Here for humanity: a new British Red Cross T-shirt collaboration with Charlie Mackesy
This summer, we’ve teamed up with artist and illustrator Charlie Mackesy on the 'Here for humanity' exclusive T-shirt. Charlie is known for his internationally bestselling book The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse.
Kindness and compassion for all those facing crisis really matters, perhaps now more than ever.
Charlie Mackesy
That idea sits at the heart of this collaboration.
Charlie Mackesy’s work explores themes of connection and kindness - the small, often simple ways we show up for each other. His words and illustrations have brought comfort to people around the world and have been translated into over 50 different languages and dialects.
A close up of the 'Here for humanity' T-shirt design.
Like Charlie’s work, our work is rooted in human connection, showing up, listening, and standing alongside people when it matters most. It’s something we think about every day at the British Red Cross too, so this collaboration felt like a natural fit.
The design for the exclusive Here for humanity T-shirt combines Charlie’s unique creative style with a shared message of kindness, compassion and humanity, with the words 'Here for humanity'. It speaks to our humanitarian values of compassion, kindness and humanity.
It captures what we’re all trying to hold onto, something which seems more important today than ever.
A meaningful collaboration
Charlie shared what this collaboration means to him:
"All of my life, even as a child, I knew of the British Red Cross and it always represented something good and kind. Now I know more about what it does and stands for which is why it is such a privilege for me to be able to collaborate with them to make a T-shirt.”
The T-shirt is a way to express something many of us already feel, that kindness matters, and that even small gestures can make a difference.
Kindness, connection, compassion
When we asked Charlie what the message might mean to people, he reflected:
“I am sure wearing the shirt will mean different things to people. For me, it is a gentle expression of something simple, but deeply important.”
Every day, we see what being there for someone can look like. It might be supporting someone who’s just arrived in the UK after fleeing conflict, offering a warm drink and a friendly face after a long journey. It might be helping a family after a house fire. Or it might be making sure someone isn’t facing a difficult moment alone.
The situations are different, but the need for connection and for someone to show up is the same.
Charlie Mackesy, artist and illustrator. (Credit: Charlie Gray)
(Credit: Drs Producoes/Getty images)
Join us in being here for humanity
If you’d like to be part of this, the Here for humanity T-shirt is one small way to do that.
Funds from every purchase help us provide essentials like emergency shelter, emotional support and practical help to people facing crisis, here in the UK and around the world.
As well as raising funds, it helps raise awareness of our humanitarian work and show your support for the values that unite us. Through a simple act, like wearing the T-shirt, you can help spark conversations about the difference compassion can make in our communities and beyond.
It’s about standing alongside people you may never meet, and choosing kindness anyway.
Right now, that feels more important than ever.