St John Ambulance
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We are St John Ambulance

For almost 150 years, we have been at the heart of community first aid in England. 

We exist to put the power of first aid in everyone’s hands. So that we are all closer to help in an emergency. Every person. Every place. Every time.  

Over the next three years, we will grow the power of first aid together. We want first aid to always be within reach, so nobody faces a health emergency alone. 

Leading the way

We are England’s leading first aid charity and together we will grow the power of first aid by teaching more people to help in an emergency, and by delivering expert care when it matters most. We will achieve this by keeping first aid at the centre of everything we do: amplifying our purpose, setting the standard through the quality of our work, and unlocking our potential for even greater future impact.

Achieving our ambitions

Our strategy is built around three ambitions:

1. Amplifying Our Purpose - to reach more people with first aid

By the end of 2028, St John wants to:

  • Train 800,000 people a year in simple first aid

  • Support more than 70,000 patients annually, delivering specialist care at events, in communities and during crises

  • Expand community-based education, empower young people, and build partnerships to widen access to first aid

  • Strengthen emergency preparedness and response

2. Setting the Standard - to continue to set and deliver high standards in all our work

  • Improve systems and processes to make it easier to volunteer, work, partner and donate

  • Ensure St John remains a connected and empowering place for its people by focusing on inclusion and wellbeing

  • Embed quality, reliability and trust in every patient, customer and partner experience

  • Build strong, trusted partnerships to maximise impact locally and nationally

3. Unlocking Future Potential - to be ready to lead first aid into the future

  • Insight - Use robust data to better inform decisions and maximise impact

  • Innovation - Test and scale new ideas to help us reach more people and improve outcomes in emergencies

  • Income - Build sustainable, diversified funding routes to power our first aid mission long into the future

St John Ambulance Strategy On A Page 2026-28
Document type: PDF | Size: 82.78 KB

A word from Shona Dunn, Chief Executive of St John Ambulance

'For nearly 150 years, St John has been part of the fabric of communities across the country, demonstrating the real difference first aid can make to people’s lives.

Now is the right time for us to look to the future of first aid and ensure we can continue to support our communities for the next 150 years. This strategy gives us the focus to strengthen our local presence and help even more people feel confident stepping in when someone urgently needs help. By growing the power of first aid together, we can keep those around us safe and protected.'

Shona Dunn.

Ways to support our strategy