A CLEAR message is going out to the thousands of people in South Lakeland hit by flooding - practical help to rebuild your homes and lives is close at hand.

Thanks to an outpouring of goodwill and generosity across the nation, the fund launched by Cumbria Community Foundation (CCF) has now topped £4.3 million - and Kendal households in particular are being encouraged to apply.

Meanwhile, Kendal Flood Relief Centre manager Rachel Ellis is appealing to flood-hit folk across South Lakeland to make use of the shelves laden with food, clothing, toys, bedding and household essentials donated by well-wishers from Aberdeen to London and Bristol.

"We want everyone to know that it’s okay to ask for help," said Rachel from the collection point above Argos, at the Westmorland Shopping Centre. "We have tonnes of things here that could make your life a little bit easier in the coming weeks and months."

South Lakeland District District Council is offering several lifelines, from emergency £500 payments to council tax relief for up to a year, and business rates relief for up to three months.

Like Eden District Council, the council is also to administer grants up to £5,000 for home-owners affected between December 3 and 11, to defend against future flooding. The likelihood is that assessors will visit each applicant's property to decide what will work best, from a £25 watertight air-brick cover, to raised ovens, boilers and electric sockets; water-resilient kitchens, bathrooms and flooring; and permanent flood doors.

Smaller groups are also playing their part, such as the historic Kendal Relief in Need Charity, based at the parish church, which helps the people of Kendal with items such as furniture, fridges, cookers, school meals and transport.

Almost six weeks on from December 5's downpours, hundreds of people whose homes were damaged - or who lost work or income - have been awarded grants close to £1 million by CCF. Voluntary groups are also being assisted to give relief or repair their own flood damage.

The Cockermouth-based charity believes there are many Kendalians who have not yet asked for the thousands of pounds they could be entitled to for emergency repairs, cleaning up, clothes, food and drink, heating, childcare equipment, basic furniture, travel costs, and help with insurance shortfalls or large excesses.

Cath Howard, chief operating officer, says this could simply be down to lack of awareness of the fund among people who have never been flooded before, unlike families in Carlisle, say.

"Given the scale of how many properties were affected - almost 6,200 in Cumbria - we've raised the target to £6 million," said Cath. Unpaid trustees are meeting each day at 4pm to go through that day's applications and more than 1,300 cases have been dealt with so far.

"Anybody can apply. We do ask for some financial information and to be honest we reject very few applications. We do try to give everybody a little bit of help," said Cath.

People aged over 70 and families with children under five have priority, but CCF wants to help everyone, insured or not. Visit www.cumbriafoundation.org or phone 01900-825760 to apply for a grant or to donate.

Kendal Flood Relief Centre is seeing "on average between 30 and 40 individuals and families" each day, but is keen to welcome more.

“If you have been flooded it must be a very difficult time, and even those covered by insurance will have a lot of hidden costs over the next few months," said manager Rachel Ellis.

"Everything here has been donated by the community for the benefit of those who have been affected by the flooding and it is here for them to make use of.”

Almost 200 volunteers are giving up their time to help at the centre, open Tuesday to Saturday, 10am to 4pm. "We are helping people to complete grant applications for CCF and SLDC," explained Rachel. "We are also listening to people’s stories over a hot drink. We have a children’s corner, thanks to St Thomas’s Church, so that parents of young children can be helped while their children play."