Following feedback from our recent Volunteer Survey, we have worked hard to understand the experiences of our volunteers, both past and present. And with their help we have focused on how we can improve the recruitment, engagement and development of our volunteers.
As the world collectively prepares for COP26, the urgency to address climate change has never been more pressing. In this critical moment, Goods For Good recognises the unique role it plays in bringing corporates and communities together. Now, more than ever, leveraging our ability to unite different stakeholders is essential. It is through this collaboration that we can make a real impact in protecting our planet for future generations.
Thanks to funding from Sport England's Tackling Inequalities Fund, we are delighted to welcome Andrew Anastasiou to the team. Andrew joins the team as Programme Manager for our Sport For Good initiative and will be leading the design and development of the programme to provide aid to the most needy groups.
In the face of adversity and geographical barriers, Goods For Good remains steadfast in our mission to reach those communities most in need, no matter how remote. In a year overshadowed by the pandemic, the importance of education and access to learning resources became even more critical.
Over the last few weeks many of us have been watching the devastating events as they unfold in Afghanistan. It breaks my heart to hear the reports emerging of violent reprisals, a return to the appalling subjugation of women and to witness the distressing images from Kabul, Kandahar, Herat and other provinces of individuals, women and families desperate to escape the rapidly evolving situation.
On the morning of Saturday 14th August an earthquake of 7.2 magnitude struck Haiti. It had a depth of seven miles and was felt as far away as Jamaica, 300 miles away. Several aftershocks have also been felt in the region, including one measuring 5.8 magnitude.
On Tuesday 17th August we were finally able to open our doors and welcome friends, family, supporters, partners, donors and volunteers to help us celebrate our 7th birthday.
For 7 years Goods For Good has been delivering essentials, dignity and hope to the most vulnerable in need. As we celebrate our 7th birthday we have delivered over £26 million-worth of humanitarian aid to over 3 million vulnerable people in need, globally.
In a collaborative effort with The Big Heart Edit, a series of eight Instagram auctions has been conducted to raise funds for vulnerable communities both in the UK and abroad. The primary goal of these auctions is to promote purposeful shopping. We are delighted to announce that, thanks to the generosity of curators, donors and supporters that a substantial £25,000 has been raised to help support our work.
Our story begins in Luton Airport on a Wednesday evening with a flight direct into Lublin, Poland just 80km from the Ukrainian border. Our mission; to participate in a small way in the humanitarian effort of Polish people to support their Ukrainian friends who had fled their homes under the threat of the Russian invasion.