A Sheffield-based community forum taking a lead in the regeneration process of Southey has received funding from UK Steel Enterprise (UKSE) to help address unemployment and social mobility in the area.
The £1300 grant provided by UKSE - a subsidiary of Tata Steel tasked with assisting the economic regeneration of communities affected by changes in the steel industry - will provide Southey Development Forum with operational funding to run a number of adult classes including Numeracy, Literacy, employment skills and IT.
Provided from the UKSE Charitable Fund managed by the South Yorkshire Community Foundation (SYCF), a charitable endowment funding programme that raises and distributes grants to community projects across South Yorkshire, the funding will support the continuation and improvement of resources for the residents of Southey.
Co-founder of Southey Development Forum, Janet Bagshaw, said: “The Forum was established as a means of tackling the current social and economic problems that the area is facing. We place great emphasis on wellbeing and combating loneliness and run regular workshops as a means of bringing some of the most vulnerable individuals in the community together to improve social skills, boost self-esteem and encourage involvement.”
Southey Development Forum, established in 2008 and based at Southey Library, works with the public to encourage achievement and improve job prospects for all age groups by delivering training in a variety of areas, many of which have been identified by the community and local businesses as skills that are a necessity to those seeking employment.
Dean Platts, Volunteer at Southey Development Forum added: “One of our key aims is to make education free and accessible to all. Volunteering at Southey Development Forum allows me to give back to the community and with the help of the funding we are now able to continue running our Jobs Club alongside Maths and English classes.”
Allan Wood, Regional Executive at UKSE said: “Community groups such as Southey Development Forum play an instrumental role in education and wellbeing, especially in more deprived areas. We are proud to be associated with the hard work of the Forum and SYCF, both of which have supported the needs of the community for many years.”
Ruth Willis, Chief Executive of SYCF, said: “It has been a real pleasure to see the difference the funding has made to Southey Development Forum and the many other groups that have been supported since the fund was set up.
“We have been working with companies like UKSE who are dedicated to giving back to their communities for over 30 years. We pride ourselves on giving them the best and most efficient service and advice, which allows them to make a real impact on local communities.”
