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What Hope and Aid Direct Does

AID COLLECTION, DELIVERY AND DISTRIBUTION

• Our charity sorts, boxes and labels aid (using banana boxes and pallets)
• Storage. We are currently centred in Basildon, Essex. In addition we use a storage barn near Chippenham, plus local storage spaces (spare room, garage, or local business space as available).
• Networking. We establish links with local UK aid groups to collect and exchange aid according to need
• We form our own local groups of HaAD supporters and helpers
• We assist with local transport of aid between donors, our local storage areas, and other groups
• We organise and take part in humanitarian aid convoys
• We also fill and dispatch aid via shipping containers and backloading of trucks returning to the continent

FUND RAISING

• Individual volunteers are encouraged to launch a local appeal or create a personal challenge to raise funds
• Tried and tested methods - Using Virgin Giving, Using Facebook, local papers
• How Gift Aid works to maximise funding. UK tax paying private donors can authorise the charity to claim back the tax they have paid or will pay, under the governments Gift Aid Scheme. This increases every one pound donated by an additional 25 pence

UNDERTAKING AID CONVOYS

• Works with partner organisations in-country to establish needs in crisis areas, mostly in Europe. This may involve some of Europe’s poorest countries such as Kosovo, or be in those countries with concentrations of refugees fleeing conflict, persecution, torture, or extreme poverty
• Collects a wide variety and large quantities of aid according to specific need
• Operates truck convoys to transport aid to crisis area
• Undertakes local distribution in-country with our partners
• Meets and interacts with aid recipients, as far as is possible

SPECIAL PROJECTS

• When funds permit, we carry out special projects. These have been numerous and wide-ranging from provision of new housing, to provision of a nearly new Fire Engine, provision of life-saving maritime RIB navigation equipment, to provision of musical instruments. The charity has obtained and provided equipment for setting up in-country laundry facilities for providing ongoing clean and dry bedding or clothing for both refugees, local very poor people, and at impoverished hospitals. (Kosovo and Serbia).
• We have supplied crew buses to support free food deliveries to refugees.(Serbia)
• We have supported under-resourced children with disabilities in Serbia

BECOMING A VOLUNTEER

• Volunteers may work helping with collecting, sorting, packing aid or taking part as a Driving Team member or as a Flying team member. Fly-Drive is sometimes a possibility
• The charity doesn’t run itself, and we therefore also need volunteers with many other admin and management skills to power the charity forward and be part of its foundation.
• Driving Licence requirements. 7.5 ton trucks can be driven on a car licence if test taken pre 1997
• Vital DBS requirement (Disclosure and Barring Service). This is totally confidential between the volunteer and volunteer coordinator
• Convoy volunteers need to complete our Convoy Volunteers Application Form. Note. MAC computer users will need Open Office to edit our .ods version of the file
• Convoy costs – These comprise your ‘personal costs’, which will include flights, hotel and food, plus your ‘convoy contribution’ which is currently set at £250 per convoy. This latter contribution can of course be part of your fundraising effort for the charity. In total it’s a good idea to allow for about£750 of costs per trip
• Our work is enormously satisfying, even life-changing, but can be physically hard, the hours can be long, and patience is needed when faced with unexpected delays and frustrations
• Drivers normally sleep in trucks during journey, but while in-country, all volunteers stay together as far as possible, in a budget hotel
• All convoy members will be involved in all aspects of our in-country work. This can involve unloading, warehouse work, reloading, aid distribution, volunteering with a local group, meeting aid recipients
• Managing the emotional aspects can be quite challenging at times