Fresh call for donations after flood appeal fund total passes £190,000

MORE than £190,000 has been pledged to an appeal fund launched to support South Yorkshire flood victims — but much more is needed.

South Yorkshire’s Community Foundation (SYCF) founded an Emergency Flood Disaster Relief Appeal at the start of the week to provide “urgent support” to people affected in Rotherham, Doncaster, Barnsley and Sheffield.

Chief executive Ruth Willis said she was pleased with and grateful for the donations made so far but called for them to keep coming in.

“We need people to help because there are so many in absolute hardship,” she said.

“It’s really important for us to try and support people as much as possible.”

Ms Willis said the foundation had been working this week to get its application system ready for grants to flood victims, with the prospect of larger grants being available in the long run.

“We started off with a target of £30,000 but it has gone really well,” she said.

“There are people who were just recovering from being flooded before and it has happened again.

“We are aware of just how bad it has been for those affected.”

Ms Willis said there would be a full list of criteria to outline who was eligible for help but grants could be given towards replacing flooring, carpets and white goods and carrying out repairs.

A spokesman for SYCF added: “Thousands of people have been evacuated, with hundreds of homes flooded in the worst hit areas. 

“Whilst the true extent of the damage of the floods is still being realised, disruption continues to schools, business, roads and public transport. 

“This is the second flood appeal set up by SYCF. 

“The last one was in 2007 in response to the devastating floods that affected the region at that time.”