Black and white image of three people standing in front of a striped tent. On the tent is a sign that reads Information Bureau and Recruiting Centre. The person on the left is a nurse in uniform, wearing a white pinafore over a dress and a white headscarft. The person is the centre is a young boy in a Cadet uniform of shorts and shirt. The person on the right is a man in a black suit and hat. He is carrying a communication device on his back.

Joining

Young people aged 10–17 can join St John Ambulance Cadets to meet new people and learn life-saving skills. Whilst their reasons for joining vary, many are encouraged to volunteer by their friends and family.

Whilst Cadets were officially inaugurated into the St John Ambulance Brigade in 1922, it wasn’t until the 1930s that this new youth wing of the organisation really took off. As war became increasingly likely, many young people wanted, and were encouraged, to support one of the auxiliary organisations where they could learn a new skill and usefully support the war effort. Even today, many of the charity’s young volunteers cite their reason for joining as being inspired by a great grandparent who served their communities during this period. The desire to learn life-saving skills and make new friends remains compelling in the twenty-first century and there are now around 10,000 St John Ambulance volunteers under the age of 18.

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