Campaign raises £113k for Calderdale businesses hit by floods

Calderdale Rising was launched on Crowdfunder.co.uk last Friday (January 15) and more than 200 people have already pledged their support.

The campaign is trending as one the most popular on the project funding website, with £113,000 donated in the first week.

It was created by Business for Calderdale to help more than 100 local businesses badly-hit by the Boxing Day floods.

High street shops, professional services and industrial companies are among businesses which have jumped on board to support the campaign.

The majority are small, independent and family owned businesses, and many have had to make redundancies whilst they rebuild their premises and purchase new equipment and stock.

Some are still unable to open, a month after Storm Eva struck.

The companies are working together to promote the campaign and encourage people to donate.

Some are also offering the option to purchase their products as an alternative to pledging money.

These include a Hebden VIP Card, which provides discounts at a number of shops in the town, a Bridestones Brewery ‘Beer Lovers Ultimate Gift’ allowing buyers to create, produce and name a new ‘flood range’ of real ales, cream tea afternoons by Hebden Bridge Cruises and a ‘Grand Day Out’ by The Bicycle Den.

The money raised by the scheme will be shared between all the businesses taking part in the campaign.

For more information, or to donate, visit www.crowdfunder.co.uk/calderdalerising