The extraordinary efforts of charities and volunteers in helping those in greatest need after last summer's floods were recognised at a Downing Street reception last night, with Floods Recovery Minister John Healey.
Twenty-nine charities and voluntary organisations who raised money and gave practical help were represented at the event - from the British Red Cross, whose specially-trained volunteers went to help communities as soon as the flood waters hit, to members of Lowdham Parish Council who provided a forum through which local people could receive help and information, and compiled a register of vulnerable residents so that support could be directed to those that needed it most.
Tim Wendels, chairman of Lowdham parish council, attended the reception along with David Harper, flood warden and parish councillor.
"We were both there to represent the Parish Council," said Tim, who went on to describe the work which has taken place since last summer's floods.
"The parish council has put a lots of things in place, including a flood warning scheme headed by David and a team of area co-ordinators and street wardens. This ensures that everyone receives early warning, particularly the most vulnerable. Last summer, a small number of people including David and the parish clerk Martin Shaw did that, but now we have a much more comprehensive scheme in place and David's extensive knowledge of the area is invaluable.
"My role is to head up Lowdham's response to the floods and I have helped to put together a working party which involves all the relevant organisations, such as the Environment Agency. Severn Trent Water, the county council and Newark area internal drainage board. Flood defences are very important. Finding out where the weaknesses are, keeping the momentum going and ensuring a strong and positive response all helps to reduce the possibility of another event like last year's floods happening again. It is at the top of our agenda.
"There are a lot of people working on this and there is still work to be done, but we are moving in the right direction. Lowdham parish council has a key role and I am delighted to represent everyone involved."
Around 48,000 households and 7,000 businesses were hit by last summer's floods, leading to one of the largest recovery operations since the Second World War.
Alongside the magnificent response of the emergency services and the heroic efforts of individuals in the immediate aftermath of the floods, over the past year up to £10million has been raised by national and local appeals, used to support those whose lives had been turned upside down.
These include:
- The British Red Cross, raising £4.8m
- The Rotary Flood Relief Fund, raising £1m
- The Gloucestershire Flood Relief Fund, raising £1.8m
- The South Yorkshire Community Fund raising £1.5m
And, thanks to the Government's Gift Aid system, these charities can reclaim tax paid on donations, at a rate of 22 pence on every pound raised.
Flood Recovery Minister John Healey said:
"I have made many visits to areas that were devastated by last summer's floods as Flood Recovery Minister. From Hull to Lichfield, from Tewkesbury to Toll Bar, I am always struck by the way in which communities have come together to help and support each other, both in the immediate aftermath and over the course of the last 12 months.
"That's why I asked local authorities and others to nominate representatives of local charities and voluntary groups they felt had gone above and beyond the call of duty to help local people at that extremely difficult time. Some of these organisations were formed just days after the floods hit, and yet over the course of the past year some £10m has been raised by flood relief appeals.
"I have been really impressed by the efforts these organisations have made, on many occasions staffed by people who themselves had seen their own homes damaged by the floods. These charities, and the people who run them, are a great credit to this country and our communities. They deserve our thanks and recognition for their efforts. I really enjoyed the event, and meeting those people who were on the ground making the real difference when it has mattered most."
Mark Astarita, British Red Cross Director of Fundraising said:
''It's almost a year since we launched the floods appeal which raised almost £5m and was the third time we've launched a national appeal for the UK in the last 5 years - Boscastle, the London bombings and the national floods.
''I'm really proud of what we achieved. It helped even out some of the local appeals so that areas that didn't raise as much money could be helped as well. Our own donors responded magnificently and there were some magnificent local appeals. It was Britain giving at its best.
''Every now and then I've raised money for lots of disasters around the world. This one is one I'll remember because it affected so many people and we really were able to make a difference right here in the UK.''
Colin Bryant, chairman of the Flood Relief Committee at Rotary International for Great Britain and Ireland said:
"Rotarian volunteers come into their own when disaster hits a community at home or abroad. The natural Rotarian response is to help people in their own communities at home or overseas.
"Rotarian men and women live and work in the towns and villages that were affected. This flood relief work was a challenge that we would expect to face up to.
''The event was a fantastic and unique experience of humble Rotarians coming into the heart of Government. Minister John Healey thanked all of us very graciously for the hands-on work, the fundraising and follow-up work that many people here did. It's a real gem that a Government Minister has honoured people in this way.''
Notes to Editors
1. The reception took place at 11 Downing Street, the residence of the Chancellor of the Exchequer. A photograph of Tim Wendels and David Harper can be obtained on request from Elizabeth Leonard, COI News & PR East Midlands, on 0115-971 2782.
2. Charities and voluntary organisations represented at the event included:
- The British Red Cross, which began helping communities as soon as the floods first hit. Over 100 volunteers were involved in running rest centres, and providing emergency goods and bedding for evacuated families.
- Rotary International, which raised £1million through its Disaster Appeal. The money was used to fund projects around the country, including restoring a children's playground in Gloucestershire, replacing instruments for the Upton Youth Band in Worcestershire, and replacing books at 14 primary school libraries in Hull.
- Thatcham Relief in Need, which has raised and distributed £26,000 to local people affected by the floods.
- The South Yorkshire Community Foundation raised more than £1.6m through their Flood Disaster Relief Fund, which was launched just two days after the floods hit. Of this, around three quarters has already been distributed to households in Sheffield, Rotherham, Doncaster and Toll Bar.
- Hull Business in the Community brought together local entrepreneurs to distribute vital equipment and supplies, including £30,000 worth of bed linen, 3,000 shampoo sachets and toiletries and 25 cleaning kits.
- The Lincolnshire branch of the Soldiers, Sailors and Airforce Families Association (SSAFA) helped find temporary accommodation for veterans living in Louth, and worked with charities including the British Legion to replace equipment including mobility scooters to help people live as normal a life as possible.
- Lowdham Parish Council created the Lowdham Flood Working Party to bring all of the relevant agencies together with villagers to develop a positive response to the flooding issues and ensure that the village is better protected from future flood risk. A new flood warden scheme has been developed and a 'flood fair' was arranged jointly with Newark & Sherwood District Council to provide advice to residents on flood resilience measures.
- The Gloucestershire Flood Relief Fund was set up by the mayors of Gloucester and Tewkesbury. The £2million raised has been distributed to 2,200 households in the local area to help meet the costs they incurred.
