Transforming lives with £1.7m grant total

New figures show South Yorkshire’s Community Foundation (SYCF) awarded grants totalling more than £1.7m in 2023 to help transform the lives of people and communities across the region.

Latest data reveals SYCF approved £1,769,565 in grant funding – a 73 per cent increase compared to 2022 – benefitting 25,621 people.

Over the 12-month period, 410 grants were given to individuals, community groups and organisations in Sheffield, Barnsley, Rotherham and Doncaster. This is a 38 per cent increase on 2022, equivalent to 113 additional grants.

In 2023, the grant approval rate was 21 per cent higher than in the previous year, with 76 per cent of all applications being successful.

Ruth Willis, CEO of South Yorkshire’s Community Foundation, said: 

These incredible figures demonstrate the pivotal role SYCF plays in building stronger communities and enriching lives by awarding grants, which help tackle the critical issues affecting local people.

 

Highlights of the grant programme include funding for the innovative Moving on Up young people and employment programme, which awarded £140,000 to nine groups and organisations across the region.

Pitsmoor Adventure Playground, Artistic Spectrum and Mums United were just some of the other local groups to benefit from SYCF’s funding.

Ruth added:

The grants have supported a huge variety of individuals, of all ages, with a particular focus on poverty and disadvantage, stronger communities and improving disability opportunities and access.

We are incredibly proud of our success and achievements. To have been able to award £745,000 more funding compared to the previous year is a testament to our team and all those incredible donors who support our work and enable us to do what we do best.