2021: our UK work in numbers
Thanks to the kindness of our supporters, and the efforts of our volunteers and staff, we continued to reach people in crisis up and down the country in 2021. Here's a closer look at what we've been doing...
Last updated 4 February 2022
The year 2021 was yet another challenging one for us all. While the steady success of the Covid-19 vaccine roll-out was one thing to be very thankful for, it was nonetheless a difficult year of ups and downs.
But through those highs and lows, we were able to reach people going through the toughest of times, something we simply couldn’t have done without our incredible supporters.
Whether you took part in a sponsored event, visited one of our shops, or donated your time or money, you kept us going in a year that provided new and existing challenges for the British Red Cross.
Supporting people in staying independent
Winter is always the busiest time for our UK teams, who do everything from responding to severe weather events (like Storm Arwen in November), to helping ease pressure on the NHS by taking people home from hospital and reaching out to those struggling with loneliness.
With your help, we were also able to support more than 25,000 refugees and people seeking asylum over the past year.
You also helped us to provide over 26,000 wheelchairs in the UK, supporting people to stay independent when they might otherwise be unable.

A look back on our work in 2021
We had a busy 2021, and 2022 will be no different. If you can, please support our work with a donation. It could change someone's life.
DONATE NOW
Red Cross: our UK work in numbers
We have reached people up and down the country. This includes...
- Making more than 19,000 food deliveries to people unable to get to the shops
- Making over 3,300 medicine deliveries to those who were isolating, shielding, or otherwise unable to pick up prescriptions
- Assisting over 20,000 people home from hospital via our Independent Living service
- Supporting 1.8 million Covid-19 vaccinations
- Taking over 21,000 calls to our national support line.
Our work won't stop there. For over 150 years now, the Red Cross has been there for people in crisis across the country - whether it's responding to the needs of people caught up in the aftermath of flooding, providing food and clothing after a house fire, or supporting someone whose livelihood has been badly impacted by Covid-19.
The pandemic has been one of the biggest challenges we have ever faced, with our teams of volunteers adapting their ways of working to make sure that even with ever-changing rules and restrictions, they can continue to do what they do best.
Since December 2021, we have seen a huge rise in demand across the board, which has been made worse by major staff shortages and illness across teams, as well as the agencies we work with. As we approach two years of responding to the pandemic, our resources are depleted.
It’s an incredibly challenging time, but donations to our UK Crisis Appeal will help our work to carry on.
With energy prices on the rise, and hospitals reeling from the impact of Covid-19 as well as seasonal flu, a donation this winter will help as we try to reach even more people than we did in 2021.
Read more

Ten things you didn’t know we do in UK emergencies
We were there for Grenfell victims, we set up funds after the Manchester Arena bombs, we wade in when floods strike... and so much more

British Red Cross supports people affected by Storm Arwen
Our emergency response teams have been supporting thousands of people who've been left without power since Storm Arwen hit on Friday, 26 November.
.jpg?sc_lang=en&h=610&w=1084&la=en&hash=AF429526FE35180B1DF4E98BFD678C86)
Our work across the UK during the coronavirus pandemic
From tackling loneliness in lockdown to providing vaccine support