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New road race planned for Sheffield

Charities, civic leaders and guests gathered at Sheffield’s Winter Garden to celebrate the arrival of the new Asda Foundation Sheffield 10K – a major new road race for the region. The event takes place on 30 October, on a new route starting in Arundel Gate and taking runners along Charter Row and Ecclesall Road, before skirting the edges of Endcliffe Park. With thousands of runners expected, it looks set to bring a boost to scores of local good causes. The latest addition to the Asda Foundation Series, the Sheffield 10K is staged in partnership with Sheffield City Council. Sheffield Live! reporter Ballor Jalloh spoke to Lucy Jones, Corporate Manager with Run for All.

Festival of words prepares for 25th year in Sheffield

Sheffield’s ‘Off the Shelf’ literature festival celebrates its 25th anniversary this autumn. Starting in October, this year’s festival programme is wide ranging, with over 200 events for all ages and described by organisers as “bursting with innovation, creativity, authenticity and life”. Sheffield Live! reporter Shamman Freeman-Powell met with Off the Shelf organisers and authors and heard of taste of what’s in store.

Sheffield war hero honoured in ceremony

Sheffield’s most decorated war hero Major William Barnsley Allen has been honoured with a ceremony and a commemorative plaque at the Cenotaph war memorial in Barker’s Pool. Major Allen, who was born in Sheffield in 1892 and died in 1933, was awarded the Victoria Cross for conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty after saving many lives at the battle of the Somme as part of the Royal Army Medical Corps. A plaque was unveiled and officers placed wreaths at the foot of the city centre war memorial. Members of Major Allen’s family were in attendance along with the Lord Mayor of Sheffield, Councillor Denise Fox. Simon Thake reports for Sheffield Live!

New £16m sports centre opens in Sheffield

A new £16m sports and health centre has opened in Sheffield on the site of the old Graves Tennis and Leisure Centre in Norton. The refurbished facility renamed Graves Health and Sports Centre includes swimming pools, tennis courts and fitness studios. The centre, run by Places for People Leisure, also houses one of three hubs of the UK’s National Centre for Sport and Exercise Medicine, with sports physiotherapists and doctors based in its consultation and treatment rooms. A gymnastics and trampolining centre at the site remains under construction. Simon Thake reports for Sheffield Live!

Equality campaigners call for more action on gender pay gap

A recent study by the Institute for Fiscal Studies indicates men still get paid significantly more than women, with the difference increasing for women with children. New rules requiring companies with over 250 employees to report gender pay differences will come into effect in 2017. Equality campaigners argue more needs to be done. Sheffield Live! reporter Azz Mohammed spoke to Carol Keen of the Women’s Equality Party.

Eclipse Theatre wins major funding award

Sheffield-based Eclipse Theatre have been awarded a grant of £125,000 by Arts Council England. The company, formed in 2010, aim to be at the forefront of delivering stories from the Black British experience in regional theatres. The grant funding, part of the Catalyst: Evolve programme, is intended to support development of the company. Sheffield Live! reporter Azz Mohammed spoke to Founder and Artistic Director, Dawn Walton.

Bryony Page returns to hero’s welcome

Olympic trampolining medalist Bryony Page was greeted by fans at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield on her return from the Rio 2016 Olympics. Page made history with her silver medal, the first ever Olympic medal in trampolining for a British athlete. The Sheffield-based Olympic athlete, who trains at Hillsborough Leisure Centre, narrowly missed out on the gold medal after finishing 0.425 points behind Canada’s Rosannagh MacLennan. Azz Mohammed reports for Sheffield Live!

Family activities map launched by local mums

Sheffield mums at voluntary organisation, Little Sheffield, have launched a brand new interactive map of early years classes and facilities across the city. The aim of the interactive map is to put families in touch with local organisations that offer activities for under fives. The map allows parents to search for types of activity and times of opening. Baillor Jalloh reports for Sheffield Live!

Last BHS stores close after 88 years

The last BHS stores closed their doors at the weekend after a presence on the high street for nearly a century. The closure of the remaining 22 shops, including one in Doncaster, came after the retailer was placed into administration in March this year but failed to find a buyer. Previous owners Dominic Chappell and Sir Philip Green have been criticised for mismanaging the chain and failing to protect the company’s pension scheme. Over the last few weeks administrators had already made 141 store closures which included stories previously located at Meadowhall and at the Moor in Sheffield. Baillor Jalloh reports for Sheffield Live!

Families enjoy bank holiday at the Sheffield Fayre

Hundreds of people, including children and families, enjoyed their August bank holiday at the Sheffield Fayre at Norfolk Heritage Park. The Fayre features a horticultural show as well as an arena for local dance and performing talent. There were also sideshows, fairground activities and street dancers performing to keep the crowd entertained. The Sheffield Fayre is in its fifteenth year and is organised by Sheffield City Council in partnership with the Friends of Norfolk Heritage Park, University of Sheffield and the National Fairground Archive. Sheffield Live! reporter Baillor Jalloh spoke to Marge Allen, Chair of Sheffield Fayre and Co-ordinator of Friends of Norfolk Heritage Park.