Flood Disaster Relief Fund
South Yorkshire Flood Disaster Relief Fund
The floods of June 2007 were the worst in living memory and South Yorkshire was one of the worst affected areas in the country. 5395 homes were flooded and damaged and two people were killed. Hundreds of people were evacuated from their homes; a year on, many were still unable to return.
South Yorkshire Community Foundation established the Flood Disaster Relief Fund within 24 hours of the floods, with a target of £500,000. Since then, over £1.6 million has been received for distribution locally - all of it from donations from the general public, businesses and trusts.
Initial handouts of £100 were given to flood victims within days of the floods, to help with immediate emergencies. By November, a second phase of payments up to £1000 was made to those most in need.
An independent evaluation on the performance of the fund has reported:
"It is not an exaggeration to say that the fund has massively improved the quality of life for thousands of people living across South Yorkshire. The fund is chiefly supported by the generosity of the people of South Yorkshire, having received no statutory funding. It is anticipated that by the end of the fund, 90% of the funds raised will have been awarded. This is one of the highest rates ever achieved in Britain. Overall, the Flood Fund was an outstanding exemplar of good practice." (Insync: The Foundation for Equality and Social Inclusion. 2008)
Case study - Barnsley
Case study - Doncaster
Case study - Rotherham
Case study - Sheffield
FLOOD RELIEF GAINS RECOGNITION
On 7th July 2008 South Yorkshire Community Foundation were recognised for their work to support the flood victims. At the annual Institute of Fundraising National Awards at the Hilton London Metropole Hotel, they were awarded the prestigious Fundraising Team of the Year and Best Local/Regional Campaign for its work on the Flood Disaster Relief Fund.
Pauline Grice, The South Yorkshire Community Foundation's Chief Executive was thrilled to collect the awards, "The floods caused so much distress and damage, the team at the Foundation responded immediately doing what we felt was the best thing to make a difference. Their hard work and the generosity of the Flood Disaster Relief donors have been recognised tonight. It really was a team effort from raising the money, to ensuring the payments were available quickly and everybody assisted."
The Flood Team and South Yorkshire Community Foundation chairman, Colonel Jonathan Hunt, collect their awards.