Barnsley brews up big ideas for Pride of Yorkshire
We headed to brilliant Barnsley this week for a morning filled with inspiring conversations, sneak peeks of designs and, of course, lots of lion liaison!
There was plenty to chat about in Barnsley this week as the Pride of Yorkshire team hosted a coffee morning at True North Bar in The Glass Works, in the heart of the town’s newly regenerated centre.
Held on Thursday 6 November, the event brought together community groups, schools, culture and tourism representatives and businesses to hear more about how Barnsley can get involved in Pride of Yorkshire when the trail goes on display in the town and across the region in the summer of 2026.
At the event, Tchad Western from Sheffield Children’s Hospital Charity spoke about the huge impact sculpture trails can have – from inspiring creativity in schools to helping businesses and communities feel a renewed sense of pride in their hometowns. He said: “Trails like Pride of Yorkshire bring people together in ways that last well beyond the summer.
“They create connections, memories, and opportunities for everyone involved – while helping us continue to support the incredible work of Sheffield Children’s Hospital. We want this trail to create a legacy for our children”.
Artist Josephine Dellow takes the stage
Guests also heard from Barnsley-born artist Josephine Dellow, who shared the story behind her first-ever sculpture design and spoke about how proud she is to celebrate her hometown through her art.
“It’s such a lovely project to be part of,” Josephine said. “There’s a real buzz about Barnsley at the moment, and being able to capture some of that pride and positivity through my design feels really special.”
Josephine also talked about the inspiration behind her Barnsley-themed design, which features iconic locations from around the town – including Barnsley Civic, Cannon Hall, The Alhambra Centre and Wentworth Castle Gardens. She is one of around 75 artists who will be bringing her unique style and skillset to the project by painting a lion and a lioness sculpture to go on display next summer.
A huge thank you to everyone who joined us at the event, and the fantastic team at True North Bar who hosted us! We can’t wait to work in close partnership with Barnsley on this new sculpture trail, and to see our sculptures shining in the sunshine next summer.
About Pride of Yorkshire
Sheffield Children’s Hospital Charity has set an ambitious £2.8 million fundraising target for the Pride of Yorkshire campaign, with funds raised earmarked to support cutting-edge research, vital new equipment and creative therapeutic projects for young patients.
We’re now calling to South Yorkshire to rally behind this campaign and help to support the future of children’s healthcare. We need Businesses to sponsor our magnificent lion and lioness sculptures, Schools & Community Groups to adopt our adorable cubs, and enthusiastic people to volunteer throughout the campaign.
More information about opportunities can be found on the Get Involved page.
Key Dates:
January 2026: Applications to become a sponsor and for schools/community groups to adopt a cub close.
February 2026: Sponsors choose their design from 150 unique sculptures and schools/community groups start painting.
June-September 2026: Pride of Yorkshire takes to the streets of South Yorkshire.
October 2026: Farewell event and action, and cubs return to schools/community groups.
Pride of Yorkshire will run from June 2026 – September 2026 across South Yorkshire. Watch this space for more information, how to get involved and support and for artists announcements on our website.
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