Help is available to people who have suffered damaged homes and lost household items in the recent storms.

A number of organisations are offering financial and practical help to individuals and families whose homes have been damaged, or have lost or damaged essential household items or other possessions. Residents and businesses have also been coming forward to make donations, or volunteering to help.

Pattie Richmond, operations manager for Cornwall Community Foundation said: “The Foundation has opened up its Emergency Fund to receive grant applications from individuals whose homes have been severely affected by storm damage including flooding. We will try to prioritise homes without adequate insurance and households with vulnerable adults and/or children. We are also offering to help community groups and organisations whose activities or buildings have been affected.”

If you would like to volunteer or donate household items, please contact Volunteer Cornwall on: 01872 265305.

If you would like to make a donation to the Cornwall Community Foundation Emergency Fund, you can either:

• Visit Cornwall Community Foundations’ Just Giving Page www.justgiving.com/Cornwall-Emergency-Storm-Fund. 

• Send a cheque payable to “Cornwall Community Foundation” to: Suite 1, Sheers Barton, Lawhitton, Launceston, Cornwall, PL15 9NJ Please write “Emergency” on the back of your cheque Relief.

Funds are available to help people and communities affected by storm and flood damage in Cornwall, including: Cornwall Community Foundation Emergency Fund Grants of up to £250 are available to individuals. Community groups can apply for up to £1,000.

Guidance on applying and an application form is available on the www.cornwallfoundation.com website.

Cornwall Council Crisis Awards Crisis Awards of up to £1,500 are available to people in emergency or disaster situations to help them and their families with their immediate needs. Help will usually be provided in a practical way with goods or services.

More information is available online www.cornwall.gov.uk/crisisandcare Phone: 0300 1234 121 (and select option 2). Email: crisisandcare@cornwall.gov.uk Government

The Prime Minsiter David Cameron has announced new grants to help homes and businesses affected by the winter storms.

Individual grants of up to £5,000 are available to help pay for repairs, not covered by insurance, which improve a property's ability to withstand future flooding.

More information and advice on applying for a grant is available online www.gov.uk/government/news/new-measures-to-help-communities-hit-by-flooding 

More information about these grants and others is available on the Council’s website: www.cornwall.gov.uk/floodfunding.

Information about help with planning, listed building consent and building regulations following flood and storm damage is available on the Council’s website: www.cornwall.gov.uk/planningnews