Charity ShelterBox is making an urgent plea for volunteers in Northumberland to help provide critical disaster relief services.

The organisation provides vital aid and shelter for communities worldwide that have been displaced from their homes.

The demand for the emergency services provided by ShelterBox is said to be greater than ever.

The charity is seeking out volunteer ambassadors, the lifeblood of their operation, to bolster their humanitarian network.

Community volunteer engagement officer for ShelterBox, Jenn Sandiford, said: “ShelterBox was founded by volunteers over 20 years ago and volunteers still play a vital role in the work we do.

“Without our ambassadors, we would not have the capacity and reach we have in amplifying the voices of people affected by disaster and conflict.

“They are passionate, caring, and motivated people keen to make a difference. They help us raise awareness and vital funds for our work and the people we support.”

Peter Tracey, 70, a resident of Whitley Bay, has been volunteering with ShelterBox for 12 years.

A personal connection to the 2004 tsunami disaster in Sri Lanka spurred him to take action.

A friend from the area had informed him that his whole community had been devastated by the event.

Mr Tracey said: “The following year in Washington DC, standing on the very spot where Martin Luther King had delivered his famous speech, a small card read 'the most crucial question you can ask is.... what are you doing to help other people?'

"Back at home, in a safe, comfortable, warm house I learned about the traumas that others had to face because of conflict, floods, volcanic events and so on.

"It made me realise how important a safe shelter is and how those words hit the nail on the head.

“It was then that I heard about ShelterBox, a way of supporting people after disaster, so I became a volunteer.”

Currently, ShelterBox is battling crises across the globe, including in Malawi and Gaza where devastating flooding and conflict, respectively, have displaced thousands of individuals and families.

Ms Sandiford outlined some of the ways volunteers can contribute. She said: "Our ambassadors get involved in many different ways.

"From giving presentations about our work and hosting stalls at local fetes to organising community activities and promoting our work on social media.

"We’d love to hear from people across Northumberland, if you have the heart to make a difference and the spirit to take action."

Since its inception in 2000, ShelterBox has successfully supported more than 2.5 million people in around 100 countries by providing a range of emergency shelter, support, and essential household items.

To join ShelterBox's team of dedicated volunteers, interested individuals can visit shelterbox.org/volunteer/ambassadors or contact Jenn Sandiford on jennifersandiford@shelterbox.org.