Cadets from Stratton St Margaret’s St John Ambulance Cadet Unit gathered with their families, volunteers and St John Ambulance representatives for the unit’s annual Awards and Presentation Evening.
The event was held at New College Swindon on Tuesday 15 September 2026 and recognised the achievements and contributions of cadets throughout the year. Senior St John Ambulance representatives attending included the County Commissioner, Deputy County Commissioner, County President and Network President.
During the evening, 11 new cadets were formally enrolled into St John Ambulance by the County Youth Lead. As part of the enrolment, the cadets made their promise to uphold the values of the Order of St John and support others within their communities. Cadets also received their Records of Achievement, recognising the courses and subjects they had completed during 2026.
Ten cadets achieved their Bronze Grand Prior Award after completing four Grand Prior subjects, while one cadet achieved the Silver Award after completing eight subjects. Two other cadets were also promoted to the rank of corporal, taking on junior leadership roles amongst their peers.
Stevie received the Attendance Award after achieving 100 per cent attendance since joining the unit in 2026. The award recognised their commitment, reliability and enthusiasm.
Receiving the attendance reward filled my heart with so much joy and happiness. It made me feel proud of my hard work and reminded me that every day I show up and try my best is worth it.
Isla received the Event Hours Award in recognition of the time she had given to supporting community events and public education activities through St John Ambulance.
Receiving the most event hours was a proud moment of mine. Moments like this show how important it is to give back to your community.
Abi received the Best Uniform Award for consistently maintaining high standards of appearance and demonstrating pride and attention to detail.
The Most Improved Cadet Award was presented to Brea in recognition of significant personal growth, increased confidence and progress in leadership during the year.
Sophie received the HEART Award for demonstrating the St John Ambulance values of Humanity, Excellence, Accountability, Responsiveness and Teamwork. The award also recognised occasions when she had used her first aid skills outside St John Ambulance settings.
Receiving the St John Ambulance Heart Award is a deeply humbling experience. It has given me greater confidence to act, both in and out of uniform, using the skills I've been taught to help those in need and make a difference when it matters most. I am grateful to my unit and cadet leaders for not only the nomination but for all the support they have given me as a cadet.
I am honoured to have received it and will continue to live up to the values it represents.
Poppy received the Cadet of the Year Award, the unit’s highest accolade. The award recognised her commitment, leadership, service and enthusiasm, as well as her contribution to the unit and her role as an ambassador for St John Ambulance.
Receiving the cadet of the year award was one of the best moments of my life. Things like this really show that hard work does pay off.
Throughout 2026, members of the unit have supported community events across Swindon and helped members of the public learn lifesaving skills. Cadets have delivered demonstrations covering CPR, automated external defibrillator (AED) use, choking management and severe bleeding control.
They have also taken part in leadership and development opportunities designed to build confidence and practical skills.
David Panes, Cadet Group Lead, said
The cadets from Swindon have been outstanding ambassadors for both their community and St John Ambulance. They wear their uniform with pride and consistently demonstrate the values of leadership, compassion and service. Throughout the year, they have embraced opportunities to teach lifesaving skills to others while continuing to develop their own knowledge, confidence and practical abilities.
Many of these young people aspire to careers within Health and Social Care, and the St John Ambulance Cadet Programme provides a strong foundation by developing essential skills such as teamwork, professionalism, communication and resilience. We are incredibly proud of all they have achieved so far and look forward to seeing them continue to grow, inspire others and reach even greater success throughout the remainder of 2026 and into 2027.
Are you inspired and want to support the lifesaving work that St John Ambulance Cadets do? You can find out more about volunteering as a Youth team volunteer on our website at https://www.sja.org.uk/get-involved/young-people/.
