Who We Are
Truly a local charity, helping local people.
Real Aid was established in 2001 by husband and wife team Colin & Barbara Raine from Bridlington, East Yorkshire, with the simple idea that where there are real problems, people need real solutions — and we can provide real aid.
Real Aid assists many people in the East Yorkshire area, providing those solutions to a variety of problems. Our headquarters and warehouse are at Tickton, near Beverley, and we are funded through our charity shops and through donations. Real Aid is different to many other charities: not only do we receive no government or outside funding, we also guarantee that any financial donation goes directly where it is needed most.
Through the donations we receive, and through our customers buying goods in our shops, we really do make a difference to people's lives.
Our donors, supporters and customers are equally important to our work. We are truly a local charity helping local people.
The Real Aid food bank scheme
Several years ago we recognised that the East Riding of Yorkshire had one of the worst statistics for child food poverty in the UK. So we did something about it, and started the Real Aid food bank scheme.
We now assist over 600 families each week through our food programme. We have established a food bank in Bridlington which is very well used and doing exactly what we intended — helping local people get out of food poverty.
We procure donations from many local food companies and supermarkets, including Waitrose and Morrisons. Their donations provide wholesome, healthy food for children and families across our region — collected, managed and distributed by Real Aid.
Where we started
Real Aid began as an international development charity, funding education, training and healthcare projects overseas from the proceeds of our East Riding charity shops. That work continues today through partners in Romania, Moldova, Bulgaria and the Netherlands.
The turning point came in 2007, when floods devastated thousands of homes across Hull and the East Riding. We stepped in immediately — and what we saw changed the charity.
It was a shock to walk into people's homes and see how some of them lived. Lindsay Killick, speaking to The New York Times, 2014
What began as temporary flood relief became a permanent commitment to families on our own doorstep. Read about the work we do today.
Our volunteers
Real Aid relies not only on its employees but on a team of volunteers who support every area of our work. We could not perform as well as we do without them.