Two women standing side by side in a wintry landscape. The younger woman, wearing a Red Cross volunteer vest, is looking gently at the older woman.

As a volunteer, you can help

Photo: Joonas Brandt / Suomen Punainen Risti

Would you like to become a volunteer friend to someone lonely or join one of our first aid groups, for example? There is a wide range of options available, and as a Finnish Red Cross volunteer, you can help in a manner that suits you best – as frequently as you like. 

You are a part of your local group of helpers and at the same time belong to our worldwide network. You promote humanity and defend the vulnerable.

Learn more about the different ways of helping and join us in making a difference in your immediate environment. As a volunteer, you are a Red Cross hero. We are happy to have you with us!

What kind of a helper would you like to be?

Anyone can become a Red Cross volunteer friend for a lonely person. If you have the skill of listening and being present, you are a suitable volunteer friend candidate. No special skills are required. 

Become a friend to someone lonely

In a first aid group, you can develop your skills and provide concrete aid, e.g. through first aid duty. 
Read more and join a first aid group

As a member of an emergency team, you can support the authorities in emergency operations, e.g. by helping people who have lost their homes in a fire or someone who got lost in the forest. You can join the extensive network of helpers, the Voluntary Rescue Service. 
Read more about our emergency operations and join

Good health is important to us all. As a volunteer, you can promote health and well-being e.g. at our Health Points, open to everyone, and at festivals or as a home safety coach.

Join us in promoting health

Red Cross volunteers can lead clubs and camps for children, organise events and instruct hobbies.

Choose the volunteer activity that interests you

As a youth shelter volunteer you can support young people at the shelter, online or in other environments where young people spend time.

Volunteer at a Youth Shelter

Are you the one to get things moving at a Red Cross volunteer branch? For example, you can be in charge of the communications or accounts of your local branch or become a member of the board. 

Contact your local branch

Sign up as a volunteer

Our volunteer activities on humanitarian law aim to carry out one of the core tasks of the Red Cross – spreading information on the rules of war. These rules of war, i.e. agreements on international humanitarian law, aim to restrict the effects of armed conflicts.

Red Cross volunteer groups on humanitarian law operate across Finland organising lectures, introductory visits, events and training. You can become a member of the group or a trainer.

In the humanitarian law group, you can promote the rules of war and human rights by organising events and planning activities.

As a trainer, you can arrange different courses for the authorities and for anyone interested in the themes.

Sign up by sending an email to humanitaarinenoikeus(at)redcross.fi

Read more about humanitarian law

Would you like to help immigrants and asylum seekers? As a volunteer, you can promote equality and build a diverse society.

The Red Cross volunteer activities are multicultural and welcome anyone who identifies with the Red Cross values. The activities bring together people with various kinds of backgrounds.

Read more and join us in helping

In Finland, 800 volunteer blood donors are needed every weekday. Stem cell donors are also needed as lifesavers. Join us in helping patients receive a chance for a new and better life.

Become a blood donor

Join the stem cell register

As a Red Cross Youth Shelter volunteer, you can listen and help young people who are experiencing difficulties.

People of all ages are welcome to volunteer at our Youth Shelters. You do not need prior experience, as we will provide orientation to the task. At the Youth Shelter, you will be working together with professionals.

Our Youth Shelters support young people and their families in Espoo, Helsinki, Tampere, Turku and Vantaa, and around the country online.

Volunteer at a Youth Shelter

Signing up as a box collector allows you to help victims of disasters in Finland and around the world. Collecting donations is not only important, but also fun and easy volunteer work.

Box collectors collect donations during emergency aid collections and campaigns. The funds collected by box collectors allow the Red Cross to help those in need quickly and efficiently.

Emergency aid collections are initiated in response to major disasters in Finland and around the world. These situations are often caused by natural disasters, such as earthquakes or hurricanes. The most important aid campaign is the annual Hunger Day collection organised in the autumn.

Join our box collector reserve and we will invite you to help with emergency aid collections and Hunger Day. Signing up as a box collector does not oblige you to do anything; you can always choose whether or not to participate based on your current situation.

Sign up to collect donations with us We will contact you when your help is needed. Welcome!

A celebration coming up? Ask your friends and family to donate to a cause important to you. A dedicated collection is also a beautiful way of honouring the memory of a loved one.

Set up an online fundraiser

As a digital fundraiser, you can participate in helping in Finland and abroad. Companies can set up a collection for their staff or cooperation partners, too. Share your online collection on social media and via email.

Instructions and tips for an online fundraiser

Collect using bank transfers

If online collecting seems too technical, you can also collect the traditional way by directing funds to the Red Cross bank account. Instructions:

1. Provide those participating in your special day with the account number for your donation target

  • The Finnish Red Cross’s Disaster Relief Fund: OP FI52 5000 0120 4156 73
  • Supporting Red Cross activities in Finland: OP FI29 5000 0120 4156 99

2. Ask participants to enter the name of the special day in the message field, e.g. ‘Bob’s 60th Birthday’ 

3. Please enter information about your special anniversary or memorial donation on this form.

  • Tell us about the special day collection before the participants make their donations, then we'll be able to inform you the summary of the collection.

  • PLEASE NOTE If you want to direct the donations for example to victims of the crisis in Ukraine or to Youth Shelters, add this information on the form under ‘Further information’.

4. You will be informed of the donated sum approximately two weeks after the event by email. 

As a volunteer, you can provide concrete aid to people in difficult situations in life.

Ask for more information about the Red Cross food distributions from your local Red Cross district office or branch.

Read more about the food aid activities of the Red Cross

Are you looking for hobbies for children or young people? Come get to know our volunteer activities, engage in hobbies and learn new skills!

Choose the volunteer activity that interests you

Volunteering for the Red Cross is an ideal way of increasing staff communality and the significance of your work, as well as making the world a better place.

Through aid work, you can communicate your values to your customers, interest groups and employees, and make a concrete change to the well-being of communities.

Read more about volunteering for companies

Help children and residents of cold areas by knitting and sewing. There is always a need for children’s clothes, socks and mittens, for example!

Make clothes yourself

Join as a member
Join as a member
The operations of the Red Cross are steered by seven fundamental principles.
The operations of the Red Cross are steered by seven fundamental principles.