Plan UK has become the 14th charity member of the Disasters Emergency Committee, the organisation which raises multiple millions of pounds for major international disasters.

The international children’s charity is the first organisation to join the DEC in six years. Charities must meet strict criteria to become – and remain – a member of the fundraising umbrella group, including that they independently raise more than £4m a year and spend at least £10m a year on overseas emergency work. They also have to prove they meet funding objectives and have procedures to ensure they are accountable to their beneficiaries.

Plan’s director of fundraising, Jeremy Hooper, said: “Our admission to the DEC recognises that humanitarian response remains at the heart of our work – now more than ever, children face increasing and more frequent threats from natural disasters.”

Plan UK said its membership of DEC was a natural progression of its own expansion. 

Brian Ingle, Plan UK’s head of emergencies, said: “The DEC’s membership criteria was set up three years ago to ensure accountancy and transparency for incoming members.

“Plan has been strategically developing disasters work over those three years with significant investment. Our membership application has progressed with own capacity to deliver on quality and scale of work.”