Young Responders

A new initiative by St John Ambulance, the nation’s leading health and first aid charity, will see 28,500 young people receive physical and mental health training over the next two years.

The Young Responders initiative, supported by funding raised by players of People’s Postcode Lottery, will create pilot projects in London, Leeds, and Manchester.

St John will work in partnership with young people to create bespoke mental health and physical first aid programmes to address specific needs within their individual communities, with the aim of equipping young people with lifesaving first aid skills and the confidence to use them in the moments that really matter.

Peer-to-peer training will be delivered to young people who are coming out of the care system, those not in employment, education or training, young carers and young people exposed to street violence.

The initiative will develop organically, to train one thousand Peer Educators who will work with young people to create the programme content aligned with local need.

Young people will connect in person and online to learn how to build strategies for coping with poor mental health and identify and deal with life-threatening physical first aid emergencies.

Young Responders will help to improve sustained employability, social action and personal resilience, as well as building confidence and empowering marginalised young people to reach their full potential.