A group of volunteers have teamed up to organise various events in Sheffield under the banner of the Melanin Festival to celebrate Black History Month. The month recognises the contribution of Black and ethnic minorities in Britain to cultural, political, social and economic life. Black History Month has been celebrated in Sheffield since 1997 though its origins date back to the United States in the 1920s.
The second phase of the Park Hill flats redevelopment has been launched with the unveiling of Sculpture Park Hill, part of a new public artspace. The first commission and the only permanent work planned for the 3.5 acre site are a series of disc-shaped concrete plinths. The Park Hill Plinths have been designed through a collaboration between artist Keith Wilson and landscape architect Tim Osborne. Simon Thake reports for Sheffield Live!
Visitors to Clifton Park, Rotherham enjoyed the spills, thrills and crashes of the award-winning Soap Box Derby in aid of Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice. The Whacky Races style event is into its second year with local teams raising money to race their home made vehicles through the park and over the speed bumps. Designs included a Scooby Doo Mystery Machine, a version of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Star Wars inspired vehicles. Simon Thake reports for Sheffield Live!
Sheffield United youngster, David Brook has been selected to join the Wales national team for the forthcoming World Cup qualifying matches in October against Georgia and the Republic of Ireland. It’s the twenty year old’s first international call up. Blades manager Chris Wilder has been full of praise for Brook and said the youngster is very much his plan for the future.
Sheffield Wednesday head coach Carlos Carvalhal has said he’s not afraid of being sacked despite recent losses. The Owls boss is under pressure after loosing against city rivals Sheffield United at Hillsborough followed by a 0-1 defeat against Birmingham city on Tuesday night. Wednesday are currently fourteenth in the Championship and face another difficult task at the weekend against regional rivals Leeds United.
Hundreds of customers queued up to be among the first through the door at the new IKEA Sheffield store near Meadowhall, on the site of the former Tinsley Wire firm. The Swedish home furnishing giant has created nearly 500 jobs in the region with the IKEA Sheffield store being the 20th opened in the UK. Baillor Jalloh reports for Sheffield Live!
Researchers at Sheffield Hallam University’s Centre for Sport and Exercise Science are looking to recruit 250 research volunteers to take part in a study on the use of e-cigarettes to stop smoking. Funded by Heart Research UK, the volunteers will be split into three groups and monitored over a six month period to compare use of nicotine rich e-cigarettes, nicotine free e-cigarettes and nicotine replacement therapy. Baillor Jalloh reports for Sheffield Live!
Sheffield’s first cafe dedicated to the playing of board games has opened in Boston Street, off London Road. The Treehouse cafe has a library of over three hundred games to choose from along with ‘gaming experts’ to teach customers how to play. Co-owners Andy and Ruth Caigh gave up their full time jobs as a civil servant and engineer to start the new venture. Baillor Jalloh reports for Sheffield Live!
Community leader, Ali Wartty, told Sheffield Live! that many in the Kurdish community support the vote for independence of Iraqi Kurdistan but there remain questions over the referendum’s timing. The controversial ballot resulted in an overwhelming vote of 92 per cent in favour of secession on a 73 per cent turnout from the 3.3m population, according to the electoral commission overseeing the vote. Baillor Jalloh reports for Sheffield Live!
The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children have made 450 referrals to child protection agencies in Yorkshire and the Humber during the last year, a 28 per cent rise on the previous year. The referrals follow reports to the charity’s Helpline of children affected by domestic abuse. Baillor Jalloh reports for Sheffield Live!