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Latest news from the Sheffield Live! teams

Sheffield anti-racism campaigners join global solidarity march

Members of Sheffield Stand Up to Racism campaign were among thousands joining the TUC backed World Against Racism march in London on Saturday. The demonstration was organised to mark UN International Day Against Racism, which takes place on 21 March, and is part of a global campaign held in cities across the world. Sheffield Live! reporter Azz Mohammed spoke earlier this week to campaign organiser Phil Turner.

Sheffield host England v Scotland dodgeball meet

The newly created British Dodgeball Home Nations League brought its third league fixture to All Saints Sports Centre, Norfolk Park Road, for the meet between England and Scotland dodgeball teams. The Home Nations League was launched in January by British Dodgeball, the national governing body for dodgeball in the UK with the aim to raise awareness and to provide more opportunities for high performance players to develop in the fast growing team sport.

Hundreds attend vigil for Christchurch victims

Hundreds took part in a vigil on Friday evening at Sheffield’s Peace Gardens following the terror attack on two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand in which 50 people died. The main suspect of the attack, Brenton Harrison Tarrant, has since appeared in court and has been charged with murder in connection with the shootings. Azz Mohammed reports for Sheffield Live!

Sheffield solidarity with New Zealand terror attack victims

Sheffielders expressed sadness and solidarity with victims of the terror attack that took place at two mosques in the city of Christchurch, New Zealand leaving 49 people confirmed dead and over 20 injured. The gunman live-streamed the attack on social media leaving tech companies struggling to catch-up as the video went viral. Sheffield Live! reporter Azz Mohammed spoke to community leaders at Sheffield’s Madina Mosque and to others who came to show their solidarity.

Government injects £100m to tackle knife crime

South Yorkshire Police are set to share with other police forces across the country an additional £100m of government funding to help deal with the surge in knife crime. The cash is to be used for police overtime and to fund new ‘Violent Crime Reduction Units’. South Yorkshire Police have been running a campaign this week to raise awareness about knife crime and to reduce the numbe of weapons on the streets. Sheffield Live! reporter Baillor Jalloh spoke to detective superintendent Una Jennings.

MPs reject no deal Brexit

Members of Parliament, including all of Sheffield’s MPs, have voted to reject a no deal Brexit, following the second defeat of the Prime Minister’s withdrawal plans. Speaking to Sheffield Live! earlier this week, Sheffield Central MP and Shadow Brexit Minister, Paul Blomfield, said: “the negotiations have been handled catastrophically by the government”. Baillor Jalloh reports.

Future in doubt for U-Mix youth centre

Funding cuts have put the future of the groundbreaking U-Mix youth and community centre in doubt as talks between Sheffield Council and the charity Football Unites Racism Divides reach a critical stage. The £2.5m centre was opened in 2013, in Lowfield, under the management of FURD, and with grants from the Football Foundation and the government’s My Place initiative through the Big Lottery Fund. Sheffield Live! reporter Azz Mohammed spoke to FURD co-founder and charity trustee Howard Holmes.

£715,000 grant to boost Sheffield construction jobs

Sheffield has been awarded £715,000 by the Department of Education to train a new generation of young people to fill skills shortages in the construction industry. The grant, from the Construction Skills Fund, will enable Sheffield Council to create a local training hub, called the Building Block, which will open later this month and aims to train up to 650 young people for an expected 250 local jobs created by 2020. Baillor Jalloh reports for Sheffield Live!