Category: Good News Stories

Dinnington Family Fun Pop Up Event

Laura/ / Good News Stories, In Your Community, Tenant Involvement

By The Tenant Involvement Team

As part of our contract with RMBC, Rotherfed has to deliver two pop-up events across the brough, this year’s areas chosen for us were Dinnington and Masbrough. We agreed on summer events for both areas, the first one took place in Dinnington, and the Masbrough event will take place on Thursday 13 August at Bradgate Park. As well as the events having family activities, we agreed we would have a mixture of stalls too. 

Prior to the event we sourced permission to use the green space next to the Dinnington Resource Centre and also booked the hall at the Resource Centre as a backup in case the weather wasn’t good, produced and delivered over 300 leaflets to houses and shops around the area, as well as advertising in the library, RMBC ebulletin, Facebook pages and sending the leaflets to two local schools. RMBC also send a targeted text to 280 Dinnington council tenants. 

Our event took place on Thursday 30 July from 11am until 2pm, luckily the weather stayed dry, and the sun broke through the clouds. DB Entertainment provided the inflatable Helter Skelter, bouncy castle and music, Beth kept both the children and adults happy with face painting and Chantelle had games for the children. Councillor Clarke kindly had a stall giving away sweet bags, juice and some seed pots, which were very well received. Weston Park Purple Bus was on site offering free cancer checks and spoke to 12 people who were attending the event. There were also arts and crafts and biscuit decorating which the children enjoyed. Rotherfed’s Energy team provided energy support and other stalls included MESMAC Sexual Health, RMBC tenant involvement, Ripple Effect, Citizens Advice, Biffa Waste, Love Where You Live, Library services and Early Years Help. All children received a free ice cream from Paul’s Mr Softee van; the ice creams were kindly part funded by the local Cllrs and went down a treat. It was a fantastic event which everyone enjoyed, it was also a great turnout. 

We had 105 people attend the event, 37 adults and 68 children. Roughly 40% of the people attending were council tenants. We also advertised the connectors pool and will email the tenants who attended to see if they are interested in signing up to the local newsletter. RMBC Neighbourhoods staff also supported on the day. It was a great event and hopefully the start more activities to happen in this area.   

Few quotes from tenants and children who attended.   

“What a lovely event it has been, can you please make it a regular thing”. 

“Lovely to see people getting out and enjoying themselves, great event and even better being a free one”. 

“I had an amazing time, thank you from Harry”. 

“A fun event and encourages the community to get together, thank you from Evie”. 

“I loved it thank you very much, from Arther”. 

Reptile Rendevouz and Furry Friends

Laura/ / Good News Stories, In Your Community, Open Arms

By The Open Arms Team

During the summer holidays we held one of our free events. At this session the parents and children had the opportunity to meet a variety of fascinating animals. The experience was both enjoyable and educational which allowed them to learn about reptiles, mammals and how to care for them safely and responsibly. During the encounter, they met several reptiles including snakes, lizards and tortoises. The people that attended learned about their habitats, diets and unique adaptations that help them survive in the wild. They also met a range of furry animals, such as rabbits, guinea pigs and other small mammals. The handlers explained how each animal behaves and what they need to stay healthy and the people who attended was given the chance to gently handle some of the animals under the supervision of the trained staff.

Quotes 

“Fantastic – Brilliant range of animals.  All ages enjoyed it”. 

“It was amazing!  The children loved seeing all the types of animals and handling them.  Staff were really friendly”. 

“Absolutely loved the session!”. 

“Great experience, kind and friendly.  Would definitely come again”. 

“I found this really fun because I leaned facts about the animals and I also go to touch them”. 

“Lovely, friendly, hands-on experience.  Amazing opportunity for the children.  Thank you”. 

“Amazing Session – Thanks!”. 

“Amazing experiences for the children to experience so many animals, especially the snake.  Loved every moment.  Can’t wait for next time.  Thank you.” 

“I liked it.  Liked our chance to hold spider. Was very good.  Thank you.  Very welcoming and different.  Enjoyed it”. 

Reptile Rendezvous shared our poster on Facebook, and someone posted  “had a great day yesterday even cracked the fear of spiders.”   

Open Arms

Laura/ / Good News Stories, In Your Community, Open Arms

By The Open Arms Team

Lee met a lovely lady at one of our outreach sessions this month. She came to see how Rotherfed and Citizen’s Advice by working together could help her and help others under her wing. She was very appreciative of the service we offered on the day and followed this up with the following email: 

Dear Lee, 

I just wanted to take a moment to sincerely thank you for taking the time to speak with me and for sharing such valuable information and contacts. 

Your guidance has already made a significant difference. I’ve begun making referrals today, and I genuinely believe that the support you’ve signposted us towards has the potential to have a profound and positive impact on this participant’s life. Knowing where to turn for the right help can make all the difference, and I really appreciate your willingness to share your knowledge. 

Thank you once again for your kindness, generosity, and commitment to supporting people within our community. I hope we’ll have the opportunity to work together more closely in the future. 

I look forward to welcoming you soon. 

Warm regards, 

Dinnington Creative

Laura/ / Good News Stories, In Your Community, Tenant Involvement

By The Tenant Involvement Team

Dinnington Creative meet every Friday afternoon in the Dinnington Library which is inside the Resource Centre. It is a small group of people who enjoy getting together to share their ideas on crafts and try making different craft items. As well as meeting at the library the group also enjoy going out for meals for special occasions and the members birthdays.  

We first met this group back in March when we went to visit them to see if Rotherfed could offer any support. Sam had previously been supporting this group and had recently done all the necessary paperwork with them that Rotherfed requires. The group were busy making craft items which they are hoping to sell at a craft fair, we discussed the possibility of them having a stall at the Dinnington Reindeer Event at the Resource Centre in November. 

The group asked if there was any funding available as unfortunately, they had just previously missed out on some. We had a chat about some CLF funding, and we agreed to support the group with this if they could make a list of the items they would like.  A CLF funding bid was submitted in April for £695.98 which including aprons, a guillotine, printer ink, several different crafts items and an additional storage unit for the library. 

This month we found out that the bid had been successful and the monies were deposited into the group’s bank account. They are very grateful for the funding, and they were discussing what craft items to buy and what they would like to make.

Volunteer Get Togethers

Laura/ / Good News Stories, In Your Community, Tenant Involvement

By The Tenant Involvement Team

We have been holding our Volunteer Get Togethers every 3 months for over a year now.  The main panels are the Housing Involvement Panel, Screen Team, Tenant Scrutiny and the newest panel, Learning from Complaints Panel. The get togethers are an opportunity for volunteers from each panel to meet each other, find out what each panel consists of and are an appreciation from us for the work they do for us on a voluntary basis.

Our volunteer numbers continue to grow, and we now have more than 40 tenants who are actively involved with either one or two of the panels or trialing the panels. This number has grown significantly over the past year which has been amazing to see. Our last get together was held at the Rotherham Hospice Café on the Parkgate Retail Park. We had 14 tenants who were able to join us, and everyone enjoyed catching up and having some lunch together, some even had a browse around the store before they left.  These get togethers are important to our volunteers as they get to find out about other panels, meet other volunteers and they all look forward to them. They also look forward to the social side of just general chatting too to new people. Our next one is booked for September at Springwell Gardens, where we will be serving pie and peas and having a Rotherham based quiz. 

As the Learning from Complaints panel only meets quarterly, we decided to get together with the panel members separately in between the meetings as this will enable the panel members to see each other more frequently and to get to know each other.  We held our first panel get together in April at the Coffee Pot in Rawmarsh. At this session we discussed the changes to the meeting structure which started from May’s meeting. Existing panel members completed some surveys about the proposed changes, and we spoke to new panel members who haven’t yet attended a meeting, about the format of the meetings and what to expect.

Energy Know How

Laura/ / Community Events, Energy Know How, Good News Stories, In Your Community

By The Energy Know How Team

We recently supported a client who is a single mother of two children living in a rented two-bedroom flat. She contacted our service because she was struggling to manage her energy bills and had fallen into debt with Octopus Energy. She explained that her monthly payments had increased significantly over the winter, and because she was already balancing rent, food costs, and childcare expenses, she had missed several payments. As a result, she owed over £900 and was extremely worried about disconnection and how she would cope financially.

During our conversation, she also mentioned that her home had developed severe damp and mould, particularly in the children’s bedroom and around the windows. She told me she often avoided using the heating because she was frightened of increasing her debt further. She was unsure what was causing the mould or what steps she could take to stop it. The situation was affecting both her mental wellbeing and her children’s health, as one child had begun experiencing coughing and asthma flare-ups.

We first reassured her that she was not alone and that support was available. We helped her contact her energy supplier to discuss an affordable repayment plan based on what she could realistically afford each month. We also checked whether she was eligible for any support schemes and advised her about the Warm Home Discount, fuel vouchers through local support services, and possible charitable grants available for energy debt.

To help reduce her ongoing energy costs, she was given practical energy-saving advice tailored to her home. We discussed using the heating more efficiently rather than turning it off completely, as keeping the property at a steady temperature can help prevent damp and mould from worsening. The importance of ventilation was explained, such as opening windows for short periods each day, using extractor fans while cooking or showering, and drying clothes in a well-ventilated area where possible.

We also advised her on steps she could take to manage the mould safely, including wiping away condensation from windows each morning, avoiding blocking air vents, and reporting the damp and mould issue to her landlord in writing. Since the property was rented, we explained that the landlord had a responsibility to investigate and address issues contributing to damp and mould, especially where it could affect health. we encouraged her to keep photographs and records of communication in case further action was needed.

Over the following weeks the team will stay in touch with her to see if she’s been able to agree on a manageable repayment plan and if she’s managed the mould in her property. After this conversation that we had, she felt less anxious knowing she had support and a plan in place

Open Arms

Laura/ / Good News Stories, In Your Community, Open Arms

By The Open Arms Team

A lady came to see us at one of our outreaches requesting assistance completing a PIP form. She had never claimed benefits and was unsure about the process.  She once had a successful career helping others thrive in life. Unfortunately, as time went by the future was not kind to her and she developed some serious health conditions and basically gave up caring for herself as she experienced constant fatigue, breathing and mobility difficulties. 

She told Lee that she had no family and no longer had friends.  As soon as she became ill she started cancelling social events, and noticed her friends ghost her one by one and her social circle eventually dissipated. She became lonely and withdrawn and when she developed mobility issues and was unable to breathe without aids this was the last straw and she stopped going out completely. 

Lee was very concerned what she was hearing from this lady and spent quite a while with her.  She came to see her a few times and emailed too. 

Lee told her not to give up and just take small steps at a time.  Lee provided a list of social events in her local area and made suggestions regarding Tai Chi which she expressed an interest in, pain management, hydrotherapy, swimming sessions and chair exercises and physio via her GP.  All these would be gentle on her joints and may even control her breathing. 

Lee said these were all free to attend although no doubt there would be a wait list but could be accessed via GP and VAR Mental Health Connectors. Lee also sent her a flyer promoting Rotherham Safe Space as she said her loneliest times were during the evenings and at weekends. The team also provide social and practical support to participants as well as emotional so she would also benefit here. 

Regarding the social aspect of her concern, Lee talked about various craft and social groups across the Rotherham borough and with the help of Door to Door (a local community transport service for individuals who struggle to use public transport) is far cheaper than the cost of a taxi. 

Lee’s time with this lady paid off and she received an email which was upbeat stating that after a very long drawn out wait, the Department of Work and Pensions had finally awarded her PIP for both daily living and mobility at the high rate.   

She went on to say, this was all thanks to Lee’s support and she wanted to let us know how grateful she was because without Lee she would have given up even though she knew constant support was needed daily. 

She stated what a wonderful service and support Open Arms provides in the community and how relieved she is as going through the process was very stressful and she is so glad it’s finally come to an end.

Dawson Croft

Laura/ / Good News Stories, In Your Community, Tenant Involvement

By The Tenant Involvement Team

What began as a simple idea to bring residents together to watch the World Cup has grown into something much bigger for the Dawson Croft community.

Earlier this month, RotherFed staff worked alongside local residents to support a project aimed at improving facilities within the community centre and creating more opportunities for people to come together.

Recognising the importance of having a shared space where residents could enjoy community events, the group, with support from RotherFed staff, submitted an application to RMBC for a TV licence for the community room. The hope was to create a welcoming environment where neighbours could gather to watch major sporting events and socialise.

The response exceeded all expectations. Not only did RMBC approve the TV licence application, but council staff also generously offered a brand-new television for the community centre.

The new TV has now been installed and is already helping to bring residents together. Inspired by the positive response and eager to make the most of this fantastic addition, the Dawson Croft residents are now exploring new activities for the community, including a weekly horror movie night.

This project demonstrates how a small community idea can develop into something that benefits many people. Through partnership working, local support, and resident enthusiasm, the community centre now has a valuable new resource that will help reduce social isolation, encourage participation, and create opportunities for residents to connect with one another.

RotherFed is proud to have supported the group throughout the process and looks forward to seeing the community continue to grow and thrive around this new initiative.

Upstander Training

Laura/ / Good News Stories, In Your Community, Rotherham Ripple Effect

By The Ripple Effect Team

On 25th June 2026 Neelam and Sam partnered up with Jana from Voice for Change to deliver some training around Hate Crime and Rotherham Ripple Effect delivering the Upstander Training.

We split the workshops into morning and afternoon and provided a light lunch. Everyone stayed right till the end.

Neelam and Sam delivered the training via PowerPoint presentation, scenarios and interactive exercises and discussion.

From our perspective and the attendees’ perspectives the training went very well and the feedback was brilliant. Everyone was very invested and had discussions with each other and were very opinionated. We delivered some thought-provoking material which really made everyone want to be involved and share their thoughts and experiences.

One of the highlights of our workshop that we wanted to get across was that we wanted to focus on Kindness, empathy and intention. We wanted to address and recognise that everyone should give each other the benefit of the doubt when they may feel someone is being micro aggressive towards them. We presented different statements such as

“I don’t see colour. I just see people” and presented 2 different intentions or ways to see this statement and addressing that you may not know someone’s intention through these words by just hearing this and people need to have further conversations before judging whether someone is trying to be negative towards them. We initially presented the first idea from this statement that a person means well and is trying to say that it doesn’t matter what the person looks like, that they just see a person implying they are not racist/stereotypical of any negative notion. However, we then also explained that someone else may hear this and think why is this person who is clearly brown for instance trying to discount their culture/heritage/background. We explored such statements and emphasised that people have to give each other breathing space before judging what they perceive it to be and instead have empathy, kindness and patience to find out more through curious conversation to judge the intention behind any comments. We gave personal examples to make it more real, and everyone really enjoyed this also.

The sharing of experiences created some thought-provoking discussions amongst those attending and identified the need not to make assumptions.  Neelam’s part of the presentation reminded us not to jump to conclusions when it comes to language. Because terms and identities are always evolving, people can easily use words incorrectly or make mistakes without meaning too. Instead of letting these mistakes cause tension or division, we need to have empathy for one another. Not everyone knows what might be considered offensive, so what matters most is a person’s intent. By taking a “curiosity-first” approach—asking questions rather than judging—we can understand each other’s true intentions and keep conversations positive.

Responses to the statements on the evaluation forms included:

Q) What are you going to remember from today? Is there anything you have learnt?

-How to be an upstander’

-Meeting like-minded people’

-The 5Ds will help me deal with situations’

-I will try and take away lots from today and keep it all in mind’

-Situation handling. Tools to use’

-The 5D’s’ and unconscious biases’

-How to weigh up a situation and consider actions.

Q) Did anything surprise you?

-Varying assumptions about statements’

-None, but these conversations are good thought starters

-It was educational’

-How lovely Sam is – not a surprise on compliment as I saw Sam at a previous event but didn’t know her name’

-Loved it, learnt a lot’.

Q) Anything else you would like to tell us?

-’I would like this to be shared with other community groups. So would you attend either in person or online or at various hub centres as not everyone can reach Unity Centre.

Other statements included:

‘Everything was good’

‘I would give 100% score on this. Excellent’

From the evaluation forms and verbal feedback, we can see people were very excited about the workshop they had had with us including Jana from Voice for Change.  We were told ‘it’s a brilliant workshop and it really helped them think about how to approach situations in the future’. People hung back to continue to tell us what a great workshop it was. We also got around 8 people to sign up to be a volunteer with us which is brilliant to have in one workshop.

As well as feedback on the evaluation form such

 ‘The time the speakers took to give space for sharing views’

‘Well engaging and well facilitated’

‘All of it went well, love the scenarios’

‘Highly informative, good learning’

‘All of it’

‘People, time, location’

‘Food and a chance to interact’

Digital Volunteer Champion

Laura/ / Good News Stories, In Your Community, Tenant Involvement

By The Tenant Involvement Team

Ali first expressed an interest in becoming a Digital Champion with Rotherfed in October 2025. By January this year, he had begun supporting learners at the Thursday drop-in sessions at Riverside Library. He brought with him a lifetime of IT knowledge after a career that saw him deliver IT projects both at home and abroad. He also brought experience of supporting and delivering community activities and projects, along with a genuine willingness to help and support everyone he met.

As well as supporting learners, Ali was always happy to support other Digital Volunteers and Rotherfed as a whole. He attended focus groups where his knowledge and experience could be put to good use and was always happy to meet new people.

Ali applied for the Rotherfed vacancy with Open Arms, and we are delighted to say he got the job. While we are sorry to lose him from the Digital Project, we know he will be a real asset in his new role. His calm and empathetic approach to learners will be very much missed.