Kirkby Lonsdale Fire Disaster Recovery Fund: Update 27th January 2025

Introduction

At the request of Westmorland and Furness Council and the Kirkby Lonsdale Community Recovery Partnership, Cumbria Community Foundation (CCF) launched the Kirkby Lonsdale Fire Disaster Recovery Appeal on the 17th December 2024 to address hardship caused by the devastating fire in Kirkby Lonsdale on the 8th December.

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The Appeal was launched with a donation of £50,000 from Westmorland and Furness Council so that the first phase of emergency awards could be made before Christmas. Additional donations have been received from individual donors, community fundraisers, businesses, charitable trusts and foundations.

The Appeal focusses on supporting:

People who have lost their homes and possessions to the fire and been displaced, and
People who are suffering hardship due to business closure linked to the fire and the loss of income to their households.
If funds allow, community recovery activities.

Further details are provided in the Kirkby Lonsdale Fire Disaster Recovery Appeal document.

Governance

The Foundation established the Kirkby Lonsdale Fire Disaster Recovery Fund Grants Committee to oversee the grant making process and make decisions about the grants awarded.

Members of the committee include CCF Trustee/Main Grants Committee Chair, CCF senior staff, officers from Westmorland & Furness Council and representatives from the Kirkby Lonsdale Community Recovery Partnership.

The Grants Committee reports to CCF’s Main Grants Committee and Board of Trustees, and the Kirkby Lonsdale Community Recovery Partnership.

Phase 1 Grant Making:

Grant Making Overview (see attached flow diagram):

Phase 1 grant making criteria was developed and publicised – six categories of need were identified. See published grant making criteria here – https://www.cumbriafoundation.org/fund/kirkby-lonsdale-fire-disaster-recovery-fund/
Application process – CCF worked closely with Westmorland & Furness Council officers who:
- Supported applicants to complete an online CCF application form
- Verified the applicant’s circumstances and assigned category of need (1-6)
- Submitted application form on behalf of applicant
Assessment process – CCF:
- Reviewed each application and sought additional information as required
- Recommended a grant award based on category of need
- Presented a summary of the grant award applications and recommendations to the Grants Committee
Decision making – the Kirkby Lonsdale Fire Disaster Recovery Fund Grants Committee:
- Reviewed applications and grant award recommendations
- Sought additional information as required
- Decided upon level of grant award
Grant Awards – CCF:
- Advised applicant of the decision
- Paid approved grant awards by fast payment process – most people received their grant award before Christmas.

Update on Phase 1 Grant Making:

To date grants totalling £37,200 have been awarded to over 70 households who meet the current eligibility criteria.

A few outstanding applications for Phase 1 are expected
CCF is undertaking a review of Phase 1 awards to inform Phase 2 grant making.
The majority of payments were made and received before Christmas – this has been an incredible team effort and would not have been possible without the support of the council officers supporting people to make applications/verify circumstances, the support provided by the Community Hub and associated community organisations, and the council/community representatives who have attended the grants decision panel –a huge thanks to everyone.
Feedback from grant recipients has been really appreciative of all the support provided:
- “Many thanks for your kind grant; it is very much appreciated. All of our community are very grateful for the fantastic support work done by the Council & our Community Hub.”
- “I just wanted to acknowledge the outstanding work you and the rest of the partnership are doing under very difficult circumstances. I have received the money transferred into my account, and want to thank everyone involved for their care, support, empathy, and sensitivity over the past few days. It has made a huge difference.”
- “Thank you so much for this, we as a family appreciate it very much and this will help us tremendously, as we get through the next few weeks of the unknown for us.”
- “I really appreciate your email and wanted to send my thanks to everyone who has been dealing with the grants. This will definitely help me”

Phase 2 Grant Making:

CCF Kirkby Lonsdale Fire Disaster Recovery Fund Grants Committee met to discuss the criteria for Phase 2 grant making on Monday 13/1.

Phase 2 grant making will continue to be restricted to ‘inside the cordon’ and support:

individuals or families whose homes and possessions have been damaged by the fire.
individuals or families who are suffering hardship due to business closure linked to the fire and the loss of income to their household.

Applicants must meet one of the following categories of need:

1. Property of residence destroyed

2. Business owner loss of personal income due to destruction of property

3. Property of residence temporarily uninhabitable due to damage

7. Employee of business (identified under category 2) who are suffering total loss of employment and personal income (this is new category for phase 2)

Phase 1 categories 4 (Property of residence damaged but habitable), 5 (Property of residence undamaged but inaccessible due to cordon) and 6 (Employee of business within the cordon suffering loss of personal income) will not normally be supported in Phase 2.

Grants for community organisations who have provided support to the community and incurred additional costs will also be awarded.

Westmorland and Council Officers are supporting people and organisations eligible for Phase 2 grants to apply.

First round of Phase 2 grants are expected to be awarded by the Kirkby Lonsdale Fire Disaster Recovery Fund Grants Committee on the 31st January 2025.

The Kirkby Lonsdale Fire Disaster Recovery Fund currently has an available balance of £53,597.