If I had my time over again, I would still join St Jon Ambulance

I am here with my Burntwood youth team 2011

Being awarded my Serving Sister 2014 at St John, Chapel London.

SJA Everyday Heroes Volunteer of the Year 2014

Being nominated volunteer of the year was truly amazing that I was chosen to

represent the aims and aspiration of the organisation the evening was electrifying

and the two other finalists within the volunteering section would truly amazing

they both came up and congratulated me and as I was leaving the one young

man came in through his arms around me and gave me the biggest hug and this

moment will last a lifetime.

But One of the proudest moments that I have ever had was when three of my cadets

were coming to a meeting and they stayed and assisted to RTC where they gave first

aid treatments to a gentleman they assisted in getting him onto the air ambulance

helicopter and were given and a commendation by the Staffordshire ambulance

service and were then invited down to London to receive an award. The gentleman

who the three cadets treated came into a service at Chasetown Methodist church to

thank them personally for their bravery and prompt action that saved his life.

In the new year you can make the difference by learning something new.  Being part of

SJA can be so rewarding and for filingl, but remember it takes courage and a steely

determination to commit to this fantastic organisation.

Memorable moments from my time volunteering with St John Ambulance

This is always a difficult question to answer because everything is memorable within St John for me such as covering public first aid events,  entering First aid competitions as a Cadet and also as adult.  Acting as casualty for the Schools first aid competitions and within unit meeting nights.  Taking over the Cadet and Badge unit and building this up. Getting the adult unit restated and building up to nearly a 100 volunteers. Seeing some of the volunteers gain college and or university places and also paid employment.  Going out and giving talks to different groups and organisations about how learning First aid skills can and does make the difference and why it is important for all ages to learn lifesaving skills.

Who has inspired me the most in my role?

Say it with folwers
Burntwood Fellowship entered Burntwood in Bloom competions

The person who has inspired me the most within the organisation's is Margret Coomby I first met Margaret in 1990 when I joined the Sedgley unit.

The first meeting was as if I had known Margret all my life, she was warm and welcoming and introduce me to all her volunteers. I found that Margret had built up the Sedgley unit along with John Kelly to one of the largest volunteer units in the West Midlands.  Whatever Margret asked of every volunteer they were always willing to help her, this shows what a warm kind, generous and hardworking unit manager she was. Margret never got any of her volunteers to undertake any duty that she was not prepared to take herselfe, she was always the first, but always the last to leave a duty.  Every volunteer were given personal challenges to grow within the organisation.  

When I moved back to Burntwood and took on the Burntwood Cadets and Badger unit,  I wanted to run the unit as Margret ran the Sedgley unit that was to be friendly non-clicky and for every volunteer to respect one another and have pride in their own abilities. Thank you Margret for your inspiration and kindness and your very high standers.

Volunteer of the Year 2014

There is always something to strive for in life no matter what life throws at you

What do I find the most challenging aspect of my role?

On our way home

There are two main challenges; one comes from how I have to travel to meetings With all my equipment and my guide dog Flora I look like a manic hiker with my Rucksack and computer bag (I am now fitter and stronger than I have been in Such a long time)

The second challenge is; I have overcome a problem when delivering training by

Asking different volunteers to read from the Powerpoint presentation and I have

found that this keeps everyone alert.

These challenges have made me a much stronger person and prepared to have to have a go and not be afraid to ask for help.  I feel that volunteering in whatever form is a way of giving something back to the community but it has strengthened my own belief that I still have a lot to offer and I can do anything I put my mind to.

What do I enjoy about my role within St John Ambulance

SJA Fellowship Coffee morning Fund raising event

Being part of the SJA training team and that my role also helps volunteers develop within the organisation and gives them the opportunity to take on new roles within the organisation.  Also has part of this high level of training  is life changing.  The  first aid skills can be used at home, work or during leisure activities.  

The role of District Training Officer always with my guide dog Flora by my side,

Carol with her faithful and trusted guide dog 

Flora who is always on duty

The role of DTO has given me the opportunity to oversee all the units within my area to maintain standards and training for all volunteers. Alongside DTO  I have also continued to be a trainer, this in itself means that I can still take an active role within the units and that other volunteers can see that having any disability is not a barrier within the organisation.

Since taking on the role of the DTO has given me a much deeper involvement within the educational training programme.  I now have to be more involved at district and regional meetings. I link between the unit managers, area managers and the regional training team. The role of the DTO has given me the opportunity to oversee all the training requirements within my area to maintain training for all volunteers of all ages.

On taking on the DTO role it has kept me abreast of all new changes within the training programme and has not in any way stopped me from continuing as a trainer delivering a variety of modules to all age groups within the organisation. I would recommend taking on any new challenge whether it be in the educational team or providing first aid cover. I have also been invited onto the newly formed Learning forum, NHQ London, so watch this space.

Here are just a few reasons why I remain involved with St John Ambulance along with my guide dog Flora

Carol with Tess Daly for Volunteer of the Year, SJA

Since joining St John Ambulance in 1968 as a Cadet, I have provided hundreds of hours of first aid cover enter first aid and nursing competitions, helping out with school competitions and, having, taken over a struggling Badger and Cadet unit in 2000, relaunched Burntwood’s adult unit in 2008, building the total unit up to nearly 100 volunteers at its peak.

Despite suffering a serious loss of vision in early 2012, which means I now requires the assistance of my guide dog, Flora, and having to change my role, I have continued in my effort to ensure that more people know first aid. I have since taken on the role of District Training Officer (DTO) for the County of Staffordshire, and continue as a trainer, assists with the youth when requested and also a member of the Tamworth SJA Fellowship branch.

Back in 2012 my role as unit manager due to the circumstances had to change and I offered to become a DTO in Staffordshire.

About Carol and Flora

I am severely visually impaired (blind) and require the assistance of my guide dog or other mobility aid in order to make journeys independently. I have currently only 20% vision, to which I lost the greater part of my sight in early 2012. 

Despite being registered visually impaired (VIP) I still maintain and run my own business. In my spare time I undertake voluntary work for St John Ambulance in the role of District Training Officer in Staffordshire. I also go out to local schools and groups to give talks on Guide Dogs to help raise awareness for the organisation. 

In 2013 I wanted a challenge so I created along with my husband and daughter a self-help group, Burntwood Insight Group, to help other people in the local area with visual impairment. We have grown in size with a variety of ages and eye conditions to come together once a month to have a cup of tea and socialise. 

Whilst all of this had happened I received my first guide dog, Flora, following my assessment through Guide Dogs. Flora has given me such freedom and independence to carry on my everyday life from travelling down to London to even popping to the local supermarket. However, along this eventual journey I continually share with Flora the road of ups and downs has set different challenges. 

Through this blog I wish to share my journey with you all through the eyes of Flora and I.