Further help for Dales communities devastated by flooding
Two Ridings Community Foundation announced today, 10th September 2020, the launch of a financial support for individual households in Swaledale, Wensleydale & Arkengarthdale that were flooded in July 2019 who want to improve their home’s resilience to future flooding. To apply visit https://www.tworidingscf.org.uk/fund/swaledaleandwensleydale/
Funding would be available for items like flood gates, flood doors, non-return valves on drains, pumps, air brick covers, drainage channels and walls and other barriers. Funding for measures will be subject to financial assessment of household income.
Funding came via the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government who, in summer 2020 announced match funding of the £250,000 raised locally for communities in Swaledale, Arkengarthdale and Wensleydale affected by these flooding incidents. This was following presentation of the case for match funding from Two Ridings, Richmondshire District Council, North Yorkshire County Council, York and North Yorkshire LEP and the NFU.
In July 2019 flash flooding caused major devastation across parts of Swaledale, Arkengarthdale and Wensleydale. In response and thanks to generous donations from across the UK, Two Ridings Community Foundation opened the Swaledale & Wensleydale Recovery Fund to provide assistance to people affected by this flooding. Over £250,000 was raised, much of which was led by the local community. All of this money has been spent helping those whose homes were so badly affected to get back on their feet and to help Parish Councils to make emergency repairs to watercourses and other local infrastructure that was badly damaged. In February 2020, a number of properties were once again flooded following Storm Ciara, affecting repairs already carried out, and adding to the trauma of those involved.
This round of funding will open on 14th September 2020. Application forms and guidance notes on what this might cover and how to apply are available from https://www.tworidingscf.org.uk/fund/swaledaleandwensleydale/ . The deadline for receipt of applications will be 30 November 2020.
Further funding opportunities for voluntary and community groups to help the wider community prepare for any future flood events, enabling potential flooding to be managed more effectively, will be announced in September.