Sheffield-based fundraising group, 500 Together, has reached a significant milestone by earning a total of £50,000 in their weekly donations to individuals and organisations in need.
The group, which was established in 2019, has collectively donated a sum of £500 every week to a wide variety of causes.
It has donated to organisations such as SWWOP (Sheffield Working Women’s Opportunities Project), who provide intensive support for vulnerable women in emergency situations, and individuals who have faced personal tragedies, such as a collapsed ceiling following the loss of a spouse.
Nichola Vasey, 45, one of the organisers of the project, said: “Doing this sort of work is a huge privilege and amazingly humbling. It’s such a reminder that the average joe like me can help people.
“It’s such a small thing to give but we’ve seen what a huge difference it can make for some people.”
Their most recent recipient was for Ben’s Centre, a charity that supports homeless and vulnerable people in Sheffield. Their donation has gone towards a new washing machine and essential supplies for the summer.
A spokesman for Ben’s Centre said: “We are absolutely delighted that we have been able to get a new machine.
“By Wednesday afternoon we will be up to our elbows in soap suds, all thanks to 500 Together.”
Each member donates £1 a week through a direct debit and since the group is entirely volunteer based, all of the money donated goes directly to the recipient.
500 Together was founded in 2019 by three individuals: Nichola Vasey, Susanna Greenwood and Vicky Peacock. This close knit team ensures a strong connection between the members of the group and the community it serves.
The group’s members receive a detailed email about where their £1 has gone, providing them with a glimpse into the lives of the recipients, their circumstances, and the difference their contribution has made.
Barbara Vesey, a group member of 500 Together, said: “It’s been overwhelmingly positive and really rewarding because it helps you to visualise how the money is helping someone.
“It makes you stop and think how fortunate you are and you get to feel like you’re really making a difference in this person’s life.”
The generosity of 500 Together’s members has not gone unnoticed. Recipients of the donations often express their gratitude, touched by the fact that a group of strangers is willing to help them during their time of need.
Information on donating can be found here
Instagram: @Sheffield500Together