through the Fields in Trust scheme which protects designated open spaces against commercial development. Located near Crystal Peaks shopping complex, the playing fields are an important green space for those who live, work and study in the area and have been the focus of a campaign by local councillors and residents for the site to stay in public use. Fields in Trust status protects a diversity of open spaces across the UK from sports pitches to children’s playgrounds, bicycle trails to country parks. Ochre Dike Playing Field was formally accepted in 2015 and has now been presented with the official designation plaque at a special ceremony. Simon Thake reports for Sheffield Live!
Campaigners fighting to save a Sheffield pub received an early Christmas present this week when council officers said plans to turn it into a shop should be rejected. Sainsbury’s revealed its plan to convert The Plough at Sandygate in August, confirming the fears of many living nearby. A community campaign was launched to save the pub and it was successfully listed as an asset of community value, meaning planning permission would be required for any change of use and the community would have six months to bid for it if it went up for sale. Planning officers have now recommended that the Council should reject Sainsbury’s plans. Sheffield Live! reporter Simon Thake spoke to Peter Duff, Chair of the Save the Plough group.
The new Sheffield Recovery Community drop-in centre is giving people with drug and alcohol problems a fighting chance to stay clean and sober. The centre at De Hood, Manor Top opened its doors earlier this month. As well as counselling and peer support, the centre offers free boxing training and fitness classes to help people become more healthy and motivated to stay on the road to recovery. The centre is run by professional boxer Reagan Denton who works with young and old in the community. Sheffield Live! reporter Simon Thake spoke to Mick Hartley, a former Sheffield nightclub owner who has been in recovery from addiction and and is the project manager for the drop-in centre.
Handmade Cinema was awarded Most Innovative Organisation at the Voluntary Action Sheffield Make a Difference Awards for transforming the way young people watch films. The community cinema, founded in 2012, engages with it’s audience by creating a real life feel around the chosen film, allowing children and parents to take part in craft, film-making and other activities based on the film’s theme and ideas. Sheffield Live! reporter Azz Mohammed spoke to Ellie Ragdale, creative director at Handmade Cinema.
Sheffield Carol Day, an event to celebrate local Sheffield carols was held in the Winter Gardens on Saturday to mark the countdown to Christmas. The event organised by local folk collective, Soundpost, included local groups performing their favourite carols and encouraged to join the singing and celebration. Sheffield Live! reporter Shamaan Freeman-Powell spoke to local singer, Gina Walter, about the history of Sheffield carols and caroling.
Freda Bradshaw, the 71 year old pensioner arrested last week after protesting the felling of trees on Rustlings Road has spoken to Sheffield Live! of her frustration over the incident. Bradshaw was one of three protestors arrested and later released without charge after being held in a police cell while Amey contractors took chainsaws to the century old trees. Residents were awoken to police knocking on their doors as early as 5am to remove their vehicles from the road so work could commence. Many residents and tree campaigners have been left furious over the action by Sheffield City Council. Baillor Jalloh reports for Sheffield Live!
The Gardeners Rest in Neepsend could become Sheffield first community-owned pub following a successful crowdfunding campaign by the newly formed Gardeners Rest Community Society. When the owners of the Gardeners Rest pub, Eddie Munnelly and Pat Wilson, announced their intention to sell up for a quieter life on a narrow boat, pub regulars grouped together to try to raise the necessary funds to take the pub into community ownership. The Gardeners Rest Community Society intend to maintain the pub and to develop it as a community hub supporting local businesses, artists and community groups. Simon Thake reports for Sheffield Live!