Ask Me campaign

2022 is a very significant year in the long life saving history of St John.

Not only are we preparing in communities across the country to support the celebrations of the Platinum Jubilee of Her Majesty the Queen, the Sovereign Head of the Order of St John since her accession to the throne, we are also celebrating a remarkable milestone for our young volunteers with the Centenary of our Cadets.

Since 1922, young people have, through St John, learned and applied their first aid skills to save lives and support their communities.

We regularly hear of volunteers under the age of 18 who have successfully used their first aid knowledge in often difficult situations and their dedication and compassion is a daily inspiration.

I would like to pass on my sincere personal thanks through your paper to all of our volunteers and staff, and especially our young volunteers, the next generation of first aiders, wishing them a very successful Centenary year.

The actions of all will be celebrated during National Volunteers’ Week (June 1-7) and Thank You Day on June 5, as well as at our annual St John’s Day celebrations on June 25 where we look forward to welcoming around 2,000 St John people to St Paul’s Cathedral.

I hope that our work highlighting the skills, dedication and compassion of our volunteers around the country through our Ask Me campaign (see www.sja.org.uk) will keep St John in the forefront of your readers’ minds and encourage more to get involved with St John.

You could do so by volunteering, by taking a first aid course or by supporting our activities with a donation to our organisation.

Michael Messinger Chancellor of the Priory of England and the Islands of the Order of St John, c/o St John Ambulance, St John's Lane, London