Eight men have been convicted at Sheffield Crown Court of multiple child sexual exploitation offences against three young girls in Rotherham between 1999 and 2003. The conviction follows a four-week trial that began in September and which recalled years of sexual abuse against young girls in Rotherham. Shamaan Freeman-Powell reports for Sheffield Live!
South Yorkshire Police have said they now believe Ben Needham, the Sheffield toddler who disappeared 25 years ago, died in an accident at the time. Detectives who had travelled to the Greek Island of Kos confirmed that the search is over as they conclude the young boy was killed accidentally by a digger driver near the farm house where he disappeared. Ben was 21 months old when he went missing during a family holiday in Kos on 24 July 1991.
Local arts organisations Ignite Imaginations have teamed up with Adullam Homes for a pop up exhibition called ‘Home’ in the city centre. The display can be found in the Winter Gardens until Wednesday and is accompanied by free workshops for children and adults and children led by professional artists and offering visitors the chance to create artwork that reveals what ‘Home’ means to them. Shamaan Freeman-Powell reports for Sheffield Live!
Moor Sheffield and Off the Shelf collaborated in an outdoor event to celebrate 100 years of the popular children’s author Roald Dahl. A fizz-whizzing afternoon was had by human beans of all ages and visitors were encourage to make dirty beast masks, BFG ears or Cinderella crowns. There was even a robot poem generator. Sheffield Live! report Simon Thake was lucky enough to catch up with one of Dahl’s favourite characters.
Protestors gathered outside Sheffield train station on Friday to call for the UK to provide more support in accepting child refugees from the Jungle camp in Calais. The peaceful demonstration was designed to raise awareness of the plight of refugee children. Children’s shoes were lined up outside the station to symbolise the young refugees in need and protestors lit candles and waved banners. A similar protest was also organised in Barnsley. Sheffield Live! reporter Baillor Jalloh spoke to Val Huzzard from Sheffield Donations for Refugees.
The Herd of Sheffield elephants say one final goodbye to the city this weekend before they are auctioned off to the highest bidder to raise funds for charity. All 58 elephants have been on display outside the Meadowhall Shopping Centre for the public to have one final glimpse at their favorites. The Herd of Sheffield initiative was created by The Children’s Hospital Charity and Wild in Art, uniting businesses, communities, artists and schools. It has proved hugely popular with the public with many people taking selfies next to their favourite elephant and following the “Herd Trail”. Also present at Meadowhall were artist Steve McKay who designed two of the elephants, Darren Pearce the Centre Director of Meadowhall and the Director of the Childrens Hospital Charity David Vernon Edwards. Simon Thake reports for Sheffield Live!
Sheffield Heeley MP, Louise Haigh, has been given shadow ministerial responsibility for the digital economy in the latest reshuffle by opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn. The move comes at an important time, with the Digital Economy Bill currently progressing through Parliament. Sheffield Live! reporter Bailor Jalloh spoke to Louise Haigh about her new role.
Sheffield University students have launched a ‘frack free university’campaign with a series of awareness raising events. Campaigners are concerned that fracking could come to Sheffield following the recent approval of fracking licences in North Yorkshire. Speaking at the launch panel organised by Sheffield University Students Union were Simon Bowens a member of Friends of the Earth and Tina Rothery of Frack Free Nana, a group of women who have led campaigns against fracking in Lancashire. Simon Thake reports for Sheffield Live!
Events and activities for Black History Month are being organised in Sheffield as part of an international celebration. 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. Sheffield Live! reporter Baillor Jalloh spoke to Vena Truscoft, director of SYAC.
The UK Independence Party have started an inquiry into the incident that saw MEP Steven Woolfe admitted to hospital. The incident, described as a “scuffle” by UKIP’s temporary leader Nigel Farage, came after Woolfe was reported to be one of the favourites for election as the party’s next leader. Sheffield Live! reporter Shamaan Freeman-Powell spoke to UKIP councillor and former police inspector Jack Clarkson.