The British Red Cross is looking for volunteers from across the North East to help people in need.
In the Red Cross North East region more than 1,060 people have signed up to help during the coronavirus outbreak. Across the UK, the charity has already attracted more than 23,000 people to volunteer.
But more are still needed and, in partnership with In Your Area and other Reach PLC titles including the Mirror and Express, ChronicleLive, Teesside Live and our sister newspaper titles the Chronicle, Journal and Gazette are supporting their campaign to find more volunteers.
The outpouring of kindness over the last few weeks follows a national Red Cross appeal for people to demonstrate the power of their kindness and their willingness to help others.
In the North East, British Red Cross volunteers over the age of 70 have been carrying out welfare checks by phone on people who use the charity's services. Volunteers have also been delivering food and medicine to people in their homes, posting advice on staying mentally and physically healthy and signposting people to online social groups.
British Red Cross community reserve volunteers are a network of people ready to help in an emergency, supporting their community by sharing public health messages, connecting with others safely and helping provide basic supplies.
These volunteer networks will have an important role to play in the months ahead. The Red Cross is encouraging everyone to undertake simple acts of kindness, such as checking in on your friends, family and neighbours, via phone where possible.
Volunteers are a crucial way for the British Red Cross to support people in crisis. It takes just five minutes to register at www.redcross.org.uk/kind.
Red Cross research with Aviva, who have sponsored the community reserve volunteer programme since 2016, shows that almost nine in ten people (88 per cent) say that if an emergency happened in their community they would want to get involved*.
John Morris, director for independent living and crisis response for the British Red Cross in the North of England, said: “We’re living in an uncertain time and we know that many people may be feeling helpless and afraid for themselves and their loved ones. In these difficult days, it’s more important than ever to be kind to ourselves and to each other, and to protect the most vulnerable members of our society.
“We know connected communities are stronger communities and that small acts of kindness make a big difference, so many of you are already doing this.
“We want to thank everyone for the kindness they can have by signing up to join us as community reserve volunteers – you will play a part in helping your local community and this country through this unprecedented global health emergency.
“The British Red Cross has been part of this nation’s history for over 150 years and has supported this country through some of its most difficult times.”
All year round the Red Cross works in hospitals and communities in the UK, responding to an emergency on average every four hours – from flooding and house fires, to evacuations and terror incidents.
