Press Release

Saving lives together: Red Cross and Tesco launch emergency response partnership

4th February 2009

The British Red Cross and Tesco today launched a unique partnership that will provide holistic support to British Red Cross emergency response at a local, national and global level. The life-saving partnership will ensure the best possible response for disaster affected communities, making a difference to individuals both in the UK and across the world.

Tesco and the British Red Cross have been working together to help people affected by disasters and emergencies for over ten years with £3.9 million donated to emergency appeals. Building on this legacy and the successful British Red Cross Tesco Charity of the Year partnership 2007, this new formal affiliation will mobilise all parts of Tesco’s business, including corporate donation, staff and customer giving, donation of goods and the global store and distribution network. Support will be given across the range of emergencies, from the small local UK incidents to major international disasters.

David Reid, Tesco Chairman, said,

"Supporting people through times of disaster and emergency is a priority for Tesco. Tesco and the Red Cross are now entering into a formal partnership to work together to help people affected by crisis. As our official partner for emergency relief, the British Red Cross will advise us on where, when and how to lend our support, be it cash, in-kind, or even people. In turn, Tesco have put in place defined protocols to activate the immediate support of our business, to support the Red Cross when crisis strikes.

"The formalisation of this partnership means we will set aside money for quick response – money that the Red Cross know is there and can be used – to add to their security and forward planning and to make sure that support arrives when it is needed, not days afterwards. In addition, when a major incidents occurs in the UK, the Red Cross knows it can access food, water and supplies from local Tesco stores to bring relief to the affected community"

Sir Nick Young, Chief Executive of the British Red Cross, said:

"As a voluntary organisation, the British Red Cross is reliant on the goodwill of its most important supporters, such as Tesco, to help respond effectively in times of emergency. We consider this partnership vitally important and unique because Tesco consistently mobilises all parts of its business to support us during an emergency. Knowing that we can ask for the support of the Tesco Charity Trust, Tesco employees and customers, and the store and distribution network to donate goods makes an enormous difference to how we can respond in a crisis and undoubtedly will increase the number of innocent lives we save."

Floods Recovery Minister John Healey said:

"During my many visits to the areas devastated by the 2007 floods, I was constantly struck by the way in which communities and local charities came together to help people through what was a very difficult time. The British Red Cross were one of the first organisations on the scene, with over 100 volunteers involved in running rest centres, and providing emergency goods and bedding for families evacuated from their homes. So I am delighted that they now have this innovative and unique agreement with Tesco. This will ensure that they can continue to provide the help and support that makes a real difference to communities when they need it most."

David Reid, Nick Young and John Healey launched the partnership today at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, which included the signing of a Tesco and British Red Cross emergency partnership charter. The joint commitment to work together to help people in crisis will take immediate effect.