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Blind and partially sighted face reduced support in lockdown

Sheffield Royal Society for the Blind has furloughed 80 per cent of their staff to cope with the lockdown and reduced revenues. The charity provides support, friendship and services to over 3,600 blind and partially sighted people in Sheffield with over 300 weekly visitors in normal times to its Mappin Street premises. Sheffield Live! reporter Azz Mohammed spoke to Joanne Arden, deputy manager for Sheffield Royal Society for the Blind.

Shooting incident on Myrtle Road

Shots were fired on Myrtle Road on Monday evening causing armed police to descend on the Heeley neighbourhood. Police cordened off the area for further investigation and increase the number of uniformed officers on the streets. Sheffield Live! reporter Azz Mohammed spoke to councillor Ben Miskell.

Contact tracing piloted in Heeley and Meersbrook

A group of retired doctors, GPs and former public health directors have completed a trial phase in Heeley and Meersbrook of a community contact tracing project that aims to reduce the spread of the coronavirus. The pioneering scheme has been coordinated with local GPs to engage with individuals who have been infected with Covid-19 together with their recent contacts and to train community-based volunteers to offer personal support and guidance. The initiative has benefited from support of local community organisation, Heeley Development Trust, who have already been providing food, medicines and other support for vulnerable people in the neighbourhood. Building on the lessons learned, the scheme could be rolled out further across Sheffield and elsewhere. Sheffield Live! reporter Azz Mohammed spoke to retired GP, Dr Jack Czauderna.

Information sought following recent shootings

Officers have made a number of arrests, seizing drugs and weapons, following a series of shooting incidents in Burngreave, Sharrow and Nether Edge. Jim Steinke, councillor for Nether Edge and Sharrow spoke to Sheffield Live! about the police and community response. Azz Mohammed reports for Sheffield Live!

Teachers adapt to lockdown measures

Teachers have had to adapt to the lockdown by putting learning and support online to keep pupils engaged pending the reopening of schools. Sheffield Live! reporter Azz Mohammed spoke to Roger Pope, spokesperson for the National Get Into Teaching Campaign.

Arts workshop for children goes online

A popular Spring Bank Holiday arts workshop series for 7-12 year olds run by Ignite Imaginations in collaboration with Sheffield Libraries is to be run this year as a virtual event. A series of daily, free, artist-led activities will be available online from Monday with a video and online activities sheet for each workshop. Sheffield Live reporter Azz Mohammed spoke to Vicky Rolley, project coordinator for Ignite Imaginations, and Claire South, senior young people’s officer for Sheffield Libraries.

Sheffield woman faces lockdown in Colombia

A Sheffield woman is facing a strict lockdown in Colombia after a business trip to the country left her unable to return due to cancelled flights and the closure of airports. Natalia Welch is the founder and manager of Pura Panela which imports handcrafted sugars. She is now staying with family in Colombia under a strict lockdown with just an hour of exercise allowed per day and keeping in touch with her Sheffield partner by video conference. Azz Mohammed reports for Sheffield Live!