A donation point has opened in Islington for victims of today’s Grenfell Tower disaster.

*** Update (6.25pm): Kensington and Chelsea Council is now asking people to donate cash rather than goods. You can give money securely here. ***

Drop-offs are being taken up until 8.45pm today at Mildmay Community Centre in the Mayville Estate (Woodville Road, N16 8NA), just off Newington Green.

Provisions like clothing, toiletries (such as toothpaste and toothbrushes), phone chargers, food (such as tinned and dried goods) and bottled water are welcome. For more information, call Amanda Steele on 07947 115069.

Meanwhile, Islington’s housing boss is confident the borough’s tower blocks are safe in the wake of the blaze in Kensington that has so far seen 12 people confirmed dead – a tally expected to rise.

Cllr Diarmaid Ward said: “I am confident we have good and robust management of our housing stock, including tower blocks. Since 2013 the council has spent £7 million on its fire risk assessment programme and associated fire safety works for all its council housing in the borough, and a further £38million of works is programmed.

“The council has a robust fire risk assessment programme, with some blocks assessed annually and every block reassessed at least once every three years. Local area housing office staff carry out regular inspections which include fire safety issues. The council’s fire safety arrangements are also monitored by the homes and estates safety board, which meets on a quarterly basis and is attended by a member of London Fire Brigade.”