News

BARNSLEY Council has embarked on a mission to find the town’s ‘treasures’.Bosses want to hear from local residents about what they believe makes the town exciting and unique.Locals are being invited to attend a series of free workshops across Barnsley, taking part in cultural activities such as creating writing and object handling.If people would like to, they can bring a piece of their own ‘treasure’ that connects them to...

WATH Festival returned earlier this for the 51st time.Families were treated to all the entertainment they’ve grown to expect, including Morris dancing and musical performances.Midday on Saturday, the traditional reading of Thomas Tuke’s took place, followed by the throwing of 40 dozen loaves of bread from the church spire.The unusual tradition comes from the clergyman’s will, in which he gave money for bread to be donated on St Thomas...

BARNSLEY Hospital Charity’s Make A Memory Appeal has hit its £300k following a three-year fundraising campaign.The massive effort has seen hundreds of Barnsley residents get involved – and bosses say it’s thanks to the ‘overwhelmingly generous’ support of local people who have chipped in since 2021.The success will improve the lives of dementia sufferers in the town and boost patients’ facilities.The target was established to transform the care of...

A LOCAL library celebrated its official reopening on Friday following a refurbishment.The Mayor Coun Mick Stowe conducted a ribbon-cutting ceremony and residents are invited to explore the revitalised space."We are thrilled to celebrate the reopening of Worsbrough Library, a beloved cornerstone of our community," said Coun Stowe. "Libraries are more than just buildings; they are sanctuaries for learning and imagination. I encourage everyone to visit and experience the magic within...

RESIDENTS in Tankersley and Pilley are being encouraged to submit their views on the area’s new neighbourhood plan.The neighbourhood plan team formed last year, with the aim of reaching out of the community to ensure they have a say on how the area develops over the next ten to 15 years.A survey has been created for residents to complete, with a closing date of May 21.John Thornton, who has...

MEMBERS of the Barnsley Palestine Solidarity Campaign headed to Sheffield to support protesting students.Youngsters at the University of Sheffield want the higher education hub’s bosses to disclose what investments in Israel are and divest from them, saying they will continue their occupation camp until the university takes action.They point out that there is still no ceasefire in Gaza and across Palestine and that more than 34,000 Palestinians – two-thirds women and...

WENTWORTH and Dearne MP John Healey recently paid a visit to see the new home of a local disability charity.Social Eyes is a day service provider which supports adults with learning disabilities and autism and runs several creative life skills and activity sessions.The group has moved from the drop-in centre in Rawmarsh to a new facility at the Methodist Chapel on Princess Street in West Melton.Mr Healey said: “It...

A PRIMARY school has installed a defibrillator on their grounds as they build up new relationships with the community.Cawthorne Primary School – with the help of the Parish Council, Yorkshire Health and Safety Services and Infinite Fire and Security – have placed the new defibrillator at the front of the school.At an assembly, staff and students celebrated the work that had been done, which they hope exhibits the school’s values of...

SHADOW Sports Minister Stephanie Peacock recently visited Thorncliffe Health and Leisure Park to learn more about the work of health centres.The MP for Barnsley East visited the High Green venue - which is run by Places Leisure, a member of UK Active scheme - to learn more about the work they do and the challenges they face.She said: “I was pleased to meet with staff at Thorncliffe Health and Leisure Park...

BARNSLEY Central MP Dan Jarvis smashed his £15,000 fundraising target whilst running the London Marathon.Dan was raising funds for Cancer Research UK, a charity close to his heart.He said he knows from his own personal experience the ‘devastation’ cancer can cause – but he was also hoping to raise awareness about the ‘critical importance’ of early detection.Dan aimed to raise £15,000 for the charity, and he’s now surpassed that...

PUPILS from Netherwood Academy in Wombwell took part in a community litter pick recently. The 11 youngsters joined the Barnsley South Area Team to collect rubbish on the Trans Pennine Trail near the school. They collected a total of 23 bags of rubbish.

A BARNSLEY care home has been lauded as one of the best in the country, having bagged a ‘triple crown’ of top awards.Dearnevale is believed to be the UK’s only care home to hold the highest regulator grade of ‘outstanding’ from the Care Quality Commission, accreditation from the Huntington’s Disease Association and a ten-out-of-ten score on carehome.co.uk.The 40-bedroom Grimethorpe home supports adults living with complex care needs arising from neuro-disabilities such...

THE boss of South Yorkshire’s biggest grant giving charity is stepping down after more than a decade of service.Ruth Willis is retiring as CEO of South Yorkshire’s Community Foundation (SYCF) having been at the helm since 2013.SYCF supports thousands of community groups throughout Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield with grant funding and training to improve the lives of local people and make a positive difference.Under Ruth’s leadership, the High...

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....