The Miss Penlington Community Chest Grants – Round 2

In 2024 Voluntary Action Rotherham (VAR) launched the Miss Penlington Community Chest fund. Bessie Penlington, a Rotherham resident who lived in Wickersley, left a legacy to VAR and the fund was created in her name.

The VAR Board decided to use the legacy fund directly for the benefit of Rotherham voluntary and community groups. The fund supported 47 local VCS groups with over £42,000 awarded.

We have been left a second legacy payment by the late Miss Bessie Penlington’s estate and VAR Board have decided to once again use these funds directly for the benefit of Rotherham voluntary and community groups.

There are many hundreds of voluntary and community sector (VCS) groups in Rotherham and this fund is particularly aimed at ‘small’ VCS groups with an income of less than £25,000 per year.

Grants of up to £2,000 are available for faith, voluntary and community groups operating in Rotherham.

To find out more, please download the application form below.

If you have any queries, please contact us at grants@varotherham.org.uk or by phone on 01709 834452

The closing date for applications is 5pm, Friday 9^th January 2026.