SHEFFIELD HALF MARATHON 2023

Sheffield Half Marathon will bring traffic changes to this area this weekend

Thousands of runners will be taking part in Sheffield Half Marathon this Sunday 26 March. It is the biggest event of its kind in South Yorkshire and one of the major events in the UK’s running calendar.

Road closures will be in place across parts of the city, so please visit the Sheffield Half Marathon webpage for information on the race route and any traffic changes that might affect you.

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RDSPA watch found

If you have lost a gent’s RDSPA watch (metal strap broken) in Crosspool, please email: g.m.drinkwater@btinternet.com

Crookes Artisan Market

Crookes Artisan Market helping to raise funds for the S6 food bank.
St Timothy’s Church Hall, Timothy’s Church, Slinn Street, Crookes, Sheffield, S10 1NZ.
Saturday 15th April 2023, from 10:00 – 16:00


If you would like to have a craft stall at the fair, there are still some places available.
Email Joanne for more information at craftyjohermitage2020@gmail.com

VOLUNTEER AS A MAGISTRATE

APPEAL FOR MORE PEOPLE FROM THE SOUTH YORKSHIRE TO VOLUNTEER AS MAGISTRATES

The Humber magistrates back campaign to find more local magistrates

The number of people under 50 and women volunteering as a magistrate has increased across the Humber and South Yorkshire

Applications are now open for anyone looking to volunteer: icanbeamagistrate.co.uk

People from all walks of life in South Yorkshire are being urged to consider becoming magistrates as applications open in South Yorkshire for this vital role. The appeal is part of a national drive to increase the number and diversity of those volunteering across England and Wales.

The Judiciary of England and Wales and the Ministry of Justice are calling on people from South Yorkshire to be part of a new wave of volunteers, giving back to their local community and helping the magistracy better reflect the diversity of British society.

No legal qualifications or experience is required to be a magistrate, but volunteers will work closely with two other magistrates and a legal advisor, who offers guidance on the law. The role also gives people a chance to give back to their community, build relationships with new people and develop new skills.

From teachers to electricians, to stay-at-home parents, anyone aged between 18 and 70 who can commit to at least 13 days a year for at least five years is encouraged to come forward.

With support from magistrates in South Yorkshire, the campaign seeks to boost numbers by recruiting 4,000 new magistrates across England and Wales over the next few years.

Data from 2022 on the diversity of the current magistracy in Humber and South Yorkshire shows an increase in the number of women (51% of the magistracy) and people under 50 (20%) volunteering to be magistrates compared to last year.

The Judiciary of England and Wales and the Ministry of Justice are continuing to build on this work to attract a wave of volunteers who are even more representative of the community they serve.

Magistrates are given robust training and an experienced mentor in their first year to develop their skills and legal knowledge. Magistrates typically develop highly transferrable skills such as critical analysis, complex problem-solving, mediation, influencing, and decision-making, all of which stand to benefit them in their wider lives. Research from the Ministry of Justice amongst HR and business leaders showed they felt people who volunteer as magistrates were likely to have sound judgment (89%) and effective decision-making (81%).

Existing magistrates are stepping forward to talk about the benefits they’ve seen in terms of their own skills boost and the benefits of giving back to encourage others to take part. Nicholas from Sheffield is a driving instructor who has been a magistrate for 13 years. Having always had a keen interest in the law, he became a magistrate to make a positive difference in his local community.

In his role as a magistrate, Nicholas says: “I love representing my local community and coming away from a day in court knowing the decisions I’ve helped make, will improve the lives of people who live in my area. I encourage people from all walks of life to join the bench – the more life experience we can bring to making the important decisions that we do in court, the better. Anyone volunteering will get so much out of it too – learning new skills and meeting great new people.”

Stephen is a Pharmacist living in Doncaster, South Yorkshire. He was driven to become a magistrate through a desire to advocate for young people in court and serve his local community, he has now been a magistrate for the last 11 years in South Yorkshire.

In his role as a magistrate, Stephen says: “I find working as a magistrate so rewarding. You never know what cases you will be dealing with that day and the variety is so wide. I feel I’m giving back to my community and I have a great sense of pride in carrying out my duties. I have increased my self-confidence and communication skills in the role and have applied this to my work as a pharmacist.”

Being a magistrate is a part-time role that can fit around other working commitments. From making an impact on families’ futures and children’s lives as a family court magistrate to handling criminal cases as a criminal court magistrate, candidates are being sought to fill positions across all jurisdictions. Whether a family or criminal court magistrate, whichever role volunteers take up, magistrates regularly make decisions that will shape the lives of individuals for years to come.

Justice Minister Mike Freer said: “Magistrates have a vital role to play in our justice system and we want to see every part of society represented on their benches. By volunteering their time and experience from other walks of life, they play a hugely important part in transforming lives and delivering justice for victims.”   Mark Beattie JP, National Chair of the Magistrates’ Association said: “Magistrates are the cornerstone of the justice system of England and Wales, so we welcome this continued drive to recruit much-needed volunteers to help deliver speedier justice for all. Diversity is one of the strengths of the magistracy, so we would encourage those from underrepresented groups and areas to apply to perform this most rewarding of voluntary roles. We look forward to sitting alongside you and to welcoming you as members soon.”

Applications are now open in South Yorkshire, anyone looking to volunteer should visit icanbeamagistrate.co.uk for more information.

Snow Causes Disruption to Travel

Crosspool in the snow,

Derbyshire County Council has announced the A57 Snake Pass, a link between Sheffield and Manchester, is closed. They said in a statement the road was closed because of snow, adding: “Unfortunately the electronic signs we have on the pass are not working today.
 Please do not attempt this road or any of the others we have closed.”

See The Star for more travel updates

Sheffield Classical Weekend

As part of the Sheffield Classical Weekend, the Hallam Choral Society together with Sheffield Philharmonic Chorus and Orchestra and Hallam Sinfonia will be performing Mahler’s 2nd Symphony;
Resurrection at the Sheffield City Hall at 7.00 pm, Sunday 19th March 2023

KES—The Future

King Edward VII School

Only two weeks to collect views from parents on what they value about KES VII school and what about its ethos is important to them and their children.

A Google form has been set up for this so please please do all fill it in – it’s only a small number of questions but this is the only way we get to have a say in a process that is very out of our hands. 

The form is here: The Future Campaign

Please note this questionnaire forms part of the KES – The Future campaign, which was set up by a group of parents following the Ofsted inspection and academisation order. Please do not share any personal identifiable information about your child on this form. Any concerns over a child’s safety or welfare should be passed on to the school or through the relevant authorities.

SCHOOLS CLIMATE ASSEMBLY – A CALL TO ACTION

Chris Packham addresses over 1400 students and teachers at the Schools’ Climate Assembly held at King Edward VII School.

On the 20th of October 2022, over 1400 students and over 45 schools from across the country met at King Edward VII School for the second-ever Schools Climate Assembly. Chris Packham’s passionate words fell upon young ears as he tip-toed the fine line between the harsh reality of global rising temperatures and the hope and determination that young people must share in order to fight it.

Edward VII Students Take Climate Demands To The Heart of Government
Their visit to Downing Street coincided with the start of the COP 27 conference in Egypt. This means that they had a unique opportunity to make real change, and possibly influence the talks and decisions of world leaders at COP 27; a chance for young people to make an impact on a global scale.

King Edwards Sixth Form Girls Working with the Women of SI

Several KES staff and ex-staff are members of SI Sheffield, the local Club
of Soroptimist Internationa
l.

The Soroptimists are an international women’s organisation with a focus on transforming the lives of women and girls, locally, nationally and globally, through education, empowerment and enabling initiatives. Soroptimists make a difference to the lives of more than half a million women and girls in the world every year.
The women of SI Sheffield have worked with King Edward VII School for a number of years and have developed a very productive relationship with the Year 12 and 13 girls and staff, in activities such as providing support for women in the local refuges and raising awareness on feminist issues.