Autum troubles

I can't believe it's been so long since my last blog post. It's been a difficult month or so with lots going on and I've neither had the time or inclination to write about much. Which is a shame as there has been some good stuff too.

Autumn is definitely here now which means i get to use one of my favorite words. "It's very autumnal at the moment" Anyway Autumn brings much needed respite from many of the St John duties that deluge us during the summer. Our big regular duty, Coventry City matches are the only ones we need to cover in numbers. Talking of the sky blues, they're really going through a sticky patch, horribly in debt with the prospect of administration looming. I've always believed that a good football club is good for the city, and most certainly good for St. John!

Many football fans think that St. John Ambulance members get a 'freebie' when on duty and that as volunteers we don't need an income. It's true that some of our members are fans, but we're all there because we believe that everyone should have access to first aid. We all want to put something back into our community, and if we can have fun whilst doing that then so be it! But our cover is not without cost. It costs money to buy European compliant ambulances. It costs money to equip members with the kit and clothing they need to stay safe. It costs money for training, stationary, gas, water, electricity, petrol and lots of other supplies that we need.

When Leeds united went into administration, it's creditors, including St. John Ambulance received just 11p for every pound they were owed. SJA received £18*. So what does this mean i real terms? Well undoubtedly the money that St John 'lost' in providing cover to Leeds will have to be made up, either from donations or using money that would of been earmarked for other uses. In effect St John paid Leeds United for the privilege of providing first aid cover at Elland Rd. Which is disgraceful.

The Leeds scenario is an extreme one which I hope will never happen again, but still these are troubling times. From a St. John point of view, we can't do anything about the mega buck refinancing-investment-administration malarkey, but we can do every thing possible to ensure that those who need our help at the Ricoh arena continue to receive it.


*Taken from Irish Independent, www.independent.ie/sport/other-sports/leeds-parking-the-selfpity-1092549.html