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 activities The 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 Interest and contacting Giving and receiving feedback Having a say in the action group (board), organisation, community Receiving further training and meeting new people Receiving guidance and support, being rewarded Beginning operations Finding a suitable task, commitment 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 Weighing up the possibilities Volunteering path Reception, presentation of the operations Local training and info Initial interest, contacting the Red Cross Receiving information on the Red Cross Interest and contacting Giving and receiving feedback Having a say in the action group (board), organisation, community Receiving further training and meeting new people Receiving guidance and support, being rewarded Finding a suitable task, commitment Acting and development 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 person Private introduction Getting to know people Finding suitable tasks Joining the action group or board, for example Receiving basic or other training Agreeing on the tasks Signing 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