Orchid Show shines light on dying art
Hundreds of people flocked to Sheffield's Orchid Show this weekend, captivated by the exotic flowers.
The annual show took place on Saturday in St. John's Church Hall, Abbeydale, to celebrate the traditional art of growing orchids.
Show Coordinator of the Sheffield & District Orchid Society, Paul Hobson, reflected on the importance of change to keep orchid horticulture alive in the UK.
He said: "Orchid growing is a dying art, things are changing.
"Society has to adapt, and this show is a part of our adaptation to embrace the many new technological and plant growing trends within Britain."
With six different societies from across the Midlands and Northern England attending the show, the hall was full of colourful stalls showcasing a large variety of orchids, all carefully curated by the members.
As well as orchid growers, the show attracted many different flower enthusiasts, with one attendee, Peter Walker, selling carnivorous plants on Saturday.
Mr Walker, owner of Wack’s Wicked Plants, said: “I think young people and kids are attracted to them because of the gruesome side to it.
“There are several groups and forums where people are obsessed with them, so I think social media definitely helps spread the love of carnivorous plants.”
The show saw a rise in visitors of 20-30% from last year, going up to around 300 people, which Mr Hobson attributes to the wider variety of plants on offer.
He said: "What we hope is that visitors buy other plants, look at the orchids and they spill into our world, because we all grow plants, we all love plants. And it's that bit of cross-fertilisation, it's how we help each other."
Elchin Shirinov Trio review: jazz virtuosos bring spellbinding musical fusion to Sheffield
The Firth Hall at the University of Sheffield cut a striking scene at night; a soft light danced on the vaulted wooden ceilings and rich blue curtains, as the audience filed in to their seats amid pooling shadows. It's a suitably atmospheric venue, then, for the ensemble who took Firth Court by storm on 27 February - a trio of accomplished jazz musicians from across the globe, spearheaded by pianist Elchin Shirinov.
Born in Baku, Azerbaijan, Shirinov has reached heights of global recognition for his talents in the field of modern jazz, combining traditional Azeri folk tunes with innovations in form, style and orchestration. With Italian bassist Andrea Di Biase and RAM graduate Dave Hamblett on drums rounding out the trio, their evident camaraderie translates on-stage into impressive musical coordination. The performance is quite a feather in the cap for Sheffield Jazz, who have made bringing "best of national and international jazz to the city" a core plank of their mission statement.
Shirinov announced that the evening marked 11 years of the trio playing together, and you could tell from their performance - throughout the evening, they proved to be masters of the spontaneous improvisation on which jazz music thrives.
They opened with a set titled 'Golden Halo', beginning on a lilting note, but with a tempo gradually building in intensity. Beneath the musicians' practiced, orderly compositions, there was a riotous, almost bacchanalian energy which was nothing short of compelling; the audience was clearly fixed to their seats, captured by the magic of the moment.
They transitioned seamlessly into yet more complex sets, and the Azeri folk influence on their work began to show. The double bass proves a more than fitting substitution for the bağlama, and Di Biase draws outs higher notes on his instrument than I would've thought physically possible. The gentle, soothing notes of an Azeri lullaby might not seem an intuitive fit for the frenetic tempo of concert jazz, but Shirinov and his trio accomplish the musical transition with deft ability.
The interval passed by in what feels like no time at all, and the second act of the night proves to be something of a memorial to Shirinov's hometown, with pieces intended to evoke the cultural medley of Baku's historic city centre. The penultimate set, simply titled 'Old City', is particularly interesting; composed in Budapest, it is a paean not just to Baku, but to the historic quarters of great world cities across the world.
Shirinov said: "It reminds me of the Old City in my town, so it's kind of about that vibe." Sheffield may be a far younger city than Baku, comparatively, but the peculiar nostalgia of watching fragments of history preserved in a place's built environment, amid the slapdash bustle of construction work and new developments, is one many of its residents will know all too well.
The packed audience were spellbound by the Shirinov Trio, with twenty-minute queues for signed CDs and other merchandise towards the end of the night.
This concert night was just the beginning of a broader, jam-packed spring programme for Sheffield Jazz; an upcoming tribute evening to Joni Mitchell is already sold out, and jazz giants Georgia Mancio and Alan Broadbent are set to perform at Crookes Social Club this April.
Is jazz as a mass art phenomenon making a comeback in Sheffield? Only time will tell.
FA kicks off new campaign supporting women and girls in football
The England Football Association's latest campaign, Made for this Game, pitches football as an inclusive sport where women and girls can belong through equal opportunities and access.
Sue Day, Director of Women’s Football the FA, said: “We’ve created Made for This Game to reiterate a clear message to every woman and girl in the country, that no matter your age, ability or background, football is a sport where you belong.”
The campaign was initially launched last week on 26 February, the day of England’s UEFA Women’s Nations League meeting with Spain.
The ‘goal’ is to continue the drive to unlock equal opportunities for all women and girls to access, participate and thrive in football, whilst showing it is a sport where they belong.
Made for this Game kick starts with the Biggest Ever Football Session on Friday 7 March.
Schools across the country will be holding football sessions specifically for girls during lunchtime and before or after school.
Last year 5,000 schools took part in the scheme, including many in South Yorkshire.
This follows the success of the FA’s previous campaign, Let Girls Play, which began in October 2021.
According to the FA, Let Girls Play led to a 56% increase in the number of women and girls playing football.
Molly Wilson, Football Development Officer for Women and Girls at Sheffield and Hallamshire County Football Association, said: “The previous campaign seemed like girls had to ask for permission to play.
“We are excited to give women and girls in South Yorkshire more encouragement to get involved as football was made for everyone!”
Ms Day said: “While so much progress has been made to create opportunities for women and girls in football, we know there is so much more to do, so the hard work to create true equality across the game continues.”
In 2024, a survey by Women In Football found that 89% of women said that they experienced discrimination working in the sport.
The Lionesses took to Instagram to show their support for the new campaign, their caption said: “On and off the pitch.
“A space to just be you.”
Delicious names dished up for baby llama
'Sandwich', 'Chickpea' and 'Banana' are just some of the names that have been suggested in a contest to name a baby llama at a Sheffield farm.
The latest arrival was born at Graves Park Animal Farm at the end of January to mum, Nancy.
The park announced the contest on Facebook on 26 February and there are now over 450 comments on the post, with a wide range of names suggested.
The names of the new llama's siblings, Lettuce and Hummus, inspired many of the comments, with 'Baba Ganoush', 'Couscous' and 'Pita' each suggested several times.
Others leaned into Sheffield's history for inspiration - 'Hendos' was suggested by one commenter and 'Endcliffe' by another.
Sheffield resident, Tina Corker, said: “Hendos because he’s dark and made in Sheffield just like our famous relish! I’m sure it’d be fabulous with Hummus and Lettuce.”
The winner of the contest will be invited to the park to meet the baby and his herd.
The llamas at the park live alongside some of the rarest farm animals in the country, including Tamworth Pigs, Highland cattle and Jacob sheep.
The new addition is joining over 20 llamas kept at the farm and across their satellite locations around Sheffield.
A baby llama is known as a 'cria' and mothers communicate with them by humming.
Visitors can pet and hand-feed the animals, although they should be aware that llamas can spit up to 4.5 metres.
Councillor Kurtis Crossland, chair of Sheffield City Council's Communities, Parks and Leisure Policy Committee said: "Being one of the first newborns during this year's spring season, we want locals to get involved in naming the cria, giving it a warm welcome to one of Sheffield's most notorious animal farms."
The winning name will be chosen by the farm staff and announced on 12 March.
Craig Lingard explains why Mitch Clark joined York Knights from Sheffield Eagles
Eight years after his sole appearance for the club, Mitch Clark has returned to the York Knights. Clark has signed a two-and-a-half year deal following his release from the Sheffield Eagles. A day after Sheffield Eagles confirmed the departure of Mitch Clark, head coach Craig Lingard explained why the 31-year-old ended his brief stint with the Rugby League club.
Clark was released from his contract by mutual consent on compassionate grounds, and during a press conference at The Wave in Sheffield on Wednesday, coach Lingard was asked about Clark’s release in the lead-up to the game between the Eagles and Doncaster Knights RFC.
Lingard said when he joined the Eagles last year, the head coach was keen on improving the connection between the players and management at the club. The former Castleford Tigers head coach said he had urged the players to reach out to him if they had reservations about extending their stay at Sheffield Eagles.
Clark said: “Mitchy came to me at the start of the week, he had personal issues at home in terms of travelling, it was quite a long way away from Sheffield. His wife is currently pregnant, so he is spending a lot of time away from home, leaving the house for work at seven o'clock in the morning, not necessarily getting back home until after 10, quarter to 11 at night.”
Clark has joined Championship rivals York Knights after bidding farewell to his former teammates at Sheffield. Eagles head coach Lingard believes that the forward's departure is unlikely to have any major effect on the club's performance moving forward. The 47-year-old also mentioned that the Eagles will have Clark’s replacement within the next three weeks.
“I think that what you tend to find in team sport and in working life as well, you do a number of jobs and work with a lot of different people, but you quickly move on and that's not a negative, but you've got to focus on the job in hand,” Lingard explained.
“Mitch is a great, real nice and personal bloke, but we've got to make sure that we move on. He came in last night and said his goodbyes to the players and we connected with our phones, you are only a call or text message away. I don't think it'll impact us too much,” he concluded.
A seasoned campaigner in the Super League and Championship, Clark had stints with Bradford and Hull KR in the build-up to his arrival at the British top flight. The former Eagles star was recruited by Wigan Warriors in 2020. The Kiwi forward represented Castleford for two seasons followed by his transfer to Newcastle Thunder.
Coming up today on Sheffield Wire
Good morning! It's another news day and we are covering a variety of stories and events from the Sheffield Wire newsroom. Here are some of our top stories to look out for throughout the day:
Nearly a quarter of a mile of the Redcar Brook has been filled with foul-smelling waste from cannabis farms. Our reporter, Billy Clarke spoke to the volunteers working hard to clean it up.
A 16-year-old beauty student at Barnsley college was told having a bikini wax was a mandatory part of the course. The student and her mum are now campaigning to have the right to say no.
Protestors disrupted the Yorkshire and Humber regional Labour Party conference in Sheffield this weekend. Campaigners held placards and handed out leaflets criticising Keir Starmer's approach to migration and the war in Gaza. Our reporter, Josh Herman was at the scene.
In sporting news, nominations have just closed for Sheffield's Move More Awards, which celebrate community sport, exercise and physical activity across the city. Carys Reid spoke to the founder of the awards about their importance.
And finally, this weekend marked the start of Sheffield's Festival of the Outdoors! From guided walks to adventure film festivals, there are plenty of events to get involved with throughout the month.
Steel City Derby: Will Sheffield United’s proactivity in the January window seal their triumph over rival Wednesday?
Sheffield United and Sheffield Wednesday are set to clash in a highly anticipated faceoff. Emotions, spirits, and stakes are high.
Ahead of the March Derby, much can be said about the rivals' different actions in the transfer window.
Prince Abdullah ended his 11-year association with Sheffield United as owner, with COH Sports sealing a £100 million deal to take the club over.
They stated their focus is giving Chris Wilder, United manager, the support he needed over the transfer window, as part of their push for Premier League promotion.
The January window has certainly been beneficial for Sheffield United, with Wilder making multiple transfers and loan deals with proven players.
One of these was Thomas Cannon, bought from Leicester for an undisclosed fee, rumoured to be around £10 million. The 22-year-old signed a four-year contract with the side, a longer-term investment in the club.
Since then, the striker has scored nine goals in just 26 matches.
United have also signed defender Rob Holding on loan from Crystal Palace who has had five seasons with his former club.
The club also loaned in Ipswich defender Harry Clarke, who has made an immediate impact, winning 28 duels over the course of his four-match tenure with the Blades.
United’s investment strategy of bringing in tested and experienced players is paying off particularly well, with them winning seven of their last ten league matches.
However, Wednesday has experienced an entirely different story. Amidst fears of a transfer embargo due to financial issues and a lack of investors in the club, the Owls did not possess the financial freedom they may have wanted over the January window.
Wednesday have, however, managed to hold on to their key players, namely youngster Shea Charles, who has impressed since signing on loan from Southampton in the summer.
Yet, the transfer window remained weak for the Owls, Stuart Armstrong was signed on a permanent contract but his five-match tenure for the club has been of low impact.
Wednesday’s form has also generally been worse than their upcoming opponent, winning only two out their past 10 games, with four ending in a draw and four more in a loss.
We await the result of the upcoming March fixture, but Owls manager Danny Rohl stated that he is still looking “for the team for a perfect game” - following their recent 4-0 loss to Burnley.
Union warns of strike action after claiming 1,000 University of Sheffield staff “about to be threatened” with redundancy
Staff at the University of Sheffield have been asked to vote in support of strike action after an announcement today from the University and College Union (UCU).
The UCU has claimed a university management scheme will place up to 1,000 academic and professional services staff at risk, which could result in 400 jobs lost through voluntary or compulsory redundancy. Strike action could take place as soon as April if compulsory redundancies are not ruled out.
The university staffing budget aims to cut £23m in this and the next academic year.
A spokesperson for the university said it was undertaking a large restructure in consultation with staff and the trade unions, with a number of staff ‘in scope’ of the changes.
They said: "We will not know exact numbers until we have concluded the formal 90 day consultation period, which is part of our process agreed with the trade unions.
"We ran a voluntary severance scheme recently to help avoid making compulsory redundancies, as well as made a range of non-staff reductions that were prioritised first. This has already made considerable strides towards the necessary savings required.
"However, there is still more to do to reduce our costs, both staff and non-staff, to ensure our expenditure reflects our income levels."
Sheffield branch president of the UCU, Robyn Orfitelli, has condemned the President and Vice-Chancellor of the University, Koen Lamberts, by stating his introduction of restructures at the university and at least 25 formal changes to management processes has impacted hundreds of employees.
She said: "It is unacceptable, and the leadership of this university needs to hold itself accountable for what it is doing to staff, students, and the future of this institution."
Management at the university has argued that cuts are essential in order to return to a surplus in the next two years. However, the university's accounts show that the total income grew by 1% to £859m between 2023-2024.
The accounts also state: "We continue to have healthy cash balances, with year-end cash balances of £221m."
The union has said that after assessing these figures, the university could afford a more measured approach to its current financial situation as opposed to significantly reducing its number of staff in such a short time frame.
Jo Grady, General Secretary at the UCU, said: "There are a number of options management could take instead of seeking to axe 400 jobs, but so far there has been no attempt to work with us to use the university's strong financial position to protect jobs or indeed to shift savings onto other areas.
She added: "We hope management begins to work with us so we can avoid any industrial unrest."
The university spokesperson said a decrease in international students had affected its income.
They said: "We have been keeping colleagues and our campus trade unions informed and updated about the financial position and the range of targeted actions we are taking. These include reviewing infrastructure projects and reducing spending, alongside carefully managing staff vacancies and offering a voluntary severance scheme to staff to help avoid the need for compulsory redundancies.
"We are firmly committed to supporting our colleagues and continuing to work constructively with our trade unions, whilst protecting our excellent research, teaching and student experience.”
The University of Sheffield is not the only university to have expressed financial concerns after the decrease in intake of international students.
The University of Durham has opened the same strike ballot as Sheffield, with the University of Dundee staff promising 15 days of strike action.
“Eating Disorders Don’t Discriminate”: National Eating Disorder Awareness Week 2025
As part of National Eating Disorder Awareness Week 2025, one Sheffield woman has shared her experience of suffering from bulimia and a laxative addiction.
Katy, 29, who has asked us not to use her surname, explained it took several years for her to overcome her eating disorder.
She explained she has always had a complicated relationship with food, but her health deteriorated when Katy was in her final year at university.
"As a child, and up until my eating disorder, I was always overweight," she says. " My mum didn't have the healthiest relationship with food either and therefore would overfeed me."
I appeared to the world like an overconfident, fun person. All whilst handling my shameful secret. It took over my entire life.
Katy
But it wasn't until Katy was 20, and studying for her final degree assessments, that the stresses of her life took hold.
"Approaching the end of my final year, there was immense pressure coming from many different directions and in my mind something clicked," she says. "Food became the one thing I could control in my life."
Katy quickly became addicted to losing weight and pursued several ways to keep herself slim, which took her several years to recover from.
"I could appear to be normal but the stomach cramps were so extreme I would sometimes pass out from the pain," she says. "That didn't matter to me as long as the scales didn’t go up.
"It is so important, eating disorders are glamorised - when in reality it’s a living nightmare. The purging, laxative abuse, and fainting in public is anything but glamorous."
But when Katy finally realised she could not carry on, she faced another battle as felt she was not taken seriously by recovery services.
“I felt because I wasn’t anorexic or severely underweight and needed immediate rehabilitation services, I was brushed off," she says.
Katy said that finding online communities of people also suffering from less common eating disorders was a lifeline, but the lack of funding and investment in eating disorder recovery means people get treated generally, not with the specific treatments for the likes of bulimia or binge eating.
Sophie O’Horan Williams, Marketing and Communication Officer at South Yorkshire Eating Disorder Association (SYEDA), said: “There is a big misconception that a person has to look a certain way to have an eating disorder. People think it is only white, young girls. But, we know that is not true.
Barely 6% of cases are actually individuals who are underweight.
Ms O'Horan Williams, Syeda
Eating Disorder charity, Beat, estimates that at least 1.25 million people in the UK are living with an eating disorder - that's more than 1 in 50 people.
SYEDA hopes that this year's theme, focussing on how eating disorders can affect anyone, will encourage more people to seek help if they are struggling with eating difficulties, no matter what this will look like.
Ms O'Horan William said: “Eating difficulties can start as feeling anxious about food or noticing they are becoming very preoccupied with food.
“There are preconceptions about background and age but none of that is true, you don’t choose to have an eating disorder."
The charity is launching a webinar, aimed at helping teachers and social workers know how to approach and talk to young people - and their colleagues, about eating disorders.
According to Sheffield Health and Social Care Trust, the city has experienced a 28% increase in demand for its Eating Disorder Service over the past five years.
SYEDA also highlighted that there is a wide range of eating disorders, some people may not even be aware of.
“People are familiar with anorexia, which is incredibly serious but there are other conditions such as binge eating, avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder, and laxative addiction," said Ms O'Horan Williams.
SYEDA works locally in the hope to tackle these systemic issues and bring lesser-known disorders to the public's attention.
Derbyshire bridge shortlisted for sustainability award
The Peak District's Cressbrook Mill footbridge has been shortlisted in the 2025 Bridges Award, thanks to its impressive sustainability credentials.
In total, 25,781 recycled plastic bottles were diverted from landfills and transformed into the Fibre Reinforced Polymer (FRP) used to construct the bridge.
Given the Peak District’s unpredictable weather, the polymer was chosen for its durability, ensuring the bridge can withstand the harsh Yorkshire elements.
Matt Cain, contracts manager at R and C Williams – the engineering company awarded the contract for the bridge – said: "These bridges are rare – it’s just getting people to buy into the upfront cost, because compared to a steel or timber bridge, it’s double the price.
"But then, the use of FPC means you don’t have ongoing maintenance, so it’s about people being long-sighted enough to see the reduced costs in the future."
The footbridge is expected to have a multi-generational lifespan of up to 120 years. In comparison, a steel bridge which would need significant maintenance after 25 years.
Its construction has also enabled walkers and climbers to access the Monsal Trail from Cressbrook for the first time in nearly five years, reconnecting people with one of the Peak District’s most iconic landscapes.
The original bridge, built in the 1980s, was deemed structurally unsafe in 2020, having succumbed to corrosion and fallen into disrepair.
Several fundraising groups came together to raise the £190,000 needed to complete the project, including the Peak District National Park Authority and the British Mountaineering Council.
Now, the Cressbrook Footbridge has been shortlisted in the sustainability category at the 2025 Bridges Awards. This category celebrates innovation in reducing carbon emissions through bridge design, construction, and maintenance.
Mr Cain said: "We’re not a huge company, so to be shortlisted with some of your lager tier 1 contractors is great.
"I think we’re up against Transport for London in the sustainability category, so even to be shortlisted is great for us. Hopefully we take the award home."
The bridge will go up against the River Lea Crossing Refurbishment for the title at the Bridges award ceremony on March 12th.
The Miners’ Strike 40 years on: The lasting impact of coal on South Yorkshire
Miners across South Yorkshire returned to work 40 years ago next week, but the effects of coal’s decline are still weighing down former coalfield communities today.
The year-long strike did little to prevent the demise of the biggest industry in South Yorkshire, and the prospect of new jobs and industries are still yet to fully arrive.
Last year, reports into former coalfield communities by Sheffield Hallam University showed that even though some growth had been seen, it is at a far slower rate than other areas in the UK.
Former coalfield communities have on average 57 jobs per 100 working age residents, compared to 73 in 100 nationally, and 88 in 100 in other regional cities.
To add to this, wages near the former coalfields are in some cases six or seven percent below the national average.
The days of busy mining communities may have long gone, but a determined effort has been made to preserve the legacy of the pits and attempt to revive once forgotten communities. But even when help originally came to these communities, there was shock at the neglect felt in the wake of sweeping pit closures.
Colin Harris is a Former Director at Arup, a global collective of designers and engineers, that played a major role in creating Manvers Lake on the site of the former Manvers Colliery in Wath Upon Dearne, Rotherham.
In October last year, he said: “Driving there was an emotional experience because you could see all the shops were closed down, all the facilities had closed down.
“It was utter dereliction, not just on the site, but around the site.”
How South Yorkshire is Remembering the Miners’ Strike
Museums and cinemas across South Yorkshire have been holding events and exhibitions over the past 12 months to commemorate the strike, many of them showcasing the lasting impact both economically and mentally on communities.
Films, blogs and podcasts have all been produced and shared throughout the year, including several next month at the Showroom Cinema in Sheffield.
Barnsley Museums have worked in partnership with the National Coal Mining Museum, to share local people’s objects and artefacts relating to the strike and the impact on the community.
Barnsley Cllr Robin Franklin, Cabinet Spokesperson for Regeneration and Culture, said: “The Miners’ Strike was a defining episode in our history, nationally, regionally and locally. We felt it was vital to mark its 40th anniversary.
“In Barnsley Museums we’ve spent a full year sharing the memories of local people, giving them the opportunity to reflect on everything that happened in that year and also the immense changes Barnsley has seen since.”
History of the Strike
The strike ended three days short of its first anniversary in early March 1985, when the National Union of Mineworkers voted to return work, bringing one of Britain’s longest industrial disputes to an end.
Arguably the most well known scene of the strike was the ‘Battle of Orgreave’, where pickets and police forces clashed outside of Orgreave Coking plant in Rotherham on June 18 1984, in one of the most violent clashes in British industrial history.
Almost 10,000 miners were arrested across England during the strikes, the majority of whom never faced prosecution in court.
The strike’s origins were in Rotherham, where Cortonwood Colliery was threatened with closure by the National Coal Board.
A generation later and Cortonwood, along with the rest of South Yorkshire’s Pits, are closed, many having been replaced with new projects to try and lift areas left in the lurch.
Cortonwood Shopping Centre now stands on the site of the old colliery, but its closure in 1985 is still felt in the community today.
The number of jobs lost to pit closures have never fully been combated, meaning the cost of living crisis hit particularly hard in ex-mining communities.
Cortonwood Comeback Centre, a group that was founded in the wake of the strike, still works today to support people in the community.
Denise Lelliott, a trustee at the Centre, said: “We have witnessed a massive increase in demand for our services over the last ten plus years.
“We are having to deal with issues that we would have never thought possible 40 years ago, these include homelessness, unemployment and lack of access to services.”
The centre offers a warm space for people to go during winter, as well as a foodbank and also a social group for older men, especially former miners.
“We have seen thousands of homes being built in the area, but with no infrastructure to support these,” said Ms Lelliott.
“A number of people living in these homes in Brampton and West Melton have been left behind, neglected and under-resourced.”
Using Nature to Renovate Former Coalfield Communities
Shopping isn’t the only means which has been used to attempt to renovate areas that lost their main source of income and community.
Wath Upon Dearne in Rotherham is now home to Manvers Lake, an area that had laid derelict following the closure of Manvers Main Colliery.
Arup, developed a plan to create new opportunities for the community, alongside bringing nature back to the community, through the creation of the lake.
They focused on job creation, economic regeneration and environmental improvement, to reinvigorate a community devastated by closures.
The area, which was redeveloped in the 1990s, had been left forgotten and had a lack of prospects for its residents, until work was made to bring nature, and most importantly footfall, back to Wath and Manvers.
Tim O’Connell, of Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council, said: “People didn’t have a reason to come to Manvers at all, and wouldn’t be aware of Manvers unless you were associated with the coal mining industry.
“You’ve moved from a site which was a former coalfield at the end of its useful economic purpose, and now when you drive into Manvers and what you can see is something that is completely different.”
Uncertainty for Ukrainians in Sheffield
Image courtesy: Sheffield Star
The flags have stopped waving, the welcome banners have been put away and the headlines have faded- but the war is as bad as ever for Ukrainians.
That's the view of a Ukrainians who say Britain's initial support was "tremendous" but without it being plastered over the media, people are beginning to forget.
“Three years is a long time, you cannot expect the issue on top of our agenda is on top of everyone else's. Regardless of how disappointing it is for us, we have to accept reality," says Anton Ievsiushkin.
Three years after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, visa extensions in the UK coming to an end and Russian occupation still rife, the future for Ukrainian refugees is full of uncertainty.
Mr Ievsiushkin, 41, Chair for the Sheffield branch of the AUGB, was born and raised in Mariupol, but relocated to Sheffield for work in 2014.
Mr Ievsiushkin's family all lived in Mariupol, up until 2022, when they had to flee as Russian forces invaded the city.
"Mariupol was pretty much destroyed, it was definitely not the place to be in 2022."
Mr Ievsiushkin
Sheffield has become home to over 1,000 Ukrainians, including Mr Ieviushkin's family, but their journey wasn't without its challenges.
Mr Ievsiushkin says: "When people flee war torn countries, it is never easy. My father-in-law for example, left his passport. So he had no internationally recognised ID, so that created its own problems."
His niece was less than two-months old when they fled Ukraine, so did not have any identification either.
In early 2022, the Johnson government announced a relaxation of immigration rule for Ukrainians and their families after major pressure from the public.
Mr Ievsiushkin said: "I have to credit the Foreign Office officials, back then they came up with something very quickly."
This led to the creation of special schemes: the Ukraine Family Scheme and the Homes for Ukraine scheme, which allowed approximately 218,000 people to seek refuge in the UK.
Ukrainians who are here under these schemes were given the right to work, claim benefits and use the NHS.
Visas last for around three years and the government announced that from February 2025, these visas could be extended for an additional 18 months.
However, there is currently no opportunity for permanent residence under these schemes.
Ukrainian communities in Sheffield are worried about their future in the UK and what will happen when the extension on their visas expire.
Mr Ievsiushkin said: "People clearly cannot go back to Ukraine. It is not clear what we can do."
Many Ukrainian cities, including Mariupol, are currently under Russian occupation meaning that people cannot return home.
Mr Ievsiushkin's mother tried to return to the city to visit her home and see for herself what had happened, but when she flew into Moscow, border control told her that she was not welcome.
Many Ukrainians cannot return home, but the option to stay in the UK is potentially coming to an end.
When you are living on a time-limited visa, your right to rent, to work and your access to certain services is limited by the end date.
Many Ukrainians have issues extending work contracts and housing tenancies, because their visa is close to expiring and cannot be given a 12-month contract.
Mr Ievsiushkin said: "Even when you tell them there is official guidance from the Home Office, there is still a hurdle that shouldn't be there.
"There are probably reasons for the Home Office to do this, for us it is just another bureaucratic nightmare."
The AUGB was founded in 1946, initially as a form of solidarity for Ukrainians who were being persecuted but the association has now become a support system for those struggling with issues such as translating.
Mr Ievsiushkin said: "We do not think Ukrainians are unique in this situation, it is not just the visas that are a nightmare. There is a lack of support for navigating all the bureaucratic things for everyone.
"We would love to get more support but I'm afraid it is an indication of a wider societal problem."
Mr Ievsiushkin
Jane Podmoloda, 19, is a student at the University of Sheffield and moved to Sheffield in 2022 with her family.
She is worried about what will happen after the 18-month extension on her own and her family's visas comes to an end.
Miss Podmoloda explained that three years is a long time to live in a country and that Sheffield has become her home.
Ukrainian legacies have not entirely been forgotten by Sheffield, the AUGB has put on the 'Wounded Ukraine' art exhibition to highlight the "heart-breaking" stories of widows, mothers and children who have endured trauma and loss as a result of the war.