And the award goes to… St John Ambulance names its Regional Cadet of the Year as the competition marks its 40th anniversary
A teenage volunteer from Sheffield has been named St John Ambulance’s Regional Cadet of the Year for the North East following a demanding national competition which tested her exemplary first aid knowledge, leadership and communication skills.
16-year-old Callie Cunningham was selected to represent the North East region after being chosen from more than 35 of St John Ambulance’s most outstanding Cadets from across the country, all of whom had already won county competitions to earn their place at the national final.
The competition, which celebrates its 40th anniversary this year, took place between February 27 and March 1 at Ingestre Hall near Stafford, and brought together young volunteers from across the country for a weekend of challenging assessments designed to test their first aid skills, leadership and commitment to volunteering.
During the competition, Cadets took part in a series of exercises including first aid scenarios, teamwork and problem-solving tasks, presentations, interviews and group discussions, all assessed by an experienced panel of judges. Many of the challenges were based on real life situations Cadets may encounter while volunteering in their communities.
Callie is currently studying for her A-Levels in Psychology, Chemistry, Biology and Maths at Sixth Form, and volunteers at the Rotherham and Enzor Cadet unit. Outside school and St John, she is a member of the Sheffield Children’s Hospital Youth Forum, contributing to and engaging with a range of hospital-related activities, and is also an original member of a musical theatre club, through which she regularly takes part in dancing and musical theatre conventions throughout the year.
Reflecting on being named Regional Cadet of the Year, Callie said:
"I feel incredibly honoured, and honestly quite surprised, to have been named Regional Cadet of the Year. The standard of competition was extremely high, and every competitor represented their region with pride.
Taking part in the competition was an unforgettable experience, and I went through every emotion, from initial nerves to real enjoyment. Over the past four years with St John Ambulance, I’ve developed confidence and leadership skills that have strengthened my ambition to pursue a career in medicine. I’m very grateful for the support I’ve received and look forward to working with the National, Regional and County Cadets of the Year in the year ahead".
Many of the competitors have already used their first aid skills in real emergencies to assist with and treat a wide variety of conditions including cardiac arrest, seizures, fractures, heat-related problems, major bleeds and severe asthma attacks.
Callie has used her first aid skills on several occasions. On her way home from school, she found an elderly man on the ground at a bus stop with a head wound. She introduced herself to the casualty and bystanders, confirmed his name and age, cleaned the wound with water and tissues, and checked for other pain—identifying soreness in his right leg. After establishing he’d tripped, she ran a FAST test to rule out stroke and stayed calm and reassuring until town-centre community responders arrived and took over.
At Sheffield’s Chinese New Year event, Callie’s team answered a radio call to an “unresponsive” patient who had hit her head and fallen. The woman appeared intoxicated; Callie checked pulse and heart rate, respected the patient’s withdrawal of consent for a blood-pressure reading, and, after the woman revealed she was homeless and reported sciatica, arranged an ambulance. With the patient drifting in and out of consciousness and briefly agitated, Callie kept things safe and contained until the crew arrived with a stretcher and assumed care.
Rear Admiral Simon Williams CB CVO KStJ, Prior of the Priory of England and the Islands of the Order of St John, said:
“I am immensely proud of every Cadet who took part in this year’s National Cadet of the Year competition. As we mark the 40th anniversary of this award, it is inspiring to see such high levels of skill, confidence and compassion among our young volunteers.”
Shona Dunn CB, chief executive of St John Ambulance, said:
“The Cadets demonstrated not only outstanding first aid ability, but also leadership, teamwork and a genuine commitment to helping others. They represent the very best of St John Ambulance, and I have no doubt they will continue to make a real difference in their communities and beyond.”
The National Cadet of the Year, supported by a team of eight Regional Cadets of the Year, acts as an ambassador for St John Ambulance over the coming year, representing young volunteers at events and royal engagements, supporting youth involvement across the organisation and championing the importance of first aid and volunteering in communities nationwide.