Breaking News: Sheffield City Council approves SEND funding
Sheffield City Council has approved funding of £10.34m for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) resources this afternoon.
Today the government set out plans for major changes to the SEND system, planning to spend £4bn in mainstream schools across the country over the next three years. The programme aims to provide support for special needs children in schools, rather than private equity backed schools.
Strategic Commissioning Manager at Sheffield City Council, Matthew Peers, said : "There is a clear consensus this is a genuine opportunity to improve our approach.
"We need to make sure we spend the money wisely, with consistency in quality of practice."
Plans have already been scrapped for two specialist free schools in Sheffield, as the city aims to reform its Education Care plans.
Cllr Dawn Dale said : "Children shouldn't have to be transported across the city to feel included."
However, other councillors questioned whether the funding of £10m was sufficient. Cllr Angela Argenzio said : "While I support the overarching philosophy I have doubts about resources and whether it is enough."
Council to decide on major funding for SEND provision across the city - Sheffield Wire
South Yorkshire charities tackle sleep depravation for abuse survivors
A new initiative to help domestic abuse survivors with their sleep has been launched in South Yorkshire.
The project, led by Resolute Women’s Support Services and The Sleep Charity, will start on April 1 with the aim of rolling out nationally in the future.
Vicki Beevers, CEO of The Sleep Charity, said: "I have listened to the lived experience of many survivors, and sleep issues have a major impact on their lives."
The two charities have opened a survey to investigate the broader impact of abuse, examining how trauma prevents survivors from getting valuable rest.
The survey asks how sleeping in the room where abuse took place, and hypervigilance leads to sleep deprivation for survivors, whilst also targeting ways to feel calmer during the night and manage nightmares.
"Sleep is the scaffolding that can hold everything together," said Ms Beevers. "We want to understand survivors’ individual situations so that we can make the work that we do as impactful as possible. This really is an opportunity to co-produce and design information to help others at scale."
A study at the University of Worcester found that sleep deprivation is a commonly used and powerful method of coercion and control in abusive relationships, leading to short-term impacts on physical and mental health.
Deborah Jones, CEO of Resolute in Barnsley, said: "I have lived experience. Knowing what I went through as a victim and a survivor, not getting any sleep, it had a massive impact on me being able to carry out my day-to-day tasks.
"When you're going through the criminal justice system, you are faced with a lot of questions, a lot of paperwork and when you don't have that sleep, it adds that brain fog. More often than not, a lot of women we support, they don't get any sleep whatsoever."
Resolute and The Sleep Charity will co-produce a training package for domestic abuse volunteers across South Yorkshire based on their survey responses, which plans to incorporate as many survivors’ voices as possible.
The Office of National Statistics (ONS) estimated that 2.2 million women faced domestic abuse in 2025, with just over 41,000 offenders convicted.
If you, or anybody you know, has been affected by the issues raised in this article, please see the link below.
Locals calling out careless actions to fix Sheffield potholes
Sheffield residents are calling out the lack of action from contractors and authority responsible for fixing potholes.
The Sheffield City Council and Amey, the private contractor which signed a 25-year contract to maintain the roads of Sheffield, are facing mounting pressures with local complaints flying in about the poor treatment of potholes.
Sheffield Heeley's MP Louise Haigh responded on Facebook reassuring that she had written to Amey to raise concern about the road conditions.
She said Amey planned to double their repair capacity, bring in additional teams and use more resilient materials, with the most urgent repairs prioritised within 24 hours.
While it seems like actions have been taken, residents do not believe this is adequate.
Commenting under Louise Haigh MP's Facebook post, user John Lee said: "Repairs have been carried out recently in and around Hillsborough, Wadsley, Walkley and Crookes. Sadly the money has been wasted as they have cold filled the potholes without digging out or bitumen sealing the edges.
"In some cases the repairs have lasted less than a couple of days, so now we have the same holes with a half a ton of loose cold fill all over the road."
Many others stated that they had seen contractors simply dumping tarmac down the road and stomping down with boots.
User Dave Murphy said: "A few weeks ago I saw contractors working on the tram tracks near Manor top. One worker put a shovel full of tarmac in a hole, then tamped it down with his boot. Sadly I didn’t get the chance to film it!"
People are criticising the governing body for ignoring repair requests and the poor management of the mobile app FixMyStreet.
User Planner 1 said on Sheffield Forum: "Some potholes near where I live were reported last summer and were marked out on street for repair, but it never happened.
"All potholes I’ve reported before (no matter how deep) were marked out within a week or two and fixed quickly after. The service seems to have deteriorated markedly over the last few months."
In the East Local Area Committee Meeting on December 2, 2025, Councillor Elle Dodd stated that FixMyStreet can be used to report potholes, but she also mentioned that the council did not control the app although the council do receive the complaints via the app.
Users have started to question whether the lack of connectivity between the councils and the app may have led to the deterioration of the service.
Photo Credit: Ibby Ullah/Facebook
Is derby day victory a springboard for Blades?
A derby win of any kind is a good day for any football fan. But Sheffield United's steel-city derby win on Sunday was particularly special.
The Blades' 2-1 win at Bramall Lane meant they were not only able to relegate arch-rivals Sheffield Wednesday to League One, but also able to push themselves to within six-points of the play-off spots.
One United fan said: "It's the biggest game of the season, it were like a cup final at the end.
"To relegate your biggest rivals, what more could you want."
After losing their first six league games of the season, many Blades fans would have been forgiven for thinking that they too would be facing the drop down to the third division.
But after four wins in their last six, the Blades can set their sights on an immediate return to the Premier League.
Despite reducing the gap to six points, due to the highly competitive nature of the Championship the Blades still sit in 14th place.
Another fan said: "It's gonna be tough, their are a lot of teams above us and they are all fighting for that sixth place.
"But fingers crossed it could be our season. Although I'm not holding out too much hope."
If United are going to make a late push for promotion, they will want to sort out their recent disciplinary record.
Chris Wilders' men lead the division in red cards with four and Kalvin Philips' in Sunday's derby gave a clear example of how important keeping 11 men on the pitch will be going into the final ten games of the season.
"When it were 11 against 11 we absolutely murdered Wednesday.
"But we had that player sent off five minutes into the second half and it looked nip and tuck for a while."
Manager Chris Wilder has, however, rejected the idea that his team has a disciplinary issue.
"These things happen, I don't think we are a reckless team.
"We had a couple of boys there that mistimed their challenges and they have paid the price."
“I think we could be doing a lot better to tell you the truth”: Are young people in Sheffield really more interested in the Catholic Church than ever?
Despite rising numbers of young people joining the Catholic Church, a Sheffield priest still believes more can be done.
With a Catholic population of 63,000 people according to The Diocese of Hallam, and a student population of over 60,000, Sheffield has to strike balance between the traditional Catholic community in the city and young people moving towards the faith.
Father Paddy Walsh, who spent 24 years at St Vincent's Catholic Church in Crookes before retiring to St Marie's Cathedral said that the news of more young people joining and staying within the faith was obvious from the attendance of masses in the city centre.
Though he feels as though young people in the area are well provided for through youth work, he admitted that when it comes to attracting and keeping young people interested in the church "I think we could be doing a lot better to tell you the truth".
A recent study suggests that Catholicism has become more and more popular throughout young people in Britain, especially amongst men aged between 18 and 34. However in Sheffield, where there is an increasingly young population and two large universities, it would appear that the realities of this are far more complex.
Father Walsh said: "There are quite a number of students and young people coming to the masses here" and that of the 800 or 900 attendees over a weekend a "Fair sprinkling of them are students".
He also mentioned how youth work and mission hubs around the city help students to form a community and maintain their faith in a way that serves their busy and modern lives, including when they move away from home and come to university.
In terms of the Easter period, he agreed that Easter masses are usually more well attended that regular Sunday masses and that again, young people were regular attendees.
Easter, traditionally a period of Christian celebration and reflection on the death and resurrection of Christ has more recently become a modern event where families get together for a mid-term break and chocolate eggs.
However, despite members of the clergy noting this rising participation, some young people who grew up in the faith are finding it harder to resonate with the Church as they gather different life experience and separate themselves from their Catholic education.
Ciaran Eley, 22, a student at Sheffield Hallam University said that he feels that getting older made him realise that the Catholic church was no longer in alignment with his personal views.
Mr Eley was baptised Catholic and attended Catholic education until he was 18, "It was just something I accepted was part of my life, I didn't really question it."
"Now I say I feel completely separate from it, it doesn't really form part of my identity anymore, not even culturally."
He expressed how he felt young people no longer felt a connection with the church due to its stance on abortion, contraception and LGBT rights but admitted that in order to connect in this way "I honestly think they would have to contradict the doctrine itself".
When it comes to celebrating Easter, Mr Eley said that his celebrations these days have nothing to do with the resurrection of Christ and more to do with chocolate eggs and Easter lunch with family.
Such conversations highlight the complexity of Catholicism and the barriers young people face when they reflect on the role religion plays in their lives.
Although some young people feel increasingly alienated from their faith, Sheffield does have an active youth mission at St Vincent's and a vibrant university society membership.
Micah Walukiewicage, a student at the University of Sheffield and member of the Sheffield Catholic Society said that there had been a real push and drive over the last two years for people engaging with the Church when they come to university.
The Sheffield Catholic Society works from St Vincent's Mission Hub and talked about how a social media presence appealed to those wishing to join the society and become involved in the events.
Mr Walukiewicage said that the tradition and unchanging nature of the church was something that students moving to University often found comfort in.
He said: "The Church nowadays is a pillar for lots of people, the landscape is changing but the Church stands on its message."
The Mission Hub offers a masses and talks lead by the parish priest but students also prepare meals and organise trips in order to create a community feel and "Provide a home from home whilst at University."
The Hub also reported that over the Easter and Lenten periods people were more likely to come and ask to be involved and watch a mass service, particularly on occasions such as Ash Wednesday.
Mr Walukiewicage admitted that social problems such as abortion and LGBT rights could push people away from the Church but said how members of the congregation can hold their own views yet still ultimately come under the umbrella of the Church doctrine.
He said that the Church and the hub itself aims to be a welcoming place for people to come together.
Whether or not people in Sheffield see Easter as a religious, cultural, or simply secular event, communities around the city are preparing for events around the period bringing families and people of all ages and walks of life together.
Local blues legend honoured with new album
A blues promoter, graphic designer, and "Sheffield Legend" has been commemorated with a new compilation album released this week.
Featuring 35 artists, A Taste of Honey will pay tribute to Martin Bedford, who spent his life promoting local blues artists through Honey Bee Blues Club, creating posters that acted as a "badge of honour to artists he had promoted".
Pat Fulgoni, who produced the album and was himself promoted by Mr Bedford, told the Wire that "once we put the word out there were a lot of bands that wanted to be on it".
All profits from the album will go towards the Sarah Nulty Power of Music Foundation, a charity set up in memory of the late Festival Director of Tramlines, who championed emerging talent in the music industry.
The Sarah Nulty Power of Music Foundation supports socially and economically disadvantaged people across Sheffield to develop their musical talents.
Fulgoni recalled conversations he had with Bedford about a compilation album that could tie the bands Bedford had promoted together.
Following Bedford's passing in November 2023, Fulgoni discussed the idea with Honey bee Blues Club and many bands were eager to feature on the album.
Bedford was important in founding the Leadmill, the legendary Sheffield music venue, creating posters for their events for 12 years, and later founded the Honey Bee Blues Club in 2014 to promote Blues and Americana artists around Sheffield and the UK.
He also built connections with Austin, Texas which will be on show in A Taste of Honey, as several American acts have contributed, including Kelley Swindall, Darnell Cole and the Vibe, and Chris Murphy.
Bedford's posters became famous around Sheffield, with his friend Carl Ara saying: "It's a tragedy that young, up-and-coming bands will never have the privilege of having their name emblazoned on a Martin Bedford poster, a piece of Sheffield's cultural history."
A Taste of Honey was launched on Spotify earlier this week on 21 February, and physical copies of the double CD will be available on Bandcamp from 28 February, the same day the album will be launched on iTunes.
The album is available at this link: https://honeybeebluesclub.bandcamp.com/album/a-taste-of-honey-martin-bedford-tribute
Non-League underdogs eye up county cup trophy lift
A non-league team will come up against the under 21's side of a professional outfit in the semi-final of the Sheffield and Hallamshire County Men's Senior Cup.
Step six side Worsbrough Bridge will play Barnsley under 21's in the coming weeks, as they eye up a possible trophy lift.
The non-league outfit comes into the game with four successive wins, with Barnsley coming into the fixture after winning two games on the spin.
Chairman Mark Booth cannot fault the players performance and determination this season, as they look to end their 36 year stay in the Northern Counties East League Division One (NCEL D1).
Mr Booth said: "They are undoubtably the best squad of players at my time at the football club, they have a desire to win unlike any set of players I have been connected to, and the dressing room is rock solid.
"They are a pleasure to be around and everyone of them plays for the club, no prima donnas or mercenaries just a group of mates that want to win for each other and for the club and it's supporters."
As well as the players, manager Lee Morris has had an undeniable impact on their ever-increasing form, and for Mr Booth there is no one better placed to take the team to the top.
He said: "Without doubt we have the most underrated management team in the league, what they have done over the last 2 seasons with arguably one of the smallest budgets in the league is outstanding."
There is a large buzz around the club, however coming up against a professional side's academy is no easy task, and Mr Booth is remaining realistic yet hopeful as he said: "We are underdogs, but to be in with a shot at reaching a final of a major cup competition, one of the oldest in the world is something we are proud of."
Awaiting them in the final is either Rossington Main, who are in a relegation battle in the league above the Briggers, or Worksop Town, who have won the cup in the last two seasons, as well as three out of the last four.
The second semi-final will not be played for another month, so the Briggers or Barnsley will have a lengthy wait to find our their opposition.
Mr Booth said: "We have a 1 in 4 chance of the lifting the trophy and I know that the players will be giving it absolutely everything."
Worsbrough Bridge sit third in the NCEL D1, and are well placed to mount a promotion push toward the back end of the season.
A cup triumph and a promotion would be a season for a history books however Mr Booth says they are not getting "Carried away just yet, we have put ourselves in a position to have a crack at the play off's and on the day, we know anything can happen."
A huge part of non-league football and the success of the Bridge is the loyal fans that show up week in and week out, and Mr Booth has sent a plea to fans to get behind them in the closing stages.
He said: "With 10 league games (possibly more if we reach the play offs) and a Semi Final of the Cup to look forward I would just ask that the fans continue to encourage the players, cheer them and support them, even on days when it is not going how we want it, as they can play a massive part in the coming weeks.
"Remember we dare to dream."
Steelers set to face off against Panthers for a spot in the Challenge Cup Final
The second leg of the Challenge Cup-Semi Final is to be played on Wednesday, and the winner will go on the play Coventry Blaze in the final.
Sheffield Steelers must turn the tide against Nottingham Panthers on Wednesday, after losing 3-0 at the Motorpoint Arena last week, a discrepancy the team need to regain.
Going into last weeks game, Steelers may have been over confident after being on an impressive run of 7 out of 8 wins, ultimately leading to carelessness which the Panthers were able to capitalise on.
After being reinstated for the match against the Panthers, Matthew Greenfield has certainly proved to be integral to the teams defence.
Though Greenfield produced several high quality stops throughout the game against the Panthers last week, which prevented a greater loss, the team were unable to get past Kevin Carr who saved 100% of shots.
They may have managed to turn things back around going into the vital fixture after last nights 6-3 win against Guildford Flames proving to head coach Aaron Fox they are 'ready for the fight ahead.'
Man of the Match, Stephen Harper fed off the home crowds energy to score 2 goals for Steelers.
Fox said to the BBC ahead of Wednesdays match: "We really can't afford to give much up."
The head coach is aware that the game will be an "uphill battle", as they look to put up a fight against the Panthers, with Fox appealing for full support from the fans
He said: "Anything is possible when we get our home crowd behind us."
Fans will have their eyes on the teams standouts from recent games, hoping that the defence can regain the control they lost in the first leg of semi-finals.
Featured Image courtesy of Sheffield Steelers on X
Breaking news: Post-mortem ‘inconclusive’ of Sheffield teenagers
Initial post-mortem examinations for a teenage couple found dead at an East Yorkshire holiday park were “inconclusive”, police have said.
Cherish Bean, 15, and Ethan Slater, 17, were discovered at Little Eden Holiday Park, near Bridlington, on Wednesday.
Humberside Police said further testing is required to determine how the pair died, but carbon monoxide poisoning was still a “primary line of enquiry”.
Three men who were arrested on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter have been bailed.
Click here to read the full story.
More than a degree: The University of Sheffield SU celebrates its 120th anniversary
As the University of Sheffield Student Union turns 120, students, alumni and staff members look back at the rich history of our institution and reminisce about their own experiences.
Sarah Broadhurst is the curator for the Western Bank exhibition 'More Than a Degree: 120 Years of Life at the Students' Union.'
She has been part of the University of Sheffield for five years, working as an archivist and records manager, in a team that looks after the university archive collection.
Opened a couple of weeks ago and running until June, the exhibition is divided in four parts to encapsulate the main components of the life of a University of Sheffield student.
The first part on display is called 'daily life' showing things students do on a day to day basis. It features a number of materials donated by alumni, such as an union blazer, with white and sky-blue stripes and the university stem, the 1940s equivalent to present-day university hoodie.
Ms Broadhurst spoke about the second section of the exhibition called 'politics and protest'.
She said: "There’s a perception of students being very political.
"The city of Sheffield and the union has a really rich history of being involved in politics and protests."
The displays showcase a number of banners by SU presidential candidates, such as the 'join the daisy chain' campaign banner from 2024, made by then SU president Daisy Watson-Rumbold.
It also includes more humorous banners such as Justin's, stating 'I heart skibidi rizz bombs' in black bold letters over a white sheet.
Whether campaigns were run with well-thought out projects or based on gaining the approval of students through pop-culture, Ms Broadhurst said it's proof that "students didn't just lie down and let it happen they expressed themselves".
The third portion of the exhibition is called 'community'. It is a blend of old and new, showcasing a display solely dedicated to mountaineering, a sport Sheffield is still known for.
It also features a copy of the 1950s 'Twikker' university magazine, which used to tell Sheffield students about university fundraising parties known as 'hops'.
Ms Broadhurst said: "Through protest or occupation or whatever it might, there is a kind of agency in Sheffield that we do have. There are always going to be bad things happening but we can get together as a community".
The last section of the exhibition is all about entertainment, featuring t-shirts and an old interactive lighting desk from the technical services committee, who are responsible for sound systems and visual effects at all Foundry events.
Over the displays by the Western Bank windows looking onto the Arts Tower and Firth Court, there is a series of banners showing past gigs that had been held at the Student Union, including artists Wet Leg and Valve Sound System.
Visitors can have their own experiences and memories become part of the exhibition through comment boards near each section.
Ms Broadhurst said: "There are people talking about gigs from last year but also kind of 1993 and hopefully it’ll make people reminisce.
"You don't have a university without students."
The short life of a basketball career: Sheffield’s battles with the one-year contract
Off the court, British Basketball is in disarray. The British Basketball Federation (BBF) fell into liquidation earlier this year, meaning the sport in Britain is constantly teetering over the abyss. On the court, it stands to reason that the bane of the one-year contract should represent a defect. It's a gimmick that allows players to swoop in, steal our hearts with a crafty jump shot or dramatic chase down block, before flying off to greener pastures out in Europe or Australia before the honeymoon phase is over.
However, it's not all doom and gloom, as fans of Sheffield basketball are enjoying immense success as the last year has seen plenty of wins and silverware. In the Super League Basketball Women's division, the Sheffield Hatters are enjoying one of the greatest regular seasons of all time, as their recent win over Essex Rebels took them top of the table, while achieving a berth in the SLB cup final, and having won the Betty Cordona Trophy (named for the mother of their long-time head coach, Vanessa Ellis).
Meanwhile in the men's division, a Sheffield Sharks team led by Prentiss Nixon and Dirk Williams is fighting for a high finish. While London sit comfortably at the top of the table despite playing six less games, the Sharks are just three wins off second-placed Cheshire Phoenix.
The teams have their differences, and share one major similarity: they are bound by the struggles of maintaining a consistent roster. Much of last years SLB cup winning team left the Sharks this summer, while the Hatters had four of their 12-player roster return this autumn. As these squads are in constant rebuild, steadying the ship every year seems a tiring endeavour.
However, according to Atiba Lyons, the Sharks' head coach of 18 years, British teams have an advantage. The biggest crop of talent for British recruitment comes from the American college system, and changes to transfer rules and the introduction of NIL (name image and likeness) deals mean players enter professional basketball equipped to move clubs regularly. Additionally, Lyons said: "It's easy to pitch Sheffield to players, it's a vibrant city, and there's no culture shock.
It only affects our playstyle slightly, we're still a defence focused club, and these players only improve the state of play in the club and across the country- as long as they want to remain competitive- it's not hard to retain them." While institutional issues persist in the British Basketball Federation, the club remains competitive through players and investment, as the Sharks moved into the Canon Medical Arena back in 2023.
Sheffield Hatters star Megan 'Mo' Mullings, a ten-year professional, has been on one-year contracts since she left college in 2016, this her first year in Britain. The 33-year-old forward says "The chemistry depends on the dynamic, but it's easy to have an impact when you're getting paid, it's about helping the team grown in confidence and leaving the sport better than you found it."
Mullings says it's been one of the easiest teams to fit into, even with new signings and shifting roles for their returners. "I was such a stress-head," she says, reflecting on the first half of her career. "I got so wound-up about making an immediate impact, but experience has chilled me out, you gotta get straight in."
Now, as returning players such as Shauna Harrison step into a starting role and signings like Antoinette Lewis have an immediate impact, the Hatters have won 10 of 12 games this season.
For the men's teams, one-year contracts are just as common, in fact a motivator for players trying to enjoy their career while it lasts. Prentiss Nixon, one of the SLB's premier point guards, has been at the Sharks for three years now and is taking it a year at a time. "It's difficult to see players chop and change, especially with guys like Jake [Groves] and Don [Clay] last year, but it's normalised," Nixon says. "Guys want to make the most of a career that might last ten years, make money, play at the highest level, explore the world."
He agrees the Yorkshire city is welcoming. "Sheffield is an easy place to stay in, I met my girlfriend here, the competition is improving each year, and there's no language barrier." While Nixon wants to take contract negotiations a year at a time, he's motivated to stay, and finds the club to understanding of the wants and needs of talent.
Starting shooting guard for Sheffield Sharks, Dirk Williams, is a nine-year pro who has been moving clubs since he entered the professional game. This is his third spell in Sheffield, where his family have made their home. "Clubs have always been really great with the transition," he says. "You get housing, meals, a translator if you need it. I've been across Britain, I've played in Hungary, Israel, each time you get used to it."
Williams, does understand it can be difficult moving to a new team. "I've had teammates who struggled with the distance, especially being away from their families," he says. "I've spent seven, eight months away from my wife and kids, that's not easy, but it keeps me coming back to Sheffield."
As the players face the tail end of the season, some will already be looking for their next team. Many will be following Prentiss Nixon in waiting until the summer to see what offers come their way. However, for these players and coaches, it is just another part of the job. In the meantime, they will be hoping to maximise their team's success. The players know they have been brought in to be competitive and deliver the winning spirit, even if it is only for one season.
Lord Mayor Awards honour the “people that glue Sheffield together”
A nine-year-old girl who battled a rare blood cancer has received the Sheffield Young Hero Award "for exceptional fundraising, advocacy, and courage through illness" from the Lord Mayor.
Heidi Howson has raised thousands of pounds for charity since she was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in August 2022.
The youngster who is now in remission, has campaigned to encourage people to join the stem cell register and raised money for Sheffield Children's Hospital.
Heidi said she was "proud" after winning the award, with her mum Lucy Howson, 38, telling the BBC that it meant "everything".
Sheffield's Town Hall was full of the city's very best on Thursday night, as the winners of the 2026 Lord Mayor Awards were announced.
Lord Mayor Councillor Safiya Saeed hosted the second edition of the awards celebrating "the kind of people that glue Sheffield together as a city".
Leanne Bennett Pitts was honoured for her outstanding contribution to care, support and wellbeing for her work in acute pain management and reducing dependency on opioids.
She told Sheffield Wire receiving the award was "a massive recognition of everything we are standing for, and fighting against".
Team GB boxer Teagn Stott was commended for his contributions to local sport after he won a silver medal in the World Boxing Championships in Liverpool last year.
"I'm not only representing our country but I'm doing it for our city as well," said Stott.
Speaking about his World Boxing Championships final bout in September 2025, he said: "We brought a fairly good sized crowd and it was a close fight and all I could hear from the crowd was chanting 'Yorkshire'."
Stott works with local schools to use boxing as a tool to keep pupils "on the right path".
The Community Award was given to Carolynn McConnell for recognition of her work bringing over £1 million from more than 449 community projects across the city.
Ms McConnell has worked to bring companies together with the council and volunteers to give back to local communities in Sheffield.
"There's not many things I really treasure, I'm not a materialist person like that but I will treasure that trophy," she told Sheffield Wire.
Other winners included former Sheffield Poet Laureate, Danae Wellington for her work championing African Caribbean communities in Sheffield, Karen Vickers celebrating 50 years of providing road safety education, and Christine King a founding member of the Sheffield Street Tree Partnership.
The Award Winners were:
Outstanding Contribution to Local Community - Carolynn McConnell – Sheffield Business Together. Recognised for delivering over £1m of support thttps://www.sheffield.gov.uk/news/2026/lord-mayor-awards-celebrate-contributions-sheffield-lifehrough over 449 community projects and building long‑term partnerships.
Outstanding Contribution to Environment & Science - Christine King. Celebrated for environmental leadership and pioneering sustainable urban forestry throughout Sheffield.
Outstanding Contribution to the promotion of Arts, Music & Culture - Danae Wellington. Celebrated for cultural leadership, championing African Caribbean voices, and inspiring young people.
Outstanding Contribution to Care, Support & Wellbeing - Leanne Bennett-Pitts. Recognised for transforming acute pain management, reducing opioid dependency, and improving patient care.
Outstanding Contribution to Local Sport - Teagan Stott. Recognised for historic achievements in boxing and inspiring young people through grassroots sport.
Outstanding Contribution to Education - Karen Vickers. Marked for a 50-year career in road safety education, shaping generations of safer road users.
The Young Hero - Heidi Howson. Recognised for exceptional fundraising, advocacy, and courage through illness.