National Floods Appeal to benefit local community recovery projects, Red Cross announces

National Floods Appeal to benefit local community recovery projects, Red Cross announces

The British Red Cross, which has been at the forefront of the emergency response to recent flooding across England, today (July 25), announced how its National Floods Appeal is to be distributed.
Money will primarily be given to local authorities in flood-affected areas to help vulnerable people in need rebuild their lives, or to local charities chosen by them to undertake this work on their behalf.  This will ensure that the money reaches and helps vulnerable people most in need to rebuild their shattered lives, like isolated elderly people, families on low incomes and people with disabilities. 
The Appeal fund provides much needed additional support to help local communities in hardship rebuild their lives in the weeks to come after the floods.
Director of UK Services, Margaret Lally, explained:
“We launched this Appeal because the Red Cross has a special role to play in supporting the statutory and emergency services in Britain in times of crisis.  The fund is needed because we know that in most communities there are vulnerable people who will need extra help to rebuild their lives after these devastating floods. 
“The money raised is available for local authorities to spend assisting individuals in need or on recovery projects, which may be run by community-based charities. 
“I would like to thank everyone who has donated so far.  The Appeal is still open.  Please give whatever you can today to help us help vulnerable people move on with their lives.”

His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales, President of the British Red Cross, today lent his support to the charity’s efforts to meet the needs of vulnerable people affected by the floods.
The Prince said:
"As I saw for myself when I visited South Yorkshire, continuing widespread flooding is devastating communities and causing terrible personal trauma, particularly to the most vulnerable members of our society. 
“As its President, I have been immensely proud to see the British Red Cross working together with our Emergency Services and local authorities, delivering vital relief in this desperate situation. A Red Cross National Floods Appeal has been established which will, I know, play an important role in alleviating the misery that this unprecedented flooding has caused."

To date, the Red Cross has distributed tens of thousands of litres of water and hygiene kits, containing toiletries and sanitary items, to families in Gloucester.  In Oxford, Red Cross volunteers are providing practical help and emotional support to evacuees at the rest centre at Kassam Football Stadium in south Oxfordshire.  Red Cross emergency vehicle crews are also supporting the emergency services by helping evacuate people from their homes and responding to non-emergency 999 calls for Oxfordshire Ambulance Service.

To donate to the British Red Cross National Floods Appeal go to: www.redcross.org.uk/floodsappeal or call 0845 054 7200

Donations can also be made at any High Street bank or by post to:
British Red Cross National Floods Appeal
FREEPOST RLSA – XLXK-SXKZ
London EC2Y 9AL

ENDS

Notes to editors

The proposed eligibility criteria within which Local Authorities will be required to spend Red Cross National Floods Appeal money either through local charities or directly are:
i. criteria on need, namely the vulnerable and those experiencing hardship must be prioritised;
ii. the money must be spent through registered local charities (other than the Red Cross) or through the local authority; and
iii. money is allocated according to the Belwin principle.
Local Authorities will spend Ninety per cent of the Appeal fund directly or through local charities; the Red Cross will spend the remaining 10 per cent directly on recovery and rehabilitation projects in areas of particularly high need.

The British Red Cross helps people in crisis, whoever and wherever they are. We are part of a global voluntary network, responding to conflicts, natural disasters and individual emergencies.
We enable vulnerable people in the UK and abroad to prepare for and withstand emergencies
in their own communities. And when the crisis is over, we help them to recover and move on
with their lives.