The Shoreham Air Show Fund was set up in response to public generosity, following the tragedy at the 2015 Shoreham Air Show where 11 people died.

The Fund has raised £195,000 to date. It is managed by Sussex Community Foundation on behalf of Adur District Council, Brighton & Hove City Council, West Sussex County Council and Worthing Borough Council.

£173,000 has been paid out so far to bereaved families to cover such expenses as funeral costs, transport and accommodation costs, counselling costs, and general living costs, especially where the deceased was the main bread-winner in a family, or made a significant financial contribution to the household they lived in. The Foundation continues to encourage those affected by the disaster to contact them and make an application.

The application process has been made as simple as possible to allow each family to tell the Foundation what they need. The process includes consideration by a grants panel who decide on the applications very swiftly, as they come in. Sussex Community Foundation has worked closely with Sussex Police family liaison officers and the local councils from the beginning to ensure the families are aware that the Fund is available to them. The families’ needs are ongoing, applications continue to be received and so the Foundation wants to make sure that the Fund will still be there to help them when they need it for as long as possible.

Sussex Community Foundation is a registered charity and has eight members of paid staff. In the case of the Shoreham Air Show Fund, the Foundation’s costs have been covered by the local authorities on whose behalf it is managing the Fund. None of the donated money has been or will be used for marketing or salary purposes. 100% of donations to the Fund will go those affected by the disaster.

For more information, please contact Hannah Clay at Sussex Community Foundation on 01273 409440 or you can email Hannah here.