Community groups raise £200,000 to help flood victims

Community groups have raised more than £200,000 to help people who have been hit by the flooding in northern England.

The flood recovery fund appeal, run by Community Foundation for Lancashire, has raised around £130,000 to contribute to clean-up costs, emergency repairs, clothing, food and drink, heating and heating equipment and to provide childcare equipment and basic furniture.

The fund, which was set up with an initial donation of £5,000 and is supported by the bishops of the Diocese of Blackburn, was originally earmarked to help those affected by Storm Desmond.

Another appeal supporting the people of the West Yorkshire borough of Calderdale has reached more than £60,000.

In 2012 the Community Foundation for Calderdale handed out more than £150,000 to people who were flooded and are again raising money to provide materials to help the clean-up operation once the flood waters have subsided.

And the Greater Manchester flood recovery appeal, supporting people with flooded homes, community organisations and residents groups, has raised around £53,000, following a donation of £50,000 from the Forever Manchester community foundation

People can donate to the Lancashire flood recovery fund appeal at this website: https://mydonate.bt.com/events/lancsfloodappeal; donations can be made to the Calderdale flood relief appeal at https://localgiving.com/appeal/Flooding; and money can be given to the Greater Manchester appeal at https://campaign.justgiving.com/charity/forevermanchester/GMFloodRecoveryAppeal/.