February 2024
If you’ve ever been taken ill at a large event – maybe a music festival, county show or league football match – the chances are you’ve met someone from St John Ambulance (SJA).
These trained volunteers provide first aid cover in all sorts of settings where large numbers of people are expected. From bandaging a wound or immobilising a fracture to dealing with a seizure or stroke, these guys can prevent a day out from turning into a tragedy – and, in many cases, save a life.
SJA also supports the NHS emergency response system by giving help on the front line during major incidents, including weather-related situations. This support often includes the provision of the organisation’s own ambulances and 4×4 vehicles as well as its highly trained first aiders. And some volunteers work as community first responders, attending emergency calls in their home patch and providing life-saving care before NHS paramedics arrive.
SJA is part of The Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem – more briefly The Order of St John – an international charity that delivers first aid, healthcare and support in 44 countries, mostly in the Commonwealth. Every year the order trains around 2 million people worldwide in first aid, and its volunteers treat more than 1.2 million patients.
These volunteers – about 200,000 across the world – are the beating heart of the organisation, working in groups in their local communities to provide first aid cover and workplace training. The global number includes more than 44,000 volunteers in the UK, of whom half are under 30 and more than a quarter are under 18.
Bridport’s SJA unit is one of seven in Dorset and dates back to the 1930s. It meets on Monday evenings at TS Keppel (the Bridport Sea Cadets’ premises in Boldwood House, 13 West Allington) with sessions for cadets (aged 10–18) from 6 to 7.30pm and adults from 7.30 to 9pm.
Unit manager Caroline Rendell has been an SJA volunteer for 46 years, having joined as a cadet. As an adult she became a first aider, and is now an emergency ambulance crew member. She’s passionate about the organisation – and about making sure it survives and thrives into the future.
“We need volunteers!” she says. “We’d love to have some new members of all ages, but particularly adults to train as first aiders and help with the younger ones. At the moment we have seven adults and five cadets, although one cadet is moving up to the adult section. In the past we’ve also had a Badgers section for 5- to 10-year-olds; with some more adult volunteers we’d be able to start that up again. Helping young people to learn first aid gives them skills for life, and some even go on to a career in medicine.
“St John’s is the best-kept secret in the country, as it doesn’t advertise for volunteers, but we’re very much a family, run by local people, and there’s so much on offer, with a huge range of training courses and chances to help out and get involved. We cover local events like the raft race in West Bay, and local volunteers also help at national events – in recent years we’ve attended the late Queen’s jubilee events and her funeral, as well as King Charles’s coronation last year.”
After a DBS check, new adult volunteers go to a welcome session at Dorchester or Poole before deciding whether they want to train as a first aider or fill another vital role, such as youth helper. Those who go down the first aid route can eventually take courses in radio communication and ambulance driving as well as acquiring all the relevant medical skills.
“The youth is our future,” says Kevin Chappuis, Deputy District Manager, Dorset District. “For one thing, young people are better and quicker at adapting to the new technology we’re using, such as the electronic patient report forms that are replacing paper. First aid is so important – no one should die for lack of it – and even our youngest volunteers, the Badgers, can save a life with the right knowledge. Please think about joining us!”
If you’re interested in becoming a St John Ambulance volunteer, you can email Caroline at caroline.rendell@sja.org.uk or just pop in to TS Keppel on a Monday evening to find out more. There’s no upper age limit for adult volunteers. Prospective cadets (10–18 years) are also very welcome.