The Youth Investment Fund Refurbishment Grant was awarded to Sheffield City Council earlier this year, providing £2.5M to renovate youth centres across the city.

Since then, access to support and opportunities for young people has expanded across the city.

Penny Rea, 69, a Community Project Manager, from Sheffield has contributed to youth services and children’s education for years.

Ms Rea said: “The best thing has been working with children and young people in Wincobank over a long period of time, and seeing them grow up into lovely young people who are moving on with their lives.”

The funding improvements include building renovations, and developments in facilities and running costs to improve the well being and support that young people in Sheffield receive outside of school. 

“I saw that many children who struggled with formal education came alive and loved history, technology, and art, but these subjects were being squeezed with less and less time given in schools,” said Ms Rea.

Despite setbacks caused by youth service cuts, the fund aims to contribute to restoring youth services and enabling young people, especially in underrepresented communities, to thrive.

Ms Rea has coordinated after school activities, weekend learning and holiday camps for young people aged five to 18, ranging from drama and sports to sign language.

She said: “I have learnt so many new skills as a result of organising activities, I have always wanted other young people to have the same experience.”

Whilst running a youth club and woodland activities in Wincobank Ms Rea has raised funds to develop activities at Upper Wincobank Chapel.  

She said: “There is too much emphasis on trying to teach young people about negative aspects of their lives, with little time left for engaging with organising and taking ownership of positive activities.” 

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Ms Rea’s work included writing funding bids to improve the premises, and organising events with teenage members of the club who are now in their thirties.

She said: “The empowering experience has shaped my life giving me a sense of independence and resourcefulness.”

With help from teachers and volunteers she has continued to organise holiday activities in Wincobank and family activities in Zion Graveyard Attercliffe.

Ms Rea is currently bid-writing for the renovation of the old Chapel House at Wincobank until the building is finished and activities are established.

To find out more about youth activities and services in Sheffield visit @Wincobank Youth Group on Facebook and Sheffield Futures.