About Us
Mission
To deliver rapid, well-trained specialised crisis response and humanitarian aid during emergencies, supporting people in their greatest times of need, both in the UK and globally.
Who are we?
Serve On is a humanitarian response charity that responds in the UK and internationally to assist people in their greatest hour of need.
Our volunteers hail from diverse backgrounds and range from 18 to over 65 years old. They include blue-light emergency responders, armed forces personnel, carpenters, nurses, students, office workers, electricians, and many more.
History
Serve On was initially a charity focused on helping rebuild the lives of talented veterans who had suffered physical or mental injuries or who were struggling to adapt to civilian life.
In 2014, the charity’s ability to grow was strengthened by a merger with an established, experienced International Response Team (IRT). The IRT’s rescue assistance and resilience training provide vulnerable, disaster-prone communities around the world with preventative solutions to extreme events.
The charity unites the best of the UK armed forces, Blue-light workers – police, fire services, paramedics, doctors, nurses, and what we affectionately call ‘kick-arse civilians’. Everyone undergoes our two-year highly specialised training programme before being able to deploy.
Past deployments
Our team has 30 years of experience responding to natural disasters such as earthquakes and hurricanes all across the world.
We primarily deploy to countries where we know we can make a difference quickly.
Amongst other skills, we specialise in rescuing people trapped in collapsed buildings. We also work with other agencies to assist them in their work, and we depart as soon as we are no longer useful, leaving as much of our equipment as we can to help local communities.
The IRT Diamond
The emblem of Serve On’s International Response Team (IRT) symbolizes strength, resilience, and dedication. Much like diamonds, which are forged under pressure, this patch represents the courage, compassion, and commitment required to serve on the IRT.
Volunteers must undergo a rigorous selection process and complete approximately 18 months of training, culminating in a demanding operational assessment to earn the right to wear this emblem.
Support Us
Your contributions are the backbone of our mission. Donations enable us to respond faster, train more volunteers, and reach those in need, worldwide and locally.
Our Values
Our membership includes individuals from diverse backgrounds, all following expert leaders and role models to achieve remarkable results for communities across the UK and beyond. Serve On promotes values that foster self-confidence, character, and resilience, encapsulated in our three core value statements:
Live to Serve
Volunteering offers numerous benefits to individuals, including improved physical and mental health, increased confidence, the development of new skills, and valuable work experience. It also fosters a sense of connection with others in the community.
Serve to Lead
Engaging in team-based, physical, and solutions-focused rescue activities is essential for building leadership skills, which are crucial for supporting communities in times of need. This reflects the importance of saving lives in response to humanitarian crises through our specialised capabilities.
Lead to Change
With the right people, a clear purpose, and specialised skills, Serve On acts as a catalyst for improvement, benefiting both the volunteers within the organisation and the recipients of our assistance and support.
