Charity’s record-breaking year of giving tops £2m
A REGIONAL charity which awards grants to help communities in South Yorkshire has been hailed by a Rotherham group for making a “huge difference.”
South Yorkshire’s Community Foundation is celebrating a record-breaking year of giving – in its last financial year it distributed £2.1million to voluntary and community groups across Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield.
In the reporting period, the foundation supported 669,317 people with an overall grant application success rate of 79.2 per cent.
Its support has helped Lost Chord UK, the Rotherham-based national charity which runs musical sessions for people with dementia, funded by SYCF.
CEO Jean Collingwood said: “The money from South Yorkshire’s Community Foundation means everything to us.
“It enabled us to reach 1,000 people in Rotherham supporting those with dementia and their families and communities that care for them.
“If we hadn't had the support it's quite scary to think what would have happened.
“I'd like everyone at SYCF to know that they've made a huge difference.
“There are so many families who are struggling socially.
“Some people don't leave their houses, but this funding helps them connect with humans, it means they have something to get dressed up for and something to leave the house for.
“They might not be coping making a coffee in the kitchen, but they can come here and sing and connect with others.
“That's what's really important.”
This record-breaking year brings the SYCF's 40-year impact to a total of £40million in grant funding awarded to a diverse range of causes, projects and communities.
Martin Singer, SYCF chief executive, said: “For 40 years, South Yorkshire’s Community Foundation has stood alongside local communities.
“And we’re incredibly proud this past year has been one of our most impactful yet.
“Thanks to the generosity of our donors and partners, we’ve been able to distribute more than £2million in funding in just 12 months – reaching communities in every corner of South Yorkshire.
“That funding has gone directly to grassroots organisations, the people who know their communities best and are there when it matters most.
“Our donors and partners genuinely care about their communities, and we’re helping turn that generosity into real, practical support for grassroots groups.
“Local generosity means local impact.”