St John Ambulance Cymru has announced the winners of its Children and Young People Competitions for 2024, naming the budding lifesavers that will serve as the charity’s national Badger and Cadet of the Year.
The competition winners came together on March 27th, alongside the volunteer Badger and Cadet Leaders who had also been nominated for awards for their work with young people across Wales. After meeting at the first aid charity’s HQ in Cardiff, a special presentation was held at the iconic Principality Stadium.
St John Ambulance Cymru’s Cadet and Badger programmes support young people aged 5-17 across Wales to enhance their leadership and communication skills, make friends and learn lifesaving first aid. Each year, individuals compete in regional and national competitions, hoping to represent other Badgers and Cadets in their areas and pan Wales.
As part of the national competitions, the young people created projects linked to their Badger and Cadet topics, which were judged by a St John Ambulance Cymru panel. The final stage of the competitions took place in Llandrindod Wells, where individuals took part in first aid challenges to show off their skills.
Following the competition, 16-year-old Ali Webb from Loughor Division was awarded the Cadet of the Year for 2024 and 15-year-old Bethan Jones from Deeside Division was named the Deputy. Ali and Bethan will use their voices to fairly represent other Cadets, helping to shape the Cadet experience for all.
Alexandra O’Connor from Pontypridd and Trehopcyn Division was named the charity’s official Badger of the Year, with Mia Wyn Evans from Cardigan Division as Deputy. Both members are aged 10 and can’t wait to get stuck-in with lots of exciting new ideas for Badger challenges.
Rhys Probert, Young Peoples Development Officer at St John Ambulance Cymru, commented;
“We are so proud of all the young people who took part in the Badger and Cadet of the Year Competitions this year. We had such a high standard from everyone who entered, and it was a joy to hear about all their ideas.
“We can’t wait to see how Ali, Bethan, Alexandra and Mia help us develop and improve our programmes for children and young people across Wales this year. Congratulations to our winners and to everyone else who took part!”
As well as working with the Children and Young People Team at St John Ambulance Cymru to improve the overall experience for young volunteers and promote their work, the competition winners will also attend a variety of events, meeting members from across Wales and ensuring the perspective of children and young people is heard across the charity’s work.
To find out more about St John Ambulance Cymru’s Badger and Cadet programmes, please visit www.sjacymru.org.uk/young-people.
St John Ambulance Cymru’s Children and Young People competition winners at the Principality Stadium.
St John Ambulance Cymru yn enwi pobl ifanc y flwyddyn yr elusen ar gyfer 2024 yn swyddogol
Mae St John Ambulance Cymru wedi cyhoeddi enillwyr ei Gystadlaethau Plant a Phobl Ifanc ar gyfer 2024, gan enwi’r egin achubwyr bywyd a fydd yn gwasanaethu fel Badger a Chadet y Flwyddyn yr elusen.
Daeth enillwyr y gystadleuaeth at ei gilydd ar Fawrth 27ain, ochr yn ochr â’r Arweinwyr Badgers a Chadetiaid gwirfoddol, a oedd hefyd wedi’u henwebu ar gyfer gwobrau am eu gwaith gyda phobl ifanc ledled Cymru. Ar ôl cyfarfod ym mhencadlys yr elusen cymorth cyntaf yng Nghaerdydd, cynhaliwyd cyflwyniad arbennig yn Stadiwm eiconig y Principality.
Mae rhaglenni Cadetiaid a Badgers St John Ambulance Cymru yn cefnogi pobl ifanc 5-17 oed ledled Cymru i wella eu sgiliau arwain a chyfathrebu, gwneud ffrindiau a dysgu cymorth cyntaf achub bywyd. Bob blwyddyn, mae unigolion yn cystadlu mewn cystadlaethau rhanbarthol a chenedlaethol, gan obeithio cynrychioli Badgers a Chadetiaid eraill yn eu hardaloedd a ledled Cymru.
Fel rhan o’r cystadlaethau cenedlaethol, creodd y bobl ifanc brosiectau yn gysylltiedig â’u pynciau Badger a Chadetiaid, a gafodd eu beirniadu gan banel o St John Ambulance Cymru. Cynhaliwyd cam olaf y cystadlaethau yn Llandrindod, lle cymerodd unigolion ran mewn heriau cymorth cyntaf i ddangos eu sgiliau.
Yn dilyn y gystadleuaeth, dyfarnwyd Cadet y Flwyddyn 2024 i Ali Webb, 16 oed o Adran Llwchwr, ac enwyd Bethan Jones, 15 oed o Adran Glannau Dyfrdwy yn Ddirprwy. Bydd Ali a Bethan yn defnyddio eu lleisiau i gynrychioli Cadetiaid eraill yn deg, gan helpu i lunio profiad y Cadetiaid i bawb.
Cafodd Alexandra O’Connor o Adran Pontypridd a Threhopcyn ei henwi yn Fochyn Daear swyddogol y Flwyddyn yr elusen, gyda Mia Wyn Evans o Adran Aberteifi yn Ddirprwy. Mae’r ddau aelod yn 10 oed ac yn methu aros i ddechrau, ac mae ganddyn nhw lawer o syniadau cyffrous ar gyfer heriau Badger newydd.
Dywedodd Rhys Probert, Swyddog Datblygu Pobl Ifanc St John Ambulance Cymru;
“Rydym mor falch o’r holl bobl ifanc a gymerodd ran yng Nghystadlaethau Moch Daear a Chadet y Flwyddyn eleni. Roedd y safon mor uchel gan bawb a gymerodd ran, ac roedd yn bleser clywed eu syniadau i gyd."
“Ni allwn aros i weld sut mae Ali, Bethan, Alexandra a Mia yn ein helpu i ddatblygu a gwella ein rhaglenni ar gyfer plant a phobl ifanc ledled Cymru eleni. Llongyfarchiadau i’n henillwyr ac i bawb arall a gymerodd ran!”
Yn ogystal â gweithio gyda’r Tîm Plant a Phobl Ifanc St John Ambulance Cymru i wella’r profiad cyffredinol i wirfoddolwyr ifanc a hyrwyddo eu gwaith, bydd enillwyr y cystadlaethau hefyd yn mynychu amrywiaeth o ddigwyddiadau, yn cyfarfod ag aelodau o bob ardal o Gymru ac yn sicrhau fod safbwynt plant a phobl ifanc yn cael eu clywed ar draws gwaith yr elusen.
I ddarganfod mwy am raglenni Badgers a Chadetiaid St John Ambulance Cymru, ewch i www.sjacymru.org.uk/young-people.
