A YORK-based charity is sending aid to survivors of the Nepal earthquake.

The John Lally International Foundation (JLIF) has teamed up with York’s Aid For Nepal group to collect clothes, shoes, tents and soft toys to send to 21,000 people in the Ghurka area of Nepal who lost their homes.

The Ministry of Defence provided a 20-foot container to transport the donations, and offenders undertaking Community Payback helped sort and pack the donations.

Gordon Campbell-Thomas, chair of JLIF, said: “When we were first approached to help with donations from our charity shop, It’s Donated, on Lowther Street, it coincided with the end of our long-term project in India.

“It seemed appropriate to refocus our attention on the mountain kingdom to help those in need. Although we collected tonnes of donations we didn’t have enough volunteers to sort and repack the container - and that’s where the Community Payback came literally to our rescue.”

Ed Gray, York and Selby community payback manager for the Humberside, Lincolnshire and North Yorkshire Community Rehabilitation Company Limited, said those taking part were being punished by the courts while paying something back to the community.

He said: “The Community Payback team is delighted to offer a much-needed helping hand on this worthwhile project.”

Bob Gray, from York Aid for Nepal, said: “This is a wonderful effort - these people are making a genuine contribution to our aid project.”