News

RESIDENTS attended a meeting last Monday to discuss the future of a local church.Silkstone Common Methodist Church. – lauded as a hub for the community – hasn’t been used for worship for some time and is set to be sold.Silkstone Parish Council held its annual meeting on at the church, which saw locals attend to hear about the next steps.MP Miriam Cates recently discussed the building’s future – alongside...

A LOCAL supermarket has awarded a five-figure grant to a local charity this week to help elderly hospital patients.The £10,000 donation, from the Morrisons Foundation, was celebrated by the Barnsley Hospital Charity as it will pay for new televisions, furniture, games and soft furnishings – all helping to create a family room for visitors.Jane Mills, from the hospital, said: “We’re so pleased to have received such a generous grant from Morrisons...

A CASH boost for a food waste scheme in Barnsley will help hard-pressed families.Renewi, the company which is part of the award-winning waste treatment facility at Manvers, has donated £2,000 to the Community Fridge project which operates from Mapplewell and Staincross Village Hall.The money will go towards supporting volunteers’ work to combat food waste by building partnerships with local supermarkets, retailers and warehouses to source surplus food that can be used...

THE town hall will be illuminated in blue tonight to mark World Parkinson’s Day – with the Barnsley and District Parkinson's Group encouraging people to get involved to support the cause.This year Parkinson's UK is encouraging everyone to Make It Blue to highlight the fastest growing neurological condition in the world. Barnsley Parkinson's group will be holding an awareness day tomorrow in front of the Alhambra centre and today it is holding...

BARNSLEY Youth Bowling Club are striking out to raise funds for a local charity by taking on a 12-hour non-stop bowling event.Barnsley YBC are looking to raise as much money as possible for Barnsley Hospice and their main fundraising event is taking place on Sunday May 12 at Barnsley Bowl from 9.30am until 9.30pm.Some of the Barnsley YBC juniors who have volunteered will be holding a 12-hour non-stop bowling event, and...

OVER 17 tonnes of waste was cleaned up from parks, green spaces and streets in Barnsley during the Great British Spring Clean last month.Volunteers, neighbourhoods team, council staff and residents teamed up to clean up the borough during the initiative with over 480 bags of litter collected by those taking part in litter picks across the area.And over the course of the neighbourhoods team’s action, 17.2 tonnes of rubbish was collected...

A NEW non-profit organisation is hoping to make sports more accessible to youngsters with visual impairments after parents found few activities little support available in the area.Focus4Vision began two years ago when a group of partially sighted parents decided to come together to share support and advice with one another.Over that time the organisation has grown substantially, converting into a non-profit in February and offering a wide variety of sporting sessions...

ELSECAR Heritage Centre has given a massive thank you to its dedicated team of volunteers who continue to create new habitats along the Trans Pennine Trail and Elsecar Canal. And has issued an appeal to anyone who would like to be involved in the exciting projects to get in touch.The volunteer team have also helped with litter picking and keeping the local area clean and tidy for visitors and helping local nature...

MORE than £7,000 has been raised for Barnsley Hospice thanks to over 60 volunteers, including the Mayor and MP Dan Jarvis, who took part in walks last weekend.On Saturday, the volunteers took on 10km, 20km or 30km walks around Barnsley to raise funds for the facility.The event has already raised more than £7,000, with the total still rising.A spokesperson said: “It was certainly a proud moment seeing so...

A LOCAL restaurant is hosting a special event to boost a church’s restoration appeal.The Balti Palace in Wombwell will hold the event later this month, with tickets set at £15 – and the profits will go to St Mary’s Church in Wombwell.Eddie Harper, who has helped organise the event, said it’s a great chance for the community to get together and support one another.He added: “The Balti Palace is...

A DEDICATED fundraiser has been thanked by a local charity that he has been supporting for almost two decades..Ian Lane has been collecting funds for Barnsley Hospice for 17 years.The Kendray resident has become a well-known figure for his various community efforts, and was shortlisted at last year’s Proud of Barnsley for going out with his collecting bucket three days a week for the British Heart Foundation.Alongside this though,...

A CAFE that ‘can’t do enough’ for the community has been recognised by locals for its staff members’ selfless work.Maggie’s, a coffee shop on Tennyson Road in Monk Bretton, has spent years doing everything possible for the local community, from leading litter-picks to running free events for the family.Last weekend they hosted their annual Easter event, which included the appearance of the Easter Bunny.“They’re absolutely brilliant,” said regular customer...

ZUMBA instructors are planning to get locals fit while raising funds for support dogs with a new event.Instructors Anita Grant, Libbi Cooper, Lucy McMaster and Kayla Kavanagh are holding a two-hour-long charity Zumbathon at The Venue in Birdwell tomorrow from 2pm to 4pm.The epic session, which will see participants get involved in the high tempo dancing exercise, will be followed with a raffle as the instructors raise funds for Sheffield-based charities...

BARNSLEY East MP Stephanie Peacock recently visited Ilkley Town AFC in her role as Shadow Minister for Sport.Ms Peacock visited the club alongside Labour candidate for Keighley and Ilkley, John Grogan, and Mayor of Ilkley, Karl Milner.She said: “I was pleased to visit llkley Town AFC with John Grogan and the Labour Mayor of Ilkley Karl Milner. The club is a great example of the impact of grassroots football.“Over...

MAJOR work which will see almost £500,000 spent on providing safer routes for kids who want to cycle to school is set to commence after government funding was approved.Two schemes - in Athersley and Bolton-upon-Dearne - were put forward following a council-led scheme which looked at places in which so-called ‘active travel’ corridors could be introduced.Following bids put forward by the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA), approval was granted...

A POPULAR tea party aimed at combatting loneliness and bringing people together is planning its next event before celebrating its tenth anniversary later this year.The next Great Get Together Superjam Tea Party is at the Holiday Inn is on Tuesday April 16, with singer Oliver Harris. Tickets are £12 and include afternoon tea and live entertainment. The Superjam is a 'dementia friendly' event, offering invaluable respite for many families and carers. Special guests...

A BARNSLEY couple are appealing for help in their mission to create a sanctuary and sensory garden for autistic children.Michael and Paul Atwal-Brice have acquired a piece of land on the allotments at Togo Street, Thurnscoe, and are now hoping to turn the site into a sensory garden for autistic children.They have already, with the help of locals, managed to clear up the site – but are asking for the public’s help...

AN award-winning club is hosting a new exhibition for local artists.Barnsley CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale) Club of the Year winners, Wortley Men’s Club, are hosting an exhibition with artwork by local group Pennine Artists.This will be the Pennine Artists first pop-up exhibition, showcasing their work that depicts the local area.The free exhibition will run until April 14, with a chance to meet the artists on Frida from 7.30pm....

A NEW hub designed to give back to educators across the borough has opened in Dodworth.Unit 5, by HCAT (formerly Hoyland Common Academy Trust) and Tykes Teaching Alliance has been designed from the ground up as a space for teachers and educators to take part in specialised training.The not-for-profit social enterprise can fit around 120 people all together, offers up-to-date tech facilities and was built using local traders.Chief executive...

A BIRDWELL woman has died, aged 91, just two weeks after her husband.Olive Andrews – who was known by some as ‘Mrs Birdwell’ – spent her life getting involved in everything she could to benefit her community.Her son, Chris, said that she was so popular that she couldn’t go anywhere alone.“She did lots for the community, from the ladies club to raising funds for the community hall, she was...

A LOCAL vintage company has donated hundreds of fur coats to Ukrainian refugees.Glass Onion started in 2005 out of a Barnsley coal shed but they’ve since grown to become one of the UK’s leading vintage clothing companies.They process more than 20,000kg of second-hand clothing every single week at the warehouse, and while they don’t buy fur product from their suppliers, on occasion some slip through the net.Once they’d built...

A BARNSLEY charity has thanked Denby Dale Lions for its latest donation.The Lions Club has gifted £500 to Barnsley Hospital Charity for its Make A Memory Appeal.A charity spokesman said: “It was an absolute pleasure to meet some of the members from Denby Dale District Lions and hear about all their exciting work and events that they do.“The Lions’ motto is “We Serve” which we couldn’t agree with more....

A BARNSLEY village celebrated a decade of community spirit at the weekend.Thurnscoe came alive thanks to a community event that featured a 20ft art interactive art structure.Hosted by Big Local Thurnscoe and their legacy organisation, Thurnscoe Regeneration CIO, the event titled "Building the Future" drew in local residents to celebrate and engage in a day filled with art, theatre, and fun. Marking ten years since Local Trust, a National Lottery...

A LOCAL primary school has become the first in Barnsley to achieve the Asthma Friendly School Award.The initiative aims to improve the care of pupils with asthma by raising awareness through information, training and support for school staff as well as pupils, parents and carers.Silkstone Common Junior and Infants School became the first in Barnsley to receive the award, and were visited by the council and Barnsley Hospital earlier this month....

BARNSLEY Hospice has been able to purchase a new ECG machine thanks to a recent donation.Stainborough Rotary Club donated £2,680 and recently presented a cheque to the hospice.A hospice spokesperson said: “Thanks to this incredible donation, we were able to purchase a new ECG machine for our Inpatient unit.“This machine will make a huge difference to the hospice and we would like to say a huge thank you to...

A CHARITY ball where a unique Barnsley FC shirt was auctioned raised thousands for both Barnsley and Rotherham hospices.The ball at Dodworth’s Holiday Inn saw 221 people attend, including both towns’ mayors and on the night a special prize – a signed shirt worn by Barnsley FC mascot Toby Tyke in 1997 when the Reds enjoyed their only stint in the Premier League – was auctioned off, helping organiser Claire Jasiok raise almost...

A SPORTS club will make improvements to its hilltop HQ after winning a £6,500 grant.Ingbirchworth Pétanque Club was one of the successful applicants to the Council’s Pride of Place Fund.Almost £100,000 worth of Pride of Place funding was awarded to community groups and organisations in Barnsley.The club was founded in September 2023 with the aim of bringing the community together. It has more than 40 members, who meet twice...

A VILLAGE group is appealing for red wool as part of its bid to knit thousands of poppies for this year’s Remembrance Sunday.The Cawthorne Crafty Ladies, based at Cawthorne Methodist Church, only began the project a few weeks ago but already have aspirations to surpass last year’s knitting exploits. For this year’s celebrations they hope to have knitted poppies on display across the village.“We’re all busy knitting or crocheting different poppies...

A GREAT Houghton church is starting to see some promising signs of growth within its congregation after implementing new weekly initiatives to boost numbers.The Church of St Michael and All Angels originally had in place a congregation of around ten people attending one church communion service at 9am every other week and a knit and natter group on a Tuesday.The Curate for St Michael’s, Rev Christine Moorey, was keen to show...

BARNSLEY Council has handed out almost £100,000 to local community groups and organisations through the Pride in Place grants.The scheme, which has been funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, will be used to support communities across the borough. The initiative seeks to drive positive change by investing in heritage assets, green spaces, community centres and events.With a maximum grant of £30,000 available, the fund supports not for profit community or...

A NEW fitness group in Penistone will be setting its members 'homework'.Organised by Steve Dickinson, the group will begin on April 4 at 6.30pm at the Trans Pennine Trail, by the skate park on the showground. Anyone is free to get involved and pick up a new or develop a forgotten skill.Steve said: “Basically it’s for anyone in the community, whether you’re beginning to run, want to get back into it,...

A LOVE to Move exercise session for those living with dementia was so successful that organisers have decided to make it a monthly event.Dozens of care home residents, community members, healthcare professionals and churchgoers attended the first free session at Staincross Methodist Church.A British Gymnastics Foundation programme, Love to Move is run locally by the Barnsley Primary Care Network, and helps improve the lives of those living with dementia through social...

A LOCAL charity has received a prestigious award for its voluntary service.H.O.P.E (Helping Others Positively Engage) in Community were presented with twith the King’s Award by the King’s representative, Lord-Lieutenant of South Yorkshire Dame Hilary Chapman.Dame Hilary paid tribute to the charity saying that it was humbling to see so many volunteers, some with challenges of their own, giving their time to benefit the people of Barnsley.She said: “As...

CHILDREN from King's Oak Primary Learning Centre in Wombwell this week enjoyed litter picking and seed planting at Wombwell Park as part of the Keep Britain Tidy’s Great British Spring Clean. The event was supported by the Friends of Wombwell Park, Barnsley South Area Team and Wombwell ward councillors. The big clean-up is back for its ninth year with council neighbourhoods team and volunteers taking part in events including litter picks and clean-ups...

BARNSLEY’S only Conservative MP paid a visit to Penistone Church Football Club lrecently to hear how she can help them access funding to upgrade facilities.Miriam Cates, MP for Penistone and Stocksbridge, was given a tour around the facilities on Church View Road.She said: “It was fantastic to hear about their win in a tense penalty shoot out, and it’s great that so many local residents and supporters were there to cheer...