Frequently Asked Questions

Red v Blue provides a single, unified platform that supports charities across all four emergency services — Police, Fire & Rescue, Ambulance, and NHS. By donating through Red v Blue, your contribution benefits charities covering every service, rather than just one. We also raise additional funds and awareness through the Red v Blue challenge, a unique community competition that brings people together for a good cause. It's one donation, four services, and a lot of fun.

No. Red v Blue does not provide direct support to individuals. We are a grant-giving charity. We raise funds through the Red v Blue challenge and allocate them to selected registered charities that specialise in supporting emergency service personnel and their families. Our partner charities have the expertise, infrastructure, and track record to deliver meaningful help.

Funds are distributed annually. This allows us to pool a full year of fundraising before making allocation decisions, giving us a clear picture of both available funds and where the greatest need lies. It also allows our partner charities to plan effectively with a known annual grant.

Each year, the trustees decide whether to split funds equally between the four partner charities or to weight allocations based on identified need. This decision considers current circumstances, evidence of demand across the services, and guidance from our partner organisations. The goal is always to direct funds where they can make the most difference.

Transparency is a core principle. Each year we publish a full breakdown of our allocations — which charities were selected and how much each received. This information is available on our website and included in our annual return to the Charity Commission for England and Wales. We believe donors have an absolute right to know where their money goes.