A charity that has provided over three million meals to those in need across the UK and the world has opened the doors to its first ever head office and training academy in St Neots, Huntingdonshire.
The move comes in the midst of a successful year for the Rapid Relief Team (RRT) which was established in 2013 as the charitable arm of the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church.
Its aim is to offer practical support to emergency services, charities, and other organisations on the frontline of emergencies and critical situations.
With over 1,500 volunteers spread across the UK, the charity’s UK Board decided that a permanent base was necessary for the RRT to help boost its operations.
The new headquarters will, the charity says, serve as a multi-faceted resource where staff and volunteers will be able to come together to meet, work, and share ideas and best practice.
The new HQ will also facilitate the better planning of the charity’s numerous initiatives, including Operation 322, through which the RRT has been delivering vital aid to Ukrainian refugees since the beginning of the conflict.
It will also provide storage space for equipment such as the RRT Food Boxes, which contain non-perishable easy-to-make meals.
These are widely distributed by the charity in partnership with schools and local authorities to help support vulnerable families and those in crisis.
The head office will also house a new training academy where volunteers will be inducted and taught the necessary skills.
With capacity to host more than 20 people, the HQ will start off with four permanent members of staff in the office, who will be joined by more volunteers and directors working on projects in the local area.
St Neots was chosen as the most central location for where RRT staff are based, and due to its good links to the capital.
Rod Buckley, director of the RRT, said: “We are very excited to open the doors to our first ever head office in Cambridgeshire.
“From the Aberdeen train derailment to the Grenfell tragedy, RRT volunteers were present at the scene to offer aid to emergency staff in times of crises across the UK, but we have never had a base of our own until now.
“The new office will not only allow staff and volunteers to work more closely together, but will also help us better organise our operations to ensure we continue delivering compassion in action to those in need.
“The RRT has gone from strength to strength in the past year, as we have delivered meals to millions of people across the globe, and continued building strong partnerships with charities, emergency services, schools and other organisations to help their invaluable work.
“We hope the opening of our new headquarters marks a new stage in the RRT’s growth and will help further our mission to spread hope and relief to those in need.”
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