Emergency Response Volunteer (Newcastle Upon Tyne)

When there is a fire, flood, severe weather or humanitarian response, we're among the first to respond. From practical help and giving emotional support, we work with other organisations to do what's needed straight away. This service operates 24/7 and is delivered by volunteers. **We are looking for someone who:** - is able to respond to emergency call outs in your local area or supporting national incidents anywhere in the country. - is available to volunteer at short notice during the incident and can be deployed for up to 6 hours at a time to cover the response period. - is able to reach our base at Croft House, Western Avenue, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE4 8SR within 45 minutes travel time. - has held a driving licence for at least 2 years which allows you to drive manual vehicles in the UK, have access to your own transport and be willing to drive a Red Cross vehicle. - can attend minimum of two meetings every 3 months (held Tuesday/Thursday) normally at Durham (occasionally Newcastle) - Are available to undertake approximately 19 hours of required e-learning modules and Zoom training sessions in the first few months of volunteering plus other ongoing service specific trainings as required. - We are looking for volunteers to commit to a minimum of 12 months. - Due to the nature of this role, applicants must undergo an Enhanced with Adults barred Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. ***"Whether it be offering practical or emotional support to people in need following a house fire, a flood, loss of power or many other types of small or large disaster, you are always kept on your toes trying to determine the best approach to take. Thankfully the comprehensive training we receive before being able to deploy to an incident gives us the tools to assess most situations and react accordingly. If you are keen to help people in the immediate aftermath of a crisis, I fully recommend joining the Emergency Response Team as a volunteer, you won't regret it."*** - Testimonial from one of our Emergency Response Volunteers, D.S. Health and Safety Statement We take an individual approach to ensuring your safety. We may ask you to complete a simple risk assessment and will also have a conversation with you to discuss and identify any adjustments you may need. Diversity Diversity is something we celebrate. We want you to be able to bring your authentic self to the Red Cross and feel that you belong. We want to create an inclusive environment, and promote and spread the power of kindness. As part of creating an inclusive space we have an expenses policy that prioritises volunteers not being out of pocket for expenses linked to your role. If up front costs are difficult, you can speak to your volunteering manager about this to find alternatives. We welcome refugees, asylum seekers and others currently in the UK to volunteer with us. We want volunteering to be accessible to everyone. If you have any questions before applying, please contact us at [email protected]