Young People aged 10-18 years old can join St. John Ambulance as Cadets. Cadets learn vital lifesaving First Aid skills through schemes like Young Lifesaver, Young Lifesaver Plus and First Aid at Work, and get to put these skills into practice at the many local and national events St. John cover.

There are many opportunities for Cadets to develop with courses to improve leadership and teamwork skills, and build their own self-confidence through teaching their peers.

Unit Leaders and Cadet helpers

Cadet unit leaders are the people responsible for the running of a Cadet unit. They are all volunteers, who give up their time to help young people, and are provided with the appropriate training to fulfil this role.

Cadet units often have Cadet helpers, also known as Cadet NCOs, who are Cadets that have undergone leadership training and assist the leaders with the running of the unit. This could involve helping to train fellow Cadets, taking charge of groups or helping out with planning and management of activities.

Young people aged 5-10 years old can join St. John Ambulance as Badgers. They take part in an active programme – the Badger Course in Absolutely Everything! The programme has been designed so young people have the opportunity to learn important life skills that they might not experience at school, in a fun and safe environment.

The Badger Course in Absolutely Everything consists of 9 different subjects and is delivered through games, making things and working together with others.

Young people tell us that First Aid is the main reason for joining Badgers. Therefore this is an important part of the programme, but Badgers also work towards 8 other areas which are; Caring Badger, Healthy Badger, Communication Badger, Safety Badger, Resourceful Badger, Games Badger, Hobbies Badger and St. John Badger.

Badgers wear a smart, affordable black and white uniform.

Badger Leaders and helpers

Badger Leaders are the adults responsible for running the Badger Sett. They are volunteers who do this in their spare time. They are provided with training to organise appropriate and safe activities for young people.

Badger helpers are young people aged 12-17 who assist our Badger Leaders in running activities at Badger Sett meetings. They are always supervised by adult leaders.

St. John Ambulance has well-respected and comprehensive guidelines on how our leaders should work with young people.

We will also seek your consent for activities that are different from those that happen during a normal unit meeting. For example, if your child is invited to go on a visit, or to attend a camp.

St. John Ambulance has comprehensive insurance cover for all its members and this includes Cadets.

The above extract is curtasy from the UK St. John Ambulance website.

Follow this link to find out more. Young people in St. John Ambulance