In June 2007, parts of north and central England were hit by a series of devastating floods, the worst in the UK for decades. Sheffield in South Yorkshire was one of the worst affected places and even though the foundation’s offices and staff were themselves affected, the South Yorkshire Community Foundation immediately set up a flood disaster relief fund in conjunction with the four local authorities, a local radio station and Yorkshire Bank.

The fund has raised well over £1.6 million, all in donations from individuals, companies and trusts – including nearly half a million pounds from the British Red Cross’s national appeal fund. The grants team aimed to distribute the bulk of the fund before Christmas 2007, and met that deadline, making over 4,600 payments to individuals and families affected by the floods. Over £1,200,000 was paid out to individuals and families throughout South Yorkshire. Not a penny of the fund came from statutory sources – it has all been donations from the general public, businesses and trusts. In addition, a further £250,000 was granted to community groups and charities that were affected by the floods or who supported the flood victims.

Donations received were spent in accordance with the donors’ wishes: some funds arrived with specific instructions to be spent in a particular locality, and these have been honoured. Others were earmarked specifically for community groups and not individuals and families – and vice versa. Thirty percent of the British Red Cross donation had to be spent on community groups and charities supporting the flood relief and recovery efforts. All of this has presented a unique challenge to the Flood Fund Team to satisfy the needs of donors and at the same time to offer a fair and equitable distribution to all victims.