Almost £200,000 donated to airshow fund

People across Sussex have donated almost £200,000 to help bereaved families and others who suffered as a result of the Shoreham Airshow disaster.
Flowers laid in memory of the airshow tragedy's victims. Picture by Eddie Mitchell.Flowers laid in memory of the airshow tragedy's victims. Picture by Eddie Mitchell.
Flowers laid in memory of the airshow tragedy's victims. Picture by Eddie Mitchell.

Monday is the one-year anniversary of the tragedy, with memorial events planned to mark the occasion – click here for more details.

The Sussex Community Foundation was asked to manage the fund on behalf of Adur District Council, Brighton & Hove City Council, West Sussex County Council and Worthing Borough Council, and £194,000 has been donated.

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The foundation has made grants of £108,000 to bereaved families to cover such expenses as funeral costs, transport and accommodation costs, counselling costs, and general living costs, especially where the deceased was the main bread-winner in a family or made a significant financial contribution to the household they lived in. All of the applications received have been supported, in part or in full.

Grants panel chairman Keith Hollis said: “We have learned from our continued liaison with police family liaison officers and others that the needs of many of the families directly affected are likely to continue some time into the future. Therefore, Sussex Community Foundation has agreed with the local authorities that Phase 2 of the Fund, which was initially for a six-month period, shall be extended until August 2017.

“At that point, the situation will be further reviewed. It is our aim to manage the Fund, and make grants, in ways in which we believe that the donors, who were so generous in the support of those affected, would have wanted.”

Under Phase 2, funds are available ‘to provide longer term help to the families of those who lost their lives in the incident; and those who were injured and to help others who were directly and substantially affected by the incident’.

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For more information, or for application forms to apply for a grant from the fund, contact Laura Williams at Sussex Community Foundation on 01273 409440.

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