ONE of the world's biggest volunteer organisations is appealing for more people to get involved with its work.

This week is Red Cross week and the Wiltshire branch of the organisation is encouraging people to volunteer to take part in some of the important work that goes on behind the scenes.

As well as being on hand to help in disasters, the organisation loans equipment, gives therapeutic care treatments in care homes and hospitals and has its own skin camouflage practitioner who helps people with disfigurements.

Susan Bradbrooke is Wiltshire's skin camouflage expert, and has been involved in nursing in the Red Cross for many years.

Skin camouflage is a service that is open to everyone and helps those with a range of conditions such as vitiligo, scars and birthmarks.

Mrs Bradbrooke said: "My job is to match the colour of their skin using covering creams.

"Once I have the right colour I then have to show the best techniques for applying so people can do it at home themselves."

Last year 129 people in the county made use of the service, which starts with an hour-long session in Mrs Bradbrooke's clinic at Trowbridge hospital once a month.

Mrs Bradbrooke said: "Skin camouflage is not a cure but it transforms people's lives. It gives them confidence and can make them feel brave enough to face the world again."

As part of Red Cross week, the organisation has also announced it will be scaling up its emergency response teams, and aims to put 10,000 volunteers through emergency response training by the end of this year.

Chief Executive of the British Red Cross Sir Nicholas Young said: "We are living, unfortunately, in uncertain times.

"Major floods that used to take place every 100 years are now happening more often in the UK five million people now live daily with the risk of flooding.

"We are also all living under the very real threat of attack. These response teams have never been more vital."

The organisation will also be helping people to help themselves, producing cards that give people 10 pointers on how to plan for, and cope, with an emergency.