St John Ambulance, the leading first aid charity, is looking for enthusiastic and committed people to volunteer as Youth Helpers to work with Cadets (aged 10 to 17) and Badgers (aged 5 to 10) and guide them as they become the next generation of first aiders.

Successful applicants for Youth Team roles begin their volunteering journey as Youth Helpers and with more training and experience have opportunities to progress to Youth Leader positions and deliver first aid duties in the community and at events. Every new Youth Leader or Helper recruited means that another six Badgers or ten Cadets can be enrolled in a local St John unit.

No prior first aid or volunteering experience is needed as all necessary training (such as First Aid and safeguarding) will be provided. Applicants for the Youth Leader and Youth Helper roles must be aged 18 or over and will need to pass an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check. As a volunteer, you'll get lots of development opportunities, and access to exclusive discount sites like Blue Light Card.

Steve Bedford, Project Development Officer at St John Ambulance for the area, said: “We have some great local opportunities to join our friendly team as volunteers working with our young people. We regularly see our young volunteers go on to study healthcare subjects or pursue careers in the healthcare industry and there is a great deal of satisfaction knowing that you have helped these youngsters reach their full potential. We really hope that some enthusiastic and committed local adults will step forward and apply to join the St John family.”

To learn more about the Youth Leader and Youth Helper roles and to apply, please visit www.sja.org.uk/youthteam. For an informal chat about any of the available roles, please contact Steve at steven.bedford@sja.org.uk.

Ian Groves

Note from the editor: my brother and sister-in-law were volunteers with St John Ambulance and they are now a senior paramedic and a nursing sister in an intensive care unit … confirming what Steve Bedford said about joining the St John Ambulance service as a volunteer could lead you to a rewarding medical career.