Gymnastics Failings

An independent investigation into the way a family was dealt with after they reported alleged sexual abuse by a former coach in York has concluded that they were ‘treated terribly by the club’ and that British Gymnastics ‘could and should have done more to support’ the family. The Independent Complaints Process Decision found British Gymnastics failed to properly investigate the report of sexual abuse. 

I've spent weeks working on this story and it's good to finally be able to report it for radio, on the BBC News website here and on TV.

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James Ogden

I've been to film with Sheffield Thai Boxing world champion, James Ogden. He's heading to Australia in the hope of becoming a double world champion. James has used the deep heartache of the still birth of his daughter as motivation to succeed. It was an absolute pleasure to film with James and his coach Trix March, who is also his aunty!

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Autism Allotment

A couple from South Yorkshire are turning a fly-tipped allotment into an area for children with conditions like autism and epilepsy to enjoy. Paul and Michael Atwal-Brice are part way through converting the disused allotments in Thurnscoe into what they're calling an 'Autism Allotment'. They need to raise forty thousand pounds to be able to finish the project.

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Refugees

There's been a big push to process asylum seeker applications by the Government since it announced late last year that it would be closing many hotels to asylum seekers. It's led to a surge in the number of people given settled status to live here. A charity in Sheffield,  says that has meant new refugees are at risk of homelessness - as they're evicted from hotels after 28 days and need to find an income and a place to live in that time.

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Lulu Charity Film

I've been back to film another story about the life of Lulu Blundell, a 19-year-old from Rotherham who died of cancer at home on New Year's Day last year. I first filmed a story with Lulu's family last year, a few weeks after she passed away. Now a film about her has been shortlisted for a national award. The film is really powerful and is made up of videos from Lulu’s social media accounts.

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Sheffield Breweries

Sheffield has more breweries per population than anywhere else in the country, according to a new report. The Steel city has been named the 'Real Ale' capital according to findings commissioned by the University of Sheffield. The report suggests the city is bucking the national trend of brewery closures since 2016.

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Climbing Disabled

I've been filming at a charity climbing centre in Yorkshire which is one of the only places in the country where families with disabled children can climb together. The 'Climbing For All Families' sessions at ROKT Foundation in Brighouse are funded by Sport England and Creative Minds and it's now being expanded so up to a hundred families will benefit this year

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Sarah Everard

The man who murdered 33-year-old Sarah Everard from York should never have been a police officer and opportunities were missed to stop him. An inquiry in to the events that led up to Sarah being abducted, raped and murdered by an off duty police officer in March 2021 was published last week.

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Sheffield Models

There's a new documentary series on Channel 4 which has been following two models from South Yorkshire as they help change the face of fashion. Devon and Kelsi feature in 'New Model Agency' and I went to meet them at one of my favourite places in Sheffield, Park Hill.

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Sheffield Trees live

A public consultation was launched this week on plans to restart Sheffield's controversial street improvement project. The work saw thousands of trees cut down, sparking widespread protests. The project was paused in 2018 and the council later apologised and admitted misleading the public. Now, the council is putting forward new designs for twenty six roads in the city. I reported live on the story.

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MOBOs

I had a thoroughly enjoyable time covering the MOBO Awards in Sheffield last week. Our live unit dropped out 15 minutes before going live form the red carpet so we had to record chunks of me talking into interview clips and my report - and send it back for my colleagues to edit together in Leeds. It just made it to air in time!

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We also filmed at the MOBO fringe event at the Crucible Theatre...

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Barnsley Market 775 years old

I had a brilliant day at what must be the best market I've ever been to, in Barnsley. They're marking the 775th anniversary of one of the oldest markets in the country. Barnsley Market dates back to 1249 - thanks to a royal charter from Henry III.

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School Exclusions

Barnsley has the highest school exclusion rate in the country. We've been filming at a school in the centre of the town to find out how they deal with bad behaviour.

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Train Strikes Live Leeds Railway Station

I reported live from Leeds railway station on the train driver strikes.

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Post Office Horizon Banner Cross

I filmed a story this week with a post office manager in Sheffield who says a new version of a controversial computer system used by the Post Office has left him almost £3,000 in debt. Nasar Raoof has spoken to Look North after faulty Horizon software led to more than 900 sub-postmasters being wrongly prosecuted for stealing money. The Post Office claims the updated version of the system is "robust" - but Nasar says it is still causing problems.

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ADHD

I've been filming a story about a shortage of ADHD medication which is having a devastating impact on people with the condition according to a Yorkshire MP. Louise Haigh represents Sheffield Heeley and says hundreds of people across the city have been struggling over the last few months as there is a shortage of ADHD medication nationally. The Department of Health says they're trying to resolve issues with the supply chain as quickly as possible. 

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Ice Hockey First Aid

I've been filming with ice hockey teams in Sheffield and Leeds as first aid kits have been given to teams across Yorkshire. It follows the death of Nottingham Panthers player Adam Johnson last October. Johnson was fatally hit in the neck by a skate during a match at Sheffield Arena against the Steelers.

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As well as filming and editing this story, I also wrote and took the photos for this article on the BBC News website. It was the first time I'd written a story on my own for the website so felt like quite an achievement. We are now, truly, multi-media journalists.

Fly-Tipping

We've been out filming with a team in Barnsley dealing with the constant issue of fly-tipping.

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Boxing World Cup

The Boxing World Cup has been taking place in Sheffield this week. I went to see the boxers in training ahead of the competition.

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Heavy Metal Therapy

I really enjoyed filming this story about Heavy Metal Therapy, a group that offers support for people who are into metal music and want to improve their well-being or are struggling with their mental health. 

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Yorkshire Cricket Colin Graves Takeover

I've been covering the controversial takeover of Yorkshire Cricket by former chairman Colin Graves.

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Post Office Scandal

Yet again I've been covering the Post Office scandal for TV (see below) and the BBC News website. This time it looks like those wrongly convicted of stealing are closer to justice - strange that it's taken a TV drama for this to happen.

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Hero of Health

I had a great time filming a story lifestyle medicine which is a subject I've been interested in for years thanks to Dr Rangan Chatterjee's podcast. 

More than three hundred people at risk of heart attacks and type two diabetes are turning their lives around thanks to four doctors from South Yorkshire who have clubbed together to run local neighbourhood healthy lifestyle groups called 'Hero of Health'. GPs in Sheffield refer people with chronic disease to a 'Hero of Health' group where they connect with people in their neighbourhood and it's having a dramatic impact.

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