Jess joins Community Foundation team

South Yorkshire’s Community Foundation (SYCF) has strengthened its team with the appointment of Jess O’Neill.

Jess has joined the Community Foundation as its new Grants and Partnerships Manager.

She is responsible for leading the team which delivered 410 grants totalling more than £1.7m to groups and individuals across South Yorkshire in 2023.

Originally from London, Jess has previously held roles at Sheffield Theatres and Sheffield Music Academy. She is also a board member at Classical Sheffield and a mentor with charity, Arts Emergency.

Jess said: “It’s fantastic to have joined such a brilliant team, which works tirelessly to support community groups and enrich lives by awarding grants across Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield.

“In addition to managing the hugely successful grants programme, I will be looking to identify improved ways of working and streamlining to build on our successful year of giving in 2023.”

Jess is responsible for a number of key projects for SYCF including The Social Enterprise Growth Accelerator (SEGA) – a new partnership for Sheffield which provides grant funding to help entrepreneurs and social enterprises develop and grow their businesses.

She will also lead the Low Carbon – Community and Culture Project – awarding grants to help community and cultural organisations responsible for public-facing buildings in Sheffield to reduce carbon emissions and improve energy efficiency.

Ruth Willis, CEO of South Yorkshire’s Community Foundation, said: “Jess joins us in what has been an incredibly busy period of grant giving for the Community Foundation, but she’s hit the ground running – impressing with her enthusiasm, professionalism, creativity and commitment. It’s a pleasure to have her in the team.”

For more information about SYCF’s grants programme visit Apply | South Yorkshire’s Community Foundation (sycf.org.uk).