Sections

Longest running folk festival returns to Sheffield

The student-run Inter Varsity Folk Dance Festival, which returns to Sheffield for the ninth time, was first launched in Leeds in 1951 and is the UK’s longest continually running folk festival. Followers of folk music and dance from across the country will get to enjoy the three day festival packed with workshops, performances, singarounds and dances. Sheffield Live! reporter Azz Mohammed spoke to Charlotte Robinson of the Sheffield University Ceilidh Society.

University staff strike over pensions row

University staff on strike together with students and other supporters held a rally outside the University of Sheffield on Western bank in a protest over changes to staff pensions which would see many worse off after retirement. Sheffield Live! reporter Azz Mohammed spoke to Craig Brandist, president of Sheffield University branch of the University and Colleges Union.

Selective licensing decision looms for Sheffield landlords

Sheffield Council’s consultation on selective licensing of landlords in the London Road, Abbeydale Road and Chesterfield Road corridors is set to close this week. The plans could see over 1,000 tenants gain extra protections from health hazards as well as better housing conditions if additional regulations are put in place. Landlords have expressed concerns and some claim it would lead to them having to charge more rent. Sheffield Live! reporter Azz Mohammed spoke to Jonny Butcher an organiser at Acorn tenants union.

Equalities survey finds employers failing on women’s rights

British employers are described as ‘living in the dark ages’ and having worrying attitudes towards unlawful behaviour when it comes to recruiting women, according to a new report by the Equality and Human Rights Commission. In a survey of more then 1000 private sector business managers around a third agreed it is reasonable during recruitment to ask women about their plans for children in the future. Charlotte Mead, of the Sheffield branch of the Women’s Equality Party told Sheffield Live! she is not surprised by the findings. Baillor Jalloh reports.

Zimbabwean community mourns former opposition leader

The death of former Zimbabwean opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai has saddened many from Sheffield’s Zimbabwean community. The former leader of Zimbabwe’s Movement for Democratic Change died of cancer whilst receiving treatment in Pretoria. Sheffield-based Dr Nkululeko Sibanda, a former MDC member who has also been an advisor to Morgan Tsvangirai, spoke to Sheffield Live! reporter Baillor Jalloh.

Sheffielders call for solidarity with migrants

Hundreds took part in a march from Devonshire Green to Sheffield Town Hall as part of a national day of action to celebrate diversity and the contribution of migrants to British society. The “1 Day Without Us” campaign grew from an idea posted on social media by Sheffield author and journalist Matt Carr in response to the rise of xenophobia after the Brexit vote. It has grown into a national and international solidarity campaign with action groups in towns and cities across the UK. Baillor Jalloh reports for Sheffield Live!