Jo Pawley - Shelter Box

This week Jo Pawley, Shelterbox co-ordinator for South of Scotland, travelled from Eyemouth to provide an illuminating presentation about the development of Shelterbox and how the aid they provide has changed over the years.

There are now several variants of tent for different climates and specific kits to cater for the aftermath of hurricanes, earthquakes and floods. The iconic green box is now not used as flat-packed kits can be shipped more economically either directly to a disaster or to one of the storage warehouses strategically located around the world.

In the first 23 years of Shelterbox, three million people received aid. In 2025, over a quarter of a million more were helped, and this year has been very busy already.

At the end of the meeting Jo received a cheque for £600 (the proceeds of the bucket collection at Mansfield Park) from President George Hogg with Gus Neilson from Hawick RFC in attendance.