Charity that helps during disasters coming to Reading

Reading, famous for its three B’s, biscuits, bulbs, and beer, will be hosting ShelterBox for an evening of discovery into the world of humanitarian relief work.

The international disaster relief charity is coming to the town to share an insight into the humanitarian crises around the world and the global impact the charity has.  

ShelterBox specialises in emergency shelter aid and supports people left homeless by conflict or disaster all over the world. The charity currently has an emergency response team in Morocco to help support people who lost their homes in last month’s devastating earthquake.  

ShelterBox is supporting people in Morocco who have has their homes and possessions destroyed in devastating earthquakes. Credit: ShelterBox (Image: ShelterBox)

ShelterBox is inviting people to discover more about the work it does across the world and the people it supports. Guests will be given exclusive insight with speakers sharing personal stories about global and very current responses. 

Attendees will have the chance to hear from the charity’s Director of International Programmes, Euan Crawshaw, who said:  “Our vision at ShelterBox is ‘No one without shelter after disaster’, and this is exactly what drives everything we do. With projects right across the world, no two days are the same and that’s one of the reasons I love my role.

“I'll be sharing first-hand experiences of my trips to the Philippines, one of the world’s most disaster-affected countries. As well as delving into the issues faced by millions of people who have been uprooted from their homes due to conflict in Sudan and Ukraine. It will also be a chance for people to find out more about our most recent responses in Morocco and Libya.” 

Distribution of ShelterBox aid in Pakistan, supporting people affected by devastating flooding. Credit: ShelterBox (Image: ShelterBox)

ShelterBox is currently working with partners in Libya to support people who have had their homes damaged or destroyed by extreme flooding that hit the northeast of the country last month. The charity is also supporting people in Syria, Türkiye, and Ukraine, providing items that will help keep individuals warm during the harsh winter months when the need for shelter and items to keep warm becomes more urgent. 

As well as emergency shelter, ShelterBox also provides essential items such as solar lights, thermal blankets, mosquito nets, and water filters to displaced people and communities across the world. 

Since it was established by a Rotary club in Cornwall in 2000, the charity has supported 2.5 million people across 98 countries. Known for its iconic green boxes, the charity has been continuously evolving to better meet the needs of displaced people. ShelterBox no longer provides aid in boxes, instead providing combinations of aid that are locally appropriate and packaged in a variety of ways to make a tangible difference. 

Mr Crawshaw said: “In our new five-year strategy we are focussed on empowering the people we support, and the people at ShelterBox. We’ve also been working towards establishing more meaningful partnerships with organisations across the world and working on ways to be more accountable to enable us to support people and communities in the most appropriate and effective ways. 

“I’m proud of the impact ShelterBox has had up to this point, but there is always more to do. This event gives people a chance to learn more about some of the challenges the people we support face and how humanitarian organisations like ours work. I’m really thrilled to be speaking in Reading and I hope this event will encourage people to get involved in any way they can.”

Distribution of ShelterBox aid in Mozambique, supporting people displaced by conflict. Credit: ShelterBox (Image: ShelterBox)

The live event will be held at the University of Reading Students Union, from 6pm to 7.30pm on Tuesday, October 24.

Tickets for the event are limited so people should register as soon as possible to secure their place. More information can be found on the events page: Beyond the Box, Reading. 

Community and Events Manager at ShelterBox, Lauren Muldowney says: “The evening will be a coming together of like-minded, passionate people who are keen to learn more about the world of humanitarian work and who would like to see a world where no one goes without shelter after disaster.”