The British Red Cross is to join a roster of charities handled by business travel specialist Diversity Travel.
The Manchester-based will provide travel planning and organisation assistance to the charity and its workforce of more than 21,500 staff and 4,000 volunteers who deliver humanitarian aid around the world.
The charity has responded in the last eight months to the devastating earthquake in Afghanistan, extreme weather which has affected millions of people in Pakistan, the food crisis impacting large parts of East Africa, and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Diversity provides a range of services to staff and volunteers including specially priced deals on flights, accommodation and transfers, access to lounge services, visa support and vehicle hire.
The British Red Cross joins Oxfam, Save The Children, Plan International and more of the world’s largest humanitarian groups, charities and NGOs working with Diversity.
Commercial directorSam Whittle (pictured) said: “The British Red Cross, as part of the global Red Cross Movement, provides vital support for countries and communities across the planet, and we’re proud to support that incredible mission by finding more efficient, more sustainable and more cost-effective travel solutions for its workers.
“As the leading provider of travel services to the charity, NGO and not for profit sectors, we will use our experience to make a real difference for the British Red Cross in supporting its aid work wherever that may be.”
British RedCross chief operating officer Dorothy Brown said: “The British Red Cross and the wider Red Cross Red Crescent Movement support people in crises, whoever and wherever they are. That can mean people displaced from their homes, caught up in conflicts or affected by disasters, extreme weather and the effects of climate change.
“Emergencies like these can strike anywhere, at any time. That’s why we need fast, efficient and reliable ways to get our staff and volunteers to where they’re needed. We look forward to working with Diversity Travel to achieve this.”