RedR UK is an international capacity-building NGO

RedR UK provides training and technical support to NGOs, aid workers and communities responding to natural and man-made disasters all over the world.

Our expert support ensures that those responding to humanitarian crises - whether or not they are professional aid workers - have the skills to do so safely and effectively.

We also work in partnership with international and national NGOs, UN agencies, academic institutions, think tanks and the private sector to improve emergency response at a global level.

Since our founding in 1980, we've responded to many of the major disasters the world has faced, including the 2004 'Boxing Day' tsunami, the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, the ongoing Syrian crisis and most recently the COVID-19 pandemic. 

RedR is also a Membership organisation: we have a global network of 1,800 Members, all of whom are experienced humanitarian professionals. RedR Membership is a mark of quality, enabling aid workers to obtain professional recognition of their skills and experience.

RedR UK's History

RedR was founded in 1980 following engineer Peter Guthrie’s experiences working in a refugee camp during the Vietnamese Boat People crisis.

Our Engineering Heritage

RedR UK was founded by engineer Peter Guthrie in 1980, as the 'Register of Engineers for Disaster Relief'. As the humanitarian sector, and the contexts we’re working in, have evolved, so too has RedR UK - but we continue to celebrate and build on our engineering heritage.

We still have strong ties with the engineering sector, based in part on our shared values: the search for tangible, sustainable and ethical solutions; a commitment to innovation; a belief in the need to share and build skills - particularly in parts of the world that are prone to disaster. 

Engineers can make a vital contribution to the response to a humanitarian emergency. Every year, many of those we train are engineers involved in humanitarian work: our training helps them to better understand the humanitarian system, sector-specific principles and processes, and the environment in which they are operating. We also train professional humanitarians in essential engineering skills, during courses like 'Shelter in Urban Emergencies', 'WASH in Urban Emergencies', and 'Developing Groundwater'. Many of our 1,800 Members are engineers by profession. 

We also work closely with engineers on some of our key projects, such as 'Ready to Respond' our partnership with Lloyd's Charities Trust. This initiative aims to improve responses to urban emergencies by facilitating collaboration between the humanitarian and private engineering sectors and encourages the sharing of expertise. 

Many of our Patrons and corporate partners are engineering firms, and their support is vital. Without their long-term commitment to RedR, it would be difficult for us to keep doing what we do. Our corporate partners kindly provide us with funds, time, resources, and expertise.