'Under A Third' Of Funds Raised Reaches Those Hit By Grenfell Tower Fire

'Under A Third' Of Funds Raised Reaches Those Hit By Grenfell Tower Fire

Less than a third of the money raised for those affected by the Grenfell Tower fire has reached their pockets, new data shows.

Almost half of the £19,018,782 gathered by fundraisers has been sent to distributing organisations, the Charity Commission said.

Of this, £5,822,500 has reached survivors, bereaved families and those displaced from their homes more than two months after the devastating blaze, which killed at least 80 people.

The figure is up from £2.8 million a week ago, showing a huge acceleration in the distribution of funds.

David Holdsworth, registrar of charities in England and Wales, said: "We are pleased that a further £3 million has reached survivors and those affected by this terrible tragedy in the last week, and that further funds will be distributed in the coming days.

"Some challenges still remain but it is important that the charities continue to work with the community and that the remaining funds are made available to meet their short, medium and longer term needs."

Next-of-kin of those missing or dead, people who required hospital treatment and every household of Grenfell Tower and Grenfell Walk are some of those entitled to set payments.

The biggest sums sent to be distributed are from the Evening Standard Dispossessed Fund (£3,910,000), and the Kensington and Chelsea Foundation (£2,520,000).

The London Community Foundation said, in addition to the £3.9 million from the Evening Standard appeal, £1.2 million had been allocated to the London Emergencies Trust for distribution and £100,000 allocated to community groups in the area surrounding the Tower.

Only two smaller donors - Goldsmiths Company and Turn2us - have made the entirety of their raised cash available to distributors.

It comes as the public inquiry into the disaster revealed that survivors, residents of the tower and families of those who had died can be core participants in the probe.

The inquiry said applications, including from other groups and individuals, must be made in writing by September 8.

Chairman Sir Martin Moore-Bick "is willing" to grant the status to survivors, residents and "the families of those that died or those who were injured and as a result are unable to participate in the inquiry".

Core participants may receive disclosure of evidence which the chairman considers relevant to that individual or group ahead of hearings.

They may also make opening and closing statements at certain hearings and suggest lines of questioning, while their legal representative may apply to ask questions of witnesses.

If there are a number of core participants with common interests, such as survivors, Sir Martin may direct that they be legally represented by one person.

The inquiry team said Sir Martin may make a person a core participant at any time during proceedings, subject to their agreement.

The retired judge is also able to make awards for the cost of legal representation and attendance of witnesses, subject to conditions yet to be determined by Prime Minister Theresa May.

And he will have the power to award expenses and legal costs to those who give evidence, regardless of whether they are core participants.

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