The aim can only be achieved with the optimum involvement of volunteers and the significant support of the youth (i.e. Volunteers and Members) in the activities of the National Society.

What is volunteering?

Volunteering in the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is an activity that:
• Is motivated by the free will of the person volunteering, and not by a desire for material or financial gain or by external social, economic or political pressure;
• Is intended to benefit vulnerable people and their communities in accordance with the Fundamental Principles of the Red Cross and Red Crescent;
• Is organized by recognized representatives of a national Red Cross or Red Crescent Society

"A Red Cross and Red Crescent Volunteer is a person who carries out volunteering activities for a National Red Cross or Red Crescent Society, occasionally or regularly without compensation or expectation of compensation ".

ROLE OF VOLUNTEERS

Volunteers are found in many different roles in a National Society and at all levels. They are active in:
• Assist in Policy Making and Monitoring (for example: board members and delegates to General Assemblies)
• Management and Administration (Planning, Accounting, Office work and membership derives)
• Organizing and Delivering Services/Programs (Service Volunteers, team leaders and trainers, donating blood, doing a sponsored walk, getting involved in your local scouting or guiding club;
• Fund Raising, assisting a charity with its finances or administration (Collecting money, organizing bazaars)
• Advocacy (Campaigning and dissemination)
• Giving advice and solving problems (Expert or advisory volunteers)
All these volunteers serving vulnerable people in their own communities are the main work force of a National Society.

FUNDAMENTALS OF VOLUNTARY SERVICES

All Red Cross and Red Crescent Volunteers are expected to:
• Act in accordance with the Fundamental Principles of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and promote their dissemination;
• Respect the Regulations on the use of the emblem and to prevent its misuse;
• Strive and work for the highest standards of quality;
• Sign, and behave in accordance with, the National Society's code of conduct for volunteers, rules and/or the Federation's code of Ethics and Fundamentals of Voluntary Services;
• Be available in an emergency, as agreed with the National Society, and according to their skills and abilities;
• Responds to the needs of the beneficiaries and strengthen their capacity for self-help and active volunteering.

DUTIES OF VOLUNTEER

1. To render social service, which shall include the following:

(a) To motivate and mobilize youth and other volunteers for constructive and meaningful welfare activities.
(b) Assistance to the physically, socially and mentally handicapped persons including children.
(c) Blood donation
(d) Participation in adult literacy programmes
(e) Environmental protection.
(f) Provision of assistance to public during certain religious and national events.
(g) Provision of Participation in traffic and cleanliness week observed by the concerned authorities.
(e) Providing assistance to National Society in holing an International World Volunteer day of 5 December on every year to promote volunteerism at National level.
(h) Anti drug addiction campaign.
(i) Prevention of AIDS and Sexually transmitted diseases.

2. To render immediate and medical assistance in case of natural & man made disasters.
3. To provide assistance to the affected people in case of man made calamity and assist civil defense agency.
4. To give immediate First Aid to the persons involved in all the accidents.
5. To inculcate and develop characters qualities in the Youth.
6. To provide health care in far flung areas by holding free medical camps.
7. To serve the suffering humanity and people in distress irrespective if caste, colour, creed, religious beliefs or political affiliations.

All Volunteers are entitled to:

• Chose to become a Member of their National Society, as defined by the statutes;
• Have appropriate training or personal development to be able to undertake their agreed takes or role;
• Have appropriate equipment provided to be able to undertake their agreed tasks or role;
• Accept or refuse any task or role in accordance with the Code of Ethics and Fundamentals of Voluntary Service.

Note: Red Cross or Red Crescent Volunteers may or may not be Members of their National Society.

A Red Cross or Red Crescent Member

A Red Cross or Red Crescent Member is a person who has formally agreed to the conditions of membership as required under the National Society's constitution or rules, and is usually entitled to elect representatives on governing bodies, and stand for election.

Categories of Membership at PRCS with their membership fees are as under:

1. Patrons Rs.20, 000/- in one lump sum.
2. Life Members Rs.2, 000/- in one lump sum.
3. Annual Members Rs.50/- per annum.
4. Annual Associates Rs.25/- per annum.

Before offering to volunteer, think about:
• Why you want to volunteer?
• What type of voluntary work you would like (and wouldn't like!) to do?
• What skills, experience or enthusiasm you can offer?
• How much time you can give?
• Other practicalities, such as where and when you want to volunteer?

If you have the spirit to serve for humanity; join us as a volunteer now:

Volunteers’ Online registration