Senior health bosses have laid bare the scale of the challenge facing Sheffield’s NHS services following the publication of a major report which called for ‘radical change’. South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw are tasked with saving hundreds of millions of pounds by 2020 to address an estimated shortfall of £571 million. Sheffield Live! reporter Simon Thake spoke to Dr Jillian Creasy of the Save Our NHS campaign.
Burngreave Food Bank is one of a national network of foodbanks that rely on the time and generosity of thousands of volunteers to give emergency food and support for people in crisis. International Volunteer Day (IVD) is an occasion to celebrate the efforts and values of volunteers and to promote their work among communities. The Trussell Trust runs a network of over 400 foodbanks across the UK, including Burngreave Food Bank. In the last year they gave over one million three day emergency food supplies to people in crisis, many among the 13 million people living below the poverty line. Sheffield Live! reporter Simon Thake spoke to volunteers and organisers at Burngreave Food Bank.
A new football hub has been opened at Thorncliffe Park following the launch last month at Graves Park of the first of a network of grassroots football hubs. The Parklife programme is a new initiative to develop sustainable community football hubs across the country, raising playing standards and opportunities for all. It is funded by The Football Association, the Premier League and Department of Culture Media and Sport through Sport England and works in partnerships with local authorities and the Football Foundation. Sheffield Live! reporter Bailor Jalloh spoke to Councillor Mary Lea, cabinet response for culture, sport and leisure at Sheffield City Council.
On International Day for People with Disability, local charity, Disability Sheffield, is raising awareness of hate crimes against people with disability. In partnership with the Showroom Cinema and Warp Films, Disability Sheffield screened the BAFTA nominated film “Dead Man’s Shoes” which takes a stark look at the effects of disability hate crime. The main aim of the screening is to raise awareness of disability hate crime in the region. Sheffield Live! reporter Baillor Jalloh spoke to Kathryn Littlewood, development officer at Disability Sheffield.
A petition to keep Sheffield Central Library in its existing grade II listed building has reached over 8,000 signatures. Sheffield City Council has opened discussions with Chinese investment partner Guodong UK Limited over proposals to sell off the Central Library to become the city’s first five star hotel. The Council has said the building is in need of repairs which would cost at least £30 million and an alternative option would be to build a new modern library elsewhere in the city centre. Sheffield Live! reporter Simon Thake spoke to Rebecca Gransbury who started the petition.
Resident and campaigners are calling on Sheffield Council to re-examine plans to cut down trees on Western Road planted to honour soldiers killed in the First World War. Ninety-six trees were planted in 1919. Sixty remain including 23 planted in memory of a group of young soldiers who attended nearby Westways primary school and were killed in the war. The site is still a registered war memorial and the group ‘Western Road Remembers’ has been set up to protect the memorial. Western Road is the latest road earmarked for tree felling after recent protest and arrests in Nether Edge and on Rustlings Road. Protestors Calvin Payne and Simon Crump, arrested in Nether Edge, will return to court for a full hearing in March 2017. Sheffield Live! reporter Simon Thake spoke with Western Road Remembers campaigner, Alan Story.
Sheffield’s ‘Grey to Green’ scheme has won further regional and national awards for its innovation in environmental improvement. Following success at the Sheffield Design Awards, the scheme has been recognised by Yorkshire in Bloom and the Ceequal National Awards as well as being crowned a National Green Champion at the Green Apple Awards. The Grey to Green corridor has transformed Sheffield’s Riverside Business District with public art, benches, planting and sustainable drainage. Shamaan Freeman-Powell reports for Sheffield Live!
Britains brightest ice skating talents have returned to iceSheffield for the week long British Figure Skating Championships 2016. Starting with novice skaters and moving on to older professionals towards the end of the week, the event runs until 4th December. Sheffield Live! reporter Azz Mohammed spoke with Alistair Wilson, technical director at the National Ice Skating Association of Great Britain, and novice skater Ava Mclean, competing at the event for the first time.
Sheffield College Students Union elected its new officers for 2016/17 with more candidates standing than ever before. The Union, which was relaunched in 2012, confirmed the election of eleven officers whose roles include student support and representation on the College’s governing body. Sheffield Live! reporter Azz Mohammed spoke to Amy Smith, new president of Sheffield College Students Union.
Deputy Council leader Leigh Bramall defended plans to turn Sheffield’s central library into a five star hotel in an interview with Sheffield Live! The deal was signed with Chinese construction firm Guodong UK Ltd in July to build the city’s first five star hotel, as part of £220 million pounds investment pledged over three years. A new modern central library is to be built elsewhere in the city centre. The council estimate up to £30 million pounds would be needed to bring the library up to modern day standards. Simon Thake reports for Sheffield Live!