Public urged to support official distress fund

THE Support for Shaw Gas Explosion Facebook site is asking residents to now donate to Oldham Distress Fund or Forever Manchester.

Attempts were made to set up an alternative fund — the Spirit of Shaw — but this was never registered as a charity and no longer exists.

Administrators of the Facebook page — who have no connection with the defunct fund — say they have taken a few cash donations when people wanted to donate directly to affected families.

The administrators have also raised money with a charity fun day. People who attended the event wanted the money to go directly to affected residents rather than the council fund.

The group says it has provided receipts to people for money they have donated and have obtained receipts for everything they have bought.

The Evening Chronicle was unable to contact the person who set up the Spirit fund and so is unable to verify whether cash has been donated to it and, if it was, how it was spent.

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