“Sometimes you have to do a lot to gain a lot.”
Seventeen-year-old Laurentiu joined the British Red Cross two years ago. He’s passionate about inspiring other young people to take action in their communities to create a kinder, more inclusive society. He tells us more below.
Rewind to early 2023. If you’d popped into the British Red Cross shop in Dawlish on a Saturday afternoon, you might have got chatting to a young volunteer: 15-year-old Laurentiu.
He’d have explained he was volunteering in the shop for his silver Duke of Edinburgh Award. He might have shared what he enjoyed about it – the banter and advice from his older colleagues, the sharing of life stories, the insights into British culture. He might have shown off his vegan leather coat which hung on a rack for three weeks before he decided it was meant for him (for the bargain price of £20).
If you’d told Laurentiu back then that he’d soon be leading a UK-wide project for young volunteers like him, he might not have believed you. But that’s exactly what he’s doing today.
Laurentiu, British Red Cross volunteer
Guided by the Red Cross principles
After six months in the shop, Laurentiu went to the ‘Big Event’ - a three-day conference for young volunteers held in the New Forest. It was a chance to find out more about the Red Cross movement and Laurentiu loved it: “I was on a high learning about the Red Cross!” he remembers.
Laurentiu was inspired by the Red Cross’s seven fundamental principles, which chimed with his personal values.
“My parents divorced when I was about 11 and I was forced to mature quite young,” he explains. “I developed a whole set of principles and values. When I learned about the Red Cross principles, I felt they aligned with my own.”
These principles have motivated Laurentiu ever since. He is passionate about being part of an organisation that has, as he puts it, “a common goal and forms a really diverse community of people coming from different backgrounds, with different preferences, lifestyles and experiences.”
A safe space
Back in 2023, Laurentiu kicked off his social action by running an Equality, Diversity and Inclusion workshop in a community centre in Newton Abbot. It took a lot of work to plan and advertise, so Laurentiu was “not the happiest person” when turnout wasn’t what he’d hoped for. But on the flip side, people felt comfortable opening up about facing discrimination and microaggressions.
“It felt like a safe space for everyone to talk about their experiences,” says Laurentiu. “If there’d been 50 people in the room, it might have been different. So in the end I felt content with how the day went.”
‘Kindness in Action’ in action
With support from Red Cross staff, Laurentiu threw himself into volunteering. He joined the committee of a fairly new project for young people called Kindness in Action. Laurentiu was surprised and delighted when his manager Mike asked if he’d like to become Kindness in Action’s project leader.
“This was a great opportunity for me to try to bring more young people together and give them opportunities to take action in their communities.”
By becoming an expert networker, Laurentiu recruited 15 people and he used his tech skills to develop online platforms. And by raising awareness of the project at every opportunity, he feels he has “established a place for Kindness in Action within the British Red Cross.”
Today, Kindness in Action is a virtual group for 15-25-year-olds across the UK. They meet for online sessions about topics including first aid, mental health, climate change and the power of kindness. Just like the workshop Laurentiu attended in Newton Abbot, these are safe spaces where people can open up.
Each time they attend a session or take meaningful action in their communities, people can earn points towards their accreditation. They start with the bronze level and work their way up to silver and gold – similar to the Duke of Edinburgh scheme that led Laurentiu to the British Red Cross in the first place.
Doing a lot to gain a lot
Volunteering keeps Laurentiu very busy.
As well as Kindness in Action, he’s involved in Red Cross panels and working groups and he promotes the organisation at his college in Exeter.
In 2024 Laurentiu achieved his goal of being elected to the Youth Leadership Team, which represents young people across the British Red Cross.
“I guess the reality is that I am very busy,” says Laurentiu, who works on his laptop on his train commute to college.
“I do prioritise my studies and try to schedule meetings for the British Red Cross around my college work. Some weeks are busier than others. This week I have just four meetings, but next week I have around 20 because I‘m part of an interview panel.
“It all adds up, but I don’t mind because I love it so much. The British Red Cross is this humongous part of my life. And sometimes you have to do a lot to gain a lot.”
Finding your place at the British Red Cross
Volunteers like Laurentiu are at the heart of British Red Cross work across the UK and around the world.
From emergency response to volunteering in our shops or on our support phone line, there are many different ways to get involved.
Volunteering can be flexible, fit around your lifestyle and teach you new skills and boost your CV.