Your chance to bag a £1,000 grant

WITH most charities and support groups unable to meet due to coronavirus restrictions, there’s no better time to use those spare hours to fill in an application form for an Advertiser Cash For The Community grant.

We have £10,000 a year to give away to community groups across Rotherham — and we still have £5,000 left of our 2019/20 offering.

The Advertiser has partnered with South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner Dr Alan Billings to offer small grants of up to £1,000 to voluntary groups and non-profit organisations across the borough.

Across 2018/19 we gave away £15,000 to deserving projects and secured another £10,000 to offer to those providing a service which may keep youngsters off the streets or help protect vulnerable people from the risk of crime.

Our Cash For The Community initiative means vital money for local groups that deserve support. It could be a small football club, a craft group or an organisation dedicated to boosting their community or putting on vents.

A panel — which includes Jamie Noble, head of community at Rotherham United Community Sports Trust, Chief Inspector Chris Foster from South Yorkshire Police, John Breckin, ex-Rotherham United player, and ex-Advertiser reporter Michele Vincent, along with Alex Heeley from the Office of the PCC and Advertiser editor Andrew Mosley — will go through each application.

Community groups must be non-profit making and the projects seeking cash need to fit in with the PCC’s priorities of protecting vulnerable people, tackling crime and anti-social behaviour, and treating people fairly.

Each group that gets a grant will be featured in the paper to highlight what it does and how the money will help.

Mr Breckin, who played more than 450 times for the Millers between 1971 and 1982, said: “I am honoured to have been asked to represent Rotherham United alongside head of community Jamie Noble to help judge some of the fantastic community projects to help keep the town safe.

“I have been lucky enough to have seen and met many many amazing people and seen their projects over the years and I am so pleased to see both the Advertiser and the Police and Crime Commissioners Office continuing to support grass roots initiatives.

“I have always believed in community both as a player, coach and manager and now fan and supporter of Rotherham United and this goes for our club as a whole.”

Advertiser editor Andrew said: “The Advertiser is really excited to be involved in this campaign again and to have secured another £10,000 to help prevent crime in the community. We believe Cash For The Community has really made a difference at street level in areas that need help.

“There are a lot of small groups and charities who go about their work without any fuss, giving people a purpose who may otherwise be hanging round the streets, causing problems and getting themselves into trouble, as well as further damaging the community in which they live

“These groups may just need a small amount of money to stage an event, purchase equipment or rent a venue that enables them to make real changes, and we want to hear from as many as possible.”

Dr Billings said the money was vital in helping people across the borough. and added: “I hope that quite small groups in the Rotherham community will feel they can apply.”

Applications must be for specific projects and the money available cannot contribute to schemes in excess of £1,000, staff and running costs. Funding can though be provided for youth worker hours, coaching hours, project workers, room hire and equipment.

Successful grant bids so far have included cash for the Aspire Community Hub to support adults who have mental health issues and/or learning disabilities and other support needs; money for the Rotherham Talking Newspaper, various scout groups, MIND in Mexborough Library, Ferham Festival, Eastwood Let’s Play Outside Project, Young Archers, Canklow Rainbow Kids Club, Thurcroft Community Welfare Bowls Club, Lantern walks, Waverley Speed Watch, a Big Pond clean-up project at Winterhill School, summer schools and craft sessions, Duke of Edinburgh schemes, Rotherham Pride and craft-making at Canklow Kidz.

You can apply to Cash For The Community by visiting our website at www.rotherhamadvertiser.co.uk and filling out the application form.

If you prefer, you can get a copy from our office on Upper Millgate and post it to Cash For The Community, Rotherham Advertiser, 2a Upper Millgate, Rotherham, S60 1PF.

Terms and conditions of the PCC grants can be found at https://southyorkshire-pcc.gov.uk/app/uploads/2019/04/Terms-and-Conditions-2019-20.pdf