When Kerrie Aldridge reflects on her role overseeing safeguarding at St John Ambulance Cymru, she does not just carry policies. She carries the wisdom forged by her childhood.
Growing up facing enormous personal challenges, Kerrie discovered a community that saw her, believed in her and helped her build strength.
Today, she leads safeguarding across the charity, determined that others experience the same sense of belonging and protection she once found.
In a recent interview for the St John Ambulance Cymru podcast, Just in Case: Stories from St John, she explained: “I’m responsible for safeguarding all of our volunteers, all of our staff, and all the members of the public who come into contact with our organisation.
“If anyone’s got a safeguarding concern, they submit a report to us. We review it, we may offer advice or put in a referral to the local authority.”
She added: “I also provide a lot of wellbeing support, because I see that as important too. There are lots of issues in the UK at the moment around mental health and wellbeing, and we must provide that support.”
Kerrie’s journey with St John began at just five years old when she joined as a Badger, the youngest branch of the organisation. That weekly escape was far more than a hobby.
“I lived with a mother who had a really serious mental health condition, and it was tough growing up in that environment,” she recalled.
“But my mum had been part of St John as a child, and she was keen for me to be involved. It gave me purpose, a place where I could go once a week, where I was just Kerrie the Badger, I wasn’t a young carer, I wasn’t that girl whose mum was unwell.
“I developed first aid skills and made friendships that helped me build resilience. My Divisional Officers and Cadet Officers were incredibly supportive; they were really part of my life and almost safeguarded me themselves,” Kerrie says.
Those early experiences still inform her leadership. “I’m passionate about giving our young people what my leaders gave me. I understand what it’s like to grow up with challenges at home, so I want our leaders to be there for young people in the same way.”
Since joining the organisation in this role, Kerrie has introduced 10 Safeguarding Commitments, a clear, one-page pledge making it easy for everyone in St John Ambulance Cymru to understand and follow safeguarding standards.
She explained:
“I wanted something visible, something everyone could sign up to.
“We’ve had safeguarding policies and training for a long time, but this was about capturing it in a way that was easy to see and remember. It’s about how we want people to behave, making sure they’re up to date with training, and ensuring anyone can report a concern without fear of reprisals.”
The launch of these commitments has already led to meaningful changes. She noted:
“We’ve seen more duty to report submissions, which means people are recognising and acting on safeguarding concerns,
“We’ve had members report incidents at large events like concerts, leading to people being safeguarded. Leaders have taken ownership, some have laminated the commitments and put them in response cars, others have had their whole division sign them.”
One of Kerrie’s ongoing goals is to shift how safeguarding is perceived. She says:
“I’ve heard many times in different jobs, ‘Oh no, Safeguarding’s calling, something must be wrong.’ I want to change that narrative.
“Yes, people should report when something’s wrong, but they should also feel able to raise welfare concerns. I want people to feel seen, and to know we care about them.”
Looking ahead, she wants vigilance and kindness to go hand in hand. She advised:
“Whether it’s a young person or an adult, if you notice a change in someone’s behaviour, ask them if they’re okay,
“We need to be confident our members and the people we treat are safe, and to act on any concerns we hear.”
She added:
“There’s always hope that things can change. You can achieve amazing things with a little bit of support. Things might be tough right now, but they won’t always be.”
For those considering a role in safeguarding, empathy and active listening are essential in her view, not just hearing, but truly listening. She observed:
“There’s a difference between listening and hearing,
“And you’ve got to have passion. The people we safeguard are the experts in their own situations; we’re there to walk alongside them and support them.”
From a five-year-old Badger seeking refuge to a National Safeguarding Manager shaping culture across Wales, Kerrie’s story is proof of the transformative power of community, compassion and determination. She reflected:
“I’m so proud of my team for trusting me and embracing the changes I’ve brought in,
“Thank you for taking a chance on that little Badger who had a dream to be a social worker.”
If you are part of St John Ambulance Cymru, or you have a concern about the safety and well-being of someone you know, Kerrie invites you to reach out.
Whether you want to learn more about the safeguarding commitments or need to raise a concern, contact your safeguarding leads today. Safeguarding is everybody’s responsibility, and by speaking up, you could make all the difference.
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.
Iechyd meddwl, budd a llesiant yn allweddol i Reolwr Diogelu sy'n tynnu sylw at y gefnogaeth a dderbyniwyd yn ystod profiadau ffurfiannol gyda St John
Pan fydd Kerrie Aldridge yn myfyrio ar ei rôl yn goruchwylio diogelu yn St John Ambulance Cymru, nid polisïau yn unig sydd ganddi. Mae hi'n cario'r doethineb a ffurfiwyd gan ei phlentyndod.
Wrth dyfu i fyny yn wynebu heriau personol enfawr, darganfu Kerrie gymuned a'i gwelodd, a gredodd ynddi ac a'i helpodd i feithrin cryfder.
Heddiw, mae hi'n arwain diogelu ar draws yr elusen, yn benderfynol y bydd eraill yn profi'r un ymdeimlad o berthyn a gwarchodaeth ag a gafodd ar un adeg.
Mewn cyfweliad diweddar ar gyfer podlediad St John Ambulance Cymru, Just in Case: Stories from St John, eglurodd:
“Rwy’n gyfrifol am ddiogelu ein holl wirfoddolwyr, ein holl staff, a holl aelodau’r cyhoedd sy’n dod i gysylltiad â’n sefydliad.
“Os oes gan unrhyw un pryder ynghylch diogelu, maen nhw’n cyflwyno adroddiad i ni. Rydym yn ei adolygu, efallai y byddwn yn cynnig cyngor neu’n atgyfeirio’r achos i’r awdurdod lleol.”
Ychwanegodd:
“Rwyf hefyd yn darparu llawer o gefnogaeth lles, oherwydd rwy'n gweld hynny fel peth pwysig hefyd. Mae llawer o broblemau yn y DU ar hyn o bryd ynghylch iechyd meddwl a lles, ac mae rhaid i ni ddarparu'r gefnogaeth honno.”
Dechreuodd taith Kerrie gyda St John pan oedd hi ond yn bump oed pan ymunodd fel Mochyn Daear, cangen ieuengaf y sefydliad. Roedd y ddihangfa wythnosol honno'n llawer mwy na hobi. Cofiodd:
“Roeddwn i’n byw gyda mam oedd â chyflwr iechyd meddwl difrifol iawn, ac roedd hi’n anodd tyfu i fyny yn yr amgylchedd hwnnw,
“Ond roedd fy mam wedi bod yn rhan o St John pan oedd hi’n blentyn, ac roedd hi’n awyddus i mi fod yn rhan ohono. Rhoddodd bwrpas i mi, lle gallwn i fynd unwaith yr wythnos, lle roeddwn i’n ddim ond Kerrie y Mochyn Daear, doeddwn i ddim yn ofalwr ifanc, doeddwn i ddim yn ferch oedd â mam oedd yn sâl.
“Datblygais sgiliau cymorth cyntaf a gwnes i ffrindiau a helpodd fi i feithrin gwydnwch. Roedd fy Swyddogion Adrannol a Swyddogion Cadetiaid yn gefnogol iawn; roedden nhw wir yn rhan o fy mywyd a bron â’m diogelu eu hunain."
Mae'r profiadau cynnar hynny'n dal i lywio ei harweinyddiaeth. “Rwy'n angerddol am roi i'n pobl ifanc yr hyn a roddodd fy arweinwyr i mi. Rwy'n deall sut beth yw tyfu i fyny gyda heriau gartref, felly rwyf am i'n harweinwyr fod yno i bobl ifanc yn yr un ffordd.”
Ers ymuno â'r sefydliad yn y rôl hon, mae Kerrie wedi cyflwyno 10 Ymrwymiad Diogelu, addewid clir ar un dudalen sy'n ei gwneud hi'n hawdd i bawb yn St John Ambulance Cymru i ddeall a dilyn safonau diogelu.
Esboniodd:
“Roeddwn i eisiau rhywbeth gweladwy, rhywbeth y gallai pawb ymrwymo iddo.
“Rydym wedi cael polisïau a hyfforddiant diogelu ers amser maith, ond roedd hyn yn ymwneud â’i gofnodi mewn ffordd a oedd yn hawdd ei gweld a’i chofio. Mae’n ymwneud â sut rydym ni eisiau i bobl ymddwyn, sicrhau eu bod nhw’n gyfredol â hyfforddiant, a sicrhau y gall unrhyw un roi gwybod am bryder heb ofni dial.”
Mae lansio'r ymrwymiadau hyn eisoes wedi arwain at newidiadau ystyrlon. Nododd Kerrie:
“Rydym wedi gweld mwy o gyflwyniadau 'ddyletswydd i adrodd', sy’n golygu bod pobl yn cydnabod ac yn gweithredu ar bryderon diogelu.
“Rydym wedi cael aelodau yn adrodd gwybodaeth mewn digwyddiadau mawr fel cyngherddau, gan arwain at ddiogelu pobl. Mae arweinwyr wedi cymryd perchnogaeth, mae rhai wedi lamineiddio’r ymrwymiadau a’u rhoi mewn ceir ymateb, mae eraill wedi cael eu hadran gyfan i’w llofnodi.”
Un o nodau parhaus Kerrie yw newid sut mae diogelu yn cael ei ganfod. Meddai:
“Rydw i wedi clywed sawl gwaith mewn gwahanol swyddi, ‘O na, mae diogelu’n galw, mae’n rhaid bod rhywbeth o’i le.’ Rydw i eisiau newid y naratif hwnnw,”
“Ie, dylai pobl roi gwybod pan fydd rhywbeth o’i le, ond dylent hefyd deimlo’n gallu codi pryderon lles. Rwyf am i bobl deimlo eu bod yn cael eu gweld, a gwybod ein bod ni’n gofalu amdanyn nhw.”
Wrth edrych ymlaen, mae hi eisiau i wyliadwriaeth a charedigrwydd fynd law yn llaw. Cynghorodd:
"Boed yn berson ifanc neu’n oedolyn, os byddwch chi’n sylwi ar newid yn ymddygiad rhywun, gofynnwch iddyn nhw a ydyn nhw’n iawn.
“Mae angen i ni fod yn hyderus bod ein haelodau a’r bobl rydyn ni’n eu trin yn ddiogel, a gweithredu ar unrhyw bryderon rydyn ni’n eu clywed.”
Ychwanegodd:
“Mae gobaith bob amser y gall pethau newid. Gallwch chi gyflawni pethau anhygoel gydag ychydig bach o gefnogaeth. Efallai bod pethau’n anodd ar hyn o bryd, ond fyddan nhw ddim bob amser.”
I'r rhai sy'n ystyried rôl mewn diogelu, mae empathi a gwrando gweithredol yn hanfodol yn ei barn hi, nid clywed yn unig, ond gwrando go iawn. Sylwodd:
“Mae gwahaniaeth rhwng gwrando a chlywed.
“Ac mae’n rhaid i chi gael angerdd. Y bobl rydyn ni’n eu diogelu yw’r arbenigwyr yn eu sefyllfaoedd eu hunain; rydyn ni yno i gerdded ochr yn ochr â nhw a’u cefnogi.”
O Fochyn Daear pum mlwydd oed yn chwilio am loches i Reolwr Diogelu Cenedlaethol sy'n llunio diwylliant ledled Cymru, mae stori Kerrie yn brawf o bŵer trawsnewidiol cymuned, tosturi a phenderfyniad. Myfyriodd:
“Rwyf mor falch o fy nhîm am eu hymddiried ynof ac am groesawu’r newidiadau rydw i wedi’u cyflwyno.
“Diolch i chi am fentro ar y Mochyn Daear fach yna oedd â breuddwyd o fod yn weithiwr cymdeithasol.”
Os ydych chi'n rhan o St John Ambulance Cymru, neu os oes gennych chi bryder ynghylch diogelwch a lles rhywun rydych chi'n ei adnabod, mae Kerrie yn eich gwahodd i gysylltu.
P'un a ydych chi eisiau dysgu mwy am yr ymrwymiadau diogelu neu os oes angen i chi godi pryder, cysylltwch â'ch arweinwyr diogelu heddiw. Mae diogelu yn gyfrifoldeb pawb, a thrwy siarad allan, gallech chi wneud gwahaniaeth mawr.
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.