A Duchy College lecturer has been tasked with founding an international centre of excellence in disaster relief training.

Ben Spurway, Course Manager for the Foundation Degree in Rescue and Emergency Management, has been seconded to the Helston-based disaster relief charity, ShelterBox, for a year, to set up the new ShelterBox International Academy of Disaster Relief.

The innovative centre will lead the learning and development of the charity’s emergency response teams using specialist, field-based and classroom training.

It will also have the capacity to provide training to colleges, universities, businesses, scouts, adventure groups, researchers and disaster specialists.

Ben, who lectures degree-level students on emergency management and reacting to major disasters, says he is gaining invaluable field experience of emergency and contingency management.

He said: ‘It’s great to be putting all the theoretical teachings into practice and then being able to transfer the knowledge back into the classroom afterwards to the university level students.’ Currently over 150, highly-trained ShelterBox Response Team (SRT) volunteers from the UK, Europe, USA, Canada, China, New Zealand and Australia are available to distribute ShelterBoxes containing emergency shelter provision to people displaced by disasters worldwide.

ShelterBox Founder and CEO Tom Henderson said of Ben: “With his can do attitude, unflinching desire to succeed and strategic vision, Ben is a fantastic addition to the ShelterBox team.

“In setting up the ShelterBox International Training Academy, Ben will be propelling ShelterBox onto the world stage as a global leader in disaster response training. Ben’s expertise will play a vital role in enabling ShelterBox to reach the long term goal of helping half a million people every year.”

With ShelterBox’s target of helping 500,000 people displaced by natural and manmade disasters a year, there is an immediate need to set up the academy to support this growing commitment.

Dave Linnell OBE, Principal of Cornwall College of which Duchy College is part, said: “Our Foundation Degrees are developed with industry professionals to provide relevant courses. Ben’s involvement in this scheme proves his expertise in this area. I hope Ben has an incredible experience at ShelterBox.”

For more information of the Foundation Degree in Rescue and Emergency Management please call 01579 372233, email uni@duchy.ac.uk or visit www.duchy.ac.uk. To find out more about ShelterBox visit www.shelterbox.org. The University of Plymouth approves all undergraduate courses at Duchy College.