Welcome to ShelterBox

What we believe


Everyone deserves a place to call home. It is a human right and the first step towards recovery after disaster.

Shelter is so much more than just a roof. It’s the foundation for life, families and communities. It is a place to feel safe after days or weeks of fear. It offers protection from harsh weather, privacy, and helps to preserve dignity. It’s a space to heal from trauma.

Shelter and other essential items help people protect themselves from diseases like coronavirus and malaria.

Emergency shelter can also prevent communities from scattering. This means people stay connected and build resilience together.

When you don’t have to keep moving or worry about where to sleep at night, you can think about tomorrow. Items like tents, tarpaulins, tools, blankets, mosquito nets, cooking sets and water filters help to meet the most urgent needs, so you can start to earn a living, send children to school and rebuild your home.

Recovery doesn’t happen overnight, but a dry and warm place to sleep, prepare meals and be with your family is the vital first step.

Our vision

No one without shelter after disaster

Our mission


We provide shelter, essential items and technical assistance to help some of the world’s most vulnerable people recover and rebuild their homes after disaster. We listen and adapt our support to the needs of each community, working together with those affected by disaster, alongside our supporters and partners.

Our promise to you

Without you, we wouldn’t be able to help families after disaster. Read our set of standards for how we work and the service you can expect.

Get Involved


Virtual Gifts

Buy a virtual gift today, and together we can provide emergency shelter and essential aid items to families all over the world who have lost so much to disaster.

Volunteering at ShelterBox

Every volunteer is instrumental in providing shelter to families after disaster, wherever they are in the world. Find out how you can get involved here.

Join ShelterBox Book Club

Find out more about the books we read, what our members think and how you can join for £10 a month.

Find out more about us


Man and woman carrying shelter kit after earthquake in Nepal

Our Aid

Men pushing wooden boat with ShelterBoxes in Malawi

How we work

woman smiling and carrying a box on her right shoulder

Our impact

20 years of ShelterBox

Over the last 20 years, we have provided emergency shelter and disaster relief in 97 different countries. In that time, we’ve supported families to get back on their feet after hurricanes, earthquakes, conflicts, droughts, cyclones and more.

Read on to see how it all began and take a look at what you’ve helped us achieve.