Column: There is more good than bad happedning across Sheffield

We have a tendency to notice the bad instead of the good. I check the news every day and I think it's fair to say there is plenty of bad being reported, whether locally, nationally or internationally. Sheffield is no exception and it's easy to despair and get fed up but, at the same time, there are always some heartwarming good news stories too and we don't pay as much attention to these as we should.

So let me draw your attention to some of the good going on in Sheffield.

At South Yorkshire’s Community Foundation (SYCF) we are lucky enough to work with and support charitable organisations with grant funding. So we know first hand the impact that they have and the lengths that each group goes to make a difference.

These groups together meet every community and individual need you can think of and I want to tell you about just a few of them.

There is In2Change in Neepsend, which works with young people at risk of falling into crime.

The social enterprise Key Changes that supports ex-offenders to gain skills and employment.

Silence Breakers near Kelham Island is tackling social isolation as well as teaching people essential IT skills for free.

These groups are small, but they are growing in size and reach constantly.

These organisations aren’t just restricted to Sheffied either. Many of the groups we support are across the region, including the impressive JADE who work in Rotherham with young people struggling in mainstream education and with many other issues besides.

What is more impressive is that these groups are constantly adapting to local needs and do everything they can to help as many people as possible.

So every time I see a negative headline, I think about the groups that we support and the local people who are stepping up to help their neighbours.

There is far more good happening across Sheffield and everywhere else then bad.

This is also a strong reminder for me of why our grant funding is so important to South Yorkshire, so we can keep groups like these up and running.

I hope the next time you get fed up of all those negative news headlines that you remember these groups in your community and find out more about them. You could even go one step further and find out how you can get involved and help.

nwww.sycf.org.uk