A COMMUNITY has united in a fundraising bid to help farmers stricken by the effects of the foot and mouth outbreak.

Clitheroe Rotary Club has dedicated fundraising projects to help the National Farmers' Union's Supporting Farmers in Crisis Appeal.

Already a St George's Night cabaret and dinner booked many months ago at the Stirk House Hotel, Gisburn, on April 21 has been earmarked as such an event with the proceeds going to the cause.

The Rotary Club of Ribblesdale is also looking to discuss possible ways of aiding those affected by the crisis, including those in tourism.

"We felt there was a definite need to do something like this which we hope will be supported by local people and which will help local people," said Clitheroe Rotary Club president Peter Spencer.

In addition, the Countryside Agency has launched a scheme which will implement the Government's commitment to match fund donations made by the public to relevant voluntary organisations who are working to alleviate the distress rural people are currently suffering.

The money raised by the NFU will also qualify for match-funding.

Margaret Clark, a director of the Countryside Agency said: "Voluntary organisations are playing a key role in helping people to cope with the effects of foot and mouth disease on them and their families. The public is showing its concern through donations and it is important that the match funding promised by government reaches those organisations as quickly as possible." Eligible uses for the match funding include the relief of hardship for individuals and families, advice, counselling and other support.

However, it says a minimum of £25,000 in public donations to an organisation nationally is needed to be eligible for match funding and covers funds donated up to June 30, 2001.

If that organisation cannot reach the minimum required, it can join forces with another charity in a similar situation and apply jointly to the Agency for match-funding.

Voluntary organisations taking donations include Citizens' Advice Bureaux, Samaritans, Rural Stress Information Network, Arthur Rank Centre Addlington Fund, Farm Crisis Network, Village Retail Services Association, Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institute and Hospitality Action.

Organisations needing further information can contact Helen Thomson at the Countryside Agency by e-mail on helen.thomson@countryside.gov.uk or on 020 7340 2900.