Festive Greatness from Our Sponsors & Friends (Dec '19)
Christmas Support Services
In the warm bubble of overindulgence, it's easy to forget that many people in the city will spend Christmas on their own. But kindness is a quality which comes naturally to Sheffielders and there are many who go out of their way to support others during the festive period.
Homeless and Rootless at Christmas (HARC) offers a safe haven for vulnerable men and women at the Cathedral Archer Project, providing three meals and warmth from Christmas Day to New Year's Day. The Better Together Project likewise offers an evening of communal eating, gifting and singalongs from 6pm for elderly people spending Christmas Day alone.
Youth housing charity Roundabout is enabling supporters to make a donation instead of a giving gift to family or friends, while HOST UK matches up international students with local Christmas hosts for a four-day period. Meanwhile, Sheffield Children's Hospital's fantastically-named National Elf Service sponsorship drive encourages you to dress up at work for the benefit of its Emergency Department.
Many charities and support services in Sheffield run on the goodwill of volunteers, so if you're willing and able, look them up and get in touch. Merry Christmas.
Dun Works
Established in 2016 by South Yorkshire Housing Association, Dun Works is an apartment development and new community in the heart of Kelham Island.
Built with 36,000 of original bricks, as well as lots of original signage and a crucible kiln, a key aim of the project was to retain the heritage of the site whilst bringing new, affordable rented accommodation to the area.
Dun Works features studio, one and two-bedroom apartments spread across eight blocks, all named after weirs on the River Don. There are a range of rent levels to suit different incomes, starting at £470 a month, and flexibility with contract lengths.
If you're not aware of the area, Kelham is attracting an increasing number of passionate independent traders, so you're spoilt for choice for food, drink and local services. What's more, on moving in you'll get £100 to spend with The Milestone, six-months free membership from The Gym and 12-months free broadband to boot.
Visit the site for more information and a virtual tour, then email Crucible Sales and Lettings with any enquiries.
Film Unit is 80
We found out recently that Film Unit is a staggering 80 years old this year, making it the longest serving student film society in the UK. That's no mean feat.
Hosted at the Students' Union, Film Unit shows over 50 films per semester, including a range of special screenings and one-off events, classic films on Wednesdays and Saturday Kids' Club. It's important to note that Film Unit isn't just for students - all are welcome, and at £3.30 per ticket you can't go too far wrong.
During December Film Unit is screening Beau Travail, Precious, Dogtooth, Gully Boy, Tell It To The Bees, Happy As Lazzaro, True Romance, Hale County This Morning This Evening, The Secret Life of Pets, Once Upon A Time in Hollywood, Vox Lux and Hot Fuzz.
Tickets are available via the SU website or the onsite box office.
John Pedder - Dressing Up Box Exhibition
Drawing Room, 58 Broad Lane29 Nov 2019 - 30 Jan 2020
John Pedder is a local artist working in woodcut prints.
His new exhibition, Dressing Up Box, explores aspects of childhood innocence through the concept of fancy dress. Young people are shown shielded from the outside world in images which can be read as a call for adults to retain "enough of their innocent wonder to help colour their grown-up days".
Placing this in a 21st century context, the artist looks at the climate crisis and adults' ability, or inability, to see the world through the eyes of young people. John will be using a hand-carved wooden alphabet to add names to the prints using a stamping method, making each print personalised.
Hosted by at the Drawing Room on Broad Lane, part of Gorden Snee Art, the exhibition of bold and colourful pieces is free entry and runs until the end of January.
La Mama Latin Tapas
238 Abbeydale Road, S7 1FLWith great new places cropping up all the time, it's all too easy to neglect the mainstays. La Mama is one such institution, an authentic and independent Latin restaurant trading on Abbeydale Road for ten years with Daniela Cooke at the helm.
With Chilean roots, La Mama's menu features a selection of meat, fish, vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options to cater for all needs. Classics like bravas, empanadas and piri-piri delights are in abundance and cocktails and sangria are also in full flow.
Tapas Happy Hour happens every Tuesday evening, Wednesday evening, Thursday evening and Saturday afternoon, cocktails are 2-for-1 on Saturdays from 3pm to 6pm, and kids eat free weekday evenings and Saturday afternoons. Super.
La Mama is great for get togethers, with the restaurant now taking bookings for Christmas and NYE and festive menus available. Email for more info and reservations.
Photographs by Charlotte Newton
12-24 Dec, 10-6pm, FargateWe're lucky in Sheffield to have a whole range of independent traders for all your Christmas shopping needs, but if you're looking for a unique, locally-sourced art print this year you should make your way to the Fargate Christmas Market for the Photographs By Charlotte Newton stall.
Charlotte's work combines a pop art sensibility with shots of some of the city's most recognisable locations and landmarks. These include some of the city's best-loved pubs and venues, like The Leadmill, The Crucible and Yellow Arch.
Her work begins at £15 and also includes a diverse range of landscape photography of the Peak District and beyond, so it's likely you'll be able to find a gift here for your loved ones or yourself. All of Charlotte's work is also available online.
