Press Releases
John Healey full of praise for grassroots funding as figures add up for SYCF
7th April 2009
SOUTH Yorkshire MP John Healey made a glowing tribute to the South Yorkshire Community Foundation and the 'Founder Supporters' of the Grassroots Grants endowment challenge at an event hosted by the departing High Sheriff of South Yorkshire Giles Bloomer.
More than 90 influential figures throughout the region, including Lord-lieutenant of South Yorkshire David Moody, Mayor Ken Sanderson, Barnsley Chamber of Commerce President Tracy Lally and former Minister for Sport Richard Caborn were present at the Cutlers Hall in Sheffield to celebrate the work done by SYCF this year.
Through the Grassroots Grants endowment challenge, SYCF had been tasked with raising more than £254,000 before March 31, that would be matched pound for pound with government money to create a permanent source of funding for the area.
This feat was accomplished and John Healey MP was quick to honour those who had made it possible.
He said: "Thanks to you 'Founder Supporters', the Foundation can do a great deal to help those that need support the most.
"It is your support of the endowment challenge that has made it possible for the Foundation to achieve the targets for South Yorkshire."
The event also gave John Healey the opportunity to honour the work done by SYCF to help South Yorkshire combat the devastating floods of June 2007, which he said was the most successful regional response in the country.
"The flood appeal was the Foundation doing what it was made to do, linking donors to the communities that need the help. They were doing it then and they are doing it now with the Grassroots Grants endowment challenge."
Contributions from 35 donors enabled SYCF to hit the target, which will be of fantastic benefit to future of South Yorkshire in providing long term sustainable funding for small community groups.
Pauline Grice, chief executive of SYCF, said: "The response that we have had to the Grassroots Grants programme has been overwhelming and we are delighted to have created this pot of long term funding for South Yorkshire.
"That we have managed to meet such a challenging target is testament to the generosity of people in South Yorkshire, and the desire to give much deserved assistance to communities that need it most."
Through Grassroots Grants, SYCF also had significant amounts of grant money to give out throughout Barnsley, Rotherham and Sheffield.
Since September 2008, SYCF has distributed £104,404 in Barnsley to 98 groups, £101,208 in Rotherham to 48 groups and £241,518 in Sheffield to 134 groups.
Pauline said: "We have delivered huge sums of money to the bedrock of South Yorkshire communities that will strengthen and add lasting value to the region.
"Credit must go to everyone at SYCF who helped to make so many grants in such a short space of time."
The Grassroots Grants programme will run till March 2011, and even more money will be available both for immediate grants to community groups and for match funding on donor contributions until this date.
"We have made a great start with the Grassroots Grants programme, and are looking forward to giving out yet more grants and building more long term funding for the benefit of South Yorkshire throughout the next two years."
Anyone interested in seeing how Grassroots Grants can benefit them or how donors can increase their contributions by up to 333% should contact 0114 2424857 for more information.
.jpg)
