Lottery windfall for Sheffield charity at heart of city’s older people pandemic lifeline

A Sheffield charity providing a much-needed lifeline to isolated older people during the pandemic has landed a £65,000 windfall to extend its work.

Sheffield Churches Council for Community Care (SCCCC) says the National Lottery Community Fund cash will mean it can extend the reach of some of its flagship services ahead of what promises to be a challenging winter for older people across the city.

Key services the charity provides include help for people being discharged from hospital, and its renowned ‘Good Neighbour Scheme’ which seeks to tackle loneliness in people over 65 years old.

During the Covid-19 pandemic SCCCC has also set up a popular Penpal scheme, and introduced a new Inclusive Community Care project, which aims to reduce loneliness and isolation in the city’s older ethnic minority groups.

Mark Storey, CEO at SCCCC, said: “We’re so, so grateful for this money which is allowing us to enhance our provision at a time of critical need for tens of thousands of older people across Sheffield- most of whom have no one else to come to their aid.

“Every penny is being spent on improving the lives of isolated residents right here in our city. We couldn’t be more thankful to the National Lottery Community Fund; the government for facilitating the Coronavirus Community Support Fund scheme; Sheffield CCG and to National Lottery players nationwide.”

SCCCC was set up more than 50 years ago to support the over 65s in Sheffield. It works alongside Sheffield City Council, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals and other care agencies to achieve its mission of improving wellbeing, and reducing isolation and loneliness in the city’s older community.

But, not being able to deliver its planned events, activities and fundraising scheduled in the yearly calendar due to Covid-19, the charity’s fundraising income has reduced substantially.

“Thanks to this financial support, SCCCC will now be able to continue to meet the significant and growing demand for our highly-rated, multi-award winning services.

“We will also be able to stay at the forefront of supporting older people and rise to the challenge of the “new normal”, especially for people who are older, frail, vulnerable or shielded. This means we will be able to rebuild and recover and to seize future opportunities,” Mark said.

For more information about SCCCC, visit www.scccc.co.uk