We are in the midst of an unprecedented global health emergency. We are deeply concerned about the outbreak of coronavirus in the UK and the impact this may have on the communities we serve. In these difficult times, its more important than ever to be kind to ourselves and to each other, and to protect the most vulnerable members of our society.

The British Red Cross has been part of our nations fabric for over 150 years and has supported the country through some of its darkest times. During this crisis, we will need to redouble our efforts, adapt, and come together to support those most at risk. Our dedicated staff and volunteers are working tirelessly to ensure those hardest hit have the help they need.

As the situation evolves, our utmost priority is to ensure the continuity of our operations in the face of unprecedented demand, and to work hand-in-hand with communities, government and agencies to address critical humanitarian needs.

On average, our teams respond to an emergency every four hours over 1,500 emergencies a year. We are already seeing a spike in demand as the most vulnerable people in our communities face new physical, financial and psychological challenges.

The unprecedented scale of the coronavirus pandemic places even greater strain on the UKs health services and we will continue to work in partnership to support vulnerable people affected, supporting them to return home quickly and safely. Our greatest concern lies with people who need assistance to live independently in their own homes, and those with multiple, complex health needs.

For refugees and asylum seekers already among the most vulnerable in our community we are seeing a rise in homelessness as hosting and accommodation schemes are paused or shut down, evicting people with little or no notice. We expect to see severely reduced access to emergency funds, food and basic practical items like soap. To tackle this, we are exploring how we can offer greater access to emergency cash-based assistance, as well as seeking to offer one-to-one casework remotely.

Our Community Reserve Volunteers are also playing a vital role in supporting communities to come together in this time of crisis. If you would like to find out more about joining this effort, please visit reserves.redcross.org.uk.

The Red Cross believes that little acts of kindness are important, now more than ever, and really do go a long way in times of crisis. For advice on the best way to be kind to yourself and help people in your local community right now visit redcross.org.uk/coronavirus-kindness.