“Putting Sheffield on the map”: Exclusive interviews with The Lord Mayor Awards 2025 winners
By Freya Ingram and Nicole Taylor
A 12-year-old girl who raised over £50,000 for Sheffield Children’s Hospital in memory of her friend who died of a rare childhood cancer was commended at the Sheffield Lord Mayor Awards.
Leah Walton, who was presented with the Young Hero award, was the youngest of the winners who were celebrated for their contributions to the city on Thursday night (March 13).
The Lord Mayor, Cllr Jayne Dunn, thanked the winners for “putting Sheffield on the map and making this a brilliant place to live".
She said: “The event showcased people who would never normally have their voice heard.”
Sustainability Connects won the environment award for their work bringing underrepresented groups into climate change conversations.
They have conducted workshops with local groups including Sheffield Women's Hub and learning disability charity, Workplace Limited.
Sustainability manager, Sophia Reeve, said: “We’re bringing a variety of people into the topic of climate change and sustainability to show that it impacts everyone regardless of background.
She added that the workshops are “giving them a platform to really share their thoughts and opinions because typically disadvantaged communities are excluded from these conversations.”
The Lord Mayor stressed the importance of recognising peoples’ contributions.
We forget there is so much to celebrate and that is one of the joys that I have had as Lord Mayor
She added: “It is giving people a sense of hope, belonging and celebration.”
The event was hosted by BBC Radio Sheffield Breakfast presenter Ellie Colton.
Iraqi-born, Firas Sharefy, who has been running Open Kitchen Social Club for over a decade won the local community award for the support he gives to asylum seekers, refugees and people living in poverty across Sheffield.
He said: “At that time the media started talking about refugees and asylum seekers saying they come for benefits, they steal our jobs, so we created a refugee and asylum seeker action group where we did storytelling workshops and presented ourselves in a good way and told the stories of the culture and why we came to the UK.”
Yuri Matischen who is the founder of basketball teams Sheffield Sharks and Sheffield Hatters, won the award for contribution to sport and said sport is in “Sheffield’s DNA”.
Cheriene Bailey, who also commended for her contribution to education, has taught dance in Sheffield for over 50 years and expressed how rewarding it is to see students become professional ballerinas or perform on the West End.
She said: “We’ve had lots of success but also I've been very keen on high standards, but also I've been very much a friend and mentor to thousands of children and students.”
Winning the award for contribution to culture is Jerry Cheung for his role in organising the Chinese Lunar New Year celebrations in Sheffield over the last 20 years.
He said: “Everything I do is motivated by my passion.”
Mr Cheung first moved to Sheffield in 1975 and shared his love for the city saying his favourite part is the people.
He said: “There are not many places or cities or countries where the person in front of you will hold the door open for you and in Sheffield you get that.”
Award winners included:
- Outstanding Contribution to Local Community Winner - Firas Sharefy
- Outstanding Contribution to Environment & Science – Sustainability Connects
- Outstanding Contribution to the promotion of Arts, Music & Culture – Jerry Cheung DL
- Outstanding Contribution to Local Sport - Yuri Matischen
- Outstanding Contribution to Education – Cheriene Bailey
- The Young Hero - Leah Walton
The winners were chosen by an independent judging panel, made up of sponsors and individuals, including representatives from Sheffield United community group, Sheffield Wednesday community foundation and Voluntary Action Sheffield.
JUS News Morning Bulletin (17 March 2025)
Here’s our JUS News morning news rundown with Cassidy Chan.
Stay tuned for our afternoon news rundown with Ollie Clay at 2pm.
On Sheffield Wire Today
Good morning and welcome to today's coverage of news from across South Yorkshire. It's Monday 17 March 2025.
Some of our highlighted stories coming up include:
- The Lord Mayor Awards: Freya Ingram and Nicole Taylor interviewed some of the winners from the awards ceremony on Thursday, including Cheriene Bailey, a dance teacher who won Outstanding Contribution to Education
- Brassed Off: At the Showroom, a trade union brass band performed alongside a screening of the 1996 film, to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the end of the Miners' Strike. Nia Raine Jenkins was there
- Councillors in Ukraine: Two Sheffield city councillors, Matt Dwyer and Mark Rusling, are on a solidarity trip to Ukraine and they were in conversation with Olivia Booth before setting off.
That, and plenty more including our multimedia bulletins are on their way, so watch this space!
JUS News afternoon bulletin (10 March 2025)
Here’s our JUS News afternoon news rundown with Siddharth Thakur.
Stay tuned for our main news programme at 4:30pm with Alex Crombie and Kezhen Wu.
University of Sheffield’s SU Launches ‘Fight For Our Future’ Campaign
The University of Sheffield students’ union provides a store, nightclub, and is home to over 300 student-run societies.
This year, the officers are trying to launch a campaign to inspire students to vote for better-funded education.
Their demands are to all student loans by 2,700 pounds, provide better housing, and have people pay back their loans based on what they earn.
The Union has been voted best SU in the country six years running - now, they’re aiming to use this to reach a national audience, and are bringing other universities all over the country into their plans.
However, a delay to their plans has made organising the scheme tough. Usually, it takes 10 days for a petition to be reviewed by the government.
For them, it’s nearly been a month.
They’re not sure what’s going on, but they aren’t able to progress with the campaign until it’s been solved.
With the support of Central Sheffield’s MP Abtisam Mohammed, they still have their sights set high, and are hoping eventually a new group of student officers can take the project over.
Watch the full report here:
JUS News morning bulletin (10 March 2025)
Here’s our JUS News morning news rundown with Georgie Hood.
Stay tuned for our afternoon news rundown with Siddharth Thakur at 2pm.
JUS News afternoon bulletin (3 March 2025)
Here's our JUS News afternoon news rundown with Millie Park.
Stay tuned for our main news programme with Georgie Hood and Siddarth Thakur.
Read the full stories here on our website.
BAE Systems shares surge after Ukraine summit despite cries for ceasefire
BAE Systems, set to open a £25m artillery factory in Sheffield later this year, saw a 17% rise in share prices this morning after the London Ukraine summit on Sunday, despite students and anti-war groups rallying for a ceasefire.
The summit saw vows from various European and NATO leaders pledging support and emphasising the urgent need for Europe to rearm, especially in the case of Russia’s war against Ukraine.
Shares in the FTSE 100 weapons manufacturing companies, BAE Systems and Rolls-Royce, hit all-time highs the morning after the summit.
This comes at a time when university students and anti-war groups like Stop The War have incessantly rallied for the UK to stop arming countries and investing in war.
Lindsey German, national convenor of the Stop The War coalition, said in an article: “Starmer’s increases [of spending on defence] – to effectively 2.6% in two years and then to 3% in five – are at the expense of overseas aid, which will have horrendous consequences for some of the poorest and most desperate people in the world.”
BAE Systems' factory opening in Sheffield this year is capable of manufacturing the company’s M777 lightweight towed howitzer, a weapon used by US, Canadian, Australian, and Indian forces.
A group of University of Sheffield (UoS) students occupied the Arts Tower in 2023 protesting the involvement of defence companies like Rolls Royce and BAE Systems in the University of Sheffield’s Careers Fair.
A 2023 transparency request from The Star revealed that the UoS was receiving £72 million in research funding over the past ten years from companies that manufacture weapons and military hardware alongside civilian products, a number higher than any other university in the UK at the time.
The current Labour government has pledged an increase in spending on defence, investing an additional £1.6bn to send thousands of air defence missiles to Ukraine, despite receiving criticism for taking away state pensions from WASPI women, saying that they "cannot justify paying for a £10.5bn compensation scheme at the expense of the taxpayer."
Sir Keir Starmer said during the summit that Europe “must do the heavy lifting” in ensuring a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine – but that it must also have strong US backing.
Last month, the Prime Minister also pledged a 100-year partnership with Ukraine – which includes first and foremost military spending.
The two countries promised “military collaboration on maritime security through a new framework to strengthen Baltic Sea, Black Sea, and Azov Sea security and deter ongoing Russian aggression.”
Image source: BAE Systems
University of Sheffield SU hosts Women’s History events
Additional reporting by Georgina Hood.
Poetry workshops, panels and fancy-dress sports days are just some of the events taking place at the University of Sheffield's Student Union this March to mark Women's History Month.
The union is also fundraising for several charities, including, Together Women, The YWCA, Mums In Need (MIN) and The Snowdrop Project.
The SU's Women's Officer, Eloise Taylor, said: “Women’s History Month serves as a crucial reminder in how our society is indebted to the women who helped create and uplift it.
"It's a really good time to come together and show solidarity on common issues, like gendered violence. It's also just a nice space to get to know other women."
The Student's union is focussing on two themes this year, one of which is women in the workplace.
The UK gender pay-gap still stood at 7% in April 2024, despite declining year on year, according to the Office for National Statistics.
To combat this and other gender-based discrimination in professional settings, the Student's Union is hosting a discussion with female and non-binary alumni about their experience transitioning from university to the workplace on 24 March.
They are also hosting a Bystander Training course to help people intervene in dangerous situations and support other marginalised people.
This year's other theme for Women's History Month is women in sport.
Sheffield student, Emily Lamb, said that in the past she had preferred using women-only areas in gyms.
She said: "When I was an undergraduate going to the gym, there would be times when men came up to me showing me how to do an exercise or something, and that can be intimidating."
To encourage more female students to feel confident participating in exercise, the union is hosting a Women's Sports Day on 8 March and a panel discussion about the benefits of sports in recovering from domestic abuse.
Later in the month, the SU is running a Liberation Festival Creative Workshop in the Information Commons library, on 19 March, where students will make blackout poetry, collages and Reclaim the Night tote bags.
Ms Taylor said: "Women’s contributions are often left out of history, therefore, at our SU I hope we follow a trend of recognition and appreciation rather than dismissal for the women from the past, the present and our future.”
“Quite frankly, I think it’s outrageous”: residents react to Sunday morning explosion in Middlewood
With additional reporting by Emily Lamb
In wake of a building demolition at Beeley Wood Industrial Estate yesterday morning, some residents are shaken - and raising questions about a lack of adequate warning.
A letter was circulated by the company responsible, Metropolitan Demolitions Ltd., to households on Clay Wheels Lane, but many people in the surrounding neighbourhoods first heard of the plans when they heard a sudden explosion at 8am on Sunday 2 March.
"They all got the shock of their lives," said Khalid Hadrami, an Uber driver who frequently picks up passengers from the Middlewood area.
Mr Hadrami did not hear the explosion himself, but mentioned that several of his passengers had received no warning by letter or email from any local authority.
Kirsty Buckley, director at a nearby Co-Op Funeracare, said: "It scared the life out of me, I'm not going to lie." She heard three to four quick explosions in quick succession, and at first thought a road accident had happened outside her house.
Neither South Yorkshire Police or South Yorkshire Fire were informed of the demolition plans beforehand, but several eyewitnesses reported seeing police vehicles in the area on Sunday morning, and several Neighbourhood Policing Teams were dispatched to Middlewood following the explosion.
Clive Pashley, a local funeral celebrant, said: “Quite frankly, I think it's outrageous we weren't told."
He expressed concern for elderly residents of Middlewood and Birley Carr - including his mother, who is equipped with a pacemaker, as well as residents of a nearby nursing home.
On Clay Wheels Lane itself, residents were more relaxed - many had received the letter, which warned people: "We recommend that windows are kept closed on the Sunday 2 March and refrain from putting washing out."
Maurice Alexander, owner of Limestone Self-Storage, witnessed the explosion, describing a crowd of "about 30 people" milling about the exclusion zone, and a brief vibration in the ground following the last of the explosions.
Sheffield City Council reportedly received planning permission for works at Beeley Wood two years ago, but was not informed of the date or any further details.
Cllr Penny Baker, of Stannington ward, said: "We understand that some residents knew and that others didn't. Councillors and officers are really not happy about what happened yesterday, and are looking at ways to make sure it doesn’t happen again.
"The lack of information was appalling at so many different levels."
Church claims a “financial crossroads” means it will pull support for nursery school
A Sheffield nursery school is due to be evicted from a church on Friday because the organisation which owns the building claims it needs to save money to fund its own activities.
St Leonard's Day Nursery in Longley has operated out of St Leonard's Church since 1995 with no formal contract.
But since 2016, the Parochial Church Council (PCC), which manages the church, said it had tried to negotiate "fair and sustainable arrangements" in line with rising costs. However, the efforts to formalise this was unsuccessful.
It now claims it is at a "financial crossroads" and a notice was issued in September 2024 for the nursery to vacate a part of the church space to allow for the church's mission to expand its services to the wider community.
A spokesperson for the Diocese of Sheffield said: "Over the years, the PCC has made significant efforts to accommodate the nursery, absorbing substantial costs for utilities, services and repairs that would typically covered under a formal rental agreement."
According to parents, without the church facilities the nursery will not be compliant with the safeguarding standards set out in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) statutory framework and will have to close.
Destany Shaw, whose daughter attends the school, said: "We as parents do not want to portray the church in a bad light but we want to get across how much this will hurt us as parents and as a community."
The school has been known in the community for the quality of care it provides as well as its expertise with supporting children with special educational needs (SEN).
Chany Kilby, whose daughter has social anxiety, said: "The nursery has had such a big impact on her development and brought out her personality. She now speaks fluent sentences and can sing nursery rhymes and even count to five."
An Ofsted inspection in January awarded the nursery with a 'Good' rating which is the second highest available. This standard of care has been maintained since 2016.
The Diocese statement added: "The PCC remains open to further facilitated negotiation with the nursery owner during this period. We remain committed to serving our community and ensuring that our church buildings are used in a way that benefits as many people as possible."
Sheffield author explains why World Book Day helps children
This week, children across the country will be encouraged to dress up as their favourite characters from a book, join in a read-along and talk about fictional characters who have inspired them for World Book Day.
Sheffield children's author, Helen Hunt, explains why the annual event is important and how Sheffield inspired her to write an adventure book.
"It is a day to focus on the importance of reading," she says. "It helps children to feel encouraged to pick up a book and feel excited about reading and sharing their favourite books with their friends.
“It is vital for children and young adults to keep enjoying books to maintain improving their knowledge, memory, vocabulary and focus. Reading also helps with anxiety while at the same time enhancing their imagination and creativity skills. Reading also helps communication and stimulates the brain.”
Helen, who has lived in Sheffield all her life, explained the city inspired to write her debut book. “Steelosaurus” is a heart-warming tale about a curious dinosaur that is new to the city and who wants to know more about where he lives. He meets two children who gladly show him around Sheffield in an adventure about heritage and friendship.
The book is currently being sold in over 30 book stores around the city and has sold over 1,500 copies.
“Sheffield has so many famous landmarks that the people of Sheffield are so proud of, so writing a book comes naturally," she says. "It was great to see a little boy from last year’s World Book Day dressed up as Steelosaurus.”
This Thursday (March 6) the organisation behind World Book Day are encouraging schools to find different ways of helping students engage with books.
World Book Day was first celebrated on April 23 1995, in the UK, and was introduced to help children from disadvantaged backgrounds to form a lifelong love of reading. The day is now celebrated in over 100 countries and is meant for children to associate reading with fun and positivity.
According to the National Literary Trust only one in five (18.6%) children age five to eight do not have a book of their own at home.
A survey in 2021 revealed 54.7% of children between the ages of 8 and 11 said that they read more books as a result of taking part in World Book Day.
According to the “National Library of Health” in the US, research shows reading regularly has health benefits and can improve sleep, lowering stress levels, improve cognitive function, mental well-being and longevity in life.
Helen, from Oughtibridge, explained her own love affair with books after she became captivated by Roald Dahl, and illustrator, Quentin Blake, who's stories enhanced her imagination.
Last year, on World Book Day, Helen was invited to read her book to a class at the Oughtibridge Primary School.
"Although this was out of my comfort zone, it was nice to see so many children engaging and enjoying the book."