Mr Joseph Wang’endo, New CEO for St John Kenya

At the start of 2015, St John Kenya welcomed a new member to the St John family.

Former Bloodlink Executive Director and founder Mr Joseph Wang’endo is to succeed Selinah Kandie as its chief executive.

With more than 20 years’ experience in nonprofit management and as an Advisory Council Board member of the global Certified Fundraising Executives (CFRE) programme based in the US and the Secretary of the Kenya Association of Fundraising Professionals, Mr Wang’endo will bring valuable experience to his new role as CEO.

In particular he hopes to diversify sources of funding, and initiate sustainable models of financing… Continue reading

Mr Parick Burgess MBE becomes new Chancellor of the Order

On 24th February 2015, Mr Patrick Burgess MBE was installed as the new Chancellor of the Order by the Grand Prior, His Royal Highness the Duke of Gloucester, in the Priory Church of St John. This role is a significant one in the order among other duties; Mr Burgess will be a member of the Order’s worldwide governing bodies and contributes to the development of the Order’s overall policy internationally.

Immediately after the Installation of the Chancellor on 24th February, a bronze sculpted bust of HRH The Duke of Gloucester was unveiled at St John’s Gate, Clerkenwell in his presence.… Continue reading

Saving new mothers and newborn babies from complications

In sub-Saharan Africa, many new mothers and newborn babies die every year from complications in pregnancy and childbirth which could so easily have been avoided.

Help us by supporting the St John’s Mother and Baby Programme to train more local volunteers within the community to help mothers and newborn babies.

For more information, visit: http://www.stjohninternational.org/saving-the-lives-of-mothers-and-babies

Interested in making a donation, visit: www.justgiving.com/orderofstjohn

St John Ambulance Scotland starts major defibrillator project

Each year 100,000 people die from sudden cardiac arrest in the UK. With early CPR and early defibrillation, survival rates can be increased from a low 5% to over 50%.

In August 2013 while having dinner at a hotel former Ryder Cup captain, Bernard Gallacher, collapsed and suffered a sudden cardiac arrest however he survived thanks to the immediate action of trained staff and the onsite hotel’s defibrillator. This is just one example of how important this life saving equipment can make a real difference.

We congratulate the major partnership between St John Scotland and the Scottish Golf Union which… Continue reading

St John Ambulance Intensive Care Paramedic saves lives of fellow marathon runners

New Zealander Barry Eunson had just completed half of the marathon course (approx. 13 miles) when a young man collapsed in front of him. Initially, thinking the man had tripped, Eunson carried on. But his first aid training and experience made him turn around to check.

“I thought, ‘hang on, he didn’t trip, he collapsed’ and looking back saw that the collapsed runner was having a seizure. No-one else had stopped so I went back.”

Thankfully he did, as with a full crowd of 15,000 runners, St John Ambulance Ireland took some time to reach them. On arrival Eunson then… Continue reading

Mr Allan Smith, New CEO for St John Canada

In March 2015, St John Ambulance Canada announced the appointment of Allan Smith as CEO. Mr Smith having previously served as President/CEO and Board Director of Saxon Financial; and as a senior executive MD Management, a subsidiary of the Canadian Medical Association brings an extensive amount of experience with over 30 years of relevant leadership and management to his new role, this was echoed by Robert White, St John Ambulance Chancellor who welcomed Allan’s “experience and leadership to the St. John Ambulance family,”

“In his new role as chief executive he will be responsible for developing the first aid training… Continue reading