Reflecting on the Impact and Power of Funding and Support

As we near the end of the year, we want to take a moment to recognise and celebrate the incredible funding, grants and support that YWCA Yorkshire has received over recent months.

Every bit of support we receive helps us strengthen our services, develop new opportunities and respond to emerging needs.

We are deeply grateful to every organisation, trust and partner that has chosen to support our mission. Their commitment not only helps sustain our vital services but also empowers us to innovate, grow and create positive change across our wider communities. As we reflect on the achievements of the past few month, we recognise that none of this would be possible without their continued belief in our work and the people we support.

We are proud to highlight some of the recent grants and funding awards and the opportunities they have created for the people we support.

Wesco Anixter Incentive Scheme

After a successful year of initial funding, Wesco Anixter has granted Peile House an additional £2,500 to continue the Peile House Incentive Scheme for a further year.

The Peile House Incentive Scheme is designed to empower residents by rewarding positive behaviour and active participation in their recovery journey. Young women living at Peile House can earn points for positive actions, engaging in therapy sessions, or personal achievements. The reward system has proven popular amongst residents who, because of their trauma, can find it difficult to manage behaviour and engage in support systems. 

As well as ensuring that the incentive shop is well stocked with desirable items, the Wesco Anixter funds have supplied essential move-on items for when women move into their new homes after staying at Peile House, and at least two enrichment activities. These activities offer a welcome break from the daily routines of women who have experienced extreme poverty, homelessness and sexual abuse.  

The refreshed year of funding will improve experiences for the young people residing at the hostel over the next 12 months. 

Best Start Family Hubs Community Fund

Fleming Gardens, our Rotherham based service has been granted the Best Start Family Hubs Community Fund for 2026 / 2027. This funding, totalling an impressive £13,250, will allow Fleming Gardens provide various programmes across Rotherham to support families experiencing various disadvantages.

One programme will be the Perinatal WRAP (Wellness Recovery Action Plan) which provides support through a planned schedule of group sessions and one-to-one interventions. Fleming Gardens aim to support at least 40 parents over the year to develop personalised WRAP plans, improving emotional wellbeing, resilience and confidence.

The funds will also enable Fleming Gardens to deliver 40 weekly Little Blossoms: Healthy & Happy Playgroup sessions at Bramley Parish Hall, a community venue that enables access for families beyond our core service. Delivered by PEEP-trained staff, the sessions focus on early learning, bonding and child development, while reducing isolation and building parental confidence. The group provides an accessible, non-stigmatising entry point into wider services.

Additionally, the Project will facilitate monthly baby weigh-in sessions in partnership with health visiting services, improving access to early health support and strengthening links to universal services such as infant feeding and child development monitoring.

This funding will impact the wider Rotherham community as well as our core families. By delivering these preventative and inclusive programmes, Fleming Gardens will be able to reach more parents and children, helping to build stronger, healthier and more resilient communities across Rotherham.

SOAR – This is Us Funding

The SOAR This is Us grant is an incredible £18,220 that will kick start a 12-month programme of movement, wellbeing and community activities for our young people living at Peile House.

At the heart of the programme is a commitment to listening to residents and shaping activities around their needs. Early peer consultation sessions will give participants the opportunity to co-design activities, ensuring the programme is relevant, engaging and accessible. Alongside weekly sessions, residents will be able to take part in baby-friendly activities, guided wellbeing walks and peer-led challenges designed to encourage healthy habits and build confidence.

Throughout the project, a varied programme of indoor and outdoor activities will support both physical and mental wellbeing. Residents will have access to workshops focusing on topics such as nutrition, healthy routines, sleep, stress management and body confidence. Outdoor mindfulness sessions, guided nature walks and family-friendly activities will encourage participants to connect with green spaces and enjoy the benefits of being active outdoors.

Empowering Solutions Fund

Empowering Solutions have granted our Doncaster Project an incredible £4116 to create the Green Gables Ready for Independence Hub. The hub is designed to help young people and families build the financial, digital and practical skills they need to manage independently, increase their resilience and reduce the risk of debt, financial shocks and housing crisis.

The project has been shaped by what our young people tell us. They report difficulties completing important tasks on a phone, understanding bills, managing online benefit accounts and knowing what to budget for when moving towards independence. Our Moodle platform enables young people to complete NOCN qualifications remotely and has opened up new learning opportunities. However, they tell us online learning alone is not always enough: connection problems can interrupt their work, and sometimes they need face-to-face help or simply want to sit with a trusted member of staff and talk something through. They have informed us that it would be valuable to have somewhere equipped to go when that support is needed.

Therefore, Green Gables will use the grant to build on the existing Wellbeing Hub and create an accessible, supportive learning environment. The funding will provide laptops, secure storage, a printer and scanner, group-learning equipment, assistive technology, software and practical learning resources. The Hub already has reliable Wi-Fi and YWCA staff will deliver support, combining independent online learning with face-to-face and one-to-one help.

YWCA Yorkshire Chief Executive Officer, Diane Offers, said:

“We are incredibly grateful to all of our funders and supporters who have chosen to invest in our work in recent months. Their generosity allows us to reach more women, children and families with the support, opportunities and services they need to thrive. Funding is about so much more than financial support; it is an investment in people, communities and brighter futures. Thanks to these partnerships, we can continue to innovate, respond to emerging needs and create lasting, positive change across South Yorkshire.”