Weekly £1 fundraising group meets £100k milestone

A fundraising group that collects £1 a week from members to put towards good causes in the local community has raised more than £100,000 in donations.

The 500 Together project was established in October 2019 in Sheffield, with the aim of raising up to £500 a week through small contributions from each member of the group.

Over the past six years, the team has paid for karate lessons for a girl whose mother died from cancer, beds for a family fleeing their home in Afghanistan and a new oven for a struggling family.

Co-founder Nichola Vasey said: "It leaves your heart feeling very full knowing people hold that care for strangers, and trust us to do the right thing with their money."

Members of the group submit suggestions each week for deserving causes.

The founding members then select the initiative they believe to be most appropriate for funding.

Ms Vasey came up with the idea for the group with university friend, Sue Greenwood, and another friend, Vicki Peacock.

"I knew there was so much unmet need out there and wanted to feel like I was doing something proactive to help," Ms Peacock said.

"I'm always very conscious it's just a sticking plaster not a solution, but hearing from recipients I know our donations do make a tangible difference."

Ms Greenwood said: "The range of people, families and charities that we've been able to help has been amazing.

"I never thought we would reach so many people in such a variety of circumstances, it constantly reminds me that stuff happens in life and none of us know what's around the corner."

Sheffield Schools Girls under 12s football team were among those to benefit from the group, after being provided with a new full kit in 2023.

Team manager James Varns said he would "always be grateful" for the group's support.

"It wasn't just the kit - it was the belief in and recognition of girls' sport that meant so much," he said.

Anthony Olaseinde, a Sheffield anti knife crime campaigner, used a £500 donation from the group to help pay for a mobile youth club vehicle, which has enabled him to travel to schools to deliver workshops.

After 320 weeks of donations, the £100,000 mark was reached after a donation in the run up to Christmas.

The group's founders said they had no plans to stop, with Ms Vasey saying they "never really knew" how far they could take the idea.

"There was always silent implicit agreement that we'd never give up trying to make it work," she said.

"For many people, £1 a week is such a small amount. But when you put all those small gestures together you get something much bigger."

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