British Red Cross research

For this project, I will conduct primary research by directly

looking on the British Red Cross website and finding out about
what they do, when it was set up and why etc. Then I will also
conduct secondary research by doing a Survey Monkey
Questionnaire about it, using books and other resources to look
up info about the charity from an indirect source. For my
research, I could also use emails, phone calls and live
interviews to help further develop my knowledge and
understanding of this charity.
Why was the British Red Cross set up?
It was set up to help the sick and wounded during wartime but
as the nature of war changed, their purpose has expanded to
helping civilians in peacetime as well
When was it set up?
It was set up on 4th August 1870, when Europe was suffering
badly from war
Who do they help?
They help people in crisis, regardless of who they are and
where they are
Why is it needed?

Because they are part of a global voluntary network, therefore

they respond to things like natural disasters, conflicts and
individual emergencies. They also help people both in the UK
and abroad prepare for, withstand and recover from
emergencies within their own communities
How many people has it helped since it was set up? And
where? (Use infographics)

There is no certain answer to this question because they have no idea how many
people come to them for aid. They could be helping anything between 10 and
500 people, depending on the circumstances of certain crisis. However, in
2010, the British Red Cross provided food, water and shelter for over 420,000
people affected by 25 overseas disasters. Theyve also trained 221,970 people
within the UK to become voluntary aid workers, theyve provided first aid
services at 9,533 public events, responded to 2,102 emergencies in the UK and
helped 7,109 people affected by fire accidents and disasters.
How much has it raised and how much does it still need to
raise?
Theyve raised 261.8 million, and they hope to raise at least
14 million through mailings
Have celebrities got involved? If so, why? How are they
affected by this?

Yes. There are many celebrities that help fundraise the charity and among the
top supporters are Elton John, Bill Clinton, George Clooney, Annie Lennox,
Ellen DeGeneres etc. According to The British Red Cross, People
recognise our emblems across the globe. They know we are impartial and
neutral, which helps us cross conflict lines or enter disaster zones to deliver aid
when other organisations cant. We work with many communities overseas to
tackle issues such as hunger, HIV and TB, maternal healthcare, and hygiene

The Sierra Leone story

The British Red Cross has been helping the Sierra Leone Red Cross to run a
community-based health programme for more than 20 years. Its scope has since
grown to reach the whole country but despite that, the programme is still
community oriented and led by locals, trained by Red Cross volunteers.

The programme aims to teach communities about health issues and keep people
safe from disease outbreaks such as the Ebola outbreak in 2014. They work
alongside local people so they will have the skills and knowledge to manage
their own healthcare once the Red Cross have gone. Trained volunteers educate
their peers about how to prevent and treat harmful (and in some cases deadly)
diseases. Basic but important information such as washing your hands can be
vital in preventing disease being spread across a wide area. As part of this, Red
Cross volunteers will carry out domestic visits once a month to share
information about good health practice and make local people aware of their
local health facilities that are available to them when required. Community
meetings often helps make people more aware of these health issues and
treatments. For instance, health campaigns are also organised so that children
are immunised against diseases such as Polio, Measels, and Smallpox.

Since literacy rates are very low (48% among the entire population), the health
programme often use more visual and kinaesthetic methods or learning such as
pictures, drama and quiz competitions. Its usually women who are responsible
for the well-being of their families, so they are the ones who have to be able to
spot symptoms, prevent diseases and treat illnesses and therefore its important
that they know how to do all of the above. This is also important because Sierra
Leone has one of the highest maternal and infant mortality rates in the world.
Getting men to take part in community health care through fathers clubs (much
like they do the same with women through mothers clubs) could help them
prepare land for gardening or keep roads clear of hazards like snakes and
stagnant water where mosquitos (in particular the Malaria ones) breed.

Most of these health programmes began after the Ebola outbreak and were then
prioritised more than before since it showed how vital co-operation within the
community is in order to overcome health emergencies. It outlines most of what
the Red Cross is about, be they the British Red Cross, the American Red Cross,
the German Red Cross or even the Sierra Leone Red Cross. And in doing so,
they want to emphasise that another outbreak like the Ebola one will not be
repeated.

Even after the outbreaks are gone, some Red Cross volunteers will still stay in
Sierra Leone, so they can monitor community gatherings to spot any sings of
disease potentially being spread among the locals. They are there to act as an
early warning system and point people towards further medical treatment if
required. They will also track down people who may have had contact with
someone who is infected with a potentially harmful disease. They are also aware
that Ebola survivors and their families can be shamed, dishonoured and looked
at with disgrace, so they also educate communities so that the survivors and
their families can go back to their normal life again without facing any serious
harassment or bullying from other people in mainstream society.

References:
The British Red Cross. What We Do http://www.redcross.org.uk
Wikipedia. British Red Cross https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Red_Cross
Look to the Stars. Charitable and Philanthropic Celebrities
https://www.looktothestars.org/celebrity
British Red Cross. How we're helping in Sierra Leone http://www.redcross.org.uk/Whatwe-do/Health-and-social-care/Health-issues/Community-healthcare/Healthcare-inSierra-Leone/How-we-are-helping-in-Sierra-Leone