“The problem is hate”: Sheffield unites against the far right
Ahead of Nigel Farage’s planned visit to Doncaster next week, protesters spoke up against the rise of Reform UK in a ‘Stand Up to Racism’ demonstration in Sheffield.
Around 100 people came together in a show of action at the Sheffield and District African Caribbean Community Association (SADACCA) on Saturday afternoon (March 15).
Stand Up to Racism (SUTR) organised the event in response to what they have noted as rise in racism, Islamophobia, anti-semitism and fascism.
Ciaran Wakefield, representing the organisation, said: “We think it's really important that in the face of growing attacks on migrants by this government, growing attacks on the most poor and vulnerable in society, that people's anger is not directed towards those that are also poor and vulnerable.
“What the event is about is building our communities and giving confidence to our communities to actually fight back against it."
Local grassroots organisations gave speeches and held workshops discussing the history and narratives of the far right ahead of Nigel Farage’s planned visit to Doncaster on March 25.
See above: election predictions for the Doncaster elections taking place on May 1. Source: Electoral Calculus
Amid predictions that Reform UK will prise control of Doncaster council from Labour in upcoming local elections, Farage plans to unveil his party's mayoral candidate at the rally.
Representatives from Love Music Hate Racism Doncaster, which hosts concerts opposing racism after the riots which took place last summer, also attended the event.
Organising Committee member, Molly Eroje, said: “If Reform gets in, people from Doncaster won't have as much power at all if we leave the Convention on Human Rights. I think we could lose a lot of freedoms and liberties that we have fought to have. I just think it could be a scarier place for everyone.
“For migrants that's also going to be quite frightening because that racist Islamophobic sentiment is only going to be heightened.”
Migration was a key talking point throughout the day. Sheffield City of Sanctuary, a local charity advocating for migrants, organised a performance urging government to ‘Lift the Ban’ on asylum seekers’ right to work.
Advocacy and Systems Change Coordinator, Melinda Mo Martinez, said: “Currently the asylum system is so terrible and hostile that if we change policy for the worse, it's going to have a terrible impact for people seeking asylum in the UK.”
Recent Statista data shows as of this March, 25% of Brits would vote for Reform UK, while only 21% are Tory and 26% would vote for the governing Labour party.
The conference emphasised the need for the left to unite, with speakers from both education and healthcare unions urging attendees to make a show of strength in Doncaster next week.
Emma, a teacher and officer for the National Education Union, said: “ Reform is a threat to us all; we all need to come together. If we stop Reform in Doncaster we will feel ten feet tall.
“Successive governments, both Labour and Conservative, aren't standing up for working class communities. This means that in the absence of alternatives, people end up looking to the far right to say it's immigrants and refugees that are to blame for the lack of jobs or social housing, rather than it being about the bosses or successive governments that have let communities down.”
Emma, who didn’t give her surname, also fears a far-right leadership would be bad news for education. She predicts a movement to privatisation, a disregard for a broad curriculum which embraces multiculturalism and LQBTQ+, and threats to the right to organize trade unions.
The impact of a Reform UK government on the NHS was equally a topic of concern.
Umaah Yusuf, a junior doctor representing Medact Sheffield, imagines potential changes could include significantly more private involvement, rising inequalities in health care, a reduction in the time frontline staff are able to have time with their patients, and more workers leaving the NHS due to hostilities.
She added: “Good health starts in healthy communities and not in the hospital.”
One of the people making up the lively crowd which greeted the speakers was Jawad Hussain, a student originally from Rotherham.
He decided to show his support at the event after riots last summer meant he and his family could not leave their home.
Mr Hussain said: “Reform’s going at such a rapid pace, but so are we. As Muslims in Rotherham, we are not scared anymore, we are ready to fight back.”
SUTR intend to return to South Yorkshire on March 22 to partake in a mass leafleting as part of a national day of action.
Oliver Tsemo, Chief Executive of SADACCA and hosting SUTR, said: “SADACCA is a place of social justice and Reform UK does not align; their philosophy is not social justice. That’s why it is important for us to host a Sheffield anti-racism organisation.”
Sheffield Wednesday teaching children about violence against women
Workshops designed to get children talking about gender-based violence have been started by Sheffield Wednesday FC.
The Owl’s Community Programme have been running weekly ‘Youth Inspires’ sessions at Wincobank Village Hall, to teach children about the problem of violence towards women.
Molly Bulmer, Youth and Integration Coordinator at Wednesday, said: “Talking about domestic abuse, consent, stereotypes and why these things exist, as well as how we can challenge these issues and make society a safer place for women and girls, gets young people thinking about the causes of the issues stemming considerably from an outdated patriarchal society.
“With this in mind, they can also consider that if the causes are so outdated, why are the consequences still so habitual?”
Data published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) found that women were more likely to experience violent crime in the year ending March 2024.
A higher proportion of women experienced domestic abuse (6.6%), stalking (4%), sexual assault (3.4%), and harassment (11.2%) that year compared with men (3.0%, 2.3%, 0.8% and 6.6%).
Women were also disproportionately represented by victims of domestic-abuse related crimes, with 72.5% of victims being female.
A spokesperson from Sheffield Women’s Collective said: “We need to educate young people on what abuse is and how to identify it.
“We need to have conversations with boys and young men about what is and isn’t healthy behaviour in a relationship.”
Ms Bulmer said that the sessions have gone very well so far, allowing the children to challenge stereotypes about their peers and start conversations to try and prevent future abuse and violence.
Activities in the sessions have included discussions about relationships and consent, as well as the chance for the kids involved to design board games about healthy relationships.
Ms Bulmer said: “We’re hopeful that this work will prevent abuse in future as young people know how to treat partners and how to behave themselves.
“This ultimately makes society a safer place for everyone and reduces the number of incidents of violence against women and girls.”
The Sheffield Wednesday Community Programme hosts these sessions every Wednesday from 5-7pm, welcoming local children between the ages of 10 and 16.
Alan Crompton, a trustee at Wincobank Village Hall said: “I think the sessions are having a positive effect, we don’t seem to see so many kids just running wild round the village hall and causing problems for the old people who live in the flats just above.
“Whenever the Community Programme people at Hillsborough are happy to send their team to the village hall, we will always be happy to see them.”
“Nobody feels safe”: Residents call for crime and anti-social behaviour to be addressed
Car theft, fires in parks, and open drug dealing were among the issues raised at a Sheffield council meeting.
Discussions were held at the South East Local Area Committee meeting on 6 March 2025 between councillors, law enforcement and community organisations about crime and neighbourhood safety.
One attendee said: “Nobody feels safe walking about at night, or walking to the tram or bus. Everywhere seems quite lonely and dark.”
Residents said they would like a better understanding of what police are doing in the area, and suggested that putting more information about prosecutions on social media could help.
Sheffield South East saw more than twice as many reports of violence and sexual offences as Sheffield City Centre in January 2025, and the neighbourhood policing team have said preventing violence, reducing residential burglary, and tackling organised crime are their top priorities in the area.
Several members of the public also suggested a more streamlined system is necessary for connecting residents affected by crime with council and community resources.
One person said: “The current system is not good because when you’re under pressure and in that crisis situation you aren’t going to remember all these phone numbers.”
Councillor Ian Horner said he wants to put resources into multi-use buildings which would allow people to access different council services in one place.
He also said that he would like to see a greater use of drones, including unmanned drones, to assist the police in addressing anti-social behaviour such as e-bike speeding.
Inspector Katie Hammond of the South-East Neighbourhood Policing Team told the BBC: “Everything raised at the meeting has been taken on board by me and my team, and plans are being put in place to proactively respond to some of the issues brought to our attention.
"We are stronger with the public's help."
SEND parents fear “nightmare” impact of proposed cuts to Disabled Transport Services
Parents have voiced concerns as Sheffield City Council plans could replace travel support vehicles for disabled over-16s with a personal budget in a bid to cut millions in overspending.
SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) children are currently offered Council minibuses or access to taxi services to help them get to school or college.
The proposed Personal Travel Budget (PTB) would replace these services this September, allowing over-16s to plan their own travel and receive Council payments three times a year to cover the costs.
Jane Gibbs, 48, from South Sheffield, works at Anns Grove Primary School and has a 17-year-old son with autism.
They have used the Council transport service since their son, Joe, was 11 and pay £77 per month to the Council to organise his transport with Traveller’s taxis.
She said: “We’ve had no problem with our transport and now if we have to arrange it ourselves I can see major issues. It seems like another thing to worry about.”
"I work in a school so the time it would take to take Joe on two buses there and back and then get to work is a nightmare.”
Joe attends Hillsborough College in North-West Sheffield, and takes independent living courses in developing social skills, road awareness, cooking techniques, and household shopping.
According to the BBC, nearly 2500 SEND students rely on the Special Needs Transport service in Sheffield and costs the Council £22.7m.
Sheffield City Council's current spending is £7m over budget and the proposal aims to reduce the financial burden on the Council and encourage the independence of over-16s with disabilities.
By law, the Council must provide free transport for SEND children under 16 who are unable to walk.
Councillor Dawn Dale, Chair of Education, Children and Families Committee at the Sheffield City Council, thanked parents for participating in the consultation that received over 1000 responses.
She said: “Hearing experiences directly from our families is vital to us as their views and insights will help the service in the future.
“We remain committed to provide the very best for our young people with SEND and their families, and will continue to keep in touch with them directly with recommendations from the consultation and how any possible changes will be implemented and what potential impact they could have.”
A report from the public consultation will be brought to the committee in April.
Sheffield Duathlon this weekend to raise money towards £1M charity target
Participants in the Sheffield Duathlon are gearing up to run, ride and raise money for Brain Research UK this weekend.
Organised by Urban Peaks in collaboration with Giant Sheffield, alongside other local partners, the duathlon will take place in the Peak District on Saturday 22 March.
Matt Wright, who founded Urban Peaks, an outdoor adventure company, has arranged for £10 of each entry fee to go directly to Brain Research UK.
This will contribute to his longer-term target of raising £1 million for the charity by the end of this year, together with other runners taking part in the London Marathon.
Mr Wright discovered his love of running during the Covid-19 pandemic when he turned to the sport as a way of escaping his isolation.
He said: “Runners generally run for more than ‘I just like to run'.”
The charity is of personal significance to Mr Wright, whose dad, Alan Wright, sadly died aged 66 from an unforgiving brain tumour seven years ago.
He said: “Your parents might drive you nuts at times, cherish them always as they won’t be here forever.”
Brain Research UK is the leading national funder of research into neurological conditions.
One person who was supported by the charity when he was diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2022, said: “The work of Brain Research UK and the practitioners in the various specialist neurological hubs around the UK is amazing and saves lives on a daily basis.”
The city's duathlon, which has been fully mapped and approved by the council, will consist of a 10-kilometre trail run, a 40-kilometre road cycle, followed by a 5-kilometre run.
Alternatively, participants can choose a shorter sprint option of a 5-kilometre trail run, a 10-kilometre road cycle and a 2-and-a-half-kilometre finish.
The event will end at the Norfolk Arms with sports therapists and food outlets present.
Giant Sheffield is also providing bikes for the event so to improve accessibility and encourage participation.
Andy Liversidge, Sheffield Giant store manager, said: “It's been an exciting project to work on, and anything involving getting outdoors and moving more, we support wholeheartedly!”
With a capacity of 250 people, there are still spaces available to take part in support of Brain Research UK.
Anyone interested can sign up here.
Sheffield’s International Cultural Evening: a night of dance, song and storytelling from across the globe
Sheffield University's Octagon Centre took a trip around the world as they held the 52nd International Cultural Evening last Saturday.
The event was a celebration of multiculturalism, filled with music, stories and dance in Sheffield’s Student Union.
The annual gathering was organised by Sheffield’s International Students’ Committee.
Chair of the group, Monaruby San explained: “The International Cultural Evening is a celebration of the diversity at the University of Sheffield.
“It’s a really loud moment for international students to share their experiences.”
The University of Sheffield’s Irish Dance Society, Malayalee Society, Indian Society and Tamil Society encapsulated this year’s theme of folklore, myths and legends within their performances.
Groups let their cultures speak through song, dance, and storytelling, in competition for the winning title.
Whilst the contest was fierce, the University of Sheffield’s Indian Society took home the trophy.
After their victory, President of Indian society, Lekha Mohta, said: “It feels unreal.
“It’s crazy that we are standing here with this trophy today.”
The event also featured guest performances from groups such as the Sheffield School of Bollywood and the Wanlin Academy of Dance and Performing Arts.
Humaira Khalid, events coordinator for the Committee said: “We wanted to cherish the different cultures and heritage that every international student has.
“It’s just really nice to come together and see what other parts of the world has to offer.”
The night concluded with all the performers circling the Octagon Centre with flags.
Watch the full story on the JUS News main programme at 4.30pm.
Lord Mayor awards chairman of the Sheffield Sharks for outstanding contribution to local sport
A Sheffield sporting icon, who has played an integral role in organising several international competitions in the city, has been presented with an award for outstanding contribution to local sport.
Yuri Matischen founded and became chairman of the B. Braun Sheffield Sharks basketball team after coming to Sheffield to help stage the World Student Games in 1991 when he found himself inspired by the incredible sporting facilities constructed to support the games.
He was subsequently a pivotal figure in organising the European Swimming Championship and the Special Olympics Great Britain when they came to the city.
Mr Matischen, who was completely stunned to be presented with the award on Thursday evening, said: "When it comes to Sheffield, sports is in its DNA.
"I feel so proud to win this award in this great sporting town."
Since beginning his work in Sheffield over 30 years ago, Mr Matischen, who is also managing director of Sheffield-based sports event company, MLS Contracts Ltd., has focused on community work, centring on education and inspiring the youth.
His work, in basketball alone, has led to 640 junior players and an academy team.
Ellie Colton, BBC Radio Presenter, who hosted the awards alongside Cllr Jayne Dunn, Lord Mayor of Sheffield, said Mr Matischen’s efforts have significantly promoted Sheffield as a global sporting venue.
Mr Matischen's list of significant sporting roles in Sheffield does not stop there, as not only did he develop a major event strategy for South Yorkshire, but he is also director of Park Community Arena Ltd.
The Park Community Arena Ltd. drove the construction of the UK’s first carbon- neutral multipurpose community arena, the Canon Medical Arena, an integrated Medical Diagnostics Centre which is also the permanent home of the Sharks.
He said: “We have used sport as a vehicle to reach communities.
“We have an education programme and offer community outreach coaching, it has been a tentacle that has reached the entire city.”
Mr Matischen will continue his contributions to the sporting community of Sheffield alongside his partners who he thanked when receiving the award.
Sheffield councillors pledge support to UK-Ukrainian community: “We have your back”
Two Sheffield councillors met injured soldiers, political leaders, and civilians during a recent visit to the western Ukrainian city of Lviv.
Councillor Mark Rusling said: “Our trip won’t do anything to stop the war, but if we can just provide a little bit of comfort to the Ukrainian community in the UK then we have done a good thing.”
Cllrs Mark Rusling and Matt Dwyer spent four days in Lviv, aiming to reassure the Ukrainian community they represent in Sheffield.
He said the trip is particularly important since Sheffield is twinned with the Ukrainian cities of Donetsk and Khmelnytskyi.
The visit, which was fully funded by the councillors, was one of multiple trips organised each year by Ukrainian people living in Britain.
Last Saturday, the councillors met with the Deputy Mayor of Lviv after speaking with injured frontline soldiers and citizens to gain a first-hand understanding of the war's impact on the Ukrainian people.
Before the trip, Councillor Rusling said: “I’m most looking forward to speaking to ordinary people in Lviv.
“We want to show the UK's Ukraine community we have your back.”
A meeting between US President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky earlier this month raised concerns about dwindling international support for Ukraine.
Cllr Rusling said: “If I were the Ukrainian refugee community living in the UK right now I’d be feeling very very nervous.
“But supporting Ukrainians in their fight is in the British self-interest because the lessons of the 1930s tell us people like Putin don’t stop.”
He emphasised that the trip is not the end of the councillors' efforts to raise awareness about the war in Ukraine across Sheffield and the wider UK.
After the visit, the councillors will meet with the Chair of the Ukrainian Community in South Yorkshire to ask what more can be done to support Ukrainians living in Sheffield.
LightFest sparks interest among aspiring young scientists
A 10-day celebration of research, innovation and science, came to Sheffield, hoping to inspire future generations.
Coinciding with the 31st British Science Week (7-16 March), the University of Sheffield created an exhibition designed to get people of all ages thinking about the world of light in a different way.
Luisa Aguolmine, 21, a student-volunteer said: “You come to events like this and realise all kids are little scientists.
"You watch the kids playing, but what they are really doing is science experiments. They just don't know it."
LightFest, held at the Millennium Gallery had a range of interactive stalls, designed by researchers.
The exhibition started by explaining the basics of light before moving onto explaining more complex theories.
Professor Jenny Clark, organiser of LightFest, said: “We wanted to use this research to bring our wonder with light to the public."
One stall focused on how solar energy will be used in the future as a more sustainable power source.
Credit: Matt Black
To explain this to the young visitors, staff used small solar-powered toy cars that could be raced when a torch was held above them.
Bethany Johnson, 19, another student-volunteer said: “Some of the kids were really experimenting with the toy cars, discovering what happens if you move the torch or if you use a bigger light, which has been really great to see.”
Credit: Matt Black
In recent years, there has been an added emphasis on embedding change across the perception of STEM among younger generations, including the image of a stereotypical scientist.
Organised by the British Science Association (BSA), British Science Week offered events across the country, based on the theme of ‘Change and Adaptation’.
"There are women out there looking out for other women in STEM and making sure we have equal opportunities"
Professor Kevin Fenton, President of the BSA, said: “Science cannot be truly beneficial for all of society if all of society is not represented in science.”
Reflecting on this, Miss Johnson said: “I want to prove that women can do things in STEM, but it is always harder, confidence-wise.”
Miss Aguolmine added: “We are really lucky because one of our lecturers mentioned this opportunity.
"There are women out there looking out for other women in STEM and making sure we have equal opportunities."
Sheffield cinema hosts award winning director Mark Herman as part of its 30th birthday celebrations
The director and writer of the 1996 film Brassed Off was joined on Saturday by cast and crew for a screening and Q&A at the city's iconic Showroom Cinema.
The event took place as part of Showroom's 'mini season' of films and events which are to mark 40 years since the end of the miners' strike in 1985, and this weekend coincided with the cinema's birthday.
Brassed Off is set in South Yorkshire around ten years after the strike, and follows a brass band made up of miners who are struggling after the closure of their pit. It was inspired by the story and struggles of the real-life Grimethorpe Colliery Band.
The screening was fittingly followed by a performance from Sheffield-based Unite the Union Brass Band, which was met with a standing ovation.
In addition to Brassed Off, for which Herman was awarded 'Best Screenplay' by the Writer's Guild of Great Britain, the director's works include The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas (2008) and Little Voice (1998).
The cinema described the film as a "Showroom favourite", partly because lead actor Pete Postlethwaite opened screens 3 & 4 in 1998.
Actor Stephen Tompkison also took part in the Q&A alongside co-star Melanie Hill and producer Steve Abbott. It was hosted by Mark Herbert, CEO of Warp Films and assistant location manager of Brassed Off.
Dave, from the Instagram account steelcitysnapper, wrote: "It was a really interesting Q&A! Afterwards Mark Herman and Stephen Tompkinson signed my blu ray."
The event also marked Unite the Union Brass Band's third collaboration with Showroom.
The band has its roots in Sheffield, and has played under various names since its formation over 100 years ago.
Melissa Maddison, the Chairperson of the Band said: "Brassed Off was the perfect film to capture the history of mining whilst celebrating a classic Yorkshire film. There are many issues that sit deeply at the heart of the working people of Yorkshire and beyond. Music, particularly brass music, really brings people together.
"The band has its heart and soul in the centre of our beloved Sheffield."
It has historic ties to working people in Sheffield and around the country, and to this day plays at key events such as Workers Memorial Day and the annual Durham Miners' Gala.
Melissa said: "We believe our music at such events helps to unite groups of people to stand together for one another. Music plays a key role in making a positive difference to people's lives, and we are very grateful to play a part in that.
"We rehearse in the city centre and the band has its roots here which is where it all started back in 1900. There are so many events, celebrations and occasions where music, particularly brass music is so important to our communities within Sheffield."
Showroom's Head of Programming, Ryan Finnigan, said: "We view these kinds of screenings and events as very important in not only providing access to cinema that has historical and social value and can help us learn about and from our cultural heritage - but also in providing the space to have surrounding conversations and expertise on the issues that a film can represent."
"For the Miners' Strike screenings, we've tried to get the creators of the films and local academics into the cinema alongside the films as much as possible, to provide valuable context on their production and the history of the strike, to give the local community - whether from Sheffield originally or new to the city - the chance to ask questions and learn directly about the strike and the history of our region."
He said the 30th anniversary of Showroom represents an "incredible achievement" in a time that is extremely challenging for independent cinema.
He said: "Venues like Showroom need to survive and receive support so that we can continue to support the independent filmmakers of the future, and we're all very passionate about not just the history of cinema, but also that we are able to show films that other cinemas often don't support because they aren't overtly commercial, and we're hugely grateful for our audience that come and support that mission."
Sheffield man jailed for horrific sexual attack
A 35-year-old man has been jailed for 10 years for sexual offences and assault following an attack on a woman in Woodhouse.
On 12 April 2024, Simon Lomas from Wybourn House Road subjected a woman to a 'horrific attack', for a quarter of an hour, during which he sexually assaulted, raped, and physically assaulted her.
Investigating Officer Amy Todd, from Sheffield's Protecting Vulnerable People Investigation Unit, said: “Lomas subjected his victim to a cruel, violent, and horrific attack. I am glad that he will have a decade behind bars to reflect on his savage actions which will have caused his victim unimaginable pain.
“He has caused further misery in, subjecting his victim to a trial but was rightly found guilty of deplorable sexual and violent offences."
The victim reported the crime to South Yorkshire Police on 15 April 2024, and Lomas was later arrested on suspicion of rape and other offences, which he denied.
He was later charged with rape, assault by penetration, and two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
On 15 May, Lomas pleaded not guilty to all charges at Sheffield Crown Court, but was found guilty of rape, assault by penetration, and one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm following a trial at the same court on 27 January 2025.
Last Thursday, Lomas was not only jailed, but given an indefinite restraining order preventing him from contacting the victim.
Investigating Officer Todd continued: "I would like to commend the victim for her bravery in reporting this crime and helping to see justice served. I hope that this sentence brings her some measure of closure.
"We take all reports of sexual offences seriously. If you have been raped, sexually assaulted, or sexually harassed, you can report to us in confidence online or by calling 101."
If you are in need of support, you can find advice around reporting sexual offences on South Yorkshire Police's website.
If you do not feel comfortable doing this, you can access specialist and confidential support via the 24/7 Rape & Sexual Abuse Support Line by calling 0808 500 2222.
Rotherham United “proud” to receive GreenCode accreditation
An award winning community kit Swap Shop was one of the sustainable wins that contributed to Rotherham United becoming the third English football team with GreenCode Accreditation last week.
The Millers were the first third tier team in the English Football League (EFL) to undertake the assessment to become a member of the GreenCode, which was first launched four years ago.
Sam Groves, Stadium Manager at Rotherham United, said: “We’re proud to be taking notable steps towards a greener future here at Rotherham United.
“We see this as just the start of our commitment to making a positive impact on and off the pitch at the AESSEAL New York Stadium and in the wider community.”
The club has been praised previously for its commitments to environmental sustainability, including providing sustainable travel and the aforementioned swap shop.
The shop, which ran from November 2023 to early 2024, allowed fans to swap or donate old football kit as well as children’s clothes and warm coats.
The League One team also ran a one-off football boot swap shop, before their game against Huddersfield Town in 2024.
Georgie Kelly, a former Millers striker who was present at the Swap Shop's launch, said: "There is some really good, barely used stuff here which people have generously donated.
"It makes so much sense from a financial and environmental point of view to come and take advantage of this."
The GreenCode scheme supports EFL clubs to improve environmental operations and practices, and was updated this year to introduce a new tier system for participants, including 'Bronze', 'Silver' and 'Green' categories.
To gain higher status, clubs need to publish environmental policies and also appoint staff responsible for sustainability.
Two other clubs have received GreenCode accreditation in the EFL, with Bristol City and Plymouth Argyle being recognised for their efforts.
Ben Fisher, EFL Sustainability Coordinator, said: “Everyone at the EFL is delighted to present our first round of Green Club Awards and to celebrate their success on our journey towards becoming a more environmentally sustainable League.
“All three clubs have worked tirelessly throughout the process.”