EMERGENCY SUPPORT AT HOME AND ABROAD

This British wing of the International Red Cross/Red Crescent network provides relief in disasters and emergencies, both in the UK and worldwide. This is followed up with longer-term reconstruction. The charity also runs first aid courses across the UK, and helps educate young people about humanitarian issues. In 2007 it responded to 18 international disasters, responded to flooding at home with its biggest peacetime mission, and equipped nearly 250,000 people with first-aid skills. The annual report, while being generally clear, should reveal whether specific targets have been met.

Read the charity's reply

QUALITY OF REPORTING What is this?	72 %
How much info does the charity want to share? This score, taken from our search for 43 key points in the annual report, gives the answer. Top mark is 100%. Anything over 70% is a good effort.
SIZE OF CHARITY... What is this?	Super size
We only profile the largest charities in England & Wales, and our sizes are relative to the largest and smallest among them. So where we describe a charity as 'Small', it is still much larger than the national average.
HIGHEST SALARY What is this?	Over £150k
Taken from the vague bandings given in annual reports; note that 'Under £60k' could be £9k or £59k. Nonetheless the number of bars should roughly correlate with the 'Size of charity' bars.
ETHICAL INVESTMENT POLICY What is this?	Yes
We asked the charity if it has an ethical investment policy. If yes, it gets an angel. Those with no policy but which don't invest in tobacco/arms get a halo. Those without investments, or who didn't respond, appear neutral. Those with stakes in arms/tobacco get a fallen angel.

But don't just take our word for it...

• British Red Cross's website
• The Big Give project information
• Charity Commission entry and link to British Red Cross's annual report

The British Red Cross is a volunteer-led humanitarian organisation that helps people in crisis, whoever and wherever they are. We are part of a global network of volunteers – the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement – responding to natural disasters, conflicts and individual emergencies. There are 186 Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies around the world, making the Movement the world's largest independent humanitarian organisation. We enable vulnerable people at home and overseas to prepare for and respond to emergencies in their own communities. And when the crisis is over, we help people to recover and move on with their lives.