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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/jul/12/call-review-charity-response-uk-disasters-wake-grenfell-tower-fire
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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Call for review of charity response to UK disasters in wake of Grenfell fire | Call for review of charity response to UK disasters in wake of Grenfell fire |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| One of the UK’s best-known charities is calling for a review of how the voluntary sector responds to large-scale emergencies in the UK after the Grenfell Tower fire, amid concerns about how to disperse money to those who most need it. | One of the UK’s best-known charities is calling for a review of how the voluntary sector responds to large-scale emergencies in the UK after the Grenfell Tower fire, amid concerns about how to disperse money to those who most need it. |
| It is estimated that between £18m and £20m has been raised for those affected by the deadly blaze, but the British Red Cross is concerned that it has proved difficult to distribute funds with large sums remaining as yet unspent. | It is estimated that between £18m and £20m has been raised for those affected by the deadly blaze, but the British Red Cross is concerned that it has proved difficult to distribute funds with large sums remaining as yet unspent. |
| Adding to the complexity are the number of charities involved, although the bulk of the money comes from the Red Cross, the Kensington and Chelsea Foundation, and the Evening Standard newspaper in conjunction with the London Community Foundation (LCF). | Adding to the complexity are the number of charities involved, although the bulk of the money comes from the Red Cross, the Kensington and Chelsea Foundation, and the Evening Standard newspaper in conjunction with the London Community Foundation (LCF). |
| Mark Astarita, the executive director of fundraising at the British Red Cross, said an incredible amount of money had been raised but “the method through which it is being distributed is extremely complex because there are multiple funds, with different criteria for making grants. | Mark Astarita, the executive director of fundraising at the British Red Cross, said an incredible amount of money had been raised but “the method through which it is being distributed is extremely complex because there are multiple funds, with different criteria for making grants. |
| “It creates barriers that individuals who are in the aftermath of such a traumatic event have to navigate. For this reason we believe there is now a need to review how fundraising works for large-scale emergencies in the UK to improve the process for allocating funds to people who need them whatever the context.” | “It creates barriers that individuals who are in the aftermath of such a traumatic event have to navigate. For this reason we believe there is now a need to review how fundraising works for large-scale emergencies in the UK to improve the process for allocating funds to people who need them whatever the context.” |
| Russell Delew, the chief executive of the LCF, said his organisation had been “concerned about the pace of dispersal of some of the funds”. He added: “It’s a huge responsibility for all the organisations involved to ensure transparency and show that we’re able to get funds to those so traumatically affected and to the local organisations helping to rebuild lives and the community in North Kensington.” | Russell Delew, the chief executive of the LCF, said his organisation had been “concerned about the pace of dispersal of some of the funds”. He added: “It’s a huge responsibility for all the organisations involved to ensure transparency and show that we’re able to get funds to those so traumatically affected and to the local organisations helping to rebuild lives and the community in North Kensington.” |
| Privately, some went further. “It’s a real mess,” said one charity insider. “A single coordinated fund would have been much better. Not much money has got out given how much is there.” | Privately, some went further. “It’s a real mess,” said one charity insider. “A single coordinated fund would have been much better. Not much money has got out given how much is there.” |
| A total of £2.4m has been channelled to the London Emergencies Trust (LET) from the Red Cross, the Evening Standard/LCF and the Kensington and Chelsea Foundation to make initial payments to those bereaved by or injured in the fire. | A total of £2.4m has been channelled to the London Emergencies Trust (LET) from the Red Cross, the Evening Standard/LCF and the Kensington and Chelsea Foundation to make initial payments to those bereaved by or injured in the fire. |
| Interim payments of £20,000 to the next of kin of those who died in the fire, £10,000 to those hospitalised for a week or more, and £3,500 to those hospitalised for more than six hours are being processed. The LET has a further £2.4m on standby for subsequent payments. | Interim payments of £20,000 to the next of kin of those who died in the fire, £10,000 to those hospitalised for a week or more, and £3,500 to those hospitalised for more than six hours are being processed. The LET has a further £2.4m on standby for subsequent payments. |
| Applications for grants need to be verified, which is a sensitive process in a community that has lost trust in officialdom. | Applications for grants need to be verified, which is a sensitive process in a community that has lost trust in officialdom. |
| “We are now beginning to receive applications via family liaison officers, but some people are just not ready to be assessed, and there may also be people who have fears about coming forward. We’re moving at the pace that the people concerned are ready to move at,” an LET spokesperson said. | “We are now beginning to receive applications via family liaison officers, but some people are just not ready to be assessed, and there may also be people who have fears about coming forward. We’re moving at the pace that the people concerned are ready to move at,” an LET spokesperson said. |
| Separately, every family from Grenfell Tower is being given a £10,000 “fresh start” grant as they move into new accommodation, from funds donated to the Kensington and Chelsea Foundation. | Separately, every family from Grenfell Tower is being given a £10,000 “fresh start” grant as they move into new accommodation, from funds donated to the Kensington and Chelsea Foundation. |
| Muslim charities have also been active. The Grenfell Muslim Response Unit, a coalition of Muslim groups which is assisting people regardless of their religion or ethnicity, is acting as a bridge between authorities and individuals on the ground. | Muslim charities have also been active. The Grenfell Muslim Response Unit, a coalition of Muslim groups which is assisting people regardless of their religion or ethnicity, is acting as a bridge between authorities and individuals on the ground. |
| In the past four weeks, it has supported more than 320 people needing financial help and other practical and emotional assistance. It has disbursed more than £200,000 from the National Zakat Foundation, including £5,400 in emergency payments on Saturday when it registered more than 100 people at an open “surgery”. | In the past four weeks, it has supported more than 320 people needing financial help and other practical and emotional assistance. It has disbursed more than £200,000 from the National Zakat Foundation, including £5,400 in emergency payments on Saturday when it registered more than 100 people at an open “surgery”. |
| The total amount raised for Grenfell is not a record. Last year, £60m was raised by the BBC’s Children in Need appeal, and a similar amount was raised for charity by participants in the London marathon, although both events supported a range of causes. | The total amount raised for Grenfell is not a record. Last year, £60m was raised by the BBC’s Children in Need appeal, and a similar amount was raised for charity by participants in the London marathon, although both events supported a range of causes. |
| A more apt comparison is the Aberfan disaster in 1966, when a waste coal tip slid down a mountainside on to a South Wales mining village, burying a school and killing 116 children and 28 adults. | A more apt comparison is the Aberfan disaster in 1966, when a waste coal tip slid down a mountainside on to a South Wales mining village, burying a school and killing 116 children and 28 adults. |
| The Aberfan Disaster Fund eventually stood at £1.75m – £31m at today’s prices. It generated disputes and some bitterness between those who thought the money should go only to bereaved families, the wider community, or for the removal of other tips. Local residents also felt under-represented on the fund committee, which was dominated by councillors and local dignitaries. | The Aberfan Disaster Fund eventually stood at £1.75m – £31m at today’s prices. It generated disputes and some bitterness between those who thought the money should go only to bereaved families, the wider community, or for the removal of other tips. Local residents also felt under-represented on the fund committee, which was dominated by councillors and local dignitaries. |
| Where the money has come from | Where the money has come from |
| • Red Cross - £4.7m | • Red Cross - £4.7m |
| • Evening Standard/London Community Foundation - £5.5m | • Evening Standard/London Community Foundation - £5.5m |
| • Kensington and Chelsea Foundation - £4.5m | • Kensington and Chelsea Foundation - £4.5m |
| • Artists for Grenfell - £680,000 | • Artists for Grenfell - £680,000 |
| • Muslim charities (including Islamic Relief, Human Appeal, Muslim Aid and the National Zakat Foundation) - £500,000 | • Muslim charities (including Islamic Relief, Human Appeal, Muslim Aid and the National Zakat Foundation) - £500,000 |
| • Individual and group crowdfunding pages through Just Giving - £2.5m | • Individual and group crowdfunding pages through Just Giving - £2.5m |
| • This article was updated on 17 July 2017 to add detail about the response of the Grenfell Muslim Response Unit. | • This article was updated on 17 July 2017 to add detail about the response of the Grenfell Muslim Response Unit. |
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