High energy costs and high inflation are not going to return to normal any time soon. The fund will run for the Winter of 22/23 and probably the following Winter 23/24

The donation form has a tick box to request a refund of any surplus when the Fund is closed. As an example,say the Fund raised £20,000 and distributed £15,000 and your donation was £200. You would be refunded £50. For those that choose not to have their donation refunded, any surplus will be donated to local charities such as ADCA

This is a trade off between transparency and the confidentiality of the recipients. As a donor you will be able to see the number of donors, the total donated, the number of recipients and the amount distributed. The fund transactions will be professionally audited in April of each year the Fund is active.

Maybe but We are not holding our breath hoping this will go away. Anyway, what have you got to lose? Tick the please pay back any surplus box. If there is no distribution from the fund you'll get 100% back.

True. We could make it hugely bureaucratic and have more checks and balances or we can just get on with it, help people now and simply trust the organisers. You can contact the trustees by email or phone Ralph Warburton rjw@notrubraw.com 07813 820157 or Robert Collins rollins@redmug.co.uk 07713 625009. Air any concerns so we can improve the scheme.

Maybe. If we managed to distribute funds to 20 really needy households but one crept through the net then shame on them. We’ve still succeeded in helping twenty households. That’s a huge win. If the distribution involves some 15 page form prying into potential recipients affairs, then pride and bureaucracy gets in the way and we fail. Accept some imperfections and get on with it seems better.

A recent newspaper article. It sums it up rather well. See the image above left.

Audlem, Ashton, Acton, Newhall, Dodcott cum Wilkesley, Lightwood Green, Buerton, Hankelow and Hatherton & Walgherton Parish Council area.