A Newtown based volunteer, Ruth Hockly, is taking a step back from volunteering this year, after 59 years of serving her local community.
Ruth, who volunteers with St John Ambulance Cymru’s Bettws Cedewain Division, has held several roles within the organisation since joining in 1965.
Everyone at the charity, especially Ruth’s fellow volunteers in Powys, is extending their deepest gratitude to Ruth for all she has done for the charity and her local community during this time.
Ruth’s most recent role has been the Divisional Officer in Charge at Bettws Cedewain, leading other volunteers in the area. Ruth has also committed a huge amount of time to St John Ambulance Cymru’s Badger programme, which runs for children aged 5-11 throughout Wales.
Ruth (right) is pictured with other Youth Leader award winners and St John Ambulance Cymru’s Chief Commissioner, Richie Paskell.
Ruth became her local Badger Leader from the first day her local Badger group opened and has been a dedicated leader ever since. She’s taught generations of local children first aid, as well as a range of other educational and fun topics.
During her time as a volunteer, Ruth’s work has been officially recognised by the Priory for Wales, an independent Priory of the Order of St John and a working Order of Chivalry of the British Crown.
Earlier this year, Ruth was also recognised as part of the National Children and Young People Team’s Workforce Awards, for her ongoing hard work as a Badger Leader.
Ruth’s fellow Powys volunteer, Julie Carrod, commented:
"Ruth has been a constant within our youth groups in Powys. Her years of experience has been invaluable to new leaders, with Ruth always willing to share her knowledge, experience and wisdom with us all.
“So many youngsters have achieved their Super Badger award thanks to Ruth’s guidance, enthusiasm and passion. She has been an inspiration for so many, ensuring that the young develop into fantastic role models.”
David Gardner, Assistant Chief Commissioner for St John Ambulance Cymru has worked alongside Ruth for a number of years, and added:
“Ruth has shown years of dedication to the charity and has been extremely proactive in giving young people the best opportunities.
“Some of Ruth’s Badgers have gone on to become very successful people in their adult lives and I am sure that the learning they had as a Badger with Ruth helped them on their way.”
Ruth’s service to St John Ambulance Cymru and her wider community has been incredible, teaching generations of young people lifesaving first aid skills, and helping to provide essential first aid cover at events in her community.
The first aid charity for Wales has extended their heartfelt thanks to Ruth for her hard work and dedication over the last 59 years, as a true inspiration to volunteer across Wales.
If you’d like to find out more about St John Ambulance Cymru’s Badger programme, which runs throughout Wales, please visit our Badger page.
The first aid charity for Wales is recruiting volunteers to join their teams, if you’d like to support young people in your community, learn lifesaving skills and provide first aid cover to exciting events throughout the country, visit our volunteering page for further details.
Gwirfoddolwr o Bowys yn ymrwymo bron i 60 mlynedd i elusen cymorth cyntaf Cymru
Mae Ruth Hockly, gwirfoddolwr o’r Drenewydd, yn cymryd cam yn ôl o wirfoddoli eleni, ar ôl 59 mlynedd o wasanaethu ei chymuned leol.
Mae Ruth, sy’n gwirfoddoli gydag Adran St John Ambulance Cymru ym Metws Cedewain, wedi cyflawni sawl rôl o fewn y sefydliad ers ymuno yn 1965.
Mae pawb yn yr elusen, yn enwedig cyd-wirfoddolwyr Ruth ym Mhowys, yn estyn eu diolch i Ruth am bopeth mae hi wedi’i wneud i’r elusen a’i chymuned leol yn ystod y cyfnod hwn.
Rôl ddiweddaraf Ruth oedd y Swyddog â Gofal dros Adran Metws Cedewain, gan arwain gwirfoddolwyr eraill yn yr ardal. Mae Ruth hefyd wedi ymrwymo llawer iawn o amser i raglen Badgers St John Ambulance Cymru, sy’n rhedeg ar gyfer plant 5-11 oed ledled Cymru.
Ruth (ar y dde) gydag enillwyr gwobrau Arweinydd Ieuenctid eraill a Phrif Gomisiynydd St John Ambulance Cymru, Richie Paskell.
Mae Ruth wedi arwain y grŵp Badgers lleol ers y diwrnod cyntaf i'r grŵp ddechrau ac mae wedi bod yn arweinydd ymroddedig ers hynny. Mae hi wedi dysgu cymorth cyntaf i genedlaethau o blant lleol, yn ogystal ag amrywiaeth o bynciau addysgol a hwyliog eraill.
Yn ystod ei chyfnod fel gwirfoddolwr, mae gwaith Ruth wedi cael ei gydnabod yn swyddogol gan Briordy Cymru, sy’n Briordy annibynnol o fewn Urdd St John, Urdd Sifalri gweithredol y Goron Brydeinig.
Yn gynharach eleni, cafodd Ruth hefyd ei chydnabod fel rhan o Wobrau Gweithlu’r Tîm Plant a Phobl Ifanc Cenedlaethol, am ei gwaith caled parhaus fel Arweinydd ar gyfer Badgers.
Dywedodd cyd-wirfoddolwr Ruth ym Mhowys, Julie Carrod:
“Mae Ruth wedi bod yn gyson o fewn ein grwpiau ieuenctid ym Mhowys. Mae ei blynyddoedd o brofiad wedi bod yn amhrisiadwy i arweinwyr newydd, gyda Ruth bob amser yn barod i rannu ei gwybodaeth, ei phrofiad a’i doethineb gyda ni i gyd.
“Mae cymaint o bobl ifanc wedi cyflawni eu gwobr Super Badger diolch i arweiniad, brwdfrydedd ac angerdd Ruth. Mae hi wedi bod yn ysbrydoliaeth i gymaint, gan sicrhau bod yr ifanc yn datblygu i fod yn fodelau rôl gwych.”
Mae David Gardner, Prif Gomisiynydd Cynorthwyol St John Ambulance Cymru wedi gweithio ochr yn ochr â Ruth ers nifer o flynyddoedd, a dywedodd:
“Mae Ruth wedi dangos blynyddoedd o ymroddiad i’r elusen ac wedi bod yn hynod ragweithiol yn rhoi’r cyfleoedd gorau i bobl ifanc.
“Mae rhai o Badgers Ruth wedi mynd ymlaen i fod yn bobl lwyddiannus iawn yn eu bywydau fel oedolion ac rwy’n siŵr bod y dysgu a gawsant fel Badgers gyda Ruth wedi eu helpu ar eu ffordd.”
Mae gwasanaeth Ruth i St John Ambulance Cymru a’i chymuned ehangach wedi bod yn anhygoel, gan ddysgu sgiliau cymorth cyntaf achub bywyd i genedlaethau o bobl ifanc, a helpu i ddarparu cymorth cyntaf hanfodol mewn digwyddiadau yn ei chymuned.
Mae elusen cymorth cyntaf Cymru wedi estyn eu diolch o galon i Ruth am ei gwaith caled a’i hymroddiad dros y 59 mlynedd diwethaf, sy'n ysbrydoliaeth i wirfoddolwyr ledled Cymru.
Os hoffech chi ddarganfod mwy am raglen Badgers St John Ambulance Cymru, sy’n cael ei rhedeg ledled Cymru, ewch i www.sjacymru.org.uk/badgers.
Mae elusen cymorth cyntaf Cymru yn recriwtio gwirfoddolwyr i ymuno â’u timau, ac os hoffech gefnogi pobl ifanc yn eich cymuned, dysgu sgiliau achub bywyd a darparu cymorth cyntaf ar gyfer ddigwyddiadau cyffrous ledled y wlad, ewch i www.sjacymru.org.uk/volunteer.