International Award for Kat!
We are so delighted to learn that Kat (13E4) is to be presented with an international St John’s Award in recognition of her achievements with the organisation, which she joined following a Year 7 assembly at St Bart’s.
In April last year, we reported that Kat had won the National Finals of the St John Ambulance National Youth Public Speaking Competition 2023, speaking about neurodiversity awareness- specifically ADHD paralysis and executive dysfunctioning. Her unit manager recalls that Kat was “quite shy” when she first joined, however she took on leadership roles and gained in confidence.
Kat feels she has gained a lot from St John’s, “I trained to be a sergeant, a demonstrator, and the regional Youth Forum Chair before leaving the cadet programme, along with actual first aid opportunities; and cadets are able to attend events such as the jubilees, Wimbledon, London Marathon, as well as local events.” Some of these opportunities formed the basis of the 6,000 hours of volunteering that Kat has accrued!
The Sovereign is the top award from St John’s and her certificate will be signed by King Charles before it is presented to her, and only 9 others this year, in a ceremony in London in November. Kat plans to go to university next year to study global humanitarian studies or international, social and public policy. We feel sure she will do great things. Well done Kat!