A CHARITY which supports young homeless people in Barnsley has been awarded £50,000 by South Yorkshire Fire Authority as part of its work to prevent emergencies.
Centrepoint helps people aged 16 to 25 through engagement, education and encouragement to have the opportunity to develop the knowledge and skills to lead a safe, independent life.
It has been awarded the money to help with water safety, excluded groups, arson, mental health and road traffic collisions.
Edlington Community Organisation’s slipper swap has also been awarded almost £40,000 to deliver a two-year pop up slipper swap across Barnsley, Doncaster and Rotherham. It will also allow older people to receive support and information about fire safety and well-being.
In addition, Northern College has been awarded £80,000 for its safe and well ambassadors project which will deliver an accredited level one qualification for safe and well volunteers. A positive approach to vulnerability ‘breaking down barriers’ course will also be developed.
A total of 16 projects will benefit from the funding, which has been made available under the authority’s Stronger Safer Communities Reserve - a scheme which reinvests money into communities to support the fire service’s work to prevent emergencies.
This is the third time that local organisations have benefited from the funding which has been set aside from the authority’s reserves. The authority has also provided money to support the installation of sprinklers in higher-risk residential accommodation.
Coun Linda Burgess, chairman of the authority, said: “The authority believes that charities, community organisations and other local groups can play an important part in supporting the work of the fire service to make our communities safer and stronger. “Members look forward to seeing how the money which has been allocated following a rigorous assessment process will deliver real and far-reaching benefits for local people.”
