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Local charity campaigns on disability hate crime

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.

Save Sheffield Central Library petition reaches 8,000 signatures

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.

Western Road residents campaign to save war memorial trees

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.

More awards for Sheffield environmental scheme

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!

Figure skating championships return to Sheffield

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.

Students Union elections at Sheffield College

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.

Council defends Sheffield Central Library redevelopment plan

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!

Award for community cinema that puts audience in the picture

Handmade Cinema was awarded Most Innovative Organisation at the Voluntary Action Sheffield Make a Difference Awards for transforming the way young people watch films. The community cinema, founded in 2012, engages with it’s audience by creating a real life feel around the chosen film, allowing children and parents to take part in craft, film-making and other activities based on the film’s theme and ideas. Sheffield Live! reporter Azz Mohammed spoke to Ellie Ragdale, creative director at Handmade Cinema.

Sheffield caroling traditions celebrated at Winter Gardens

Sheffield Carol Day, an event to celebrate local Sheffield carols was held in the Winter Gardens on Saturday to mark the countdown to Christmas. The event organised by local folk collective, Soundpost, included local groups performing their favourite carols and encouraged to join the singing and celebration. Sheffield Live! reporter Shamaan Freeman-Powell spoke to local singer, Gina Walter, about the history of Sheffield carols and caroling.

Hundreds gather in rally to save Sheffield trees

Hundreds of people gathered on Rustlings Road on Saturday for a rally to protest against felling of trees lining Sheffield streets. The event follows the removal of eight trees on Rustlings Road in the early hours of 17 November, where three people were arrested. The council say the trees are damaging pavements which would cost £50,000 to repair, but an independent report found no “arboricultural reason” to remove all but one of the eight trees. The event was organised by the Sheffield Tree Action Group. A council spokesperson said “”We would like to offer an apology to the people of Sheffield who were affected by the way in which we took the trees down on Thursday of last week. We are sorry for the disruption and distress caused by the work starting at 5am”. Shamaan Freeman-Powell reports for Sheffield Live!