UK Crisis Response

Aim

Together, we bring hope and life-changing help to anyone who needs it, no matter who or where they are – and have done for over 150 years.

In any emergency, the British Red Cross is ready to respond . Together, we bring hope and life-changing help to anyone who needs it, no matter who or where they are – and have done for over 150 years.  

In the UK, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, our expert teams need to be ready to mobilise and respond to any emergency. When emergencies strike, we’re on the ground, knocking on doors, checking in on the most vulnerable, even in the most remote corners of the UK. We make sure no one has to face a crisis alone. Whether it’s wrapping a blanket around someone who’s just lost their home in a fire, or running a rest centre where entire communities can find shelter, warmth, and support after a major incident, our presence is fundamental. We’re there, by people’s sides, when they need it most. . We have a fleet of emergency response vehicles positioned at strategic points across the country ready to deploy within minutes of an emergency. 

This wouldn’t be possible without our supporters, who are enabling us to:  

• Respond to UK emergencies approximately every four hours and a half hours.
• Provide practical and emotional support to those affected and response teams on the ground.  
• Invest in equipment and vehicles we need to improve how we respond.
• Create new services to help communities up and down the UK become more resilient.

Did you know? 

• £5 could provide food and hot drinks for a family of four affected by flooding, helping them to cope during crisis.  
• £20 could give a parent in the UK the essential items they need to care for a newborn baby when they have lost everything due to flooding. 
• £50 could provide 10 cotton blankets to survivors of a house fire warm while we organise emergency accommodation for them. 
• £75 could keep 150 survivors of a fire at a block of flats in the UK warm while we support them to find emergency accommodation for the night. 

From May until December, British Airways will also be raising funds for us with their in-flight fundraising campaign, supporting our important emergency response work here in the UK. ⁣ So, if you’re hopping on board one of their planes soon, keep your eyes peeled for their in-flight video to spot our critical emergency work in action, and see how you can support us from the air! 

A safer space during the heatwave  

Climate and weather emergencies in the UK, such as floods, heatwaves and wildfires, are generally becoming more frequent and more devastating.  

When temperatures rose across London in late June, our teams acted quickly to help trusted community spaces stay open safely. Volunteers delivered fans, fresh fruit, water, and other cooling supplies to local organisations supporting people through the heatwave. 

At Art4Space in Lambeth, table fans, fresh fruit, and water meant the centre could continue welcoming young people, older people, community art groups, and after-school clubs. 

“If it wasn’t for that support from the Red Cross, we would have had to reduce our services,” says Daisy, Studio Manager at Art4Space. “We couldn’t have had as many people in because we just didn’t have the infrastructure for it.” 

Your support helped our teams move quickly when extreme heat put people at risk, keeping community spaces open and giving local people somewhere cooler and safer to turn.

Building resilience before crisis strikes

Community resilience isn't only about responding when emergencies happen. It's also about helping people develop the skills, confidence and knowledge to cope with challenges before they become crises. 

Through programmes like Humankind, the British Red Cross works with educators and young people across the UK to build understanding of resilience, first aid and climate preparedness, helping the next generation feel more confident facing an uncertain future. Thanks to the funding and support of partners such as British Airways, we can reach more young people with these vital skills, helping them prepare for challenges before they arise and build resilience in their communities.

Please note: the British Red Cross will use your donation in support of UK crisis response and community resilience work. In the event there are surplus funds raised for this appeal these will be used for the general charitable purposes of the British Red Cross.   

For information on British Red Cross' refund policy, please see here: https: How to make a charity donation: FAQs | British Red Cross 

Top image: © Marco Kesseler/ British Red Cross

Bottom image: British Red Cross staff and volunteers exchange goods collected from partners in order to deliver them to community hubs across town. ©Mimi Mollica/British Red Cross 

Funding method

Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made by 2nd October 2026 at 9:34am