Hundreds of people took part in a weekend demonstration against the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill with sit down protests outside Sheffield Town Hall and Snig Hill police station. The demonstration commenced at Devonshire Green and moved through the city centre with roads blocked but no reports of the disorder and anti social behaviour that has been linked to similar protests elsewhere. Azz Mohammed reports for Sheffield Live!
With Spring arriving Love to Ride South Yorkshire is encouraging people to get on their bikes for better mental and physical health. Sheffield Live spoke to David Bocking from Love to Ride in South Yorkshire about the Ride it Out campaign. Azz Mohammed reports.
RSPB Old Moor is working with Chol theatre and arts to bring to the stage memories and history of the Dearne Valley nature reserves. The RSPB are looking for people with an interest in local history and skills in interviewing and storytelling to volunteer as part of the Flock of Stories heritage project funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. Sheffield Live! reporter Azz Mohammed spoke to Liz Harding of RSPB Old Moor and to Mandeep Sarma and Lauren Ash of Chol.
Bears of Sheffield, a public arts sculpture project is being planned to bring together businesses, schools and communities to raise money for Sheffield Children ‘s Hospital. The charity is fundraising for a new cancer and leukaemia ward with a remaining target of £1.3 million. A similar project in 2016, the Herd of Sheffield, raised around £600,000 from the auction of 58 elephant sculptures. This year will see 60 large and small sculptures on the Bears of Sheffield trail set to hit the streets in 12 July for 12 weeks. The bears will be auctioned off on 18 October. Sheffield Live! reporter Azz Mohammed spoke to project manager Cheryl Davidson.
Greg Fell, Sheffield’s director of public health has urged families with school children to follow Covid-19 advice and issued a reminder that mixing households outside of a controlled environment is not permitted. The message comes after news of children socialising and mixing outside of school and in private homes. Azz Mohammed reports for Sheffield Live!
The retail giant John Lewis has announced that it will close its Sheffield store in the city centre. The company is to close the store as part of eight store closures across the UK due to changes in the way people shop. John Lewis recently reported big losses, stating certain locations such as Sheffield cannot sustain a large store. Two hundred and ninety nine jobs in Sheffield are under threat. A consultation is to be launched with staff. Councillors have raised concerns at the closure as to how it may have a knock on effect for businesses across Sheffield. The news comes as Sheffield is to benefit from almost £50m of funding over the next twelve months from the Mayoral Combined Authority to support its recovery, including major investment in Sheffield city centre and high streets across the region. Sheffield Live spoke to Councillor Martin Smith.
A pop-up vaccination centre was held at the Jamia Ghaussia Mosque in Sheffield in memory of former mosque chairman and father of five Haji Ahmed Mahmood. The mosque leader helped to set up the vaccination clinic but died from Covid-19 before he was able to receive the life-saving jab. Sheffield Live! spoke to Kashmir Malik, trustee of the Jamia Ghausia Mosque, Dr Jennie Joyce, a GP and clinical lead for Foundry Primary Care Network and Rachel Smith, headteacher at Firvale Academy. Azz Mohammed reports.
South Yorkshire Police and Commissioner, Dr Alan Billings, spoke to Sheffield Live! following publication of the Sheffield District force performance report. The report to the Commissioner’s Public Accountability Board highlighted improvements in addressing organised crime groups and neighbourhood safety but highlighted the need to improve detection of burglaries and car crimes. Andy Kershaw reports.
A mosque in Page Hall has been used by the NHS to host a pop-up Covid vaccine clinic. Dozens of eligible residents including the over 70s, people who are shielding and some health and care workers were inoculated at the Jamia Ghausia centre on Firth Park Road. Baillor Jalloh reports for Sheffield Live!
Many households could see their boiler repairs delayed as British Gas engineers and other staff go on strike from Friday for five days. The industrial action is part of on ongoing row over working conditions. Speaking to Sheffield Live! David Douglas, a regional representative for the GMB union in South Yorkshire said the hire and fire is causing stress and anxiety among employees. A spokesperson for British gas said: “Our business needs to change to survive and protect 20,000 jobs. We know change is difficult but we have offered a fair deal that has been negotiated over 300 hours with unions – where base pay and pensions are protected.” Baillor Jalloh reports for Sheffield Live!