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Knarsdale Estate donates £50,000 to Flood Appeal

Cumbria Community Foundation announced today that it has received a £50,000 donation for flood relief work in Cumbria from the Knarsdale Estate. Knarsdale is a sporting estate in West Northumberland.

Following the recent devastating events in the region, Cumbria Community Foundation launched the Cumbria Flood Recovery Appeal earlier this month to help local people and workers recover from the aftermath of Storm Desmond.

Due to the scale of the damage caused and the number of places affected, the initial appeal target of £1 million has been raised to £6 million. To date, the Foundation has raised £4.1 million, including a £1 million match from the government.

John Palmer, Head Gamekeeper on the Knarsdale Estate said “We’ve always worked closely with the local community and we are pleased to be able to make this donation so that the Foundation can continue to carry on this huge task. At Knarsdale we’ve seen the issues first hand and so it was important to us to get involved in the relief effort.”

Ian Brown, Chairman of the Foundation said “We are so thankful to the Knarsdale Estate for their generosity toward important recovery efforts following the devastating floods,” says Ian Brown, Chairman of the Foundation. “It’s very heart-warming and encouraging to see the overwhelming support of our local communities during this challenging time.”

The Flood Recovery Fund provides support for individuals and families suffering financial hardship as a result of the flooding. Priority will be given to households with low income, individuals over the age of 70, under the age of five, people with physical or learning difficulties or mental health needs.

Services provided include clean up, emergency repairs, clothing, food, water, heating equipment, child care equipment and basic furniture. Over 230 households have already received financial help in order to rebuild their homes and lives.

The Community Foundation will also provide grants for community relief and rebuilding projects. Larger, strategic grants will support long term rebuilding projects to be fulfilled in partnership with the Foundation.

Anyone wanting information about the appeal and who and what will be eligible for funding, should click here or speak to the grants team on 01900 825760.

About Knarsdale Estate
Knarsdale is a Grouse Shooting Estate situated in the Upper Tyne Valley. The Estate works closely with Natural England to produce some of the most favourable habitat in the North Pennines. In addition, it is a major employer in the locality and has invested considerable sums of money both in improving the natural environment, but also the working and living conditions for many people in this rural area.

Flood appeal target increased to £6m

The nation has taken the Cumbria Flood Recovery Appeal to their hearts, raising £3.5 million for communities affected by Storm Desmond.

Cumbria Community Foundation launched the Cumbria Flood Recovery Appeal on Saturday 5th December 2015 with an initial target of £1m but due to the scale of the damage caused and following more recent flooding this has been increased to £6 million.

Floods in ApplebyThere are three times as many properties flooded than in 2009 where the Foundation raised and distributed £3 million.

Andy Beeforth, Chief Executive of the Foundation said: “The Community Foundation said it would keep the appeal target under review and that is exactly what we’ve done. Having spoken with so many flood affected people and the information we’re collecting from organisations providing support services, we are very confident of the need to raise the appeal target to £6m.

“Sadly, after yesterday’s flooding we know need continues.”

So far more than half a million pounds has been given out in grants and over seven hundred families have received quick financial help to try to rebuild their lives. Below are some quotes from people who have benefited:

Stuart McLean from Kendal said: “The grant is very much appreciated and lightens the load a great deal at this very difficult time. Thanks to all the fund contributors and organisers.”

Joy Allen from Penrith said: “The news of a grant has lifted our spirits at such a difficult time. My two young daughters and I appreciate the help and support we’re being given. Currently, I feel over-whelmed with just how much there is to do and sort out, and so I can’t express how it feels to receive this bit of good news. Thank you to everyone who has donated to the appeal.”

To donate to the Appeal click here.

The Flood Recovery Fund 2015 is open to anyone whose home has suffered flooding significant structural damage or people who have lost work or income because of the storm or flood. It is providing support for 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. Most grants will be in the range £5,000-£15,000, however for strategic, coordinated grants there will be no upper limit. These applications will be developed in close association with the Foundation and must involve partnership working.

To find out more about applying for a flood grant please click here or speak to the grants team on 01900 825760.

Flood Appeal raises £3m and Target increased to £5m

In just TWELVE days, the Cumbria Flood Recovery Appeal has caught the attention of the nation and has raised more than £2 million for communities affected by Storm Desmond.

Cumbria Community Foundation launched the Cumbria Flood Recovery Appeal on Saturday 5th December 2015 with an initial target of £1m but due to the scale of the damage caused and the number of places affected, this has been steadily increased to £5m.

Andy Beeforth, Chief Executive of the Foundation said: “When the appeal was launched, the flooding was only just beginning to impact the county. We now have a greater sense of the true scale of need, and the Community Foundation has taken the decision to increase the appeal target to £5m.

“We know that the 2015 floods have impacted more severely than any previous flooding incident. This target will be kept under review and may be raised further as the impact of the flooding is better understood.”

The Foundation has also received the government’s £1 million match fund bringing the actual total raised to £3 million.

Andy continues: “We are very encouraged and delighted by the government’s commitment to match fund the appeal and be able to support our communities even further.”

So far more than £166,000 has been given out in grants and over 230 households have received quick financial help to try to rebuild their lives.

Ian Brown, Chairman of the Foundation said: “I’m overwhelmed by the generosity of people around the UK. When you launch an appeal, you don’t know how people are going to react to what’s happening in your own community and to see what is happening is amazing. It just shows that people have got more in common than what divides them. People see the photos, see the need help for help and are creating fundraising events and digging deep into their own pockets. It’s very heart-warming, very encouraging to see.”

Donate Now

The Flood Recovery Fund 2015 is open to anyone whose home has suffered flooding significant structural damage or people who have lost work or income because of the storm or flood. It is providing support for 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. Most grants will be in the range £5,000-£15,000, however for strategic, coordinated grants there will be no upper limit. These applications will be developed in close association with the Foundation and must involve partnership working.

Anyone wanting information about the appeal and who and what will be eligible for funding, should click here or speak to the grants team on 01900 825760.

£500,000 Flows into Flood Appeal

Money has continued to flow into the recently launched Cumbria Flood Recovery Appeal to support people in need following Storm Desmond’s destruction across the county.

In less than three days, Cumbria Community Foundation has so far raised half a million pounds, thanks to a £50,000 donation from Nuclear Management Partners.

NMP General Manager, Iain Irving said “It has been devastating to see the damage done yet again to our community over the last few days. We are more than happy to do what we can to help and are pleased to be co-ordinating our efforts once again via Cumbria Community Foundation. We hope that our donation will help to bring immediate assistance to those most in need.

“This donation allows us to make significant funds available in the crucial early stages of the recovery programme.”

In total, NMP has invested around £25m to the West Cumbrian community since 2008.

Andy Beeforth, Chief Executive of Cumbria Community Foundation said: “We are delighted that NMP and its parent companies, Aecom, Amec Foster Wheeler and Areva have made this donation, even though they have only a few months left on their contract at Sellafield.

“NMP has been a great supporter of the Community Foundation during its time at Sellafield, donating over £3 million to the charities and individuals funded via CCF.

“The Appeal continues to grow. Donations from kind individuals and businesses mean we will be able to help people get their lives back on track sooner rather than later.”

The fund will focus on providing money for individuals and families experiencing financial hardship as a result of the floods, but the appeal will also be raising money for voluntary and community organisations that are spearheading the relief work.

If you would like to donate to the appeal, you can do so via the Foundation’s website, alternatively, cheques made payable to Cumbria Community Foundation can be sent to CCF, Dovenby Hall, Cockermouth, Cumbria, CA13 0PN. You can also donate via text message. Send a text to 70070 with the message ‘FLUD15’ and a monetary amount. For example, ‘FLUD15 £10’

Anyone wanting information about the appeal and who and what will be eligible for funding, should click here or speak to the grants team on 01900 825760.

Flood Appeal Launched

Cumbria Community Foundation has launched an appeal to help people across the county affected by today’s devastating floods.

It has kicked off it’s £1m appeal with a donation of £50,000 from its own funds and is asking people who can help, to give generously.

The Cumbria Flood Recovery Fund 2015 is for any individuals or families who suffer financial hardship as a result of the flooding. The money will also help with wider community relief and rebuilding projects.

Andy Beeforth, Chief Executive of Cumbria Community Foundation, said: “We are still in the eye of the storm, but we know that it appears the flooding is worse than in 2009 in some areas of the county. People will need financial help to rebuild and we want to have the means to do that.”

“It is difficult to assess the scale of the need, but we know that the flooding will cause significant financial hardship and emotional distress. We will convene meetings with the major voluntary groups involved in the recovery and also with major providers of social housing to assess the impact on their tenants.

“You can donate by Just Giving http://campaign.justgiving.com/charity/cumbriafoundation/cumbriafloodappeal2015

“Or by sending a cheque made payable to Cumbria Community Foundation and sent to CCF, Dovenby Hall, Cockermouth, Cumbria, CA13 0PN.

“Or send a text to 70070 with the message ‘FLUD15’ and a monetary amount. For example, ‘FLUD15 £10’

“This is our third flood appeal, the first was in 2005. The second in 2009 raised £3m – all of which went back into rebuilding our devastated county.”

The Flood Recovery Fund 2015 is open to anyone whose home has suffered significant structural damage or flooding or people who have lost work or income because of the storm or flood.

It will provide support for – cleaning up, emergency repairs, clothing, food and drink, heating and heating equipment, child care equipment and basic furniture.

Priority will be given to households who have people over the age of 70, under the age of five, people with physical or learning difficulties or mental health needs or on a low income.

It will not normally fund – people who are fully insured, vehicles and businesses.

Initial hardship grants of £500 can be applied for, details will be released on Monday 7th December.

The Foundation learned many lessons from running previous appeals:

* The importance of a dedicated fund to secure and distribute financial support to community groups and individuals

* The important role voluntary and community organisations play in supporting communities during times of need

* How valuable small grants are in providing both financial and emotional support to individuals experiencing hardship

* How wide ranging and long lasting the emotional impact of such a disaster can be to individuals

* The impact on voluntary and community organisations during times of need (loss of income, opportunities to expand services and respond to need)

There will be two phases to the support people will require:

Phase one: immediate support for individual grants for households in priority groups (over 70s and under 5s and people with disabilities) and those without contents insurance (and occasionally buildings insurance). Group grants to front line services such as Red Cross, Citizens Advice Bureaux, Law Centre, furniture and white goods recycling and activities for children and young people.

Phase two: supplementary support: Individual grants for households whose income has been affected over a long term period and households who have continued to experience increased household expense due to relocation resulting from the flood.Group grants to organisations who have suffered damage to their property, those providing emotional support and counselling and community celebrations once residents have returned to their properties.