Aberystwyth University students get awarded for their commitment to volunteering with St John Ambulance Cymru

Two St John Ambulance Cymru student volunteers have been awarded by Aberystwyth University Student Union for their dedication to volunteering. Andrine Vanberg and Natalie Kraus were awarded with University Colours for showing continued commitment to volunteering with the St John Ambulance Cymru’s LINKS society.

Andrine has been a member of St John Ambulance Cymru since 2019 and Natalie since 2021. The pair have given up time to volunteer at events in the area, keeping other students and members of the community safe.

Aberystwyth students can nominate individuals for the Society Awards, and nominations are judged by a panel at the university’s student union. 15 individuals won the University Colours for making an exceptional contribution to their society, including Andrine and Natalie.

Natalie said “I feel honoured to win this award during the final year of my degree here in Aberystwyth. I joined St John Ambulance Cymru in 2021 after moving from Germany to the UK and was elected as secretary of the Aberystwyth LINKS in 2022. Coming to a new country, St John Ambulance Cymru gave me the opportunity to make lasting friendships with like-minded people whilst allowing me to develop my first aid skills and gain hands-on experience at events.”

“I am grateful for the opportunities, friendships, and experiences I have gained through volunteering with St John Ambulance Cymru and the great impact it will have on my journey towards pursuing a career in the medical field” she says.

Andrine was awarded with University Colours, along with an additional Student Volunteer of the Year award. This is awarded to an individual who shows a real commitment to volunteering and acts as a positive role model for other student volunteers at the university.

“Volunteering with St John Ambulance Cymru has been an amazing experience” she commented.  “The help from everyone around me, including the other committee members, divisional members and everyone else in county has made my job the best it can be and I’m so grateful for that! St John Ambulance Cymru has given me friends for life and I look forward to every event.”

“I’m so grateful for the nominations and the opportunity to win these awards. It makes me feel proud and that my hard work is being noticed” Andrine commented.

If you are a student at Bangor, Aberystwyth, Swansea of Cardiff Universities then you too can volunteer with St John Ambulance Cymru. Joining a LINKS society will not only boost your employability (as volunteering gives you fantastic work experience), but you will also get to attend exciting events in your area, helping to keep your community safe.

You can find out more about St John Ambulance Cymru’s LINKS societies here: www.sjacymru.org.uk/en/page/links.