The hidden crisis of furniture poverty
The social significance of furniture can be seen everywhere: adverts from Dfs and Ikea have been a near-permanent fixture on our tv screens for years, while many of us covet designer rugs and luxury leather chairs in interior design magazines. Tables, chairs, bookcases and beds serve more than their intended functions, allowing us to participate in wider society. But what about those of us who, through no fault of our own, suffer from a lack of furniture and cannot afford to buy any? Experts say that owning essential household items is important for people's dignity, self respect and happiness. Furniture poverty is defined by the End Furniture Poverty charity as “the inability to access, or afford to buy or maintain any household furniture or appliance item that is essential to achieve a socially acceptable standard of living.” It is seen as a sliding scale, with ‘furniture insecurity’ being when a household does not have the money needed to replace any essential item if it breaks. While ‘furniture destitution’ is when a household has none or very few of the basic items needed. Data from the Poverty and Exclusion project shows that in the past 30 years, the number of adults who are unable to afford household goods seen as necessities has risen dramatically. In 1990, 6.5 million people could not afford one or more essential items, but in 2012, 12 million were reported to have the same issue.
“It’s not just a table and chairs, it’s the time we spend together”.Shannon Gabbert, Centre Manager of St Vincent’s Sheffield, a furniture poverty charity, told the Sheffield Wire that media attention was focused on certain types of poverty. She said these were often those that were more visual, such as homelessness, and examples where the general public could relate their own experiences, such not being able to buy food. She said: “People have a better understanding of things like fuel poverty, where you can’t afford to heat your house, they also understand food poverty – everyone knows what being hungry feels like – furniture poverty is a bit different. “Most of us have grown up in a home where we have all the essentials we need, but there are some people who have nothing”, she said. “It means that someone can’t have a functional home, which has a massive impact on their day-to-day life”. Not only do those entering social housing suffer from furniture poverty -only two per cent of social housing is let as furnished, according to the End Furniture Poverty campaign – but research from the Poverty and Social exclusion project found that around 14 million people in the UK could not afford one or more essential household goods. These included basic items such as a washing machine, table and chairs, a phone and curtains.
Furniture poverty is a big problem in the UK. Credit Unsplash
Kickstart scheme helps Barnsley benefit crisis
Hope Works’ birthday: nine years of underground music and community building in Sheffield
Hope Works is set to celebrate its 9th birthday this weekend. To mark the occasion, the Kelham Island venue, which has long been considered a linchpin of underground electronic music, will welcome Palms Trax and Bradley Zero for a seven hour warehouse party. Saturday’s event will be a commemoration of nearly a decade of community building through music, despite 15 months of closure over the course of the Covid-19 outbreak.
No Bounds by Frankie Casillo
'Keeping history alive'
Hope Works first opened its doors in 2012, against a formidable musical backdrop. From the industrial sounds pushed by groups such as Clock DVA and Cabaret Voltaire in the late 1970s and 1980s to the emergence of baseline in the early 2000s, the scope of sounds hailing from Sheffield is vast and renowned. Central to these different scenes were warehouses, with empty lots providing the settings for many events and free parties across the years. This local history was formative for Hope Works, says O’Shea: “What I’m doing here is plugging into the spirit of the industrial heart of the city, but not just solely that. “It’s keeping that language alive, and keeping that history alive while doing so in a way that is relevant to contemporary culture and what the underground is here and now.” Setting up the venue was a way for O’Shea to tie together the many, yet disparate, strands of Sheffield’s musical heritage under one roof: “One thing I felt is that we didn't really pull things together and celebrate ourselves and our achievements quite as much as other cities,” he says. As such, the venue hosts DJs and promoters from across the electronic music spectrum, from drum ‘n bass to house and techno. However, it is O’Shea’s devotion to harsher sounds, through bookings such as Jeff Mills, Helena Hauff and Rebekah, which makes the space unique. As well as booking key players in electronic music, maintaining a special atmosphere has always felt crucial in running the club. “I always wanted to do something that was positive, hence: 'Hope Works’,” says O’Shea. The impact of Hope Works on both club and local culture was felt immediately, he says: “By 2012, we didn't want plus clubs, it wasn't about that. We'd been through that superclub era. Around this time, there was definitely a return back to a DIY approach and a wave of different sounds. So I think [Hope Works] was a staple from the start.” The reputation of the club is still strong, with its character earning the respect of those who have frequented the space in the years since, both on the dancefloor and behind the decks. Earlier this month, Hope Works was nominated for ‘Best Small Club’ in DJ Mag’s Best of British Awards 2021. Jack Smith, who has been visiting Hope Works since moving to Sheffield as a student in 2015, says: “I just love the atmosphere of it. I think it feels very free, it’s kind of like it’s own little world.” “Also, I like how friendly and nice the people who go are,” he added. “Everyone is on the same wavelength which is really cool.” The club’s community focus means that partygoers can see emerging Sheffield DJs share the bill with bigger acts. Resident DJ Gracie T made her Hope Works debut on New Year’s Eve 2019 alongside friend and collaborator Diessa. She had played at most other clubs in the city so landing a slot here felt like an important next step in her career. “It was just so much fun and that was probably the first huge club event that I played,” she recalls. “It was a really good opportunity.” While the effects of Covid still resonate, from staffing issues to lower footfall, the energy of Hope Works feels the same according to Smith, who attended the opening weekend back in June. “Everyone is so happy to be back. You can see how much it means to everyone,” he says. As the venue approaches another milestone, O’Shea is keen for Hope Works to keep interacting with the city, through more events and more collaboration with up-and-coming artists. He says: “We still want to be here with everyone, putting on really good shows with a high production value, great artistic content and a real community heart to it at its base.”
Stacked Sheffield card of women’s boxing as Tysie Gallagher faces Gemma Ruegg in headline bout
An exhilarating night of boxing awaits Doubletree Hilton in Sheffield tonight, with a stacked card of primarily female fighters putting it all on the line. With three women’s bouts and two male contests, it is the meeting of Luton’s finest Tysie Gallagher and Gemma Ruegg from Bournemouth that leads the billing for promotional newcomers ‘Unified Promotions’. Both undefeated fighters have motherhood in common, and much is expected of the pair in their fledgling boxing careers. Renowned boxing journalist and broadcaster Gareth A Davies will be a keen spectator at tonight’s sporting showpiece. He said: “I’m really looking forward to the main event. They’re both young in their career, undefeated and already headlining a card.”
Inspired by the likes of Katie Taylor, Claressa Shields and Natasha Jonas, 23-year-old Gallagher has had 30 amateur bouts and is a former junior ABA champion. Gemma Ruegg, 36, also boasts an impressive boxing pedigree. Having secured two regional titles as an amateur, Ruegg’s son Mace is also a promising boxer signed to MTK Global. Ex-world champion boxer Anthony Crolla is also excited to take in Unified Promotions’ first hosted event. Crolla said: “I cannot wait for the debut show. It promises to be a belter.”Tonight is the night 🔥
Watch Unified Promotions 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁: 𝗣𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗵 on Sporty Stuff TV 📺 Sky Channel 437 and Freesat 250 ⏰ Live from 10:00pm#boxing #fightnight pic.twitter.com/TMPQx18HKc — Unified Promotions (@Unified_Promo) November 26, 2021
Strike action by Stagecoach bus drivers in Sheffield on Sunday
Starting on Sunday, 28 November, Stagecoach bus drivers in Sheffield will take strike action for seven days after their talks with Stagecoach about a pay rise were unsuccessful.
Overall, more than 560 workers, across the Stagecoach depots in Sheffield, Barnsley and Rotherham, will go on strike this weekend after the company failed to make meet Unite the union’s demands for an adequate pay rise.
Sharon Graham, Unite’s general secretary, said: “Low pay is the scourge of the bus industry right across this country. Stagecoach made profits touching £60m last year and has £875m in the bank. Yet it cannot make a decent offer to its staff.
Unite is pledged to fight for the jobs pay and conditions of our members so we will be relentless in the campaign to ensure that our members at Stagecoach, in South Yorkshire, get a fair deal.”
Said fair deal could not be reached with Stagecoach Yorkshire yet, who have offered an increase to the hourly pay rate of 4.5%.
Phil Medlicott, Managing Director for Stagecoach Yorkshire, said: “We know that our employees deserve a good pay rise and we have left no stone unturned in our attempts to reach a settlement with Unite.”
Mr Medlicott emphasized that Stagecoach Yorkshire remains open to continuing discussion with the union.
The managing director also said: “We would urge them to call off this unnecessary action which will cause untold inconvenience to local communities and will hit the pockets of our employees and their families.”
Lewis Dagnall, Labour candidate for South Yorkshire mayor, deems the strike action necessary and publicly expressed his support on social media platform Twitter.
Furthermore, he said: “I absolutely think that bus drivers and the support staff have been heroic throughout the pandemic.
They have been keeping that essential public service going so that our key workers could carry on, working in the NHS, for the police and other public services.”
Unite’s regional officer, Phil Bown, said: “Bus workers were rightly hailed as heroes during successive lockdowns. However, warm words do not pay the bills and Stagecoach needs to reward its workers' dedication with a decent pay award.”
For local resident Alan Horner, strike action has been a long time coming.
He said: “It's the worst I’ve ever known the public transport in Sheffield and I’ve lived here over 80 years.”
Nevertheless, the strike action leaves many residents frustrated without public transport.
As Catherine Cosworth, 30, said: “It’s going to affect everybody and help no one. I don’t think it’s right, people are going to be stuck because of it.”
Ian Watson, 70, a retiree adds: “It’s going to force us to change our plans as we can’t really get round without the buses.”
As Lewis Dagnall puts it, the simplest solution to the problem posed by the strike action for residents is for Stagecoach to sit down with the union to come to an agreement.
The Labour candidate said: “I think most passengers will say that drivers having real times pay as their reward for having worked through a pandemic is not an unreasonable ask.
The least the bus companies can do is dip into the profits made over the last few years that they have taken out of this public service, and reward their workers.”
‘I’ve got no support back’: Woman paralysed by COVID-19 vaccine still not received compensation
Kerry Hurt is still waiting for financial support seven months after being left paralysed from a COVID-19 vaccine and said the Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme (VDPS) "needs to be simplified". Mrs Hurt, from Rotherham, had her first dose of the Astra-Zeneca vaccine on 1 April 2021. After becoming increasingly unwell with headaches and watering eyes, Kerry was taken to Hallamshire Hospital for surgery on what was discovered to be a bleed on her brain. On 13 April 2021, Mrs Hurt suffered a major stroke, resulting in a further two life saving surgeries. She also had to have part of her skull removed. Her husband Patrick filled in forms for the vaccine payment scheme whilst Kerry was still in hospital, and doctors said they should be given the limit of £120000, but they are yet to hear anything back. Kerry is still partially paralysed on her left side. Following improvements, Kerry began to start walking again, but is paying for private physiotherapy alongside her NHS treatment. Kerry said she wants to see a change to the scheme, which hasn't been updated since 1979. Kerry said: "It's not about the money, it's about them reviewing it." Mrs Hurt's application has now been passed from the DWP to the NHS for investigation. Kerry wants the process to be simplified for other families who have been affected by illness from vaccines. She said: "I feel that I'm fortunate that I'm still here. "I know a lot of families that have lost loved ones, that have actually died from this, so how are they going to manage?" The couple said they put together a petition to have the scheme viewed in the House of Parliament, but the issue was never raised. The scheme requires proof that the person affected has suffered 60% injuries, but Kerry said this is difficult to pin down. Husband Pat said: "I'm hoping to go back to work in January. "Kerry can walk but it's baby steps. It's been quite a rollercoaster."
Doctors urge Covid-19 boosters to prevent Christmas infections
Covid-19 Booster Jab https://unsplash.com/photos/r2fqXao_z70
Dr Thushan de Silva Provided by respondents
Covid-19 Booster Jab https://unsplash.com/photos/-kW1TvBKk1s
Storm Arwen: “There will be more deaths”
The "danger to life" storm poses a significant threat to South Yorkshire's homeless. Amber warning winds are expected to reach highs and cause damage to buildings and transportation across tonight and tomorrow. Charley Fedorenko, 43, Deputy Manager of Emmaus Sheffield said: "It is hideous. Imagine if you are on the street with nowhere to go. Imagine the place where you go to sleep being full of wind. It is horrendous. There is money out there that isn't being used. There are people out on the street that don't have food and clothing. There will be more deaths" A local homeless man, who wishes to remain anonymous, stressed how dangerous the bad weather is. He said: "It's going to be freezing. It's not very nice at all. I don't have anywhere to go and I will sleep in the Peace Gardens tonight" Barnsley council warned via twitter to "take care when out on the roads or while walking". Barnsley Council and Sheffield City Council have yet have to release a statement on how it will help homeless people during this time.
The stigma on disabilities
(Caption: Lady wanders in the street with the Mobility Aids)
(Caption: Mobile Service is reopened for the public in the city centre)
Doncaster charity Food Aware left struggling after theft of van
An organisation that sends out food parcels to those in need across Doncaster and Rotherham has been left struggling after their main delivery van was stolen. Food Aware, who have been serving local communities for 13 years, have seen demand for the service quadruple since the start of the pandemic. Managing Director of Food Aware, Counsellor Sean Gibbons, said "when the van was stolen it ripped the heart out of our operation. "We’ve been struggling to keep going. But our team have kept delivering." The stolen van has come at the worst time for the group, as the lead up to Christmas is their busiest time of the year. Their ability to deliver has been ruined since the van was stolen, and they are now relying on the good will of volunteers to complete deliveries in their own cars. Two thousand pounds worth of food inside the van was stolen as well. "That van along with all the volunteers and the strong partnerships supports over 100 organisations every week and feeds four thousand people," said Counsellor Gibbons. The group has set up a crowd funder and are requesting small donations to help them get back on their feet following the theft. https://foodawarecic.org.uk/crowdfunding-a-new-project-operations-van-to-replace-stolen-one/
‘It’s the last resort’: University of Sheffield archaeologists join UCU strikes
University of Sheffield archaeologists will join the frontline of UCU strike action next Wednesday, as 58 universities across the UK brace for three days of industrial action. Union members voted across a ballot window of three weeks and delivered what the UCU described as a "clear mandate" for strike action, with 76% of members voting for strike action and 88% voting for action short of strike. One of the contributing factors for this industrial action in Sheffield is the closure of the University of Sheffield Department of Archaeology, announced back in July. This caused outrage domestically and globally, with over 48,000 signing the petition to “Save Sheffield’s Archaeology Department.” The University of Sheffield cited a '"significant decline" as one of the reasons for the closure – with only 10 undergraduate students receiving offers this year.
‘We don’t feel like we matter'
Although the closure of the archaeology department is not the main reason for industrial striking across the UK, for many at the University of Sheffield, these strikes will provide an opportunity to protest at the "cultural vandalism" impacting educational institutions across the UK. https://twitter.com/UAlbarella/status/1459384408012636160?s=20 Dr Angelos Hadjikoumis, a zooarchaeologist at the University of Sheffield said: “The decision to strike is not one that was taken lightly. We have taken this decision after months and months of effort to discuss with the university alternative options. “It’s the last resort. We have the public opinion which is shown by the tens of thousands of signatures and thousands of letters sent by many of our students and alumni.”
Dr Angelos Hadjikoumis, University of Sheffield zooarchaeologist at a Neolithic site in Cyprus
Some users took to Sheffieldforum.co.uk to voice their disapproval of the proposed industrial action
‘Is that going to happen to my course next?’
While there is growing frustration among students and parents about the growing number of teaching days missed, there are still many students who endorse the industrial action. Zac Larkham, a second-year politics and sociology student at Sheffield Hallam and member of the Sheffield Solidarity group expressed his support for those striking. He said: “These strikes will happen regardless of what students do, the question is what we do in the meantime, the more people we have behind the strikes, the less disruption it will cause students in the long-run. “Students should look at what they are doing to the archaeology department. It’s one of the leading departments in that area in the country, it brings in more money than it costs. So students should be looking at this situation and wondering, ‘is that going to happen to my course next’? “Lecturers and university staff are some of the only people at the universities that actually do give a s**t about the students. All students are doing by saying they don’t support the strike is playing into the hands of those at the top who don’t give a f**k about us.” When asked for comment, the University of Sheffield sent a pre-published statement: “The upcoming three days of strike action are unlikely to affect the majority of students at the University of Sheffield. Our priority is to minimise disruption for those students affected to ensure that learning and teaching continues to be delivered. Student support services will continue to be available and we will be communicating regularly with our students and staff to let them know about any changes that may occur as a result of the strike action. “We will continue to work with our local trade unions and encourage them to work with UCU at a national level to explore ways to resolve these disputes.”
Will a Christmas lockdown become a reality for Sheffield?
While the Government remains adamant a Christmas lockdown will not be ordered across the UK, rising Covid cases are becoming harder to ignore. With the festive period just around the corner, Sheffield’s fluctuating Covid cases are an unwelcome concern. This has left many people worried at the prospect of another Christmas lockdown and the effects it could have. For Mark Richardson, the owner of Sheffield city centre’s LP Record Store, another Christmas lockdown would prove a “disaster” for his small business. “Since the pandemic and the lockdowns we had, I haven’t recovered from it. The footfall is about 50% less.” Last year, the Government's business support grants were the only thing keeping him afloat and now, he fears the Government will not be able to offer the same level of support in light of a new lockdown. “If that was the case, It might mean the end, after a long time, after a lot of years, so let’s just hope it doesn’t happen.” For Mark, working from home is not an option with over 20,000 records in his possession. He must work in-store and sell his records online, which proved difficult for him during the last Christmas lockdown. “I sell online but where I make the most money is from passing trade and the public. I was putting stuff out, but very very slowly, I just lacked motivation.” While there hasn’t been any clear mention of a Christmas lockdown just yet, there has been some discussion around Plan B, which would see the reintroduction of social distancing and compulsory face masks. Even so, the Government has stated that at the moment, this isn’t on the cards. Instead, they are focusing their energy on the vaccine booster programme. In addition, this morning, it was reported that cases in the UK have jumped by 74%, another worrying pre-Christmas rise that none of us want to see.