Generous Rotherham residents boost community group funding

South Yorkshire’s Community Foundation has been able to create a new grants programme — which offers funding of up to £5,000 — from donations of rebates under the government’s the Energy Bills Support Scheme.

Organisations including those in Rotherham are able to apply for the programme to fund projects such as improving food accessibility, reducing fuel poverty and providing debt advice to communities.

SYCF chief executive, Ruth Willis, said: “This programme is testament to the generosity of people in our region who could and wanted to donate their energy bill rebates to our online fund which has reached over £30,000.”

The fund was launched last October in response to the difficult current economic climate.

Ms Willis said: “We have seen the demand from community groups wanting to help people on the ground through the challenges cost of living brings.”

An initial financial contribution came from the South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard in October and the rest has come from public contributions, including from an anonymous donor who gave £10,000 before Christmas.

Although each application has a limit of £5,000, groups across Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield could partner up with other organisations in joint-bids for up to £10,000.

The deadline for applications for funding is noon on Monday March 13, and any organisations interested should go to www.sycf.org.uk/costofliving to find out more.

You can still donate your energy bill rebate by visiting https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/SouthYorkshireCostOfLivingFund.