Donations of bottled water, blankets, toiletries, baby milk, biscuits and drinks were rushed to the capital’s 17 HelpCentres, as members and their friends gave generously. Meanwhile, Pastor Michael’s team were arranging transport and coordinating with Hammersmith HelpCentre to get the donations to the point of need.

“We were finally able to leave everything at the Tabernacle church, and were deeply touched by what we experienced there,” said Pastor Michael. “There was a community atmosphere with no distinctions of race, colour, religion. Everyone came together to help those who were affected directly, and also local residents who had been evacuated and were unable to return home for many hours.”

He continued: “I spoke to one local resident, a Muslim. He was helping firefighters from 1am, and said, with tears in his eyes, that he still can’t get over what he saw of people trapped in the building crying out for help. People were calling him a hero, but he held that the real heroes were the firefighters.”

Now that the opening phase of the relief effort is over, the needs of those affected are evolving. Anyone who wishes to help further can find out what the options are online. Here are a few suggestions and some key contact details from the local council’s website:

• Kensington and Chelsea Council is helping those affected and in need of emergency accommodation, especially for families with young children, the elderly and the vulnerable.
•  To volunteer to help with the support effort please register your interest by e-mailing grenfellvolunteers@rbkc.gov.uk with your name, contact number and availability, and advise if you have any specialist skills.
•  The Kensington and Chelsea Foundation has launched a Grenfell Tower appeal for funding. Details of the appeal and how the public can support it can be found at thekandcfoundation.com.
•  The Westway Sports Centre, Crowthorne Road, W10 6RP, is the Family and Friends Reception and is being staffed by the police.
•  An emergency contact number has been set up for anyone concerned about loved ones, please call the casualty bureau on 0800 0961 233.
• Residents who are displaced due to the fire please call 020 7361 3008. There are also other appeals ongoing, and the UCKG HelpCentre’s 24hour Helpline can be reached on 020 7686 6000.

  Notes to editors

  UCKG is a Christian church and registered charity that offers a range of practical support activities alongside spiritual support and comfort. It reached the UK in 1995 and has gone from strength to strength, providing support and spreading the Christian faith through its branches in England and Wales.

  For further information please contact the UCKG HelpCentre Press Officer via e-mail on press@uckg.org or direct line 020 7686 6033, or call the PR consultant on 07867 510909.