Flood recovery fund established to support Aberdeenshire communities
Aberdeenshire Council is supporting a Flood Recovery Appeal set up by Foundation Scotland who will distribute funds raised.
The Aberdeenshire Fund has launched with over £50k already committed from Shell UK Ltd and other individual Foundation Scotland clients. All funds raised will help local communities.
The Foundation will distribute funds to support individuals and community organisations as they begin to recover from the effects of recent flooding.
It is hoped that existing funding streams can also be channelled through the Foundation Scotland Appeal, such as money raised by local community groups, donations pages and local bucket-shaking fundraising events.
Meanwhile individuals wishing to help can donate directly through the Aberdeenshire Council website to the Foundation Scotland Appeal donations page.
Foundation Scotland is a registered charity which distributes funds to charities and community organisations. It administers over £20million in charitable endowments for its clients and has been connecting donors with exceptional charities, enterprises and community opportunities since 1996.
The foundation currently works with over 120 communities in Scotland and its significant experience at a local level will ensure that money raised from the appeal will reach those individuals in greatest need and provide funding for local relief efforts.
Grants will be available to:
Individuals and Families – Grants up to £500 are available to households for costs relating to clean-up; emergency repairs; clothing; food and drink; heating costs/equipment; child care equipment and basic furniture. Other costs can also be claimed for if they relate directly to hardship caused by the flooding and storms.
Funds will be prioritised towards those in households with:
• People over 70 years of age
• Children under 5
• People with physical or learning disabilities or mental health needs (e.g. receiving Disability Living Allowance, Carer’s allowance, Disablement benefit, Severe Disablement Allowance, Incapacity Benefit, or Attendance Allowance
• People on low incomes (e.g. receiving housing benefit, universal credit, working tax credit)
Grants for Voluntary and Community Groups – These grants are targeted at groups providing immediate support to people affected and who are also working on longer term community rebuilding projects. Funding is also available for organisations with premises which have been affected by flood damage.
Priority will be given to voluntary and community groups providing support to one or more of the following groups of people:
• Older adults
• Families with young children
• People with physical or learning disabilities
• People with mental health needs
• People on low incomes
Aberdeenshire Council Provost Councillor Hamish Vernal is an ambassador for the appeal and said: “I have spent much of the past fortnight visiting affected communities across Aberdeenshire and have been struck by the impact of these floods. To see the generosity of communities, prepared to step up and support their neighbours, has been the defining feature of the recovery process and I am delighted to be an ambassador for this appeal.
“I would encourage anyone who has been involved in local fundraising to channel their efforts through this Flood Recovery Appeal, which can be directed towards specific communities within our area. I would also encourage homeowners and community groups to explore whether they could apply for support from this fund.
“To be at the forefront of a community driven initiative such as this is a real privilege and I look forward to hearing how this has been able to support local communities.”
Chief Executive of Foundation Scotland Giles Ruck said: “We are delighted to be working alongside Aberdeenshire Council to support local communities affected by the devastating floods of recent weeks. We have a key role to play in ensuring we get funding to local volunteer groups doing critical work on the ground as well as immediate funding to individuals and families who are suffering severe hardship.
“We realise that there are many local fundraising initiatives gathering momentum and we will ensure that the Fund complements those efforts to maximise funding available to the communities affected.
“By channelling funds through the Appeal, we can also relieve groups with the administrative burden and responsibility of distributing funds allowing them focus their energies in providing practical support where it is most urgently needed.
“We welcome the fact that Fund will not only address the immediate crisis but provide a legacy of infrastructure and support that can be re-activated in the face of future crises that my affect Aberdeenshire.”
Apply for funds here.
This fund is entirely separate from the recently announced Scottish Government Relief Fund. Anyone interested in applying to the government fund should email floodrelief@aberdeenshire.gov.uk to register and receive an application form.