Subscribe

Tag: Transaid

BIFA’s Golf Day Raises Thousands For Chosen Industry Charity

Posted on by David Priestman

BIFA’s Golf Day, held at the prestigious Formby Hall Golf Resort and Spa, was a resounding success, raising an impressive £3100 for Transaid.

The British International Freight Association’s (BIFA) Golf Day, held at the prestigious Formby Hall Golf Resort and Spa, was a resounding success.

The event saw participants from across the freight and logistics industry come together for a day of friendly competition and charity fundraising.

This year’s golf day was particularly special, as it raised an impressive £3100 for BIFA’s official charity partner, Transaid, a cause close to the hearts of many in the industry. The funds will go directly to supporting Transaid’s work, making a meaningful impact on the community in sub-Saharan Africa.

BIFA congratulates the winning team from Logicall for its outstanding performance on the course. The Logicall team, consisting of Jordan Phillips, Jon Lilley, Brendan Beech and Paul Phillips secured first place, on count-back, with an impressive score of 87 points in the foursomes competition. A team from Irish Freight Solutions came a close second.

In addition to the main tournament, the event featured several mini-challenges, including longest drive and nearest the pin competitions. These added excitement and further opportunities for participants to contribute to the fundraising efforts.

Carl Hobbis, BIFA member services director, said: “We are thrilled with the turnout and generosity shown at this year’s Golf Day; our first for many years. The event not only brought together key members of the freight forwarding community but also raised vital funds for a wonderful cause. Congratulations to our winner and a heartfelt thank you to all 72 who participated and contributed.“

Following the success of this year’s event, BIFA will expand the number of golfing events it holds in 2025, continuing the tradition of camaraderie, competition, and charity. To register your interest for an event next year, visit our events page.

Logistics Cyclists raise £225,000 for Transaid

Posted on by David Priestman

The transport and logistics industry has successfully fielded two strong teams of riders to complete Transaid cycle challenges both in the UK and Kenya, raising more than £225,000 towards our projects in sub-Saharan Africa.

Last week a team of 30 pedalled 295 miles from the foothills of Mount Kenya to stunning Lake Victoria in just six days, raising an incredible £165,000 in Transaid’s first cycling fundraiser in the country. This followed just two and a half weeks after a separate group of 40 riders raised £60,000 for a demanding 159-mile, two-day ride battling the elements, from Newcastle to Edinburgh.

The unrestricted funds will be used to support Transaid’s life-saving road safety and access to healthcare projects, which currently span ten countries.

Maddy Matheson, Head of Fundraising for Transaid, says: “Ever since our first Cycle Challenge in Malawi, back in 2006, we’ve enjoyed excellent support from riders across the industry, and this year was no different. We had two fantastic groups, each passionate about our life-saving work. We are so grateful to everyone who participated, whether they were in the saddle, or sponsoring a friend, family member or colleague.”

Peter Whitehead, Managing Director at PF Whitehead Logistics, one of the riders taking part in Cycle Kenya and challenge sponsor, explains: “It was a once-in-a-lifetime adventure with a great group of people. I feel very fortunate to have been able to participate, and the opportunity to visit a country where Transaid works brought home the true impact of their road safety and access to health care programmes. I would honestly recommend it to anyone considering signing up for a future ride.”

Participants of the Newcastle to Edinburgh event represented 15 organisations from across the industry, including AAL Shipping, Backhouse Jones, Brigade Electronics, Cold Chain Federation, Columbia Shipmanagement, Dawsongroup Truck and Trailer, Edrington, Elddis Transport, EORI, GXO, Idris Logistics, IVECO, RHA, Stanley Travel, and The Malcolm Group, and was sponsored by Dawsongroup Truck and Trailer, with Stanley Travel providing coach transfers for the group.

Read Similar…

Logistics UK Demands Sector Recognition in Industrial Strategy

Transaid Exceeds Uganda Driver Training Goals

Posted on by David Priestman

International development organisation Transaid has concluded phase two of its Professional Driver Training project in Uganda, with 890 predominantly HGV drivers being trained over a two-year period – exceeding the project’s original training goal by more than 15 per cent.

Delivered in partnership with local non-governmental organisation (NGO) Safe Way Right Way, the project set out to improve the standards of driver training in a country which suffers one of Africa’s worst road traffic incident rates, claiming an estimated 12,000 lives* a year.

Key to the project was the aim of encouraging more women into the sector, which Transaid believes will benefit transport companies, contribute to improved safety and generate new career opportunities for women.

Caroline Barber, Chief Executive of Transaid, says: “Uganda is experiencing a huge rise in demand for professional drivers, and we expect this to continue increasing over the coming years. Phase two of this project set challenging training goals, and it’s a testament to the hard work of the training team that we have surpassed those expectations. The fact that around 10 per cent of the trainees were women also demonstrates an appetite for a more inclusive workforce.”

The majority of drivers trained were acquiring an HGV licence for the first time, whilst around 15 per cent benefitted from refresher modules, having not previously received formal training from Safe Way Right Way. Transaid supported the refresher training with the roll-out of six new, short refresher courses – whilst all training was accredited by the Chartered Institute of Logistics & Transport (CILT).

The skills of Master Trainers and Trainers were bolstered, with Quality Assurance assessments and retraining. Transaid also supported Safe Way Right Way with marketing and business strategies to encourage more drivers and fleets to enrol.

Barber added: “We were already proud of what was achieved in the first phase of this project between 2016 and 2020; this latest phase of work has helped to create a noticeable change that will last, well beyond our involvement in the project.”

Phase two was an initiative of the GIZ Employment and Skills for Development in Africa (E4D) programme, funded by the German and Norwegian governments.

Future recommendations for professional driver training in Uganda include an increased emphasis on fuel-efficient driving techniques, to improve sustainability, and the recruitment of female trainers to encourage continued involvement of female drivers.

Transaid Welcomes New Corporate Member

Posted on by David Priestman

International development organisation Transaid has welcomed Iron Mountain as the latest supporter to enrol in its corporate membership programme.

Iron Mountain, a global leader in innovative warehousing, storage and fulfilment, data centre infrastructure, asset lifecycle management and information management services, will help support Transaid’s critical work in sub-Saharan Africa through its membership. The aim is to support the charity’s primary goals of improving commercial driving standards and ensuring people in rural areas have access to healthcare.

Through this partnership, Transaid can test and implement new projects to understand their impact and appropriateness – as previously achieved through the MAMaZ Against Malaria (MAM) pilot programme, which first trialled its innovative, community-led response and use of bicycle ambulances to improve severe malaria case management in rural Zambia.

Maria Torrent-March, Warehousing & Logistics Strategy Director, Iron Mountain, says: “I am delighted to support Transaid in their commitment to improve global road safety and access to healthcare. We are looking forward to being involved in Transaid projects and to working with the Transaid Road Safety Advisory Board sharing expertise, resources and best practice to help them deliver its professional driver training.”

Florence Bearman, Head of Fundraising at Transaid voiced her appreciation for the company’s commitment, and says: “Our corporate members are fundamental to the success of our operations, and we are incredibly excited to have the opportunity to work closely with Iron Mountain. They bring a wealth of new expertise to our membership base and will enable us to extend our reach into more communities in sub-Saharan Africa, with the aim of improving even more lives.”

Transaid transforms lives through safe, available, and sustainable transport. Founded by Save the Children, The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT), and its Patron, HRH The Princess Royal, the international development organisation works with communities, partners, and governments to solve transport challenges throughout sub-Saharan Africa. Transaid works in two core areas, road safety and access to health, to solve two of the biggest transport challenges in sub-Saharan Africa. Transaid’s road safety work focuses on influencing safe driver behaviour with long term programmes in Ghana, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia, responding to local needs for improved training for drivers and riders of trucks, buses, motorcycles and forklift trucks. On the access to health side, Transaid is working with local partners and communities to strengthen access to health services, primarily in rural areas. They are also working to strengthen health supply chains in collaboration with local partners and governments.

Transaid Project Attracts Deputy High Commissioner

Posted on by David Priestman

The British Deputy High Commissioner to Ghana, Keith McMahon MBE, has visited Transaid’s professional driver training programme in Tema, Greater Accra, Ghana to see how the international development organisation is working to improve road safety in the country, which has seen an increase in road crash fatalities in recent years.

During the visit he observed practical refresher training with a group of 11 HGV driver trainers, who have collectively trained almost 1,000 professional drivers to new or improved standards within the last 12 months.

Transaid’s work in Ghana forms part of a three-and-a-half-year project which began in 2021, funded by Puma Energy Foundation, to raise training standards and expand training capacity for HGV drivers – in a country where almost 95% of freight is transported by road.

Commenting on the reason for his visit, McMahon says: “The High Commission provides technical and financial assistance to the African Continental Free Trade Area, and part of increasing trade and investment is improving road transport corridors – which in turn requires highly skilled drivers.

“With HGV traffic on Ghana’s roads set to increase, ensuring access to improved standards of driver training is paramount. Transaid’s ‘train the trainer’ model is helping the country to develop and retain these skills locally, and it was fantastic to meet the team behind it.”

Thelma Ayisi, a Project Manager at Transaid, says: “It was an honour to introduce the British Deputy High Commissioner to our project, and highlight how we are working to ensure consistency of training standards, with the aim of saving lives.

“Our next priority is to focus on securing buy-in from more private sector fleets, by highlighting the advantages of employing drivers who have followed a specific HGV driver training curriculum. These are important steps to improve access to future jobs and help to drive economic growth in Ghana.”

Transaid’s approach is to build local skills to ensure sustainable and lasting change, which it has been able to demonstrate in this project by advancing several Ghanaian driver trainers, with additional training, to achieve the level of master trainer. This enables them to train other driver trainers, as demand dictates.

The initial three-and-a-half-year project in Ghana is set to run until July 2024, by which time Transaid expects to have helped deliver professional driver training to more than 1,500 HGV drivers.

The World Health Organisation estimates that around 7,000 people lost their lives on the road in Ghana in 2016.

 

Transaid Announce 2024 Cycle Kenya Challenge

Posted on by David Priestman

Transaid is returning to Africa for its 11th cycle challenge on the continent and is calling on keen riders to take part in a six-day, 474km ride across majestic Kenya – where Transaid is currently undertaking a major project funded by the FIA Foundation.

Taking place from 4 – 13 October 2024, the international development organisation invites riders from across the transport and logistics industry on this one-of-a-kind adventure, where they’ll travel from Nyeri at the foothills of Mount Kenya to Lake Victoria – all on two wheels.

Along the way, participants will experience Kenya’s lush, mountainous countryside, and stunning, expansive panoramas. A country renowned for its diverse wildlife and safari, there is also the opportunity to spot giraffes, zebras, buffalos and more, as the route includes a game conservation and acres of bushland.

Riders will cover an average of 79km per day (49 miles), with two consecutive days including challenging ascents – to viewpoints 2,550m above sea level. Worth the gruelling ride, they’ll be rewarded with incredible landscapes across The Great Rift Valley.

Last year a group of 40 riders completed a 505km cycling challenge across Malawi, whilst the 2023 cycle challenge – celebrating the organisation’s silver jubilee – is following a three-day London to Paris route in September.

Florence Bearman, Head of Fundraising at Transaid, says: “After moving our cycle challenge to Europe for a year, we’re excited to be returning to Africa – and what better place to do it than Kenya. Not only does this ride offer a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience the country off the beaten track, but also the knowledge you’re raising vital funds for much-needed road safety and access to health services.”

Aligning with Transaid’s focus of transforming lives through safe, available and sustainable transport, fundraising earned from the challenge will help to support the organisation’s life-saving work, which currently spans projects in eight countries across sub-Saharan Africa.

Entries are encouraged from individuals and teams alike. A registration fee of £399 is required, with a minimum fundraising target of £4,150. The package includes flights (London – Nairobi – London), airport transfers, accommodation with meals, access to support vehicles, two local cycling guides to lead the tour, plus the support of a doctor always travelling with the group.

Transaid Extends Work with FIA Foundation

Posted on by David Priestman

Transaid has secured an extension of its work funded by global road safety philanthropy the FIA Foundation, to lead the second phase of a project to establish a National Helmet Wearing Coalition in Kenya, using its extensive experience in motorcycle and motorised three-wheeler safety.

Priorities for a new 13-month term are to secure the long-term future of the Coalition and cement Kenyan ownership of this initiative, whilst strengthening the implementation of the existing Kenyan Helmet Standard through improved enforcement capacity.

This will see Transaid continuing to work with local stakeholders to increase awareness amongst motorcycle users around the importance of wearing a quality helmet, as well as securing additional funding to broaden the short and medium-term impact of the Coalition.

Sam Clark, Head of Programmes at Transaid, says: “Research during the first phase of the project revealed that up to 40% of road traffic fatalities in Kenya were linked to the use of motorcycles and motorcycle taxis, and that helmet prevalence was low amongst motorcycle users. We will now be focused on building the capacity of relevant authorities to strengthen implementation of the current Kenyan Helmet Standard, while also equipping motorcycle users with an improved sense of what constitutes a poor quality and a good quality helmet.”

Aggie Krasnolucka, Programmes Director of the FIA Foundation, explains: “The FIA Foundation is excited to support the second phase of the Kenya Helmet Wearing Coalition with Transaid. This exciting new chapter will build on the data and relationships to advocate for improved legislation and strengthened enforcement of certified helmets as well as wider public awareness.”

Official figures released in 2018* showed there were approximately 1.4 million motorcycles used as taxis – known as ‘boda bodas’ – in urban and rural areas across Kenya. While the country already has a compulsory motorcycle helmet use law, enforcement is largely inconsistent and helmet use is low – despite research which shows a motorcycle helmet can reduce the risk of death by 42% and risk of head injury by 69% in a crash.

Clark adds: “Road traffic crashes continue to constitute a global health crisis, and the consequences are disproportionately felt in low and middle-income countries. This initiative aims to directly reduce injury and death on Kenya’s roads, benefitting a broad audience, including riders and their fare-paying passengers.”

Whilst Kenya is the first country where the FIA Foundation’s Helmet Wearing Coalition is being implemented, Transaid plans to share its learnings from the project with organisations and clubs worldwide that are working towards the same aim of improving motorcycle and three-wheeler safety.

*Source: Directorate of Registration and Licensing at the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA), reported there were 1,393,290 registered motorcycles in Kenya in February 2018.

Cycle challenge double-header raises £230,000 for Transaid

Posted on by Keith McKinley

A team of 40 riders drawn from the transport and logistics industry have completed a 505km cycle challenge across southern Malawi in soaring temperatures, pedalling through the spectacular Liwonde National Park to raise more than £205,000 towards Transaid’s projects in sub-Saharan Africa.

The remarkable sum of money adds to the £25,000 raised by the 16 riders who took on Hadrian’s Cycleway over two days in September. Combined, the non-restricted funds will be used by Transaid to focus on improving road safety and increasing access to healthcare in rural communities.

Florence Bearman, Head of Fundraising at Transaid, says: “It was incredible to complete the challenges with so many friends from across the sector who are committed to supporting Transaid’s life-saving work. To everyone who jumped in the saddle or sponsored a friend, family member or colleague, we are hugely grateful.”

Commenting on her experience in Malawi, she adds: “The anticipation ahead of Malawi was huge; for many of us it had been three years since we signed up for the original 2020 dates, and we were all eager to reach the tranquil shores of Lake Malawi. The experience didn’t disappoint – not even the longest 135km section on day three when temperatures reached 38 degrees Celsius, nor the steep climb up the Zomba Plateau on day four, dampened anyone’s enthusiasm!”

Tom Southall, Policy Director at the Cold Chain Federation, was one of the riders in Malawi and explains: “This was an incredible journey with an amazing group of people, and humbling too to experience the warmth and friendliness of the Malawians.

“The value of Transaid’s work is incalculable in these communities, building road safety awareness as well as programmes to support better standards of emergency transportation. I can’t overstate how much of an incredible experience this was and would recommend getting involved with future Transaid events and challenges!”

Cycle Malawi 2022 was backed by Gold-sponsor UKWA, and saw the riders tackle the full route over five days in the saddle. It marked a return to the country which hosted Transaid’s first ever cycle challenge in 2006.

Over the years Transaid has worked on both access to health care and driver training programmes in Malawi, the most recent of which involved bicycle ambulances, which have long proven to be a highly effective lifesaving mode of transport in rural Africa.

The riders who took part in Cycle Malawi represented 24 firms from across the industry, including ABE Ledbury, BigChange, Burton’s Biscuit Company, CAM Systems, Capex Commercial Partners, Cold Chain Federation, Clubbly, Cross Acre, Dalessi International Transport, EV Cargo, FloPlast, GRS Building Products, GXO Logistics, Hankook, Hoyer Petrolog, Innovate 360, LDH La Doria, MAN Truck & Bus, Marks & Spencer, Microlise, PF Whitehead Logistics, Problems Solved, Scala and TRS Tyres.

Last month’s Hadrian’s Cycleway saw riders taking part from companies including Alpine Travel, Backhouse Jones, Blue Cube, Boughey Distribution, Dawson Group plc, EORI (UK), Idris Logistics and Sworder Belcher Holt.

GXO graduate swaps Kent for Kampala

Posted on by David Priestman

Tessa Wilson, a Graduate Management Trainee at GXO UK and Ireland, has commenced a six-month secondment as a Project Officer for the second phase of Transaid’s Professional Driver Training Uganda project, helping the country to respond to the huge rise in demand for HGV and PSV drivers.

The appointment sees Tessa swap her previous placement at a GXO facility in Kent for Kampala’s tropical climate, working closely with Transaid’s non-governmental organisation (NGO) partner, the Safe Way Right Way Driver Training Centre, as well as local truck and bus fleet operators.

Tessa explains: “This is one of the biggest challenges I’ve taken on and I’m really enjoying the opportunity to work in such a different environment. I’m only a few weeks in, but I’ve already learnt new skills and it is wonderful to be contributing to such a hugely important project.”

During the secondment Tessa will split her time between the training centre and meetings with local businesses running commercial vehicle fleets, to reinforce the importance of professional driver training and the opportunities and benefits of hiring female drivers.

Neil Rettie, Transaid’s Road Safety Project Manager, says: “Thanks to the continued support from GXO we can deliver a level of resource at a local level which otherwise wouldn’t have been possible full-time.

“The value Tessa is bringing cannot be underestimated; plus, we know from experience that these placements can go a long way to helping secondees develop their skills and confidence in an environment you just can’t replicate at a UK level.”

Transaid and Safe Way Right Way have been tasked with training 750 drivers in Uganda between April 2021 and April 2023, of which at least 25 should be female – a goal which has already been exceeded, with more than 40 female drivers having completed the training to-date.

This project is an initiative of the GIZ Employment and Skills for Development in Africa (E4D) programme, which is funded by the German and Norwegian governments. It is being implemented jointly by Transaid and local NGO Safe Way Right Way on behalf of GIZ E4D.

The Professional Driver Training Uganda project is one of Transaid’s largest driver training programmes, currently running alongside similar initiatives in Ghana, Mozambique, Tanzania and Zambia.

Tessa picks up the baton from colleague Abbie Rennison, who had previously been on secondment from GXO on the project. The opportunity to participate in secondment programmes is one of the many benefits open to Transaid corporate members.

similar news

Transaid helps tackle Covid-19 in Uganda

 

 

 

Subscribe

Get notified about New Episodes of our Podcast, New Magazine Issues and stay updated with our Weekly Newsletter.