Government hands Rotherham charities £1.1m

SIX Rotherham charities and social enterprises have been boosted by a combined windfall of more than £1.1 million.

The beneficiaries, which include a housing support organisation, an enterprise group and a key advice centre were allocated the cash as part of a £9.5 million funding announced nationwide by Cabinet Office minister Francis Maude.

Celebrating the biggest boost is Venture into Business & Education, which has been awarded £310,000 from the Government’s Transition Fund.

Better known as Business & Education South Yorkshire (B&ESY), the charity builds links between schools and businesses.

Training group Phoenix Enterprises was given £287,106, while Rotherham and District Citizens Advice Bureau benefits can celebrate an £158,000 influx.

CAB chief executive Annette Cassam said: “We are delighted with the news that we will receive this financial boost to enable us to continue providing the services we deliver.

“The money will enable us to look at new ways of working and source alternative funding sources to support the work of the bureau in the future.

“The last six months has been a difficult time with uncertainty over funding and this money will provide us with the resources to review our services and make us stronger and better able to deliver services over the next few years.”

Also in the money is Action Housing and Support, based at Genesis Business Park, with a £276,564 grant, while the United Multicultural Centre in St Ann’s has been awarded £105,800.

Grow, which supports women and defends them against discrimination in the workplace and other areas, can expect a cheque for £50,093.

Meanwhile, grants worth £230,000 have been allocated to projects tackling issues including child runaways, anti-social behaviour and domestic violence.

The money was awarded as community grants by South Yorkshire Police Authority.

It will be shared by five schemes across the county, including Dinnington-based runaways project MISPER, and Remedi, a South Yorkshire-wide restorative justice and mediation charity, and South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue’s ARC project, which helps young people stay away from trouble.