Cadet and Badger of the year 2012

Young people awarded for outstanding service

Every year St John Ambulance recognises its young volunteers and nominates a Cadet of the Year and a Deputy Cadet of the Year. For the very young volunteers, aged five to ten years, there is a Badger of the Year award and a Deputy Badger of the Year.

Awards for 2012 were made in December by James Macnamara, Commander of St John Ambulance Oxfordshire to County Cadet of the Year 2012: Emma Farrington, from Wantage Cadets, Deputy County Cadet of the Year 2012: Hollie Hemmings from Banbury Cadets; County Badger of the Year 2012: Annabel Moore from Thame Badgers and Deputy County Badger of the Year 2012: Ellee Pettifer from Kidlington Badgers.

Jo Gardner, Principal Youth Officer said: 'The youth of today often get a bad press but our Cadets and Badgers have highlighted what is truly outstanding and positive about young people. They are a credit to St John Ambulance, their families and their local communities.'

Varied role for winner who represents their county nationally

The Cadet of the Year is involved in formal events, acts as an ambassador for cadets in the county and nationally and attends important events, including an opportunity to meet the Commandant-in-Chief HRH The Princess Royal at Buckingham Palace. In order to assess their suitability for the role, each cadet that takes part goes through a county selection process comprising a presentation, an interview, team exercises, uniform inspection, presentational skills, etiquette skills and PR and Media relations work. The Badgers took part in team games, an individual presentation and an interview in pairs. The selection process took place during a development weekend in September which involved nine Badgers and seven Cadets.

The County Cadet of the Year will now go forward to a National Competition where they will compete against around 43 other county’s Cadet of the Year, this takes place on 27-29 January in Wiltshire.