UK floods clean-up is focus for rotarians

Every year the Rotary Club of Wolverhampton distributes thousands of pounds to help the victims of natural disasters around the world. This year members voted to give £5,000 to a fund set up by their counterparts in Cumbria following the devastating floods.

But not satisfied with that contribution members decided to add money from their own personal funds and specifically their winter fuel payments, which are between £100 and £300.

Club President, Roger Fellows, said: "Many of our members had recently received notification that the winter fuel allowance would shortly be credited to their bank accounts and it was quickly concluded that these funds would be better directed to those in need of extra heating in the flooded areas."

Contributions from members' winter fuel payments - which are awarded by the government to help pay heating bills - totalled £3,100, making a total donation from the city club of £8,100.

Mr Fellows, added: "These disasters take many forms, tsunami, earthquakes, floods and hurricanes – all constant reminders of the power of nature.

"Usually the location is on the other side of the world and we frequently finance the provision of emergency shelter to give short-term respite where homes have been destroyed. It is very unusual to be faced with a home-grown disaster here on our own shores."

Meanwhile, residents in Walsall answered a rallying call for cleaning supplies to be sent to victims in Yorkshire.

An appeal was launched by Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust for residents to hand in items such as mops and buckets to a collection centre at Pelsall Village Centre.

On Saturday dozens of donations were made and more are expected by the end of the week before they are transported up to Yorkshire.

Garry Perry, patient relations manager at the trust, said: "I sorted the room at the centre last week and stuff has already started coming in.

"A lot of people brought things down on Saturday in particular.

"Hospital staff have given us stuff, traders have made donations, we had buckets from the florist The Fuschsias Bright and residents have dropped items off as well.

"I am hoping to take it all up at the end of the week and it looks like there will be a lot more stuff the way it is going."

Mr Perry has been in contact with the Community Foundation For Calderdale (CFFC) which has set up an emergency flood fund for victims.

He launched an appeal for people to provide practical items that would help with the mass-scale clean up including tea lights, hand sanitiser, hard brushes, shovels, mops, gloves, mask, buckets, baby wipes and general cleaning products.

While he urged anyone with cash donations to pledge directly to the dedicated Just Giving web page.

Mr Perry added: "I started this because a resident called me saying she had seen the floods on the television and it had upset her. She came to me asking 'what can we do?'

"I think we are very quick to help other crisis-hit countries but when it happens in our own country we don't always treat it with the same level of importance.

"I hope to think if it were my village or community where this was happening other people from around the country would do the same for us."

Rob Bilson, from the CFFC, said: "We appreciate the generosity and support that people are showing from across the UK. Thank you again for thinking of us, it's times like this when the true spirit of Britain shines through."