Íslandsspil

The Red Cross in Iceland owns 68.75% of Íslandsspil, and it is one of the company’s most important sources of income.

Revenues from Íslandsspil enable the Red Cross to provide emergency assistance during a crisis or disaster and to take part in charity and humanitarian work within Iceland as well as abroad.

The Red Cross is the oldest and most widespread humanitarian organisation in the world, with activities in 190 countries. The Red Cross in Iceland has 20,000 members, who belong to 42 departments throughout the country. The Red Cross volunteers number around 3,000 and work on domestic projects as well as foreign aid.

The Red Cross spends most of its income on domestic humanitarian work each year by:

• Operating a powerful emergency response system for serious events
• Answering more than 15,000 phone calls and web chats on the Red Cross 1717 helpline
• Visiting socially isolated individuals and other interested parties, as home visitors and phone friends, as well as offering visits with dogs
• Assisting hundreds of people of foreign origin to integrate into Icelandic society
• Contributing to harm reduction through the operation of Konukot and Frú Ragnheiður
• Operating three shelters for people with mental health problems
• Supporting a large number of projects abroad
• Purchasing and operating all ambulances in Iceland

Learn more about the work of the Red Cross at http://www.raudikrossinn.is/

Despite the fact that the members of ICE-SAR are all volunteers, the operating expenses are high.

The organisation owns 31.25% in Íslandsspil, and their share of the operating profit of Íslandsspil is important for operations; it is used for the operation of equipment and the training of accident prevention and search and rescue workers.

ICE-SAR is the national association for search and rescue in Iceland. Under the banner of ICE-SAR, there are thousands of volunteers, 93 rescue teams, 33 accident prevention departments and 54 youth departments. The operation aims to prevent accidents and save lives and valuables at sea and on land.

Despite the fact that the members of ICE-SAR are all volunteers, the operating expenses are high. Lifesaving appliances and equipment, as well as training and educating volunteers, costs significant amounts each year. ICE-SAR owns 26.5% in Íslandsspil, and their share of the operating profit of Íslandsspil is very important for operations.

• Around 13,000 members 
• Approximately 4,300 people on call-out lists 
• 1,300–1,600 call outs every year 
• 13 lifeboats and over a hundred smaller boats 
• Rescue school
• Maritime safety and survival training center
• The highlands search and rescue team

For further information about the organisation, see http://www.landsbjorg.is