Organisation: British Red Cross

Description:

The British Red Cross helps vulnerable people in crisis, whoever and wherever they are. In Northern Ireland we operate a range of services supporting vulnerable people in our local communities. We assist the statutory services during major emergencies, we help build community resilience by training members of the public in first aid, and we provide emergency care to vulnerable individuals suffering personal crisis.

Red Cross plays a leading role in Northern Ireland’s voluntary sector response to emergencies. Our volunteers, ambulances and fire emergency support vehicles are on standby every day, ready to respond to emergency situations. We work closely with statutory services, Health and Personal Social Services and local councils to ensure emergency preparedness. During a major incident our trained volunteers provide back-up ambulance services, staff rest centres and provide fire-ground feeding, freeing the statutory services to concentrate on their own specialist roles.

Red Cross also provides practical and emotional support for people whose independence is threatened by short-term health problems. Our transport and escort service enables people with mobility problems to attend medical appointments, while our medical loan service provides wheelchairs and walking aids for short-term use. In the west of Northern Ireland our volunteers support vulnerable people returning home from hospital, helping them regain self-confidence and independence.

Contact name: Norman McKinley

Address:

87 University Street

Belfast

Postcode: BT7 1HP

Tel: (028) 9024 6400

Fax: (028) 9032 6102

Email: nmckinley@redcross.org.uk

Website: www.redcross.org.uk

Sector (statutory, voluntary, community, other): Voluntary

Area of interest/expertise:

Emergency care for vulnerable people in crisis.

Mission statement:

The global Red Cross Movement’s mission is to provide unconditional care in a crisis, whenever and wherever it’s needed. In Northern Ireland we aim to be the leading voluntary sector emergency response organisation, helping support the statutory services in times of crisis. We also want to make our independent living services more accessible to vulnerable people. In 2008 we will be extending our first aid message to disadvantaged groups, including disabled people, those living in isolated rural areas, and ethnic minority communities. As part of our commitment to promoting diversity, we will be seeking to recruit more volunteers from all walks of life.