Rotherham Federation of Communities Ltd

Rotherham Federation of Communities Ltd, registered as a charity in 2014 and evolved from the Rotherham Federation of Tenants and Residents Limited, is dedicated to supporting and strengthening grassroots communities across Rotherham Borough. Its mission empowers socially and economically disadvantaged residents—particularly young, older, and isolated individuals—to foster belonging, community pride, and collective action through local solutions. Core values of inclusivity, community voice, and peer support drive its distinctive approach: building resilient communities via capacity-building, skills development, networks, and strategic partnerships that connect groups with decision-makers, as seen in acclaimed projects like the RotherFed Friendship Calls.

The Federation funds community-led initiatives focused on development, social cohesion, resident empowerment, and tackling local challenges like isolation and disadvantage. Support includes practical advice, insurance, community accountancy, group formation help, and small grants for projects, core costs (e.g., running expenses), and organisational sustainability, prioritising grassroots efforts that enhance engagement, leadership, and inclusion.

Eligibility is limited to small, local community groups, tenants’/residents’ associations, and communities of interest based strictly in Rotherham Borough; larger national charities are not prioritised, with no formal income thresholds but a clear preference for grassroots entities. Unsolicited applications are not accepted—prospective groups must contact via phone to join the membership network first, enabling rolling, relationship-based support without fixed deadlines or standardised forms.

Distinctively, it avoids capital projects, unrestricted funding, or external grant rounds, instead offering flexible, small-scale aid (typically £hundreds to low thousands) through ongoing partnerships, rejecting non-local or non-member requests to ensure deep-rooted community impact.