As a volunteer

Local initiatives

There are various local initiatives in which you can participate as a volunteer in emergency situations. 
•    In Brussels: BRU response
•    In Luxembourg: LUX response
•    In Walloon Brabant: BW response
•    In various municipalities, such as Lubbeek and Mechelen 

Ask your local municipality for information on potential volunteer groups in your region. 

Other initiatives

You can also contribute in other ways: 

• Reservist within Defence: as a recall reservist, you work at least 7 days a year in your unit. Find out more here (French/Dutch only). 
• Volunteer with the fire service: you combine this work with your main job or your studies. Find out more here (French/Dutch only).
• Volunteer with the Civil protection: you combine this work with your main job. Find out more here (French/Dutch only).
• Member of a Local Prevention Partnership (LPP): Local Prevention Partnerships are partnerships between the police, citizens and local authorities to strengthen crime prevention in a given neighbourhood. Find out more here (French/Dutch only).
• Volunteer with the Red Cross: 
  • Administrative disaster relief worker: as an administrative disaster relief worker, you will process data for victims during a disaster. Find out more here.
  • Crisis volunteer: as a crisis volunteer, you can be mobilised to help out in an emergency situation. You can register on the Crisis Volunteer platform to see requests for help in your area. 
  • Other forms of volunteering: there are many other ways to get involved with the Red Cross. Find out more here.

Donating blood or plasma, or taking a first aid course, are also excellent ways of helping people in distress. 

In an emergency situation 

All help is welcome in an emergency situation. But sometimes, well-intentioned help can disrupt the work of the emergency services and make the situation worse. Do you want to help in an emergency? 

• Donate money rather than goods. Sorting and distributing requested items is often time-consuming and labour-intensive. With a financial donation, organisations on the ground can make the best use of your donation. 
  • Are you unable to donate money? Ask recognised organisations about their specific needs. That way, your donation will be put to good use and won't go to waste. 
• Join organised actions, such as the crisis volunteers of the Red Cross. They can give you a clear role and decide with the emergency services where you can be safe and useful. 
• Do not simply rush to the scene of an emergency. Think of your own safety first! A disaster area can be highly unpredictable. Your presence there could endanger yourself or others. The emergency services must be able to access the site quickly and carry out their work unhindered. That is why we ask you to avoid going to the scene of an emergency.