British Red Cross

44 Moorfields
London
EC2Y 9AL

Tel: 0844 871 11 11
Fax: 020 7562 2000
Minicom: 020 7562 2050
Web: www.redcross.org.uk

The British Red Cross are a volunteer-led humanitarian organisation that helps people in crisis, whoever and wherever they are.

In practical terms this means that volunteers provide skilled care to those in crisis, on a day-to-day basis, and it is this work which ensures that the British Red Cross is always ready to respond to an emergency. The organisation provides short-term community services to care for people in need and in crisis including:

• Medical Loan: items of equipment, such as wheelchairs, bath seats and commodes can be lent to people on a short-term basis.
• Transport and Escort: people who find it difficult or impossible to use public or private transport unaided can be provided with drivers and/or escorts to help them make essential journeys.
• Home from Hospital: volunteers can offer support and practical assistance to help people settle back into their own homes.
• Skin Camouflage: rebuilding confidence by teaching the application of cover creams to disguise disfiguring skin conditions such as scarring, rosacea, vitiligo, tattoos, leg veins and other dermatological conditions.
• Therapeutic Care: hand, neck and shoulder massage to help people in pain or people suffering from stress.
• First Aid: teaching first aid to individuals, groups and vulnerable and excluded communities, giving them potentially lifesaving knowledge.
• International Tracing & Message Service: establishing the whereabouts and the health and welfare of relatives separated as a result of armed conflict, natural or other disasters, and putting them in contact with each other. Other services include obtaining proof for compensation or asylum claims for those who have been imprisoned, and general advice on tracing and social welfare requests.
• Refugee Services: assessment of need and development of Red Cross services which support vulnerable refugees and asylum seekers with practical and emotional assistance, for example, orientation services, clothing, etc.
• Emergency Planning: comprising specialists in major incidents, voluntary aid societies, fire victim support, public events, and the ambulance service, will work at UK level to assist in planning and preparing to support individuals in an emergency.
• Red Cross Youth: engages with young people to promote humanitarian values, first aid, support young people in crisis, and explore volunteering opportunities in the UK and overseas.

Services are provided at branches throughout the UK. Contact the head office for details of your local branch and the services they offer.