Pubs and other hospitality venues are set to reopen from this weekend but with distancing and other measures in place bars to reduce the risk of coronavirus transmission. Maurice Champeau, manager of Crookes Social Club has welcomed the news but told Sheffield Live! the venue will have to drop its indoor capacity by 40 per cent and has converted the outdoor bowling green for customer use. Azz Mohammed reports.
Police have responded with an increased presence in Arbourthorne after residents reported two incidents of gunshots being fired on Tuesday night. Sheffield Live! reporter Azz Mohammed spoke to Ben Miskill, Councillor for Park & Arbourthourne.
Age UK Sheffield has been awarded £581,500 from the Heritage Lottery Fund to convert the listed old Coach House building in Hillsborough Park into a dementia friendly cafe. The project, with a total cost of around £1 million is intended to support vulnerable people and those who suffer from dementia to meet in a safe and friendly environment. A conservatory and toilets are to be added for access from the park and the cafe with the project projected to create 12-15 permanent jobs in addition to the work in the construction phase. Work is planned to commence in October and to be completed by summer 2021. Sheffield Live! reporter Azz Mohammed spoke to Steve Chu, chief executive for Age UK Sheffield.
Cancer Research UK is reopening its charity shops and asking the public to donate unwanted items having been forced to close during the coronavirus lockdown. The charity shops provide a major source of income to the charity whose research labs and clinical trials were also put on hold. Sheffield Live! reporter Azz Mohammed spoke to Nicky Embleton, regional relations officer for Cancer Research UK.
Disability campaigners have called on the government to extend beyond the end of June the suspension of benefit sanctions and other financial measures to assist the most disadvantaged. As the coronavirus pandemic took hold the government introduced temporary measures to assist people on Universal Credit and other benefits including a deferred timetable for repayment of overpaid benefits and suspension of the sanctions regime for those on Job Seekers Allowance. These arrangements are due to expire at the end of June but campaigners argue they should be maintained for the time being to help those in financial difficulty. Sheffield Live! reporter Azz Mohammed spoke to Jennifer Jones of Disabled People Against Cuts – Sheffield.
Charities and community hubs in Sheffield have written to the government calling for more support for community-led responses to Covid-19 including in the track and trace strategy and follow-up support. Voluntary Action Sheffield and 25 other charities and community organisations have written to health secretary Matt Hancock highlighting the community-based track, trace and isolate scheme piloted in Heeley. Sheffield Live reporter Azz Mohammed spoke to retired GP Dr Jack Czauderna.
Lifestyle and behaviour changes during lockdown including reduced travel and lower consumption could, if sustained, aid a green recovery, according to environmental experts. Anna Hawkins, lecturer in environmental social science at Sheffield Hallam University, told Sheffield Live! that individual changes such as eating less meat and travelling less can benefit the environment but structural changes are also needed by large organisations. Beth Gavaghan reports.
Sheffield University graduate and illustrator Will Rea has unveiled the results of his commission to transform Sheffield’s Orchard Square with a major public artwork. Rea and his team have created a 50 metre long mural on a three storey building. Rea’s friend and filmmaker Andrew Bainbridge captured the work in process. Sheffield Live ! reporter Azz Mohammed spoke to Will Rea and Andrew Bainbridge about the project.
Deafblind awareness week aims to increase understanding of deafblindness and to make life better for people who have both sight and hearing loss. Deafblind UK estimates over 400,000 people in the UK have some degree of deafblindness and face related challenges in communication and access to information. Sheffield Live! reporter Azz Mohammed spoke to Jon Lehan, outreach officer for Deafblind UK.
The third National Windrush Day marks the 72nd year since a generation of African Caribbean migrants arrived in Britain to help rebuild the post war economy. Many went on to work in transport and other public services as well in the steel and coal industries but also faced racism, which sadly still persists as the Black Lives Matter movement has highlighted. Sheffield Live! reporter Baillor Jalloh spoke to Rob Cotterell, chair of Sheffield and District African Caribbean Centre, SADACCA.