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Permalink Reply by Hutch Woodward on September 14, 2017 at 1:10

Piffle...

Perhaps to do with the council?

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/kensington-council-rejected-red-...

The British Red Cross offered to draft in extra resources to cope with the chaotic aftermath of the Grenfell Tower fire but was turned down by Kensington and Chelsea council.

Where does Mr Mike Adamson actually say that the Red Cross is too white?

Its behind a pay wall so i cannot read the full story to find that quote - perhaps The Times putting words into his mouth?

Could you post it here?

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Permalink Reply by Nev Martin on September 14, 2017 at 12:50

The word "white" does not appear in the Times article whatsoever....

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The British Red Cross offered to draft in extra resources to cope with the chaotic aftermath of the Grenfell Tower fire but was turned down by Kensington and Chelsea council.

Mike Adamson, chief executive of the British Red Cross, said he phoned the local authority the day after the fire to offer more staff and assistance.

Help in distributing emergency cash to victims and providing a support telephone line was also offered. Adamson was told the council did not require the extra assistance offered — and was assured the situation was in hand.

Red Cross volunteers were on the scene from 3am on the day of the fire. “The whole situation was chaotic,” said Adamson. “‘Some people had lost everything.”

The day after the offer was made, a new team was assembled that comprised government and local authority officials supported by the emergency services and the British Red Cross.

Kensington and Chelsea council was relieved of its role and the Red Cross asked to extend its operation.

The organisation has deployed more than 1,000 volunteers since the fire, providing round-the-clock emotional and practical support.

Adamson said he had been overwhelmed by the “extraordinary” response of the community. He said: “People of all ages, races and religion from all backgrounds came to offer help.”

The community was inundated with donations of clothing — which now cover the equivalent of three football pitches — but cash was usually more helpful.

“We are going to spend a fortune in volunteer time sorting the clothes out,” said Adamson.

An investigation by BBC Newsnight has found a series of failings hampered firefighters. A high ladder did not arrive for more than 30 minutes and crews cited problems with low water pressure and their radios.

Kensington and Chelsea council did not respond to a request for comment.

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Permalink Reply by Donald Smith on September 14, 2017 at 15:21

The Title I used comes from The headline allocated by a Sunday Times sub editor at 

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/too-white-red-cross-struggled-to...

I am not critical of the Red Cross.....the article was discussed on LBC and the issue was raised by contributors...and that those in certain communities would confuse Red Cross as a Christian organisation (which it is not) as they were more used to seeing the Red Crescent logo as a charitable organisation

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