REACT Disaster Response

Hurricane Beryl, the earliest and most powerful storm seen in the season, slammed into the Caribbean on July 1, 2024. We swiftly deployed teams to support local and international relief efforts. Our Responders completed their reconnaissance, and supported the distribution of vital aid, working alongside UNDAC (United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination) and World Food Programme. This is what our office prepares for. This is what our Responders train for. We anticipated the demand. We were ready. Our Response: ✅ Deployed a REACT team to assess immediate humanitarian needs. ✅ Engaged in productive meetings with Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) and the UK High Commission. ✅ Supported effective aid distribution and volunteer efforts in Union Island in partnership with WFP and UNDAC. It was reassuring to see such a rapid response from the humanitarian community. Shout out and respect to MapAction, UNDAC, World Food Programme, NEMO, World Central Kitchen, and other key partners for their swift response. The early and intense arrival of Hurricane Beryl highlights the growing severity of hurricane seasons, underscoring the critical need for preparedness and rapid response. We stand ready. #HurricaneBeryl #DisasterResponse #HumanitarianAid #REACT #CommunityResilience #OperationBERYL #CDEMA #WFP #UNDAC

We want to take a moment to say a huge thank you to The Veterans' Foundation for funding our Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) and Trauma Risk Management (TRiM) training. We are deeply grateful for their belief in the power of mental health preparedness. Together, we'll create a world where communities can weather any storm, emotionally and physically.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the inaugural REACT Insights Series, hosted by the outstanding team at Sidley Austin LLP. This series strives to foster collaboration and strategic thinking among professionals, reinforcing our dedication to effective humanitarian response and crisis management. Our first event featured Mark Sedwill, Nick Parker and Toby Wicks discussing the evolving geopolitical landscape, its impact on the UK and global economy, and how we can build sustainable partnerships to drive scale. We are beyond grateful to have had such a dynamic group of attendees, including leaders from Sodexo, Molten Ventures, Schroders, KPMG, PwC, McKinsey & Company, and more. To learn more or participate, feel free to reach us at fundraising@re-act.org.uk.

Last week, four REACT staff members, and a volunteer REACT Responder honed their skills at the Offsite Safety Management Course by Remote Area Risk International. This Royal Geographical Society (with IBG)-certified program provides the foundation for our safe operations - from training new Responders to disaster relief efforts. Led by the experienced Matthew D., the course covered essential risk management tools, legislation, and planning considerations. Through real-world case studies and Matt's extensive experience, we learned to apply these principles in practical situations. This focus on safety is especially crucial for our deployments to challenging and hostile environments. We train up to 90 new UK Responders, and 60 new International Responders every year. We try to make our courses as realistic as possible, so ensuring that we do this safely is so important to us. This course ensures that REACT maintains its ability to reach the most vulnerable, and to deliver the highest quality training to its Responders in a safe way. #safetytraining #disasterrelief #offsiteoperations #REACT

Last week, REACT Responders joined leading charities and community groups at Toynbee Hall, for the London Plus VCS Emergencies Partnership marking a successful day of enhancing emergency preparedness and resilience. By fostering trust and collaboration, we are determined to respond to emergencies faster and more effectively. Building awareness, ensuring a coordinated response, and adopting a common language were pivotal themes throughout the event. A massive thank you to everyone involved for making this a profoundly productive and inspiring day. Together, we are forging safer and more resilient communities. #Emergencies #CommunityResilience #EmergencyPreparedness #LondonPlusVCS #REACTResponders #StrongerTogether #ToynbeeHall

This week, Lina (Sadovnycha) Liashenko 🇺🇦 from our partner organisation Myrne Nebo (Peaceful Heaven of Kharkiv), was warmly welcomed to Wales by the Welsh Senedd’s all-party Friends of Ukraine group. This group includes Wales Counsel mick antoniw 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🇺🇦 AS/MS, Alun Davies AS/MS, and Carolyn Thomas AS/MS. Also present were REACT’s International Operations Manager, Paul Taylor MBE, Wales Regional Leader, Rob Salmon, Tony Strutt from V-Aid, and Mike Bowden from Swindon Humanitarian Aid Partnership. This gathering underscores the importance of international collaboration and community support in providing aid to Ukraine. Together, we stand united in our mission to support those affected by the conflict. Learn more about our collaborative efforts and how you can support our work in Ukraine by visiting our website (www.re-act.org.uk). #PartnershipsForImpact #CommunitySupport #Volunteerism #MyrneNebo #TogetherWeAreStronger

As part of Volunteer Week, we had the privilege of speaking with Larne Thompson, a former Officer in the RAF Regiment, and one of our exceptional responders, about what it means to be a REACT Responder. Larne spoke passionately about being "useful." For many ex-forces and emergency service personnel, civilian life can feel anticlimactic, with a real fear of feeling "useless." As Larne explained, “After I retired, I wanted to do something exciting, varied, social, whilst being useful.” This desire to be 'useful' is the driving force behind REACT Responders, creating a powerful impact for both society and our volunteers themselves. This is how we transform ordinary actions into life-saving interventions. ------- 🌟 Volunteers from military and emergency backgrounds bring a disciplined, effective approach to crisis management. Their readiness can mean the difference between life and death. 🌍 Global humanitarian needs are more complex than ever. Traditional aid organizations are often stretched thin. REACT's volunteer-driven model fills these critical gaps, ensuring vulnerable populations receive timely assistance. 🚨 We are committed to being ready at a moment’s notice. With a goal of responding to domestic crises within six hours and global crises within 24 hours, our trained volunteer Responders are essential for effective emergency response. But we can’t do it without you. ------- JOIN US! As Larne said, “It doesn't matter who you are, where you come from, we are all volunteers.” We welcome responders from any professional background to join us and make a real difference. Your skills, dedication, and readiness to serve can change lives. 👉 Connect with us on LinkedIn or visit our website to learn more. #VolunteerWeek #Humanitarian #CrisisResponse #VolunteerOpportunity

Welcome to Our Partners from Myrne Nebo! This week, we had the privilege of hosting our esteemed partners Myrne Nebo at our headquarters in Chilmark. Our discussions were a powerful reminder of the transformative work we've accomplished together. Together, we've distributed over 35,000 meals to isolated communities and provided essential medical training to frontline workers. These initiatives have been a lifeline for countless at-risk Ukrainians amid the ongoing conflict, showcasing the profound impact of our collaboration. As we move forward, our commitment to these efforts remains unwavering. Whilst we hosted Myrne Nebo we discussed new avenues to continue our support and enhance our resilience. Their visit was a timely reminder that our collective strength lies in our unity and shared mission. #PartnershipsForImpact #CommunitySupport #Volunteerism #MyrneNebo #TogetherWeAreStronger

What a weekend! And what a display of dedication and commitment from our volunteer Responders, fundraisers and HQ team! A total of four events have taken place up and down the country over this bank holiday weekend - thank you to everyone for showing up, putting your hand in your pocket and supporting REACT! We could not do what we do without you. There's still time to donate: https://lnkd.in/ewft-Szr

🚀 Chris, Head of Tech and Innovation at REACT, recently presented our Rapid Needs Assessment tool at NASA's Lifelines Ready for Impact program during SatSummit. This summit, powered by Earth science, propels humanitarian innovations and forges pathways for new technologies to enhance global disaster response readiness. It was a fantastic opportunity to meet other like-minded individuals and organisations, all focused on using technology to help others. Being able to kick-start partnerships is hugely valuable to REACT - and anything else is a bonus! Together, we are enhancing our tools to ensure a swift, coordinated, and effective response when disasters occur.