St John Ambulance Cymru collaborates with Children’s Commissioner for Wales on youth empowerment/

St John Ambulance Cymru Cadets can now learn more about youth empowerment thanks to a collaboration between the charity and the Children’s Commissioner for Wales.

The Children’s Commissioner for Wales, Rocio Cifuentes recently visited the charity’s building in Pontarddulais and took part activities regarding children’s rights with the local group of Cadets – St John Ambulance Cymru volunteers who are aged 11-17.

The new Youth Empowerment theme is just one of the subject areas of the newly updated Grand Prior programme that St John Ambulance Cymru Cadets can choose to complete to achieve their Grand Prior Award, which is the highest accolade a Cadet can receive.

Cadets must complete a project based in their community along with modules in 12 different subjects to achieve the Grand Prior Award, which involves developing skills in areas such as leadership and communication, as well as first aid.

The Prior for Wales, Paul Griffiths and Angela Overment, the charity’s Director of People, Culture and Experience, joined staff and volunteers, as well as representatives from the Commissioner’s Office to hear more about the work that had gone into producing the new theme.

Prior for Wales, Paul Griffiths OBE KStJ JP DL said: “It was an honour to welcome the Children’s Commissioner for Wales to meet our dedicated volunteers in Pontarddulais and to let our fantastic Cadets show some of the valuable work they do to learn new skills and valuable life lessons.

“Our ongoing commitment to increasing youth empowerment is illustrated by the launch of our new ‘Llais’ Youth Advisory Panel, which consists of ambassadors aged under 25, who represent the children and young people who both volunteer for St John Ambulance Cymru as well as those we serve in the wider community.”

The Children’s Commissioner for Wales, Rocio Cifuentes MBE, said: “It was a pleasure to meet the young people and volunteers at St John Ambulance Cymru and to hear about the ways they are being supported to learn about and access their rights.

“I was particularly pleased to hear a commitment to elevating children’s voices in their work through the establishment of a new youth advisory panel. Giving children meaningful and regular opportunities to influence decision-making is a vital aspect of a children’s rights approach.”

To find out more about St John Ambulance Cymru’s opportunities for young people, which range from Badgers (5-11 years old), Cadets (11-17), Young Adults (16-25) and University students, please visit www.sjacymru.org.uk/young-people.