14 April, 2020: St John Ambulance is working in partnership with organisations including British Airways and TUI Airways on a new volunteering scheme to reduce pressure on the NHS.

The programme will see their first aid trained staff volunteer for St John Ambulance and provide support to essential NHS wards across the country to free up staff to fight the Covid-19 crisis on the frontline. 

They will support with a range of agreed tasks, from caring for the elderly to basic monitoring of patients, transporting medication and maintaining cleanliness and hygiene, helping keep the NHS running as smoothly as possible during the pandemic

Volunteers will receive two days training provided by St John Ambulance, designed to complement the cabin crew training they have already undertaken.

Jon Knight, Director at St John Ambulance, said: “We’re delighted to work in partnership to create opportunities for first aid trained staff to volunteer for St John Ambulance to support their local communities and reduce pressure on the NHS.”

“We really need more businesses to let their trained staff volunteer in this crisis. St John Ambulance needs the support of the public, businesses and clarity from the government to let volunteers volunteer more than ever as we enter our biggest operation in our 143-year history.”