As time passes, community foundations will help Grenfell Tower residents piece their lives together

Listening to the words of the charity single released for the victims of the devastating fire at Grenfell Tower, I have the answer to two questions I’ve been asked many times in the last fortnight. Why do community foundations get involved in disaster relief? What is it we provide that others don’t?

Community foundations are bridges that people can rely on for support. We help people to invest in local communities where it is most needed. Each foundation has an in-depth understanding of their local area, what the priorities are and how best to address them. Our connections with local charities and community groups mean we are able to direct donations to where they will make the most difference locally. And that support is there not only in the immediate aftermath of a disaster, but also for the long term.

The future those victims are facing now is an unimaginable nightmare: grief, compounded by uncertainty about where they are going to live, what they are going to wear and how they’re going to feed their families.

Donations from our Dispossessed Fund are already helping with these short-term concerns. The London Community Foundation has made emergency payments to both residents and local community organisations, with a total of £120,000 already given to The Rugby Portobello Trust and Al-Manaar mosque to distribute in payments of £1,000 per flat. The foundation has also distributed grants of £5,000 to support 14 community organisations who are providing most assistance on the ground, with more to follow.

This support will be ongoing as the foundation identifies other groups who need funds – particularly those able to reach undocumented residents who have been unwilling to come forward. We are also working in partnership with the North Kensington Law Centre so they can provide pro bono legal advice for those affected by the fire.

But it’s when the TV cameras leave and public attention moves on that our support will really be felt. While the residents of Grenfell Tower attempt to piece their lives back together, the London Community Foundation will be there every step of the way - just as community foundations in Cumbria and Yorkshire supported residents affected by the floods of 2015.

In the aftermath of that disaster, foundations assisted with relocation and replacement of possessions, as well as counselling and mental health support. London Community Foundation will do all of that while keeping this close-knit community together, even as they are dispersed across the city. We will work with the community to determine local priorities once they have all been rehoused. Longer term support is likely to include help with insurance claims, counselling and community activities, but - crucially - this will be planned in conjunction with a panel of local residents. The priority will be to ensure that the voices of the individuals and communities affected by this tragedy are heard.

Community Foundations bring together different local charities and community groups so that support can be channelled in the most effective and efficient way possible. Our connection to communities means that donations make the most impact, are felt immediately and resonate for a long time to come.

Fabian French is chief executive of UK Community Foundations. You can donate to the London Community Foundation’s emergency appeal here.

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