Cornish disaster relief charity ShelterBox has been awarded the prestigious Beacon Prize for New Initiatives by the Beacon Fellowship Charitable Trust. Past winners include Sir Bob Geldof and Jamie Oliver for their notable work in the charitable sector.
Since the Helston-based charity was founded in 2000, ShelterBox has responded to more than 75 disasters, from floods to tsunami, earthquakes and conflict, in 50 different countries. There are now branches of ShelterBox in eight countries across the world, making the charity a truly international venture. This has been recognised by the Beacon Fellowship Charitable Trust as an extraordinary philanthropic achievement.
ShelterBox founder and CEO Tom Henderson received the award on Tuesday. He said: “I am delighted to have received this award. I am immensely proud of everything that our hard-working staff, volunteers, fundraisers and donors have achieved since ShelterBox was founded. I would like to thank everyone who has supported us over the years and helped make ShelterBox the success it is today.”
For more information on ShelterBox, please call (01326) 569 782 or visit www.shelterbox.org
About ShelterBox
ShelterBox is an international disaster relief charity which provides aid for people affected by natural and other disasters.
This aid is provided in the form of ‘ShelterBoxes’, which are tailored to each situation, but generally contain a 10-person tent, blankets, tools, water purification and cooking equipment. Each box is individually numbered and can be tracked by donors.
ShelterBox has responded to more than 75 disasters to date, in 50 different countries, including the Indian Ocean tsunami, Hurricane Katrina and Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar (Burma).
ShelterBox also has an ongoing programme in Africa called A Million in Africa, which aims to help one million people who have been displaced or left homeless by events such as the HIV/AIDs crisis and civil conflict.
All ShelterBox Response Team members are volunteers who have carried out extensive training with ShelterBox.
The ShelterBox Trust is a UK registered charity (Charity Number 1096479) organized and administered by the Rotary Club of Helston-Lizard. The charity’s President is HRH The Duchess of Cornwall.
