Sheffield Making A Difference Awards 2016

17th August 2016

Celebrating 90 years of voluntary and community action Voluntary Action Sheffield (VAS) has a key role in the city to support the community and voluntary sector to deliver a wide range of activities and services within local communities.

VAS has an excellent track record of success over the years, with a strong reputation locally and nationally for innovation and quality services. Supporting VAS means you're supporting the whole sector - not just one individual cause. This year is particularly important to VAS as it celebrates its 90th anniversary - an ideal opportunity to step back and highlight the significant impact the sector has in our city. Sheffield enjoys the social and economic benefits of around 4,000 voluntary and community groups, who all contribute to the civic and economic health of the city. The economic benefits of the sector equate to around £810m almost as much as the two Universities combined! In 2014/15, VAS worked with 886 organisations and 5,500 individuals in three key areas: Supporting the development of organisations providing Professional Services (e.g. HR, Legal Advice, Payroll and Accountancy Services, Training programme); IT Support and Software; and conference space and tenancies at their city centre venue, The Circle. Volunteering supporting organisations to develop really effective volunteer programmes, including connecting individual volunteers with organisations needing their contribution. Voice, leadership and partnership bringing together a diverse sector, and seeking to persuade and influence decision-makers to ensure that the sector can play its full role in the city. [caption id="attachment_26136" align="alignright" width="300"] METADATA-START[/caption] Specific examples of VAS's work include: Helping an individual struggling with confidence and self-esteem to engage in volunteering in their local community. This led to further civic engagement, improved self-esteem and gaining new skills, and a reduction in their medication; Supporting a group of volunteer Health Walk leaders to ensure that their walking group was sustainable, rather than folding in the face of funding being removed; Supporting small groups to have effective committee arrangements in place, leading to good decision-making, robust action plans, and successfully securing start-up funds. This included becoming an established corporate body with systems in place to comply with financial and other legislation in order that they can focus on their key goals; Providing flexible office and meeting space at The Circle so that groups can access facilities in a vibrant and stimulating hub, meeting their short-term and long-term needs. To celebrate its 90th anniversary, VAS is hosting the first awards event for the local sector. The Sheffield Make a Difference Awards will acknowledge and reward the valuable work of local voluntary and community organisations across the city. The awards ceremony will be held in November 2016 at a city centre venue, with a number of award categories to recognise the diverse work of the sector across the city. And excitingly, local sports hero, Jessica Ennis Hill, will be presenting the awards fingers crossed for our -Golden Girl in Rio! VAS is looking for sponsorship and support from local businesses in order to make this event a great celebration of our city, and communities. Sponsorship packages can include: Logo acknowledgement on publicity and promotional materials, including flyers, programmes and multimedia on the night Logo acknowledgement in all award winner photographs, with Jessica Ennis Hill Publicity materials available to guests at the awards ceremony Acknowledgement in secured local media coverage. Any businesses looking to support or get involved with the Sheffield Make a Difference Awards, or looking to find out more about sponsorship packages available, please get in touch with the VAS team. Contact Details Sarah Grindrod, Marketing and Communications 0114 253 6682 or email s.grindrod@vas.org.uk Maddy Desforges, Chief Executive 0114 253 6607 or email m.desforges@vas.org.uk For more information about Voluntary Action Sheffield's work visit www.vas.org.uk