Health and Wellbeing in South Yorkshire boosted by funding!

Health and wellbeing in South Yorkshire has been boosted by the distribution of £185,000 to over twenty community groups, from a fund by the Mayor of South Yorkshire, Dan Jarvis, working with the South Yorkshire Community Foundation (SYCF).

Launched in August 2021, the South Yorkshire Health and Wellbeing Mayoral Community Fund saw one of the highest number of applications during a SYCF funding round and twenty-three community groups have been awarded funds of up to £10,000.

The funding will address key issues across South Yorkshire such as mental health and green social prescribing, physical well-being and engaging young people in activities addressing health and wellbeing, with the focus on disproportionately affected communities.

After a special webinar that was held on the 26th August to encourage and support groups to apply, introduced by the Mayor of South Yorkshire Dan Jarvis, it resulted in a huge response from a wide range of community groups and organisations.

Ruth Willis, Chief Executive at SYCF, said: “It was clear from the outset that there was going to be a huge demand for this fund, and it shows just how much health and wellbeing matters within our communities across South Yorkshire. We would like to thank all community groups for their interest and conversations about this fund and looking forward to hearing how it has made an impact.”

Mayor of South Yorkshire Dan Jarvis said: “We have received some very worthy applications and I am pleased that the fund has provided twenty-three grants to support a range of community groups, operating right across South Yorkshire. I look forward to hearing about the fantastic impacts that these grants will have on the lives of some of our most vulnerable people from Action for Autism and Asperger’s in Barnsley to Edlington Community Organisation in Doncaster.

One of the twenty-three groups successful were Balby St John PCC, based in Doncaster, who will use the financial support to fund an operations manager for six months, allowing more help for the most lonely, vulnerable, and disadvantaged people in society.

“We will be providing conversation and kindness alongside life’s essentials such as food, toiletries, clothes and small household items free of charge. We are very grateful for the grant from the South Yorkshire Health and Wellbeing Mayoral Community Fund to help support the disadvantaged people in society,” said Reverend Alun Price.

In Sheffield, Yes2Ventures have been supporting people in the labour market who are disadvantaged for health related and social reasons. They plan to actively engage with twenty-five people at sessions held in Snig Hill and Neepsend, who have additional support needs and who are at serious risk of social isolation, with identifiable mental health issues.

Mark Powell, Chief Executive at Yes2Ventures, said: “The grant gives us a way of providing a vital lifeline for vulnerable people who are struggling to move forward towards employment and self-sufficiency.”

Educational Learning Support Hub (ELSH), in Barnsley, will use funding to help develop the physical and mental health of their volunteers and students, with programs tailored to both teach and make them understand the importance of gaining new confidence and boosting their self-esteem.

Florentine Bootha-King, ELSH founder and CEO, said: “ELSH Trustees, volunteers and our clients (students) were really excited to learn that we have been successful in receiving the grant from the South Yorkshire Health and Wellbeing Mayoral Community Fund.”

Cortonwood Comeback Community Centre, from Rotherham, have a long history with SYCF as the Foundation gave them their first grant in 1986. This funding will help them tackle loneliness, support young people with their mental health issues and restart their breakfast club to offer families a free healthy breakfast.

Denise Lelliott, Centre Manager, said: “To receive this award from the Mayoral Fund is amazing, it will enable us to get back up and running and support people in the community who are still feeling the impact of the pandemic.”