Council Leader Terry Fox has announced a Community Support Fund to help ‘re-energise volunteers throughout the areas of most need’.

Since becoming Leader of the Council in May, Cllr Fox has been hosting ‘walkabouts’ across the city where he, and the council’s most senior officers, have been meeting with community groups and listening direct to their concerns.

In response to concerns raised by community groups on the walkabouts Cllr Fox has announced a restructuring of support provided to the city’s volunteers, as well as a new fund worth £500,000 targeted at the areas in the city in the most need.

Cllr Terry Fox:

“We’ve got fantastic volunteers throughout the city. The pandemic has made it crystal clear how important the city’s community groups are to the very fabric of Sheffield. But to be honest this is not a new thing, they have become even more of a lifeline for people over the years – as government austerity has slashed public services and the support that used to be in place.

“This is particularly acute in areas of most need. In some parts of the city they have terrific numbers of volunteers, but in others there is a real shortage, especially so when compared with need. Obviously this affects the community support available. As such we will undertake a fundamental review of how support is being provided, and we will launch a new Post-Covid Community Fund – directing an extra £500,000 to those groups at the frontline of the city’s most in need places.

“Ultimately this is about re-energising and supporting volunteers throughout the city, from Stocksbridge to Mosborough, whilst also giving an extra hand to those groups in the areas of most need”.