A conference on how to tackle youth violence in the UK brought together academics, practitioners and members of the public to discuss links between youth violence, masculinity and mental health. The conference was organised as a collaboration involving the University of Sheffield, Sheffield Lord Mayor Magid Magid, Unity Gym Project & Sheffield Flourish. Sheffield Live! reporter Baillor Jalloh spoke to Temi Mwale, director of the London based youth organisation, 4Front.
Mental health charities Adira, Sheffield Flourish and Mind hosted a well-attended conference at Sheffield’s Victoria Hall on mental health in Black and minority ethnic communities. The event, titled “Mental Health and Me”, sought to address the taboos and cultural barriers to access mental health services and information, including speakers, panel discussion with mental health service providers and break out spaces for conversation. Baillor Jalloh reports for Sheffield Live!
A Sheffield-hosted conference on housing conditions for asylum seekers and refugees has called for an end to the outsourcing of contracts to security firms such as G4S. The event, organised by South Yorkshire Migration, Asylum and Action Group, comes amid growing concern over a new £4 billion asylum housing contract. G4S has provided accommodation for asylum seekers in South Yorkshire since 2012, after signing a regional contract, and the company has declared interest in bidding for the new scheme, expected to start in September 2019. A report by the Home Affairs Select Committee in 2017 described living standards in some asylum accommodation as disgraceful, with overcrowding and infestations of vermin. Baillor Jalloh reports for Sheffield Live!
The sixth annual Sheffield TEDx event took place at St George’s Church this weekend. With video presentations and speakers from Sheffield and around the world, TEDx Sheffield is a forum for sharing ideas of public benefit.