How, together, we made a difference in 2020

As we step into a new year with new challenges and possibilities, we would like to look back and celebrate the work of RedR UK in 2020. This was a challenging but exciting year for RedR UK, and it was also the organisation's 40th Anniversary.

In our Q&A with Jo de Serrano, the CEO of RedR UK, she explained:

"I actually think this year is a true turning point for RedR UK. During our 40th year, we’ve managed to show that an older organisation can change with the world. So, regardless of all the challenges we’ve had to overcome, [at the start of 2020] I would have [said to myself] ‘Enjoy the ride because it’s really going to move the needle.’"

Here’s a recap of all the milestones in 2020

COVID-19 courses

Our COVID-19 training courses saw RedR UK equip individuals and organisations, from around the world, with the rich knowledge and skills needed to respond to the pandemic in their communities.

RedR UK’s COVID-19 response trained over 3000 individuals, including teachers, nurses, aid workers and the general public in over 90 countries, equipping them with the skills and knowledge they need to protect both themselves and vulnerable communities against the devastating effects of the pandemic. With the support of our donors, we were able to offer this training to individuals at no charge.

Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction courses

After the highly successful CCADRR courses in the Philippines in 2019, we were able to expand the FREE online training by hosting more courses in the Philippines and this year bringing the courses to Bangladesh, another country particularly vulnerable to natural disasters.

These widely popular CCADRR courses, which were generously funded by AXA XL, provide individuals and organisations with the knowledge and skills to respond to and advocate for improved action around climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction.

Uganda project

Since 2020 we have been working with the Ugandan Institution of Professional Engineers (UIPE) and College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology at Makerere University (CEDAT), building in-country capacity to respond to developing humanitarian needs. This is done through the training of local engineers, so that they can transfer their technical skills to a humanitarian context.

Working with the UIPE and CEDAT, RedR UK empowers Ugandan engineers to apply their skills to a new kind of context and work in the post-COVID-19 world. We received over 300 applications for the inaugural training for Humanitarian Skills for Engineers, which is now running in Kampala, Bidibidi, Rhino Camp, Nakivale- and ends in April 2021.

The project is kindly funded by the Royal Academy of Engineering through their ‘Engineering Skills Where they are Most Needed’ fund.

RedR UK Big40 Fundraising Challenge

2020 marked RedR UK’s 40th anniversary, and despite the obstacles we have faced from the pandemic, we have continued to deliver high-quality humanitarian training across the globe.

Our 40th Anniversary appeared to be one of the biggest turning points in our history - it was the year we transferred all of our courses online and solidified our place in the humanitarian world as the go-to choice for disaster response training.

Our successful RedR Big 40 Challenge was our way to celebrate and encouraged our community to do the following: create a challenge centred around the number 40, post it on social media with #RedRBig40, donate and then challenge friends to do the same.

Thank you, again, to all the fundraising heroes, advocates and the entire humanitarian sector for continuing to support RedR UK and using us as a resource to train staff and aid workers around the world.

Here’s to a bright and successful 2021!

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