Moving and Handling Principles

St John Ambulance is a modern and dynamic charity, but we are privileged to have a long and diverse heritage underpinning our vital work.

We have been providing first aid and first aid training for over 140 years. However, our enduring story goes all the way back to 11th century Jerusalem where the first Knights of St John set up a hospital to provide free medical care to sick pilgrims.

Since then we have evolved as an Order and as an organisation, devoted to our communities. Our volunteer uniform still proudly displays the eight-pointed cross worn by those first Knights of St John.

You can find out more about our inspiring history by visiting our Museum.

In 2022, we moved from our response to a global health emergency to beginning to deal with the pandemic’s aftermath and consequences, as the unpredictable effects of events at home and around the world brought new challenges and pressures.

Ours is a charity that responds well to pressure, often calling on the reservoirs of compassion, resilience and optimism that define St John people.

Our purpose: Saving lives

Community first aid saves lives. That’s why we want to ensure that everyone gets the help they need in a health crisis:

• By responding as volunteers and first responders, and as a trusted auxiliary to the nation’s health services

• By educating to enable safer workplaces and more resilient communities and to inspire every generation to have confidence to provide first aid when faced with a health incident

• By discovering through our service and listening to communities, customers and all St John people, how we can continue to lead standards in community first aid

Our destination

We believe in the power of communities to improve the health of the nation. Communities that preserve and protect life through volunteering for health and first aid.

Our charitable promise

We have a deep heritage of caring, compassion and health. Promoting the relief of sickness, distress and suffering. Helping others at some of the most vulnerable moments in their lives.

We are proud of the work we do and how we do it, and we promise:

• To serve humanity without judgement
• To take time to care
• To be skilled to meet health needs
• To develop new and better ways to preserve and protect life