Helping in a humanitarian crisis

There are different ways to help during a humanitarian crisis. Usually the best way to help is by donating money or volunteering.

Some charities accept donated goods. Check what they need before you collect anything.

Donate money

Donating money helps experienced charities get people what they need quickly.

It allows them to:

Research a charity before you give them money. Check where the money goes and how it will be used.

Be aware of criminal scams asking you to donate money.

These can be through text messages, emails or social media. These are often messages you are not expecting.

If someone scams you, call 101 to report it to Police Scotland.

In a humanitarian crisis you can help by volunteering in your local community. You do not need to travel to where a crisis is taking place.

Donating goods is not usually the best way to help.

Distributing donated goods is often slow, inefficient and expensive. This means people may not get what they need in time. Goods can also be wasted.

If you want to donate goods, find organisations who accept goods. Check what they are collecting.

When you collect goods to donate or distribute yourself, you may find you cannot do what you had intended.

If you cannot donate or distribute the goods, you can donate them in your local community.

You could donate them to:

refugee charities – find a charity near you on the Scottish Refugee Council website
charity shops – search for a shop near you on the Charity Retail website
organisations who support people leaving prison, homelessness services or domestic abuse services
local clothing banks

Get help finding a local charity from your local Third Sector Interface.

Otherwise, offer them for free on a recycling website or dispose of them at your local recycling centre.

Tell donors why you cannot donate or distribute the goods as you intended.

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