AESSEAL backs community groups with £25,000 donation

AESSEAL manufacturing firm has pledged a donation of £25,000, as well as setting up a long-term charitable fund of £192,000 for Rotherham's worthy causes, providing a boost to the I Love Rotherham campaign.

The charitable fund, which has been set up by the South Yorkshire Community Foundation, is in AESSEAL's name and has taken advantage of pound for poundGovernment match-funding to maximise the impact of the original donation.

Now, the interest from the fund will support community groups in Rotherham forever.

Chris Rea, managing director of AESSEAL, said:

"Directing the company's charitable giving through SYCF will enable us to provide grant funding to grassroots groups that do valuable work to create a better future for people in our local communities."

The South Yorkshire Community Foundation hopes that other organisations will show their support for the area and take advantage of the pound for pound match funding offer, to maximise the impact that their charitable giving can have for the area.

Pauline Grice, chief executive of SYCF added: "We are absolutely delighted to be working with AESSEAL in providing vital funding to the communities of Rotherham, and helping them to meet their charitable objectives.

"Rotherham is full of businesses, organisations and individuals that do fantastic work to support local communities. "

"The pound for pound match funding made available by the Government has created a massive incentive for giving through its effect of doubling the community impact of any donations made."

Generous folk throughout the area have already taken advantage of the match funding through the I Love Rotherham day.

The campaign will continue until 2011, with the final amount match-funded by the Government.

Cllr Jahangir Akhtar, who dressed as a super hero for I Love Rotherham Day, is now preparing to complete a three-mile run with MP Denis MacShane on March 21 to raise more funds for the campaign.

And last week, all three Rotherham MPs donned I Love Rotherham T-shirts outside the House of Commons to raise the profile of the campaign.

To find out how you or your organisation can work with SYCF contact 0114 2424857.