Noticed today an article on BBC news
Click Here to see it
This is obviously a great idea. Awareness of first aid in the general public saves lives. Congratulations to the British Red Cross for releasing this.
It got me thinking how different are the British Red Cross (BRC) and St John Ambulance (SJA). The obvious one that most people are unaware of is that BRC gets government funding because of its nature of disaster relief wheras SJA is self funded.
Now in the digital age most people will research an organisation using the internet.
British Red Cross
St John Ambulance
How shown up are SJA in relation to BRC? BRC focuses on everything it does in the community. It sells itself and demonstrates the services it provides. SJA on the other hand give you an NHQ phone number.
What is the point in SJA current media campaign when something as basic as their public website is so lacking in relation to their main competitiors.
If you were looking to volunteer with SJA I suspect most people give up. Wheras the BRC website is well structured, informative and appealing the SJA one is again a complete waste of time.
How important is public relations for a voluntary organisation? Well given that private ambulance companies are charging a third of what some voluntary organisations are I suspect a great deal. Wheras the BRC make it clear to the professional and thorough service you are getting, the SJA website is something a child could knock together in an afternoon.
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It's especially galling because at the launch of the new CI, one of the major plus points about the "old" image of SJA that the public had was the view of us as "local", while the BRC were seen as a distant organisation operating overseas with nothing regional about them.
Seems like the BRC have taken that point on board better than we have.
Additionally, could you see NHQ letting anyone go ahead with something like that BBC article? SJA sometimes seem far too concerned about sticking to their image, and covering their arses legally, to allow things like that article to get out there.
BRC does NOT receive government funding.
"In 2009/10 £362m of bilateral assistance was channelled through UK Civil Society Organisations. Major recipients included the British Red Cross (£40m), VSO (£34m) and Oxfam (£24m)."
http://www.dfid.gov.uk/About-DFID/Finance-and-performance/Aid-Statistics/Statistic-on-International-Development-2010/SID-2010-Key-statistics/
International Red Cross receive contributions from governments rather than direct funding. BRC however do receive direct funding from the UK government to support their operations through funding agreements.
good post, very interesting
i think NHQ need to sort themselves out and get a profesional in to do the website
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HrzTGhKcgVA&feature=player_embedded
a video from BRC
good luck finding the SJA equivalent!
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