Sunday’s Kidical Mass bike ride will create “a fun way for people to send a message to our politicians”
Kidical Mass' second Sheffield event is set to take place this upcoming Sunday, as adults and children come together to call for safer streets within the city.
Cyclists will meet in Endcliffe Park at 1pm before making their way to Charter Square, via Ecclesall Road.
In calling for safer street provisions, organisers hope that the event will lead to children being able to travel more independently.
This is part of the international Kidical Mass movement, which has seen similar rides in cities such as, Manchester, Inverness, and Brussels.
Despite the campaign's important message, the event intends also to bring joy to those participating and, organisers for this event are encouraging people to decorate their bikes and wear Christmas-themed fancy dress.
While events are directed at making the streets safer for children, this event welcomes all ages and encourage anyone who wants to see safer infrastructure within Sheffield to attend.
Becky, from Sheffield's Kidical Mass, said: "If our streets are designed to be safe for kids, then they become safe for everyone.
"Joining the Kidical Mass rides is a fun way for people to send a message to our politicians."
This follows the success of the previous Sheffield event, held in September this year, which saw 160 people join the ride.
Issues with Sheffield's cycling routes, particularly for children, have also been recognised outside of the Kidical Mass movement.
Active transport advocate, Dr James Smith, said: "Getting kids into active transport earlier in life means they continue that through into adulthood. But I think loads of people in the city at the moment wouldn't consider letting their kids cycle very far except in a park, they're too scared because there isn't the infrastructure to support them doing that."
The event intends to highlight the need for safer road infrastructure, particularly around schools, and has subsequently welcomed the attendance of local politicians.
Participants are welcome to bring bikes, scooters, skates and skateboards, as long as they are in road-worthy condition.
Marshals will be supervising the front, back, and sides of the ride and first aiders will be on hand throughout the event.
Sheffield Charity relaunches fund to help heat homes this winter
South Yorkshire’s Community Foundation are asking financially secure households to donate their government allowances to those that are struggling this winter.
The charity set up a JustGiving page last year that allowed people to donate their Cost of Living support packages to less fortunate families.
The campaign raised over £72,000 during the Cost of Living crisis, which was distributed to local community groups.
This year, eligible households are entitled to an annual payment of up to £600 from the government to help with fuel and energy bills.
So far, the relaunch has raised £5,798. Ruth Willis, Chief Executive at South Yorkshire’s Community Foundation personally donated £250.
She said: “The Cost of Living crisis has affected communities across South Yorkshire with people worried about how it will impact them at home, particularly as we approach the cold winter months.
“People have already given so generously towards our Cost of Living Fund and we’re very keen to expand on this by asking, where possible, for households to donate their Winter Fuel Payments which are now being made by the Government.”
South Yorkshire’s Community Foundation is the largest local grant giving charity in South Yorkshire.
Donations can be made through its JustGiving page or by visiting its website South Yorkshire Cost Of Living - JustGiving.
Coca-Cola Christmas Truck arrives in Sheffield
The Gypsy Queen pub on Drake House Lane is hosting the iconic red truck from the Coca-Cola Christmas adverts until 7pm today.
The truck, which has featured in Coca-Cola's famous 'Holidays are Coming' Christmas adverts since 1995, has toured the country annually since 2010.
Visitors to the pub today can have their photo taken with the famous truck and personalise their own cans of Coca-Cola.
While the tour's exact future locations are a closely-guarded secret, it began in Glasgow last week and according to Coca-Cola, covers thousands of miles in total.
A representative from Coca-Cola said: "A lot goes into it. There are a lot of moving parts - as you can imagine. The whole team was here at four o'clock this morning setting this up ready for the event team to come in, and then it all gets packed away and moved on to the next venue, so it's an ongoing three-week full on roadshow."
Alana, a member of staff at the Gypsy Queen, was excited by the impact the truck's appearance could have on the local business.
She said: "I'm hoping it'll bring lots of people from the local area and further afield as well.
"The word went out yesterday and there was a really good response on social media - people were really excited to come down and have some photos and then come inside for a bite to eat and something to drink."
Last year, the tour visited Meadowhall and Fox Valley shopping centres in Sheffield, attracting hundreds of people as it made its way around the country.
Blades legend Jagielka finally calls time on stellar career for club and country
Sheffield United legend Phil Jagielka has announced his retirement from football this week at the age of 41 following a 23-year career.
Jagielka joined United’s youth academy aged 15 and made his first-team debut in 2000, playing for the Blades over 300 times and going on to represent England at a World Cup.
The centre-back’s United career was defined by his unerring dependability in defence and several iconic moments.
Jagielka said on Instagram: “Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine I would ever get to play football at the highest level for some amazing clubs as well as my country.”
The defender was an ever-present for the 2000s Blades side that achieved promotion to the Premier League, making 133 consecutive league appearances between 2004 and 2007.
‘Jags’ scored the decisive goal in United’s first top-flight win in 12 years against Middlesbrough in 2006, and even made an emergency appearance as a goalkeeper in the club’s 1-0 victory over Arsenal where he famously saved Robin Van Persie’s close-range effort.
After swapping Sheffield for Merseyside in 2007 and spending 12 years representing Everton, Jagielka returned to Bramall Lane in 2019 following the side’s promotion back to the Premier League, making a further 22 appearances for the club.
Sheffield United manager Paul Heckingbottom said of his second spell at the club: “There were some key moments where how Phil acted and how he behaved, he really showed why he played at the top for so long and had a tremendous career.”
Jagielka scored three times in 40 appearances for England, and was a regular at the 2014 World Cup as well as being selected in the Euro 2012 squad.
He also had short spells at Championship sides Derby County and Stoke City prior to announcing his retirement.
Sheffield United shared a video on X of Jagielka’s impressive long-range strike against Leeds in 2002, as well as saying: “Congratulations on an amazing career, Jags!”
He could hit them! 💥🥅@PJags06 👏 pic.twitter.com/OoofMAgcAe
— Sheffield United (@SheffieldUnited) November 28, 2023
Bringing Sheffield’s felled trees back to life
A Sheffield sculptor is transforming axed trees into works of art to ensure the city's tree legacy lives on.
Tree surgeon Alex Vardy-Meers, 36, revitalises trees which have been felled within the community and helps memorialise them by transforming them into sculptures.
Community members often commission him to create sculptures as a way of conserving demolished trees which have been around for hundreds of years, or as memorial pieces for family and friends who have passed away.
Mr Vardy-Meers said: "A man whose wife passed away wanted a memorial that would remind him of her so he commissioned me to carve her out of a beach tree and that's where he put the ashes."
He expressed the sentimental value trees can hold and how these sculptures allow people "to keep a piece of the tree forever."
Mr Vardy-Meers grew up in Lewisham, South London where he studied Fine Art Painting, but turned to chainsaw sculpting 15-years ago.
His artwork was often inspired by “nature fighting back in a post-apocalyptic future.” which influenced his transition into tree sculpting.
The city known for its greenery is celebrating National Tree Week between 25 November to 3 December despite the council's £2.2b street improvement project, which set out a 25-year plan to fell thousands of Sheffield's beloved trees.
This plan caused major public outrage forcing the council to issue an apology.
They said: “Residents should not have had to fight their Council to retain and value healthy trees, particularly not those with special significance.
“We recognise that we got so much of this wrong and we apologise unreservedly.”
The importance of preserving Sheffield’s trees has now fallen to the community.
If you want to check out more of Alex Vardy-Meers’ work go to alexvardymeers.com
Jewish Sheffielders grieve in a vigil for Palestinian and Israeli dead
As the conflict between Israel and Gaza rages on, a group of Jewish Sheffielders came together to grieve both Palestinian and Israeli dead.
In the Winter Garden on Wednesday night, the group paid their respects by lighting candles as they read the names of men, women and children killed. Then they recited the Jewish mourning prayer, the Kaddish.
Before lighting her candle, one young woman, who chose to remain anonymous, made a statement: “We are here today to mourn and to dream of a better future for all who live on the land between the river to the sea.
"There is a Jewish Talmudic phrase, 'Each life destroyed, it is as if a whole world is destroyed.' We are here to mourn the loss of every life, for each life lost - is a whole world lost. However we know that only an end to the oppression of the Palestinian people can prevent the loss of more lives.”
Sheffield has a small Jewish community, with less than 800 recorded in the 2011 census. Source: Rei Takver
The Sheffield vigil came ten days after Na’aamod UK, “a movement of Jews in the UK seeking to end our community's support for Israel's occupation and apartheid,” held the largest Jewish-led ceasefire rally in British history. That day, 800 Jewish activists rallied in a London park demanding a hostage deal, an end to the Gazan siege, and an end to antisemitism and Islamophobia.
Describing the Sheffield vigil, Maya Brown, a Community Development Worker for the Sheffield Reform Synagogue, said: “Naming the dead felt poignant, painful. But that’s part of the power. It’s a place to hold the pain.”
Sheffield’s Jewish community is very small, with only 757 Jewish residents listed in the 2011 census.
Max Munday, who helped organise the Sheffield vigil, said: “There are Jews in Sheffield who are desperately saddened by the violence against Jewish Israelis, but also the reaction by the Israeli military, the huge loss of life among Palestinian communities.”
In October, a group of Jewish Sheffielders, including Mr Munday and others from the vigil, wrote a letter to their MPs conveying their “strong and complicated feelings” about the conflict and urging an end to violence.
The letter said: “It is important that the grief of Jews – here, in Israel, and worldwide – becomes the basis for empathy and a just peace, rather than violent vengeance that will not lead to healing for anyone.”
End Abuse Together event aims to help women spot the signs of domestic abuse
Domestic abuse survivor and campaigner, Claire Throssell, is holding a free event to "get people talking about domestic abuse."
The End Abuse Together event is taking place on 8 December at the St John’s Community centre and aims to arm women with the knowledge and information they need to take action against gendered violence.
Ms Throssell said: "I wanted to do an event in Penistone, in my own community and bring my own community together to understand domestic abuse.
"This event is aiming to break down all the barriers and get people talking about domestic abuse."
Ms Throssell, who lost her two sons, Jack and Paul, after they were murdered by their own father, has been an active campaigner since 2014.
Her work has included helping to pass the Domestic Abuse Act in 2021, which included broadening the definition of domestic abuse in law.
She said: "It's too late for Jack and Paul but I don't want any parent to have to hold their children in their arms as they die knowing it's because somebody wanted to hurt them.
"Children are gifts. They bring colour to people's worlds."
The event is a part of the 16 Days campaign that has events taking place across South Yorkshire.
When asked about the importance of the event, she said: "The more people that learn about domestic abuse, the more empowered they become.
"If just one person comes away from this event and realises that a family member, or a friend, or themselves are suffering from abuse and they take away the knowledge of how to make the situation better or take action to change their own life then its been a worthwhile event."
The event is being held in partnership with the Independent Domestic Abuse Services (IDAS), who provide support to those in Yorkshire that have experienced or been affected by any form of domestic abuse or sexual violence.
IDAS will also be sharing information at the event about the various schemes and campaigns that are available to help victims of domestic abuse.
This year, IDAS are sharing 16 stories for the 16 Days campaign. Each personal story focuses on a different type of domestic abuse faced by women across the UK.
The Child First: Safe Child Contact Saves Lives petition can be found here.
Thrilling feats and Sheffield weights: award-winning stuntman features on the big screen
An award-winning Sheffield stuntman took to the battlefield while working for an iconic director in a new historical Hollywood blockbuster which was released last week.
Adam Smith, 33, who trains at Evolution Gym in Beighton, features in the Ridley Scott epic Napoleon which was partially filmed in Malta.
He said that working with the director for two weeks of filming was a unique experience.
"Ridley is beyond interesting because he sticks eight cameras on one shot at one time, does two or three takes and moves on straight away," he said.
Mr Smith, 33, has a filmography to rival most. Featuring in Peaky Blinders, Dunkirk, The Gentlemen, Wrath of Man and Zack Snyder's Justice League - to name a few.
He became a fully qualified stunt performer in 2015. Having started kickboxing when he was four, at the British Martial Arts Academy in Hackenthorpe, he then started training for the stunt register at 23, and got accepted at 25.
Now he is an award-winning performer. He was part of the Wonder Woman (2017) team, winning the Outstanding Action Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Motion Picture award at the 2018 Screen Actors Guild Awards. He was also part of the shared nomination for the Best Stunt Coordination award at the 2020 Online Film and Television Association awards for his part in 1917 (2019).
In order to get accredited, Mr Smith and other stunt hopefuls, must be able to display six skills across different categories - martial arts, trampolining, gymnastics, swimming, scuba diving and rock climbing.
He said the misconceptions around stunt performing were as prominent as ever.
"It’s like going to university - you do a course to get you there, but all paid for yourself. So you have to cover different categories, one might be water, one's falling, one's fighting and you’ve got other choices like horse riding, bikes, cars, whatever you want to specialise in.
“It’s much more of a challenge than just turning up and falling over. You never know what you’re going to do in each job, you can go from doing a massive fight scene to being set on fire."
With each job in the stunt world demanding more and more from your body Jon Clark, 52, owner of Evolution gym added: “With nutrition and training you can achieve anything, you’ve just got to understand it and adjust it. If you break any goal down, there’s a way to achieve it and that’s what we do here.”
Reflecting on his journey so far, Mr Smith said: “One of my firsts stunts I did, I went through a window but the glass was too big so they had to detonate it. As I went through I had to land with my hands down and ended up cutting my hands to shreds. I spent longer in hospital than on the job. It was for Casualty and I ended up in casualty.
"I was just buzzing to be doing a stunt, because you dream about it. You spend those two-to-three years training and all you want to be doing is be doing it and working on a film, doing something cool."
In order to work as a professional stunt performer you need to get accredited by organisations such as The British Stunt Registry. Working at every level, from gaming to independent film to the blockbuster film franchises, the BSR strides to make sure all of their members can meet the specific requirements for productions on any scale.
The criteria members need has changed in recent years to protect their performers, and Mr Smith said: “Since I got on the stunt registry it’s changed massively, so now you have to do a drama course, you need to do a health and safety course. So I think it’s improving in terms of both quality of work and also safety for us."
For years now calls have been heard for stunt performers to finally receive the recognition they deserve, through ways such as the Academy introducing a category for them.
Mr Smith believes that recognition is on the horizon and many major actors have voiced their support for the art form getting its own category, including Jackie Chan, Jason Statham and Scott Adkins.
“I do think it’s moving in the right direction, I don’t think it’s there yet as obviously it’s not fully recognised as a category in the Oscar’s or anything. But it is moving forwards and for years stunt performers have gone under appreciated. That’s by everyone, from directors to people just watching it."
“Transformed” Owls full of belief after encouraging performances under Danny Rohl
Sheffield Wednesday face in-form Blackburn Rovers at Hillsborough this weekend, hoping to build on an encouraging performance against league leaders Leicester City in midweek.
Danny Rohl's men nicked a point at the death of Wednesday's match and the Owls manager is hoping that the performance against the Foxes will help invigorate his struggling side.
Rohl said: "I think this is an important signal for the team that we can do this and this is about belief.”
Sheffield Wednesday and Blackburn Rovers have been fighting at opposite ends of Championship table this season with Wednesday 21 points behind the visitors. The Owls' record of seven points after 18 games has them sitting comfortably bottom of the league with a wretched record in front of goal of just nine goals scored, six worse than QPR who are 23rd in the goal scoring charts.
Rovers' season so far is much brighter as they sit two points off the playoff places in seventh with their attack mixing it with the best in the Championship, joint fourth alongside Leeds United.
Danny Rohl spoke highly of his opponents as he discussed the promising form they have been in recently.
Rohl said: "They are a very good team. They play very quick through the centre, a lot of rotation, a lot of movements, they've scored a lot of times.. They’ve had a good run in the last weeks and they deserve at the moment to be on top of the table as well."
Since Rohl arrived in S6 in October, Wednesday have picked up four points in seven games, more than the three points from 11 before he stepped foot in Hillsborough. The performances in the German's first ever managerial post have inspired fans to believe they can secure their status in the Championship this season.
Lifelong fan and season ticket holder Dan Knight believes that Rohl's work has revolutionised this Sheffield Wednesday team after the lack of style of play on show under former manager Xisco Munoz.
Mr Knight, 22, said: "I think Rohl has obviously transformed the team tactically, we've now got the ability and composure to play out from the back and actually create chances, although we still end up missing most of them.
"I think the fans have been encouraged since his first game to be honest, we're clearly in the hands of a very good coach."
Sheffield Vulcans RUFC: South Yorkshire’s first IGR team
Sheffield Vulcans, founded in August 2017, is South Yorkshire's first and only all-inclusive rugby club.
The club was initially set up as part of the Spirit of Rugby Campaign, which launched in 2016. This development initiative, implemented by World Rugby, aimed to mould rugby into a 'sport for all', with its key values being integrity, respect, solidarity, passion and discipline.
The scope of the proposals also celebrated themes of social inclusion, gender equity, peace building, health and education.
In hopes to redefine the the game of rugby, Sheffield Vulcans welcome players from all backgrounds and identities, celebrating diversity and providing a space where people can play with pride.
The club offers an inclusive environment, one where you can embrace your true self on and off the field. They praise themselves on community ethics and support, offering the space to find mentorship, build friendships and celebrate each other's individuality.
Homophobia is common within sports, meaning many people who are part of the LGBTQ+ community avoid participating. Nevertheless, Sheffield Vulcans assure that you will receive support and acceptance from the start.
As well as their active contribution to the LGBTQ+ community, they have also raised money for many local charities, supporting queer-led organisations and even hosting the Unofficial Pride After Party in 2019.
They also regularly post on their social channels, drawing attention to World Aids Day, Trans Day of Remembrance and Bisexual visibility week, staying committed to their values.
Sheffield Vulcans RUFC is a proud member of International Gay Rugby (IGR). IGR are a group that work across the world to keep the rugby community connected and supported.
In 2022, after England Rugby proposed the significant reduction in opportunities for transgender women, IGR addressed the transgender and non-binary community and said: "You will always be welcome to play rugby."
Sam Biscoe, 37, Chairperson of all-inclusive rugby club Colchester Kings, said: "Teams like ours have allowed access to sport in a way that traditional teams haven’t been able to.
By creating safe spaces for people to come and give rugby a try, it’s given opportunities to those who might have never engaged in sport before.
It’s important to allow a wide range of people access to team sports because it’s proven to increase fitness levels and reduce social isolation.
Being part of a group of people who are like-minded is important as it brings us closer together as a group and improves our game on the field. But not only that, we have found friendships and connections off the field too."
Colchester Kings was founded in June 2022 and has had huge success. They have over 100 members and have even competed in their first international tournament. The Colchester Kings Chairperson said: "We’re looking forward to heading to Rome in 2024 for the World Cup."
Legendary Golf Club Closes After 122 Years
Renishaw Park Golf Club, established in 1911, is set to cease trading after ongoing financial hardship.
Despite club members raising a substantial fee of £20,000, it was not enough to keep the club open during the upcoming winter months when trade is slow.
Renishaw Park Golf Club has also confirmed that multiple donators have come forward to offer further payment, but they will be declining.
The club released a statement to members that said: "We are respectfully declining the very kind offers made and will not be using your money to prop up the club for the next couple of months with no future beyond."
Despite the situation, Renishaw Park Golf Club have stated that they will be exploring options so that a club may continue to operate on location, "in whatever form that may be."
On Sunday 3 December at 4.30pm, the club is scheduled to shut its doors for the last time.
Sheffield company produce UK’s only barefoot running sandals
A Sheffield footwear company has become the first manufacturer in the UK to produce handmade barefoot running sandals.
Tom Harper and James Jones met in 2020 after competing in a six man, 100 mile relay race organised by Tony Riddle, a barefoot endurance athlete and author of the bestselling book Be More Human.
Both Mr Harper and Mr Jones shared a passion for being outdoors and collaborated together to start wildsole sandals alongside their wives Faye Harper and Naomi Jones before launching their footwear in April this year.
“That’s what the sandals are all about really, having an enhanced connection to nature but also to ourselves. There’s a disconnect between people’s feet and themselves and it’s really important that feet get more attention because they’re our foundation,” said Mr Harper, 46, from Penistone.
He was inspired to start wearing barefoot sandals after listening to the podcast ‘Feel Better, Live More with Rangan Chatterjee’, in which guest podcaster, Galahad Clark, an ancestor of the Clark Shoes’ founders, talked about the importance of barefoot shoes.
One of their main aims was to source and produce the materials for the sandal from Yorkshire.
Mr & Mrs Harper make the shoes in Penistone from sustainable, animal friendly materials and have worked hard to ensure they use plastic free shipping
The toe plug, which can be found at the bottom of the sole with the company’s logo, was developed in partnership with Sheffield Hallam University and the branding of the foot-bed and packaging of the product was developed by M. Shaw Engraving Ltd., a local company located on Hill Street.
Mr Harper also explained he was also inspired by Christopher McDougall’s non-fiction book, Born to Run, about the Tarahumara Indians tribe of Mexico’s Copper Canyons and their ability to run phenomenally long distances wearing barefoot sandals.
Mr Harper decided to create his own barefoot sandals when he discovered that there were no similar products in the UK leaving him no choice but to have a pair shipped from the US,
Now, after three years of developing wildsole sandals, Mr Harper ships his product across the country.
Prior to opening the business, Mr Harper and his wife ran L&S Fashion Ltd, a fast fashion retail company.
The branding for wildsole has other links to Sheffield too, as the font is a revival of one made by English type foundry Stephenson Blake at the end of the 19th century.
Mr Harper estimates he has made over 1,000 pair of sandals and they can take up to three to four hours to produce each pair.
The long-term plans of the company include franchising and increasing their UK market but they currently do not have any plans to ship internationally.