Police appeal after alleged assault at Revolution bar
A fresh appeal has been launched to identify two men about an alleged assault that took place in Sheffield city centre.
South Yorkshire Police has released images of the key individuals they are looking to help them after the reported attack on Sunday 27 August at Revolution bar on Fitzwilliam Street.
The men have been described as white with brown hair and in their early twenties.
If you recognise either of these two men contact the police on 101 and quote the incident number 912 for the reported assault on 27 August.
Morning briefing: Friday 24th November
Here's a rundown of 3 stories appearing on the Sheffield Wire today -
A Sheffield mum has said she feels 'abandoned' by the police after her autistic son was stabbed in Tinsley last Monday. She claims her son - who is vulnerable - has been left struggling after the attack, and that no arrests have been made.
Reclaim the Night has returned to Rotherham for the 9th year running, with residents from across the town taking to the streets to call for an end to violence against women.
The 2024 MOBO awards are set to come to Sheffield for the first time. The UK’s biggest black music celebration will be held in the Utilita Arena, Sheffield on 7 February 2024.
Emboldened Blades host Bournemouth in attempt to break free of relegation zone
Sheffield United host AFC Bournemouth at Bramall Lane tomorrow in a match that could see them finally break free of the relegation zone following Everton's points deduction.
After a disappointing start to the season, the Blades have been emboldened by a draw against Brighton and a win over Wolves in their past two fixtures.
With these four points and Everton’s 10-point deduction last week for breaching financial fair play rules, Sheffield United have climbed into 18th place in the table.
At yesterday’s press conference, manager Paul Heckingbottom said: “In terms of where we are, we want to keep momentum going.
“The message hasn’t changed. We’re going to have difficult moments but we have to ride them out and capitalise when we’ve got good momentum.”
Heckingbottom confirmed both Oliver McBurnie and Anel Ahmedhodzic have recovered from recent injuries and will be in contention for starting positions on Saturday, news that will bolster many fans’ expectations of success.
However, Bournemouth is riding its own resurgent wave after a shock 2-0 victory over Newcastle before the international break, paving the way for an exciting basement battle between the sides.
Sheffield’s propulsion out of the danger zone also relies on Crystal Palace beating or drawing to Luton at Kenilworth Road.
On the topic of Everton’s points deduction being to his advantage, Heckingbottom refused to be distracted, and said: “It’s not going to help us get the points we need.”
But he did fire a warning shot towards the Premier League over its investigations into other clubs, such as Manchester City and Chelsea: “You can’t punish one team and not others. There has to be consistency.”
The match will be played on the two year anniversary of Heckingbottom taking over as club manager, an appointment which saw the Blades dominate the Championship and regain their place in the Premier League.
It also follows an international break which saw several impressive performances for members of the squad, including midfielder James McAttee netting a superb brace for England in the U21 Euro Qualifiers against Serbia to help them claim a 3-0 victory.
Supporters have been invited to join a minute’s applause in the 37th minute of the game in memory of Blades fan Matt Hardy, who died aged 37 after a two-year battle with cancer.
Sheffield United v. AFC Bournemouth kicks off at 3pm tomorrow at Bramall Lane.
Disabled Access for Transport Across Sheffield
Trams
A number of clients and staff members at Burton Street Foundation, Sheffield, have expressed their concerns that using trams is problematic for wheelchair users.
They explain the accessible doorway of the tram is not level with the platform, so it often causes issues for its users to get on the tram without the aid of physical assistance.
Megan Leonard, from the Burton Street Foundation, recalled how she observed a wheelchair user, only last week, trying in vain with her support staff, to get onto the tram.
The passenger became embarrassed after several failed attempts, even with Miss Leonard’s assistance. This meant the distressed passenger had to get off and find an alternative route.
South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) and South Yorkshire Supertram Ltd stated that they do not provide any staff at tram stops to assist with boarding, as these are level boarding services.
Additionally, front-of-house employees are delivered via a third party but the staff don’t carry a qualification in dealing with disabilities. However, they do receive adequate training such as disability awareness and safer places training.
Wheelchair user, Dee Smith, 25, from Stocksbridge, was diagnosed with Friedreich’s Ataxia (FRDA), at 19 years old and now avoids using Sheffield trams said: “They don’t have the thought process for the small important things that matter to wheelchair-bound people, you feel like a burden. I’m a human being in a wheelchair, not an alien.”
Buses
Changes and reductions in bus routes have also left Miss Smith unable to rely on buses to get around.
While she praises that bus services are highly reliant and provide good care for less able-bodied people, she said that bus route changes have caused issues.
In 2022, Stagecoach, who operated the number 57 bus service, replaced it with the 57 Stocksbridge flyer. While this change has created an extension through to Sheffield city centre, with hourly services running on evenings and Sundays, it has changed its route from Middlewood Road to Dykes Hall Road.
Positively, South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) has made/will make significant improvements at their bus interchanges such as:
Refurbishments of the accessible toilet at Sheffield Interchange, Arundel Gate information centre
Improved information screen at the Main entrance at Sheffield Interchange
Consulted with the accessibility group about changing floor tiles around the information points at Rotherham interchange.
Additionally, SYMCA has been awarded a grant of £71,334 for a project at Meadowhall Interchange for a Mobility Scooter Hire Trial.
Trains
Sheffield train station, which is owned by Network Rail, and currently leased to East Midlands Railway, is a major transport link to many areas of the UK.
A Network Rail spokesperson said: “Sheffield is a major station and is fully accessible, with step-free access to the concourse and ticket hall, as well as lifts to all platforms and tactile paving at the end of each platform. There are also accessible ticket machines and toilets.”
Stuart Richie, a wheelchair user from Burngreave, praises Sheffield train station.
He said: “[The staff at Sheffield Train Station] couldn’t have been more helpful, my experience was few and far between.”
A South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority spokesperson said: “We are working with accessibility groups and industry partners to improve access for everyone at our bus and rail stations.
“Together, we are improving access, toilet facilities, signage, waiting areas and passenger information displays at our rail stations as part of a £3.5 million investment package at 11 South Yorkshire stations, using funds from our Transforming Cities Fund bid and Network Rail’s Access For All fund.
“We have made £11k of accessibility improvements and refurbished facilities at our bus interchanges, including passenger information screens at Sheffield Interchange and to the accessible toilets at Sheffield and Arundel Gate.
“At Meadowhall Interchange, a new scheme is about to start to extend the Park & Ride area, with new family and disabled parking bays and we will be consulting on the provision of a mobility hub and a £71.3k mobility scooter hire trial facility.
“We will continue to work with our partners and others to secure funds to create an open, accessible transport network for everyone living, working or visiting South Yorkshire.”
However, according to Network Rail’s annual report and accounts, who own the land at Sheffield railway station, they are not allocating funds towards improving and maintaining infrastructure to aid disabled people.
But, ongoing work includes:
Meadowhall
- Platform 1 waiting room WC refurbishment (should be completed by April 2023)
- Portable Accessibility Ramps installed between Platforms 1 & 2 (already installed)
- Scooter trial (to launch later this year)
Swinton
- Portable Accessibility Ramps (to be installed in the next few weeks)
Elescar
- Remove platform drainage channel and replace with ACO (removes a potential trip hazard)
- Some resurfacing works on the accessible ramp to Platform 1
- Tactile wayfinding labels installed on handrails in SYMCA car park (already installed across rest of station)
Woodhouse
- A fully accessible waiting shelter is being installed on Platform 1
- Accessible drop-off/pick-up shelter installed on the station approach
- Tactile wayfinding labels installed on all handrails across all station
- Some resurfacing works on the accessible ramp to Platform 1
- Digital CIS to be renewed
“I’m a human in a wheelchair, not an alien”: Disabled woman expresses her distress with transport in Sheffield.
A wheelchair-bound woman speaks out about the alienation of being a less able-bodied person, after being dismissed by a transport company.
Dee Smith who attempted to order a Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle (WAV), three hours before she needed it, with City Taxis was told the service wasn’t available to disabled wheelchair users.
She said: ‘I was left feeling like I was causing a problem on purpose.”
City Taxis said they were unable to take pre-bookings for wheelchair vehicles, as they ‘need to check the availability of the vehicles in the area’ and asked Miss Smith to call back 30 minutes prior to needing a taxi.
Business Development Director, Paul Gosney at City Taxis, said: “The reason we are unable to take advanced pre-bookings for WAVs is that the driver partners are self-employed, and we can not guarantee they will be available at the requested time.”
City Taxis have 350 WAV taxis in their fleet, spread across their six locations: Barnsley, Chesterfield, Derby, Dronfield, Rotherham and Sheffield.
Miss Smith, 25, from Stocksbridge, Sheffield, called the firm on May 8 to book a taxi to take her to a routine appointment at the Northern General Hospital.
She was diagnosed with Friedreich’s Ataxia (FRDA), at 19-years-old, and like many other disabled wheelchair users, relies heavily on reliable transport in order to get around Sheffield.
She said: “I'm a human being in a wheelchair, there's nothing else to it, but you do feel very isolated and the only one in the world who is in a wheelchair.”
Joy and challenge: Why do girls want to play football?
The number of girls playing football is at an all-time high.
Fuelled by a combination of excitement around the Lionesses’ Euros victory, greater access to sports, and an increase in equal opportunities - there are now more girls than ever participating in football outside of school hours.
However, not all girls aspire to be the next Lioness or compete for the Conti Cup in a top-league team. Some girls simply want to create a community for themselves and relish the fun of the game.
“I’ve always liked watching football, so it made sense to also start playing it. I love watching women’s football, and I was looking into starting a new sport,” said 17-year-old Phoebe Rogers, who plays for her local team Stoneham FC in Hampshire and took up football after falling out of love with dancing competitively.
Poppy Gaten, 13, who plays for a local team in North Norfolk, also recently started playing outside of school in the past year. “I thought it would be fun to try something new and work out what I’m good at and football was one of the things I really enjoyed at school,” she said.
Phoebe and Poppy are one of the many girls nationally who play football. Data from Sport England, which pre-dates the Euros victory, showed 669,000 girls participated in organised football in 2017-18, but by the end of the school year 2020-2021, that figure had risen to 777,000.
Additionally, there was also a 200,000 increase in the number of girls participating in football in informal settings, such as a park kickabout with friends. This trend is visible beyond just England as, according to FIFA, there are now 29 million women and girls playing football globally, with the goal of increasing to 60 million by 2026.
Phoebe needed a new outlet and described herself as an athletic person.
For her, much of the enjoyment surrounding football comes from the sheer joy of just participating in the sport. Playing gives them the opportunity to switch off and just focus on the pitch - providing some much-needed relief from school and life stress.
“I love the feeling of chasing for the ball, being able to beat someone to the ball, and just playing a game and having a good time,” says Phoebe. “Especially now that I’m doing my exams and will be going to university soon, I like having a hobby I enjoy.”
Poppy agrees with this statement but also says that the challenges with the game give her something to enjoy and focus on. “You have to be very brave when you're shooting or tackling but if you're down at the back in defence you have to be a bit more brave because you have to stop someone getting past and scoring,” she said.
Dr Sheryl Clark, a girls' sports researcher at Goldsmiths University, explained that encouraging fun-led play is crucial to keeping girls in the game. “The structure of football itself needs to change if we want to change who can play it and who feels comfortable,” she said.
“Some coaching, which is bad coaching in my opinion, reinforces ideas of hierarchy. Whereas if a collaborative and peaceful setting is set up where kids are helping each other and enjoying the sport it would be more beneficial than setting it up as it being about who can dominate it and who can’t.”
Poppy explained she plays with only girls because the boys in her cohort can often exclude the girls from the game. “My team is just girls because the boys usually just pass between themselves leaving the girls out,” she said.
“Sometimes it can be challenging and hard but that’s the best part because I like to push myself into doing my best.”
However, Phoebe had a different experience and found that her male peers were encouraging her football endeavours. “I hadn’t kicked a ball in a while before I joined my team,” she said.
“But I had a kickabout with the boys that I’m friends with in the park, and it helped me increase my confidence. Luckily, they were really nice and gave me tips and it made me feel better ahead of my first training session.”
For these two girls, football is a new venture - and one that they want to continue. It’s something for them to sink their teeth into while having fun and keeping fit. Phoebe is starting university in September and says she wants to try out for the campus team and use it as a way to make friends and maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Poppy wants to continue to play throughout her secondary school life. “I definitely want to keep playing football, because I would love to play against a lot more people and make loads more new friends, and just have fun,” she said.
Concord Park has ‘zero access’ for wheelchair users, says Sheffield man
A wheelchair user from Burngreave says he cannot access his local park due to barriers at the entrances and a lack of information.
Stuart Ritchie, who lives “a ten-minute trundle” from Concord Park, said there is no way he can get in with his wheelchair or scooter.
He said: "If you walk around Concord Park, you’d be left with the firm impression that disabled people don't live in Sheffield.
“There is absolutely zero chance of getting a wheelchair or mobility scooter into the park,” he added.
Mr Ritchie said barrier gates at the various entrances allow space for cyclists and pedestrians to pass through, but not wheelchair, mobility scooters or prams.
The barriers are in place to prevent motorbikes entering the park, the Friends of Concord Park and Woolley Wood said.
The only way for Stuart to access the park is on the rare occasion when the main gates are open - however, there is no information on when this will be, leaving Stuart worried that he will end up locked into the park.
“Even if there was just a handwritten sign tied to the gate, at least then I know if it’s a nice day, I feel up to it, then we can risk going up to Concord Park,” he said.
Mr Ritchie has contacted Sheffield Council several times about a lack of access to the park for disabled people, but has received no reply.
And he said as a sufferer of chronic fatigue, he is unable to stay on the phone to the council for hours to receive a response.
“If I want to go somewhere nice, we’ve got to get in the car and drive to Ecclesfield Park - there’s open entrances, fully accessible tarmac paths and easy, thoughtful access to the heritage centre.
“At Concord Park, people in wheelchairs are made to feel more disabled than enabled,” he said.
This lack of access is particularly difficult for Mr Ritchie, who has terminal cancer.
Referring to the lack of access, he said: “It’s taken away the last bit of pleasure I used to get from going up there.”
The possible access point for wheelchair users to Concord Park. Photo: Friends of Concord Park and Woolley Wood.
The Friends of Concord Park and Woolley Wood said there is some access for wheelchair users through barrier gates. However, Mr Ritchie says he is unable to get his mobility scooter through this.
He said: “It's important to note that neither wheelchairs or mobility scooters come in a standard size. As a larger chap I have to use larger, sturdier equipment.”
Sheffield Council has been contacted for a comment.
Photo: On the right, Stuart Ritchie. On the left, the main gates to Concord Park.
“Theatre should be for everyone”: Theatres in Sheffield work to further disabled accessibility
Theatres in Sheffield are working to improve accessibility including one 19th century venue which is installing disabled lifts as part of a redevelopment scheme starting this summer.
Despite being a beloved cultural hub, The Montgomery Theatre in Surrey Street, has struggled to improve its accessibility for disabled people due the age of the building.
Sarah Sharp, director, said: "It's a big move, and it's not as simple as just putting a lift in there.
“It's really affecting everything. We’re having to carve up the building, move our offices to the upper floor, install new toilets to make sure they’re accessible and redo the theatre space to create room for wheelchairs.”
The many steps inside the building make access difficult for those with mobility issues.
Now, it is hoped three new disabled lifts will make sure everyone can enjoy the theatre’s facilities.
Ms Sharp said the plans had been ongoing since the 1990s and had become “a bit of a joke”.
She said: “It’s been a long time coming but we decided, when looking at redevelopment, the most important thing to change about the building was to make it wheelchair accessible.”
The theatre is installing a passenger lift and two platform lifts with the redevelopment starting this summer. It plans to open doors again in January 2024.
Elsewhere in the city, Theatre Deli, which recently reopened in a new location on Arley Street, has ramps at the main entrance in order to ensure easy access.
Above: Ramp on entrance to the Theatre Deli
On top of this, the theatre area has movable chairs, allowing those with mobility difficulties to be able to sit with family and friends rather than having a designated seating area.
Miranda Debeham, producer at Theatre Deli, said: “As a disabled theatre producer myself, I want to see the industry improve and open itself up to disabled artists and audiences, who often face multiple unseen barriers to creativity.
“Our new venue has level access throughout, including a ramp onto our stage, as well as a calm room for anyone to use if they're feeling overwhelmed. We're always seeking to improve our accessibility, and we will soon have a hearing loop installed to improve the experience for people who are hard of hearing.”
Theatre Deli will be hosting the Social Model…& More Festival, which looks to study all different models of disability and how disabled people feel about it with the full line-up to be announced soon.
Another venue that has worked on accessibility is the Lantern Theatre on Kenwood Park Road in Nether Edge. It has improved the theatre entrance to accommodate mobility aids while also having a wheelchair space that gives a clear view of the stage.
Credit: Lantern Theatre
Kevin Jackson, 52, director of the theatre, said: “We’re lucky in the fact that a lot of the changes that were made to the building in the 1980s were with regards to wheelchair space and similar accessibility improvements.
“The theatre is a grade II building but the listing came after the renovations which were made in 1957 and then the 1980s. To make the same changes now would be difficult due to the need for planning permissions.”
The Lantern is planning to install an induction loop which will be available to those who need it. The theatre believes the biggest issue for its patrons is in relation to hearing and therefore is important to improve its facilities in this way.
Sheffield Theatres, which runs the Crucible and Lyceum, has also implemented several disabled accessibility features across their venues.
Carrie Askew, media officer for Sheffield Theatres, said: “At Sheffield Theatres we believe theatre should be for everyone, and we offer a range of captioned, audio described, relaxed, dementia-friendly and British Sign Language interpreted performances.
Above: the Crucible, owned by Sheffield Theatres
“All of our venues have level access points, ramps, lifts and accessible toilets available for customers, and assistance dogs are welcome in our buildings and auditorium.”
The company is also a Dementia-Friendly organisation which offers a programme of activities.
Sheffield City Hall has several designated access points for wheelchair uses in the Foyer and Oval Hall, Memorial Hall and Ballroom.
It also welcomes assistance dogs in all areas of the building while offering hearing assistance.
Sheffield’s Stroke Recovery Service offers support for patients
A stroke survivor has applauded a charity which aims to support and help people regain their confidence after they suffer the potentially life-changing health condition.
Sheffield’s Stroke Recovery Service was set up by Jane Hammond in 2012 after she recognised there was little support for those recovering from a stroke.
Ms Hammond said: “The power of the groups is really significant. Often people struggle to understand what's happened to them. So there's a lot of reassurance, information and explanation around the effects of stroke.”
One user, Donna MacKenzie-Smythe, an artist, 56, accessed the service after she suffered a stroke three days before her 51st birthday.
She said: “Sometimes when you’ve had a stroke you feel like you have lost your identity. Everything in my life had become so fractious and my anxiety was increasing.”
Ms Hammond explained how service users, such as Donna, are often sceptical about getting involved with peer groups, as they feel they have support from their family and friends.
After joining the group, Donna’s confidence levels as she felt part of a community who understood exactly what she had endured, and went on to create a beauty group for other users.
She said: “They were such an inspirational bunch who all had different stroke experiences but we all shared a life experience.
“Running my own makeup workshop gave me that identity back.”
Ms Hammond explained the service, which is part of The Stroke Association, offers a holistic and person-centred approach to supporting stroke survivors with their recovery.
“They will meet other people, and it has a ripple effect. It’s very empowering, it’s a job where you do get a lot of satisfaction because you’re helping people,” said Ms Hammond.
“Properly hearing and understanding what somebody is saying is hugely powerful.”
The dedicated team helps patients who have been discharged from hospital and referred to the service.
Ms Hammond said: “We offer additional support, especially when they finish their NHS therapy and they’re feeling maybe that they do need a little bit more help.
“It could be just peer support, or it might be that they feel that some needs are still not being met so we try and bridge that gap for them.”
Ms Hammond explains her job includes a lot of sign-posting to additional services, but she also organises activities across the city, from seated dance classes, art classes, gardening at Heeley City Farm, walking groups in Western Park, and coffee mornings.
Although the service is frequently used by people in their fifty and sixties, younger stroke patients rarely access the group.
Ms Hammond explained due to the lack of demand, they don’t have a young peer support group but would create one if the demand was there.
She said: “I don't know whether that's because young people just don't want that kind of support but I don't get lots of young people coming through. Whether or not that's because they don't want to be referred to the charity, I don't know. Maybe they think that it's not for them because they're young.”
The charity is funded and works closely with the NHS, forming part of the Stroke Pathway by supporting people with the non-medical side of stroke.
Hannah Parrington, Service Delivery Lead for the North-East and Yorkshire at the Stroke Association, which supports people after a stroke, explained another new initiative, Connect, which has just been set up in Sheffield.
She said around 800 people in Sheffield have a stroke each year, but only around 140 patients are seen by the Stroke Recovery Service.
The new service is aiming to contact everyone who has suffered from a stroke via an outreach telephone call to all patients.
“It’s very good for Sheffield and for stroke patients,” said Ms Hammond.
Ms Parrington believes there’s “definitely more to be done” as funding is still low in comparison to other conditions, such as cancer.
“We know that there's still a postcode lottery out there in terms of the support that people receive is different in different areas,” she said.
To access support from Sheffield Stroke’s Recovery Service, you can get in touch here.
For more information on The National Guideline For Stroke you can access information here.
Young stroke victims are calling for greater awareness after misdiagnosis
Young stroke patients who were misdiagnosed by medics are calling for action and a greater awareness of their symptoms.
As part of National Stroke Awareness Month, Sheffield Wire has spoken to survivors about their experiences and the fundamental changes they feel would help with a quicker diagnosis.
Lili Vachon is 27. She suffered a stroke in 2021, went to hospital, and was sent home with a migraine after spending hours waiting in A&E without a single test.
She said: “It doesn’t feel good being left unheard as a young person. So many people, like me, are misdiagnosed and sent home, when I wasn’t fit to leave A&E.”
According to the Stroke Association, most people are not aware of how serious strokes can be, with just 39% of people recognising them as medical emergencies.
Bridie Kirsopp, now 29, suffered a stroke when she was just 17-years-old.
After experiencing a severe headache, blurred vision, vomiting, and was unable to stand, she wasn’t diagnosed correctly until five days later, when she underwent a CT scan.
Georgia Hanson, 20, who similarly suffered a stroke when she was 19, believes a quick diagnosis and treatment is key to a successful recovery.
“If an ambulance can get to someone suffering a stroke quickly, and get them to hospital then it gives them the best chance possible of making a good recovery,” she said.
It is not just young adults who can experience a stroke. During childbirth, Rebecca Merritt’s son Jacob suffered a perinatal stroke and was left with lifelong health issues.
His mother recalled how she “didn’t even know a baby could have a stroke”.
One in 2,300 live births result in a stroke in the UK every year, which means there will be 303 families affected by a life-changing trauma they likely don't even know exists.
However, with ambulance services across the country in a dire state, average wait times for young stroke victims are nearly five times what they should be, according to the Nuffield Trust.
Remember the signs:
Face: Is the person’s face drooping, can they smile?
Arms: Can they raise both of their arms; do they have weakness on one side?
Speech: Is their speech compromised or slurred?
Time: It’s time to call 999.
For more information on spotting the signs of a stroke, click here.
“Your body can stand almost anything. It’s your mind that you have to convince”
“Try and smile for me,” asked Georgia Hanson’s mum when she complained of a severe headache after waking up feeling unwell in October 2021.
Knowing something “wasn’t quite right”, Miss Hanson, who was 19 at the time, recalls her vision was blurred and she suffered a sudden loss of sensation in the right side of her face and right arm.
Her mum was using the FAST test to work out if she was showing signs of a stroke.
“I knew what she was thinking. When I couldn’t smile, we both knew exactly what was happening,” said Miss Hanson, a student at Sheffield Hallam University.
The acronym consists of four parts; (F) Facial weakness, (A) Arm Weakness, (S) Speech problems, with the final letter instructing sufferers; “Time to call 999” if they are showing any of the above symptoms.
Miss Hanson’s mum called an ambulance, which arrived approximately 40 minutes later.
Although Miss Hanson, now 20, presented more than one of these symptoms, a doctor at Pinderfields Hospital, Wakefield, told her they were 99% sure it was “just a migraine” and that she’d “got a bad cold and to go home and rest”.
“I don’t think I was taken seriously at all. The staff in A&E pretty much ruled out a stroke simply because of my age,” said Miss Hanson.
“I was placed in a side room by myself which was so scary. I wasn’t even offered any pain relief,” said the student.
She was discharged later that evening and told the Transient Ischaemic Attack (TIA) clinic would be in contact the following day.
After a follow up discussion with specialists, she was sent for an MRI two days after she was taken to A&E, and was told this was to rule out a stroke.
Unfortunately the specialist scan confirmed Miss Hanson had suffered from an Ischaemic stroke, where the blood supply to the brain is temporarily interrupted.
Miss Hanson was initially refused physiotherapy as she hadn’t been admitted to hospital for her stroke.
She claims the consultant also made it clear the waiting list for the treatment would be long, and because of the pandemic, a lot of outpatients wouldn’t actually be seen.
Miss Hanson was told by her GP she needed a specialist in Neuro-physio rather than just Musculoskeletal (MSK) physio.
“I was concerned that the issue with my hand was starting to get worse quite rapidly,” the Sheffield Hallam student said.
Worried, she booked to see a private physiotherapist who was able to see her a week later and began a programme of treatment.
The stroke left Miss Hanson unable to drive, with limited mobility in her right hand and has dealt with bladder incontinence issues, alongside general fatigue.
She said: “Recovery has been and continues to be very difficult. I’m always tired, regardless of how much rest and sleep I get.”
In October 2021, Miss Hanson sought out help from the charity, Different Strokes, which aims to help young stroke survivors.
Support workers explained exactly what a stroke was and what can cause them.
Miss Hanson said: “From the first day I contacted them, they have been amazing
“This was really beneficial to me because often at the hospital there are a lot of medical terms used which make it hard to understand.”
The charity encouraged survivors to talk openly about what has happened to them, highlighting they should never fear asking for help.
Miss Hanson said: “Mentally, it’s been challenging. Initially, when I had the stroke, I didn’t really understand the enormity of it. I thought if I could think positively, I’d be fine.
“Unfortunately, in reality, this wasn’t the case. A stroke is a big thing to go through and to come to terms with.
“My physiotherapist told me, ‘Your body can stand almost anything, it’s your mind you have to convince’.”
She is now having regular physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and neuropsychology and feels she is at a good point as she waits for plastic surgery on her hand.
“I’d rather take one day at a time, try my best everyday in everything I do and with the support of the majority of my family and friends I’m hopeful for a bright future,” said Miss Hanson, who is now in the final year of her degree.
Miss Hanson wants other stroke survivors to understand rehabilitation can be challenging, but believes realistic targets, candid conversations with professionals, and trusting the process, will help.
She said: “Having a stroke has taught me a lot about myself. I’m stronger than I thought I was and I have now been given an opportunity to raise awareness of young strokes by telling my story and making people aware of the signs/symptoms of a stroke which for me is something to be proud of.”
If you are a young person who has suffered from a stroke or know someone who has, do not hesitate to get in touch with Different Strokes for support and recovery in reclaiming lives.
Accessibility in Sheffield: ‘How I’ve learned to navigate the city as a blind pedestrian’
After losing her sight five years ago, Janiece Wallace has had the unimaginable challenge of learning how to navigate Sheffield as a blind person.
Everyday tasks such as crossing the road and accessing public transport have become barriers she has had to overcome.
Walking through Sheffield city centre, Mrs Wallace told us of some of the difficulties and shared the measures that have been put in place to help people with sight issues.
Mrs Wallace makes use of tactiles, ridged paving which can be picked up by her white stick and alert her to things such as crossing points and tram stops.
“Nobody knows about it, I didn’t know what it was for before,” she said of the tactiles.
Mrs Wallace can also make use of aids on everyday objects in public, such as a small cone underneath the boxes at pedestrian crossings. When the traffic light goes red, the cone starts spinning, which she can feel to know it’s safe to cross.
A recent addition are speakers at bus stops, which let blind people know that a bus is coming.
“I think that they’re great,” Mrs Wallace said.
“Most bus drivers are trained to stop when they see you with a white cane. But sometimes if no one else is at the bus stop, because you don’t put your hand out, the driver might just go straight past you.
“So it’s good to know that, if I’m getting on an 82 bus, I know it’s coming in two minutes!”
Video created by Rachel Flynn.
Mrs Wallace is a member of the Access Liaison Group, part of Disability Sheffield, which is consulted by the council when major changes take place in the city.
However, she has still faced difficulties making her way around the city.
Mrs Wallace recalled a time when she was on a tram and asked a young boy if she could have his seat in the disabled area.
A man then stood up and started shouting at her.
“He started hurling abuse at me, saying ‘you can see, you looked at me, I know you can see’.”
Thankfully, these incidents are uncommon. When they do happen, Mrs Wallace said: “I can deal with them myself. I’m not scared of anybody.”
But she admitted that there are regular problems, especially when walking down the street.
“People on their phones, people on bicycles, people on e-scooters.
“I had an incident once where I was standing at the tram stop at Shalesmoor and somebody went past me on an e-scooter.
“I jumped because I didn’t hear it coming and fell off the platform onto the track. Luckily for me, nothing was coming!”
In these cases, Mrs Wallace said awareness is the main problem. E-scooters are legal to own, but should not be used on roads and streets in Sheffield.
As for cyclists, she said: “Ring your bell!
“If you ring a bell, I’ll just stop so you can get past me. If I want to get past somebody I’ll just say, ‘excuse me’.
“Have a bit of decency so people know you’re coming.”
Despite these problems, Mrs Wallace said there is support for the visually impaired in Sheffield.
When she lost her sight, she was directed by the Royal Hallamshire Hospital to the Sheffield Royal Society for the Blind (SRSB), who got her back on her feet.
She said: “I went from having a job where I went to work every day, driving a car every day, to not being able to switch on a computer or use my phone, because I just didn’t know how to do these things with a visual impairment.
“SRSB were the ones that saved the day.”
Jane Peach is the Marketing Manager at SRSB. She said their role is to make sure blind people are not held back by their condition.
“We help them to achieve whatever they wish to do and whatever they aspire to be,” Ms Peach said.
The charity offers a range of services, including emotional and mental health support and activities for the blind.
“They support us, they organise fabulous activities,” Mrs Wallace said. “There’s horse riding, shooting, swimming, cycling. Loads and loads of different activities.
“I actually run the tennis club.”
Mrs Wallace began South Yorkshire VI Tennis Club 18 months ago, which now has around 25 members and has been recognised at this year’s Yorkshire LTA Awards.
The club uses ‘sound balls’, bigger than normal tennis balls which make a noise to help those playing to locate it.
She said: “With anything in life, things just need to be slightly adapted.
“It’s a great little social as well, we all sit in the clubhouse and have a cup of tea and catch up. We’ve all become great friends in the last year or so.”
Mrs Wallace’s club is also heading to Newcastle this weekend for a tournament.
On the whole, she is optimistic: “I’ve realised that life isn’t over, you can do the things you’ve done before, just a bit differently.”