News

BARNSLEY College students have had extra support over this Christmas break thanks to the generosity of students and local businesses.The college brought back ‘The Pantry’, a hub where food donations were made, allowing students to discreetly collect one of 150 food packs to support them during the ongoing cost-of-living crisis.This is the second year the project has been run, with its success last year making staff decide to bring it back...

A Christmas message from Father Blair Radford, vicar of St Peter and St John the Baptist and the parish of St Mary Magdalene, Lundwood...WHEN I was called to serve in Barnsley in July 2018, my Bishop said to me, ‘Blair, I bet you’re surprised to be living in Barnsley?’ I replied ‘I never, ever thought I would be living here’ and now, I know wouldn’t want to live anywhere else.Since that...

EIGHTY-FIVE tractors and a sleigh took to the streets in a festive-themed event to raise cash for charity.Check out the spectacle here: https://youtu.be/3sM3FYfVKMo?si=7abTWA_quuG_bX7QOrganised by The Tractor Lads in association with the Dunford Residents’ Association, the tractor run – which saw a collection of vintage and classic tractors drive through Penistone – took place on December 2.People from across the country turned out, bringing their unique vehicles to show off...

FATHER Christmas has swapped his reindeer and sleigh for a Stagecoach bus to spread festive joy across town..Bus driver Martin Exley has been out and about across Barnsley on his new Christmas-themed bus, handing out sweets to children who get on board.To fully embrace the festivities, Stagecoach Yorkshire drivers will also be taking part in a Christmas jumper month, showcasing their finest knitwear as well as raising money for local charities....

CHRISTMAS is known as a time for giving – and that’s exactly what these five youngsters are doing in aid of Barnsley Foodbank Partnership.What started out as a group of young children aged between six and 11 singing in the street turned into an idea to give to others, particularly after such a difficult year with cost-of-living crisis.Ralph and Isla Barrow, Rohan Kendell, Maddison Shillito and Henry Tierney have been collecting...

BARNSLEY YouTube sensation Danny Malin is hoping a Christmas number one will be on the menu.Danny, of Rate My Takeaway fame, has teamed up with Sheffield music producer Toddla T for the third year in a row to create a new charity song, Santa’s From Up North.Raising money for Leeds Children’s Hospital, the song is full of comedic lines about life in Yorkshire.Danny said: “I think all families need...

TEENAGER Alice Jepson is doing her bit to bring some festive cheer to her village.The 16-year-old from Higham has taken it upon herself to brighten up the area.During the pandemic, Higham Cricket Club came up with the idea of purchasing festive lighting for the village to lift residents’ spirits.They’ve spent almost £10,000 over the last three years, but after receiving a quote from Barnsley Council who usually help with...

TEN-YEAR-OLD Hollie Kyle is brightening up Christmas for kids who will spend the big day in hospital – despite battling health problems of her own.The Monk Bretton youngster is one of only a handful of children her age with juvenile arthritis but it didn’t stop her deciding to launch a toy donation project to help others.Hollie Kyle’s home on Nettlecroft, Monk Bretton, resembles a branch of toy giant Smyths due to...

A CARE home is getting into the Christmas spirit after responding to its residents’ wishes for new festive decorations.Bollingbroke House in Brierley is all trimmed up for Christmas after a recent residents meeting, where home managers listened to what those in their care wanted to see this year.Home manager Lynsey Walker said: “We wanted to hear what our residents would personally like to see.“There were lots of responses, some...

A CHARITY is on the lookout for Christmas elves to help in its shops over the festive period.The British Heart Foundation is looking for seasonal volunteers, or what it likes to call ‘elves’ to lend a hand.A spokesperson said: “Do your readers have a few hours to spare leading up to the festive season? “At the British Heart Foundation (BHF), we are calling for seasonal volunteers, or what we like...

A BARNSLEY head chef is preparing for a busy Christmas – serving 3,000 meals on board a luxury train.Matthew Green works on board the Northern Belle train, a 1930s-style 13-coach luxury train.Thirteen special champagne Christmas lunch events will be hosted in the coming weeks, with each five-hour trip carrying more than 200 passengers as it travels through the British countryside.Matthew said: “Obviously it can be rather challenging trying to...

A FAMILY’S home which was once again lit up in aid of charity helped raise more than £1,500 for charity at Christmas.Each year for the past five years, the Baumber family have created a Christmas lights display each year at their home on Long Furlong, Penistone.Their aim is to spread cheer and to help raise money for local charities in the process.“Usually we raise a few hundred pounds,” said...

A WREATH was laid by the Mayor of Barnsley at the town’s HM Armed Forces Walkway last week to remember serving members who were unable to return home for Christmas. The dedicated space, located on Westgate by the college, was created for families and friends to remember those who have and are currently serving.Since its launch last November, a further six flagstones have been laid featuring the names, service and regiments of...

VOLUNTEERS at a Cortonwood community group delivered food hampers to families and those who are isolated throughout the village.The Cortonwood Comeback Community Centre, established in 1986 on Chapel Avenue, filled the hampers with essentials and treats for over the Christmas break.On Wednesday, December 23, the volunteers spent the entire day delivering the hampers after generous donations from members of the community.Denise Lelliott, who volunteers at the centre, said:...

CUDWORTH and Dearne fire cadets have been spreading festive cheer by delivering Christmas gifts to care home residents across the borough.The youngsters funded the gifts with £600 they raised through donations and the sale of handmade Christmas cards.They delivered around 200 presents in total to residents at four different care homes across Barnsley.Then they handed the remaining gifts out to members of their local community who were facing a...

A GROUP of Barnsley bikers brought a welcome dose of festive spirit to the streets with a fancy dress ride around the borough.Hundreds turned out to watch Sunday’s Santa-led 80-strong procession of illuminated machines, which was the brainchild of husband-and-wife motorcycle fanatics Andrew and June Self.The couple, of Chatsworth Road, Athersley South, are members of Chloe’s Crust Trikers and Bikers, a charity fundraising group which in normal times, meets regularly at...

IT was finally curtain call for staff at a Thurnscoe care home who took to the stage in their own rendition of the pantomime Cinderella.Staff at Dearnlea Park Residential Home, on Park Road, made residents smile as they performed for those who had to miss out on the usual annual antics because of the virus.Earlier in the year, the team asked for costume donations from the community to ensure the show...

A FAMILY transformed their van into a reindeer sleigh to bring some Christmas cheer to families who haven’t been able to meet Santa this year.Stacey Richardson, her partner Wayne Essex, niece Deon Sales and partner Chris Pearson, from Bolton-upon-Dearne, have teamed up to make residents smile in the run-up to Christmas.The group have transformed their van into a reindeer sleigh whilst making their own festive costumes including Mr and Mrs Clause...

ALTHOUGH the main event is over, a church in Grimethorpe has made a Nativity Trail for families to take part in during the festive break.St Luke’s Church, on St Luke’s Road, has swapped its annual Christingle service for the great outdoors by setting up its Nativity Trail across the village.Families have been encouraged to get outside after Christmas and remind themselves of the nativity story.Fr Thomas Bates-Bourne, from the...

BARNSLEY’S recycling centres will be closed for a short period this weekend in their new Christmas hours.The four centres across the borough will close on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.Smithies Lane, Springvale in Penistone, Nicholas Lane in Goldthorpe and West Street in Worsbrough will be closing slightly earlier at 3pm today, December 24, and New Year’s Eve.Previously, the centres closed at 4pm during the winter months....

BARNSLEY residents are being invited to ring a bell outside their home on tonight to help beat loneliness this festive period.The idea was formed by Mary Beggs-Reid who wanted to bring festive cheer to her Harrogate hometown.Similar to the Clap for Carers event throughout the summer, Mary hopes that people will take to their doorsteps on Christmas Eve to ring bells and applaud – all in the spirit of Christmas....

A BRANCH of a popular sandwich chain will offer free sandwiches to emergency service workers this Christmas Eve.The Subway store at Stairfoot will offer free six inch subs to anyone who holds a Blue Light Card to thank them for their hard work during the year.Owner of the store, Sunil Mehan, said: “We have done a lot for our community since we reopened after lockdown.“We want to show our...

CHRISTMAS Day is just around the corner and families across the borough will be hoping to form a bubble to celebrate the festive season – but what are the new rules?Previously the government announced that families could meet for up to four days over the Christmas period, but due to a rising number of reported cases the decision was made to restrict visiting to just one day – Christmas Day.Now up-to...

A CHURCH in Goldthorpe is holding a free drive-in carol service for those wanting to get in the Christmas mood despite tier three restrictions.Hope Church, currently based at the former Job Centre on High Street, is holding a free event for households to drive-in and sing along to traditional carols.The service will be hosted by the church and the carols will be led by Worsbrough Brass.This comes after carol...

COLLEGE students have been spreading festive cheer in the community by sending colourful messages to residents at a Worsbrough nursing home. Elderly residents at Autumn House Nursing Home have received handmade cards with Christmas celebration messages created by level one health and social care students at Barnsley College.Nichola Crossland, a student on the course, said: “The residents may not be able to see family or friends and it will be lonely this...

PUPILS at an Athersley primary school are attempting to run more than 800 miles this week to raise money and awareness for Barnsley Animal Rescue. Students at Laithes Primary, on Laithes Lane, decided to take the challenge after a year five class, Grey Owls, took part in a social action project run by Reds in the Community (RITC). Gareth Cooke, 26, of RITC, said: “I’ve been working with pupils and as part of...

BIN collection days have been rescheduled over the Christmas period and Barnsley residents have been urged to double-check to avoid being caught out.Bins that are scheduled to be collected on Christmas Day and New Year's Day will be rescheduled.Homes in Mapplewell will have their grey bin collected on December 23 and some homes in the town centre will have their grey bin collected on December 21.The last bin collection...

AS CHRISTMAS rapidly approaches you may be left wondering what to do with the rubbish you accumulate throughout the season, and maybe those pesky baubles that broke.Barnsley Council has released a handy guide of where and how you can dispose of everything from Christmas trees to mince pie trays.Items such as Christmas trees and Christmas lights, and batteries can be disposed of at household waste recycling centres across the borough....

BARNSLEY’S police officers have been spreading the festive cheer by creating food hampers for those in need across the borough.The hampers contain essential items including toiletries and food to ensure those most vulnerable have a meal over the Christmas period.Secretary Tamara Craven, who works with Barnsley District Commander Chf Supt Sarah Poolman, proposed the idea.She said: “After a difficult year I wanted to spread some cheer and help those...

A COUPLE have been lifting the spirits of families across the borough by dishing out certificates for children on the ‘good list’ this Christmas.Chloe Clarke and her husband Charlie, from Cudworth, have been travelling around Barnsley dressed as Santa and his elf delivering a box of festive goodies to families who need a boost.Chloe set up the Facebook group ‘Printssy’ where residents have been contacting her to book visits for their...

MEMBERS of a Cudworth street didn’t let lockdown stop them from spreading the festive cheer as they helped to raise more than £500 with a Christmas lights switch-on.Johnny Key has held a fundraising event at his home on Southfield Road for the past five years and had no plans to slow down his fundraising efforts this year.“It started off because I put up my Christmas lights and all my neighbours wanted...

A HANDFUL of stores have announced that they will not open their stores on Boxing Day to help thank staff for their hard work during the pandemic.Asda, Marks and Spencer, and The Entertainer have revealed they will not be open on December 26 which will allow staff to spend time with their families during the festive period.All 631 Asda stores across the country, including the Asda superstore on Old Mill Lane,...

CORONAVIRUS testing centres across the borough will be open throughout the Christmas period for anyone who experiences symptoms of the virus.Local testing centres will remain open seven-days-a-week for pre-booked tests.You can only get a free NHS test if:You have a high temperatureYou have a new, continuous coughYou've lost your sense of smell or taste or it's changedYou've been asked to get a test by the councilYou've...

FIRE teams have urged business owners to remain safe this Christmas and have released advice to help make sure their Christmas decorations don't cause any accidental fires.South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue want to ensure that Barnsley businesses adhere to fire safety regulations throughout the festive period which can help keep business owners and visitors safe.They have advised businesses to set up the Christmas tree, decorations or lights away from a fire...

A DOZEN local artists will have the opportunity to display their work around the town in a bid to help create a festive Winter Windowland for families to enjoy.The artists have all been impacted by the coronavirus pandemic but the event, which is part of Barnsley Bright Nights, will provide the artists with a platform to showcase their talent.During the Winter Windowland, Barnsley College will play host to a UK exclusive...