About The Appeal Trust

The tightly-knit local community at Atherstone-on-Stour have devised this response to the tragic incident which has been co-ordinated and spearheaded by the Alscot Estate, on whose land the warehouse was situated. This is a non-political and independent appeal with the full support of the Warwickshire Fire Service and Warwickshire County Council. It is a national, rather than regional, appeal.

A Trust (the Atherstone Firefighters’ Appeal Trust) has been set up by Farrer & Co (Solicitors) who have set up a number of similar funds, most recently in the aftermath of the 7 / 7 bombings in London. The Trustees include the present owner of the Alscot Estate and professionals who are giving their services to the Appeal free of charge.

All funds raised for the Appeal will be used, first and foremost, to provide for the families and dependants of those killed and injured in the incident. It is intended that the Trust should provide a flexible means of looking after the needs of those affected, who include a number of children and infants. To ensure maximum flexibility, on advice the Appeal has not been set up as a charitable trust, because this would restrict the way in which funds could be used to benefit the affected families and their dependants. Any excess funds over and above those used for the families and dependants will be used to purchase a working memorial to those who died, in a similar approach to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.