Sheffield woman calls for greater epilepsy awareness following public seizure
A 23-year-old woman with epilepsy has stressed the importance of comprehensive first aid training and public awareness, after she experienced a seizure on Walkley Road last week.
Chloe Atkins was making her way towards Asda on South Road, Walkley last weekend when she began to feel confused and sat down on a bench to collect her thoughts.
According to a family who had been dining in a restaurant across the street, Chloe then proceeded to fall face-first off the bench and onto the floor - although she has no memory of this.
Chloe was having a generalised seizure, which is caused by abnormal electrical activity that affects the whole brain and results in a loss of consciousness.
“It’s constantly on my mind because you’ve always got to risk assess where you are,” explained Chloe.
“My seizures are relatively controlled, but when I’m going out I’ve got to think about, if I had a seizure, what would happen?”
Fortunately, the family who witnessed Chloe’s fit were equipped with good knowledge of seizure first aid, but this is far from the norm.
Chloe was keen to emphasise that, for people living with epilepsy, harmful misconceptions and stigma are a part of everyday life.
In her experience, if unsure of the symptoms, passers-by will often assume that a person having a seizure is under the influence of drugs, alcohol or both.
Others may be afraid that, by helping, they could make matters worse.
Chloe believes this can be remedied by better education about epilepsy, including how to tell if somebody is experiencing a seizure and what to do next.
She said: “I think it scares people, so, even if they do know what to do, they’re a bit taken aback.
“If you haven’t seen someone have a seizure before, it’s probably quite frightening.”
In most cases, a generalised seizure will be preceded by one or more focal seizures, where the person remains conscious and aware of their surroundings.
Focal seizures are difficult to spot, but visible symptoms can include lip-smacking movements, picking at clothes, and limbs suddenly becoming either stiff or floppy.
Once it has been established that the person is having a seizure, Epilepsy Society recommends that people use the acronym, CCC: stay calm, cushion the head, and call emergency services.
Responding to Chloe’s drive for increased understanding of the condition, Young Epilepsy said: “As a national charity, here for the more than 100,000 children and young people living with epilepsy, we are constantly pushing for greater awareness and understanding of epilepsy and the impact on children and young people.”
To address this need, the charity has launched a campaign aimed at educating the public on how to recognise seizures and what they can do to help.
Further information and guidance can be found on their website.
South Yorkshire runners join thousands at London Marathon
Sheffield and South Yorkshire were well represented in the TCS London Marathon yesterday, as thousands descended on the capital city to be part of an historic edition of the iconic race.
Alfie Manthorpe, of Hallamshire Harriers, lined up in the elite pen, finishing in a blistering time of 2 hrs 11mins, which saw him placed 20th overall, and the 10th Brit home.
The 26-year-old is originally from Mosborough and graduated from the University of Sheffield in 2021, has represented Great Britain multiple times, and won the most recent Sheffield 10k, in September of last year.
Jill Ellis, a primary school teacher and breast cancer survivor from Sheffield, was another of over 59,000 runners on the mass start this weekend.
The 57-year-old mum-of-two has raised over £3,400 for Weston Park Hospital Cancer Charity, who provided Ms Ellis with "unbelievable care, treatment, and support" after her cancer diagnosis in 2021, including re-arranging her radiotherapy treatment so that she could still attend her daughter's last dance recital.
Ms Ellis ran as part of Team Molly, which is a fundraising group set up by Molly Midgley-Hellend when, aged 26, she was diagnosed with Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma (ACC), that had spread to her lungs by the time it was diagnosed.
Miss Midgley-Hellend died in February 2024, and the team now take on individual challenges to continue her legacy through fundraising.
Ms Ellis said: "Molly's legacy is what motivated me to do the marathon, and Team Molly has been such a good support network for me."
Also tackling the immense 26.2 for charity was 18-year-old Evie Hawkes, from Thurlstone, Sheffield, who raised £2,525 for Make-A-Wish foundation.
Describing the day as "the best thing I've ever done", Miss Hawkes is feeling tired but incredibly proud of her first marathon which she ran in 4:30.
She said: "I can't explain how good the crowds were, the support from everyone was immense, with everyone chanting my name and cheering me on."
Miss Hawkes, who is an Audit Associate at Grant Thorton, said she was "proud to help" Make-A-Wish Foundation, who provide unforgettable experiences for children living with terminal illnesses.
Former Team GB Paralympian, Dr Kim Daybell, 33, was also running the marathon, hoping to raise money for Spinal Research.
Sheffield-born Daybell was born with Poland Syndrome, a rare condition which meant he had no chest wall muscles on his right side and no fingers on his right hand.
Dr Daybell told Yahoo!news: "As both an athlete and a doctor, I’ve witnessed the extraordinary journey from devastating injury to Paralympic triumph,
"It is a path filled with challenges and setbacks, but it always begins with one essential ingredient: high-quality medical care."
Another famous face on the start line was James Warnock, an influencer from Sheffield, who ran the London Marathon in 2:41, knocking 8 minutes off his previous marathon personal best.
After breaking the internet once this year by proposing to his long-term girlfriend Alex, he decided to keep his training quiet until announcing he was running one week before the race, then debuting a more streamlined haircut for the challenge.
His first marathon was the 2023 London Marathon which he finished in 3:00, so he said this years’ event was “unfinished business”.
In a post to Strava, he said: “Not quite what we came for but will take that any day as f***ing loved it.”
Sheffield Sharks host a celebration ahead of their final game of regular season
In the Sharks' game against Manchester on Sunday, Sheffield welcomed back players from the 2000s during half time to commemorate this season.
As well as the final game of the season, fans were able to enjoy the nostalgia of seeing former players, such as Perry Lawson and Nicholas Lewis, on the court.
Fahro Alihodzic, who was signed to the Sharks' for the remainder of the season, said it was great to see their faces.
"It was really good for the Sheffield Sharks as a club to bring in older players to the arena so they can see where the Sharks are at now.", Alihodzic said.
The celebration also held a short memorial for players who had passed away, such as Rob Yanders and Alto Virgil.
Yanders, who died in 2023, founded The Basketball Movement which provided agility training to players in school in the US.
Despite the celebration, the Sharks lost against Manchester, with the score ending 82-74.
However, the Sharks remained fourth place in the table and will play against Leicester Riders, who are fifth, in a play-off on Friday.
Alihodzic said: "I think our confidence might be a little low now after the loss but we have to bring it back up and get some revenge next weekend."
David Bell has worked with the Sharks' media team for 16 years, and is also a major fan.
He said: "It was a bit unusual for the Sharks. I can understand that it wasn't the most important game, but it would have been nice to get a bit of momentum going for the playoffs."
Other fans, however, shared a stronger dislike to the score.
Wishing to stay anonymous, one fan said: "It's been a disappointing end to the season really. I think we've got some quality players but it just hasn't been good to us lately. I don't know what to say really."
Despite Sunday's defeat, the Sharks have finished in the top four in the league standings for a 22nd time.
Sheffield man who died in fatal car crash this weekend named locally
A 32-year-old man who suffered fatal head injuries after he was involved in a serious car accident this weekend has been named locally as Daniel Mahmood.
Mr Mahmood was driving a black Porsche Cayenne along Savile Street East, Sheffield, when he crashed into a Seat Ibiza at 10.40pm on Friday night.
The 32-year-old driver died following the incident.
Muslim bereavement service, Janaza announcements shared the deceased's name and details on the family's arrangements for the burial and funeral service on Facebook.
Tributes from members of the local religious community have flooded in following the bereavement service's post, with one user saying: "May his soul rest in peace and his family find courage in this difficult time."
Mr Mahmood's passenger, a 26-year-old man, also suffered serious head injuries but is in stable condition.
The driver and passenger of the Seat Ibiza both suffered minor injuries and are co-operating with police inquiries.
South Yorkshire Police voiced support for the deceased's family, a spokesperson said: "Our thoughts are with those who loved him."
Only two vehicles were involved in the collision, but police are urging anyone who witnessed the incident or has dashcam footage of the vehicles prior to and during the collision to come forward.
If you believe you can help, call South Yorkshire Police on 101 and quote incident number 1189 of 24 April 2026, or use the live chat function on their website.
Footage can also be shared directly with SYP here.
A mountain of runs and a Roses victory: Yorkshire cricket shines over the weekend
Yorkshire Women marched to victory in their first ever professional encounter against Lancashire Women on Saturday at Emirates Old Trafford.
Australian superstar Jess Jonassen scored her first professional hundred before taking four wickets with her left-arm spin in an excellent all-round display, as the Metro Bank One Day Cup continued.
The White Rose were bowled out for 241 in 49.2 overs, before skittling their bitter rivals for 158 in 41.4 overs, emerging victorious by 83 runs.
Jonassen's 108 (122), consisted of 13 fours and two sixes, with Sterre Kalis providing vital support, scoring 45 (54).
Head Coach Richard Pyrah, said: “You’re not going to get much better than that partnership between Jess Jonassen and Sterre Kalis. It put us into a really good position, and then Jess just shows her class again.
“We knew she was a good player when we signed her, but she’s just been outstanding."
Jonassen has made over 200 appearances for Australia since her debut in 2012, winning five ICC T20 World Cups and one ICC Cricket World Cup. She is the captain of both the Queensland Fire and Brisbane Heat down under.
In the run chase, Claudie Cooper's 3-24 (6.4), combined with Jonassen's 4-30 (10) to take the bragging rights.
Yorkshire sit fourth in the table, with Lancashire down in seventh after a third defeat in four.
Batting trio keep Yorkshire in great position heading into final day
Overseas gun and Doncaster-born batsman, Sam Whiteman, scored a maiden Yorkshire century in glorious sunshine as Joe Root made an emphatic return to the County Championship on Sunday.
Western Australia veteran, Whiteman, heroically battled through a painful low-blow on Saturday afternoon to reach his hundred after receiving a lengthy period of medical attention by the Yorkshire physios.
He said: “To score my first hundred, especially at home, for Yorkshire was special. It’s still a nice wicket, but I felt good out there.
“A couple of quick ones in the morning and you never know where the day will end up.”
Sheffield’s Root scored 96, falling agonisingly short of a hundred in his first domestic match since England’s defeat in the fifth Ashes Test in Sydney.
He edged behind a Henry Crocombe delivery into the reliable hands of John Simpson.
Fellow opener Finlay Bean scored 105, helping Yorkshire edge to a miniscule first innings lead of nine runs over an in-form Sussex side, led by exiled England fast bowler, Ollie Robinson.
Sussex closed the day on 31-2, leaving Yorkshire with a chance to make an immediate impact on day four and search for a much needed victory.
Yorkshire sit bottom of the table after their opening two fixtures, with Sussex in fourth place, despite receiving a 12-point deduction due to financial difficulties.
Reflecting on their chances, Whiteman added: “It’s a pretty good wicket, but when there’s pressure on, funny things happen in first-class cricket."
Day four on Monday sees the resumption of the high-scoring encounter where both sides will need to up their tempo if a result is to happen.
Updates to follow throughout the day on the Sheffield Wire social media channels.
A new charity alliance gathered in parliament for limb difference awareness month
A nationwide campaign was launched by a charity earlier this month to widen the scope of support available to people living with congenital and acquired limb differences.
Reach made a successful lottery bid which helped six charities to create a new alliance that tackles the stigma people face.
Currently, 1,900 babies are born with limb differences, and 12,000 major amputations are carried out by NHS England each year, with half of congenital upper limb differences are found at the 20-week scan and half discovered at birth.
Sarah Jane Lowson, the charity operations lead for Reach, said: "There have been not so positive experiences from some families where when their child is born with an upper limb difference, a midwife may not be able to handle it or know what to do,
“So they've just tucked the baby's arm in, wrapped it up and let mum find out on her own."
In a partnership statement, the collaborators, Amputation Foundation, Blesma, Finding Your Feet, LimbPower, Reach, and Steel Bones said they were excited to curate a 5-year vision which reflects the voices of people living with limb differences.
A group of young ambassadors in the alliance and Marie Tidball, the first MP elected to parliament with congenital limb difference visited Westminster on 14 April 2026.
Dr Tidball, MP of the South Yorkshire constituency, Penistone and Stocksbridge, said: “We need a systematic review of the provision across the NHS for people with limb loss and limb difference to end the postcode lottery across the country.
“This pathway must be across an entire lifetime, and be underpinned by appropriate training for NHS clinicians and the social model of disability.”
The alliance highlighted mental health support on a special podcast episode recorded in parliament which voiced the importance of using respectful and inclusive language towards people with disabilities.
Dr Tidball said clearer resources for those with limb differences would help early identification and mental health referrals because they make it easier for existing charities to offer support to families.
The team will return to parliament in July 2026 for disabilities awareness month and will meet Wes Streeting, Stephanie Peacock and Stephen Tims to bring forth the message.
The Reach liaison nurse, Emma Gilpin, started an independent year-long survey to figure out how to make it easier for healthcare professionals to support families.
In 2017, she discovered her unborn child would be born with a limb difference at a 20-week scan, and was given the contact details of the charity.
The team supported her in the unexpected journey of the diagnosis, she said: “It was just really positive and knowing that we weren't alone, that there were other families like us and that I didn't need to worry about our baby.”
The preliminary findings of the national survey showed a gap in knowledge for healthcare professionals navigating congenital limb difference.
Ms Gilpin said despite this there is a “consistent appetite for education” which demonstrates professionals want to improve their confidence in delivering diagnosis so they can help families during the critical time.
The first three episodes of Reach’s Offhand podcast can be watched on YouTube and the special podcast episode filmed in parliament can currently be listened to on Spotify.
Walkley church to showcase work of artists from across Sheffield
IMAGE: Emily Lythe
St. Mary's Church in Walkley will become an open studio for the early May bank holiday weekend, showcasing artists from across the city.
Ceramicists, painters, and jewellers are just some of the makers taking part in the Art in the Aisles showcase, which is run by Walkley Events Collective, a community interest company which produces local events throughout the year.
This will form part of the Open Up Sheffield initiative, an annual event which sees artists opening their homes and studios to the public.
“It can be really hard these days to get people to engage with art online, because social media is so saturated and often feels quite impersonal,” explained Emily Lythe, a local illustrator and owner of New Forme Designs.
“There’s something so much nicer about meeting people face to face and being able to actually chat about your work in real life.”
While lots of artists will welcome visitors into their studios and homes across the weekend, Art in the Aisles offers an opportunity to artists who might not be able to open their personal spaces to the public.
Ms Lythe added: “I have an indoor rescue cat with a health condition, and it would be too risky for him to get out, so I really appreciate that the organisers have created a way for more people to be involved.”
Alongside established local artists, Art in the Aisles will feature an emerging artists zone which will allow artists who are still building their portfolios to display their work.
Ms Leith, who is one of these artists, is building a collection of Sheffield green spaces and park illustrations, with an aim to capture as many parks as she can in what is widely seen as England’s greenest city.
Open Up Sheffield said at its heart Sheffield is a city of makers and industrial heritage, adding: "Building on this incredible asset, Open Up Sheffield has been celebrating Sheffield’s cultural vibrancy and showcasing some of the city’s up and coming artists and makers for over 25 years.
"This offers an invaluable opportunity for newcomer artists to get involved in showing their work, in their own workspace or with other artists, without the commitment of an expensive show."
Today on Sheffield Wire
Hello and welcome to Sheffield Wire coverage for Monday 27 April 2026.
Our top stories today:
- University of Sheffield among UK universities who paid a firm run by former military intelligence officials to conduct monitoring of student protests. Daniel Boland explores what this means in real terms.
- Wildfires at Ladybower Reservoir and Woodhead Reservoir cause concern this early in the season. Amy Field will go into depth on the implications of these events.
- The London Marathon took place this weekend, with hundreds of South Yorkshire runners joining the masses. Clarice Webster provides a round-up of some of their amazing feats.
“Fear” and “Sorrow” for Jewish communities in Sheffield following UK synagogue attacks
A Jewish advisor at a religious centre in Sheffield is warning communities that people are becoming increasingly worried for their own safety after attacks on Synagogues in London.
Despite reports of Jews being "terrified" to wear the symbol of Judaism, Patsy Cunningham proudly displays the Star of David around her neck.
The 85-year-old advisor at the Belief, No Belief religious centre at the University of Sheffield, came to the UK from Budapest in 2001.
Patsy said: "One of the things I have learned is that there is real fear and real sorrow in a safe enough place."
Two teenagers have been arrested yesterday following an arson attack at a synagogue in Harrow, north-west London, with antisemitism reaching an all-time high in the UK right now.
A recent survey of 1,000 students for the Union of Jewish students has showed that one in five students of all backgrounds said they would not be open to house-sharing with a Jewish person.
Many Jewish people living in the UK are often called "racist" or a "Zionist", leading to widespread fear across Jewish communities of increased attacks as of late.
The seventies brought back memories for Patsy, keeping a pin on her handbag that she bought with both the Israeli and Palestinian flag embedded, alongside the phrase "Tikkun" which means repair.
She compares the ongoing wars in Gaza to those in the seventies, where "Israel was much more fragile at that time and there were many wars resulting in countless murders".
Patsy highlighted the importance of Israeli writer Amos Oz, who grew up in mandatory Palestine and later Israel and argued that war in Gaza was not due to religion or culture.
Her necklace and pin reflects her aim to bring both the Jewish and Muslim communities together.
For Patsy, being Jewish will always represent pride to her, however, there is becoming a growing sense of sadness as attacks on Jewish communities continue to occur.
She gets the bus often, where many people notice her Star of David necklace and are "really interested" to want to talk to her about the ongoing wars and leadership in Israel.
Patsy said: "The Star of David really provokes conversation, yet I've had it for years and it continues to be what I show."
The conversations that she has with people of various backgrounds initially seems like both her and the person speaking to her are at "very opposite sides", however, Patsy describes how both her and the person she speaks to "gradually get closer" once both people have shared their views.
One conversation that Patsy fondly remembers was on a deserted bus two and a half years ago at the beginning of the current war between Israel and Palestine with a student.
She said: "She was crying and frantically looking at her phone as she couldn't find something whilst speaking Arabic, where I learnt Arabic for a year. I looked over and saw that it was due to the beginning of the war and saw the pain she was in."
She saw Patsy's pin with the two flags together, saying "I've never seen those two flags together", to which Patsy responded with "Yes, but they must be".
For Patsy, contact with people of different backgrounds is important for her to be able to teach people more about Judaism and her faith, sharing similarities with others to promote inclusion in Sheffield and surrounding areas she visits.
Living in Sheffield as a Jewish person currently, Patsy has dealt with young people who try to make her feel uncomfortable about presenting her faith, yet she has had lots of support from various Muslim communities.
She was invited to six Iftar's this year, and spoke at four of them.
Patsy also joked that her Sheffield accent was "perfect" for an Jewish American and people who stop to talk to her think that she is a "Native Sheffielder".
The challenges of being Jewish in Sheffield remain, however, as Patsy said: "Jews with successful degrees in the medical industry cry when they feel safe enough to talk about being Jewish, where there is pride yet so much sadness."
Patsy is part of the Seven Hills Shul progressive community, who meet up at Ranmoor Parish house as they currently don't have a permanent residency.
The community has talks and teaching seminars that help a very small Jewish community in Sheffield, helping people form a collective during the difficult times and many challenges facing Jews right now.
Sheffield women failed by the health system believe education not policies are the answer
“I wanted to die and I said this to the doctor, and they said I can give you a leaflet.”
These are the words of Leah Beardsall who has spoken out after a battle to be treated for painful and debilitating symptoms.
The 20-year-old student had to endure being unheard and continually dismissed before being diagnosed with Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). Both conditions impact the menstrual cycle and cause severe mental and physical symptoms.
Another women who waited 13 years to receive a diagnosis for PMDD also struggled with feeling "embarrassed" and "let down" when she left the GP.
They have both chosen to share their experience following the Health Secretary's announcement to reinstate the women's health strategy.
Leah's battle began in 2024, and although she switched GPs when she started university, she continuously felt ignored.
“I felt like a ghost of myself," Leah says. "My identity and who I was had been sucked out of me. I was a void of a person.
“I was frustrated because all this [doctor] wanted to talk to me about was my chance of having children, like that was all I was born to be able to do.”
Health Secretary Wes Streeting has announced a 10-year plan to reform the NHS system, which he says "too often gaslights women, treating their pain as an inconvenience and their symptoms as an overreaction".
With gynaecology waiting lists which currently affect more than 565,000 women and nearly decade-long intervals between endometriosis diagnoses, Leah is sceptical about how effective Mr Streeting's plan will be.
Leah, who is also on the waitlist to be diagnosed with suspected endometriosis, believes the issue is too deep rooted in British society and requires educational reform as well.
"Medical misogyny is just rooted in everybody," she says. "That belief was instilled into my own family members and they were saying the same thing to me. I felt like I was going insane.
“It’s down to the way people think and view women, which has long been rooted in history. Education is really important and not enough goes into it."
During her struggle to be diagnosed with PMDD and PCOS, Leah felt unsupported by the women in her family, who also mimicked the doctor's dismissiveness.
Female members of Leah's family have been to the doctor's in the past with similar symptoms, but were gaslit and ignored so were forced to suffer with their medical problems unsupported.
The women's health strategy sets out 117 action points, including focusing on gynaecological outpatient procedures over the next five years, and improving access to contraception and perinatal mental health support. Additionally, £900 million has been invested into the Best Start Family Hubs and Health Babies programme.
Secondary objectives focus on launching a new programme to improve education for girls and their menstrual health, as well as creating safer and better experiences for women who access maternity services.
The government also hope to eliminate cervical cancer by 2040, using home testing kits for human papilloma virus (HPV), and introduce more breast pain and postmenopausal bleeding clinics by the end of 2026.
Another aim is to half violence against women and girls within a decade, through a £50 million investment which will also be used to support victims of child sexual abuse.
However, Emma MacNay, who suffers from PMDD and set up a support group in Sheffield for women with the same condition, questions how successful the strategy will be.
The 31-year-old was diagnosed with the disorder this year, yet she had been speaking to doctors about her symptoms since she was 18-years-old.
Emma's journey to diagnosis included being misdiagnosed with anxiety and depression and she was encouraged to take antidepressants early on, despite wanting to learn more about her unknown illness and alternative treatments.
Unable to share her experience and receive appropriate support, Emma's symptoms manifested into rib pain. She was taken to A&E as doctors wanted to rule out a punctured lung, although Emma was sure it was due to her mental health.
She said: “There was no understanding or feeling that you were being listened to - that you were taking up too much time or space, feeling dismissed."
As someone new to Sheffield with a recent diagnosis, Emma looked for a support group in the area, yet found none. She was then inspired to set up a meeting place for women with PMDD.
They had their first session March this year, with plans to meet monthly.
The group also welcomes women who do not have a diagnosis, as they understand how difficult, long and mentally tolling it can be to receive one.
Emma says she has heard stories from more than one woman, revealing doctors had Googled ‘PMDD’ while they were in the room.
Ultimately, Emma had to conduct her own research to learn more about her disorder and where to find support from external organisations.
She believes the government should address broader societal and misogynistic attitudes, as well as improve doctors’ understanding of women’s health.
"I would like to see improved education across the board on women's health and hormonal health, due to it currently being a footnote," she says.
"We're seeing health professionals graduate and treating the public, while they are completely unaware of conditions that more than half the country could be suffering with."
Independent bookseller pleased to join Sheffield book festival after shop closure earlier this year
A female-owned independent bookstore is getting back into the city's thriving literary scene this weekend, after its owner closed the shop following harassment.
Sheffield’s Independent Book Festival (SIBFest) is launching for the first time on Saturday and is set to bring a wave of literary celebration to the city.
The two-day festival includes a bookshop crawl on Saturday and a market place hosting local Sheffield poets and famous guest authors, including Manya Wilkinson, Michelle Tea and Steve Webb, on Sunday.
Independent bookshops are often seen as a calm, inclusive environment, but for many women who run them the reality is much more complex.
The event has been organised with the help of local independent booksellers, including Novel, which closed on 11 January 2026.
Novel's owner, Kate Nixon, 31, made the tough decision to close her shop on School Road in Crookes indefinitely, due to persistent harassment.
The Sheffield community was very supportive, following the closure. Local businesses commented heartfelt messages on her Instagram post regarding her shop closure.
Miss Nixon told Sheffield Wire how Cloud Coffee has supported her business, allowing Novel to run a distribution operation from its premises. She said the staff were "incredibly sweet" to offer their space.
Regarding the update of her shop, she said: "Sales are down, which I think is a little inevitable, given a big pull to shopping independently is the interaction you have with booksellers and the personal recommendations we give."
However, she explained that having an active social media following and 1,500 people subscribed to Novel's newsletter, she has been able to move the business online.
Despite the difficulties Novel has faced, Miss Nixon's involvement in organising SIBFest highlights the company's commitment to the local literary community.
The festival will support them in return, as 100% of its takings will go to Sheffield’s bookshops, local authors and to the independent book trade.
Miss Nixon said: "This is an amazing opportunity for us to see our regular customers and also connect with new people.
"We’ve got some smaller publishing houses selling on the day who wouldn’t be able to afford rent, bills, business rates and the other operating costs associated with taking on a physical shop."
SIBFest offers a new and exciting opportunity for independent bookshops, particularly female-owned businesses, to move beyond the challenges they face.
SIBFest takes place on 25 and 26 April, find out more here.
Sheffield Steelers defeated by the Devils in Grand Final
The Sheffield Steelers suffered an agonising 5-2 loss yesterday at the hands of the Cardiff Devils in the playoff final.
The Steelers, who finished joint fourth in the league table, were able to mount an incredible title run, as they made the playoffs and comfortably disposed of the Guildford Flames and Manchester Storm in the quarter finals and semi finals respectively.
However, they were unable to jump the final hurdle at the National Ice Arena in Nottingham, as their Welsh opponents were able to put in a dominant display, securing the trophy and their first playoff title since 2022.
The Devils were able to establish an early 1-0 lead in the first period, which was further extended to 3-1 in the second, leaving the Steelers on the backfoot. Sheffield were unable to mount a meaningful comeback, with the lead extending to the final score of 5-2 in the third period, giving the Devils the victory.
Speaking to the Yorkshire Post, head coach Aaron Fox said: "I thought they were the better team in the first period and we were the better team in the second.
"Unfortunately, the two quick goals put us on our back to start the third period. But I can’t fault our level of compete, effort or buy-in over the play-off stretch."
This result is likely a big disappointment for local Steelers fans, as they go a second season without winning a major trophy, their last victory being their league and cup double in the 2023-24 season.
It also prevents a history making moment for the team, as a playoff win would have given them seven playoff titles total, which is more than any other team in the division. Instead, they remain at six, which keeps them tied with the Nottingham Panthers.