We’re committed to creating social value that lasts, not just through the services we deliver, but by investing directly in the communities we serve. We believe local organisations are best placed to understand the challenges people face and unlock the opportunities that drive meaningful, long-term change.
This belief is at the heart of our Local Impact Fund. Since its launch in March 2023, it has awarded £220,000 in grants to charities and community-led projects. This has helped people gain vital skills, access training, build confidence, and move closer to securing meaningful work.
The fund was launched as part of our Restart Scheme delivery. It supports and empowers local organisations to make a tangible, lasting difference. Within the last year, we’ve awarded £143,400 to 23 impactful projects, including a £9,800 grant to Rotherham United Community Trust (RUCT). Through their Youth Hub, RUCT delivers education and employability initiatives. These help young people build confidence, gain qualifications, and take steps toward their future careers.
Based in one of the UK’s most deprived boroughs, the Trust works at the heart of a community where opportunities can often feel out of reach for young people.
Targeted local support
Dan Wilson, CEO of Rotherham United Community Trust, said: “Most of our work takes place within five miles of the stadium, right in the heart of the town centre. It’s an area where we see limited access to employment. There are also challenges around inclusion and diversity, and a real struggle to build a sense of community. Statistically, we have the poorest fanbase in the UK and the lowest average income of any professional football club.”
Despite these challenges, RUCT is delivering real results. In the past year alone, more than 6,000 young people have accessed their employability and education services. This demonstrates just how powerful targeted local support can be.
Through funding from Maximus, its Youth Hub is working with a minimum of 100 young people aged between 16 to 24 who are not currently in education, employment, or training. Trained wellbeing practitioners deliver personalised one-to-one sessions, helping participants develop skills, build confidence, and improve mental wellbeing. These sessions empower participants to take important steps towards future employment.
Whether it’s building confidence, gaining new skills or improving motivation, the initiative is sparking ambition, and crucially bridging the gap between disadvantaged communities and more affluent areas.
For Dan Wilson, the Local Impact Fund has been a catalyst for growth: “The grant from Maximus has been instrumental in supporting this work. It’s allowed us to redevelop our services and expand. Now we can achieve an even greater impact with the young people we work with.”
The impact for local communities
Individuals like Carlton demonstrate that impact. Before connecting with RUCT, he was struggling with low confidence, little motivation, and no clear sense of direction. But that began to change after meeting the team.
Carlton, one of the Youth Hub participants, explained: “From the moment I walked in, I just felt welcomed. I’d tried other colleges to do sport, but it wasn’t the same. They didn’t really seem interested in me. I didn’t think that would matter at the time, but it did. Seeing how much belief these people had in me – even though they’d just met me – gave me real motivation to do more.”
Carlton is now studying for a Level 3 Diploma in Sport and Fitness. He says the support he’s received has changed his life and inspired him to help others who have experienced a similar journey.
His story is just one example of the positive difference the Trust is making. As our Social Value Manager, Anne Seddon, explains, RUCT is not only helping young people find direction, but it’s giving them the confidence to believe in their own potential: “The Rotherham United Community Trust are able to reach young people in ways others can’t – building trust, recognising their strengths, and helping them channel their talents. It’s not just about passing tests or ticking boxes. It is about encouraging them to be themselves and backing the natural ability that’s already there.”
Lasting community-led impact
At its core, the Local Impact Fund is underpinned by a simple but powerful principle, that those closest to the challenge are best placed to lead the change.
In Rotherham, that vision is becoming a reality. With deep local knowledge and an unwavering belief in the potential of young people, Rotherham United Community Trust is creating opportunities where few existed and transforming lives in the process.
This is more than short-term support. It’s the foundation for lasting, community-led impact that the Maximus Local Impact Fund was designed to deliver.
