How Reuniting Families Can Provide Solutions to the Refugee Crisis

How reuniting families can provide solutions to the refugee crisis 1

Contents 6 Introduction – what is refugee family reunion and why is it important? 11 Obstacles to protection 14 Not for everyone – a restrictive criteria 16 Case study 17 What needs to change 20 Summary of recommendations The British Red Cross Torn Apart campaign seeks to realise the potential of family reunion for more refugees, starting with adult children who only recently turned 18. This document explores how changes to family reunion could help more people at this time of crisis. Written by a team at the British Red Cross: Karl Pike Vanessa Cowan Olivia Field Joe Potter

Photo: © BRC

Preface Muhammed and Amal are from Daraa in Syria. We see families undertaking dangerous journeys to Muhammed arrived in the UK in March 2014 and embassies across the world because their sponsor – was granted refugee status in December 2014. the person safe in the UK – cannot apply on their behalf. He immediately began the process of applying for family reunion – the process through which those Refugee family reunion is a safe and legal way granted refugee status and humanitarian protection in for refugee families to be reunited. It has the the UK can bring close family members to join them. potential to prevent dangerous journeys across seas into Europe and onwards to the UK, UK rules allow refugee parents, who have instead offering visas that allow people successfully claimed asylum here, to be to travel to the UK safely and legally. reunited with their children. But not if their children are aged 18 or over. Most importantly, it is a tool to keep loved ones together, a precious right to see your mum, dad, son Muhammed left Syria to protect his family. Yet or daughter once again. Yet it could work so much because of restrictive family reunion rules, the better than it does now. More refugee families could former lawyer, his wife and their younger children rebuild their lives together, more young people alone are separated from the older children because in dangerous situations could be protected, and their son and daughter are over 18. fewer people would have to face the difficult decision “We are a very close family; our bonds are very of boarding a leaky boat they have paid large special,” Muhammed told us. “My little kids ask me amounts of money to risk everything for. every day: ‘Baba, what happened with Kusai and The British Red Cross Torn Apart campaign seeks Athar? When will they join us? When will we see to realise the potential of family reunion for more them and talk to them?’ I truly have no idea and refugees, starting with adult children who only don’t know what to tell them.” recently turned 18. This document explores how Tragically, Muhammed’s story is not unique. We changes to family reunion could help more people know of many families divided because some of their at this time of crisis. children have just turned 18. We know of brothers and sisters with no other family divided by continents because refugee family reunion doesn’t help them. We see families struggling with a complex process and, since refugee family reunion was taken out 1 of legal aid scope in April 2013 , denied legal assistance. 1. Refugee family reunion was taken out of legal aid scope in April 2013 in England and Wales. It remains in scope in Scotland. 4

Photo: © Mirva Helenius (Finnish Red Cr They need me, for they are my children, a oss) piece of me, and they still need my guidance. They are deprived from saying ‘Dad’.

Introduction – what is refugee family reunion and why is it important? Background summary members, relatives or siblings (including parents It is generally agreed, internationally, that families or legal guardians, aunts, uncles and grandparents) are a fundamental group unit ‘entitled to protection legally present in another signatory state can be by society and the state’ (UNHCR, 2016). The transferred to that state, subject to the transfer being Final Conference of Plenipotentiaries at the 1951 in the child’s best interests. Convention describes ‘the unity of the family, the natural and fundamental group unit of society, [as] an essential right of the refugee’. Analysis of the UK rules (adapted from Under the UK’s family reunion policy, a spouse, ‘Not So Straightforward’, British Red partner or child under 18 can apply to join someone Cross, Beswick, 2015) granted refugee status or humanitarian protection in Rules regarding refugee family reunion are the UK, providing they formed part of a family unit elaborated in paragraphs 352A to 352FI of part before the sponsor fled their country of origin. 11 of the immigration rules. Eligible applicants for family reunion, to be sponsored by a person granted Family unity also features in EU law under the refugee or humanitarian protection status within ‘Dublin III Regulation’ – currently subject to reforms the UK, include married or civil partners, same-sex by the European Commission. Under Dublin, asylum partners and children (aged 17 years and younger seekers whose family members have already at the time of application). In cases of compelling received international protection or are seeking and compassionate circumstances, otherwise asylum in another signatory state can be transferred ineligible applicants may be permitted to apply at the to join those family members and have their asylum discretion of the Home Office. 2 claim determined by that signatory state. All applications made under part 11 share the If the transfer is to join someone with international following requirements: a family life must exist prior protection, families do not have to have formed prior to the flight of the refugee and applicants must not to leaving the country of origin. If the transfer is to be excluded from ‘protection by virtue of paragraph join someone seeking protection, the family has 334(iii) or (iv) of these Rules or article 1F of the [UN] to have been formed prior to leaving (Refugee Convention and Protocol relating to the Status of Council, 2015). Refugees’ should they apply for refugee status in Family members are defined as spouse (or their own right (19). unmarried partner where domestic legislation Unlike other parts of the immigration rules, under affords them equal treatment) and unmarried part 11 the sponsor does not have to satisfy financial 3 minors. Unaccompanied minors with family requirements to apply for refugee family reunion. 2. Articles 9, 10 and 11, EU Dublin Regulation (EC 604/2013): eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/en/ALL/?uri=celex%3A32013R0604 3. Article 2, EU Dublin Regulation (EC 604/2013) eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/en/ALL/?uri=celex%3A32013R0604 6

Spouses and partners Part eight and appendix FM of the immigration The relationship between the sponsor in the UK rules address family members outside of part 11 and the partner abroad must begin prior to the and provide instructions on both indefinite leave sponsor’s flight from their country of ‘former to enter and indefinite leave to remain. While part habitual residence’, and sponsor and partner 11 addresses children making applications for must demonstrate an intention to live permanently refugee family reunion, paragraphs 309A to 315 together. Both sponsor and partner must also of part eight clarify definitions and requirements demonstrate that the relationship is ‘subsisting’. regarding adoption and de facto adoption. It is here, Unmarried or same-sex partner applications are in particular paragraph 309A, wherein ‘de facto eligible only where sponsors achieved refugee adoption’ is defined in such a way that prohibits status on or after 9 October 2006 and where the refugees from claiming a parental relationship relationship is not consanguineous, i.e. with a with their de facto adopted child. Appendix FM blood relative. (sections EC-DR to D-ILRDR) of the immigration rules focuses on adult dependants seeking entry through a sponsoring refugee. This includes, for example, parents, grandparents and adult siblings, Children as well as children aged 18 years or older. Unlike Child applicants must be under 18 with a parent part eight, there is no ambiguity as to whether who currently holds status within the UK. Children these applicants fall under part 11, save for must not be ‘leading an independent life’, and must discretionary cases characterised by compelling be unmarried or without a civil partner. Finally, they and compassionate circumstances. As such, must not have ‘formed an independent family unit’. applications under appendix FM are conditional on Other conditions include that the child ‘was part of financial requirements being satisfied. This includes the family unit of the person granted asylum at the being able to maintain and accommodate such time that the person granted asylum left the country dependants without recourse to public funds. of his habitual residence in order to seek asylum’. There are no qualifications on stepchildren or How the British Red Cross helps adopted children within part 11. However, SET10 refugee families guidance, used by entry clearance officers for cases brought forward under part 11, outlines The British Red Cross helped 41 refugees parameters for adopted and de facto adopted obtain visas for 100 family members in 2015. children. Furthermore, the Home Office’s Statement of Intent: Family Migration holds that refugees and Our travel assistance programme helped 383 persons with humanitarian protection ‘will be able, refugees reunite with family members in exceptional circumstances, to sponsor a child 1,187 relative, e.g. the child of a dead or displaced brother in the same year. or sister, and without having to meet the income threshold’ (Home Office 2012, 33). 7

Refugee family reunion in the UK understands that this could include dependent adult The latest data from the Home Office shows a sons or daughters who are not leading independent 40 per cent increase, since 2013, in the number lives and who would be left in a dangerous situation of family reunion cases. with no other family support. However, while the Government indicated an The refusal rate increased by 40 per cent increase in grants outside of the rules in 2015, the compared to a year ago, while the number of grants Minister for Immigration has said that over the last has seen a modest increase. The use of discretion three years just ‘65 visas have been granted outside the rules due to exceptional circumstances’ – less to grant family reunion outside of the immigration 4 than the number granted in 2011 alone. (Table 2) rules has been decreasing during the refugee crisis. (Table 1) Data on the use of the Dublin III Regulation, including the number of ‘take charge’ requests from different member states, are not routinely released The Government is currently revising their guidance by the Home Office. Parliamentary questions to caseworkers to provide further direction on requesting this information have not the types of cases that should benefit from a visa received answers. outside the immigration rules. The Red Cross Table 1: Entry clearance visas (cases resolved of which: grants, refusals, withdrawn/lapsed): Family Other (2) Year Cases resolved of which: Granted Refused Withdran or lapsed 2013 6,108 4,211 1,797 100 2014 6,658 4,596 1,931 131 2015 8,544 4,949 3,466 129 Source: Immigration Statistics Oct - Dec 2015, Visas volume 1 table vi_01_q. Table 2 Year 2011 2012 1013 2014 Total Number of applications 77 30 18 12 137 granted outside the rules 4. Baroness Hamwee, Written Question HL3957, House of Lords, November 2015. 8

Photo: © Simon Rawles (BRC) After I got my papers, I sought work and I’m working now […] Before I came to ask for assistance to reunite, I thought it was an easy thing. But it was not. Adult male sponsor, Zimbabwe 9

The refugee crisis and safe routes world have devised alternative legal avenues, while to protection family reunification has either remained stable or, in some instances, been restricted. With nearly 60 million people forcibly displaced around the world (UNHCR), the need for safe and The Red Cross shares the view of UNHCR and legal routes to protection is greater than at any point others that enhanced family reunification could since the Second World War. significantly improve the policy response of European and western governments to the crisis. The ‘crisis’ is the cause of at least 15 conflicts erupting or reigniting over the last five years: eight in At a meeting in London at the beginning of 2016, Africa (Côte d’Ivoire, Central African Republic, Libya, Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies Mali, north-eastern Nigeria, Democratic Republic of from across Europe agreed a shared call on Congo, South Sudan and in Burundi in 2016); three governments to create more safe and legal avenues in the Middle East (Syria, Iraq and Yemen); one in to protection, with a focus on family reunion. Europe (Ukraine) and three in Asia (Kyrgyzstan, and in several areas of Myanmar and Pakistan). Many While the tragic events of 2015 brought the refugee people are also fleeing persecution. crisis into a sharper focus across Europe, the historically high numbers of forcibly displaced Since the onset of the refugee crisis a number people were not created by one conflict, nor by of organisations have called for increased family events in any one year. reunion channels as one solution for those who have been forced to flee. For some time refugees have been struggling to find protection and sanctuary. For some time UNHCR, UNICEF and international NGOs, including families have been displaced and then divided by the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (of bureaucracy and inflexible reunification programmes. which the British Red Cross is a member), have highlighted the potential for increased family unity to As governments across the world continue to provide opportunities for protection for more people, develop responses to these problems, now is in a swift and efficient way. the time to expand reunification and build on a fundamental building block of society: In addition to resettlement and other legal avenues the family. (such as humanitarian visas), enhanced family reunion could and should play a large role in the world’s response to the refugee crisis. Despite the increased need for safe and legal avenues to protection, the 170,000 resettlement places pledged to the UNHCR by governments around the world remain the only significant policy change undertaken by European governments and other countries, notably Canada and the United States. Only a few governments from across the 10

Obstacles to protection Photo: © Piotr Malecki (Panos) Not safe Refugees’ families often have to cross borders to lodge a family reunion application at their nearest British embassy, sometimes putting their lives in peril. Over half of applicants left behind and examined by a British Red Cross study in 2014 were at risk of violence, torture or harassment while applying for family reunion. Not for everyone Adult refugees have a legal right, under UK and international law, to be reunited with their children and partner, if they are still overseas. But children over 18 cannot join their parents in the UK, and refugee children are not allowed to sponsor their parents to join them in the UK. Not simple Ninety-five per cent of people we asked who used our family reunion service thought it would be very difficult to apply for family reunion without legal support. The Government should fund complex family reunion cases and make the application form easier to understand and complete. Not affordable Many refugees cannot afford to exercise this right because they cannot afford legal help. Since April 2013, legal aid funding has not been available for family reunion in England and Wales.

Not safe – security and protection risks Our research* found that, of the 91 cases we In order to apply for family reunion, the families of UK examined in 2014, 10 per cent of family reunion refugees need to physically lodge a visa application applicants in third countries did not have legal status at the nearest British embassy. For families living and were exposed to security and protection risks. in countries where there is no British embassy, this often means undertaking perilous journeys Fifty-one per cent of applicants were exposed to across borders and residing in third countries in security risks. difficult living conditions while their application is Ninety-six per cent of applicants exposed to being processed. This can take, at best, eight to 12 security risks were women and children. weeks; at worst, and especially if they have to go to appeal, several months or even years. Experience and threats of arrest and imprisonment were identified for Eritrean families in Ethiopia Faced by these dangers and unable to and Sudan who were there without legal status. exercise their rights to family reunion through However, these threats were also identified in existing formal processes, family members are cases of interpersonal conflict between sponsors, more likely to embark on dangerous and illegal their families and the authorities in Middle Eastern routes to reach the UK. and Asian countries. For many applicants in In an EU context, the inaccessibility of the Dublin III third countries without legal status, arrest and Regulation leaves vulnerable people in dangerous imprisonment were threats to their security. situations. Europol has said that at least 10,000 These threats were also identified in cases unaccompanied child refugees have disappeared where applicants had to cross borders to make after arriving in Europe, with warnings of criminal applications. In particular, Syrian applicants travelling networks targeting vulnerable refugees. to Lebanon cited arrest and imprisonment as a major concern. Indeed, one child applicant was imprisoned on his return to Syria following the submission of his application. The drivers of violence were varied. In Pakistan, for example, Ahmadis were persecuted by other Muslims because of their religion and experienced various forms of targeted violence. Similarly, Somalis and Eritreans in Ethiopia, Kenya and Sudan experienced physical attacks due to their ethnicity and origin. Threats of violence were also observed where families of political activists were treated as proxies for their sponsoring family members based in the UK. * Not So Straightforward’, British Red Cross, Beswick, 2015) 12

Photo: © Lebanese Red Cr oss It was very terrifying and very sad leaving my children behind. I felt like the veins of my heart were closing. Zuzan, a refugee from Syria

Not for everyone – a restrictive criteria Young people who are over 18 Families with young children in Europe Refugee family reunion rules allow parents who have In Northern France the British Red Cross have successfully claimed asylum in the UK to reunite identified a number of families with young children with their family members. But not if their children looking to reunite with family in the UK. However, are 18 or over. while these young children are by definition vulnerable in these camps, these families do not have the right Many young people aged 18 years old and over are to family reunification under the Dublin Regulation living with their parents when they are forced to flee unless spouses are separated from each other. their country. These young people are in their late teens or early twenties and do not have families of their own. Not simple – Current policy is keeping families apart. Unable to reunite through formal processes, young people are complex cases require more likely to undertake dangerous journeys that legal advice can end in tragedy. Allowing young people to reunite with their family Ninety-five per cent of the people we asked who members would provide the safe and legal routes use our family reunion service thought it would be the Government is so committed to. very difficult to apply for family reunion without legal support. Yet, refugee family reunion was taken out of legal aid Child refugees scope in April 2013 in England and Wales because There are provisions in place to allow unaccompanied it was considered a straightforward immigration children in the EU with relatives in other member matter that does not warrant the need for specialist states to reunite with extended family members legal support. as well as their parents (under Dublin III). However, Our evidence demonstrates that many refugee unaccompanied children outside the EU can only family reunion cases are complex and often require reunite with their parents and not other close the flexibility, expertise and experience of legal relatives in the UK. advisers to deal with them. As UNICEF have pointed out, ‘these laws fail to recognise that after years of conflict, many of these children have been orphaned – but they may have For example, our report, Not so grandparents, aunts and uncles, or adult brothers straightforward, found: and sisters in the UK who can care for them’. > Thirty-three per cent of 91 refugee family In addition, refugee children within the UK are reunion cases relied on witness statements unable to sponsor their parents living abroad to join and statutory declarations produced by legal them under refugee family reunion. advisers. A quarter featured an interview or documentation discrepancy. 14

Not affordable – balancing debt and dependants > Documentation complexities arose frequently As previously mentioned, refugee family reunion during the application process. Legal advisers play was taken out of legal aid scope in 2013 in England an essential role in identifying alternative evidence and Wales. From the sample used in our research that can support an application, while caseworkers report, Not so straightforward, 10 per cent (nine) are pivotal in co-ordinating and obtaining such of family reunion sponsors were in low-wage evidence. employment and 77 per cent (70) received some kind of benefit. While the majority received > Essential documentation may be unavailable for Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), the second highest a variety of reasons, including the nature of flight benefit received was Employment Support Allowance. and the environments from which sponsors and applicants originate. Legal advisers play a critical As well as receiving limited income, 32 per cent role in helping to explain this in cover letters to of sponsors reported sending remittances to their applications and in identifying alternative evidence. families abroad for whom applications were being submitted. Remittances are a crucial, and often the > Some documentation, such as IDs or only, means by which primary caretakers or heads communications records via text messaging and of household can continue to support their families email, require legal advisers to qualify what is abroad. In the case of JSA, for example, this means sufficient and effective for an application. dividing a limited income of around £70 per week > Applications involving adoption, de facto among, on average, 3.5 people. This includes adoption, stepchildren and siblings are inherently paying for food and other essentials, housing and complex. They require legal advice in determining even schooling for children. It may also include the eligibility of the applications, support in phone services. documentation gathering, and reference to Crucially, refugee family reunion applications require precedent and existing policy and guidance. that sponsors demonstrate a ‘subsisting relationship’ with their partners and that their children are not considered to live an ‘independent life’. Financial Under EU regulations, the Dublin III Regulation support is one way of demonstrating this. provides a mechanism for unaccompanied minors within the EU to reunite with relatives in the UK. All of the people interviewed for Not so straightforward However, this has often proved complex and would have been eligible for legal aid. The costs are inaccessible, despite family members – including prohibitive and an obstacle to protection. unaccompanied minors – having a clear legal right to In addition, and as the UNHCR have noted, the UK be reunited in other member states. Government does not finance travel assistance for It has taken immense effort from law firms in the UK, people granted family reunion. Unlike people who are and from organisations like Citizens UK, to secure resettled, those who are granted family reunion visas ‘take charge’ requests for minors in Calais who have must finance their own travel. If they cannot afford it, family in the UK. they have to find the money elsewhere. The British Red Cross provides travel assistance to as many families as we can, but the issuing of short-lived entry clearance for family reunion (30 days to enter the UK following granting of a visa) is putting additional financial strain on families. Some turn to loan sharks and amass significant debts. 15

Case study Photo: © Simon Rawles (BRC) “After I got my papers, I sought work and I’m working now […] Before I came to ask for assistance to reunite, I thought it was an easy thing. But it was not. “I went back to my lawyer who helped me with refugee status and she said I didn’t qualify for legal aid and more for refugee family reunion. My legal aid was for the application for [refugee] papers. She wanted £600 to help me with my family. I didn’t have £600, I’m only working with agencies really. Sometimes I work, sometimes I don’t. I didn’t have £600. “So I came back to the Red Cross and was introduced to my caseworker. I could never have made the application on my own. I’m not earning enough money to hire a lawyer. I wouldn’t know where to start. “I don’t agree with this being straightforward. There’s a legal piece to everything. Like applying for family reunion. It’s a legal thing to get approval from government. They want to see an argument being put across. “I’ve heard of people struggling until now in bringing their family over. It’s difficult.” Adult male sponsor, Zimbabwe

What needs to change Families come in all shapes and sizes – This is a complex process where the so eligibility criteria should be sponsor is a refugee – legal support more flexible should be provided In addition to a more flexible response to complex Refugee family reunion was taken out of legal aid cases – such as de-facto adoption – the overall scope because it was considered a straightforward eligibility criteria for family reunion in the UK immigration matter that does not warrant the need immigration rules should be widened. for specialist legal support. However, our evidence demonstrates that many refugee family reunion cases are complex and often require the flexibility, That should include: expertise and experience of legal advisors to deal with them. > young people over-18 being able to reunite with parents they were living with at the time of flight5 For example, our report, Not so straightforward, found that 33 per cent of 91 refugee family reunion > child refugees in the UK being able to sponsor cases relied on witness statements and statutory their parents and child refugees outside of Europe declarations produced by legal advisors and able to reunite with more family members a quarter featured an interview or documentation discrepancy. > other people who were part of the family unit pre- flight, utilising evidence of what the UNHCR has Many family members, primarily women and called ‘strong and continuous social, emotional or children, are living in precarious situations abroad economic dependency between family members’. and are exposed to security risks. These risks include abduction, arrest or imprisonment, domestic violence, forced recruitment and violence. In this The Dublin III Regulation should be used proactively regard, refugee family reunion is more closely by the UK and other member states to facilitate aligned with asylum, which remains in scope, than family reunion. In addition to speeding up routes to immigration. Faced by these dangers and unable protection for eligible unaccompanied minors and to exercise their rights to family reunion through separated spouses, the discretionary clauses of existing formal processes, family members are more Dublin should be utilised to allow for families with likely to embark on dangerous and illegal routes to young children in camps to reunite with other adult reach the UK. family members. This would speed-up the process of relocation within Europe, which is currently not functioning. Not having the cash should not be a barrier to protection for refugee families 5. When referring to ‘young people’ we mean children up to the age of 25 who were living with their parents at the time they were forced to flee their home country. Both UK legislation and international definitions consider ‘young people’ to include those up to the age of 24-25. This is the definition used for former looked-after children in the Children Act 1989 and the Children and Young Persons Act 2008. Further, the UN also defines ‘youth’ as 15-24-year-olds. 17

We concur with UNHCR that the UK Government All in all, 51% of all applicants, of whom 96% were could support financial aid for refugee families women and children (whether they were in a third granted reunification. As one of the few safe and country or not) faced security risks while applying for legal routes into the UK, it would be appropriate for family reunion. the UK Government to treat family reunion less as a migration issue and more as a protection issue. Sponsors should be able to apply for family reunion on behalf of their family members. Alternatively, the Relatives are given just 30 days to enter the UK government could introduce a process of UK following granting of a visa. The short entry remote ‘pre-approval’ for people applying to join a clearance periods currently issued for family reunion family sponsor in the UK – removing the need to should be changed, with far longer periods of either travel to hand in papers. This could potentially be entry or entry clearance in-line with the sponsor’s done through online or phone interviews and paper- leave in the UK. A longer period would allow more based checks. time to make the considerable financial and logistical arrangements needed to organise the movement of family members from one country to another Ask for more information, rather than When families are reunited in the UK, systems must rejecting a family be in place to prevent destitution. Applicants are not currently being given the opportunity to submit further evidence for their application if their supporting documentation is not Family members should not be placed sufficient. Instead they are systematically refused, in danger to submit their applications forced into lengthy appeals processes in often very precarious living conditions (often in a third country Through our refugee family reunion services, the if they come from Syria or Eritrea). British Red Cross often sees people facing serious risks to their safety. Sponsors and applicants (or their representatives) should be contacted by entry clearance officers if Family members left in countries with no British their supporting documentation is not sufficient to embassy have to travel across borders to lodge grant family reunion visas, so that they can be given family reunion applications. This can present serious the opportunity to provide more information before risks to the applicant. their case is definitively refused. This would save For example, one 17 year-old Syrian boy was the Government money on appeals and prevent abducted and tortured for 4 days on his way to families being left in precarious and often vulnerable lodging his family reunion application in Turkey. situations while the appeals procedure takes place. Once in a third country, families also face protection risks, especially if they lack status. In our research, Not so straightforward, applicants reported fear of arrest, imprisonment and repatriation. In some cases, in particular Eritreans and Somalis in Kenya, Ethiopia and Sudan, applicants feared persecution. Applicants potentially faced harsh fines and even imprisonment as a punishment. 18

Photo: © Olivier Matthys / PRCS / IFRC All in all, 51% of all applicants, of whom 96% were women and children, faced security risks while applying for family reunion. 19

Summary of recommendations: 1 Widen criteria to reunite families with their children aged 18 years and over. 2 Proactively utilise Dublin Regulation to help separated children and spouses. 3 Provide legal support to refugee sponsors. 4 Ensure that lack of cash is not allowed to be a barrier to protection. 5 Offer safer ways to apply for family reunion. 6 Help families reunite by discussing problems rather than rejecting applications. redcross.org.uk/tornapart British Red Cross 44 Moorfields London EC2Y 9AL Tel: 0344 871 1111 Fax: 020 7562 2000 redcross.org.uk Published in 2016 Cover photo @ Simon Rawles (BRC) The British Red Cross Society, incorporated by Royal Charter Email [email protected] 1908, is a charity registered in England and Wales (220949), Scotland (SC037738) and Isle of Man (0752). Tel 020 7877 7029