A ‘Young Responders’ programme is being expanded by the voluntary St John Ambulance organisation to give 12,000 youngsters aged 11 to 25 the skills and confidence to handle medical emergencies.
The programme is being funded by a £10,000 donation from the London Freemasons.
“We are training more young life savers,” St John Ambulance youth education director Paul Evans explained. “The Freemasons’ support means we can give more young people the skills and confidence to make a real difference in the community.”
The charity trains youngsters from the age of five to become the next generation of lifesavers, teaching practical skills for emergencies such as bleeding by using everyday items like a scarf or school tie.
St John’s attends events like sports matches and concerts where people in crisis may need help quickly on site.
The charity has a heritage of providing first aid since 1885, based on principles going back to 11th century Jerusalem, when the first Knights of St John set up a free hospital for pilgrims. Their uniform today still displays the eight-pointed cross worn by those first Knights of St John.
