Like most major UK charities, the British Red Cross raises funds from individuals in many different ways. These include face-to-face fundraising, telephone fundraising and direct mail.

Face-to-face fundraising is a way to engage members of the public in a conversation about the work of the Red Cross and to ask them to support the work with a regular gift. These conversations can take place on the street or on people's doorsteps.

Put simply, it raises lots of money for us! In 2009 we hope to raise £14m for our services from face-to-face fundraising. It's a great way to talk to people about what we do and enables us to reach people who may not otherwise have the opportunity to support us. It also usually generates higher value donations.

It is also worth pointing out that this kind of fundraising does not annoy everyone. In fact, some people prefer it as it gives them the opportunity to ask questions about our work and discuss the different ways in which they can donate.

The organisation that regulates face-to-face fundraising (PFRA) has a code of conduct that states that face-to-face fundraisers must "always end a conversation in a polite and respectful manner as soon as they are asked to". It also states that fundraisers should "never say anything that could pressure or harass people" and should "not use manipulative techniques." Our fundraisers follow this code. Before any form of face-to-face fundraising can take place, we always seek legal approval from the local authority and police stations. Once approval has been granted, we inform our external agencies who then decide where the fundraisers will work.

For more information on face-to-face fundraising, please visit the Charity Facts website.

Telephone fundraising is a good way for us to have a more personal relationship with our donors. It is also one of the most cost-effective forms of fundraising. People may receive a call asking them to considering a regular donation; we also use this method to welcome new donors and thank people for supporting us. This form of fundraising brings in, on average, over £430,000 each year for the British Red Cross.

All our fundraisers fully understand the importance of not being too pushy on the telephone. If a donor tells the fundraiser that they are too busy to talk, they will immediately end the call or arrange a more convenient time to call back.

For more information on different types of fundraising, please visit the Charity Facts website.

British Red Cross fundraisers work all over the UK throughout the year. Sometimes we employ external agencies to fundraise on our behalf, because it can be more cost-effective for us. Fundraisers working for these agencies will always carry identification and can be identified by their uniform and the materials they have with them when working.

Our street fundraisers:

• wear a bright red jacket in winter and a red T-shirt in summer
• carry a black leather case containing factsheets and a direct debit form
• carry an ID card with their name, photograph, employee number and details of the agency the fundraiser works for.

Our door-to-door fundraisers:

• carry an ID card with their name, photograph, employee number and details of the agency the fundraiser works for
• wear a white tabard over a smart suit.

If you have any concerns about fundraisers in your area, please call our dedicated supporter care team on 0844 87 100 87.

Alternatively please contact the relevant agency helpline:

• Support Direct – 0800 018 3584 or 0800 031 9811
• Fundraising Initiatives – 0800 018 9961

Although the Red Cross values donations of any amount, we offer a range of gift levels so people can easily decide how much to give. Many supporters have told us that they prefer to be given guidance about the amount to donate.

The prompt is by no means supposed to pressure people into giving a specific amount. It is ultimately up to the individual to decide how much they would like to give and just a few pounds can make all the difference to someone's life.