Sheffield community enterprise awarded £300,000

The money has been awarded to Zest, which is based in Upperthorpe by the National Lottery funding is to support its work with local communities.

The money will go towards volunteer recruitment and training to deploy staff members into the community and form connections with people and groups, and identify the most vulnerable people and connect them with services and facilities in their local area.

Zest say the new funding will benefit the community and will give them the resources to continue reaching out to people.

Zest’s ‘This Community Can’ team member, David McNeil said: “Now, thanks to National Lottery players we’ll be able to help local communities rebuild a sense of connection that many feel is missing in today’s society.

It is also hoped that the money can be used to support those living in tower blocks around Ponderosa Park, and the challenges they face with antisocial behaviour.

The social enterprise works with both adults and young people, and seek to ‘foster communities where everyone feels welcomed, valued and can fully participate in the life of the community.’

Zest has been supporting Upperthorpe and Netherthorpe for over 21 years.

One of their most popular community projects is the Zest Youth Group that brings many young people together from different backgrounds to a place where they can access a safe place to go, play games, learn and make friends within their neighbourhoods.