Become a Volunteer Trainer
We are constantly looking for new volunteer trainers who want to help strengthen our organization’s volunteer activities. As a volunteer trainer, you help others help. You make it possible for Red Cross aid to reach those who need it most.
As a Volunteer Trainer
- You train and onboard new helpers for their roles
- You support volunteers’ skill development through trainings, exercises, and workshops
- If you wish, you can train either online or in person
- You can train in Finnish, Swedish, or English – and possibly in other languages as well
Being a Volunteer Trainer Suits You If You
- Enjoy working with people and have good interpersonal skills
- Know how to guide, motivate, and inspire others
- Are at least 18 years old
- Complete the Red Cross basic course in your area of activity
- Are able to volunteer as a trainer at least 3–4 times a year
- Are committed to the principles and values of the Red Cross
What You Get in This Role
- Ready-made training materials for basic and advanced volunteer courses
- Experience in facilitating learning, training others, and public speaking
- Skills for interacting with people from diverse backgrounds
- The opportunity to participate in continuing education for volunteer trainers
As a trainer, you will specialize in one trainer pathway. You can find introductions to the different trainer pathways further down on this page.
The Trainer Path
- Application and interview for the trainer role
- Upon acceptance: completing the mutual understanding form and creating a study plan
- Common module (independent online study)
- Training in the Red Cross and facilitating learning
- Content module based on the selected trainer pathway
- Successful teaching practice with a tutor/agreed with the district’s sector coordinator
- Becoming a certified trainer
We organize trainer training 1–2 times per year. The training can be completed in approximately 4 months. Read more about the trainer training and upcoming schedules here.
Becoming a Trainer
You can apply for a volunteer trainer role through your local district office. You may contact your local branch or district directly, or explore open trainer positions in Oma Punainen Risti. Together with the district’s training or program coordinator, you will agree on your training path and discuss your future responsibilities in more detail.
You can find contact information for districts and branches here.
Trainer Qualification and Validity
Trainer qualification is achieved by completing all parts of the trainer training, including a teaching demonstration lasting approximately two lessons. The demonstration should be completed as soon as possible after the final part of the training, during a basic course in your chosen trainer pathway.
After completing the training, your trainer qualification is valid for three years from the date of the teaching demonstration or your most recent continuing education. The national continuing education event for trainers, Trainer Days, is held annually on the second-to-last weekend of January.
Certificate and Trainer Card
Trainer qualification is granted by the district’s relevant program or organizational staff member, who also signs the certificate—either alone or together with the district’s training coordinator or executive director. Upon request, you can also receive a ID-style trainer card with a photo from your district.
Trainer Pathways
First aid group trainers support the readiness to help among Red Cross first aid group members. They train volunteers interested in first aid activities through themed evening exercises and training sessions organized by regional branches.
Trainers in psychological support train Red Cross and Voluntary Rescue Service (Vapepa) volunteers, members of the public, and, when needed, company staff. These trainers can also support and coach regional branches and local chapters as experts in psychological support.
You are well-suited for this role if you believe that psychological support should be available to everyone, have an educational background in social or health care, possess work or volunteer experience, and are eager to share your knowledge.
You are especially well-suited for the role of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) trainer in the Red Cross if:
- You have knowledge of international law or field experience related to humanitarian law
- You are interested in the laws of war and current topics in humanitarian law
- You want to share information about the Red Cross's role in conflicts
- You have completed the basic course in humanitarian law yourself
As a trainer, you share knowledge about the rules of war, train participants in the Red Cross's basic IHL courses, organize information sessions for external audiences when needed, and contribute to the evaluation and development of the training content.
Organizational trainers lead basic courses in organizational activities, aimed at volunteers, members, Red Cross staff, and others interested in the work of the Red Cross. They often also contribute to the development of activities in local branches.
Trainers in migration work act as volunteer trainers, educating volunteers who are interested in refugee and migration-related activities. In addition, they support local branches and activity groups in promoting equality and combating racism.
Before becoming trainers, they complete the Supporting Integration module, and it is also recommended that they complete the Diversity in Volunteer Activities module.
Food aid trainers act as volunteer trainers, educating volunteers who are interested in food aid activities. They can also coach local branches in organizing food aid, taking into account the branch’s resources and the needs of the local community.
As a food aid trainer, you deliver the basic food aid course, which covers the following themes:
- The diverse forms of Red Cross food aid
- Ethical guidelines in food aid activities
- Practical aspects of food aid: distribution, hygiene, and safety
- Encountering people in food aid work
- Inclusive food aid practices
Health promotion trainers can specialize in either health point counseling or substance abuse work. They act as volunteer trainers, educating those interested in health promotion and volunteering. All health promotion trainers complete an online orientation in health promotion before starting their training activities.
- When specializing in health point activities, trainers educate, for example, health point volunteers or provide public health-themed sessions.
A background in health care education is required. - When specializing in substance abuse work, trainers deliver Red Cross substance abuse trainings (such as the Early Intervention training, modules, and the Substance Abuse Advisor course) and support local branches or regional offices in implementing substance abuse activities. To participate in content-specific training, completing the Early Intervention training is required.
Preparedness trainers (search, emergency relief, and communications) serve as trainers within the Voluntary Rescue Service (Vapepa). They deliver the basic course in voluntary rescue service and specialize in training one of the core areas: search operations, emergency relief, or communications.
After completing additional training, they may also lead advanced and supplementary training modules, and the most experienced trainers can conduct leadership training at various levels. Vapepa is committed to supporting authorities by providing skilled, trained volunteers for various emergency assignments.
Trainers play a key role in developing volunteer competencies, establishing shared practices, and often serve as the first point of contact for new volunteers entering Vapepa activities.
Communications trainers support local branches in both internal and external communications. They organize trainings such as Basics of Branch Communications and Using Social Media in the Branch for those involved in branch communications and others who are interested.
Friend activity trainers train volunteers who are interested in friend activities. They may lead basic courses, advanced trainings, and other supplementary sessions related to friendship activities.
