10 appeals raising funds to ease UK flood devastation
Melanie May | 4 January 2016 | News
The flood damage wrought in the north of the UK by the December storms has seen many communities suffer, prompting the launch of a number of fundraising appeals and funds to help those affected.
While the Government has pledged £50m, the devastation has also seen appeals created by a range of organisations, from community foundations to sports organisations and charities, as well as individuals.
Here are 10 that are helping to ease the crisis:
1. Cumbria 2015 Flood Appeal
The biggest of the appeals so far, the Cumbrian 2015 Flood Appeal was launched by the Cumbria Community Foundation on December 5th 2015 with an initial £1m target. By New Year’s Eve, the appeal had already raised over £4m with a new target of £6m.
According to the Cumbria Community Foundation site, the fund is open to anyone whose home has suffered flooding, significant structural damage, or to those who have lost work or income as a result of the storm or flood. Funds are directed towards cleaning up, emergency repairs, clothing, food and drink, heating and heating equipment, childcare equipment and basic furniture. It is also providing grants to voluntary and community groups who are providing immediate relief to people, offering longer-term community rebuilding projects or have experienced significant structural and or flood damage.
Cumbria Flood 2015 Appeal
2. Lancashire Flood Recovery Fund Public Appeal
The Community Foundation for Lancashire has so far raised almost £140k with its appeal aimed at helping those in Lancashire and Merseyside. Launched on December 8th, this appeal is raising funds to contribute to clean-up costs, emergency repairs, clothing, food and drink, heating and heating.
Lancashire Flood Recovery Fund Public Appeal
3. Greater Manchester Flood Recovery Appeal
Launched by charity Forever Manchester, which works closely with the Greater Manchester Civil Contingencies and Resilience Unit, the appeal is being managed within the Greater Manchester Disaster Relief Fund, which provides financial support to victims of large-scale disasters. By New Year’s Day, it was over halfway to achieving its £50k target.
Greater Manchester Flood Recovery Appeal
4. Calderdale Flood Relief Appeal (Boxing Day floods 2015)
Launched by the Community Foundation for Calderdale to aid those affected by the Boxing Day floods in Calderdale, Yorkshire, this appeal has so far raised 25% of its £1m target. The money will help provide cleaning up materials, and grants to support people with emergency accommodation, and the costs of cleaning up and replacing furniture and white goods.
Calderdale Flood Relief Appeal
5. Emergency Football Relief Fund
A £750,000 fund established using funding from the Premier League, the FA and Government to rebuild and repair grassroots football pitches and facilities that have suffered storm damage and flooding, expanded on Dec 31 to include the regions covered by the Manchester County FA, Liverpool County FA, Cheshire County FA and the North Riding County FA. Organisations are asked to contact their County FA for more information about how to access the emergency relief funding.
Football Relief Fund
6. Sport England Emergency Flood Relief Fund
Sport England’s fund is investing up to £400,000 of National Lottery funding into sports facilities that have been damaged as a result of the floods and storms to help get sports facilities back up and running as quickly as possible. Clubs and community-based sports organisations can apply online for up to £5,000 of emergency funding.
Sport England Emergency Flood Relief Fund
7. The Prince’s Countryside Fund
The Prince’s Countryside Fund has announced that it is working alongside The Prince’s Business Emergency Resilience Group to raise money in an appeal that it will use to help the communities, farmers and businesses affected by the flooding.
The Prince’s Countryside Fund & The Prince’s Business Emergency Resilience Group
8. Daily Mail Christmas Flood Appeal
The Daily Mail had raised £1m through its readers by Christmas Day, which is going to the Cumbria Community Foundation and the Community Foundation for Lancashire.
Daily Mail Christmas Flood Appeal
9. Croston Appeal
Individuals are doing their bit too. One woman in Croston, Lancashire has set up a Crowdfunding page to raise funds to help pay the insurance excess for the Croston Community Centre as well as local resident, which has almost reached its £5k target.
Croston appeal
10. Bingley Flood Support Group
Bingley in Yorkshire was hit by the Boxing Day floods. The Flood Support Group is aiming to raise £5000 to help those affected in the town.
Bingley Flood Support Group
Help is also available for those keen to help but unsure on the best cause of action or which appeal to donate to. Earlier in December, Lakeland Radio told people how they could help, while last year the Charity Commission issued advice on how to give to flood appeals.
About Melanie May
Melanie May is a journalist and copywriter specialising in writing both for and about the charity and marketing services sectors since 2001. She can be reached via thepurplepim.com.