Barnsley and Lincoln prepare for tough Sincil Bank showdown
With just one point separating the teams, Barnsley and Lincoln go head-to-head at Sincil Bank tomorrow in their League One clash.
The Imps are hosting their first home fixture under new manager Michael Skubala, and are in a position to take Barnsley’s position in the play-offs.
The Tykes have two games in hand, but manager Neill Collins refused to be complacent on this matter.
He said: “It feels right now that you're one win away from everyone being really positive and one loss away from everyone being really negative.”
Barnsley’s away day follows a woeful week which saw them eliminated from the FA Cup after they fielded an ineligible player.
Moving forward from this, Barnsley are preparing for a tough fixture in the shadow of Lincoln’s majestic Cathedral.
Skipper Jordan Williams said: “We played [Lincoln] at home [last year] and we lost, so I think we know we're going to be in for a close encounter. But it's about how we step into the game and show what we want to do.”
Lincoln’s four-game winless streak ended midweek with a 1-0 victory over Leyton Orient, their seventh triumph of the season.
Their campaign has been varied, most notably for the sheer number of injuries they have suffered among their strikers, and Imps boss Michael Skubula remained cautious at his press conference.
He said: “Barnsley are going well, and you can see by their results in the league that it will be a tough game, so I expect them to come into this strong.”
The game kicks off at 3pm tomorrow at Sincil Bank.
“What is happening with my home?” locals awaiting answers as council proposes more demolitions in Gleadless Valley
Residents were shocked to receive a letter on Tuesday about new demolitions despite receiving no announcement on a timeline for already proposed housing plans.
Sally Pedley, chairperson of the Gleadless Valley Tenants and Residents Association, told us that communication hasn't been great. She wasn't aware of any action around the sites until being sent the letter by a resident, let alone any demolitions.
The 2 sites that have been proposed for demolition are former residential homes Paddock Hill and Castelayn. No news has been given on when work might begin on the housing work already identified in the Gleadless Valley Masterplan.
The Gleadless Valley Masterplan has been an ongoing process since 2017, and focuses on regenerating the area through shared and green spaces, housing, employment and skills and services and facilities.
Mrs Pedley said: "I had three young mums come to our general meeting and one of them asked, well, what's happening with my home? I don't want to spend over 600 pound on carpets to get a letter the week after telling me you're going to demolish it. People just don't know what to do."
Councillor for Gleadless Valley, Paul Turpin said: "It's been a long, slow and arduous process, 6 years in and and all we have is a booklet"
He explained that inflation in the construction industry has sent prices wild and that there isn't enough money in the initial budget to deliver what was intended.
These recent proposals are taking advantage of a fund to develop brownfield sites and there is a desire to use them to get the masterplan off the ground.
He told us that there is a strong desire to have council housing on the site but it might end up being social housing provided by a housing association due to the council's budget situation.
Cllr Turpin said: "A lot of time has been spent coming up with this really detailed plan that now is really up in the air so there's a lot of talk about prioritising what can be done first."
Sheffield Wire has reached out to the council for comment.
For more information from the Gleadless Valley Regeneration team visit: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1274820053224440
Sheffield charity shop volunteer, 82, wins Sense Volunteer of the Year award
A charity shop volunteer from Hillsborough received a coveted honour at the Sense Awards ceremony last night.
Owen Graham began volunteering at Sense in Hillsborough when it first opened four years ago, following the death of his wife.
Mr Graham has been described by his colleagues as the "backbone of the shop", often working seven days a week when the store is short staffed.
This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Sense Awards, celebrating the achievements of people with complex disabilities and those who work for the charity.
In his free time, Mr Graham takes children's toys and watches home from the shop to test and fit with batteries he buys himself.
According to Sense website, the Volunteer of the Year category celebrates the "tremendous commitment and dedication of Sense volunteers".
Accepting the award, Mr Own said: "Thank you for voting me Sense Volunteer of the Year. I'm a passionate supporter of Sense.
"I've worked in the optical profession all my life, so Sense's principles mean a lot to me. I hope this inspires others to volunteer at Sense Sheffield and give it the respect that it deserves.
"It is an incredible honour and I say thank you to everyone who voted."
Daisy Palmer, assistant manager of Sense Sheffield said: “We are incredibly proud of Owen, he is one of our hardest working volunteers, and he really is one in a million.
“He works so hard for the charity, which he is very passionate about, sometimes working seven days week at 82 years old!
Ms Palmer said that Mr Graham is a key holder of the Hillsborough store and customers often ask after him when he is enjoying a rare day off.
"He pretty much runs the show anyway and it is exhausting trying to fight him to get him to take a day off.
“Owen getting the award is amazing, and we are glad to see people appreciating him as much as we do.”
Rother Valley MP to switch on Limb family lights in bid to raise thousands for charity
A normal family house will become the centre of Christmas celebrations in Maltby this weekend with a spectacular festive display which hopes to raise £20,000 for Rotherham Hospice.
After losing her best friend to cancer, and battling the illness herself, Natalie Price, 39, and her fiancé Darren Limb, 40, started raising money for charities by decorating their house with hundreds of lights for the festive season.
Miss Price said: “I feel it's really important to me as you never know what's around the corner.
“I feel very fortunate and am grateful to be alive.”
The official light switch on takes place this Sunday at 68 Grange Lane, Maltby in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, and will be turned on every night from 26 November to 31 December between 4.30pm to 10pm.
All proceeds will go to Rotherham Hospice, a charity which cares for families experiencing terminal illness, both physically and emotionally.
In the last three years the family has raised £15,000 for selected charities and are hoping to smash their £20,000 target this year.
Along with the spectacular light show, there will be a DJ, a festive fireworks display, a chance for children to meet the Grinch and write letters to Santa.
Alexander Stafford, the Conservative MP for Rother Valley, will be joining the Limb family on Sunday and has been selected to be the one to switch the lights on.
The family said they have been overwhelmed with the community response they have received over the last years, gaining 32 sponsors to help fund the event dedicating money, time and support to the cause.
Future events raising money for the hospice after this switch-on include the Maltby brass band performing a Christmas concert on the 1 December and a Rotherham Hospice choir performance on 8 December.
To get the community in the Christmas spirit the grand finale will be a two-hour festive celebration with Christmas entertainers which will take place on 21 December.
Over the years, the display have included reindeers, donkeys, and the Maltby Miners Welfare Band. Miss Price and Mr Limb also creatively reply to letters to Santa written by the local children who put them in the post-box outside the Limb home.
One Facebook user said: “I loved taking my kids to look at them lights last year and I can't wait to do it again this year. They made a lot of kids so happy after a crappy year.”
If you are interested in donating to the Limbs' JustGiving page, visit Darren Limb is fundraising for Rotherham Hospice (justgiving.com)
‘Our Kids Our Lives’: The documentary by Ben Akers that tackles the next generation’s mental health
Over 200 school children take their own lives every year in the UK, with 25% of all deaths for 15-17 year olds being suicides.
Children and teenagers suffer emotional distress in the same way as adults do, with over 50% of mental health issues presenting by the age of 14.
However, they often struggle to know whether their feelings are normal or how to access help to manage them.
‘Our Kids Our Lives’ comes from award winning filmmaker Ben Akers, the man behind ‘Steve’ and co-founder of Talk Club.
The documentary premiered at the second installation of SHOUT LONDON, The Ashford Place Mental Health Film & Arts Festival, which ran between October 10 and 11.
In the feature length documentary, Ben speaks to children who suffer from mental health issues, as well as parents and experts all to help kids strengthen their mental fitness and prepare them for the world.
He seeks answers to what we can do as peers, parents and individuals to help the next generation suffering from mental illness in our expanding digital world.
While it is clear that there have been initiatives to prioritise the emotional health and mental wellbeing of our younger generation - in particular young people in schools - most are still reluctant to talk about suicide prevention.
Matt Dickinson, 25, Further Education lecturer at Future Lions Academy, Leicester, said: “the way that mental health is implemented within the curriculum can come across very forced at times and it often gets students to over-think and puts thoughts into their heads that wouldn’t normally be there."
The stigma, avoidance and regular misconceptions around suicide mean people often avoid discussing it in their everyday lives.
Due to this silence, there isn't enough action being taken to make suicide prevention training a priority for those who work with children and young people.
Laura Fox, 22, a science teacher at Sir Thomas Wharton Academy, Doncaster, says that we should: “try to be teaching mental awareness from as young an age as possible, not just teaching how to look after your health but also teaching how to regulate your emotions."
Children and young people spend a large part of their lives at school and for those that come from a problem household, this is the only safe place available to them.
With one in four school children self-harming, teachers and school staff are well-positioned to recognise the signs that a student might be at risk of suicide and to respond effectively.
Laura added: "We all have a duty of care to get to know students and report anything that doesn’t seem right", but despite this, a significant number of people within these environments are unsure of what to do or to say.
July 2021 saw highest ever number of children and young people in contact with mental health services.
With a constantly increasing amount of students attempting to take their own lives, teachers are frightened that they may only make things worse by talking to their pupils about suicide as 7% of 17-year-olds have attempted suicide.
There is currently very little guidance for schools and colleges on how to prevent suicide and support those affected by it.
Matt says that a gradual process in schools can work if done right, saying: “The traffic light process is good for younger age groups. However, with the curriculum becoming harder as the students get older the traffic light system might not benefit them as much."
Many teachers and school staff do not feel equipped to support students at risk. This can be down to time restraints and a lack of resources.
In a survey commissioned by PAPYRUS, conducted in 2017, the results found that on average 11% of teachers said a student shares suicidal thoughts with them once a term or more.
Despite this percentage clearly showing students are often comfortable enough to speak to teachers, the survey also identified a real need for additional support and further training in the sector.
Opinions from different teachers vary but all agree that mental health awareness should be taught as a key part of school curriculums.
Some say it should be implemented at the start of secondary school, while others call for it much sooner. Laura stated: “Mental health can affect anyone at any age, teaching the kids self-regulation and being able to regulate their emotions should come from as soon as they are in primary school."
During the documentary Ben speaks with Nick Bennett, the co-founder and co-CEO of Fika, a training and learning platform revolving entirely around mental fitness.
By taking the psychology around mental health and transforming it with the use of data and technology into a platform -available to everyone via the app store - they have created a training framework based around seven skills: stress management, focus, positivity, confidence, connection, motivation and meaning.
They argue the possibility of having their seven skills embedded in school curriculums just like maths and English, and as a result, giving children dedicated time to help look after their own wellbeing and grow as people.
Ben and his team are planning on doing nationwide screenings of their documentary, with the target audience being PTA meetings, teachers and parents.
A GoFundMe is currently on-going as they hope to raise funds for their tour.
Melanie Hall, Head of service primary and community mental health, Primary Care Sheffield added: "I feel hopeful that young people will gain a clear and confident understanding about mental health. I hope it brings compassion for those who have mental health challenges and a feeling of optimism that a person can overcome mental ill health and grow through their recovery."
If you have been affected by anything similar to the topics of this article, then please seek help to an organisation local to you. Such as Talk Club, Mind and Samaritans.
Plus-sized drag star to perform at Leadmill
Dragrace UK winner Lawrence Chaney will perform her show in Leadmill this Tuesday.
The show called “Overweight and Over It” is a call to body-positivity, self-appreciation and self-confidence.
Through the show, Lawrence will discuss life as a queer, plus-sized person by showing unknown aspects and battling stigma.
Jephthah Ekogiawe, LGBT+ Officer at the Students Union of Sheffield said: “ Body image is something many students and members of the LGBTQ+ community struggle with and I think students seeing the show sends the right message that their success does not depend on the “body type” they have.”
Often called an “icon”, Lawrence Chaney denounces this trend of people body shaming others without even realising it.
This show can help students to understand how others can feel, and can help themselves to feel more confident and comfortable with their sexual identity and physical appearance.
Sheffield FC and Eagles RLC Join For Stadium Move
For the first time in over 20 years Sheffield FC are returning to the city with a brand new state of the art stadium.
The oldest football club in the country will share the site with Sheffield Eagles RLC.
The proposed stadium, which is aiming to be ready for autumn 2025, boasts a capacity of 5,000 and will be located in Meadowhead, on the same site as the former Sheffield Transport Sports Club. The proposal also includes a plan to include a club museum for Sheffield FC.
Richard Tims, Sheffield FC's chairman, said: “This is about being proud of the region’s sporting heritage and making it a hub for sporting excellence and community engagement in Sheffield and the South Yorkshire region."
Sheffield FC have been forced to postpone matches due to bad weather at their current ground in Dronfield, including a game yesterday, against Ashington AFC, following a waterlogged pitch.
Fan, Philip Staton, 70, of High Street, said: “The ground is always flooded. You wouldn't believe the amount of games that are called off."
The proposal for the new Home Of Football Stadium features artificial turf, which would make the pitch resistant to wet weather conditions.
The current ground is just south of Sheffield’s county border with Derbyshire.
Sheffield FC fan and club historian, Andrew Dixon, highlighted the importance of bringing the club north into Meadowhead, and back to the city.
He said: “Crucially, we will be back in Sheffield. I love Dronfield but it doesn't feel right for Sheffield Football Club to be playing in Derbyshire.”
Mr Dixon also compared the similarities between this stadium switch and a previous one made by the club, leaving their old site on East Bank Road.
“For well over a century, the club led a nomadic existence, playing at several grounds. So securing our own home was essential to the survival of the world's oldest club and I hope that the next move will see some success on the pitch. We're definitely due some after the last few years,” he said.
Sheffield Eagles will celebrate their 40th anniversary in 2024 which will coincide with the new stadium project.
The Eagles currently play in the Rugby League Championship, the tier below The Super League, which is the pinnacle of professional Rugby League and a division they haven't played in since 1999.
“There will be more facilities, a gym for players, an indoor supporters club and bar, the ground will be developed and it’ll allow us to push for the Super League. For us, there are no negatives. We’re beyond excited. It's something we've wanted for a very long time,” said Eagles fans, Kate Peat, 54 and her husband, Alan, 52.
Despite the plans for the Meadowhead site exciting some fans, others are worried about the travelling implications.
Mark Webster, 41, of Ellenbro Road, who believes having a ‘Super League standard’ stadium is essential, said: “There’s one negative and it's a strong one. The lack of public transport links to Meadowhead.
"As a non-motorist, it's going to be difficult to get home after games. It's ideal for motorists, and there are buses from the city centre, but they’re not very frequent, but I'm sure this is something the developers will address."
Sheffield FC and Sheffield Eagles have announced that full planning permission will be submitted early next year.
They have also invited the public to two meetings in which they will discuss the plans in more detail. The first on Tuesday, 28 November, and the second on Wednesday, 6 December: IMPORTANT: PUBLIC CONSULTATION EVENTS | Sheffield FC
Billy Root gives first-class edge to Fans World Cup
Sheffield’s own Billy Root delighted cricket badgers from across the world this week after joining them at the Barmy Army Fans World Cup in Sri Lanka.
First-class cricketer, Root, who is the brother of former England Test captain, Joe, represented the Barmy Army’s own team at the tournament, which took place on 20 and 21 November.
They finished as runners-up, losing by 23 runs to Pakistan in the final.
Barmy Army media manager, Chuck Adolphy, said the players revelled in competing alongside and against a cricketer of Root’s calibre.
He said: “Billy really got stuck into the tournament, which was great to see. It was like having a small dust of stardom and you very much felt that when he got out on the pitch.”
The cricketer has hit seven first-class centuries representing Nottinghamshire and Glamorgan after following his brother, Joe, through the ranks at Rotherham Town and Sheffield Collegiate.
“There were a few jokes thrown around seeing a Root dominate on Galle Fort,” said Mr Adolphy.
The jokes referenced Joe’s form on England’s last tour of Sri Lanka in 2021 when he hit over 400 runs across two matches at Galle International Stadium, including a double-century. All the matches played this week were held at the ground.
The Barmy Army have become well-known at cricket grounds across the world after nearly 30 years of loud and unconditional support for England.
They currently have over 6000 paying members along with their own travel agency known as Barmy Travel. The company will be accommodating about 200 people to the Caribbean next month, with England set to tour the West Indies.
Seven teams from six nations took part in the second edition of the Barmy Army Fans World Cup this week. Sri Lanka cricket legend Mahela Jayawardene was on hand to present the winner’s trophy at the end of it.
Mr Adolphy said: “Unfortunately cricket in Sri Lanka has recently been in strife, so a lot of it has been about putting cricket back on the map there.”
The country were recently suspended as members of the International Cricket Council and finished ninth at the Cricket World Cup in India.
The Barmy Army are hoping Root’s starring role at the recent tournament, will allow the Fans World Cup to grow in the future.
“The main takeaway this week is there’s something there that really brings people together,” said Mr Adolphy.
“We’ve set a high bar this week but we’ll keep pushing to make it a bigger and better event.”
New Sheffield river exhibition makes a splash
A new multi-media exhibition celebrating Sheffield's rivers has opened today at Weston Park Museum.
City of Rivers explores how waterways have shaped Sheffield's history and landscape, drawing on artwork, natural history, poetry, music and personal testimonies.
Lucy Cooper, Exhibitions Curator at Sheffield Museums, said: “Sheffield’s rivers are the heartbeat of the city, impacting everything from nature and wildlife to our work and hobbies.
"We’ve had a great response from individuals and groups with contemporary content for the exhibition, including art, photos and objects. It’s been fantastic to bring these together with works from historic collections to celebrate all aspects of the city’s waterways.”
The exhibition boasts over 300 objects and artefacts ranging from paintings and sculptures to taxidermy and maps. It covers the multiple ways in which rivers have contributed to life in Sheffield throughout the past and into the current day.
Dominic Cisalowicz, Learning Deliverer at Sheffield Museum Trust, said: “It’s full of great detail about the rivers of Sheffield. They’re so important to the city.
"I really enjoyed looking at the maps and seeing how Sheffield has grown over the years and how the rivers have shaped that.
"It’s interactive, which is good for all age groups who visit it. The animal side is really good because I don’t think people actually realise how much wildlife there is in Sheffield sometimes."
So far, early visitors to the museum have been enjoying the wide range of material on offer.
Lydia Yang, MA Education student at the University of Sheffield, said: “I think it’s very interesting and very helpful for young people to know the human and natural history of Sheffield.”
The exhibition has been developed with a wide range of city and community contributors, including Sheffield and Rotherham Wildlife Trust, Friends of the Porter Valley, Sheaf & Porter Rivers Trust, Shirebrook Valley Heritage Group, and South Yorkshire Industrial History Society.
Patricia Hall, a retired hairstylist, said: “It’s very interesting and it gives you an insight into what’s happening to our rivers. There’s a lot of pollution but they’re trying to do a lot of work to bring wildlife back into focus, so it’s a good thing and the more people that share it the better.”
The exhibition will run until 3 November 2024 and is free to enjoy.
Pop-up barbershop aims to bridge the gap between Sheffield’s black community and students
Local barbershops will be giving free haircuts for students and members of the community in Sheffield SU to raise awareness for black men's mental health.
The 'In the Cut' event aims to raise awareness for black men's mental health and the role of the black barbershop as a healing space, and will be held on the 28th November from 11am-3pm.
The atmosphere of a black barbershop will be recreated with 3 local barbers from 'Fades' and 'Top Chopper Hair Studio' offering free haircuts and music and games.
Organiser Macole Lannaman, 27, said: "We’re trying to bridge the gap between black students of the University of Sheffield and the black community of Sheffield.
"Black men are sometimes not as receptive to going to see therapists and psychiatrists and the barbershop is a space where they can seek healing from situations at home, it is an abolitionist approach to healing."
He said because many black students who have moved to Sheffield do not know the black community and do not know where to find barbers and hairdressers. He hopes this event will connect them.
Nazeer Oyeleye, 21, is a civil engineering student at the university who used to travel for 40 minutes by bus to get his hair cut because he didn't know of any local barbers.
He said: "Every time I get a haircut from the barbers and I like the look of it it makes me feel like a new person, I enjoy going out with my hair and showing off.
"A lot of other people I know are very social with their barbers."
Back at his home in London, Mr Oyeleye said he, his dad and brother have always all gone to the same barber and for his entire first year at university he would wait until the holidays to travel home and have his haircut.
The event coincides with men's mental health month and is in partnership with SACHMA, a Sheffield based charity offering health and social care services to residents.
SACHMA will have a stall sharing the services they offer for the black community and inviting eventgoers to discuss mental health.
They have their own Black Barbers Project working with barbers to teach them about early mental wellbeing intervention and support them in spotting the signs of men who may not be coping as well as they could.
Westways Primary schoolchildren appeal to drivers for safer parking
Schoolchildren from Westways Primary School in Crookes have tested a new parking initiative urging motorists to make safer parking decisions, particularly within school areas.
The scheme was rolled out by the South West Local Area Committee, following the success of a previous initiative within the South East of Sheffield.
The children from years 5 and 6 created polite parking notices which both thanked drivers who parked correctly and also urged those who parked incorrectly to make more considerate choices in the future.
Parking notices read: "Please be aware that if you park here I might get hurt and other cars might crash because we can't see behind your car."
Michelle Dwaine, who organised the campaign, said that the scheme was aimed at ensuring that schoolchildren feel safe and secure.
Reflecting upon the initiative, Cllr Minesh Parekh said: "It's about engaging with school students at an early age, teaching them about road safety and what safe parking looks like, whilst also trying to change the behaviours of drivers and motorists."
This is the next step in a campaign over the last year and a half to reduce traffic surrounding Westways Primary School, which had involved closing the road up to the school to traffic during peak school times.
Cllr Parekh said that though closing the road had combatted traffic to an extent, it was important to now attempt to change the behaviours of motorists.
He said: " It is really great to do [the campaign] on a school street because it reminds people that here of all places you should be considerate of your parking and think about the people that have to use this street, particularly children who can't see over cars.
"I do think that rather than a traffic warden walking around telling people you shouldn't park there, this is more impactful and people will remember much more long-term school children coming round telling you that you are making our street unsafe."
The scheme is hoped to be conducted on a larger scale in schools throughout the city and it is anticipated to be trialled again within Ecclesall in January.
“It’s not theft, it’s abduction” – charity owner demands stricter laws on stolen pets
Beauty's Legacy has earned the backing of celebrities and has been at the forefront of the fight against pet abduction, an issue that has torn apart families.
The birth of Beauty's Legacy can be traced back to Lisa Dean and the disappearance of Beauty, her beloved cat, in April 2016. Frantically searching the streets, Lisa mobilised a community effort, with 41 people joining the cause in less than a week.
After offering a £150 reward, she received a call from someone who had her cat. Hours after bringing her home, she tragically passed away.
This experience fuelled her determination to help others facing similar crises. The charity has since gained a celebrity following, with Chris Packham, now patron, shedding light on the issue through a Sky documentary. Claire Balding has praised her "determination, bravery and commitment to the cause."
According to Lisa, pet abduction is not just theft; it's a crime that inflicts severe financial, physical, and emotional shock on the victims.
She said: “There is no measure for the emotional impact it can have on a person, and you cannot just, simply, replace an animal which you have an attachment to in the same way you can replace a personal belonging.
"The law needs to change - low risk, high profit," says Lisa, pointing out the alarming fact that, despite the emotional devastation caused by pet theft, there has been only one prosecution.
Criminals can make up to £2,000 per stolen puppy, making it an attractive venture for those involved in crime rings.
The most common route for dog trafficking is the A1, making it much harder to track down and recover them. Lisa advises people to widen their search area as soon as possible.
During the lockdown in 2020, crime rings shifted their focus from traditional criminal activities to dog theft, capitalising on the increased demand for pets.
In a 2021 study, Trading Standard Scotland reported that the illegal puppy farming across Scotland alone is estimated to be £13m.
Lisa states, "It's not theft, it's abduction. You can't measure worth, value, or impact."
Beauty's Legacy has been recognised for its outstanding efforts in combating pet abduction, earning Lisa the Special Recognition Award at the Animal Star Awards.
As Lisa and hundreds of volunteers continue their fight, they hope to bring about legislative changes to protect the beloved pets that bring immeasurable joy to countless families.
Appeal for missing pony in Grenoside, Sheffield.
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