Grassroots groups and voluntary organisations in communities around Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park have been boosted by the success of the Park’s ‘Legacy Fund’ – a charitable fund created to improve the health and wellbeing of local people.

Following the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the first annual report shows a total of 27 community groups have benefitted from a share of almost £27,000 awarded in the first year of the Legacy Fund from April 2023 to March 2024.

The fund was set up in partnership with South Yorkshire’s Community Foundation to give groups and charitable organisations within a three-mile radius of the Park the opportunity to apply for up to £1,000 to support physical and mental health and wellbeing, and help reduce social isolation.

A total of £26,738 has been distributed to: Choice Housing Ltd, Cricket Arena CIC, Crossroads Care, Dance Inc Academy, Datic Trust, DIVERSIFY NOW CIC, Element Society, Emmaus Sheffield, Ethel Trust, Friends of Abbeyfield Park, Life After Crisis, Light Peer Support Ltd, Motion Exercise CIC, One Somali Foundation, Promoting Health, River Stewardship Company, SAGE, Sheffield Mencap and Gateway, Sheffield One World Choir, Sheffield Steelkings Para Ice Hockey Club, Sheffield Town, Sheffield United Cricket Club, Stephen Harrison Academy, The Eagles Foundation, Tinsley Community Allotment and Tusaale FC.

The fund is being managed and administered by South Yorkshire’s Community Foundation (SYCF) – the region’s largest local grant giving charity.

Michelle Dickinson, Head of Philanthropy and Programmes at SYCF, said: “We have been overwhelmed with the success of the Legacy Fund in its first year. The grants have been invaluable in supporting grassroots groups in tackling issues affecting the most vulnerable sections of the community.

“Our vision is to make a positive difference to South Yorkshire by distributing funding to help people in communities facing hardship and disadvantage. We are able to do this by connecting wonderful organisations like Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park, and its partners, who care about the region, with groups striving to build stronger, healthier communities.”

Claire Fretwell, Operations Manager at Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park said: “We are incredibly proud to be able to showcase the fantastic success of our Legacy Fund in its first year.

“The difference these grants make to these often marginalised communities is incredible and it’s been wonderful to see how each group has used the funding to benefit the health and wellbeing of people living near Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park.”

The fund was created through donations by a number of businesses and organisations: B Braun, Canon Medical Systems, CMS, Forged Solutions Group, Green Piling, GRI Group, Gripple, Lightfoot Wines, LivingCare, Meadowhall, NOCN Group, Park Community Arena, Pressure Technologies, REYT, Scarborough Group International, Sheffield Eagles, Sheffield Forgemasters, Sheffield Hallam University, Sytner BMW Sheffield, Sytner Land Rover Sheffield, The Scarborough Group Foundation, University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre, Westfield Health and World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association.

Claire added: “We are so grateful to all the partners who have contributed towards the Legacy Fund and played a part in supporting community organisations to deliver services and activities which promote physical and mental health and wellbeing and reduce social isolation.”

Sheffield Steelkings Para Ice Hockey Club was one of the Legacy Fund recipients in 2023. The club was successful in securing a £1,000 grant to buy 10 adjustable helmets to ensure the players’ safety and allow them to cater for more people and account for different body shapes.

The Steelkings run a free, weekly disabled ice hockey taster session, but previously had to limit numbers due to a lack of equipment.

Wayne Plummer, Sheffield Steelkings treasurer, said: “As a self-funded group, it’s essential we engage with the local community to find new ways of providing the equipment needed to keep people safe while they train in para ice hockey.

“Being able to work with the Legacy Fund helped us to achieve this. The application process was straightforward, and the communication from the group was second-to-none. This shows that supporting clubs like the Sheffield Steelkings is at the heart of the Legacy Fund is all about.”

Applications remain open for the Legacy Fund. For more information or to apply click here