St John Ambulance Staffordshire - Points of Lights

Carol Trigg, from Staffordshire, has been a member of ‘St John Ambulance’ for nearly 50 years, delivering first aid in the community and running large teams of volunteers.

After deterioration in her vision in 2012, she had moved from her role as a unit manager to become a training specialist. She now oversees the volunteer units in South Staffordshire and helps maintain standards and training for all volunteers. Since losing her sight, Carol set up a self-help group in her local area for other visually impaired people and their carers. The meetings are held monthly in the local church, and the programme includes speakers, information sharing and varied activities.

In a personal letter to Carol, Prime Minister Theresa May said:

“Your dedication to supporting ‘St John Ambulance’ for nearly 50 years has been truly remarkable, and has inspired people from across Staffordshire to volunteer for the charity and provide vital first aid cover. You should feel very
proud of the way you are sharing your own experiences of sight loss to offer specialist support to individuals with visual impairments, and those who care for them.”

Carol said:

“It was a total surprise, out of the blue, to be informed that I had been recommended for the Points of Light award for my voluntary work with ‘St John Ambulance’. Like many others, I have been a member of St John since joining as a cadet, in my case at age 11, and I have gained many skills from participation in the organisation as a volunteer at different levels and in different roles, which have helped me in my working and social life. It is humbling to be selected from among many worthy volunteer colleagues. I continue to be involved as a trainer and have the privilege therefore of meeting young people who are starting on their St John journey.”

Hope you are keeping up with this Cannock Taxi saga?

Flora needs your help to search for the truth

Having returned home, I contacted Guide Dogs for advice and subsequently the local council, Cannock Chase, who licence the taxis on the rank. I then had a number of contacts and meetings with the licensing officers and received indications that they were not happy with the first driver’s effective refusal to carry me with their guide dog. I made statements at their request and I understand that the second driver also made a statement supporting me. I was informed that the first driver, who was denying any knowledge of the incident, was being taken to court by the Council and I was notified of an initial court date. However, the Council then seemed to change their mind and decided not to pursue this. I am told that this decision was taken on legal advice because a successful conviction was not guaranteed and because the Council had not taken a case like this to Court before. 

TO BE CONTINUED!

Carol & Flora denied a Taxi CannockTaxi (Staffordshire England)

I am severely visually impaired and require the assistance of my guide dog Floraor other mobility aid in order to make journeys independently. Through this blog, I would be grateful if I could share my experience twelve months ago and its consequence, particularly to warn other guide dog users.

On 19^th December 2014 , I had been in Cannock (Staffordshire England) and needed to get  home to Burntwood after work. I approached the Cannock taxi rank from High Green with my guide dog and spoke to the driver of the first available  taxi. I asked if I could have a taxi and the driver informed me that he was waiting for a pre booked fare and was therefore unable to take me. I was surprised that he said this as he was on the rank.

Flora Dressed for Work

TO BE CONTINUED!!

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

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.