Community Foundation for Calderdale start handing out grants to those affected by flooding

Following the devastation of the floods caused by Storm Ciara, the Community Foundation for Calderdale launched a flood appeal which now stands at £320,000.

The appeal was off to a healthy start as £250,000 had already been raised through the Watermark Fund which was set up following the Boxing Day Floods in 2015.

Steve Duncan, DL, CEO of the Community Foundation for Calderdale explained, “We have 30 years of managing donations and giving out grants and we have received over 500 applications and are processing these as swiftly as we can and we have started giving out initial payments of grants to householders.

“Initially, businesses were applying for grants through us but Calderdale Council are now in receipt of specialist funding of £2m from Leeds City Enterprise Partnership so businesses are applying for grants by emailing [email protected]. All of the applications from businesses we received have been passed over to Calderdale Council who are making the initial assessment.

“We are working closely with the Council so that they can process these as quickly and efficiently as possible so we can award successful applications with a grant.

“Adopting this method opens up the opportunity that flood affected businesses could potentially receive £3,500 rather than £1,000.

“We would like to thank everyone who has contributed donations to the appeal as we are trying to raise £1 million. We are hopeful that the Government will provide match funding but we haven’t heard anything yet.”

To make a donation to help the people, charities and businesses affected, visit https://localgiving.org/appeal/2020FloodAppeal/.