How retired lecturer Gordon Dabinett is turning generosity into lasting change
Having called South Yorkshire home for nearly 40 years, retired lecturer Gordon Dabinett has always been committed to giving back to the place that shaped his life and family.
Gordon, 72, spent much of his career working across academia and local government, focusing on economic development and tackling deprivation. But it was moving to Sheffield in 1986 – the same year that SYCF formed – which rooted him in the region he now proudly calls home.
Over the years, Gordon developed a deep understanding of the challenges facing communities particularly around inequality and social mobility. That awareness has shaped his career as well as his approach to giving.
Gordon has always supported charitable causes, and retirement gave him the opportunity to take a more strategic approach to the impact he wanted to make.
With strong ties to the region - his children were raised in Sheffield, two still live locally, and his wife worked at Jessop Wing Maternity Hospital - his focus was clear.
I wanted to give something back to the local area - one that I’d worked in and been part of for so long.
Around ten years ago, Gordon first connected with South Yorkshire’s Community Foundation and began making monthly donations. More recently, he established a family trust, allowing him to give more intentionally over time.
For Gordon, one of the biggest challenges in giving was knowing where best to direct support.
South Yorkshire is home to such a wide range of charities and community groups, all doing important work. But identifying where funding could make the biggest difference isn’t always easy.
What I like about the Foundation is that there are so many different organisations trying to help people across South Yorkshire. By giving to the Foundation, it removes the question of ‘who do I give it to?’
The money is used where it’s most needed.
Gordon’s giving is rooted in a strong belief of addressing inequality and supporting long-term change.
What should motivate people to donate is the Foundation’s unrivalled knowledge of the issues facing local people and the breadth of inequality in the region.
It’s not just economic, it’s social and health. These issues are becoming more and more widespread, and they won’t be solved without the continued work of vital grassroots groups.
As well as supporting immediate needs, Gordon is passionate about the importance of long-term thinking.
I strongly believe that lasting change requires sustained investment in people and places.
By leaving a sum of money, it helps the long-term operation of the Foundation. Actually funding the Foundation itself helps ensure its longevity and continued operation, which I think is very important.
I think the work it does across South Yorkshire is so important.
It’s altruistic, but there’s also a self-motivation. I live in this city, in South Yorkshire, so I want it to be a better place for everyone.