Decision day for Leeds community groups in £50,000 giveaway

Countless community groups from across Leeds have applied for a slice of the YEP-backed Sport Relief Community Cash fund.

The funding provides grants of between £500 and £1,000 to small organisations in the city that are doing outstanding work to help local people who are living difficult lives.

YEP editor Nicola Furbisher is on the panel, along with members of the Leeds Community Foundation.

The panel met yesterday to help decide where the money will go.

YEP editor Nicola Furbisher spent hours discussing the many good causes throughout the city.

She said: “It’s incredibly humbling to see the sheer volume of people who are going out of their way to help others in the community.

“Some of the groups that have applied for funding are well-known, but I was also pleasantly surprised to see many new names I hadn’t come across before.

“It was an eye-opener to see so many quiet miracles happening across the city.

“Now we look forward to revealing the groups that will benefit from such a generous pot of money.”

Groups that have benefitted from funding in the past include children’s groups, community sports teams and homeless charities.

Sunshine and Smiles is one of the groups that has previously applied for funding, and aims to improve the lives and opportunities of children and families living with Down Syndrome in Leeds.

The names of this year’s successful applicants will be featured in the YEP and online next week.