St John Ambulance Cymru has celebrated a major milestone as three volunteers from Aberystwyth University become the first in Wales to qualify as Event Responders, setting the standard for the charity’s future-ready clinical workforce.
Charlotte Johnson, Poppy Willis and Harry Marsh are part of the first wave of volunteers to complete the new Event Responder skill level, a role introduced to ensure the organisation meets updated national guidance and continues to deliver the highest standards of care at events across Wales. The achievement marks months of additional training, assessments and determination.
For Charlotte, who has been part of the St John family since the age of five, the new qualification represents both personal growth and professional pride. She explained in an interview for the official St John Ambulance Cymru podcast, Just in Case: Stories from St John:
“I joined St John as a Badger because I decided when I was four that I wanted to be a doctor,”
“I don’t know really what made me decide that. My family put me into St John as a Badger to learn first aid and everything, and I just really enjoyed it.”
After progressing through Badgers and Cadets, earning her Super Badger Award and Grand Prior Award, Charlotte rejoined while studying at university in 2023. When the opportunity to become an Event Responder arose, she knew she wanted to take it on. She said:
“It was a really proud moment getting those role bars knowing that we’re the first ones in Wales to have that and to do it. It’s also quite daunting because currently, we are the first of a number of members working hard to complete this programme by the 1st March.”
The new qualification requires volunteers to expand their clinical knowledge, complete specialist modules and pass a comprehensive assessment.
For Harry, who joined just over a year ago, the leap forward was significant. He explained:
"There were a lot of new skills to learn to get this new role, so, I’m just excited to have that new knowledge, really.”
He acknowledges that change can feel daunting, especially for those already operating at a high level. Harry added:
“It’s interesting, especially when there are others who maybe are just starting or have been in a while, to have such a wide scope.
"It’s daunting. I’ve already had some friends from other divisions asking what the assessment was like and how scary it was. I’ve just tried to be honest. It’s daunting, and it’s all new. It’s really just a case of giving it a go.”
The Event Responder role has been introduced in response to updated national guidance and is designed to enhance clinical capability across duties. Poppy believes the impact on patient care will be significant, saying:
“I think it’s going to improve the care that we can provide massively. Everyone on duty is going to have a higher skill level and be able to do more things to treat patients and have more knowledge surrounding that. And that can only be a good thing.”
One of the most valuable elements of the programme for the trio was its stronger emphasis on mental health and safeguarding. Charlotte reflected:
“It was good that there was more emphasis put on mental health awareness and risk management. To have proper training led by mental health professionals on what to do if you come across a patient with mental health needs, which more and more often we are, I think that was a really good thing and really good for the organisation.”
Poppy highlighted the programme’s broad scope. She said:
“The programme is so varied, with so many different things, it’s always going to be helpful no matter what type of patient you’re treating. We did a ten-second triage, major incident simulation and violence and aggression training. It’s good to know you have those skills if you ever come across things like that.”
For all three, qualifying as Event Responders is about more than a new badge. Charlotte said:
“St John Ambulance Cymru is the first aid charity for Wales. To be the first ones in Wales to hold this current skill level and be able to go on duties and help people as an Event Responder is a huge honour.”
Poppy described the achievement simply:
“It feels really good to have done it.”
And for Harry, it is about continuing to serve, adding:
“Being able to continue to do the thing that I love outside of work, that’s what it means. Getting that level that allows me to keep being on duty and keep doing what we’re doing is key.”
St John Ambulance Cymru provides lifesaving support at events across Wales and delivers first aid training to people of all ages. To get involved, book training, or find out more visit www.sjacymru.org.uk.
Just in Case: Stories from St John is available on all major podcast platforms, including Spotify and Apple Podcasts, with new episodes set to release every month.
Click the links to listen on Apple Podcasts or to listen on Spotify.
Myfyrwyr sy’n gwirfoddoli i St John Ambulance Cymru yn creu hanes fel yr Ymatebwyr Digwyddiadau cyntaf yng Nghymru
Mae St John Ambulance Cymru wedi dathlu carreg filltir bwysig wrth i dri gwirfoddolwr o Brifysgol Aberystwyth ddod y cyntaf yng Nghymru i gymhwyso fel Ymatebwyr Digwyddiadau, gan osod y safon ar gyfer gweithlu clinigol parod yr elusen ar gyfer y dyfodol.
Mae Charlotte Johnson, Poppy Willis a Harry Marsh yn rhan o'r don gyntaf o wirfoddolwyr i gwblhau'r lefel sgiliau Ymatebydd Digwyddiadau newydd, rôl a gyflwynwyd i sicrhau bod y sefydliad yn bodloni'r canllawiau cenedlaethol diweddaraf, ac yn parhau i ddarparu'r safonau gofal uchaf mewn digwyddiadau ledled Cymru. Mae'r cyflawniad yn nodi misoedd o hyfforddiant, asesiadau ac ymdrech ychwanegol.
I Charlotte, sydd wedi bod yn rhan o deulu St John ers pump oed, mae'r cymhwyster newydd yn cynrychioli twf personol a balchder proffesiynol. Eglurodd mewn cyfweliad ar gyfer podlediad swyddogol St John Ambulance Cymru, Just in Case:
“Ymunais â St John fel Mochyn Daear oherwydd penderfynais pan oeddwn yn bedair oed fy mod eisiau bod yn feddyg,” Stories from St John."
“Dydw i ddim yn gwybod beth wnaeth i mi benderfynu hynny mewn gwirionedd. Rhoddodd fy nheulu fi i mewn i St John fel Mochyn Daear i ddysgu cymorth cyntaf a phopeth, ac fe wnes i fwynhau hynny’n fawr iawn.”
Ar ôl symud ymlaen trwy Foch Daear a Chadetiaid, gan ennill ei Gwobr Bathodyn Uwch a Gwobr y Prif Brior, ailymunodd Charlotte wrth astudio yn y brifysgol yn 2023. Pan gododd y cyfle i ddod yn Ymatebydd Digwyddiadau, roedd hi'n gwybod ei bod hi eisiau ei rhoi gynnig arni. Meddai:
“Roedd yn foment falch iawn cael y bariau rôl newydd. Gwybod mai ni yw’r rhai cyntaf yng Nghymru i dderbyn nhw. Mae hefyd yn eithaf brawychus oherwydd ar hyn o bryd, ni yw’r cyntaf o nifer o aelodau sy’n gweithio’n galed i gwblhau’r rhaglen hon erbyn 1af Mawrth.”
Mae'r cymhwyster newydd yn ei gwneud yn ofynnol i wirfoddolwyr ehangu eu gwybodaeth glinigol, cwblhau modiwlau arbenigol a phasio asesiad cynhwysfawr.
I Harry, a ymunodd ychydig dros flwyddyn yn ôl, roedd y naid ymlaen yn arwyddocaol. Eglurodd:
“Roedd llawer o sgiliau newydd i’w dysgu i gael y rôl newydd hon,” eglurodd. “Felly, rwy’n gyffrous iawn i gael y wybodaeth newydd honno, mewn gwirionedd.”
Mae’n cydnabod y gall newid deimlo’n frawychus, yn enwedig i’r rhai sydd eisoes yn gweithredu ar lefel uchel. Ychwanegodd:
“Mae’n ddiddorol, yn enwedig pan fo eraill sydd efallai newydd ddechrau neu sydd wedi bod ers tro, i gael cwmpas mor eang. Mae’n frawychus.
“Mae rhai ffrindiau o adrannau eraill eisoes wedi gofyn sut beth oedd yr asesiad a pha mor frawychus oedd o. Rydw i wedi ceisio bod yn onest. Mae’n frawychus, ac mae’n newydd i gyd. Mae’n achos o roi cynnig arni mewn gwirionedd.”
Cyflwynwyd rôl yr Ymatebydd Digwyddiadau mewn ymateb i ddiweddariad i ganllawiau cenedlaethol ac mae wedi'i chynllunio i wella gallu clinigol ar draws dyletswyddau. Mae Poppy yn credu y bydd yr effaith ar ofal cleifion yn sylweddol, gan ddweud:
“Rwy'n credu y bydd yn gwella'r gofal y gallwn ei ddarparu'n aruthrol. Bydd gan bawb ar ddyletswydd lefel sgiliau uwch a byddant yn gallu gwneud mwy o bethau i drin cleifion a chael mwy o wybodaeth am hynny. A dim ond peth da all hynny fod.”
Un o elfennau mwyaf gwerthfawr y rhaglen i'r triawd oedd ei phwyslais cryfach ar iechyd meddwl a diogelu. Myfyriodd Charlotte:
“Roedd yn dda bod mwy o bwyslais wedi'i roi ar ymwybyddiaeth o iechyd meddwl a rheoli risg. I gael hyfforddiant priodol dan arweiniad gweithwyr iechyd meddwl proffesiynol ar beth i'w wneud os byddwch chi'n dod ar draws claf ag anghenion iechyd meddwl, sy'n digwydd yn fwy aml, rwy'n credu bod hynny'n beth da iawn, ac yn dda iawn i'r sefydliad.”
Tynnodd Poppy sylw at gwmpas eang y rhaglen. Meddai:
“Mae’r rhaglen mor amrywiol, gyda chymaint o bethau gwahanol, mae bob amser yn mynd i fod yn ddefnyddiol ni waeth pa fath o glaf rydych chi’n ei drin. Gwnaethom ni hyfforddiant brysbennu deg eiliad, efelychu digwyddiadau mawr a hyfforddiant trais ac ymddygiad ymosodol. Mae’n dda gwybod bod gennych chi’r sgiliau hynny os byddwch chi byth yn dod ar draws pethau fel ‘na.”
I'r tri, mae cymhwyso fel Ymatebwyr Digwyddiadau yn fwy na bathodyn newydd. Meddai Charlotte:
“Mae'n anrhydedd enfawr. St John Ambulance Cymru yw elusen cymorth cyntaf Cymru. Mae bod y cyntaf yng Nghymru i ddal y lefel sgiliau cyfredol hon, a gallu mynd ar ddyletswyddau a helpu pobl fel Ymatebwr Digwyddiadau yn anrhydedd enfawr.”
Disgrifiodd Poppy y cyflawniad yn syml.
“Mae’n teimlo’n wirioneddol dda fy mod wedi’i wneud.”
Ac i Harry, mae'n ymwneud â pharhau i wasanaethu. Meddai:
“Gallu parhau i wneud y peth rwy'n ei garu y tu allan i'r gwaith, dyna beth mae'n ei olygu. Mae cyrraedd y lefel honno sy'n caniatáu i mi barhau i fod ar ddyletswydd a pharhau i wneud yr hyn rydyn ni'n ei wneud yn allweddol.”
Mae St John Ambulance Cymru yn darparu cymorth achub bywyd mewn digwyddiadau ledled Cymru ac yn cyflwyno hyfforddiant cymorth cyntaf i bobl o bob oed. I gymryd rhan, archebu hyfforddiant, neu am ragor o wybodaeth, ewch i www.sjacymru.org.uk.
Mae Just in Case: Stories from St John ar gael ar bob prif blatfform podlediadau, gan gynnwys Spotify ac Apple Podcasts, gyda phenodau newydd yn cael eu rhyddhau bob mis.
Cliciwch y dolennau i wrando ar Apple Podcasts neu i wrando ar Spotify.
