Volunteering “helped me find balance when I couldn’t find it myself.” Celebrating volunteers across Wales this Volunteers’ Week

The 1st June marks the start of Volunteers’ Week 2023, a week to celebrate all of the fantastic work volunteers do in communities across the country. As Wales’ leading first aid charity, an organisation which has volunteers at the heart of everything it does, St John Ambulance Cymru are taking this week to share volunteers’ stories, and thank them for their dedication.

St John Ambulance Cymru are supported by thousands of volunteers across Wales who give up their time endlessly to support both small, local events and larger national events. This week is all about their stories.

Jess Bogunovic from Aberdare has been a member of St John Ambulance Cymru for 17 years. and talks about how volunteering has been extremely rewarding; “I’ve learned a lot of new skills which have been transferable to employment and have supported me in many different roles” she says. Volunteer work in Aberdare has also strengthened the sense of community, as volunteers are there for members of the public when they need it most. “I’ve met a range of different people whilst supporting my local community,” she says, “we have a laugh with members of our community and  support them at all the different events.”

Not only has volunteering provided Jess with a range of invaluable skills, but it has also been a support system for her, “St John Ambulance Cymru has provided me with different levels of support through numerous events in my life and has helped me find balance when I couldn’t find it myself” she says.

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Jess supporting a local event in Aberdare.

James Cordell who is based in Pembrokeshire has also had some brilliant experiences volunteering over the last five years. “I’ve been involved with some of the biggest and best events across Wales, where we provide first aid and medical cover.”

For James, the best things about volunteering are attending events and spending time with great people “all from different walks of life, different backgrounds and countries” he says.

“I’ve met some amazing people, who are now close friends”

“I have even met my partner, Sam, through St John Ambulance Cymru. We met when I first started to volunteer and we’ve now been together for around three years.”

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James and his partner, Sam

For Dave, who is based in Rhyl, North Wales, learning the skills to help people through his volunteer work and training has been a real highlight.

To know I have the skills to potentially help someone in need makes me feel a million dollars” he says.

He recalls transporting his first patient to hospital when out covering an event, “for me, it’s not something I would have ever done before. To be trusted and trained to a point where I can take patients to hospital, it was a proud moment for me.” Volunteering with St John Ambulance Cymru has not only given Dave the skillset needed to care for patients and provide quality first aid care, but it has also introduced him to a range of new people. “It’s not just the organisation, but the people in it. It really is like a big family” he says.

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Dave volunteering alongside his daughter

Volunteering doesn’t only strengthen communities and make them safer places, but it’s also extremely rewarding on a personal level. Not only could it help to develop your own skillset, but it introduces you to a range of different people, allowing you to make connections and lasting friendships.

St John Ambulance Cymru are saying a big thank you to all of their volunteers like Jess, James and Dave this week, for their ongoing support and commitment.

You can find out more about volunteering with us here www.sjacymru.org.uk/en/page/volunteer

St John Ambulance Cymru can only train and support our fantastic volunteers with the help of our generous supporters. If you’d like to make a donation, then please visit www.sjacymru.org.uk/en/page/donate.

 


 

Fe wnaeth gwirfoddoli “fy helpu i ddod o hyd i gydbwysedd pan nad oeddwn yn gallu dod o hyd iddo fy hun.” Dathlu gwirfoddolwyr ledled Cymru yn ystod Wythnos Gwirfoddolwyr

Mae 1 Mehefin yn nodi dechrau Wythnos Gwirfoddolwyr 2023, wythnos i ddathlu'r holl waith gwych y mae gwirfoddolwyr yn ei wneud mewn cymunedau ledled y wlad. Fel prif elusen cymorth cyntaf Cymru, sefydliad sydd â gwirfoddolwyr wrth galon popeth y mae’n ei wneud, mae St John Ambulance Cymru yn cymryd yr wythnos hon i rannu straeon gwirfoddolwyr, a diolch iddynt am eu hymroddiad.

Cefnogir St John Ambulance Cymru gan filoedd o wirfoddolwyr ledled Cymru sy'n rhoi o'u hamser yn ddiddiwedd i gefnogi digwyddiadau bach, lleol a digwyddiadau cenedlaethol mwy. Mae'r wythnos hon yn ymwneud â'u straeon i gyd.

Mae Jess Bogunovic o Aberdâr wedi bod yn aelod o St John Ambulance Cymru ers 17 mlynedd. ac yn sôn am sut mae gwirfoddoli wedi bod yn hynod werth chweil; “Rwyf wedi dysgu llawer o sgiliau newydd sydd wedi bod yn drosglwyddadwy i gyflogaeth ac wedi fy nghefnogi mewn llawer o rolau gwahanol,” meddai.

 Mae gwaith gwirfoddolwyr yn Aberdâr hefyd wedi cryfhau’r ymdeimlad o gymuned, gan fod gwirfoddolwyr yno i aelodau’r cyhoedd pan fyddant ei angen fwyaf. “Rwyf wedi cyfarfod ag amrywiaeth o wahanol bobl tra’n cefnogi fy nghymuned leol,” meddai, “rydym yn cael hwyl gydag aelodau o’n cymuned ac yn eu cefnogi yn yr holl ddigwyddiadau gwahanol.”

Nid yn unig y mae gwirfoddoli wedi darparu ystod o sgiliau amhrisiadwy i Jess, ond mae hefyd wedi bod yn system gymorth iddi, “Mae St John Ambulance Cymru wedi rhoi gwahanol lefelau o gefnogaeth i mi trwy nifer o ddigwyddiadau yn fy mywyd ac wedi fy helpu i ddod o hyd i gydbwysedd pan Ni allwn ddod o hyd iddo fy hun” meddai.

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Jess yn cefnogi digwyddiad lleol yn Aberdâr.

Mae James Cordell sy'n gweithio yn Sir Benfro hefyd wedi cael profiadau gwych yn gwirfoddoli dros y pum mlynedd diwethaf. “Rwyf wedi bod yn gysylltiedig â rhai o’r digwyddiadau mwyaf a gorau ledled Cymru, lle rydym yn darparu cymorth cyntaf a gwasanaeth meddygol.”

I James, y pethau gorau am wirfoddoli yw mynychu digwyddiadau a threulio amser gyda phobl wych “i gyd o gefndiroedd gwahanol, cefndiroedd a gwledydd gwahanol” meddai.

“Rwyf wedi cyfarfod â phobl anhygoel, sydd bellach yn ffrindiau agos”

“Rwyf hyd yn oed wedi cyfarfod fy mhartner, Sam, drwy St John Ambulance Cymru. Fe wnaethon ni gyfarfod pan ddechreuais i wirfoddoli ac rydyn ni bellach wedi bod gyda'n gilydd ers tua tair blynedd.”

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James a'i bartner, Sam

I Dave, sydd wedi’i leoli yn y Rhyl, Gogledd Cymru, mae dysgu’r sgiliau i helpu pobl trwy ei waith gwirfoddol a’i hyfforddiant wedi bod yn uchafbwynt gwirioneddol. “Mae gwybod bod gen i'r sgiliau i helpu rhywun mewn angen o bosibl yn gwneud i mi deimlo miliwn o ddoleri” meddai.

Mae’n cofio cludo ei glaf cyntaf i’r ysbyty pan oedd allan yn rhoi sylw i ddigwyddiad, “i mi, nid yw’n rhywbeth y byddwn i erioed wedi’i wneud o’r blaen. Er mwyn cael fy ymddiried ynof a chael fy hyfforddi i bwynt lle gallaf fynd â chleifion i’r ysbyty, roedd yn foment falch i mi.”

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Dave yn gwirfoddoli ochr yn ochr â'i ferch

 Mae gwirfoddoli gydag St John Ambulance Cymru nid yn unig wedi rhoi’r set sgiliau sydd ei hangen ar Dave i ofalu am gleifion a darparu gofal cymorth cyntaf o safon, ond mae hefyd wedi ei gyflwyno i amrywiaeth o bobl newydd. 

“Nid y sefydliad yn unig ydyw, ond y bobl sydd ynddo. Mae wir fel teulu mawr” meddai.

Mae gwirfoddoli nid yn unig yn cryfhau cymunedau ac yn eu gwneud yn lleoedd mwy diogel, ond mae hefyd yn rhoi boddhad mawr ar lefel bersonol. Nid yn unig y gallai helpu i ddatblygu eich set sgiliau eich hun, ond mae'n eich cyflwyno i amrywiaeth o wahanol bobl, gan eich galluogi i wneud cysylltiadau a chyfeillgarwch parhaol.

Mae St John Ambulance Cymru yn diolch yn fawr i bob un o’u gwirfoddolwyr fel Jess, James a Dave yr wythnos hon, am eu cefnogaeth a’u hymrwymiad parhaus.

Darganfod mwy am wirfoddoli gyda ni yma www.sjacymru.org.uk/cy/page/volunteer

Mae chymorth ein cefnogwyr hael yn helpu St John Ambulance Cymru darparu hyfforddi a chefnogi ein gwirfoddolwyr gwych. Os hoffech chi wneud cyfraniad, ewch i https://www.sjacymru.org.uk/en/page/donate

Published June 1st 2023

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