The IFRC Psychosocial Centre has launched “Caring for Volunteers, a Psychosocial Support Toolkit,” which will help National Societies not only prepare volunteers but also support them during and after disasters, conflicts and other dramatic events.

The toolkit contains practical tools for preparing for and handling crises, as well as for peer support and communication. In addition, there is a chapter on how to monitor and evaluate volunteers’ efforts. Some of the tools can be printed out for managers in the field and for volunteers.

The toolkit includes quotes from volunteers around the world, and their experiences reflect what has worked and what can be improved.

The toolkit is accessible for download in English from the Psychosocial Support to Volunteers group on the MHPSS Network, or from http://www.ifrc.org/psychosocial, or can be ordered in hard copy from the IFRC Psychosocial Centre. It will soon be available in Arabic, French, Russian and Spanish as well.