Danish civil society organizations seek formal role in national preparedness

Six major Danish civil society organizations, including the Red Cross, Beredskabsforbundet, Save the Children (Red Barnet), Danish Refugee Council, Børns Vilkår, and Ældre Sagen, are calling for a formalized role for volunteers within Denmark’s upcoming total preparedness framework. The group proposes that social resilience be treated with the same priority as military security and critical infrastructure protection. Their recommendations include establishing formal legal structures, pre-arranged agreements on tasks and responsibilities, and the creation of a national crisis platform to ensure efficient cooperation between authorities and volunteers during emergencies.

In a related development, Ungdommens Røde Kors (Youth Red Cross) has received 25 million DKK from the Nordea Foundation to strengthen local community engagement and crisis readiness. Over the next five years, the project aims to anchor volunteer communities in 30 Danish cities. The initiative focuses on mobilizing young people for social work, such as tutoring and clubs, while also training them to provide psychological first aid during local or global crises.