ShelterBox

ShelterBox is a Rotary International Project Partner

ShelterBox

ShelterBox and Rotary have been official Project Partners in disaster relief since 2012, but have worked closely together for more than 16 years, as one of the world’s most effective humanitarian collaborations. Together, we provide lifesaving assistance to millions of people who have lost their homes through conflict and natural disasters.

ShelterBox began in 2000 when the Rotary Club of Helston-Lizard championed the simple idea to package up essential shelter items in the now iconic green ShelterBoxes for their millennium project. With Rotarians at its heart, ShelterBox has grown to become a major force in humanitarian aid and a world-leading expert in emergency shelter.

Rotarians and Rotary groups across the UK and globally support ShelterBox in a range of essential ways, from raising vital money and awareness at home, to helping hand-deliver the charity’s emergency aid to families in desperate need across the world. Together, ShelterBox and Rotary cross boundaries and cut through red tape to reach even the most remote communities.

The aid

Each disaster is different, and so is every community. ShelterBox doesn’t believe that one size fits all, so has worked hard to expand the range of kit provided. Considered assessments are made in each disaster situation, to ensure families are provided with the right support they need to recover.

The aid ShelterBox supplies comes in the form of ShelterBoxes and ShelterKits. The sturdy green ShelterBoxes typically contain family-sized tents specially designed to withstand the elements and provide people with temporary shelter. The ShelterKits contain all of the essential tools people need to start repairing and rebuilding their homes. Both are usually provided with additional items that help transform shelter into a home, such as cooking sets, solar lights and blankets. ShelterBox tests and evaluates all the aid provided by talking to, and learning from, the families who use it. This fuels ShelterBox to remain innovative and ensures it continues to evolve.

How it’s done

After considered assessments, aid is delivered to families in need by whatever means necessary: air, sea or land. Aid is accompanied by highly-trained ShelterBox Response Teams, who will work directly with local communities and partner with other organisations such as Rotary, government bodies or other aid agencies to make sure that they get the right support to the right people. To be able to act rapidly after disaster strikes ShelterBox has pre-positioned stock in strategic locations around the globe. Although more aid may need to be sent, stored aid allows for an initial response to happen much more quickly.

ShelterBox, alongside Rotary, has helped to rebuild communities after some of the largest natural disasters this century has seen, from the Boxing Day Tsunami in 2004 and Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines in 2013 to the massive earthquakes that devastated Haiti in 2010 and Nepal in 2015. ShelterBox is however active 365 days a year, transforming lives after disasters that haven’t made the headlines.

International Project Partners

Rotary clubs are a vital part of ShelterBox, supporting field operations in 90% of its worldwide deployments. More often than not, it will be a Rotary club that is the first point of contact for the Response Team when they arrive in a country. Rotarians provide logistical support or act as consignees, ensuring aid can be delivered in country. Rotarians also help spread the word of ShelterBox and organise creative fundraising activities with their wider community.

Together, Rotary and ShelterBox have helped more than 240,000 families recover from the devastating impact of disaster.

“The partnership between Rotary and ShelterBox has provided a place of refuge to people facing some of the most difficult and uncertain moments in their lives.”

John Hewko, 2011 - Rotary International General Secretary

What’s next?

Currently, 65 million people have been made homeless by natural disaster and conflict. All predictions point to the fact that the number of people who will lose their home each year is set to only grow. ShelterBox exists to help as many of these people as possible. The ongoing support of Rotary clubs around the world is vital to enable the provision of shelter to many more families in need.

To get involved, find out more or to make a donation visit www.shelterbox.org or get in touch with ShelterBox via email: rotaryrequest@shelterbox.org

Contact Martin Seymour about this page:

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'What We Do' Main Pages:

Boscawen, Rotary and the War in Ukraine

Our plans to send a generator

We will be at Sainsbury's, this month from 16th to 19th, with our newly acquired Barrel Organ. Monies raised will go to St. Petroc's.

Mike Grundy takes over from Ian Bell as Boscawen President for the coming year. Mike Barber becomes Senior Vice President.

Another wonderful Competition for our local schools

Young Writer Competition 2022

The results have been announced to schools.

At Truro School Chapel

Our National 2nd Place Presentation

Simon, Jade and Helen were excellent guides

We visit the 10 Schools. Click on photos for captions.

Brian, David P and PB had some interesting moments on the 6.5 miles that completed our summer challenge.

The Mayor, Steve Webb welcomes David Pollard.

Wonderful weather. Click on the photos for captions.

31 March update. School Presentations of Certificates and prizes.

We entertain the late night shoppers in Truro.

A fine Club Service, involving many members.

Hustyns Resort, Hotel and Spa, is set in a remote St. Breock Downs location. And is the only possible safe parking place for miles around. 4 members walk the 6.1 miles to it from Little Petherick.

Claire Connor.

Boscawen contributes

Truro Area schools are District Young Writer Winners!

Update April 2022

An online zoom quiz battle between two friendly local clubs - and overseen by a quizmaster in South Africa.

Presentations August 2022 at Trelander: DHP and DGR

Two or three (or more!) volunteers are needed to represent the Club during the last part of each session and to present the water bottles sponsored by RCTB and RC Truro Evolution. No more than an hour is asked. Please use the sign up sheet attached

Boscawen sells poppies for the Legion, Nov. 2022.

Cheque for £590 - representing one box -is presented.

Julian describes the programme roll out.

On Sat. 25 Nov 2023

Julian reports another enjoyable youth project.

Presentation at Richard Lander School

We provided the young players with Rotary logo water bottles

On December 27. At St. Mawes.

We celebrated the Saints Way Challenge and its fundraising aim with a short and easy walk at Fowey.

Truro Area Schools entry numbers break all records.

Update April 2022. Congratulations to them. May update...new pictures added.

Another successful event organised by Julian.

The Lord Lieutenant, with President Ian and Organizer Richard make the presentations.

We visited Truro School Prep. and Richard Lander to conclude a memorable Young Writer competition.

Boscawen supported the City Council by sponsoring junior football coaching across the city, providing Rotary-branded drinking bottles. David R. and David P. lead, and here we see Bernard, David C. David P, Ed, Brian and PB at the training sessions.

A sell out for Boscawen

The Rotary Club of Truro Boscawen team up with BIDS Truro

Truro Golf Club, Friday 13 May. Click on pictures and then scroll through. Event report below the pictures.

A progress update

A happy occasion with families and friends at the Cathedral Chapter House Restaurant.

The generator labelled and ready for transit.

One year after the start of the war.

Presidents Handover

Photos of the day. Click to enlarge. Report and Results below.

A visit to the Truro depot. Click on photos for captions.

Richard, President Ian and judges visit Truro High School Prep. (Click images to see captions)

At Truro School Chapel. Tickets available online only.

The Rotary Young Writer Competition, 2020

The District Competition

For the second year, we will roll out the "barrel organ", play seasonal tunes, and hope to collect money from shoppers in aid of St. Petroc's.

Presentations to pupils of Devoran School and Richard Lander School are shown here. There will be further presentations after Easter.

This year, under lockdown constraints and with Julian's expert management we have run an online Youth Speaks competition. The only Club in the District to achieve this.

How our Club has responded to the special circumstances of this year.

During Lockdown we have been prevented from holding our usual fundraising events. However we know that local charities need support at these times more than ever.

This Challenge is open to all Cornish Rotary Clubs and their friends. We are walking the Cornish coastal footpath all through August to raise funds for Cornwall Mind and for Clubs' chosen charities.

The Doom Bar at the mouth of the Camel. Seen stretching far out at low tide.

The miles are building up towards our 293 target.

2 weeks done and 2 to go. Check out our progress towards the 293 mile target here.

This is the biggest week yet. We have 18 Related Pages of walks and pics by Boscawen, by Cornwall Mind and by other Rotary Clubs throughout the county. MESSAGE TO ALL: A FINAL PUSH THIS WEEK TO COMPLETE ALL SECTIONS. SEE THE MAP.

Many Clubs throughout the County have joined the Challenge, and we are now within 36 miles of walking every bit of the Cornish Coastal Footpath. See the Map for the remaining 7 stretches to be walked.

Our Challenge is completed! (Just one short section in the east remains). When our Senior Vice President voiced scepticism that we could do it he was by no means the only one. Perhaps we should all have a piece of that hat!

16 other Rotary Clubs in the county, Cornwall Mind, and all their friends have joined Truro Boscawen in COMPLETING THE COASTAL FOOTPATH CHALLENGE

We recorded the miles we walked/biked each week and have shown them as virtual walks. So far, we have walked from John O'Groats to Lands End, and from Lands End to London. We are also raising charity funds at the same time.

Ian Bell and Mike Grundy take up their Chains of Office.

Triumph for local school! The West Cornwall round of the National Rotary Youth Speaks Competition is won by a Boscawen sponsored Team.

We recently entertained our friends from St Petroc's at the club and heard from them about the encouraging reduction in homelessness in the county over the last 3 years.

Mooch around Mylor

Every year just after Christmas we go for a bracing walk with friends, children, grandchildren, dogs, whatever..This time we started at Mylor, went round via the Pandora Inn and back all via creekside paths and woodland.

St Petroc's CEO Steve Ellis will update us on the work of the charity which the club has supported for many years in cash or kind.

A brief description of this Club's current activities - and some history

Our Community and Vocational Services Committee supports local charities with members' time as well as funds; and also promotes activities with schools and young people (see separate page)

International support

A committee of the Club which specialises in international links and support