Voluntary Agencies
We all know that in a fire, illness or crime event the Fire Brigade, Ambulance Service or Police will respond, many people also know that imbedded between them are organisations like the Council, the NHS, Public Health England, the Environment Agency and many more. But did you know about the Voluntary Agencies role in incident response?
Voluntary agencies provide vital resources and man power that is often overlooked. Groups like the Red Cross help those vulnerable immediately after fires, with others like Wessex 4x4 Response assisting in getting vital carers and supplies to vulnerable people in storms and snow. There are a large number of different agencies covering a wide range of activities and often these agencies deal with small incidents so that they never reach levels seen on the news channels. However they also assist heavily in large scale incidents like evacuation and flooding. In Wiltshire and Swindon these organisations come together to form VASEC, which is a sub-group sitting within the Wiltshire and Swindon LRF, set up to integrate all voluntary agencies into incident planning and response.
If you want to find out more about each organisation, please see their individual sections below, who knows you might fancy joining one yourself!
British Red Cross (BRC)
Interesting Fact
In 2015 over 100,000 people borrowed wheel chairs from BRC
Description
The BRC helps millions of people in the UK and around the world to prepare for, respond to and recover from emergencies, disasters and conflicts. The BRC specialises in so many activities it’s impossible to list them all here, but they do include, first aid, incident support, rest centre manning, refugee support, mobility aid and clothing.
How to Volunteer
Click here to look at the opportunities available
Website
Cruse Bereavement
Interesting Fact
Gave 1 to 1 support to nearly 30,000 people in 2015 and over 500 in Wiltshire
Description
Cruse Bereavement Care offers support, advice and information to children, young people and adults when someone dies, and works to enhance societies care of bereaved people. Cruse offers face to face, telephone, email and website support with services provided by over 5,000 trained volunteers.
How to Volunteer
Click here to look at the opportunities available
Website
Rapid Relief Team – Plymouth Brethren
Interesting Fact
Rapid Relief Team have provided 136,880 meals so far!
Description
RRT believes in expressing the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church scriptural principles of care and compassion. RRT provide catering assistance and refreshments to large scale incidents globally and are a real lifeline to those in need.
How to Volunteer
Contact your local UK networks for more information
Website
https://rrtglobal.org/gb/who-we-are/
RAYNET
Interesting Fact
Founded back in 1953
Description
RAYNET is the UK’s national voluntary communications service provided for the community by licensed radio amateurs. The organisation has over 2000 members and provides radio assistance to hundreds of events a year along with emergency communications using its ability to access a wide range of radio bands and large volume of equipment.
How to Volunteer
Click here to find out how to volunteer
Website
Response Pastors
Interesting Fact
Trained 150 volunteers in its first 18 months (from 2014)
Description
Response Pastors are established street pastors who are specially trained to deal with those affected by disaster. The response pastor’s prime function is to offer support and compassion to all in the event of a crisis or emergency; they can be deployed at any time of the day or night and will always remain impartial.
How to Volunteer
Join via Street Pastors (conditions apply)
Website
Rotary International
Interesting Fact
Rotary have over 1,800 clubs in the UK consisting on 50,000 members
Description
The Rotary are a wide range of local & national clubs that meet to enjoy friendship, networking & plan projects to benefit the lives of others. They carry out a number of roles in an incident including, managing a volunteer centre, helping in evacuation centres, providing logistics & assisting in recovery.
How to Volunteer
By membership to a club
Website
RSPCA
Interesting Fact
In 2015 the RSPCA investigated 143,000 animal cruelty cases
Description
The RSPCA is the oldest and largest animal welfare charity in the world and operates within the England and Wales, although also carrying out outreach work across Europe, Africa and Asia. The RSPCA aims to prevent cruelty, promote kindness and alleviate animal suffering which it does largely through campaigns and inspections. The RSPCA also offer to house evacuated pets in disaster situations.
How to Volunteer
Check out RSPCA’s Get Involved page online for various opportunities
Website
Royal Voluntary Service (RVS)
Interesting Fact
Over 35,000 community volunteers
Description
Royal Voluntary Service’s primary role is to create a society where everyone feels valued no matter of their age. The RVS focus on the older generation and aim to keep them active and independent by providing practical and emotional support. RVS are also vital in evacuation centres where they are able to assist in welfare functions such as feeding, evacuee support, staffing and comfort.
How to Volunteer
Please see RVS website for local opportunities
Website
https://www.royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk/
The Salvation Army
Interesting Fact
The Salvation Army was established in 1865 in East London
Description
The Salvation Army is a worldwide Christian charity whose purposes are ‘the advancement of the Christian religion’, of education, the relief of poverty and other charitable objectives of benefit to the society. In response they are also able to give comfort, practical and social need to those in need. They are also able to provide food, clothing and bedding when needed.
How to Volunteer
Jobs and Volunteering opportunities available online
Website
https://www.salvationarmy.org.uk/
The Samaritans
Interesting Fact
The Samaritans reached 228, 370 people via school, hospital and homeless centre visits last year
Description
The Samaritans provide confidential non-judgmental long term emotional support, twenty four hours a day for people who are experiencing feelings of distress or despair, including those which could lead to suicide. They offer support directly in most of their branches and by telephone, email or letter.
How to Volunteer
Jobs and Voluntary opportunities available online
Website
Samaritans Purse
Interesting Fact
Airlifted 40 tonnes of hygiene kits & essentials into Haiti after Hurricane Matthew
Description
An international Christian relief & development organisation that works through local churches. They are able to help un-insured or under-insured households affected by a disaster through the clearance of debris & basic repair work to make homes safe again. Staff are also deployable to care for people’s emotional needs.
How to Volunteer
Opportunities available online
Website
https://www.samaritans-purse.org.uk/
Serve On
Interesting Fact
22 International deployments in its history
Description
Serve On focus on a variety of roles; International Search and Rescue, Community Resilience, Community Support, Dog Searches and Water Rescue. They also help to coordinate the Voluntary Agency’s Cell (VAC), which brings all voluntary agencies together at an incident, alongside also offering staffing for survivor reception centres and on the ground information gathering.
How to Volunteer
Opportunities available online for various roles
Website
Sky Watch Auxiliary Service
Interesting Fact
Now one of the largest air observation charities across Europe
Description
Sky Watch Civil Air Patrol provides an additional air resource for the voluntary & professional emergency services. Pilots donate their time & a variety of light aircraft free of charge. They are able to locate people or property in danger and are able to monitor remote areas where access by normal transportation is difficult. Views from the air of the emergency or incident may be clearer than from the ground.
How to Volunteer
Pilot, Observer and Support roles advertised online
Website
St John Ambulance
Interesting Fact
Train over 400,000 people each year to save lives
Description
St John Ambulance is the nation’s leading first aid charity. They work alongside the NHS in response to 999 calls, assist in/provide medical care at events and raise awareness/ provide first aid in communities. In an incident St John Ambulance is also able to provide medical cover at rest centres and help with the supply of blankets and other basic medical equipment
How to Volunteer
Many different roles available online
Website
http://www.sja.org.uk/sja/default.aspx
Surf Life Saving GB
interesting Fact
Currently 7,000 members across many of the UK beaches
Description
Surf Life Saving GB is a national charity dedicated to lifesaving for aquatic activities; traditionally by helping making our beaches safer. The trained volunteers are also able to assist in flood incidents due to their high experience and training in water related rescue. The team has also branched out to terrestrial search and rescue & will assist the emergency services in searches for missing people
How to Volunteer
Opportunities available online
Website
Victim Support
Interesting Fact
Offered support to around 1 million people last year
Description
An independent charity that works towards a world where people affected by crime or traumatic events get the support & respect they deserve. They aim to help people feel safer and stronger after the impact of crime by providing emotional and practical help.
How to Volunteer
See website for available opportunities
Website
https://www.victimsupport.org.uk/
Wessex 4x4 Response
Interesting Fact
One member has a hovercraft!
Description
A charity made of volunteer drivers supporting the emergency services, local authorities and voluntary agencies with the provision of reliable transport in times of major emergencies. This can be transport of people, supplies or recovering vehicles. Wessex 4x4 Response are a vital part of the response structure & are regularly used in times of harsh weather to aid with operational duties.
How to Volunteer
Various roles available - see online
Website
https://www.wessex4x4response.org.uk
Wiltshire Air Ambulance
Interesting Fact
They can reach anywhere within Wiltshire in 9 minutes
Description
Wiltshire Air Ambulance provides Helicopter Emergency Medical Care and work alongside the ambulance service and other land based organisations. The service can be ready in 2 minutes and are able to fly up to 19 hours a day. The Air Ambulance also carries blood on board and can provide transfusions to patients before they reach hospital.
How to Volunteer
Shop vacancies and fundraising available
Website
https://www.wiltshireairambulance.co.uk/
WILSAR - Wiltshire Search and Rescue
Interesting Fact
Helped locate 20 missing people in 2016
Description
WILSAR provides specialist search and rescue expertise to the emergency services when they are notified of missing vulnerable people, whether this is in an urban or rural area. The team share a vast amount of knowledge, experience and man-power to mount a sizable and effective response. They not only carry out searches on foot, but also use bikes, boats and other modes of transport.
How to Volunteer
Apply on line for various different roles