Volunteer with REACT
Thank you for your interest in joining REACT Disaster Response as a Responder. Due to an incredible response from volunteers, we’re taking a temporary pause in new applications while focusing on training and supporting our existing Responders.
This will ensure that every volunteer has the best possible experience and is fully prepared for deployment. We anticipate reopening recruitment in June 2025 with a more targeted, regionally focused approach. In the meantime, you can:
Stay informed – Subscribe to our newsletter to be the first to hear when recruitment reopens.
Support us in other ways – Explore other ways to help, such as fundraising or spreading the word about REACT’s work on social media.
Check back soon – We’re excited to welcome new volunteers in the future and will update this page with more information about future opportunities.
Thank you for your patience and support. Together, we’re building a stronger, more capable community of Responders.
You can find out more about what it takes to become a REACT Responder below.
How do I become a REACT Responder?
Before you can deploy as a Responder, you must complete REACT's intensive training programme. Due to an incredible response, recruitment of new volunteers is currently paused. We anticipate reopening recruitment in the summer and if your application is successful, you will need to complete the following steps:
- Register on our dedicated Volunteer Portal and complete the online Foundation Course. This course takes 2 – 3 hours to complete and is packed with information about REACT, what it takes to be a humanitarian and what response work involves. You will also learn about everything that's required to be a Responder.
- Book a place on an online Assessment Centre, where you will meet some members of the REACT team.
- Take part in an online interview with your REACT Regional Leader. Our Regional Leaders are responsible for keeping volunteers informed and up to date with volunteering opportunities and will be your main point of contact as you progress in your journey with REACT.
- Join a 3-day intensive UK Operations training weekend, where volunteers camp, learn and practice new skills that are essential in humanitarian response. If you successfully complete the training, you will receive your official REACT Responder t-shirt and be able to deploy in the UK as a REACT Responder.
Once you have achieved UK Responder status, you will be able to explore opportunities to do additional training to become an International Responder.
Still not sure if it's for you? Answer these 10 questions and find out.
"I’ve been surprised by the standard of training and how well run it is, and just how slick everything's been. I definitely recommend it, especially for those with a veteran background. You bring in a diverse set of skills that could really help other people in the worst times."
Ollie, 35 - Armed Forces Veteran and Firefighter
What do REACT Responders do?
As a Responder, you will work with your team and operational partners to do whatever it takes to meet the urgent needs of people affected by crises. It can be a physically demanding and emotionally challenging role, and tasks depend on the changing needs of an evolving and often complex situation. Our specialist training means that you will have the skills and experience to meet almost any need, anywhere.
Here are some examples of tasks you might undertake in our UK response work:
- Assisting in flooded areas
- Welfare checks following storm-related power outages
- Helping to support the NHS during periods of unusual pressure
- Sorting and distributing aid
- Evacuating at-risk residents
Here are some examples of tasks you might undertake in our international response work:
- Managing logistics
- Coordinating volunteers
- Preparing and distributing food packs
- Sourcing and constructing shelter
- Building emergency latrines
- Sorting and distributing aid
Through our intensive training, we ensure that Responders are agile, positive and skilled in several ways to quickly assess situations and take action to ensure people receive the help they need. We often work closely with other humanitarian organisations to achieve this.
Still interested in becoming a REACT Responder? Answer these 10 questions to find out if you have what it takes.
I'm not an army veteran or from the emergency services; Can I be a Responder?
Yes! We encourage people from all walks of life to apply. Many of our Responders are veterans or people who work in the emergency services because their existing skills and values align with those of a Responder. But our specialist training ensures that whatever your background or experience, you will have everything you need and more to help people in need. Your unique set of skills and experiences are extremely valuable to the team. As long as you share our values and complete the training, you can be a REACT Responder.
Still interested in becoming a REACT Responder? Answer these 10 questions to find out if you have what it takes.
I want to apply to be a REACT Responder. What do I do next?
If you have decided you have what it takes to be a REACT Responder, the first step is to register on our Volunteer Portal when applications open later in the year and complete the online Foundation Course. This will take 2 to 3 hours to complete and is packed with information about who we are and what our work involves.
Until applications reopen, the best thing to do is to stay informed. Subscribe to our newsletter to get the latest REACT news straight to your inbox and be the first to hear when recruitment reopens.