The St John First Aid in Schools programme has received funding from the Guernsey Community Foundation for 2023.

The First Aid in Schools programme has operated since 2008 and delivers a flexible syllabus of First Aid training to all year 5,7 & 8 students across the Bailiwick.  Since it began, the scheme has taught life saving skills to thousands of the island’s school children.  St John training officer Lorna Higgins-Bare said it was paramount that the course is available to all schools. “We believe that every young person should have the chance to learn first aid, it should be as much a part of growing up as learning the alphabet,” she said.  “Learning first aid not only provides young people with important lifesaving skills, but it also helps to build self-esteem and confidence.”

The Guernsey Community Foundation provides support to private charitable trusts who want to award grants but lack the resources, such as time or staff, to do so. Foundation chief executive Jim Roberts explained how the St John charity was able to gain the grant. “In this case, St John applied to the foundation’s own grants programme and we approached a private charitable trust that we work with, as we felt that this would fit perfectly with their objectives.”

The grant of £12,000 will go towards the cost of running the First Aid in Schools programme for 2023, which includes buying bandages, equipment and first aid kits.

The First Aid in Schools programme is run by the St John charity and is funded by donations, grants and sponsorship.  Fundraising is already underway for the 2024 programme, which commences in the new school term of September 2023.   Anyone interested in supporting the scheme is encouraged to contact the fundraising team on 01481 727129 or by sending an email here