Images by British portrait and fashion photographer Rankin profile British Red Cross volunteers who supported on the frontline of UK terror attacks and Grenfell Tower fire in 2017
Renowned photographer Rankin has captured the kindness shown by British Red Cross volunteers who helped in last year’s emergencies in London and Manchester. Terror attacks in the UK, including the Manchester Arena bombing in May 2017 and the Grenfell Tower fire in June 2017, led to one of the largest humanitarian responses by the British Red Cross in the UK since the second world war.
Images from the photoshoot have been released by the charity to help mark Red Cross Week (6-12 May).
In the aftermath of the terror attacks and the Grenfell Tower fire, more than 1,000 British Red Cross volunteers worked alongside the emergency services and with local communities. They provided first aid at the scene; gave emotional and practical support at rest centres; helped people at friends and family centres who were bereaved or searching for missing loved ones; managed a 24-hour support line; and sorted through 200 tons of items donated by the British public.
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“The horrific events in Manchester and London last summer were truly shocking for our nation,” said Zoë Abrams, executive director at the British Red Cross. “But even during these most terrible of times we also saw the extraordinary power of human kindness as the country came together to help in any way they could.”
Laszlo Kelemen, 33, an intensive care practitioner from London, has been a Red Cross volunteer since he was 15, starting in his home country of Romania, before joining the British Red Cross two years ago. He was part of the charity’s response to the London Bridge attack, Grenfell Tower Fire and Finsbury Park attack, providing psychosocial support to those affected.
Laszlo said: “The Red Cross is part of who I am. Before last summer I felt like someone who just lived in London but now I feel that I’m part of this city because I was able to help. I’ve experienced its very worst but also its best.”
Even during these most terrible of times we also saw the extraordinary power of human kindness as the country came together to help in any way they could
Julia Reason from Warrington, Cheshire, has volunteered with the British Red Cross for more than eight years. Following the Manchester Arena attack, she was deployed to Oldham hospital to help staff who needed respite. She also provided emotional support to people at the memorial that took place in memory of the victims in the city centre. In June, Julia travelled to London to support the families who had been affected by the fire at Grenfell Tower.
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Laszlo Kelemen and Julia Reason volunteer for the British Red Cross
She said: “I first heard about the Manchester Arena attack whilst I was watching TV. When something terrible like that happens, especially when it’s so close to home, you just want to do anything you can to help.
“The events of last year have had a lasting impact on me. But as a volunteer for the British Red Cross we’re privileged to be able to help people when they need it most, and support them through emergencies like these.”
For more information visit www.redcross.org.uk/kindness #powerofkindness
Sairah and Hannah Merchant, first aid volunteers from Kent
This mother and daughter team travelled to London last June to help with the response to the Grenfell Tower fire. They used to live in Bayswater and knew the neighbourhood well, so felt compelled to help when the British Red Cross put a call out for volunteers. It was 19-year-old Hannah’s first emergency since signing up as a volunteer. Sairah is now training to become a paramedic after becoming passionate about emergency response.
Sairah said: “We used to live not too far from Grenfell. My kids used to go to the school nearby and we still have friends in the area. When we were watching what happened on the news it all felt so personal to us. There was no question that we wanted to go and help. Mostly we provided psychosocial support and helped with minor injuries and cuts and bruises, but many people just needed a listening ear. It was an extremely difficult time, and we just tried to help in any way that we could.”
Farheen Chaudhry, refugee support and emergency response volunteer from Paddington, London
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