A NEW floods worker will soon be on hand to help people trying to get their homes and businesses back to normal.

The York Disaster Fund will soon have a specialist flooding case worker whose job will be to visit people hit by flooding to help them get financial support they need.

Jan Garrill, whose charity the Two Ridings Community Foundation is managing the York Disaster Fund, said: “When we’ve talked to residents and businesses affected by the recent floods we realised we needed to do more to help them get the help they need.

“Sometimes even completing simple forms when your life has been turned upside down by flooding is just too much and we want to make sure anyone who is eligible for funding gets it. The case worker will be a friendly face who has recent experience of helping residents in York, so she will be able to make a difference straightaway.”

Funded jointly by the York Disaster Fund and City of York Council, the case worker comes from the Yorkshire Housing Home Improvement Agency, a not-for-profit organisation which supports people to live independently at home.

The partnership with City of York Council means that the support offered will help get funds from the York Disaster Fund and the council’s Flood Resilience Grants.

The case worker will start in early March.

Anyone who thinks that they need this help should contact Two Ridings Community Foundation on 01904 435 277 as soon as possible.