£120,000 goes to Rotherham charities

FOUR Rotherham charities have received more than £122,000 in funding to help them put on cooking sessions, fitness classes and other community projects.

A total of £329,341 from the People’s Health Trust through Active Communities programme has been granted to ten South Yorkshire charities.

The Rotherham organisations in the money include Rotherham United (Great Millers) Youth Forum, who were awarded £36,798.

The money — raised by HeathRich CIC through The Health Lottery — has been used to employ two part-time youth workers to work with young people aged 13 to 25 living in Masbrough, Henley and Ferham over a two-year period.

Head of community at Rotherham United Community Sports Trust, Jamie Noble, said the workers would engage with all communities to create social cohesion and tackle health issues.

The funding also meant the club has now been awarded the Premier League Kicks badge in recognition of its community work.

Mr Noble said: “It is rare for clubs which are not in the Premier League get it.

“It’s a significant step on the ladder to getting sustainable money from the premier league.”

Rotherham Ethnic Minority Alliance was given £21,926 to provide a women’s conversation club for isolated refugee and asylum seeking women over a two-year period.

Open Minds Theatre Company was awarded £27,480 which will be used to train adults with severe learning disabilities, predominantly from minority ethnic backgrounds, to deliver workshops surrounding attitudes to disability and ethnicity that can be delivered at local schools, businesses and community groups.

Cortonwood Comeback Community Centre in Brampton-Bierlow has been handed a £34,082 windfall toward setting up a community arts and drama project for residents of all ages.

The activities aim to bridge the gap between the generations and promote community cohesion, giving people easy access to the arts and volunteering opportunities and access to training and development.

John Hume, chief executive of the People’s Health Trust, said: “We are delighted to be investing in these local organisations with great ideas to make their communities even better places to grow, live, work and age.”

Active Communities is earmarked for community groups and not-for-profit organisations with an income of less than £350,000 a year that are seeking investment of between £5,000 and £50,000 a year, for projects lasting up to two years.

HealthRich CIC has raised more than £1,168,485 for good causes in South Yorkshire.

For more information visit www.PeoplesHealthTrust.org.uk.