REACT Disaster Response provides effective, collaborative support the moment there’s a humanitarian crisis. Its volunteer Responders have the skills and training to rapidly identify and meet critical unmet needs, preventing affected communities from being overwhelmed by sudden or unexpected events. Operating with resilience, courage, and self awareness — REACT helps to save lives and alleviate suffering in the aftermath of disasters. Between 2020 and 2021, 1,240 volunteers were deployed, directly impacting 167,720 beneficiaries in a multitude of different ways. Among the charity's current activities is food distribution for women and children affected by the war in Ukraine.

REACT repurposes the hard-earned skills and experience of military veterans, blue light responders and skilled civilians through bespoke training courses and embeds them into a closely-knit cohort of skilled volunteer disaster responders. There are currently 800 trained responders, of which over 200 are trained to the highest level to deal with the most complex disasters. All volunteers go through a rigorous selection and training process, adding to their existing skills and experience with scenario-based humanitarian training, producing some of the finest emergency and crisis response teams in the world.

This training builds the capability of REACT to deploy into highly challenging locations just hours after disaster has struck. This allows it to quickly and effectively assess complex situations and provide dynamic situational awareness to provide the most effective solutions, wherever the need is greatest. These volunteers have earned their reputation through international deployments as well as through operations in the UK. UK operations are also assisted by REACT's community of around 2,000 domestic volunteers, who can be called on for UK-based charity support and outreach. During the pandemic (as part of the charity's Op-REACT project) these domestic volunteers were instrumental in assisting the UK’s emergency services and critical infrastructure by supporting the distribution of over 10 million items of PPE, and delivering over 382 tonnes of food aid to communities in need across the UK.

REACT works collaboratively with partners on the ground in affected communities to ensure that even those in the hardest to reach locations receive the support they need. Working with its partners, it uses its unique experience of military logistics to provide strong humanitarian action. Once a crisis has passed, its goal is to train and equip local communities so they can be prepared for future disasters. REACT’s mission is to provide humanitarian action, in the fastest time, for those hardest to reach and most vulnerable.

You can read more about REACT's work in both its Impact Report.

For more about the role, please watch the following interview with current REACT Chair General Sir Nick Parker. In the video, Nick discusses the role and the team and also reflects on the charity's future.

REACT Disaster Response (REACT) is a Company Limited by Guarantee and a Registered Charity. It is governed by a Board of Trustees who also have oversight of the operation of the commercial subsidiary, REACT Group Solutions, operating in compliance with shared services agreement and furthermore the Charity Commission guidance on good governance.

The Chair of the Board provides senior leadership oversight to REACT. The successful candidate will Chair the Board of Trustees and is expected to bring an external, independent perspective to the Board, assist with strategy, help develop the business and ensure that appropriate risk management arrangements are in place. The Chair is expected to challenge and advise the executive directors, in line with REACT values, and help them to reach balanced judgements.

The Chair oversees and ensures that the Board fulfils its duty to affected people and communities, and delivers on its vision, mission and values. The board of Trustees are both jointly and individually responsible for the overall governance and strategic direction of the charity, its financial health, the probity of its activities and developing the organisation’s aims, objectives and goals in accordance with the governing document, legal and regulatory guidelines.

REACT seeks a new Chair to lead the Board, who will ideally bring prior charity governance experience.

There is no preferred background for this role, so long as candidates bring senior, strategic-level leadership experience from a large commercial or not-for-profit organisation, and a strong background in, or understanding of, charity governance. In addition, the successful candidate will bring:

• The gravitas to be respected internally and sufficient external profile to be a public presence
• An ability to engage constructively with senior management and to challenge on difficult issues
• The ability to successfully motivate senior leaders
• Clear and enthusiastic communication skills, both verbal and written
• Business development orientation and strategic thinking skills
• A strong understanding of risk management

On a personal level, candidates will be committed to the aims and values of REACT Disaster Response, and an appreciation of how its charitable aims are met through a military approach.

Andy McLean
Audrey Fauvel
Kate Holt
Lizzy Stileman
Nick Forthergill
Sara George

You can find out more about current Board members here.

This role is unremunerated, and reasonable, pre-agreed domestic travel expenses will be reimbursed. The Board meets four times per year, normally on a weekday afternoon, and also has an away weekend. Trustees can attend some meetings virtually, but must attend at least one in person per year. The appointment will initially be for two years, with the option of renewing at the end of this period for a further two years and up to a maximum of nine years in total, when all Trustees must retire from their appointment.

Location

This organisation is based in Salisbury, Wiltshire, and meetings will take place in person or virtually. Candidates will therefore be UK-based.