Luke is the national cadet of the year for St Johns Ambulance
He won title at a special event held at Sedgebrook Hall
A TEENAGER from Hinckley has been named a St John Ambulance’s National Cadet of the Year in an annual competition.
Luke Stevenson,16, is an experienced first aider, who when he was just 13 helped fellow cadets and adults first aiders to treat a woman who had had a seizure.
He said: “This is a really big honour, which gives me an opportunity to serve an organisation that has given me so much. It allows me to give something back to St John.”
He was chosen for the title from 34 young people at a national event at Sedgebrook Hall in Northamptonshire,.
Luke is a sergeant at the Hinckley unit and leads sessions and acts as a mentor and coordinates the other cadets in their team.
He is currently working towards his grant prior award, the highest qualification available to a St John cadet, and he has already passed 20 of the 24 subjects required.
The selfless teen is studying for his GCSEs at Redmoor Academy, where he is part of the school council and has been house captain and is now student president.
He acts as an ambassador for the school at many events and also provides liaison between the staff and students on various subjects.
Ann Cable, chief commissioner at St John’s Ambulance, said: “Luke is a worthy winner. As well as being positive and passionate about our charity and serving the community, he is easy to talk to and has a great sense of humour.
“He’ll be a fabulous ambassador for St John Ambulance.”
Luke has been a member of a community theatre group for three years, performing in works with professional actors and other pieces commissioned by international charities.
He is now public relations officer for the group, managing communications with the local community and taking care of social media.
The talented youth has also passed his Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award and a Bronze Arts Award which, between them, involved more than 190 additional volunteering hours.
Luke and his fellow cadets of the year will now represent St John Ambulance at ceremonial occasions throughout 2020, including the St John’s Day event at St Paul’s Cathedral in the summer.
St John’s chief executive, Martin Houghton-Brown, said: “Each of the cadets demonstrated how being a member of the St John family has helped them gain confidence, plus the courage to act in times of crisis.
“I am proud of them all and look forward to working with them.”
The charity has plans to improve, extend and invest in its offering to 7- to 25-year-olds via its badger (7 to 10) and cadet (11 to 17) programmes and university groups, plus new projects over the next three years.
For more information on the charity, including how to make a donation and volunteering opportunities, visit the St John Ambulance website.