Fundraiser of the Month: Leigh Nixon at Laing O'Rourke

In just two days, seven amazing cyclists will be heading to India for the adventure of a lifetime; cycling 300km between Jaipur and finishing at the breath-taking Taj Mahal, all in aid of RedR UK!

This month we are celebrating one fundraiser, in particular, Leigh Nixon, who, with one week to go, has already surpassed her fundraising target and has just reached £4,500!

Leigh decided to fundraise for RedR UK when she received an email from a colleague about the event. Leigh has recently had knee surgery and on recovery promised herself she would do at least one sporting event for a charity each year.

“I was not going to let this surgery stop me from doing what I love. So, I made a promise to myself to do at least one sporting event a year for charity. As for a cycling event, the longest I have done so far was 50km. Rajasthan cycle will be my first charity event outside of the UK and my first trip to India.”

She then set to work arranging a variety of fundraising events including the biggest one; a Cake, Coffee and Chat afternoon. Leigh was successful in receiving matched funding from her employer Laing O’Rourke and a further £1,800 in donations from other companies including Prosol UK Ltd, Bolster Systems Ltd, Redworth Associates Ltd and M.J. Ferguson Services Ltd

We would like to thank Leigh Nixon and all the Rajasthan Cyclists for their incredible time and effort commitment to RedR UK. Their support will help us train more life-savers worldwide and help ensure that communities won’t be beaten by disasters. A huge thank you from everyone at RedR UK and good luck on your trip!

Localisation to Meet Humanitarian Needs  

COVID-19 has proved beyond any doubt that local actors are critical to humanitarian responses. As a means of long-term capacity building, and as a method for addressing the power imbalance between international NGOs and the communities they serve, localisation is integral to the success of humanitarian efforts.  

Local and national actors have the benefits of legitimacy, better access, and better understanding of cultural realities in their communities . By empowering these actors to respond directly to crises, aid can be delivered more effectively to those who need it most.  

Although the humanitarian sector remains under the hegemony of the largest aid agencies, the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development makes clear that collaboration, not competition, must define relationships between local and international actors.  

By offering accessible training courses to local and national humanitarian staff, RedR UK will continue to support those best placed to respond to crises in their own communities. 

In the coming years, localisation will shape how many humanitarian organisations operate, as more power is shifted to locally led responses.