Press Release: Disaster Action Publishes New Report on Disaster Funds

Contact: Pamela Dix, Disaster Action, 01483 799066 pameladix@disasteraction.org.uk    

Controversy surrounds many disaster funds, even decades after they were launched. Little guidance is available to those who take on the responsibility of managing and distributing funds in accordance with the wishes of the donors. Disaster Funds is a unique report that fills that gap ^'3. It is an essential resource for emergency planners, fund trustees, administrators and managers.

Minister for Tourism and Heritage John Penrose said: ‘This report will be incredibly valuable in providing useful guidance for everyone involved in planning and responding to disasters. In these situations it’s imperative that victims receive the right support promptly and I’m glad DCMS was able to fund this report, which will help all those involved in future.^’4

Disaster Funds draws on the first-hand experience of beneficiaries, administrators, fund managers and trustees. Case studies include events such as the Cumbria floods (2009), the London bombings (2005), the South East Asian Tsunami (2004), the Ladbroke Grove rail crash (1999), the Zeebrugge ferry sinking (1987), the Bradford football stadium fire (1985) and Aberfan (1966).

Sophie Tarassenko, Co Chair of Disaster Action, said today: ‘Disaster Funds should make a substantial difference. The real beneficiaries will be those whose lives have yet to be affected by disaster. Our thanks go to the DCMS humanitarian assistance unit for providing the funding for the report.’ 

Setting out lessons learned from numerous disasters, the report contains specific guidance that should help prevent negative experiences - often described as ‘a second disaster’ - by future beneficiaries of disaster funds. This guidance is also available as a separate leaflet for easy reference.

In the words of Margaret Lally of the British Red Cross Society: ‘We have a responsibility to ensure that how we manage disaster funds is transparent and sensitive to the needs of individuals who have already had a traumatic experience. Any money distributed should help them rebuild their lives and be a light hope in a dark period. This report provides excellent learning for all of us involved in the management of disaster funds.’

ENDS

Notes to Editors

Note 1 - Disaster Action (DA) is a charity founded in 1991 by survivors and bereaved people from UK and overseas disasters of different origin. Current membership includes those affected by 25 disasters, such as the 2004 South East Asian Tsunami, the 2005 London bombings and other recent terrorists incidents overseas. Winner of the Society Guardian Charity Award 2004. DA’s aims are to:

• Help create a safety climate in which disasters are less likely to happen
• Raise awareness of the needs of survivors and the bereaved following a disaster
• Support those affected by disaster.

Note 2 - Disaster Funds: Lessons & Guidance on the Management & Distribution of Disaster Funds, written for DA by sociologist and disaster management consultant Dr Anne Eyre, Foreword by Professor Iain McLean (Disaster Action, London 2010, ISBN 978-0-9538331-1-5). Publication date: 25 November 2010. Free to download from the DA website, or £25 for a hard copy. The short guidance leaflet is also available as a separate document, free to download from the DA website.

Note 3 - The report summarises the various forms of financial assistance obtainable after a disaster. It makes reference to a range of available options, such as the British Red Cross Disaster Appeal Scheme, illustrating the advantages and disadvantages of differing types of trust or appeal fund through case study examples.

Note 4 - The Department for Culture Media and Sport (DCMS) humanitarian assistance unit has responsibility within Government for coordinating support in the UK to those affected by major disasters. DCMS, 2-4 Cockspur Street, London SW1Y 5DH, email hau@culture.gsi.gov.uk ; 0207-211-6200. http://www.culture.gov.uk/what_we_do/Humanitarian_assistance/

For further information, please contact: Pamela Dix, Executive Director Disaster Action No. 4, 71 Upper Berkeley Street, London W1H 7DB Tel.: 01483 799066 Mobile: 07952196133 pameladix@disasteraction.org.uk www.disasteraction.org.uk Charity No.: 1005728