Local Elections 2023 - Sheffield Wire

Live: Latest updates from Sheffield & Barnsley Local Elections 2023

Children with special educational needs severely impacted by wait time “emergency”

1:11pm

Sheffield’s special education needs and disability (SEND) mishandling was labelled an "emergency" after a report showed that one boy missed a total of 43 months of school due to lack of support. An ombudsman report showed that 'Boy G', who was diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), missed a lengthy period of secondary education, which would have a severe impact on his educational achievement at secondary level and beyond. This was because the council failed to provide him with an Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plan within the statutory timeframe, affecting his transition from primary to secondary school. EHC plans are legal documents given to children who require more educational help than is provided by mainstream schools. It describes a child’s special needs and the extra help they require to be able to make progress in school. It can be issued to a child or young person between the age of 0 and 25 years. At an audit meeting last Thursday, Cllr Mohammed Mahroof said: “This should be classified as an emergency. It has been an area of huge concern for a long time now and parents have been suffering badly in terms of how it’s been handled. “I had a family who had contacted me, who had been waiting for almost four years to get their situation resolved. The mother was on the verge of a break down when she came to us for help.” Some 15.7% of children and young people in Sheffield schools were identified as having a special educational need, which is 0.3% higher than the national average. However, the number of children in schools with an education plan is 0.6% lower than England’s average. However, Tim Armstrong, head of Sheffield City Council's SEN department, said this did not necessarily mean that Sheffield was behind on providing EHC plans compared to other councils. He said: "One hypothesis is that this because of our early-intervention work. We give funding to children who don't have EHC plans, which would provide them with the resource they need to manage their needs without it." Andrew Jones, the Director of Education Skills at Sheffield City Council, said the council has continued to prioritise the EHC needs assessment process throughout the pandemic. He added the timeliness at which the plans are assessed has reduced and 80% of EHC Plans updated following an annual review were graded good or better from September 2020 to January 2021. The council will be meeting again in six months to review their progress.

Sheffield United 1-0 Brighton: “We are playing for our shirt and playing for our future”

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The Blades secured a bittersweet win over Brighton & Hove Albion this Saturday, after the news of their relegation broke last weekend. Their first win since former-manager Chris Wilder's departure, David McGoldrick's goal in the first half gave the fans some joy after a sad week. By reaching 17 points, Sheffield United were able to make sure this year's campaign would not be remembered as one of the worst in Premier League history. The game started with the players taking the knee against racism and social injustice, in a week where clubs' social media boycott is filling the headlines. In contrast to the previous game, Jayden Bogle was brought on to replace Ethan Ampadu, who dropped to the bench. After an attempt by Bright & Hove's Neal Maupay against Aaron Ramsdale, the Blades were able to score early on off a good combination between Ben Osborn, Rhian Brewster and finally McGoldrick, who scored his eighth goal this season. "We are playing for Sheffield United, we can't down tools. Every game we have to make it tough, we are playing for our shirt and playing for our future. We showed we are still in this as a team, even though we have been relegated", said the Irish striker. The first half was dominated by the Blades with scarce chances for the visitors. However, the second half showed a different Brighton, with Seagulls starting to take control. New attempts by Maupay and Danny Welbeck were thwarted by Blades goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale. After a corner, the ball was kept alive by Adam Webster and Jakub Moder was able to score a much wanted goal for the Seagulls. Their contentment did not last long, as Moder's goal was invalidated by the video assistant referee (VAR), finding him to have been offside. Sheffield United was not able to create another meaningful chance until the 60th minute, but a combination between Osborn and McGoldrick was saved by goalkeeper Robert Sanchez. The game progressed and Maupay had an incredible chance to even the score but was unable to convert, his shot missing by three yards. Speaking after the match, Brighton boss Graham Potter said to Sky Sports: "Football is about scoring goals and we did not do it today. We pushed and pushed, maybe could have got a goal but it was not to be. We needed a bit more quality over the course of the game". On the other end, Sheffield United interim boss Paul Heckingbottom was satisfied with the result: "The players deserve the utmost credit. We spoke before the game and for them it's justice and the right result for their attitude because it’s been a tough, tough season". This week, Premier League clubs are joining a four-day boycott of social media to combat abuse and discrimination. At the end of the game, the two coaches addressed the subject, giving it their full support. "I’m fully behind it. I think we have to try and do something. Social media can be fantastic in lots of different ways, however, is used too often in the wrong ways. Hopefully we can make some action”, said Heckingbottom. Porter shared similar sentiments: "It's a great statement from the whole of football. It's unacceptable. Social media platforms can do more and hopefully this position we're taking can force them to do more".

Pinned down for protest – Sheffield students continue building occupation stand-off against rent payments and sexual violence claims

11:59am

Forced to the ground for occupying a university building last week, three Sheffield Hallam undergraduates have refused to abandon their indoor protest. They are demanding students receive a rent rebate for their second term and that sexual violence allegations are taken seriously by the university. Part of a wider collective named Sheffield Hallam Uni Rent Strike Group, the steadfast occupiers also outlined how security staff in university housing had allegedly committed verbally sexual misconduct against three different students. "On two separate occasions at the same accommodation, two different girls have gone to security to complain about an incident, and they’ve been told that’s what they get for being pretty," said one occupier, 20, who wished to remain anonymous for concern of the university’s retaliation to the occupation. "There’s also one other person who was catcalled by security who said 'That’s a nice outfit, it would look better on my bedroom floor,'" the Politics student added. A member of the SHU Rent Strike Group set up in December 2020, the undergraduate revealed how the group’s WhatsApp chat had enabled students to vocalise their bad experiences. Of the three undergraduates who secured Hallam’s Cantor building with bike locks at 6pm last Thursday, the Politics student and another male first year were charged at and forced to the floor by security staff as they managed to regain entry. "They came at us, threw us to the floor and pinned us down, which is assault because they’re security guards, they’re not allowed to do that" said the Politics undergraduate who is visibly held to the ground in the video above. The second male undergraduate, a 19-year-old Geography student, said: "I was kind of scared, I mean the security guard was almost twice my size and he was charging at me, so I had to run pretty much." Requiring an eviction notice and court injunction, security and university staff were unable to forcibly remove the students from the premises. The third student, an 18-year-old Philosophy undergraduate who filmed the incident said: "I saw that they had tackled the others and so I just pulled my phone out and started recording and asking them to stop. It was stressful, it was scary." The footage has now reached more than 21,000 views on Twitter, leading to support from Sheffield councillors and members of the Green Party. Labour Cllr Ben Miskell said: "The video was particularly shocking and it’s not acceptable to restrain students who are protesting. Given the public nature of the footage and how highly charged the debate about the misuse of restraint techniques is, I think it’s important that the university publish the outcomes of its investigation."

Always happy to show some solidarity @SHUrentstrike ✊🏻 (even if holding up my phone to a window is the only way to communicate). https://t.co/eSFAuFaaIW
— Cllr Ben Miskell (@benmiskell) April 23, 2021

Commenting on the students' demand for an end to sexual violence in their university, the councillor added: "The killing of Sarah Everard and the Everyone’s Invited website has really shone a light on rape culture. Universities and schools have to do more to combat it and men like me have to call out the behaviour of other men. It’s great to see people speaking out. It’s important that we support those in society prepared to take a stand, that’s why I’m backing the demands of those students occupying Sheffield Hallam’s Cantor building at the moment." In a press statement, Sheffield Hallam University said it was investigating the incident between the student protesters and security officers. A University spokesperson said: "We want to support students who are understandably concerned about paying for accommodation they may not be able to use during the pandemic, so are working closely with accommodation providers to try and ensure that tenancy agreements reflect the current circumstances. "The University has a zero tolerance approach to sexual harassment and violence. Our Report and Support system is in place for both students and staff, who can choose to report anonymously if they wish. We also have a range of support services run by experienced staff at the University, who can provide advice and support for our students whenever needed. We are committed to working with other universities across the sector to ensure that universities are safe places for all."

Campaigners appeal for thousands of new jobs across South Yorkshire at Green New Deal rally

11:51am

Thousands of new jobs could be created to replace all those lost in Sheffield due to the Covid-19 pandemic, according to campaigners who rallied outside Sheffield Town Hall on Saturday. The activists from Green New Deal UK South Yorkshire said more than 10,000 jobs could be created in the next two years for the city if the government was to invest in green jobs. They currently estimate 6,000 jobs will have been lost because of the pandemic. According to the group, 66,000 new jobs could also be generated across South Yorkshire over the next ten years. Ruth Powell, one of the organisers, said: “What we want is for the government to invest as part of their Covid-19 recovery plan in green jobs, which are well paid, secure jobs. We’ve just seen what’s happened with John Lewis, all those jobs gone, so today is about making people aware and asking people what they want to see for our future.” She explained that green jobs are those which look after the planet and those which benefit society, like teaching, protecting green spaces, or retro-fitting homes to reduce carbon emissions. In a performance, a diverse group of campaigners, including a student, a healthcare worker and a food grower, shared their reasons for supporting Green New Deal. They also hung a washing line on the front of Sheffield Town Hall and invited the public to share the type of jobs they would like to see. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lOVuS7YllRk The action is part of a nationwide campaign, calling on the government to invest £68 billion to create 1.2 million new green jobs across the UK. “It won’t be cheap, but it will be an investment in our long-term future,” Ms Powell said. She also added that the action was vital because of the climate crisis. “We’ve seen the effects of it in the last few years, with the increased flooding in the South Yorkshire region and the air pollution in Sheffield – there’s a spot down by the train station that’s got the second worst air pollution rate in the country. "We need action now.”

Police appeal for information after man is threatened with axe at Dodworth Station

11:22am

Police are appealing for information after a man was threatened with an axe at a South Yorkshire train station.

Two hooded men entered Dodworth station carrying a pair of bolt cutters at 8pm on Monday 22 March 2021.

The two men walked across the railway tracks and out of the station, leaving the bolt cutters behind.

After returning to the station a short time later, the two men found the victim attempting to move the bolt cutters.

The victim was threatened when one of the men lifted his top to reveal a small axe tucked into his waistband.

The British Transport Police (BTP) have released images of the suspects and are appealing for information from the public.

If you have any information, please contact BTP by texting 61016 or calling 0800 40 50 40 quoting reference 486 of 22/03/21.

Alternatively, you can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

New study finds gardening is good for your health

10:57am

Improvements in wellbeing, perceived stress and physical activity have been overwhelmingly linked to gardening by a new study undertaken in collaboration with the University of Sheffield. The study indicates that people who garden every day have wellbeing scores 6.6% higher and stress levels 4.2% lower than people who do not garden at all. Co-author Dr Ross Cameron, of the University of Sheffield, said: “This research provides further empirical data to support the value of gardening and gardens for mental restoration and promoting a calmness of mind. We also found a greater proportion of plants in the garden was linked with greater wellbeing, suggesting even just viewing ‘green’ gardens may help.”

Dr Ross Cameron

According to the paper, gardening just two to three times a week also leads to better wellbeing and lower stress levels. Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) wellbeing fellow and lead author Dr Lauriane Chalmin-Pui said: “This is the first time the ‘dose response’ to gardening has been tested and the evidence overwhelmingly suggests that the more frequently you garden – the greater the health benefits." “In fact gardening every day has the same positive impact on wellbeing than undertaking regular, vigorous exercise like cycling or running. When gardening, our brains are pleasantly distracted by nature around us. This shifts our focus away from ourselves and our stresses, thereby restoring our minds and reducing negative feelings.” Improving health, however, was not the prime motivator to garden, but rather the direct pleasure gardening brought to the participants. The study conducted by the RHS in collaboration with the University of Sheffield and the University of Virginia found that more frequent gardening was also linked with greater physical activity supporting the notion that gardening is good for both body and mind. Dr Chalmin-Pui added: “Gardening is like effortless exercise because it doesn’t feel as strenuous as going to the gym, for example, but we can expend similar amounts of energy. Most people say they garden for pleasure and enjoyment so the likelihood of getting hooked to gardening is also high and the good news is that from a mental health perspective – you can’t ‘over-dose’ on gardening. We hope all the millions of new gardeners will be getting their daily doses of gardening this week and feeling all the better for it.” The research, based on the responses of over 6,000 UK residents, explored why they engaged with gardening and the extent to which they recognised any health benefits from the activity. Six in 10 people cited pleasure and enjoyment as the reason why they garden. Just under 30% said they garden for the health benefits and one in five said wellbeing is the reason they garden, and around 15% say it makes them feel calm and relaxed. But it was not just able gardeners who benefited. Those with health problems stated gardening eased episodes of depression (13%), boosted energy levels (12%) and reduced stress (16%). The research is released at the start of National Gardening Week, and the RHS is calling on the nation to get their daily dose of “Vitamin G”.

“Please don’t go”: The reaction of residents to the closure of Sheffield’s iconic John Lewis store

1:00pm

"Please don't go. You will be missed." This is just one of the notes left on the windows of Sheffield's beloved John Lewis department store after it was announced it would not be reopening after lockdown ended. The announcement, made on 24 March, has left much of the city bereft. It is hard to find a Sheffielder without cherished memories of the place. The abundance of paper hearts and cards left by locals goes to demonstrate the outpouring of affection towards the institution which has stood proudly in the city centre for 174 years.

Paper hearts on the window of John Lewis

Barbara Robertson, who has worked at the store for 43 years, said: “You’ve got to always trust that the decisions are made for the right reasons but I’m struggling with this one." The decision to close such a prominent Sheffield staple also shocked many given that Sheffield City Council invested £3m in John Lewis only last year. The council granted them a new 20-year lease with a rent contract based on turnover to help the store continue trading, and committed to investing in the refurbishment of the building to help the store thrive. The shop in Barker's Pool had been at the heart of development plans for Sheffield city centre, having held a special place in the history of the city. It was first opened as Cole Brothers in 1847 and has often been referred to as Sheffield's "flagship store." The sense of history associated with the retailer is one of the main causes of grief amongst Sheffield residents who feel a special connection to the shop. Jane Hadaway*, a regular customer of the store said: “It always seemed really busy and it always seemed really vibrant and I think as a city it holds its place in so many hearts. You only have to chat with people to hear people’s memories. They came here with their mum when they were tiny. People chat about Coles Corner and meeting up with friends there, it’s got such a symbolic history to Sheffield.” A message left by Paul Blomfield, MP for Sheffield Central, said: "I shopped in the original Cole Brothers with my mother and remember the new store opening in 1963. Coles has been an important part of the city for almost 200 years, so it's really disappointing that John Lewis have decided to close the store." The press release from the John Lewis Partnership cited the move to online shopping as one of the major factors in the decision not to reopen the Sheffield store and seven others throughout the UK. They said: "This follows substantial research to identify and cater for new customer shopping habits in different parts of the country. As part of this, we can unfortunately no longer profitably sustain a large John Lewis store in some locations where we do not have enough customers, which is resulting in the proposed closures. The eight shops were financially challenged prior to the pandemic." However it is clear from the public reaction to the closure that many think the sentimental value of the store and its place in Sheffield's history should be taken into account.

A heartfelt poster left by a John Lewis customer

Barbara said: “It’s been at this site since 1963 so for my generation and an older generation it’s always been here, it’s always been renowned for the people who work here, it’s always been renowned for its value, it’s the friendliest shop you could ever want to go on and I guess people just hold that very very dear.” Ellie Kay, who recently moved to Matlock and has since been a regular customer at the Sheffield John Lewis said: “From what I can gather as a relative newcomer to the area it’s such a part of Sheffield and it brings in a lot of people. It’s got a big catchment area of people wanting to come into Sheffield to shop here.” Without a John Lewis in the city centre, customers can now only access John Lewis online, or by travelling to other stores in Leeds or Manchester. Shehzaed Ahmed, who has shopped regularly at John Lewis for over four years said: “I enjoy the quality and the customer service. You can find anything online but customer service is really important. I love to go and just stroll and feel the stuff because for pricey stuff you want the right feel.” Ellie echoed this sentiment, adding: “I know you can go online but not everyone wants that experience. I don’t want to shop online. I want customer service - trying things on and banter and browsing. That’s what nice department stores are all about and they’re all going. It’s really sad.” Evidently, the staff and customer service available at John Lewis are a huge part of why people will miss the store. The closure has jeopardized around 300 jobs.

Images of the John Lewis and its staff throughout the store's history adorn the windows of the closed store

Jane said: “I think the knowledge of the staff is incredible. As a customer whenever I’ve been shopping people know you. It’s known as this 'John Lewis family', and as a customer you do feel part of that family. The business has a good relationship with customers and if there are any issues things do get dealt with and your complaint is heard so I think it’s a shop that people can trust. I don't think people would have kept going all this time if they didn’t feel it was a shop they could trust and get good customer service.” A petition to get John Lewis to reconsider their decision has reached nearly 24,000 signatures and claims the closure of the store will cause major setbacks in the city's redevelopment plan. Whatever the reason for the opposition to the closure, it is clear that the people of Sheffield feel deeply the loss of such an institution like John Lewis. You can find a link to the petition to save John Lewis here. *name changed to protect identity

Sheffield’s parks: where green means so much more

12:00pm

“Sheffield is one of the greenest cities in the UK”, said Emily, and David, and Francesco. In short, there is citywide-pride for Sheffield’s green spaces, and for many people they symbolise so much more. The parks are a space to dwell over memories, and stories from childhood and adulthood. The green spaces mean good mental health, wellbeing, fresh air. The twenty-first century has not been easy on nature. Climate change, pollution, deforestation, urbanisation. The threats are bigger and more frequent than ever, with developers and politicians caught between metropolitan growth and protecting the natural world. On Earth Day, it is important to take a closer look at some of those treasured spaces. How they are preserved, how they helped the community during lockdowns and what can be done in the future to improve them. Councillor Mary Lea, Cabinet Member for Culture, Parks and Leisure, said: “Sheffielders value their parks and are very positive about them. “Parks and green spaces are absolutely fundamental to good health. We take pride in our parks and green spaces and work with friends’ groups and the community to enhance, keep them safe and raise additional funds”. Last year, Sheffield was recognised once again with the Green Flag Award, and the Councillor is already looking to maintain this recognition in the following years. However, the past few months have posed some stress on this ‘green view’ of Sheffield, with contractors being granted licenses to build on parks. Is a construction boom a threat to “one of the greenest cities”?

Weston Park, Sheffield. ©Nuria Mateus

In a survey conducted by the government in February, half the interviewed people said they tend to spend their free time outside in green and natural spaces. Many prefer walking and dog-walking, while others just go to watch wildlife or play with their children. “[The green spaces] are really important, especially during the pandemic, when you can’t travel so far. And being stuck in the city it is really nice to have somewhere that feels like countryside, fresh air and nature. It’s really good for the mental health”, said Ashley, a 25-year-old woman sitting on Weston Park. “I just love to be in the parks, whether it is walking, running or just looking around”, said David. The same report shows that, since the coronavirus restrictions began, visiting local green and natural spaces became more important to people’s wellbeing, and 89 percent agree that spending time in those spaces has a positive impact on their mental health. Even children are increasingly concerned about nature and what they can do to preserve it. The People and Nature Survey for England: Children’s survey shows that eight-in-10 of 1,501 children interviewed agreed that they are willing to do more to protect the environment. “When I was younger my parents would always take us out into the Peak District, and I used to absolutely hate it. But I have just learned to love it and I am grateful that they did”, said Emeron, a 20-year-old woman, soaking up the day's sunshine from a bench in Sheffield Botanical Gardens.

Sheffield Botanical Gardens ©Nuria Mateus

In the past few months, several green spaces in the city have been targeted by developers. Owlthorpe Fields, Loxley Valley and Hollin Busk are all facing the same problem and, while permission to build was granted on the first site, the other two are still facing inquiries. In an open letter published last week, the Owlthorpe Fields Action Group announced their decision to withdraw from a Statutory Review of the Appeal Decision. The group is devastated by the decision and they said they will continue to fight in other ways. “We are outraged it has come to this, and rightly so. Democracy is undermined, our community feels ignored and powerless, and the environment is under attack. “Central government pay lip-service to their ‘Build Back Better’ mantra and simply want to ‘Build, Build, Build.’ In our view, the decision by the Planning Inspectorate is sheer lunacy in the face of climate change, but it also undermines the democratic process in our Country”. Martin Phipps, Green Party Councillor said: "Sheffield Green Party were really disappointed by this decision and campaigned for the application to be rejected. Our green belt is incredibly important to the environment and our health and wellbeing. Trees and green spaces are important carbon stores and allowing this development is not in line with the council’s declaration of a climate emergency made in 2019" Councillor Mary Lea made some reassurances: “The developer at Owlthorpe won the appeal and the development will go ahead. However, we plan a green corridor from Beighton through to Owlthorpe working with local groups”. The Loxley valley planning inquiry is still going on this week and no decision has been made yet. The Friends of the Loxley Valley said in their website: “Building new suburbia in the heart of the Loxley valley will create an isolated, car-dependent township, remote from local amenities and damaging to Sheffield’s precious Green Belt countryside”. On the matter of the building versus nature debacle, the residents of Sheffield are not keen to support these new developments. “I do not think the solution is just converting parks into houses. It is not good for the environment. The buildings are quite horizontal, maybe try to build more vertical to optimize the space”, said Francesco. These concerns are supported by other parks enthusiasts. “Absolutely preserve nature. There are enough buildings, enough spaces in this city to build apartments. There are still plenty of buildings that are empty, they do not need to touch the parks. I will gladly march against any planned development in any of the parks. It is wrong!”, said David. “I understand it must be difficult to balance it, but it is bad to get rid of the green spaces completely. Also, for the environment and global warming, I think it is important to keep trees and green areas”, finished Ashley.

Endcliffe Park, Sheffield ©Nuria Mateus

With the sites holding so many memories and personal stories, it is even harder not to have an emotional connection to those spaces. This is the case with David. Since he was child, he has been spending his free time outside in Sheffield parks. “I grew up in Crookes and there is a big park called the Bolehills, so it was my playground when I was a kid. I was just there every day. “We used to come down here [Weston Park] on May bank holiday and there was a parade called the Whitsun Parade, and this park was just packed full of people. Picnics and doing this big march around. “Also in the Winter, coming here with the lake frozen and the snow down and grandma lived just down there, and we used to walk around and go to the museum. It is got good memories for me this park. It is a nice place”. David left us with a plea urging people across Sheffield to do their bit to preserve these cherished green spaces: “Look after them. Do not take them for granted. Do not dump your litter. Put your rubbish in the bin and just respect what surrounds you. Respect nature. They are yours, they are the people’s. People have got to take some responsibility to look after them”.

Creating post lockdown dreams with tea, one sip at a time…

2:30pm

IN A sea of coffee shops one hot drink café stands out... because it dedicates passion towards tea.

Becky, Owner of Birdhouse Tea Co.

Confirmed tea enthusiast Rebecca English, 32, pushed back against the coffee culture phenomenon because she'd set her heart on creating an indie teahouse. Rebecca started by creating unique tea blends, incorporating them into bakes and selling them at markets. Then in 2012, Birdhouse Tea Co officially kick started when Rebecca and her mother Julie, joined forces to create a 100% loose leaf tea independent café to spread happiness one sip at a time. As the tea business began to take off, they moved from the kitchen side into a strikingly beautiful shop and blending studio on Sidney Street which is now home to over 100 creative blends. Garland flowers drape from the ceiling as fairy lights flicker in the distance against exposed brick and wood beams. But the past year has been a challenging time for all hospitality businesses forcing them to navigate their way through to the other side of lockdown. For Rebecca, she has been baking, creating afternoon teas and crafting custom orders for good measure to connect with her customers during the pandemic. Last month she set up an extremely successful crowd funder with the aim to raise £6,000 to convert old space into her dream bakery. “We have a whole section of the building just waiting to be transformed into a bakery. You’ll be able to walk into the courtyard and wave at me through the window making fresh treats for the counter, free-from goodies and your celebration cakes.”

Rebecca says now is the perfect time to add this element to the business to put them in good stead for surviving the aftermath of such a challenging year. She also notes how important it is to cater for everybody’s dietary needs. “I know good free-from treats can be hard to find sometimes but luckily, we’re in a city full of incredible vegan food. I’m hoping we can be a tasty addition and put our own unique twists on classic bakes with flavours and hybrids. Our sconuts (scone x doughnut) have been so popular this year, and are vegan too.” Birdhouse Tea Co has almost 13,000 followers on Instagram with fans across the country. The crowd funder was showered in love from locals to help build the next step in the business which almost doubled Rebecca’s goal of £6,000. 310 people jumped at the chance to help the business excel with their generous donations soaring to £11,611. Rebecca says: “I have been so overwhelmed by the support and kindness, not just over the last month but over the last year. I know this isn’t the start of the calendar year but for me it feels like the first day of the rest of my life. I am ready to make this happen and give back to you all." The new bakery will be a hot spot for free-from bakes and celebratory custom orders. “The most exciting part of opening this side of the business is that we can finally say YES to all of your requests. We receive so many messages for celebration cakes, and just haven’t ha

d the space to be able to take on those requests. We’ll also have an extensive menu for full vegan and gluten-free cakes, with the sky as your limit when it comes to flavour combinations.” Now that Rebecca’s dream of a new bakery has come to life, she wants to give back to the community that graciously helped her business develop by offering at least one person an apprenticeship in the bakery.

“It’s been an absolute rollercoaster but it feels great to be on the other side of it. I’m a really positive person and enjoy the challenge of overcoming obstacles. I’d say the pandemic is the biggest one I’ve had to overcome, but we’re definitely returning stronger. We’re much closer to our customers, with an amazing menu put together by our head chef. Birdhouse will open their doors on the 19th May to fulfil our sweet-tooth needs and with tea drinking doubling throughout lockdown, the atmosphere that customers will bring won’t be a disappointment. “It’s been so great to see how businesses have adapted throughout all of this and I feel very proud of them all. Hopefully we can all move forward and rebuild ourselves for the better. The support from everyone has been very emotional, and I’m eternally grateful.”

Coming back swinging: Sheffield Bladerunners’ “one big family” reunion

12:00pm

On a cold spring evening, as the sun began to dipped behind the bank at the end of a large playing field, people began to gather around a freshly-laid baseball diamond. They dropped off kit bags and picked up metal bats, battered leather gloves and worn-out baseballs. They smiled at each other, resisted the natural urge to hug one another - opting for fist-bumps and elbow bashes - happy to be reunited with the second family they hadn't seen for months. The Sheffield Bladerunners are Sheffield's oldest and largest baseball team. Founded in the mid 1980s, the Bladerunners have an extensive history and hold their place as an enduring pillar in British baseball's past, present and future. Like so many recreational sports teams in the country, they suffered heavily from the impact of COVID-19 over 2020. The British Baseball League matches they were scheduled to play were cancelled, and though they held the occasional inter-team match as restrictions loosened and tightened, numbers declined. Just as there was a feeling Baseball in Sheffield and the UK was really taking off, a huge roadblock slowed progress.

The first Sheffield Bladerunners team Credit: Sheffield Bladerunners

Now in spring 2021, just after the Major League Baseball season began in America ,the Bladerunners dusted off the gloves and cleats and looked forward to picking up momentum once again. Buckets of balls were gradually emptied by various players for different things, infield drills, outfield drills, batting practice and pitchers getting their fastballs back up to speed. The bright-blue apparel associated with the Bladerunners since its inception remains proudly worn by current members - hats, t-shirts and full uniforms are all on show. Others wore gear from their favourite Major League team, with people representing teams across all parts of the US. Why have so many people, from all across Yorkshire, assembled here to play a sport so overshadowed by the followings in football, rugby or cricket? The players reflected on what makes baseball so enjoyable to them: Phil Baines, an outfielder and New York Mets fan, who has played for the Bladerunners since 2018, said: "I think it's a sport that's so inclusive for anyone to play. I used to play rugby at school but I've got bad knees now so I can't do that anymore, so I play baseball." Tom Chappell, outfielder and Chicago Cubs fan, who joined in 2018, said he plays baseball because: "It is a great way to go outside, and get exercise with a bunch of friendly people." When asked what he's looking forward to the most for the 2021 season, Chappell cracked a smile and answered defiantly: "Winning." There is a very obvious desire to compete at the club. Senior players, who lead the different drills, are all pushing their understudies. In turn, they all push each other on and cheer when someone gets the swing just right and hits a bomb to deep left-field. The club is ambitious in its desire to compete with the other teams in the country. This year the Bladerunners will field four different teams, one British Baseball's second-tier Northern AA division, and the other three in the Northern AAA division where they will play each other and teams from across the country. Away days will take the teams across the county; from Liverpool, Manchester, Hull, Cumbria, to Durham and Newcastle in search of a division title. The Bladerunners also hold an internal Bladerunners league where the different teams compete against each other for bragging rights and extra experience.

Credit: Mark Harrison

While the competitive nature of the team is always in full swing at their practices, there is an overwhelming familial feeling within this team. The moment you descend the steps down onto the field and walk over to the diamond, you are welcomed by smiling faces and real enthusiasm for a minority sport that everyone involved has a deep-seated passion for. The team has brought people together in so many different ways. Martin Hingley, the Bladerunners' Social Media Coordinator, who also plays and coaches the team, recounted a story of two players who had never met before, played together for five years and in the end one was best man at the other's wedding. Outfielder Tom Chappell said: "It definitely feels as though it is one big family. Anyone new that comes in just slots immediately in to the team. There is no pressure to succeed as long as we're all having fun." Sean Briscoe, utility player and Buffalo Bisons fan, who has been playing since 2015, said: "I started playing baseball because of my brother. He's a couple of years older than me and we weren't seeing each other a lot on weekends. I started playing because of him, and I love it because of the comradery and the group spirit." When asked what he missed the most without baseball last year, Briscoe said: "The huddles, funnily enough, you don't get those little laughs and jokes like you do in a normal huddle when you have to be two metres apart."

Jackie Robinson was the first black player to play in MLB in 1947 Source: Wikipedia

The club train every Thursday evening, from 6pm to 8pm. Coincidentally, one of these practices fell on Jackie Robinson day in Major League Baseball. Honoured on April 15th, the day is a celebration of Jackie Robinson, the first African-American to play a game in the majors on the day in 1947. Robinson broke built-in racial boundaries in the sporting world and his story stands as inspiration for inclusivity in baseball and all sport. On Jackie's day, it was profoundly moving to see such a diverse cast of people training for the Bladerunners. Men and women, of different ages, races, backgrounds and beliefs were all welcome, and all contributed to the family atmosphere that makes this club stand out among the local sporting landscape. The Sheffield Bladerunners train at Forge Valley School in Malin Bridge every Thursday. If you are interested in playing visit their website https://www.sheffieldbladerunners.co.uk/ to find out more about baseball in the UK and in Sheffield.

Doncaster’s Tyreece John-Jules “feeling strong” after recovery from injury

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Credit: Doncaster Rovers Tyreece John-Jules states he was pleased to return to action for Doncaster Rovers on Saturday afternoon after three months on the sidelines with a hamstring injury. The young forward, who is currently on loan from Arsenal, is building fitness ahead of the final six games of the season. John-Jules will be looking to get under his belt in this evening's clash against Accrington Stanley, and states it was 'amazing' to be on the pitch again. He said: "It's always good to get back from injury and to get playing with the lads. I have been working on myself, working on recovering, and getting ready to come back here. "I'm feeling back to my old self. It's feeling strong, it's fully recovered, so I'm ready to play. It's all about managing yourself really. You've got to let it recover and let it heal." During his time at the Keepmoat Stadium, the 20-year-old has learnt a lot about what is needed to compete in mens football. "You have to learn how to adapt to the new surroundings and games that are played in a certain amount of time. Recovery is important as well and that was a learning curve for me, helping myself get the best recovery I can. "I think it's important getting that experience with men and getting the physical side of the game also, and the mental side. Because you've got to fight for yourself and do everything for yourself so it's good because it helps you grow up faster on and off the pitch." Since John-Jules suffered his injury, Rovers have appointed Andy Butler as interim manager, following the departure of Darren Moore. Discussing his new boss, John-Jules said: "He knows how I play and we spoke before I came back so, yeah he knows what I can do." When asked if he feels the need to make up for lost time, the young player said he plans to make as much of an impact as possible and to try to help the team push up the table. "I came back and everyone was still in good spirits and the win at the weekend put us in even better spirits so we're just staying together as a family. "I trained all last week and then was involved at the weekend on Saturday, so I'm just trying to stay fit and try and stay here for the rest of the season."

Football for Foodbanks: The social enterprise using football as a force for good

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“Seriously, you have got to stamp on this. It’s a criminal act against football fans in this country. Punish them. They will probably hide in a few weeks, and say it was nothing to do with them, they were only talking about it. Seriously, in the midst of a pandemic, an economic crisis and these lot are having Zoom calls about breaking away and basically creating more greed? Joke.”

Gary Neville's above response to the news that the Premier League’s ‘Top Six’ clubs would be breaking away from the English League to form a so-called ‘European Super League’ captured the mood of the nation.

Stunned by the avarice of it all, Gary Lineker's tweet epitomises the reaction of the fans. After a year in which supporters have been unable to support their club in person, where many have lost their jobs due to the impact of Covid-19, as unemployment rates soared, and 127,000 families have lost loved ones, this truly felt like a slap in the face to anyone with even the most fleeting interest in football.

https://twitter.com/GaryLineker/status/1383816639192305668

Amidst the chaos of it all, an altogether more positive force in football announced that they too would be joining the European Super League.

Football for Foodbanks, a Sheffield Social Enterprise said in a typically tongue-in-cheek press release:

“We have joined the European Super League. Okay, that’s obviously not true. Over at Football for Foodbanks we’re starting to think football at its most elite level is starting to lose its way a bit. Football should be about bringing a sense of community to the local area, supporting each other, a common goal for the people.”

Football for Foodbanks launched back in August 2020 when its founder, Matty Cassell, posted on an internet forum that he was looking to form a 5-a-side team having spent a few too many years away from the game.

The nation was going through the process of ‘unlocking’ following six-months under national lockdown restrictions, and more people than ever were looking to make a return to the game.

Cassell wrote: “About once every two weeks someone posts here saying they’re looking to play a bit of footy and if there’s anyone who needs a player.

“There’s always loads of interest and others say they want to play too. Now that 5-a-side is going again, I think it’s time to take the plunge and set up our own team lads.”

And then, crickets. Despite floods of apparent calls from people looking for a game, a 5-a-side team never came to fruition. But, Football for Foodbanks did.

The initiative provides a platform for anyone that fancies a game. Booking pitches all over Sheffield to maximise accessibility, and anyone is welcome; regardless of ability. The only rule stated on their website? “Don’t be a knob”.

The charity raises money for food banks by asking each player to chip in a little extra compared to the amount it would usually cost to rent a pitch. For example, if a game would usually cost £30 for an hour 5-a-side game, and 10 people are playing, the usual cost would be £3 each. Football for Foodbanks instead charge each player £4, meaning a quarter of the money from that game will go to those that need it.

At the end of each month, all that spare money is rounded up and donated to food banks around Sheffield. Among those receiving donations are S6 and Arthbourne. The organisation estimate that around 20% of everyone’s subs go towards filling up the shelves of a Sheffield food bank.

The organisation provides a vital boost to food banks during a time where more people are relying on them than ever. The Trussell Trust reported that between April and March 2020, a record 1.9 million people in Britain needed to access their food banks. Among these, 700,000 were children.

After starting with a handful of teams, participation in the project has boomed. There are now over 300 players in the men’s division and a new women and gender minorities league was launched to widen participation even further.

Alice Rhind-Tutt, who recently joined Football For Foodbanks to head up its women and gender minorities division said: “I like to think we’ve widened participation through our women and gender minorities division. There’s not a lot on offer for women to play sport for fun, especially outside of parent children classes, and now our division is growing faster than the men’s. It’s also a chance to be more inclusive, we welcome people of all genders and they can play for whichever division they’re most comfortable in.

“My personal highlight is getting feedback from new players who have never played football before, who said they were scared to turn up but now love it and felt really welcome.”

To sign up for a game, visit for Football for Foodbanks Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/FootballForFoodbanks.