Volunteering in the Finnish Red Cross

Principles of the Red Cross

• Humanity• Impartiality• Neutrality• Independence• Voluntary service• Unity• Universality

The rules of volunteer operations

• Doable with the skills of ordinary people• Unpaid• Voluntary• Reliable• Confidential• Impartial• Defined by the ones in need• Equal to all• Mutual• Possibility for personal growth• Possibility to learn something new

WHO IS A VOLUNTEER?

• A volunteer is anyone who, of their own will, participates in the volunteer activities of the Finnish Red Cross.

• They do not pursue material or financial gain.

Rights of the volunteers in FRC’s volunteer activitiesThe volunteers are entitled to

• participate in volunteer activities in accordance with their skills and objects of interest

• receive the training, information, guidance, and support required for the activity in question

• participate in planning and developing the activities, and as a member, to have a say in decision-making

• have a safe operating environment• give and receive feedback and to experience

appreciation• have a possibility to develop as a volunteer.

Responsibilities of the volunteers in FRC’s volunteer activities The volunteers are required to

• act in accordance with the values and principles of the Red Cross, and the guidelines and rules approved by the FRC

• commit to the operations in the scope they have voluntarily agreed upon

• participate in the training required for the activities in question

• notify others of any flaws or potential dangers they notice in the operations

• commit to the kind of confidentiality required for the activities in question.

Reception,presentation of the operations Local training and info

Initial interest, contacting the Red Cross

Receiving information on the Red Cross  

Inte

rest

and

con

tact

ing

 Giving and receiving feedbackHaving a say in the action group (board), organisation, community 

Receiving further training and meeting new people

Receiving guidance and support, being rewarded

Beginning operations

Find

ing

a su

itab

le t

ask,

com

mit

men

t

Self-evaluation, weighing up new possibilities

Finding a new assignment

Changing the form of operations

Taking a break from the operations

Quitting and receiving thanksW

eigh

ing

up t

he p

ossi

bilit

ies

Volunteering path

Reception,presentation of the operations Local training and info

Initial interest, contacting the Red Cross

Receiving information on the Red Cross  

Inte

rest

and

con

tact

ing

 Giving and receiving feedbackHaving a say in the action group (board), organisation, community 

Receiving further training and meeting new people

Receiving guidance and support, being rewarded

Find

ing

a su

itab

le t

ask,

com

mit

men

t

Acti

ng a

nd d

evel

opm

ent Self-evaluation,

weighing up new possibilities

Finding a new assignment

Changing the form of operations

Taking a break from the operations

Quitting and receiving thanks

Getting a contact personPrivate introductionGetting to know people 

Finding suitable tasksJoining the action group or board, for example 

Receiving basic or other training 

Agreeing on the tasksSigning the volunteer agreement

Registering with the volunteer network

Good encounters in volunteer operations

• Calmness, patience, giving time

• Appreciation, respect, equality

• Listening, interaction, dialogue

• Open and positive atmosphere

Volunteers supporting volunteers

• motivation and enthusiasm for the task at hand• sufficient training • guidance and support during the activities• ensuring the personal resources of the volunteers• the ability to stick to the role of volunteer• the ability to draw the line for helping