The council worker who helps map out rescue operations in global disasters

organisations looking to deliver aid to the best place.

“We also work with local and national governments, and that gives us a real insight into how other people do things.

“We were the first response after the earthquake in Ecuador, right in the heart of the action.

“I was on holiday in Patagonia when I got the call.

“I texted my boss and he got back right away and told me to take an extra week off.”

While out in the field, Andrew collates information sent to him on the ground from rescue workers, the authorities and even local press, then creates maps which are used by emergency teams when picking through the rubble.

Andrew also joined a MapAction team in South Sudan in 2015, when a humanitarian disaster affecting millions reached crisis levels.

He said: “We’re all volunteers and do it in our own time, and the council’s been able to support me.

“Even though we’re volunteers, we work professionally, and we are looked after while we’re out there.

“You work hard — it’s long days in our tent.”

Andrew says he always returns to Dundee with new skills that he can use to i mprove l ocal services.

He was even drafted in to help with this year’s biggest charity event.

He said: “My team in the council did some work for the Oor Wullie Bucket Trail.

“We decided to try to work out how to do the trail the quickest.

“One of our team ran around the city to make sure it all made sense.

“We shared it on the Bucket Trail website in the last few days to give people the best chance of seeing them all.”

Being a charity, MapAction relies on donations to fund its missions, and recruited TV presenter Alexander Armstrong as the voice of its Christmas Day appeal, broadcast on BBC Radio 4, i n which he branded the organisation “the special forces of charitable delivery”.

Andrew said: “Being out i n South Sudan really made me appreciate what we have here at home.

“It can be very challenging work.

“But it is so satisfying being able to use my skills to help others.

“You feel like you’re making a difference and that’s what MapAction is all about.”