St John Ambulance has secured a substantial grant of nearly a quarter of a million pounds from the Health Lottery Foundation to significantly expand its Young Responders programme into the East Midlands region for the very first time. This critical funding initiative, made possible by players of The Health Lottery, will empower the charity to deliver essential first aid training specifically targeted at young people across underserved communities in the area.
Major Funding Boost for Youth First Aid Initiative
The Health Lottery Foundation has awarded its largest ever grant, totaling £241,807, to St John Ambulance to fully fund the delivery of the Young Responders programme in the East Midlands over a two-year period. This substantial financial injection will enable the recruitment and training of specialist staff and facilitate crucial partnerships with local organizations to effectively reach young people who face significant health inequities.
Programme Expansion and Implementation Timeline
With the grant now secured, St John Ambulance has established a complete team in the East Midlands to begin local engagement efforts immediately. The organization will work diligently to secure bookings with schools, youth organizations, and community partners throughout the region. Programme delivery is scheduled to continue through December 2027, with an ambitious goal of training approximately 15,000 young people by that deadline.
Young Responders Programme Overview and Impact
The Young Responders programme, which initially launched in 2023 with street first aid sessions, focuses on teaching young people how to respond to health emergencies resulting from contemporary societal challenges. The comprehensive training curriculum addresses several critical areas:
- Responding effectively to catastrophic bleeding incidents
- Managing alcohol or vape spiking situations
- Performing primary surveys and CPR procedures
- Understanding how first aid situations impact mental health and wellbeing, including accessing appropriate support resources
Since its inception, the programme has successfully delivered lifesaving skills to more than 72,000 young people across multiple regions of England, including the North East, West Midlands, London, Hull, East Riding, North Lincolnshire, and North East Lincolnshire. This expansion into the East Midlands represents a strategic step toward nationwide implementation.
Target Demographic and Programme Objectives
The Young Responders programme specifically targets young people aged 11 to 25 from underserved communities who face disproportionate health challenges. This includes individuals who are care-experienced, young carers, those not in education, employment, or training, and young people exposed to or at risk of street violence. The programme aims to engage and empower these young individuals to become active health citizens through practical physical first aid training and mental health awareness sessions that directly address the challenges they encounter in their daily lives.
Organizational Perspectives on the Expansion
Pauline Bartley, Young Responders Project Manager at St John Ambulance, expressed enthusiasm about the funding development: "This funding from the Health Lottery Foundation represents a monumental step forward for Young Responders and the young people we support. Expanding across the East Midlands enables us to reach more young people who might otherwise lack access to lifesaving skills, providing them with the confidence to act decisively during crises and make tangible differences within their communities."
Delva Patman, CEO at The Health Lottery Foundation, commented on the partnership: "We are absolutely thrilled to collaborate with St John Ambulance to implement such a vital programme in a new geographical area. Thanks to the dedicated players of The Health Lottery, we have been able to award our largest grant to date. We have been profoundly impressed by the programme's demonstrated impact and recognized the urgent necessity to expand its reach further. We eagerly anticipate working closely with St John Ambulance over the coming two years and hope to visit the East Midlands to personally meet some of the Young Responders and celebrate their remarkable achievements."
Background Information on Funding Organizations
The Health Lottery Foundation, established in January 2025, ensures that funds raised by players of The Health Lottery are effectively channeled back into local communities where they are most needed. The foundation specifically supports projects that unite people to improve health, wellbeing, and overall happiness. Meanwhile, The Health Lottery itself launched in October 2011, with a minimum of 20 percent of every lottery draw ticket and online instant win game purchase directed toward good causes. Since its inception, Health Lottery players have collectively raised over £136 million for charitable initiatives across the United Kingdom.
