240 children in Rotherham to receive life-saving first aid training this summer

Rotherham United Community Trust partners with Mini First Aid to train 240 children with life-saving skills this summer.

The relationship between Mini First Aid Sheffield and Rotherham United FC has grown from strength to strength since they were connected by Barnsley and Rotherham Chamber earlier this year. This summer, Mini First Aid Sheffield will deliver 12 first aid classes to young people at AESSEAL New York Stadium, thanks to funding secured for Rotherham United Community Trust’s Holiday Camps.

The funding draws on a central government initiative to provide holiday activities and food (HAF) to children. Since 2022, the HAF programme has provided 10.7 million HAF days to children and young people across England.

By the end of the school summer holidays, 2024, an additional 240 children in Rotherham will have accessed life-saving skills and training. The fun and interactive sessions will be delivered by experienced frontline NHS professionals Kelly and Matt Wooller who own the Mini First Aid franchise in Barnsley, Rotherham, Sheffield and Wakefield.

Mini First Aid can be taught to children as young as 3 years old, but these sessions are aimed at young people aged six to eleven.  The courses cover how to deal with an unconscious person, CPR  in an emergency, head injuries, burns, bleeding and fractures. As well as learning life-saving skills, the hope from Kelly Wooller is that the summer club sparks a lifelong ambition in the children of Rotherham.

Mini First Aid Sheffield franchise Director, Kelly Wooller, said: “ When I was a child, I didn’t really know what career opportunities were available to me. I didn’t have access to adults talking to me about possible professions or educational routes. It wasn’t until I started learning first aid, that I realised that this was something I could do and make a difference doing. It is what sparked my career as a combat medical technician in the army, and led me on to become an advanced paramedic in the ambulance service, and now I’m an advanced clinical practitioner working in GP Surgeries as well as running two first aid businesses here in South Yorkshire! 

“My hope this summer is that we meet kids who try something they haven’t tried before and realise that they have a passion and a talent for it. It’s about inspiring the next generation of healthcare professionals and nothing makes me happier after a class than when a young person who maybe started off a bit shy, tells me ‘I’m going to help people when I’m older’.”

The Mini First Aid sessions are scheduled around a range of other health and wellbeing Summer Camp activities hosted by Rotherham United Community Trust partnering with leisure centres and activity providers across Rotherham. The first aid classes started on 26 July and will run until 21 August 2024.

Jamie Noble, Head of Community, Rotherham United Community Trust, said: “This summer, we are delighted to be partnering with Kelly and the team from Mini First Aid, by undertaking an extraordinary initiative to train 240 children with essential life-saving skills, an effort that will undoubtedly have a lasting impact on our community.

“The team’s dedication to child safety and education is truly commendable. Through their expertise and passion, they are empowering young people with the knowledge and confidence to act in emergency situations. This training not only equips children with the ability to potentially save lives, but also fosters a sense of responsibility and preparedness from a young age. The skills learned during these sessions will benefit the children themselves and also their families, friends, and anyone they may encounter in an emergency situation.

“The curriculum provided by Mini First Aid is both comprehensive and engaging, ensuring that children remain attentive and absorb the critical skills being taught. The team’s interactive and friendly approach makes learning about first aid an enjoyable experience for the children, which is crucial in retaining their interest and understanding.”

To learn more about partnering with Mini First Aid to ensure more children have access to lifesaving first aid skills, get in touch with  [email protected]