THE eyes of the world's media were on Cumbria when the county's Flood Recovery Appeal was launched at 8pm on Saturday, December 5, 2015.

People from Kendal to Carlisle were evacuating flood-hit properties for the refuge of emergency shelters when Cumbria Community Foundation responded to the scale of the urgent need by kick-starting an appeal with £50,000 of its own money.

Within 24 hours generous benefactors moved by Cumbria's plight had pushed that total to £100,000 and in less than five days the £1 million milestone was reached.

From members of the public, businesses large and small, philanthropists and charitable trusts, the past year has seen 35,000 donations made.

Thanks to £4.7m match funding pledged by the Government, the grand total raised is now £10.3m - of which £7m has been awarded so far.

"The Flood Recovery Appeal has been a success because of the generosity of people who gave money," said Andy Beeforth, chief executive of Cumbria Community Foundation.

"We are really fortunate to live in such supportive communities. I can only say a heartfelt thank you to everyone who has supported the appeal; it is only through their support that we have been able to help so many flood-affected people."

Quick to act, the charity's flood panel volunteers began working around the clock to process applications from hard-hit families and individuals - whether insured or not - as quickly as possible.

The first emergency relief grant was made after just four days, and since then an average £136,000 has been given out every week, thanks to volunteers' tireless dedication. Some 2,734 households have been helped to cope with their day-to-day hardships by paying for:

- cleaning equipment, clothing and furniture

- disability scooters and wheelchairs

- items for premature babies

- school uniforms lost in the floods

- respite care for disabled family members

- rent for temporary lodgings

- higher-than-usual electricity and heating bills to pay for drying out damp properties

- and camping stoves for people still living upstairs in flood-hit houses.

As well as immediate, practical help for families and individuals, Cumbria Community Foundation has also been keep to support the charities, social enterprises and community groups dealing with Storm Desmond's longer-term emotional aftermath.

So far more than £1.5m has been awarded to 113 organisations to help them offer counselling, advice and guidance in Cumbria's flooded towns and tight-knit rural communities.

The foundation's head, Andy Beeforth, says that 12 months after the devastating floods many residents are still struggling to cope with the disruption to their lives.

"The stress and anxiety people are still suffering is considerable. We have seen families living apart, people losing their jobs - and even made homeless. The floods have sadly put people under considerable strain.

"We know our current and future grant-making, fuelled by people’s generosity, contributes to helping people recover and rebuild both practically and emotionally."

Mr Beeforth explained: "The need for support continues. We know that 700 families are still not back home and this does not reflect the full situation, as some people remained living in their flooded homes, some are under-insured and those that have returned home report still having to deal with many issues. In addition, as winter approaches, the health and emotional impact of the flood is becoming more apparent."

He continued: "Over the next few months we will continue to make household hardship awards and to support groups affected by the floods. Increasingly we will invest in resistance and resilience measures for both households and communities plus projects to support people's emotional well-being."

People with flood-hit properties and belongings or facing hardship can apply for grants between £500 and £2,000. In exceptional circumstances awards up to £6,000 will be considered. Further requests can be made after a month. Employees who have lost work or income in the storm and floods can also apply.

Grants up to £2,000 will also be considered to help top-up flood resistance and resilience measures.

Meanwhile, voluntary and community groups giving relief can apply for £5,000 to £15,000. Partnership projects may also attract grants up to £125,000.

To apply and find out more, visit www.cumbriafoundation.org