THEY'VE comforted children, helped families after a fire, delivered emergency medication and rehomed parrots, dogs and even a lizard.

Now, three Hampshire sisters are asking others to join them at the British Red Cross.

Sisters Emma and Kate, plus sister-in-law Bec, are a key part of the Eastleigh British Red Cross Emergency Response team who’ve been called out to everything from gas leaks and floods to house fires and explosions.

READ MORE: Fundraising in honour of brave teenager Ben nears £60,000

“It gives you the opportunity to give back and do some real grass roots helping," said Emma.

All three of the women are in their 40s, have full-time jobs and eight children between them.

It all began in 2016 when Emma, 43, went to Calais to volunteer at refugee camps.

As an emergency response volunteer, Emma joined a team that can be called out by the emergency services or local council to support people in a crisis on her return.

Sister, Kate, 45, added: “Seeing what Emma was doing, it was quite difficult not to get involved! I thought to myself, I’ve got the time and I want to be able to help people, so why not?”

Executive Headteacher, Bec, lives next door to sister in law Kate. She said: “We’ve all got families and we can volunteer flexibly and only commit to what we can do. I work at a school so I do more in the holidays and the odd weekend. But we are all on call every Thursday.

"Often all we need to be there for is some emotional support. When people lose everything, they’re in shock but we can be there for them, to listen and help with the practical things.”

The trio were there for the arrival of the Afghan families who fled their homes last year, when they arrived to stay in local hotels and they're poised to assist Ukrainian families when needed.

Kate and Bec first saw the British Red Cross in action, one Christmas, when festive family celebrations were cut short, by a massive blaze in the thatched roof of the cottage belonging to their parents-in-law.

To volunteer, visit redcross.org

 

 

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