‘Powerful’ film of exiled young Ukrainian gymnast shown as part of Sheffield’s fundraising efforts

2:13pm

Sheffield Showroom Cinema staged a special screening of the new film Olga to support Ukraine on 25th March. From each ticket sold for screenings at cinemas around the country, a donation will be made to support Ukraine via the Disasters Emergency Committee.

The previews result from a partnership with 606 Distribution and the BFI. Olga is the story of a young female Ukrainian gymnast forced to train in exile. A 15-year-old Ukrainian gymnast Olga, training for the European Championship in preparation for the Olympics, is forced to move to Switzerland from her home in Kyiv, where her mother works as an investigative journalist reporting on the Euromaidan protests. Rose Butler, programme manager of Showroom Cinema, said: "I think it's a really powerful way of being able to do that. And I think a lot of people feel a little bit helpless about what they're able to do to support this. It's something that I think the independent film sector can do and contribute in a positive way. "And also to be able to show a really vibrant Ukrainian film that people may not otherwise get the chance to see, so it feels really good to support both of those things." Anton Levsiushkin, 41, A Ukrainian who lives in Rotherham, said, "I came here just before the mighty revolution for a training of two months, and I watched the whole start with myself, so I can really relate to it." Mr Levsiushkin said: "I'm very grateful to organisers and promoters to make any like a charitable event and take us to go to the whatever fund they're going to." This March, South Yorkshire has raised money for refugees in Ukraine through film screenings, concerts, and art sales. Doncaster artists held an art auction on 20th March at the Wool Market. And all of the proceeds will go to Ukraine. Art auctions have seen artists print their paintings on suede effect cushions, with prices ranging from £20 to £35. Besides film screenings and artwork auctions, Sheffield's music industry also hosted fundraising events.

Dorothy Pax Music Venue hosted a live concert at Sheffield's Victoria Quays earlier in March on 17th, with all proceeds going to Warchild and DEC Humanitarian Appeal.

 

Peace In The Park could be cancelled this year unless £5,000 is fundraised by Friday

1:45pm

Organisers behind one of Sheffield's most beloved community arts festivals fear the event may not go ahead this year unless they can fundraise £5,000 by Friday. Peace In The Park first evolved 19 years ago from grassroots protests against war, and has since become "a real community event" that brings people of all ages together for a day music, arts and advocating for world peace. But after the pandemic has made it difficult for fundraising to go ahead, the entirely free and volunteer run event is now at risk of being cancelled this year. Volunteer Marketing and Fundraising Assistant, Roxie Rho, 35, said: "We need to make this money in a week, or it's just not going to happen. "It's unreal the amount it (Peace In The Park) touches you and the difference it makes, it's all free and It's just a heart-warming and lovely day and I think we do need that right now."

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Peace In The Park (@peaceintheparksheffield)

The Peace In The Park team currently have £5,200 in funds for the festival, but the festival cannot go ahead unless they hit their goal of £10,000 by Friday the first of April. Overall, the event costs only £25,000 to run, with artists, performers and bands all performing at the event for free. The organisers expect the additional £15,000 to come from fundraisers and grants and the money raised will cover the essentials for the day including toilets, sound systems, generators and marquees. The festival draws in crowds of up to 10,000 people and organisers behind the event feel that in light of the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, it's more important now than ever before to hold the event. Volunteer Production Coordinator, Hope Cook, 26, said: "I think everyone coming together after 2 years of the pandemic and now a war, to collect together to promote peace and have a good day is going to be paramount to people's mental health's and reconnecting us." The team are also looking for volunteers to assist on the day of the event if their fundraising efforts turn out to be successful. Their next big fundraising event, Peace in the Dub Shack, will take place on Friday the 1st of April at Sidney & Matlida. The night will consist of reggae, dub and dancehall and tickets will cost £7 Talking on the festivals impact in Sheffield, Roxie added: "It really does feel like the heart of Sheffield, it's lovely to go somewhere and not just see the same people and music, you get to see everybody from all parts of Sheffield." To donate, click here. You can find out more about their upcoming Fundraiser, Peace in the Dub Shack on Instagram.

Harsher laws on phone use in cars being driven into action around South Yorkshire

1:38pm

New laws around driving whilst using a mobile phone have come into place across England over the weekend. South Yorkshire police put out a message to drivers instructing them not to use mobile phones at all while driving. Manager of South Yorkshire Safer Roads, Joanne Wehrl, said the group enforce traffic laws throughout the South Yorkshire district. The aim of South Yorkshire Safer roads partnership is to cut the number of people who are injured in a road traffic collision, and to try and make South Yorkshire's roads safer. Joanne Wehrl said: "Its so easy for people to do something about this and to make the roads safer for them and everyone else." Joanne told us about a car accident where a young girl called Zoe was killed when a driver crashed into her because they were using a mobile phone.

Roads policing Sgt Mark Bradey said: "As roads policing officers we see the devastating impact that road traffic collisions have on victims and their family and friends. "We welcome the change to the law and hope drivers think twice about using their mobile phone when driving." In 2020, 608 mobile phone offences were reported in South Yorkshire, and in 2021, 246 people were found guilty of a mobile phone offence whilst driving. The changes to the law now state that virtually all use of a mobile phone is illegal, including taking photographs, videos, having apps open or illuminating the screen in any way.   Joanne Wehrl said: "we know it's a devastating thing to lose someone in a road traffic collision, but to lose someone must be even more upsetting when they are lost so needlessly due to something that is entirely preventable." MVI_3508_1  

£100m transformation to go ahead for Gleadless Valley

12:41pm

Proposals for a £100m transformation of Gleadless Valley have been approved. The Gleadless Valley Masterplan, which includes developments in housing, green spaces and employment opportunities, was given the go-ahead on 24 March after three months of consultations with residents. Changes include the construction of 80 Older Persons Independent Living Scheme apartments and 109 new build houses and apartments. Existing maisonettes are set to be replaced and remodelled while 51 blocks of flats will be externally refurbished.  The Masterplan also details plans to upgrade parks and play equipment, increase traffic calming measures and plant more trees across the estate.

Sally Pedley, Chairperson of Gleadless Valley Tenants and Residents Association, said: "The Masterplan is an excellent opportunity for Gleadless Valley. “The estate itself is very widespread with some beautiful open green spaces. The masterplan is giving the opportunity to look at how those spaces are used and to develop more active spaces for children and families. “These are going to be disruptive times, with lots of works taking place but will also create job opportunities for local people. Exciting times lay ahead for the regrowth of Gleadless Valley.” Shop fronts and local centres will be reformed and community growing and gardening projects will be introduced.  Meanwhile, the Masterplan promises more opportunities for apprenticeships and training. From January, residents were asked for feedback on the draft Masterplan, and the Council found that 80% of respondents showed support for the proposals. However, a resident who lives in a high-rise flat in the Valley expressed her discontent with the plan on Twitter: “The Gleadless Valley Masterplan or disaster plan as I like to call it is throwing a LOT of money this way. It’s a bit like polishing a 💩.”   Gleadless Valley was built in the late 1950s. The estate was considered a new model for social housing because it was a residential area developed within a woodland. However, parts of the Valley fall into the 10% most deprived neighbourhoods in the country, and recent consultation showed that one in three residents did not feel safe in the area at night. Sheffield City Council secured £500,000 funding from central government to develop the Masterplan in 2018. The final Masterplan will be published by June.

Jump for Ukrainian children! Sheffield trampoline park fundraises for children in danger

12:30pm

A trampoline park in Sheffield hosted an open jump session to help the children of Ukraine. Jump inc Sheffield hosted the session between 3 and 4:30pm on Sunday, hoping to fill the park and raise as much money as possible. The funds from the open jump were donated to Unicef. The trampoline park is one of the largest in the UK, with over 24,000 square feet of space.

Charlie Drayton, 21, a staff member at the park said: “I didn’t think it would turn out like it did but from what I’ve seen it’s been a good turnout. "By throwing the event we’ve let kids have fun. Adults have bounced, they’ve had fun. There’s been smiles on everyone’s faces, and hopefully the money we’ve raised and everything that will be sent over to Ukraine will put smiles on people’s faces over there.” The entire child population of Ukraine, 7.5 million, is now at risk as a result of the conflict with Russia. Children have been separated from their families and are threatened on a daily basis by explosives including landmines. The event was an open jump, and was therefore open for all ages. A range of features were available, from inflatables to trampolines to the UK's largest ninja course. Jump Inc asked that jumpers were over 1.25m for some events. The fundraising scheme also occurred at Jump Inc's parks in Leeds, Rotherham, Beverley, Lincoln and Bicester. Mark Poole, Jump Inc.'s finance director said: "We wanted to help as like everyone else we've watched powerlessly as millions of ordinary Ukrainians have been forced to seek refuge away from their homes, friends and families through no fault of their own. Although the warn and sunny weather reduced the number of participants at our parks, we raised total donations of £506." Gemma Robinson, 29, who lives near the Sheffield park, attended the event with her friends. She said: “What they are doing here is different to what other people are doing. Here you’re donating and having fun at the same time. It’s different, it’s nice.” Charlie shows his skills! https://youtu.be/UhB-U3Z7GRE  

St Leonard’s Day Nursery calls for help after vandalism forces closure

12:29pm

St Leonard’s Day Nursery in Sheffield is asking for local businesses and the community to help with repair costs after vandals smashed windows and caused substantial damage to the building yesterday. The nursery in Longley has had to close today and manager Lynne Cotton said the incident now "jeopardises the future of the nursery" as they do not have the money to repair the damage.

Ms Cotton told Sheffield Wire: "The people who did this have got to be children from our area and are possibly even children that we have looked after. It's such a shame and it's so sad that people thinking something like that is a fun thing to do. "We've been here for nearly 30 years and we've never really had that much trouble. But this is a local-based business, serving the community, and we really can't afford it." A photograph posted by the nursery on Facebook shows two young boys at a fence outside the building, who they believe to be responsible for the vandalism. Parents and carers were notified last night of the closure this morning and it is not known yet when the nursery will re-open.

Other parts of the church building, which are not designed for educational use, will have to be used by staff when the nursery does open its doors again after a clean-up operation today. Anyone with any information about the incident should contact South Yorkshire Police on 101.