Charity chief: £10,000 windfall will have "massive impact"

Sue Wynne and her colleagues at Rotherham Rise were celebrating this week after the charity scooped the cash in a public vote run by Johnstone’s Paints under its Community Spirit scheme.

The money will go on developing and decorating a new women’s centre at the new Rise HQ at the corner of Main Street and Market Street in the town centre, where counselling and outreach work will take place alongside employment skills courses.

In a special feature last month, the Advertiser told how Rise staff were banking on winning the £10,000 grant to avoid having to put their expansion plans back until later in the year.

More than 100 charities and community groups were whittled down to four before a month-long public vote.

Sue said this week: “We are absolutely thrilled to win the Johnstone’s Trade Community Spirit prize.

“It is going to have a massive impact and I don’t think we would have been able to open for quite some time if we hadn't won this competition.

“I can't thank Johnstone's Trade and the people who voted for us enough.”

As well as support for women and children affected by domestic and sexual abuse, the women’s centre — in a former training centre — will also provide access to groups and activities for all women.

The prize money will help to pay to redecorate the premises, with painting and decorating contractor Bell Group lined up to do the work and Johnstone’s to provide colour and paint advice and materials for the redecoration.