If you think students spend all their spare time avoiding studying, going out with their mates and having a good time then you'd be right. Well our student bloggers do anyway. While they assure us they don't slack on the study, they've got a lot to answer for when it comes to enjoying themselves while volunteering.

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Monday Oct 01, 2007

Long time - no blog

Hi everyone

Very very very very sorry i havent writen in what seems like months and months . I am really sorry but everything has been so hectic recently i literally have not had a spare second.

Anyway, the cadets are back and the autum term is shaping up to be very productive all ready. The first aid course will be starting next week, with special people coming in to teach, just to keep it interesting. This time we are also going to let the cadets decide which bits of the course they want to do, to a certain extend anyway some things are core. This means the older ones, who have done the course before get to revise the things they are not sure on and learn other, new skills when something they are confident on is being taught.

Last week was really good as well. Although the first aid course hadn't officially started we gave the cadets an oppurtunity to do some fun team games and activities. This not only meant the  new cadets had a chance to meet the older ones, but it also allowed everyone to get a little bit competitive - which is always good when prizes of chocolate and sweets are invloved !

 

Posted by Sammy ( 3:56 PM )
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Friday Jul 27, 2007

Old people are cool ...honest !!!

BONJOUR !!

how is everyone today ? its sunny so i am making the most of it - it might not come back until next year !

You see, i told you - you like sun and so do old people just one of the things u have in common. Chocolate and lemonade are also big faviorates. oh and paddling pools - see old people rock. Just because they sit with their feet in the pool on deck chairs and you throw all the water at ur mates doesnt mean u cant hang out. So .... hang with old people.

Okay so dont go visit random people in your street - that could be dangerous - but if you know some old people - mauybe your granny go visit, make them some tea, hang out. You never know they might even give you a mint humbug. I like going to the resiential home (where the old peeps live) and i know lots of the cadets do to. And this is one activity which will definalty carry on throughout the whole summer.

Take care and enjoy the sun ... while it lasts.

Sammy x

Posted by Sammy ( 9:19 PM )
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Wednesday Jul 18, 2007

The sun is finally shining !!! :)

Hey everyone - sorry i know its been a long time since my last post i have been mega busy with college, work and sja.

This week saw the end of cadets for this year, and what a fun end it was. Thanks to the much better weather now it was possible to do the BBQ the cadets like so much, this year with the added competition of a team quiz, which was no ordinary quiz. It involved guessing crisp flavours, swaping puzzle peices, and building towers for newspaper. Well done to Slain's team who won - i know the chocolate prize went down well.

But don't be fooled - this does not mean the end of my volunteering for the next six weeks, there is loads and loads and loads of palnning to do ready for next year, planning what to teach never mind how, where and by who. Not forgetting the many duties taking place during the summer and of course county camp, the most looked forward to event of teh year.

Anyway, hope you all have a fun start to the summer
sammy x x

 

Posted by Sammy ( 9:04 PM )
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Wednesday Jun 13, 2007

Long time - no post

Hello everyone - hope you are all well

Firstly i would like to say a big sorry for not posting recently but now all my exams are done i will be back and posting as regualr as ever. If anyone has any questions or anything they want me to write about just comment - even if its just to say hi.

This term the cadets are having a break from teh courses, with different activities each week to keep them on their toes. Last week included learing hot to properly lift casualties and other objects, useful for everyday life and SJA. This week was specially organsied by the adult divisoon the cadets are linked with and involved lots of fake blood, whcih is always good. At the moment we are trying to encourage the cadets and adult divisions to mix together more, which seems to be going well.

take care
Sammy x

Posted by Sammy ( 8:38 PM )
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Monday May 14, 2007

OMG ! A whole year

Hi all - hope you are feeling fine and dandy ! :P

Can you believe it's been a whole year since the first blogs were set up - thats like 365 days, 8760 hours, 525600 mintues ( i think ) okay so it;s a lot. Time sure does fly. I'm really glad to say it's been lots of fun writing about all my volunteering, and getting to know all the new people i have met through this. Wanna say thx to Helen, who is a shiny star helping us all make our blogs super-duper and keeping them up and running !!!

Anyway,. exams started today which is obviously not so good but St John is going well. There was a duty at the weekend at an open garden which lots of cadets attended to help out with car parking and on the stalls which was a massive help to all the adults and raised lots ofo money for the divison meaning we can organsie something fun for them all this term. My child devlopment course is nearly over - only 2 weeks left and then it will be half term.

After half term, the programme looks full of exciting new things to try. WE are organsiing a social night, probably bowling or the cinerma and a party to reward and thank the cadets for an amazing year of their hard work, committment and of course fun. There will also be a night that the older cadets are able to organise themselves - which they are all looking forward to.

have a fun week - good luck to anyone who has exams
love sammy x

Posted by Sammy ( 8:23 PM )
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Monday Apr 30, 2007

Busy busy busy !

hi all - sorry for the long gap between my last blog i have been super super busy recently.

The first night teaching child development with teh cadets went really well, as always there was lots to cathc up on from the easter holiday and then the excitimnet of the new courses about to begin. I will be teaching half of the cadets and then alll those over 14 will be doing drug awareness, both proving to be really popular and so usful to all young people growing up today.

It is going to be my last week at the nursery soon because i have to stop as i have lots of exams soon - been busily revsing for them all. I'm really sad because i don't want to leave, everyone made me feel so welcome and the children are so sweet but after 10 weeks it is time to leave. sob sob

On the other hand, i have almost compeleted my 200hours for Millenium Volunters which will be really good in helping me to gain recognition for my volunteering. All of these hours are from the nursery i have been going to which is really good. I am however starting a new role at school, because all the Yr13 are leaving i have volunteered to become a yr7 mentor. This will be so much fun i think, meeting the younger pupils properly and helping them with their schoolwork and any other problems they are having. It will also prove to be excellent experience for the psychology course i want to do next year.

I hope everyone is well and all those with exams are not as stressed about them as i am.
take care, love
Sammy x x

Posted by Sammy ( 4:48 PM )
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Sunday Apr 08, 2007

Easter !!

Happy Easter ! hope the Easter bunny brought everyone lots of yummy Easter eggs and that you’re not feeling too sick from eating them in just one day ! :P

I have been working like mad this past weekend with work doing the big push for the bank holiday sales – but it’s double pay so all is well. It does mean that I am so tired now and just want to sleep though. I’m not going to visit my little nursery kiddies or my cadets for 2 weeks now because of the easter break. But that does not mean I don’t still have loads to do.

Next term I am teaching a course at cadets, Child Development, which lots of them seem very excited about. I’m not sure they’ll be so excited when the subjects of nappies and screaming come up, I guess I’ll just have to wait and see. This does mean that 6 weeks of evenings need to be planned – remembering I need to think diversity – keeping 15 cadets interested for an hour and a half can be kinda difficult sometimes especially when it is such a diverse group.

I last saw the nursery children on wednesday, when they were all very excited about the end of term and the prospect of the easter bunny visiting them with chocolate surprises! it was sweet to watch but sometimes difficult to control them all - when you have 20 three year olds running round singing it is hard to get them to put their coats on and line up at the door - trust me.

Have a wicked easter and don’t eat too much chocolate at once

love Sammy x  

Posted by Sammy ( 7:09 PM )
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Friday Mar 30, 2007

My different roles ! :)

Hey guys – hope you are all well !

I love my new volunteering at the nursery – it is so different from working with the cadets. The age gap obviously makes a huge difference, and my responsibilities within both groups are very different.

With the cadets, who are all between 10 and 16 it is easy to relate to them and talk to them as you would a friend. Because they are so close to my age we have some stuff in common so they talk to me about what is bothering them. It also means I don't have to watch them to make sure they don't do anything dangerous as much as I do the children at the nursery, who need to be watched every moment.

the cadets don't tend to have too many argument either, maybe just the odd squabble here and now. The three year olds on the other hand have a bigger problem with this. They are still just learning to share and cooperate with each other and so I am often needed to sort out their arguments.

I love working with both groups, and it means I now have experience in a much wider area. The needs of both groups differ so much, my role also changes dramatically, which I love – keeps it interesting!

Take care

love sammy x

Posted by Sammy ( 3:59 PM )
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Sunday Mar 04, 2007

My new Opportunity

hey all !

sorry for the long gap between my last blog but I have been really busy recently. I have managed to get myself a brand new volunteering opportunity lined up. I am going to be going into a local infant school once a week for an afternoon to help the teachers out and hopefully get to work with the children a lot. I love children especially at this age so it should be really good, it will also be really different from my St John as the cadets are all over 10. It will also be good work experience for me to help me with my university applications and my CV which is always good. School is getting really hectic as well, exam results come in next week which is a little scary, keeping my fingers crossed for the right grades.

Hope you have all been well, if you have any ideas for my next blog please let me know and I'll see what I can do.

Take care, love sammy x

Posted by Sammy ( 1:26 PM )
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Thursday Feb 15, 2007

Typical evening

The typical evening at cadets – see it's not really that much work - doesn't take over your whole life ( well if you don't want it to) everyone can spare just a few hours a week to make lots of children happy !

6.00-6.15: The adults arrive and make any last minute alterations to the plan for the night, Any special equipment is also set up.

6.15-6.30: The cadets arrive and sign in with me; I then mark them down on the register. Most of the catching up with friends in done at this time, there is always lots of news to share from the week, and reports from any duties.

6.30-7.00: The first part of the course is taken. The cadets will be leaning a huge variety of things, depending on the current course in place. Currently the division is running a care of duty course which all the cadets seem to be really enjoying.

7.00-7.10: Drinks are prepared for the cadets, and there is also an opportunity for the cadets to buy sweets from the tuck shop. This is a really good way to raise money for the division as well. The break is also another great chance to catch up on any news or gossip!

7.10-7.45: The second teaching session. This can either be the same course as the first, with different content, or can be an entirely new topic altogether. This is often the case when we put on different nights, which are not the same as the usual courses, such as a first aid night, games night.

7.45-8.00: Drill (not quite as scary as it sounds) and then any notices such as duties, fundraisers, courses, trips or meetings. Any issues the cadets have can also be raised at this time. After this they all go home.

8.00-9.00: Any meetings.

Youth Council – any cadet can join the youth council, and they then elect a chairperson, treasurer and secretary for the meetings. Their job is to represent the entire division and help with the running of cadets. They can organise trips and fundraisers to help make their division better. Any issues they or other cadets have can also be raised here.

Management meetings – this is a meeting of all the adults and any cadet NCO’s (senior cadets) and thinks like uniform, courses, training, trips, duties, fundraisers and any other issues can be raised and discussed. A report from the youth council is also looked at. this helps us to help ensure the division is running well, the cadets are happy and everything is on track.

Posted by Sammy ( 5:26 PM )
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Sunday Jan 28, 2007

What the cadets really think

i figured you're all probably really bored fo listening to me ramble on atm and as i am a bit stuck for ideas ( comment me if you have any) i thought i would ask one of our cadets what they thought about st john.

"...St John Cadets is fun and interesting. It's a good way to meet young people and make friends. It allows me to learn new skills and achieve something, outside of school. So it is good for in the future, something to put on your CV. Some of the skills that we learn are important to society like the first aid courses; it is good to be able to go to public duties and help people..."

Just want to say thank you to our lovely cadet who wrote that and say it's not just me that likes st john look - other normal sane people do to !! i told you - it's really gd!

be back soon sammy x x

Posted by Sammy ( 10:15 PM )
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My future with St John

I am kinda writing this in response to a comment i recieved from Natalie so if anyone else has a question they want to know i will answer them all.

Right now i am in sixth form studying for A-levels, and then i plan to go to university to study psychology. I will be moving away for uni and so i won't be able to carry on helping out at my current cadet divisionwhich is very bad and i have already been told they're going to kindap me so i can't leave ! i am certainly not looking forward to leaving.

I plan to find another cadet divison close to my university and help out there as i find ti so rewarding, and visit my current one whenever i go back home for holidays, so i will definately stay in touch with them all. I would also like to join the adult/uni st john ambulance divions where ever i end up going to uni so i can keep my skills topped up and make sure i dont forget everything.

hope this answered ur question and i am sorry u lost contact with ur divison

take care, love sammy x x

Posted by Sammy ( 8:28 PM )
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Saturday Jan 20, 2007

Be inspired

Hi all - sorry for the bad title my brain is compleetly frazzled after exams, tahnkfully my next one isn't until may so i get to worry about coursework now instead.

I didn't really know waht to write today, not much new has happened so i was looking through teh otehr blogs and just wanna say i totally agree with Ashley. Get inspired people. It's the new year do something great, help someone out and it will become a amazing part of your life which you wont ever want to give up.

the new managment is all set up and running now, the first managment meeting was last week and lots of little bits and pieces were sorted out ready to make 2007 a great year for all the cadets with lots of social events, courses and duties.

sammy xx

Posted by Sammy ( 3:20 PM )
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Monday Jan 08, 2007

new year . . . new managment

hello to everyone hope 2007 is going well !!

cadets hasn't started yet but next wednesday is looking like it will be a good night - catching up with friend's, starting new courses, new duities for the coming year and a change in managment means 2007 looks to be a very interesresting year for all concerned.

the new managment team is still a little fragile, not having yet even run a single night. however all the planning and preparation has been done and so i am sure that with the full support of all cadets and adults it will run just as well, if not better than the previous team. it also means i will get the oppurtunity to do more

i also have a new volunteering oppurtunity lined up working in a school, which is really good work experience for uni depnding on the course i decide to do. but this wont mean i give up st john or soend any less time on it as i love it so much.

love sammy
xxx

Posted by Sammy ( 9:03 PM )
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Sunday Dec 31, 2006

Happy new year

happy new year to everyone - hopefully next year will be full of fun and happiness !!  yay

next year i will turn 18 so i can count as a proper adult in St John which will allow me to do more stuff with the cadets as well as teach a wider variety of courses . Also hopefully a trip will be organised so we can all have some fun ! yay ! after all that is what volunteering is about. We are also hoping to set up the youth council again, which gives certain members of the division a chance to reflect their views on matters which concern them, from ideas of fundraising, trips, publicity, courses or special events. It is very useful to all to find out what the cadets want out of the divison and to try and help achieve this.

anyway hope you all have a fun new year
love sammy x x

Posted by Sammy ( 5:20 PM )
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