Hi there, we’re from the University of East Anglia First Aid Society but we also act as a functional St John Ambulance Unit. Normally we provide medical cover a whole host of events from University club nights to open days, gigs to football matches and Christmas light switch on’s to London Marathon. All of our members are full time university students studying a wide range of subjects and can normally be found volunteering on overnight shifts making sure other students make it home safe from their nights out. Since the cancellation of face-to-face teaching our team have been doing an incredible job of volunteering their time to help. Three of them are currently based at NHS Nightingale London and will be working alongside the NHS and armed forces to look after Covid-19 patients as they undergo treatment, rehabilitation and during their recovery. Others are in local A&E departments, crewing ambulances or working behind the scenes to make sure essential supplies are available, clean and ready to use.

With no events running, St John Ambulance are focusing all its resources on the covid-19 response alongside the NHS, meaning a large source of the charity’s income has been lost. This income would normally be spent on medical equipment, medications, ambulance maintenance and training courses. St John Ambulance first and foremost if a charity and right now is facing extraordinary demand that hasnt been seen since WWI. Our resources are being stretched and out people will be tested but we will stop at nothing to beat this virus. We want to be able to continue to do the work that we love and support the NHS and our local communities in the best way we know possible, but we need some help to do that. There are thousands of students and staff at UEA and family members much further afield who know about the work that we do and may have bumped into us out on duty. We’re asking for people to donate what they can to support us and have a few challenges:

If you’re a student – could you donate the price of a ticket to the LCR? Or a meal deal from the shop?

If you’re a member of staff – the cost of a morning coffee?

Any amount from anyone will be appreciated and spent to keep our volunteers on the frontline, continuing with the St John motto “help save lives, be the difference”