£3m charity fund ready to back community work across region

The Grassroots Grants scheme has been organised by South Yorkshire Community Foundation, a charity which helps other community-based organisations needing financial support.

Businesses, individuals and other organisations have been making a series of donations to the fund over the last three years and it now totals 3.2m, which will be used as a capital fund, using interest from the investments to provide an annual source of money for grants.

The advantage for those

supporting the scheme is that all the money they donate is match-funded, effectively doubling the benefit of their donation.

The new source of support is likely to be especially valuable in the immediate future, as charities have been hit by a drop in income and increasing difficulties in successfully accessing grants. Donations will be focused on organisations which rely on volunteers.

Construction firm Henry Boot is one of those which has put its weight behind the scheme, making a donation of 10,000 which has taken the company's total given to the scheme to a total of 30,000.

Match funding means that is inflated to 60,000 however, and that money will be used to create a fund in the company's name to provide financial support to organisations which benefit the community.

Because the original capital remains untouched, it means the fund will remain a valuable source of support for many years to come.

Jamie Boot, of Henry Boot Plc, said: "We've worked with SYCF for many years and their skills and expertise have been vital in making sure our money goes to the causes that need it most.

"It means a lot to us as a company to put something back into the area in which we have grown and developed.

"By working with SYCF we get valuable introductions to projects and worthy causes that we otherwise might not have been aware of."

The first donations from the new Henry Boot fund are expected to be made in April next year.

Henry Boot Plc was one of the founder supporters of the Grassroots Grants endowment challenge when the three year programme began in 2008.

Pauline Grice, chief executive of SYCF, said: "We are extremely lucky to have a number of generous donors who we work with in our area, with Henry Boot Plc being a shining example.

"Over the years we have formed a wonderful partnership whereby we can meet the firm's charitable objectives by employing the local knowledge that we have developed over nearly 25 years of grant delivery.

"The Grassroots Grants offer has understandably been extremely popular and has allowed us to build a very healthy pot that will go towards supporting volunteer led groups and projects in the future."

There is still an opportunity for the size of the fund to grow further, because it is open for additional donations until the end of March next year.

Businesses or other organisations wanting to get involved in the scheme are being invited to contact SYCF, telephone 0114 242857, to discuss their intentions.

Meanwhile, SYCF will hold its annual general meeting next month.

It will take place on Thursday November 18 at Barnsley Metrodome, Queens Road, from 5pm, and continues the charity's tradition of moving the event between the county's four boroughs.

Last year's AGM took place in Doncaster.