Bertie to help raise first-aid awareness in Shropshire
St John Ambulance’s mascot Bertie Badger is hitting the road and heading for Shropshire this week.
Along with a team of human volunteers, Bertie is touring the country during the school holidays, raising awareness of St John’s work, teaching first aid skills and finding new recruits.
The charity will be in Telford’s Southwater Square from 9.30am to 4.30pm on Thursday.
St John Ambulance is currently expanding its youth team with rewarding opportunities for adult volunteers.
Youth development officer Carolyn Bowers said: “By joining our youth team, you’ll be helping create a safe, inclusive, open environment where young people can learn important life skills, including first aid.
“It’s a team that empowers children and teenagers to care for others in their communities, enjoy a wide variety of new experiences, make new friends and reach their full potential.”
Additional youth leaders will create more places in the organisation’s Badger and Cadet groups for volunteers aged seven to 10, and 11 to 17, respectively.
People can find out more about opportunities for volunteering with young people at St John Ambulance’s, including details of how to apply for a role at sja.org.uk/youthroles
The charity’s expansion of its work with young people across England is thanks to a £560,000 grant from the Government’s Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) distributed via the Youth United Foundation (YUF).
St John Ambulance’s director of youth and volunteering, Mark Farmer said: “We’re delighted to be able to make this significant investment in the future of our charity. Many of the young people we work with progress to voluntary roles with St John Ambulance as adults, or find work as key members of vital health and care teams up and down the country, including the NHS. In every case these amazing young people make a real difference to the communities they serve.”
