Better future for Rotherham communities
For small community organisations, funding towards core costs can be incredibly valuable, providing the stability they need to focus on what matters most - being there for local people.
So, when Rotherham CIC Better Today was awarded £2,000 from South Yorkshire’s Giving Network (SYGN) at the 2025 Celebration event, Lead Project Coordinator John Leaver was delighted.
Better Today supports people experiencing mental health challenges, addiction recovery, loneliness and difficult circumstances through accessible, community-based support.
Its work includes daily sessions, motivational content, Q&A support on social media and a range of activities designed to bring people together and reduce isolation.
John explains: “One of the things we are most proud of at Better Today is creating an environment where people don't need a diagnosis or referral to walk through the door. Someone can come in, have a coffee, talk to somebody and feel listened to without judgement.
“For some people, simply having somewhere they know they can turn to during a difficult period has made a significant difference.”
The SYGN funding, pooled from networkers across South Yorkshire, contributed towards the practical costs of keeping Better Today’s community-based support running in Rotherham. This included staffing and administration, refreshments for people attending sessions, insurance and photography to help capture and promote the organisation’s work.
John said: “Having support towards these core costs is so vital for a small community organisation like ours. It gives us greater stability and means we can focus on the bigger picture and doing what we set out to do, which is being there for people.
“The funding has helped us continue providing accessible, informal support for people who are struggling with their mental health, loneliness, addiction, recovery or difficult circumstances in their lives.
“Over the past year, we’ve continued to see how important that kind of early, community-based support can be. People have formed friendships through Better Today, become less isolated and gained confidence to take positive steps in their lives.”
The funding has also helped Better Today continue developing its programme of activities and strengthen relationships with other organisations and services across Rotherham.
During the past year, the CIC has delivered a wide range of opportunities for people to connect, including a trip to Whitby, a men’s wellbeing day and use of Better Today’s podcast studio by Andy’s Man Club.
“The funding gave us greater stability to continue developing Better Today and building relationships with other organisations and services across Rotherham, helping us become part of a wider network of support within the community.
For a small community organisation, £2,000 can make a genuine difference. It helps keep the doors open, the coffee flowing and, most importantly, gives people somewhere they can feel heard, supported and less alone.
South Yorkshire’s Giving Network brings together businesses, philanthropists and individuals who want to use their giving to create positive change in communities across the region.
Delivered by South Yorkshire’s Community Foundation, SYGN enables networkers to pool their support and direct funding towards organisations tackling some of the most pressing challenges facing local communities.
Martin McKervey, SYGN’s Rotherham representative and director at AESSEAL, said: “Mental health continues to be an important issue for communities across South Yorkshire, which makes the work Better Today is doing particularly valuable.
“It’s fantastic to see a small CIC doing such big things in its community and hear about the impact Better Today has made in Rotherham since we first met John at the Celebration event almost 12 months ago.
SYGN is about combining the collective giving of businesses, philanthropists and individuals to support organisations making a difference in our communities, and the funding for Better Today is such a great example of this in action.
Michelle Dickinson, Deputy CEO and Head of Philanthropy and Programmes at South Yorkshire’s Community Foundation, said: “Core cost funding is incredibly important to the organisations receiving it. For smaller community groups in particular, the ability to use funding towards the costs of running their organisation can provide vital stability.
“It means they can respond to what their communities need, rather than having money tied to a specific project or activity.
“We’re delighted the SYGN grant has supported John and his team, giving them the space to continue developing their work and supporting people across Rotherham.”
On behalf of everyone at Better Today, I’d like to say a huge thank you to all the South Yorkshire’s Giving Network networkers for believing in what we do and supporting us.
“Your support has helped us continue being there for people in our community when they need somebody, and we’re incredibly grateful.” John Leaver
Meet Michelle
Michelle leads strategic partnerships to connect giving with community need across the region. Since joining in 2019, she has played a key role in major funding initiatives, including flood appeals and cost-of-living support, helping to raise over £2.5 million for South Yorkshire communities.
Her working days are Monday to Friday.
Michelle Dickinson
Deputy CEO and Head of Partnerships and Programmes
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