All too often there are headlines in the media showing people forced to leave their homes and become refugees because of natural disasters such as famine, floods and earthquakes or man-made disasters such as war or ethnic cleansing. Large relief agencies are quick to react. These organisations do a wonderful job, often in the most difficult of circumstances. However, in many cases when the media coverage has died down and the initial needs of the refugees are met, many of the big agencies move their resources on to tackle the next emergency.

Our focus is generally on small, longer term projects that address the most urgent needs of refugees and internally displaced people (IDPs). However, we do not wish to create dependency and we always hope and believe that the refugees and IDPs whom we support or work with will one day be able to return home. In 2007 we developed IRT's first strategic plan and decided to start placing more emphasis on projects that support primary education, nurture enterprise and develop self sufficiency, in order that refugees and IDPs don’t lose or miss out on the knowledge and skills they would otherwise have learnt, had they not been forced to leave their homes.

In 2008 the IRT Trustees made the decision to review IRT's mandate as an organisation. It was agreed and approved by the Charity Commission that IRT would also support projects that assist refugees and IDPs returning to their former homes.

All our work is carried out overseas through local partner organisations and we do not support individuals.