Over half term you will have seen the devastation in Jamaica caused by Hurricane Melissa. We know that many of you will have family and friends who will have been affected. Our thoughts are with all those in Jamaica who have lost everything, and as a federation we would like to do something to help. If you would like to donate any of the following you can bring these to school and place them in the donation box in the school office. These will then be taken to a charity who can ship them out to those most in need.
- Non-perishable food
- Bottled water
- Hygiene products and toiletries
- Nappies and baby supplies
- Cleaning supplies
BEWARE! There are already some fraudulent sites asking for donations. Here is some information from the government website:
If you want to donate money to support those affected by Hurricane Melissa, there are a number of trusted charities and organisations providing humanitarian relief on the ground in Jamaica.
Donate to the Government of Jamaica’s emergency appeal.
The UK Government will match public donations to the IFRC appeal with up to £1 million.
The UK government immediately committed up to £2.5 million to support the humanitarian response to devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa . In addition, it is mobilising an additional £5 million emergency humanitarian funding to support recovery in the wider Caribbean region.
Donating essential supplies
One of the most effective ways to help is by donating cash through trusted charities and aid organisations, rather than sending goods. Cash can be transferred quickly to areas where it is needed, and used to purchase what is most urgently required.
Unsolicited donations of goods, although well-intentioned, can obstruct supply chains and delay life-saving assistance. If you wish to donate goods, check with charities and community groups first. They will have lists of items they need.
Making your donation safely
Charities with experience in disaster response are best placed to reach people affected by Hurricane Melissa.
There are some simple steps you can take to ensure your money is safe and being used effectively:
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check the charity’s name and registration number using the relevant charity register tool in your country. In the UK you can use the charity register tool
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most charities with an income of £5,000 or more must be registered, which means they are regulated by the Charity Commission (England and Wales), the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (Scotland), or The Charity Commission for Northern Ireland (Northern Ireland)
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make sure the charity is genuine before giving any financial information
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If in doubt, ask the charity or organisation for more information
