You are in: cinema | article

Why it was needed

For first aid in the community, for events to go ahead under the health and safety act, to give another social aspect of volunteering!

What's being done

We train members up to go out on duty to events such as going to pop concerts such as T4 events, the Grand Prix at Silverstone, Premiership football and rugby matches as well as having plenty of social events! and its all good for the CV as it gives you nationally reconised qualifications such as the First Aid At Work courses right up to being fully qualified on an ambulance!

How it started

I (Greg Manning) set up the Northampton Branch of St John Ambulance LINKS. I did this firstly using my experinces within St John at another division where i was Corporal. I therefore felt that i could set up the unit knowing the ins and outs of the organisation.

I then started off the unit with funding from St John which was only £250! (small considering a jacket for duty is £80 and one kit bag £49.50!). I initially only had 4 members, which helped with the initiation of the unit but soon left as they had placements as part of their course and could not comit any further. The secrets to establishing the unit was branding and getting your face out there. I promoted the uniform image as 'sexy' and the events like going to concerts and Premiership football matches for free. This hooked people into volunteering and then found out more benifits later! (couldnt believe i got one member to join with the only reason of 'the uniform is sexy' !

I started off with only one other member which was trained for duty so we did every duty for about a month whilst i trained other members gatyhered from the volunteers fair and the Heart Start course I arranged for National Student Volunteering week. This brought in the most committed members and ones which later filled a committee of six which is still going strong.

More

Its a fantastic experience and one which is fantastic for the CV no matter what course your on! PLUS the units are all over the country at most Universites!