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Key Fund launches £10m fund to support 300 social enterprises

Key Fund, the North of England’s specialist social investor, has launched a new £10m fund to invest in 300 social enterprises over the next three years. Founded in 1999, the Sheffield-based Key Fund has supported thousands of social enterprises to deliver positive social impact in communities across the North and Midlands. Social enterprises supported can operate across any sector, and could be as diverse as new artists, reducing homelessness, recycling projects and community-run pubs. The new £10m fund includes loan and grant investment packages of up to £150,000 per business. Key Fund have also secured a £4.5m finance arrangement from Big Society Capital, to support general investment activity. Sheffield Live! reporter Simon Thake spoke to Matt Smith, chief executive of Key Fund.

Lord Mayor launches poppy appeal in Sheffield

The Lord Mayor, in keeping with tradition, bought the first poppy at the steps of Sheffield Town Hall to launch this year’s Poppy Appeal. The  Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal recognises the memory of the fallen and the future of the living. The appeal caps a year where the people of Sheffield have remembered tragic events of the First World War, which claimed the lives of 4,898 members of Sheffield City Battalion, and the 100th anniversary of the Battle Of The Somme. Simon Thake reports for Sheffield Live!

Police commissioner calls for short but thorough Orgreave enquiry

Police and Crime Commissioner Dr Alan Billings spoke exclusively on Sheffield Live! this week on the prospects and scope of a new Orgreave enquiry. The Orgreave Truth and Justice Campaign has reiterated the need for a full and thorough inquiry this week while Home Secretary Amber Rudd is expected to announce her intentions by the end of this month. Billings, appearing on Talking Sheffield with Sheffield Live! presenter Nigel Slack explained that he is full supportive of a new inquiry but also stressed the need to learn lessons from the Hillsborough inquiry and therefore for any new investigation to be kept relatively short.

Yorkshire writers reflect on regions sporting downturn

Sports writer Anthony Clavane, author of ‘A Yorkshire Tragedy: The Rise and Fall of a Sporting Powerhouse’ was in conversation at the Off the Shelf Literary Festival. Barnsley poet and broadcaster Ian McMillan interviewed Anthony Clavane earlier this week in a special festival session reflecting on the region’s sporting performance over the last twenty years. Sheffield Live! reporter Simon Thake spoke with the two writers.

Sheffield Young Carers announce charity fundraising concert

The High Sheriff’s Charity Concert is be held at the Cathedral Church of St Marie in support of local charity Sheffield Young Carers. The independent charity was established in 1997 and provides vital support to some of the city’s most vulnerable young carers. Sheffield Live! report Azz Mohammed spoke to the High Sheriff of South Yorkshire, Dr Julie Macdonald.

Darnall post office threatened with closure

A post office in Darnall run by Darnall Forum could close after the charity’s budget was cut by Sheffield City Council. Six years ago Darnall Forum took the lead in re-opening Darnall’s only post office after it had been closed for eight months. Now, faced with budget cuts, the community forum can no longer afford to run the business and is calling for local and community investors to help save the post office and take it into community ownership. Sheffield Live reporter Azz Mohammed spoke to Neil Bishop of Darnall Forum.

Herd of Sheffield bidder donates elephant to local school

Children’s Hospital Charity. Perhaps the most extraordinary story was that of the elephant ‘A Sheffield Summer’. Designed by Jane Norburn an administrator at High Storrs School the school rallied around and raised over two thousand pounds in a bid to keep their elephant at the school. On the auction night however the school was quickly outbid and the elephant snapped up for a whopping £6,200. Just when all seemed lost, the winning bidders called to say they we were so moved they wished to donate the elephant to the school. Sheffield Live! report Simon Thake spoke to Jane Norburn.

Sheffield aid group warn of risks from closure of Jungle camp

Stuart Crossthwaite, general secretary of the South Yorkshire Migration, Asylum and Action Group has warned of chaos from closing the ‘Jungle’ migrant camp in Calais. More than a thousand police and officials in France have been engaged in clearing the camp which has housed at least 7,000 people. The UK has now begun to accept some of the estimated 1300 unaccompanied children from the camp. The first group without family ties to the UK has arrived in Britain under the “Dubs amendment” rules, which grant refuge to the most vulnerable.

Sheffield City Council is seeking more funding to support and house refugees

Councillor Jayne Dunn, cabinet member for housing on Sheffield City Council, is asking the government to give local authorities more money to help refugees. Her plea comes after more than a hundred refugee children arrived in the UK last week from the Calais camp known as the “Jungle.” On Wednesday, French authorities in Calais announced completion of the operation to move thousands of migrants out of the camp. The announcement came as parts of the Jungle continued to burn after fires were set overnight and in the morning. Baillor Jalloh reports for Sheffield Live!

Sheffield launch for first Parklife centre to support grassroots football.

The first of the new Parklife grassroots football hubs in England has been unveiled at Graves Park in Sheffield. The Parklife program is a new initiative to develop sustainable community football hubs across the country, raising playing standards and opportunities for all. The hubs are funded by a partnership between the Football Association, the Premier League and Department of Culture, Media and Sport through Sport England together with local authorities and other local partners. Martin Glenn, chief executive of the FA was at Graves Park for the launch. Baillor Jalloh reports for Sheffield Live!