ShelterBox
The Club has since 2006 annually donated funds to the UK Disaster Charity ShelterBox which provides emergency shelter and essential items to support communities around the world affected by disasters and humanitarian crises. Communities who, often with no warning, lose their homes, their possessions and their livelihoods and every day are faced with a battle for survival. ShelterBox believe in a world where no one is without shelter after disaster, because they believe shelter is so much more than just a roof; that it’s the foundation for life, families and communities. ShelterBox’s sole focus is on emergency shelter and this allows them to provide the best shelter solutions for people after disaster and conflict.
The Club thanks all members who have contributed in any way.
Recent responses by ShelterBox to disasters can be seen in the ShelterBox in Action - link in side menu.
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2025 marks 25 years of ShelterBox providing emergency shelter to more than 3 million people in over 100 countries, spanning Asia, Africa, South America, Oceania, Europe, and North America responding to earthquakes, hurricanes, floods and conflicts – that’s more than 300 people every day! |
The global support from the Rotary network is the cornerstone that ShelterBox is built on and Rotary has been an official project partner since 2012. This valuable partnership means ShelterBox can have a wider reach, support more people, and access areas that would otherwise be impossible to reach
Their major responses over the years can be seen in 25 Years of ShelterBox here.
ShelterBox are incredibly grateful for the generosity and commitment of Rotary clubs in Great Britain and Ireland. Sanj Srikanthan, ShelterBox CEO notes “At a time of increasing global indifference to the mounting conflicts and disasters we see around the world, our partnership with Rotary and the wider support of Rotary members continues to make a significant impact across the globe and remains a beacon of service to those on the frontlines of these crises”. Support now is more critical than ever as they predict in the next 25 years 1.2 billion people will be at risk of losing their homes to disaster - around 1 in 6 people alive today!
| ShelterBox state: "Rotary has been instrumental in our growth and Rotarians are the cement that binds us together. The fundraising efforts by Rotarians make up a significant proportion of donations received by ShelterBox. Alongside this, Rotary Clubs provide invaluable logistical support to our field operations. Rotarians will often be the people who ensure aid can be delivered into a country by acting as consignees and more often than not, it will be Rotarians who are the first point of contact for the ShelterBox Response Team members when they arrive in a disaster struck country. They provide everything from logistical support, translators and local knowledge to a bed to sleep in". |
How ShelterBox Respond
Every disaster is different and no two responses are the same. They often go further, working with hard-to-reach communities who are overlooked by others. Their teams travel by foot, boat, helicopter or tuk-tuk to get to the families needing support.
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Before a disaster happens, they ensure they are ready to help at a moment’s notice by storing aid in strategic locations around the world and procuring items locally. They work with trusted local partners and have a network of volunteers who are ready to help at a moment’s notice.
There’s no ‘one size fits all solution’ so by listening to what’s needed most they adapt their response every time. Their Support includes:
providing items such as tents, tarpaulins, blankets, mosquito nets, water filters and solar lights- supporting people to access cash or vouchers, so they can choose the items they need most or pay for repairs on their homes or
- accessing longer-lasting shelters where communities are likely to be displaced for a long time.