Student volunteer launches fundraising campaign to raise visibility of Sheffield’s homeless
A student has started a crowdfunder to raise money for the only homeless charity open on Sundays in Sheffield.
The ‘Keep Sundays Warm’ initiative was launched on behalf of The Sunday Centre, which is a charity offering weekend refuge to those struggling with homelessness.
Campaign lead and charity volunteer, Elena Baeza Ruso, 20, of Crookes, said: “I didn’t just start this campaign to raise money.
“I want people to start seeing that homeless people aren't invisible - they’re human too.”
After moving to the UK from Spain to study, Ms Baeza Ruso started to worry about the homeless people on the streets over winter as she struggled to adapt to the weather.
She said: “When I walk outside, I’m freezing even with a coat on.
“So just thinking about all those people with nowhere to go is really horrible.”
Ms Baeza Ruso first approached The Sunday Centre as part of a university project, but after meeting those running the charity, she soon started volunteering with them in her free time.
She said: “I approached a lot of charities and got turned away for being a student.
“But volunteering at The Sunday Centre isn’t just something I have to do for university - I choose to do it because I love being here.”
Despite there being lots of charities offering shelter across the city, The Sunday Centre is the only homeless project open to those struggling on a weekend by offering food, clothes and company.
Volunteer and trustee of The Sunday Centre, Steve Clark, 66, of Rotherham, said: “Sundays can be brilliant days that you can spend having a meal in a warm home with family and friends.
“But if you have none of those things then Sunday can be a dangerous day where people go hungry or turn to substance abuse.”
Having volunteered for over 25 years with the centre, Mr Clark believes under-resourcing and lack of volunteers could be partially to blame for places being closed to homeless people over the weekend.
He said: “It’s great when people can volunteer but not everyone has that free time.
“That’s partly what makes Elena’s initiative so wonderful - she’s speaking on behalf of people who don’t otherwise have a voice and makes others give a bit more thought to those on the streets.”
Ms Baeza Ruso and those involved in her campaign were hoping to raise £600 in donations, which can fund the charity opening for one Sunday and goes towards food costs.
But the group has already exceeded its target, which has been increased to £700, and has organised clothing drop-offs in the city centre to make sure people don’t go cold.
Ms Baeza Ruso said: “£600 isn’t enough to end homelessness and that’s not what I’m trying to do.
“But everyone deserves to eat and feel like they belong.”
To donate visit The Sunday Centre website and the Keep Sundays Warm GoFundMe here
Barnsley choir “thrilled” to be named one of the best in the world
A choir from Barnsley with songs ranging from pop and gospel has been ranked as number one in the UK and fifth-best globally.
Barnsley Youth Choir (BYC) has achieved the stellar rankings in the Pop, Jazz, Gospel, Spiritual & Barbershop Choir category of the Interkultur rankings, beating hundreds of other groups.
Artistic director and founder Mat Wright MBE said: “We're clearly thrilled to be named as the top ranked choir from Great Britain.
“We would like to pay tribute to all singers that have taken part in ranking competitions since 2014, to volunteers, supporters and everyone that has contributed to this success.”
The choir prides itself on its inclusivity and has over 400 singers from ages four to 24 and serves a community where one in four children grow up in poverty.
Barnsley councillor Robert Frost, cabinet spokesperson for regeneration and culture, said: “This recognition is nothing more than the members deserve for their efforts and talent and, of course, the volunteers, without whom this would not be possible.
“A huge congratulations to everyone involved and to those who have supported the choir over the last seven years where these ranking points have been accumulated.”
The choir has enjoyed incredible levels of success since forming in 2009 and has raised over £10,000 for Barnsley Hospice after releasing a charity single.
This achievement comes as Cllr Frost confirmed Barnsley has submitted a bid to the government for Levelling Up funding to develop a new Northern Academy of Vocal Excellence (NAVE).
He said: “We want Barnsley to be the place of possibilities."
Cllr Frost added: “The NAVE would be a permanent home to BYC and engage with other national and international partners and organisations to provide a centre of excellence for singing in the North of England.
“It will support the local community and provide outstanding development opportunities nationally.”
If any young person up to the age of 24 is interested in joining the Barnsley Youth Choir, go to barnsleyyouthchoir.org.uk for more information.
Sheffield community creates Bounty-filled Celebrations tub for heartbroken six-year-old boy
A Sheffield mum has filled a Celebrations tub with Bountys to surprise her son who was devastated after it was announced the chocolates were going to be scrapped.
Katie Hutton, 41, said her six-year-old son, Alex, sobbed when he heard the coconut treats were being removed as part of a trial in the run-up to Christmas.
She took to social media to ask locals if they had any of the coconut-flavoured treats that they did not want and was staggered by the number of generous offers.
“My initial plan was to say that Santa had made him a special box, but the response has been so heartwarming that it would be nicer to tell him how lots of people came together to give him their Bounties,” Mrs Hutton said.
“Everyone’s generosity is the magical spirit of Christmas itself.”
The mum-of-one has amassed over 75 of the chocolates from across Nether Edge this week, and wanted to celebrate the community’s kindness as part of the Christmas surprise for her son.
Mrs Hutton, an architect, said: “I was taken aback by the response, it was really heartwarming.
“I did offer to pay for them, or swap them for other chocolates, but so far everybody has insisted on leaving them out on their doorstep in a little bag for me to collect.”
Confectionery giant Mars Wrigley announced last month “No Bounty” Celebrations tubs would be available from select Tesco stores between 8 November and 18 December.
According to a survey by the company, as many as 39 percent of Brits are in favour of the controversial chocolate being axed for good.
The trial follows the company’s “Bounty return scheme” in 2021, during which the public could return and swap them for the popular Maltesers chocolates.
Online sellers have been cashing in on the announcement, with bundles of 150 of the coconut chocolates appearing on Ebay for over £20.
Mrs Hutton explained Alex will not have any competition when he opens his present on Christmas Day, as the rest of the family are Bounty haters.
She said: “Both my husband and myself really don’t like them.
“Before we had Alex, I used to take all the Bounties out and give them to a friend at work. It used to annoy us that they were in the way.”
“Nobody was in touch”: Stannington residents left with no gas and no information
Hundreds of homes in North Sheffield are still without heating or cooking facilities since a water main burst destroying a gas line last Friday.
At one stage 2,000 homes had been affected, and a week on many residents are still without gas, with some saying they haven't had any communication from their Gas supplier.
Resident Renee Long, aged 40, only received updates because she had a friend who worked for the gas board.
She said: "Nobody was in touch. If I hadn't known this lady we wouldn't have been given any information".
Ms Long and her family were forced to move out of their property into an Air BnB as the cold was affecting their ten-year-old son's health.
Cadent Gas has said it will provide £65 compensation for every 24 hours that residents have had to spend without gas but Ms Long says this doesn't come close to covering the cost of her temporary accommodation.
Authorities say they are working around the clock to resolve the issue. So far they have drained 600,000 litres of water and have 15 water tankers on the job.
Once the water has been fully cleared, gas can be returned to the approximately 500 homes which are still cut off.
Residents reported water leaking from gas meters, hobs, boilers and fires all of which will need to be cleaned and tested by a professional before they can be safely used again.
Cadent Gas says it is working closely with Northern Power Grid to make sure electricity is stable and extra support in the form of hot plates and heated blankets are available for those in need.
Sheffield City Council has declared the situation a 'major incident' which has also coincided with temperatures in Sheffield dropping below zero degrees.
Spokesperson for Cadent Gas, Stephanie Van Rosse, said: "We are looking after the most vulnerable customers, if they need any extra help we are there to help them."
More updates to come.
“He held my bank cards and driving licence”: a victim of abuse speaks out
“He held my bank cards and driving licence.
"He constantly overspent and took huge risks, so we were unable to make repayments on loans or the mortgage. I constantly worried about money."
Rachel, whose name we have changed, shared her experience of domestic abuse just as the global 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign begins.
She said: "I didn’t have any control over what we spent money on. I was under constant pressure to work; I’d say 60-70 hours each week for years."
"I worked right up until my son’s birth and started again the day after I left hospital, I didn’t have a choice.”
The conversation around abuse towards women and girls is being revisited in Sheffield as charities across the city hold events and share resources during the campaign.
The United Nations-led event, which runs annually from November 25 to December 10, is aiming to amplify the voices of survivors, activists and charities this year by focusing on femicide and domestic abuse.
Office for National Statistics data shows a 7.7% increase in police-recorded domestic abuse-related crimes in England and Wales.
This suggests higher reporting of abuse by victims, although women, especially in minority groups, still tend not to do so.
Janet Goodison, head of operations for Sheffield Women's Aid, said: "Women from minority communities might struggle more in reaching out for support."
According to a 2022 report from Femicide Census, on average, one woman is killed every three days by a man in the UK. But abuse is not always about physical violence and can often be really hard to spot with 69% of reports being classified as non-physical.
Michaela Suckling, the lead for the St Matthews's Parish Nursing Project, a local charity participating in the campaign, said: "Abuse can be very subtle — it's all about power and control over another person.
"At the extreme end of financial abuse, I've known men send their girlfriends out as prostitutes to fund their drug habits."
Domestic abuse, exacerbated during Covid lockdowns as victims could not access healthcare services easily, can have devastating effects not only on victims but also children.
Ms Suckling added: "A lot of women feel guilty and ashamed like they're to blame, or even if the children will be removed from their care."
If you suffer from abuse, or know someone who does, contact the national helpline on 0808 2000 247.
People in Rotherham deny they’re the ‘unhappiest’ in the UK
A new report claims Rotherham is the 'unhappiest' town in the UK - but those living there disagree.
The town came last place, behind 210 UK areas, in a survey carried out by property buying website Rightmove's annual Happy Home Index.
Local resident, Louise Muirhead, 63, said, "I think the recession has hit everybody. The towns down South where I come from are struggling just as much, and I've found this is the friendliest and nicest place I've ever lived."
Student, Kade Vessey, 16, said: "It's not exactly the nicest place to be at times but I'm quite happy.
"I wasn't expecting it to be voted the least happy town and I've heard they're going to be building more parks, so we'll just have to wait and see."
In the survey 21,000 participants scored their local areas on things like community spirit, access to nature and green spaces, as well as artistic and cultural activities.
Cornish town St Ives was ranked the happiest town in the country and Harrogate, North Yorkshire, also made the top 10, coming in at number six.
Although Rotherham residents deny they're in an unhappy town, some people said they can understand the ranking due to the number of empty shops in the town centre.
Steven Wagstaff, 69, said: "Personally, I'm happy, but we do have a council with no business sense at all and they just don't have a clue what to do, apart from knock stuff down."
Another resident, 76, said: "I'm a happy person, but if the council stop spending money in the wrong places, reduce rent for businesses and bring a shopping centre back, we'd be a lot better off.
"I'm really wondering why they're doing all the block paving when there's not going to be anyone coming here," she added.
Many young people from Rotherham said they could accept the results as there was nothing for them to do in the town.
College student, Lily Wilkson, 18, said: "No one's really coming into town, and I know they're doing renovations, but I just feel like it's a waste of money."
Local resident, Josh Caswell, 22, said, "If you look around where we are right now, lots of places are closed and there's not really a great deal going on, especially for students, so I can understand why some people are quite sad."
To see the full list, visit Rightmove's website: Rightmove - UK's number one property website for properties for sale and to rent
Barnsley’s ‘How’s Thi Ticker?’ heart health campaign gathers momentum as more than 1,500 get tested
More and more Barnsley residents are taking free blood pressure tests as part of a new campaign focusing on heart health.
The 'How's Thi Ticker?' campaign is continuing through December, and residents are being encouraged to visit Goldthorpe Library on Tuesday 6 December to get checked.
So far across the sessions, more than 1,500 blood pressure checks have been completed, with 62% of people examined not having a previous diagnosis of high blood pressure.
Of those tested so far, 32% were referred to their local pharmacy and 6% were advised to contact their GP about their test results.
As the cost-of-living crisis continues, lower-income families are being forced to make cutbacks, prioritising household necessities, such as water and heating, over nutritious, healthy meals.
Foods high in Omega 3, such as salmon, are often cited as being good for heart health, however over the past twelve months, according to the Office for National Statistics, the average UK price of salmon per kg has increased by more than 26%, far exceeding the current rate of inflation.
Removing heart-healthy staples, such as salmon, from a typical diet can have devastating impacts on long-term blood-pressure health.
In 2021 alone, more than 4,000 people in England and Wales, aged between 25 and 65, died from heart related causes.
Dr Ceryl Harwood, chair of the Barnsley Heart Health Alliance, said: “Many people often do not know they have high blood pressure as they have no symptoms and may not have been tested. Identifying and treating people with high blood pressure is an important way to keep our community healthy."
Local businesses in Barnsley are being encouraged to come forward to run sessions for their staff by emailing KayeMann3@barnsley.gov.uk.
Further details about upcoming blood pressure check sessions can be found by looking at Barnsley Council’s social media channels.
City of Sheffield Swim Squad aiming high in Swim England National Winter Championships this weekend
The City of Sheffield swim squad is one of the teams competing at the Ponds Forge International Sports Centre over the weekend for the National Winter Swim Championships.
It is the largest swimming meet in the country for the winter season, with around 1,500 junior and senior swimmers travelling from all over the country to compete.
The squad, known as Team Steel, is a highly regarded competitive swimming team, ranking top in South Yorkshire and North Derbyshire.
Coach Dan Cocking has high hopes for his 32-strong squad, with this weekend being an important opportunity to mark progress and set targets for the more important summer competitions. The British Masters Championships, scheduled for June - also taking place at Ponds Forge - determines whether the juniors will be selected for the youth Olympics and the European championships. For the seniors, it will determine world championship selection.
He said: "Ahead for June, we want to see our athletes' enforcing changes in-between their races today and throughout this championship.
"For the ones going through to tonight's finals, we want to see swimmers make adaptations from their heat race, technically and tactically... especially for our older guys, we want them to be in contention for the medals.
"Ultimately, we want to create Olympians and Olympic champions."
Issey-May Reeves, a Team Steel squad swimmer, competed on Friday. She said: "I did 50m backstroke. I got a PB with 28.86 seconds, but I didn't get through. The final 10th place qualifying spot did 28.77 seconds. It's really close.
"You've got to prepare yourself for that though, you've got to come back from it the next day and try again. I have my 200m backstroke on Saturday and my 100m backstroke on Sunday, they're my best events. I've done everything I can in training so it will be good to see how much I can take off my time."
Live streams of each race taking place this weekend can be found on Swim England's YouTube channel.
Sheffield Steelers vs Cardiff Devils Preview: The Crunch Match
Sheffield Steelers face their fierce rivals, the Cardiff Devils, in a longstanding grudge match tomorrow night.
The Sheffield team are looking to continue their good form after an emphatic shootout win over the Nottingham Panthers last weekend.
Ahead of tomorrow's game, tensions could not be higher. The current head-to-head record is 110-109 in the Steelers favour.
Captain Jonathan Phillips said: "Cardiff for the last few years have been the top team and we want to knock them off their perch."
Sheffield are sitting at second in the Elite League standings. With two games in hand over leaders Guildford, they have the chance to close the gap.
Cardiff have the chance to overtake the Belfast Giants in the 4th spot. Last time out, the Devils were triumphant over the Steelers in the season opener.
Phillips spoke to Sheffielld Wire about this weekend's matchup and the current state of the team.
He said: "We've had a good week of practice. I think the mood has been good in camp, you always look forward to the Cardiff game.
"We're focused on ourselves, I think we've got an experienced group who know what it takes to win."
The game starts at 7pm this Saturday at the Sheffield Arena, with the Steelers looking to get one over on their rivals.
Residents anguish as pigs trample over graves of loved ones for two weeks
Residents have spoken of their anger at the damage escaped pigs have caused to a graveyard in Rotherham.
The council has put up fences around the graves at St Gerard's Church in Thrybergh which backs onto a local primary school, amid concerns the graves were being vandalised by “pigs that are fighting for survival”.
The pigs reportedly escaped a nearby field where they were being neglected and were digging up the ground looking for food.
One local resident who wished to remain anonymous spoke of how the situation caused upset and anguish in the local community.
She said: “I've seen people come to school this morning, where the loved ones are buried and cry, because they can't grieve for the relatives in peace. And it's not fair.
“There is disregard for the children's emotional well-being and education because, as you can see, the classrooms are there, they can see this. And before this fence which was put here yesterday, the pigs were trampling all over the graves.
"And some of these children their grandparents and relatives are buried here and they don’t need to be seeing that.”
Local residents also spoke of concerns about safety with the pigs wandering free.
Nicole Louise O'Halloran said on Facebook: "We are terrified of getting out of our cars in the car park in case the pigs attack. They are so close to the fence and just roaming free."
Another resident Maria Simpson commented on Facebook: “This has totally destroyed my neighbour who's got her brother and mum in the graveyard. It's hard getting over the death of a loved one, never mind watching it being vandalised by pigs that are technically fighting for survival."
Speaking to the Rotherham Advertiser, Rotherham Council’s acting head of community safety and regulatory services, Emma Ellis, said the pigs have been caught.
She said: “We have been working with South Yorkshire Police, DEFRA and partners to investigate this matter and locate the animals.
“This matter has now been positively resolved as the pigs have been captured humanely and they will be rehomed.
“We thank local residents for their patience while we resolved this situation."
Rotherham soap company launches £50k Crowdfunder to tackle homelessness
A Rotherham soap company has launched a £50,000 Crowdfunder in a bid to tackle homelessness across the region.
Labre's Hope are aiming to raise enough money to ensure they can carry on employing those who have been affected by losing their homes as well as ensuring their mental health support continues.
Director and founder, Aaron Probert, said: "It'll be used to continue employing people who experience homelessness. It may we extend our part-time program where we offer an additional 20 part-time positions."
Labre's Hope, which was established in February this year, also guarantees those they employ two hours of mental health support and two hours of employment coaching per week.
Referrals to Labre's Hope are made through their partner charities and organisations which includes, Crisis UK, South Yorkshire Housing Association, Rush House, and Rotherham Council.
Mr Probert, who's non-profit company, produces and sell luxury handcrafted cosmetics, said: "As we are start-up non-profit, revenue really matters in helping us get to the point where we are self-sustainable.
"The 50,000 pounds be split into a variety of things. It might be the case of where we look at providing people who are here currently with additional skills, which they really want to access to get to the place in their careers."
Donations to the Crowdfunder are being supported by the Aviva Cost of Living Boost, which will match donations up to the value of £250.
The company are offering rewards in exchange for donations, including a 'Seven Year Soap' prize for the value of £2,500 which will get you six bars of soap per month for seven years in a customised box.
According to Labre's Hope, currently 270,000 people experience homelessness across the country, with a further 66,000 people forecast to find themselves impacted in 2024.
Mr Probert explained the idea for the start-up was born out of his university dissertation on how to end homelessness and hopes the company will become a national organisation.
He said: "I got involved in charity and non-profits and realised very quickly this is what I wanted to do with my life. In my second year, I got to know a lady who was experiencing homelessness whose usual spot was across the street from me."
"I was 20 and I really wanted to do something about it."
Just seven months after opening their doors, Labre's Hopes have already transformed lives and helped reintegrate people back into society and the world of work.
Mr Probert explained that for every pound and every product Labre's Hope sell, the money is invested back into the organisation to provide the jobs, mental health support and the career coaching,
You can read about Labre's Hope success stories here and donate to the Crowdfunder here.
RivelinCo to hold festive maker’s market and repair shop in Hillsborough Park
With the cost of living crisis making Christmas a challenge for many, two free events for people to build, buy or repair gifts will run tomorrow.
Arts and community group RivelinCo has organised festive maker and repair shop events as part of the Gathering Ground Programme in Hillsborough Park.
Starting at 11am in The Pavilion, the festive market will have 20 stalls, while the repair shop will open at midday in the Bradbury Makers' shed, offering a chance to make gifts for free.
Emily Thew, programme manager of RivelinCo, said the market was the first in the organisation's history.
Ms Thew said: "There was quite a lot of consultation with the community about things we'd like to see in Hillsborough, and markets was one of them."
Each stall has also donated an item to the raffle for a chance to win several great items.
The repair shop is also looking to collect for the S6 foodbank.
Ms Thew said: "The idea of the repair shop tomorrow is mainly because the cost of living is so hard and things are so tight for people at the minute."
This is RivelinCo's third repair event which happens quarterly allowing people to get things mended and learn the skills to fix things for free.
Both events are part of the Gathering Ground Programme, a collaboration with Age UK Sheffield, Depot Bakery and the Friends of Hillsborough Park.
The Maker's Market finishes at 4pm while the repair shop closes at 3pm.