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Latest news from the Sheffield Live! teams

Film festival marks Transgender Day of Remembrance

Transforming Cinema film festival is being held at venues across Sheffield this weekend to coincide with Transgender Day of Remembrance on Sunday, 20 November. The film festival, produced by E.D.E.N Film Productions, brings together speaker events and films on trans issues and productions from the LGBTQ community. Transgender Day of Remembrance, is an annual memorial to those murdered as a result of trans-phobia, and highlights the violence faced by the transgender community. In Sheffield there will be a vigil at 6pm in Hallam Square. Shamaan Freeman-Powell spoke to festival organiser Claire Watkinson of E.D.E.N. Film production and film producer Taylor Le Fin.

Walkley Library celebrates two years as a community-run library

Walkley Library, which was saved from closure in 2014 after a community campaign, is celebrating two years of running independently as a community library with the support of local volunteers. At an open event to celebrate the achievement members of the public were invited to take part in activities aimed at showing the range of services on offer and to contribute to a survey on further improvements. Shamaan Freeman Powell reports for Sheffield Live!

Sheffield bungee jumper claims Guiness world record

Simon Berry has a become a Guiness world record holder after successfully dunking a chocolate biscuit in a cup of tea from a 73 metre bungee dive. Sheffielder Berry’s passion for tea, biscuits and bungee jumping enabled him to swoop with precision and achieve the world record feat which was confirmed as part of Guiness World Records Day. Sheffield Live! reporter Azz Mohammed spoke to the new world record holder.

Sheffield turns purple for World Prematurity Day

Families gathered in the Peace Gardens as water cascades, lights and nearby buildings turned purple to mark World Prematurity Day. The Sheffield Hospitals Charity and staff from the Neonatal Unit organised the awareness raising event to highlight the challenges of pre-term birth. It is estimated that one in ten babies are born prematurely worldwide and that premature birth is the leading cause of death in infants under five. Around 700 premature and sick babies are admitted annually to the Jessop Wing’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and the number continues to increase. Azz Mohammed reports for Sheffield Live!

Chainsaws before dawn as residents wake to police-backed tree felling operation

Residents in Rustlings Road were awoken before 6am as Sheffield City Council contractors arrived with a police escort as part of a controversial tree felling programme. Home owners and occupants, many of whom have campaigned to save the trees, were awoken by police knocking on their doors to remove vehicles from the road as Amey contractors arrived in a surprise nighttime operation. Three people were reported to have been arrested as furious residents sought to prevent the work going ahead. Sheffield Hallam MP, Nick Clegg expressed outrage at the Council’s action. Azz Mohammed reports for Sheffield Live!

Self Care Week highlights role of high street pharmacies

Sheffield Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) are encouraging patients with minor illnesses to make more use of community pharmacists as part of a week long self care campaign. Sheffield CCG are advising patients to seek out the expert advice and treatment on offer at their local pharmacy for common illnesses such as aches and pains, colds and flu, itchy skin conditions and simple eye infections. Many local pharmacists are now offering private consultation areas and no appointment is needed. Sheffield Live! report Baillor Jalloh spoke to Sheffield GP, David St John Livesey.

PACA wins £130,000 funding award for Page Hall youth project

The Pakistan Advice and Community Association (PACA), based in Page Hall has been awarded £130,000 from the BBC Children in Need fund. The three year funding award will be used to organise activities for communities in the area, engage local youth and to promote integration through English language improvement. PACA provides advice and information services on welfare rights, immigration, debt, employment, consumer rights and housing. The group also offer translation and interpretation services. Sheffield Live! reporter Baillor Jalloh spoke to Ali Hamed, youth worker at PACA.

Greystones residents seek Bingham Park improvements

Residents in Greystones have set up the Bingham Park Community Group to restore the community park’s sports facilities. The group are expecting the council to spend around £70,000 on rejuvenating two of the nine tennis courts but they believe more investment is needed to restore all of the sports facilities. Baillor Jalloh reports for Sheffield Live!