Update (3rd Oct): as you've hopefully heard Tim and Sam are safe and back in the UK. They are very grateful for all the contributions to date and feel overwhelmed by the support from all of you. As is their character, they have very generously decided to use money to directly buy and ship aid for those less fortunate who remain on the island. Contributions will remain open for those that still want to donate.

My brother and his wife, Tim and Sam Williams, have been living in Dominica for the last 10 years and have built a business from scratch in Rosalie called Mermaid's Secret.

Tim and Sam have put a huge amount of effort into creating Mermaid's Secret and for anyone who has stayed there they will know what a beautiful haven this is right in the middle of the rain forest.

The island suffered a few set backs with hurricane Erica a couple of years ago and now looks to have been obliterated with hurricane Maria.

At the moment I have no idea if my family are safe or not, but I feel this is something I can do to help them out as I can't be their physically for them.

Their business won't be up and running anytime soon and I know they will be doing everything they can to help the community in which they live.

If you can spare a couple of pounds to help them back on their feet again I would be massively grateful.

This is a stunning island that I have visted many times, and it relies heavily on the tourism industry. Asking fellow humans to forgo a few bits of change that would be spent on a coffee to help out some people in need.

If you would also like to donate to the relief efforts of the island as a whole, I have put the link below.

https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/dominica-hurricanerelief

Thanks for reading

Gems x