St John Ambulance is set to train 12,000 more young Londoners in vital street first aid skills over the next 12 months, thanks to a generous £10,000 donation from the London Freemasons.

The funding will support the expansion of St John Ambulance’s Young Responders programme, which equips young people aged 11 to 25 from underserved communities with the confidence and skills to respond to medical emergencies.

As England’s leading first aid charity, St John Ambulance is committed to creating a world where everyone has access to life-saving knowledge in a health crisis. Through its thriving youth volunteer programme, the charity trains young people between the ages of 5 and 17 to become the next generation of lifesavers. The Young Responders programme specifically focuses on providing young Londoners with the practical skills they need to manage real-life emergencies, such as treating catastrophic bleeds with everyday items like a scarf or school tie.

With the support of the London Freemasons, this initiative will significantly enhance first aid accessibility and preparedness in London’s communities. By empowering young people with these critical skills, St John Ambulance continues its mission to build safer, more resilient neighbourhoods.

Paul Evans, Director of Youth and Education at St John Ambulance, said:

“We are absolutely delighted and very grateful to receive funding from the London Freemasons’ Charity to help us further develop the Young Responders programme in London. This generous support will enable us to reach even more young people, equipping them with vital first aid skills and confidence to make a real difference in their communities. We look forward to expanding our impact and continuing to empower many more young life savers."

Paul King from London Freemasons, said:

“St John Ambulance do a great job at a plethora of events, making a difference when people need help quickly on site when they’re in the midst of some kind of crisis. We are proud to support them in training another 12,000 young responders, growing their reach, and giving those young Londoners transferable skills at a key stage in life.”