St John Ambulance Cymru Cadets can now learn more about youth empowerment thanks to a collaboration between the charity and the Children’s Commissioner for Wales.
The Children’s Commissioner for Wales, Rocio Cifuentes recently visited the charity’s building in Pontarddulais and took part activities regarding children’s rights with the local group of Cadets - St John Ambulance Cymru volunteers who are aged 11-17.
The new Youth Empowerment theme is just one of the subject areas of the newly updated Grand Prior programme that St John Ambulance Cymru Cadets can choose to complete to achieve their Grand Prior Award, which is the highest accolade a Cadet can receive.
Cadets must complete a project based in their community along with modules in 12 different subjects to achieve the Grand Prior Award, which involves developing skills in areas such as leadership and communication, as well as first aid.
The Prior for Wales, Paul Griffiths and Angela Overment, the charity’s Director of People, Culture and Experience, joined staff and volunteers, as well as representatives from the Commissioner’s Office to hear more about the work that had gone into producing the new theme.
Prior for Wales, Paul Griffiths OBE KStJ JP DL said: “It was an honour to welcome the Children’s Commissioner for Wales to meet our dedicated volunteers in Pontarddulais and to let our fantastic Cadets show some of the valuable work they do to learn new skills and valuable life lessons.
“Our ongoing commitment to increasing youth empowerment is illustrated by the launch of our new 'Llais' Youth Advisory Panel, which consists of ambassadors aged under 25, who represent the children and young people who both volunteer for St John Ambulance Cymru as well as those we serve in the wider community.”
The Children’s Commissioner for Wales, Rocio Cifuentes MBE, said: “It was a pleasure to meet the young people and volunteers at St John Ambulance Cymru and to hear about the ways they are being supported to learn about and access their rights.
“I was particularly pleased to hear a commitment to elevating children's voices in their work through the establishment of a new youth advisory panel. Giving children meaningful and regular opportunities to influence decision-making is a vital aspect of a children's rights approach.”
To find out more about St John Ambulance Cymru’s opportunities for young people, which range from Badgers (5-11 years old), Cadets (11-17), Young Adults (16-25) and University students, please visit our Children and Young People page.
St John Ambulance Cymru yn cydweithio â Chomisiynydd Plant Cymru ar rymuso pobl ifanc
Gall Cadetiaid St John Ambulance Cymru nawr ddysgu mwy am rymuso pobl ifanc, diolch i gydweithrediad rhwng yr elusen a Chomisiynydd Plant Cymru.
Ymwelodd Comisiynydd Plant Cymru, Rocio Cifuentes ag adeilad yr elusen ym Mhontarddulais yn ddiweddar, a chymerodd rhan mewn gweithgareddau hawliau plant gyda’r grŵp lleol o Gadetiaid – gwirfoddolwyr St John Ambulance Cymru rhwng 11-17 oed.
Mae’r thema 'Grymuso Pobl Ifanc' newydd yn un o feysydd pwnc y rhaglen Grand Prior sydd newydd ei diweddaru y gall Cadetiaid St John Ambulance Cymru ddewis ei chwblhau i ennill eu Gwobr y Prif Brior, sef y clod uchaf y gall Cadetiaid dderbyn.
Mae'n rhaid i gadetiaid gwblhau prosiect yn eu cymuned ynghyd â modiwlau mewn 12 pwnc gwahanol i gyflawni Gwobr y Prif Brior, sy'n cynnwys datblygu sgiliau mewn meysydd fel arweinyddiaeth a chyfathrebu, yn ogystal â chymorth cyntaf.
Ymunodd Prif Weinidog Cymru, Paul Griffiths ac Angela Overment, Cyfarwyddwr Pobl, Diwylliant a Phrofiad yr elusen, â staff a gwirfoddolwyr, yn ogystal â chynrychiolwyr o Swyddfa’r Comisiynydd i glywed mwy am y gwaith oedd wedi mynd i mewn i gynhyrchu'r thema newydd.
Dywedodd Paul Griffiths OBE KStJ JP DL, y Prior i Gymru: “Roedd yn anrhydedd croesawu Comisiynydd Plant Cymru i gwrdd â’n gwirfoddolwyr ymroddedig ym Mhontarddulais, a gadael i’n Cadetiaid gwych ddangos rhywfaint o’r gwaith gwerthfawr y maent yn ei wneud i ddysgu sgiliau newydd a gwersi bywyd gwerthfawr.
“Mae ein hymrwymiad parhaus i gynyddu grymuso pobl ifanc i’w weld yn lansiad ‘Llais’ - ein Panel Cynghori Ieuenctid newydd, sy’n cynnwys llysgenhadon o dan 25 oed, sy’n cynrychioli’r plant a’r bobl ifanc sy’n gwirfoddoli i St John Ambulance Cymru, yn ogystal â’r rhai rydyn ni’n eu gwasanaethu yn y gymuned ehangach.”
Dywedodd Comisiynydd Plant Cymru, Rocio Cifuentes MBE: “Roedd yn bleser cyfarfod â phobl ifanc a gwirfoddolwyr St John Ambulance Cymru a chlywed am y ffyrdd y maent yn cael eu cefnogi i ddysgu am eu hawliau a chael mynediad iddynt.
“Roeddwn yn arbennig o falch o glywed ymrwymiad i ddyrchafu lleisiau plant yn eu gwaith drwy sefydlu Panel Cynghori Ieuenctid newydd. Mae rhoi cyfleoedd ystyrlon a rheolaidd i blant ddylanwadu ar wneud penderfyniadau yn agwedd hanfodol ar ddull gweithredu seiliedig ar hawliau plant.”
I ddarganfod mwy am gyfleoedd St John Ambulance Cymru i bobl ifanc, sy’n amrywio o Badgers (5-11 oed), Cadetiaid (11-17), Oedolion Ifanc (16-25) a myfyrwyr ym mhrifysgol, ewch i ewch i'n dudalen Plant a Phobl Ifanc.