East Region News
£20,000 boost for Sheffield community groups
A cash injection of £20,000 from Sheffield Housing Company (SHC) – which is Sheffield City Council’s joint venture development company with private sector partners Keepmoat and Great Places Housing Group – has been given to Southey Owlerton Area Regeneration (SOAR) and Manor Castle Development Trust (MCDT).
SOAR is using its £10,000 to launch a Warm and Welcoming Spaces initiative in winter, which will help combat some of the challenges caused by the cost of living crisis. The community regeneration charity is working with local organisations, community centres and businesses to create safe, warm spaces where local people can come to work, socialise and access a wealth of information designed to improve health, wellbeing and employability.
Megan Ohri, Partnership Manager at SOAR, said: “We want our safe, warm spaces to provide comfort £20,000 boost for Sheffield community groups and a place where people can meet, to combat loneliness and isolation. Advice and signposting to the appropriate agencies that can support with finances, budgeting and energy saving will also be available to those who might want to access it.
“All members of our community will be able to use these spaces – from those who fancy a change from home working, to the elderly and those with families and children.”
Manor Castle Development Trust is using its £10,000 grant to support a range of additional activities in Sheffield. This includes sponsorship of seasonal events, funding towards a toddler playgroup, support of the local S2 Creative Arts Festival, rolling out a ‘Dark Nights, Positive Activities’ programme for children and young people over the October half term, upgrading local play equipment and improving communications aimed at crime reduction and antisocial behaviour.
Debbie Mathews, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of MCDT, said: “Bringing the local community together and providing the services, activities and support that matters most to our neighbourhood is at the heart of what we do.”
To date, SHC has pledged over £50,000 to public art and community initiatives. £20,000 has been spent supporting local schools and backing open pathways to work for students, while university links provide graduates with work experience. There has also been sponsorship for, or attendance at, dozens of community events.
Within Sheffield, Keepmoat has supported a number of organisations, including SOAR and MCDT, to deliver a variety of projects which have helped promote training, employment, physical activity and mental wellbeing as well as improvements to the local area including the creation of wildflower meadows. Investment has totalled over £27,000.
Looking ahead, SHC aims to complete up to 2,300 properties on 23 sites by the end of 2026 – delivering further economic stimulation, job creation and community investment for Sheffield.