ST JOHN Ambulance is offering free first aid demonstrations to north Hampshire residents as part of a fresh recruitment drive.

The charity is looking for adults to join its Basingstoke, Andover and Alton teams as volunteer first aiders and youth leaders or helpers.

Two events are being held in Basingstoke in the coming weeks to give locals the chance to find out more and learn lifesaving skills.

The first takes place on Saturday, March 16, from 10am to 4pm at the Malls, Basingstoke. Existing adult and cadet volunteers will provide first aid demonstrations in skills such as CPR and ambulance tours will also be on offer.

An open day will then be held at St John Ambulance’s training centre at Devonshire Business Park, Knight Park Road, Basingstoke on Saturday, April 27, from 10am to 5pm.

There is no need to book for either event. Nor is any previous experience required as full training will be given free of charge.

Volunteering is flexible, so people can give time in a way that suits them. Potential recruits can speak to members of the existing team at both events to discuss which role would is best for them.

Successful candidates must be able to attend a welcome event at a later date and will need to attend a series of training sessions in the following weeks.

John Hensman, Basingstoke Unit Manager, said: “We’re really keen to expand our friendly team, to enable us to get out and about to more events in our local area and to expand our youth groups, too.

“Volunteering with St John Ambulance is very rewarding and teaches you amazing lifesaving skills which could help you save a loved one, a friend or a stranger.

“Having more people trained in first aid in our local community is a positive step towards boosting community resilience and creating more life savers who live and work in the area.

“As a St John Ambulance volunteer you can be called upon to support the NHS when there’s heavy snow, or help at a rest centre during a critical incident.

“It’s extremely varied and you really can make a difference by getting involved.”

Parents are also welcome to bring their children to explore the Cadet (age 7-10) and Badger (age 11-18) programmes run by St John Ambulance.

Anyone interested in applying to become a volunteer first aider should visit www.sja.org.uk and click on ‘volunteer’ and search for Hampshire.

For further information call Josh Hensman on 07788 567 108 or email joshua.hensman@sja.org.uk.