Imelda Staunton

I’ve been a supporter of ShelterBox for years – their responses to disasters providing families with emergency shelter and other essential items is simple but tangible.

Actress Imelda Staunton, a supporter of ShelterBox for some time, gave her time to narrate our story ‘In the Cold Night’. Featuring illustrations by Karen George, the film was inspired by real-life experiences of the families ShelterBox supported in Syria and Türkiye (formerly Turkey) after the devastating earthquakes in 2023.

Watch the video now.

Stephen Fry

Actor, Comedian and author

Stephen Fry has been a generous supporter of ShelterBox and ShelterBox book club.

Here he introduces a poem written especially for shelterbox by Ukrainian poet Serhiy Zhadan

Mark Austin

Broadcaster and Journalist

As a broadcast journalist with ITV and Sky News, Mark Austin has seen many of the world’s disaster zones first hand.

Mark has helped spread the message on the urgent need for aid in the countries where ShelterBox works many times. Here he shot an emergency appeal for ShelterBox whilst in Syria and Türkiye, reporting on the devastating earthquakes in 2023.

Dame Judi Dench

I support ShelterBox and the crucial work they do all over the world helping families who have lost everything. Shelter and togetherness are stepping stones to recovery.

Renowned actress Dame Judi Dench has been a supporter of ShelterBox and our work since 2011. In this video, she explains why.

Joanna Lumley OBE

Actress, author and activist Joanna Lumley has been a supporter of ShelterBox for years.

In 2023 she highlighted the importance of our work by voicing our BBC Radio 4 appeal. In the appeal she shared how ShelterBox’s aid provided vital shelter and warmth to displaced people in the winter months.

Woman and two men in Truro Cathedral
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Fern Britton (left) at the ShelterBox Christmas Carol Concert
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Fern Britton

It brings comfort knowing organisations like ShelterBox are providing emergency shelter to people who have fled their homes because of conflict, disaster, or the climate crisis.

TV Presenter and author Fern Britton generously supported our Christmas Carol Concert by reading the poem ‘A present from St Nicholas’ by Clement Clarke Moore.

The importance of home

Watch Joanna Lumley, Yinka Bokinni and Steve Backshall talk about what makes them feel at home during Christmas.

In 2020, our home felt more important than ever. It became the centre of our world – giving us a place where we feel safe, where we can work and where we can relax with our loved ones. And it emphasised the difficulties of people without shelter.

Michael Palin shelterbox book club supporter

Sir Michael Palin CBE

ShelterBox Book Club supporter

If like me, you enjoy travel and books this is a book club for you…

ShelterBox Book Club features stories from around the world, introducing you to different cultures and life experiences every 6 weeks.

And on top of that, these good reads mean good deeds, because your membership also provides shelter for families hit by conflict or disaster.

About Book Club

ShelterBox Book Club supporters

Isabel Allende

Isabel Allende

Author

Carlos Acosta

Carlos Acosta CBE

Ballet dancer

Nada Awar Jarrar

Nada Awar Jarrar

Author

Imelda Staunton

Imelda Staunton

Actress

Yinka Bokinni

Yinka Bokinni

Presenter, DJ, Blogger

Jim Carter

Jim Carter OBE

Actor

Copy of the book Tamesis Street on a grey background

Tamesis Street

In 2021 the ShelterBox Book Club brought together an innovative storytelling project, bringing thirty authors together to tell one story, the story of a fictional disaster hitting London in the year 2050.

The resulting book was Tamesis Street and it brought together renowned authors as well as ShelterBox team members, partners and book club members around the globe.

The cover was illustrated by renowned artist Sir Quentin Blake. Also involved: Andrew Michael Hurley, Balli Kaur Jaswal, Bill Bryson, Catherine Thornhill – Head Bookworm at the ShelterBox Book Club, Chris Packham, Cressida Cowell, Charmaine Arcos from FACE Inc. ShelterBox’s partner in the Philippines, Daniel Jennings, Emma Yule – one of our ShelterBox Book Club Members, Helen Lederer, Jay Rayner, Joanne Harris, John Lanchester, Kayleigh Kelly – one of our ShelterBox Book Club Members, Kerry Hudson, Kirsty Logan, Kit De Waal, Ather Al Atyiah – ShelterBox’s partner from ReliefAid in Syria, Mary-Noel Abia Mbata – ShelterBox’s partner from IEDA Relief in Cameroon, Michael Donkor, Mike Leigh, Miriam Mwazimva – ShelterBox’s partner from Habitat for Humanity Malawi, Monique Roffey, Patrick Gale, Samira Ahmed, Sarah Tagholm – part of the wonderful ShelterBox Team, Sarah Waters, Stig Abell, Veronica Henry, Wyl Menmuir, and Yi Shun Lai – one of our brilliant ShelterBox Response Team Members.

people walking with their belonging

Photographers: Hope & Strength

Leading photographers Tom Stoddart, Olly Burn, Veronique de Viguerie and Dougie Wallace paid tribute to the hope and strength of the people we meet.

They travelled with us to meet families living through severe drought in Somaliland, devastation in the British Virgin Islands, and to meet Rohingya families living in the refugee camps in Bangladesh.

Levison Wood for World Water Day

Levison supported ShelterBox on World Water Day.

“When disasters devastate communities, forcing families from their homes, it can be difficult to access safe, clean water.

“By providing families with ShelterBox water containers and purification equipment, safe drinking water becomes one less thing to worry about.”

Rev. Kate Bottley

Reverend Kate Bottley supports our community fundraising campaign Give a Tent for Lent.

“When life is thrown into chaos, home is a sanctuary.

“Imagine experiencing the trauma of a disaster and having no home to go to.

“Shelter is vitally important for people who have lost everything, so that they can start planning for the future.

“ShelterBox provides tents and tools for people who’ve seen their life fall apart after disaster or conflict.”

Terry Waite

In 1987, Terry Waite CBE was captured by Hezbollah and taken hostage for five years. He knows what it’s like to work in conflict areas.

In light of World Humanitarian Day, Terry Waite joined ShelterBox to remind everyone that civilians and aid workers are not a target.

Watch the video to learn more.

Man in suit behind green ShelterBox box

Martin Clunes OBE

Actor

When families lose everything they own because of a hurricane, earthquake or conflict ShelterBox provides everything a family needs to rebuild their lives. Their dedicated volunteers then go to some of the most remote places on earth and put that directly into the hands of the people who need it most.”

 

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Ellie Harrison

Television broadcaster

“All over the world, families fleeing conflict and disasters are forced to leave their homes. For them, a ShelterBox can literally be a lifesaver.”

 

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Gillian Burke

Natural History Television Producer & Presenter

“Schools and hospitals are being bombed, there are no safe spaces for children in Idlib, Syria”.

 

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Damian Lewis OBE

Actor and producer

“They are the people who were not able to escape before Islamic State took hold. They are the very young, the very old and the families who were not able to leave due to illness and poverty. They have suffered atrocities we can only imagine. We cannot fail these families.”

Man with short grey hair

Mark Foster

Athlete and GB Olympian

“If you set yourself a challenge and it’s for charity and you’re doing it for somebody else then you’re going to change someone’s life.”

Mark Foster shares his training top tips for ShelterBox supporters as they prepare to get fit, have fun and change lives.

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Ciaran Hinds

Actor

“For families in Syria, winter is here. As temperatures drop to below freezing, those families with nowhere to call home are left vulnerable to frostbite and hypothermia.

ShelterBox gives warmth and protection and helps families rebuild their lives.”

Games of Thrones and Harry Potter actor Ciaran Hinds shares a message on the urgent need for winter aid for Syrian families.

 

 

Sharon Horgan

Sharon Horgan

Actress, writer, comedian

“My daughter hosted a fundraising dinner for Shelterbox. Friends and family donated time and food and raised money for this great charity. ShelterBox provides emergency light, shelter and other vital supplies to support those in urgent need in disaster zones around the world.”

Rick and Jack Stein

Rick and Jack Stein, chefs

“…get your loved ones together to cook up a feast and help bring light and warmth to families this winter.”

Levi Roots

Levi Roots, chef

Famous chef Levi Roots donated a Caribbean inspired recipe for fundraisers.